The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: The Preview – Liverpool vs Man United

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Matt Davis Adams
Guests: Megan Feringa, Ollie Kay

Episode Overview

This episode of The Athletic FC Podcast gears up listeners for the standout fixture of Premier League Matchday 8: Liverpool vs Manchester United at Anfield. Host Matt Davis Adams is joined by The Athletic’s Megan Feringa and Ollie Kay to break down the key narrative threads, tactical talking points, injury news, and broader context around both teams. The trio also swiftly covers other big Premier League fixtures set for the weekend, discusses wider trends in English football, and rounds out with some quick-fire, fun opinions on intriguing subplots elsewhere in the league.

Main Discussion: Liverpool vs Manchester United

Recent Form and Pressure Points

• Liverpool:
  • In “very unfamiliar territory”, having lost three games in a row for the first time in years. Concerns about squad integration and continued vulnerabilities (especially in defense) are mounting. (04:07)
  • “If they were to lose this game or even to draw it unconvincingly, they will be in very unfamiliar territory for Arne Slot and for the modern Liverpool, really.” – Ollie Kay (04:07)
• Manchester United:
  • Sitting 10th after another slow start; haven't won back-to-back games all season. However, Amarim has historically performed better against top sides (e.g., wins vs City, draws at Anfield, victories at Arsenal). (05:00)
  • Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly given Ruben Amarim a “three-year” mandate, suggesting more long-term thinking. But the explicit timeframe means expectations have shifted: “That hourglass is now tipping.” – Megan Feringa (05:20)

Key Team News & Injuries (06:13)

• Liverpool:
  • Defensive injuries: Konaté forced off for France, Gravenberch a precautionary withdrawal. Joe Gomez has not put together a long run of games due to injuries. Lack of summer reinforcements (missed out on Marc Guéhi) intensifies worries.
  • “If you’re looking at weak spots in Liverpool’s squad, that’s certainly one of them [central defense].” – Ollie Kay (06:34)
  • Van Dijk’s recent performances have attracted ridicule online, putting further pressure on Liverpool’s defensive leadership.
• Right Back Dilemma:
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence looms large. The club’s attempts to rotate through Bradley, Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Gomez, and Endo haven’t produced a “compelling option.”
  • “They [Liverpool] miss Trent Alexander-Arnold, most obviously his ability to make a defensive-splitting pass…They need to find some stability in that position.” – Ollie Kay (09:25)
• Fullback Vulnerability:
  • Left-back also a concern: Robertson’s struggles continue for Scotland; Kirk has not found his Bournemouth form. Opponents could exploit these flanks, but Amarim isn’t likely to abandon his system.

Manchester United’s Approach

• Amarim, the “man of the system,” loves his 3-4-3 and is unlikely to outright target Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses even though the opportunity is there. “He’s obviously a man of the system and is going to worship at that altar.” – Megan Feringa (11:39)

Tactical & Statistical Trends

Open Play Goals Dropping (15:31)

• Goals per game from open play down to 1.69—the lowest in over 15 years.
  • “What we’re seeing this season is almost a reversion…direct football, lots of set pieces, really, really, incredibly long stoppages. And I found it boring, to be honest.” – Ollie Kay (15:55)
• Both Liverpool and United, however, are “not particularly of that kind of set piece-fixated style” and should avoid the slow, attritional games seen elsewhere, though expectations for a repeat of Liverpool’s 7-0 win are very low.

Score Predictions

• Megan Feringa: 3-1 Liverpool
  • “I do think United are going to score in the first half and everyone’s going to get excited, and then it will just end sadly...” (17:31)
• Ollie Kay: 2-1 Liverpool
  • “Probably about time Isak or Wirtz clicked…like Megan, I can see United scoring and posing a few problems and definitely not another 7-0.” (17:56)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Amarim’s job security:

  “Technically like that hourglass is now tipping. He’s put the explicit timeframe onto him, which before it was just a long time.”
  — Megan Feringa (05:20)

• On Liverpool’s defensive frailty:

  “If you’re looking at weak spots in Liverpool's squad, that’s certainly one of them.”
  — Ollie Kay (06:34)

• On Manchester United system:

  “He’s obviously a man of the system and he’s going to worship at that altar.”
  — Megan Feringa (11:39)

• On the state of the league’s attacking play:

  “It’s gone so far in one direction, it’s going back in another. There’s been a lot of set pieces, long throws, and incredibly long stoppages. I found it boring, to be honest.”
  — Ollie Kay (15:55)

“Put Your Shirt On It” Quiz Segment (07:23)

