First State Kopites First_State_Kopites

It’s April 17th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Justin and Daz. It’s been a big week in the Premier League and not the right time to stop scoring at home. Before we are done we’ll look ahead to Atalanta away in the Europa League and Fulham away Sunday. 



Part One - Liverpool 0, Palace 1 - 2.81 to 1.98 according to FotMob


First half looked very flat - Palace had a lot of moments, didn’t mean we didn’t have chances
Manager talked about Endo and Mac Allister minutes - Robbo and role for Mac Allister
Second half… four big chances - while Darwin may have dropped a level, others had chances (Jota, Salah and Curtis). Much better performance, one goes in I think we’ve seen that script before
The subs - taking off Nunez and Diaz, not Salah
A word on the ‘bottling it’ chat
6 games remaining - just focusing on us, can we get back in rhythm?



Part Two - Atalanta beat us 3-0 - xG 2.6 v 3.22. Possession 70%


Narrative about being outplayed? Or some defensive slip ups that then define the narrative?
Formation, pressing 
Going for a goal back when we concede the third
Jota and Mo almost scored



Part Three - looking ahead and the context:


Atalanta - what do we think? Formation, forecast
The run in

Will being 2 points behind City be terminal?
UCL impact
Our mindset

Fulham away on Sunday 

Team selection and predictions

Naby Keita



We will be back with a review of the Fulham and Atalanta games and a look ahead to the next block of fixtures. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.



If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic

It’s April 9th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Justin and Daz. It’s been a big week in the Premier League and we are going look at home wins over Brighton and Sheffield United and a disappointing draw against them. Before we are done we’ll look ahead to Atalanta in the Europa League and Palace at home on Sunday. 

Part One - it’s them again:


xG of 3.74 vs. 0.74 - well we clearly missed chances and even though I think we were better than in the cup tie. Michael Cox wrote a tough piece to read about just how dominant we were and how all over the place they were (a variation on the donut formation)
Second half… The errant Quansah pass gave them oxygen and sent us to a dark place, Quick word on Szobozlai, Elliott, Darwin, Diaz and Salah.
The same boys who today missed a few chances are the ones who brought us to 71 points said my favorite manager
Good news not one of the remaining 7 games is at that place with that team and their unbelievably counter intuitive tactics



Part Two - 2 home wins:


Began with a victory over Brighton who are really hard to play against - 2.98 v 0.51 xG. Went down early, looked like a comeback was never in doubt. 

Starts with typical Diaz goal from the chaos. After a lot of Salah shots (a lot)
2nd goal was my favorite from the season - Szobo, Macca and a Salah finish
The Arsenal 3-0 was kicked off with the kind of penalty if we’d got would have been generating parliamentary questions.

Win over Sheffield United - 3-1 in the end. 2.52 v 0.72 xG

Less assured than the Brighton win?
Darwin’s mad goal, Mac Allister screamer, and Gakpo chips in




Part Three - looking ahead and the context:


The run in

Champions League as a source of hope?
Will being 1 point ahead of City be the most significant point?

Our mindset

Return of Alisson, Trent and Diogo J

A quick word on Atalanta, the EL and completing Klopp’s trophy collection with us
Palace at home on Sunday 

Team selection and predictions

Room for Reuben Amorim chat?



We will be back with a review of the Palace and Atalanta games and a look ahead to the next block of fixtures. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.



If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic

It’s March 23rd - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Daz and Sean. Reds lost to Man United on Sunday and we are now focused on a treble. We’ll look back on that game and the Sparta Prague last 16 tie in the Europa League. And before we are done, let’s take a pulse on how we see the rest of the season playing out.

Part One - the FA Cup 6th round - Manchester United 4, Liverpool 3


Well we always hate losing to them don’t we?


First 30 minutes were way too open - United had more shots (7) on target in a first half than they have for a long time.


Switched on end of first half - could have been 3-1


Second half, their weird formation made it seem like we were bound to score, but actually did not have many good opportunities (other than the ones Darwin created)


Taking Salah off at 77 with the game won…


While it’s still 2-1 bad things can happen. Right foot from Antony, felt like a stopped clock telling the right time moment.


Extra time - everyone looked very tired. Could not take enough people off.


Blessing in disguise? Can’t say yes for sure but 2022 experience suggests it could be



Part Two - Liverpool 11 to Sparta Prague 2 - aggregate score:


Four goals up in 14 minutes. Front foot attacking exploiting some very naive defending?


Liverpool should not be playing us said the coach, they should be in the champions league.



Part Three:


Quick word on officiating:



We talk about high bars when we choose to


They talk about intent as well - I thought IFAB had made intent irrelevant


Atwell on VAR - ‘they both came in high’



What are we feeling now:



Maximum of 15 games


Players returning


10 wins in the League likely would be enough but there’s plenty of challenges left 



United, Fulham, Villa, West Ham and Everton away - 3 aways in 6 days (unless Arsenal beats Bayern Munich)


Brighton, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Spurs and Wolves at home.



Europa League - quarter final against Atalanta, with the prospect of Benfica or Marseille in the semis.



Atalanta not considered a difficult draw… 6th in Serie A. Playing Coppa Italia either side of our fixtures.




Elsewhere, Champions League draw…. FA Cup - 



City have to play Chelsea in the FA Cup. If they make it past Real Madrid, they will have no midweeks available.


Arsenal - Bayern Munich. Could easily see Arsenal winning this one.



International chat? Luis Diaz



We will be back with a review of the Brighton game and a look ahead to the fixtures before the international break. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic

It’s March 11th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Justin. Reds drew with Man City yesterday and are now 2nd in the premier league, behind on goal difference. We’ll look ahead to Man United at the weekend and we’ll look at the state of the Europa League and the Sparta Prague tie.

