First State Kopites

Welcome to the latest episode, looking back at the season and the hiring of Andoni Iraola. I’m Paul, joined by Haitham and Enrique. Arne Slot leaves, Andoni Iraola arrives Let’s start with Slot - won a title, unbelievable adversity to deal with The underlying numbers were referenced James Pearce ‘What Iraola needs to learn from Slot’s failings’ Don’t lose one of your players before the season star...

Welcome to the latest episode, looking back at 1 point from 3 games and now an important last game home to Brentford where fortuitously 1 point is needed to absolutely guarantee Champions League football next season. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Enrique. Part One: Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa Team selection - limited options obviously. How much of a pass should the team get? The optim...

Welcome to the latest episode, going to look at Sunday’s match at Old Trafford and then look at where the team is, in the light of this week’s Champions League semi-finals. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Justin. Part One: Facing this Manchester United Team selection Anticipation of how the game plays out United were overwhelmed by Leeds 2 weeks ago in the first half (conceded 2 goals). They came out...

Welcome to the latest episode, after a quieter week. Into the one game a week pattern now. Nice (comfortable?) win over Palace in the Anfield sunshine. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Sean. Part One: Liverpool 3, Crystal Palace 1 Palace continue to be a difficult team to play against - and they were at full strength. Although our record against them since 2017-18 is 13W, 3D and 2 losses in the league....

Welcome to the latest episode, after a big week. Tough Champions League loss, but then there was a 100th minute winner from big Virg in the Merseyside Derby. Disappointment about the result against PSG maybe not the performance, complete joy about the win at the Hill-Dicko whatever the performance. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Enrique. Part One: PSG at Anfield, Everton in their new stadium PSG - fo...

Welcome to the latest episode, Liverpool’s losing run comes to an end at home to Fulham, with a 2-0 win. A lot more control about that performance than many of late. The defeats to City and PSG didn't feel great. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Justin. It’s been a month since the last episode. I think it’s fair to say that some disagreements about where the team is at and conversations about blame...

Welcome to the latest episode, Liverpool’s winning run comes to an end at Wolves. Conceding another 90+ minute goal - feels yuk. The 5-2 over West Ham offered quite a different feeling. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Justin. Part One - First half - slow and predictable said the captain. Slot was very upset, we are told. Play Frimpong and give him the ball before the final third too many times First h...

Welcome to the latest episode, after Liverpool win 2 successive away games against shitball teams - the Reds got a late winner and people were doing cartwheels about the ‘bank robbery’ that took place in Nottingham on Sunday. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Justin. Part One - First half - not our best 45 minutes: Had a week to prepare? Balls jumped off our feet’. Curtis started too optimistically? Fel...

Welcome to the latest episode of this, the 7th season - after Liverpool finally overcame a shitball team away from home - after the low of the City match, the boys in Red rallied to produce a really solid away performance at Sunderland. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Alex.  Part One - Sunderland away (xG 0.63 to 2.53) Solid in the first half, aside from 1st minute foul throw Less control in the secon...

Welcome to the latest episode of this, the 7th season - after Liverpool had a tough weekend - after wins over Qarabag and Newcastle bumped back down to earth with a bizarre finish to the City match. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Sean.  2nd best in the first 30 minutes 35 minutes in the second half Seemed to throttle back in intensity and territory after the goal  Big miss from Hugo?  We’ve dropped 8...

Welcome to the latest episode of this, the 7th season - after Liverpool had a big week with wins over Qarabag and Newcastle. I’m Paul, joined by Daz. We are going to review the last 6 - Barnsley, Burnley, Marseille, Bournemouth, Qarabag and Newcastle. Barnsley - went strong, could have been a walk in the park…  xG 2.04 to 1.41 (although 0.9 had to be the goal) Burnley - reaction in the ground seem...

Happy New Year to all our listeners!! We are here with the 27th episode of this the 7th season - between games 19 and 20. We are going to review the state of the nation after those 19 league games and 6 champions league games. I’m Paul, joined by Enrique and Daz. We aren’t going to do much of a specific review of the Leeds game, although some of the themes we will talk about were very evident in t...

We are back with the 26th episode of the 7th season - making up for lost time. I’m Paul, joined by Sean and Daz. We are going to do a review of the Spurs and Wolves games, and a look ahead at Leeds on New Year’s day. After the Leeds game we’ll do a bit of a state of the nation after 19 league games and 6 champions league games. Part One - Spurs away.   Line up and approach Injuries didn’t leave a...

Sorry for the slight delay… we’ve been on hiatus for the last 6 games. It’s the 25th episode of the 7th season. I’m Paul, joined by Justin and Daz. The Reds have won 3 of those 6, 2 draws and a weird defeat against PSV at Anfield. Part One - The Good Unbeaten in 5 - last 2 games particularly, although signs through the last 5 where we are very much set up to be more solid: Lots of bright spots aga...

Welcome dear listener to the 24th episode of the 7th season of First State Kopites. I’m Paul and I am joined by Justin. The Reds returned to action home to Forest and the outcome wasn’t great. Some recurring themes and a disappointing game: For 30 minutes, they created  a bunch of chances - 1.10 vs 0.21 in the first half Macca at 8 minutes - headed of the line Kerkez 16 - foul, not a penalty we ge...

Welcome dear listener to the 23rd episode of the 7th season of First State Kopites. I’m Paul and I am joined by Daz. The Reds return to action Saturday home to Forest and the host PSV next Wednesday. Part One - what’s been happening? Andy Robbo - “I’ve hid it well but today I’ve been in bits,”  “I know the age I’m at this is my last chance of a World Cup and I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out o...

Welcome dear listener to the 22nd episode of the 7th season of First State Kopites. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Enrique and Daz. The Reds follow up their win over Real Madrid with a disappointing loss at the Etihad (which for once appeared to be lively) Part one -  Always want to start with the comments we made at the start of the season - we should not be picking on any of these boys on the...

Welcome dear listener to the 21st episode of the 7th season of First State Kopites. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Justin and Daz. The Reds follow up their win over Aston Villa, with a really strong showing against a full strength Real Madrid, who are shit BTW Part one - Beating Real Madrid The game: Built on Saturday’s performance. Determination, spacing, getting Mo involved Midfield looked po...

Welcome dear listener to the 20th episode of the 7th season of First State Kopites. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Sean and Daz. The Reds get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. They end the weekend back in the top 4. And in the mean time we passed on the Carabao Cup for this season. Part One  - A performance from the title winning season: The midfield looked like the one...

APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE DROP ON THIS ONE. STILL WORTH A LISTEN!! Welcome dear listener to the 19th episode of the 7th season of First State Kopites. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Daz. In a week where there have been so many hot takes we could probably have heated a major city through a nuclear winter. We’ve taken a couple of days to reflect with our review of Brentford 3, Liverpool 2. Part One ...

Welcome dear listener to First State Kopites. The podcast of the Premier League Champions. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Daz and Justin. Podcast has been slow in recording…. Part One: ‘I was incredibly disheartened last night by the general reaction to the result, and the poor analysis that followed in many quarters; even from some of the more rational analysts. I find the hysteria after defea...

[ Apologies about the sound quality in parts of the recording, it’s worth it to persevere ] Welcome dear listener to First State Kopites. The podcast of the Premier League Champions. We are going back to our roots today. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Daz and a special guest who first joined us early in season one - Keith Salmon, author and big Liverpool fan. Step back to an early episode: Keit...

Welcome dear listener to First State Kopites. The podcast of the Premier League Champions. We are going to preview Man United at home in a week’s time. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Daz and Sean.  Wins against Chelsea and Sunderland - higher xG difference than us. A team that still has gaps; will their recent results make them more adventurous? Expectations of the way the game plays out? Team...

Welcome dear listener to First State Kopites. The podcast of the Premier League Champions. We are going to review Chelsea last Saturday, with the benefit of few days distance. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Daz and Sean.  Away at Chelsea - xG 1.0 (0.11 first half) to 1.95 (0.64). 4 big chances to their 2. Immediate reaction vs. the chance to watch it again. How different were the narratives ver...

Upcoming - Chelsea away. All doesn’t seem to be well….  Losses against United and Brighton What do we know, think and hope Team selection - (Bradley, Szobozlai, Mac Allister, Isak, Ibou) Expectations of the way the game plays out? We’ll be back with a preview of the Chelsea game. Thanks to Justin and Daz for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us. If you enjoyed...