• This week’s kit: Real Madrid 2003 home, clue relates to a Liverpool player who played against Manchester United in all three domestic competitions but never scored.
• Ollie Kay correctly guesses: Fernando Morientes (08:11)
• Fun banter follows about memory for football trivia:
  • “I can do this post-2016 but anything before then, everything’s a blur.” – Megan Feringa (08:43)
  • “I could do it pre-2016. Everything since 2016 is a blur for me.” – Ollie Kay (08:57)

Additional Premier League Fixture Previews

Arsenal vs Fulham (22:15)

• Arsenal:
  • Need to win these “litmus test” away games to prove title credentials. Praised for “best defense in the league” and “actual squad” with depth to cover injuries to key men like Ødegaard. (22:40, 23:57)
• Fulham:
  • Suffering from thin squad exacerbated by injuries. Lack of summer recruitment due to strategic investments off the pitch leaves Marco Silva no choice but to turn to youth.
  • “I think Fulham, you’re gonna end up seeing them really need to just kind of rely on some of these younger kids…because at this point, what else do you do really? Especially against Arsenal.” – Megan Feringa (25:10)

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth (29:21)

• Battle of two of the league’s more interesting managers—Oliver Glasner (Palace) and Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth).
• Antoine Semenyo spotlighted for being “involved in 14 of Bournemouth’s last 18 goals.” Semenyo “is so fun…his story is great, he is a player who’s grafted.” – Megan Feringa (31:34)

Tottenham v Aston Villa (33:18)

• Spurs:
  • Thomas Frank praised for restoring fundamentals post-Postecoglou, but now must evolve the attack.
  • “That next part of the Frank evolution is getting them to be just a little bit more exciting.” – Megan Feringa (33:48)
• Villa:
  • Picking up momentum but face a crucial stretch with Tottenham, Man City, Liverpool, and Bournemouth next up.
  • “They do need to go up another level, really, if they’re to get out of this slump.” – Ollie Kay (35:38)

Quickfire Round: Other Premier League Topics (36:38 onwards)

• Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea: Should Ange Postecoglou be worried about job security? “Yes.” – Ollie Kay (37:02)
• Brighton vs Newcastle: On celebrating against former clubs: “Just give me some argy-bargy…I’m happy with it.” – Megan Feringa (37:43)
• Man City vs Everton: Will Haaland break his own scoring record? “I’m gonna say yes.” – Megan Feringa (38:36)
• Burnley vs Leeds: Likely to be last on Match of the Day? “Yeah.” – Ollie Kay (38:52)
• West Ham vs Brentford & The London Stadium: “All of my West Ham friends would say absolutely yes [it’s the worst venue].” – Megan Feringa (39:09)

Final Takeaways

• Liverpool and Manchester United both approach the weekend’s marquee fixture under pressure, though for different reasons – Liverpool’s rare run of defeats has fans anxious, while United’s slow improvement is offset by new long-term but explicit expectations for Amarim.
• The pod unpacks the critical defensive weaknesses at Liverpool and the challenges of consistency in club strategy and recruitment—issues mirrored across several top teams in the previewed matches.
• A notable drop in open play goals is changing the feel of the season, with concerns that the product is less entertaining for neutrals.
• Several fixtures are crucial for teams fighting for improvement (Arsenal, Spurs, Villa, Fulham, Palace, Bournemouth), with squad depth and trust in managers recurring as central themes.
• The tone throughout remains grounded yet witty—never too dramatic but insightful about the state of the clubs and their tactics.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:16 – Main Liverpool-United preview begins
• 04:07 – Pressure on Slot vs Amarim discussed
• 05:20 – Ratcliffe’s 3-year plan and Amarim’s backing
• 06:13 – Liverpool’s defensive injury issues
• 09:03 – The right-back quandary at Liverpool without Trent
• 11:08 – Fullback vulnerabilities and Amarim’s tactical stubbornness
• 15:31 – Discussion on the drop in open play goals in PL
• 17:31 – Score predictions for Liverpool-United
• 22:15 – Arsenal-Fulham preview
• 29:21 – Palace-Bournemouth preview, Glasner v Iraola
• 31:34 – Antoine Semenyo’s impact and Premier League “fun factor”
• 33:18 – Tottenham vs Aston Villa analysis
• 36:38 – Quickfire round of the weekend’s remaining fixtures

For Listeners Seeking Just the Football

This episode is a one-stop shop for sharp, entertaining analysis of the weekend’s Premier League action, with a deep-dive on Liverpool vs Manchester United, engaging tactical insight, squad updates, and a peppering of humor and personal anecdotes throughout.