Part One - The Reds should have won this, shouldn’t they?


First half



15 minutes of City threat, City had 4 or 5 openings earlier


Gradually made our way back into this:



Endo tackle on Foden after 5


13 minutes chance for Bradley


Endo, Mac Allister and Elliott were very good


VVD so many times he was exceptional



Clever goal from the cheats


Liverpool responded well. Press intensified.


Rodri and Walker tactical fouls


Gomez moving into midfield



Second half:



47 minute penalty and the non-penalty at 98



Michael Oliver!!!



City have their usual sterile domination at times


Diaz multiple big chances (inc Gakpo)



Other thoughts?



What a gang of ******, Foden, Walker (on Salah), Rodri, Bernardo Silva



Walker - Oliver wasn’t intimidated





Part Two - Sparta Prague - 5-1:


Mac Allister and Nunez were great


Defense was not until Virg arrived


Gakpo bad luck?


Salah almost 14th sub goal


Next Thursday…..  Weakest team possible 



Part Three:


United in the FA Cup



Formation, predictions



Our perspective - players are coming back, 10 wins would probably do it, given City and Arsenal



We will be back with a review of the United game and a look ahead to the fixtures before the international break. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.

If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic

It’s March 6th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Daz, Sean and Justin. Reds beat Nottingham Forest last weekend to maintain a narrow lead at the top of the premier league. We’ll look ahead to Man City at the weekend and we’ll look at Europa League and Sparta Prague.

Part One: Forest - first win since 1984. The year Echo and the Bunnymen’s Ocean Rain was released, the Reds won 3 trophies:


0.97 to 2.07 (Fotmob) - Darwin’s goal had an xG of 0.11



Should have won this, but not much of that rationality made its way into the wider discourse



They started of with a lot of intensity and for 20 minutes, there was some back and forth but the Reds had taken over. (22 - Elanga chance, looked offside) Kelleher great save, 24 - Clark almost; 26 Luis Diaz went close


Second half, habit has been to take it up a level - created some chances but found it hard - especially against the mid/low block. Injuries taking their toll? Not enough width? Tsimikas did give us some when he came on. Did we struggle to adapt to the subs initially?


Officiating - Let’s shine a light on the corners we should have had in the first half. Seriously, the coverage of this monumental mistake was beyond overboard.



And no mention of Kung Fu kicks from Yates


‘Some elite level shit if there are any shenanigans happening’ - Gareth Roberts



18th winner in added time in the Klopp era, Fergie only had 16! Moyes has 21, Wenger also has 21 BTW


Anfield has had 28, next is Goodison with 24 (3 of them scored by us!)



Part Two - Big game coming up:


Game against the team with 115 charges is hard to ignore



FCK MCI - looked like a couple of easy games for them


Hoping for a big Anfield contribution - biggest crowd for a game against the cheats


Guardiola has not won at Anfield with a crowd. I’m sure that’s not in his head!


Tactics - go early or wait for the 2nd half momentum to kick in



Channel the 2022 FA Cup Semi Final?



Team and predictions



We start with Sparta Prague in the Europa League first leg



They are confident they can win after beating Galatasaray


They are top of the Czech league, just drew at home to their biggest rivals Slavia Prague


Macca talked about a great battle. Coach Brian Priske was the manager of Midtjylland in 20-21. Mohammed Salah might return.




Part Three - AOB:


Arsenal have scored a few goals haven’t they?


Worst case, we could end up 3rd. How are we dealing with that? Ignoring it, rationalizing it?


Liverpool are visiting the city down the road next summer - best way to talk this up?


Chasing Man City’s commercial revenue….



We will be back with a review of the City game and a look ahead to the fixtures before the international break. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic

 February 29th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Daz. Reds won their 10th League Cup, beat Luton in the League and reached the 6th round of the FA Cup. We’ll look ahead to Nottingham Forest away at the weekend and toward the Europa League return against Sparta Prague before we are done.

Part One - League Cup triumph Chelsea 0, Liverpool 1 (xG 2.28 vs 1.78 Opta)


Kelleher - faced 2.9 xG - 4th most in the top 5 leagues in the last 7 seasons (Andrew Beesley) without conceding. This is counting multiple shots from the same sequence.


2 big moments really hurt Liverpool our momentum



Gravenberch being stretchered off


VVD first header ruled out; 1.7 of the Chelseas xG happened between then and the 98th minute. And, John Brookes with the CSI Stockley Park. Compare with United’s FA Cup goal in midweek



5-2 yellow cards…  some shit behavior from Chelsea not punished.


Academy players - culture that allows you to bring in young players


Clark 24 pressures (Macca 35) and McConnell had the most touches (47 in 40 minutes).


Gomez is third in minutes


Changes showed that the league is the target


Szobo and Darwin did not look injured.



Part Two - Luton game and Southampton on the cup


Luton - xG 3.32 vs 0.92



Diaz chances, 11th minute Ogbone. Bit 442, first half just too hurried 


First half Klopp was upset - look at the counter pressing first not the result


Don’t make me angry…. ‘Elite’  Rob Edwards described the team, the tactics, intensity and crowd. 2nd half intensity was impressive - the washing machine.



Southampton - xG 1.89 vs 1.71



Could have lost it in the first 20


Koumas and Danns are great stories, but Clark and McConnell looked really solid


Kelleher again




Part three - looking ahead


Forest - could be challenging. They will allow us the ball.



They haven’t got a great record after playing midweek.


Team, predictions



Europe - Sparta Prague - need to give them some respect.


What else - Arsenal, Man City to win this weekend we assume.



We will be back with a review of the Forest game and a look ahead to City. Thanks to Daz. And thank you dear listener for joining us.

If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic