Micah Richards (1:57)

I didn't.

Alan Shearer (1:57)

I didn't.

Micah Richards (1:58)

I was it. Apparently so, yeah. I didn't have a clue.

Gary Lineker (2:01)

Yeah, so you didn't have a clue.

Micah Richards (2:03)

I didn't. I didn't. I couldn't even remember where it was. John said it was there, so if he says it's there, it must be there.

Gary Lineker (2:09)

So never been. I've got to got to change that. I've got to address that at some point. We'll talk about the games in a moment. This episode is powered by Fuse energy. Before we kick off a quick pre match warm up from Fuse, a question on the teams and players who make Things count. The question is which Premier League team scored the most goals from set pieces in 24, 25 season.

Alan Shearer (2:35)

I already know that one. Crystal palace final answer. Game over, done. I know it, I know it. It's in there.

Micah Richards (2:43)

Well, as I'm actually leading this quiz, I'm going to go Crystal palace too. So that makes me the winner.

Gary Lineker (2:51)

Crystal palace is the correct answer, followed by Aston Villa and then Arsenal. The best teams find an edge wherever they can. It should be the same with your energy. Take control of your energy like it's part of your game plan. Sign up@fuseenergy.com football using code football, all uppercase to save on your energy bill and get the chance to ask us your football question on the pod. Full terms and conditions@fuseenergy.com Arsenal are in good shape with that result. And I hate to start in a negative, but me. Var, I mean, what. Alan, on the. On the group chat, he came up with a phrase I'd never heard before and honestly, I was laughing for about 10 minutes. I just thought it was the most wonderful piece of swearing that summed it up.

Alan Shearer (3:42)

What was it?

Micah Richards (3:43)

Was it the wank bags of Var? I think.

Gary Lineker (3:46)

Wank bags? I think he said. Oh, man. Bags. I mean, what a phrase that is.

Micah Richards (3:52)

Well, that's how I felt at the time with. With both last night and tonight with. With va. I just think it's just a total shit show. It really is. I'll just go back to my point. The lie to us. The lie to us all they said about the knock on a referee, maximum benefit, minimum interference and all that shit. Yeah, that's all they do. And tonight and last night were great examples of it just been crap and not been any good for the game at all. Because those decisions, the penalty decision last night with the handball and the. Particularly the one that the referee. Referee give tonight. I mean, I didn't like the handball one anyway on Ben White. I don't like that one. But the one that he gave and then was sent to the screen was,

Gary Lineker (4:38)

I think it was, I thought, on the foot quite clearly.

Micah Richards (4:42)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (4:42)

I mean, I'm so weird that there

Alan Shearer (4:44)

wasn't that much contact on that one though, was it?

Micah Richards (4:47)

Yeah, he's given it, though. Is that. Is it a clear and obvious error?

Gary Lineker (4:50)

If he hadn't have given it on the field of play, I'd have gone, okay, all right, you got away with it. Yeah, but, you know, given the nature of what they give now, once he's given it on the field, yes, you can say it wasn't much contact, but there was contact on his toe. I just don't get it. I think Arsenal were really hard done to.

Alan Shearer (5:09)

On.

Gary Lineker (5:09)

On. On that sense tonight. They really were with that one in particular, the first one. I knew they'd give it because his hands were. I mean, the guy's miskicked a shot. It's going miles wide and because of the fact he's miskicked it so badly, it's. It's kind of hit that and he's trying to pull his arm out the way and in. I mean, I hate the handball or anyway, but the Tuesday's night one where it's. It's clearly come off his thigh.

Micah Richards (5:34)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (5:34)

And then hit his. I mean, it's just.

Micah Richards (5:37)

It's just mad nonsense. I said it on air, didn't I? Just think the handball laws are nonsense. I think they've just taken.

Gary Lineker (5:42)

If you'd have said wank bags on

Micah Richards (5:44)

air, I wouldn't have been in a job. I wouldn't have been in a job.

Gary Lineker (5:48)

You get away without a podcast sensation.

Micah Richards (5:52)

No, no, I wouldn't.

Alan Shearer (5:53)

Yeah, I'm hearing good things about you on commentary again, Alan, our mate's saying. Alan's. He's the best co commentator, isn't it? I was like, yeah, but he's a bell though, isn't he?

Micah Richards (6:06)

Helps when you get a great game like that though, doesn't it?

Gary Lineker (6:10)

There's been some cracking games in the Champions League this season and there was last season, remember the semi final was Barca Interla. That mad game as well.

Micah Richards (6:18)

Did that one as well. It was brilliant. That one as well. I just think. I think that. That one last evening, I think topped. I thought it was possibly the. One of the best games I've ever been to the forward player. The standard of forward play was outrageously good, wasn't it?

Gary Lineker (6:34)

It really was. I mean the. Both the front threes. And the thing is as well having a chat with Harry actually earlier about, you know, the way soon as they get the ball, the wingers, they can go at players, but that's because they get it to them so quick and so early. Whereas by the time, you know, you've messed around with a goalkeeper, then it back passes, then it crosses the back four and they've got time to back. By the time it gets to whoever's playing wide, they've got two or three to go up against. So they don't like taking them on, so they get it back. Although I think at least they would have done anyway. Oh, my goodness, how I Mean how of England, Mr. How did they let him slip out the net? I mean, God dear, I mean, how good is he going to be already is.

Alan Shearer (7:18)

How have we allowed Alise to leave the Premier League? I don't, I don't understand it. Forget England for a moment. It was right in front our eyes at Crystal palace. Right, right in front of it. And we all know it was going to be a, a top player. Maybe not as good as we're seeing now, but I mean that game yesterday Tuesday, if you listen to it, was just amazing. And you can talk about tactics all you want. I love the fact that both teams were just saying we believe our players are better than yours and we're going to show it. We're going to show it and I don't, I don't care. And even when it was what was five, two, you always think Bayern are going to SC get one that could get another. And it was end to end. But yeah, Michael, Lisa, I, I thought it was just. It was. His performance was outrageous. And the reason why I picked Michael Elise is because he's up again. My favorite fullback, Nuno Mendes.

Gary Lineker (8:14)

Never seen him ever, ever get a run around like he did in that game, like Elise did to him in that game. I've never seen that happen to him before.

Alan Shearer (8:22)

Oh my. What about when he went down the byline and then he got,

Gary Lineker (8:27)

and he

Alan Shearer (8:28)

got past Makinios and then he just dinked it. But it was ridiculous.

Micah Richards (8:33)

And Hakimi, I mean it's like they, both of them had such a tough night. I mean those three, I mean those, that front three. Elise, Kane and Diaz. 100 goals between them up to now. 100 goals between the three of them. I mean that's just outrageous.

Gary Lineker (8:50)

I mean Diaz as well last night was. I mean that goal with a cane pass and the way he brought it down, flicked in and obviously it was just on side and that. I'm pleased it was because he was such a bloody good goal.

Micah Richards (9:03)

Do you think he's gone up a level since he's left Liverpool as well? I mean I know he was good at Liverpool, but I was thinking that last night, how, how have Liverpool let him go?

Gary Lineker (9:12)

Maybe the way they play. The way they play as well.

Alan Shearer (9:15)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (9:16)

So almost good. And I love the managers, the two coaches attitudes even after the game, you know, one or two someone said to company a little bit about, well, you know, some of the def. And he's gone, you know, what do you want? Yeah, I mean. And he also said something along the lines of the Fact, he said you can play when you've got quality like that, you can play two ways. You can either completely sit back or you completely go for it and trust your players, he said, because if you go in the middle ground, you've got no chance. You're going to be buried. I mean it was just a breath of fresh air. And I know the Premier League this season has at times been a little bit dour and there's no question our team's been play way more football. Psg, there's some interesting stats which Harry's going to give me now because obviously psg, they get rested before Champions League games. The league allows them to do that. The number of games that the big stars play, significantly fewer. Vitinia 27 games this season. Hakimi 18 games. It's worth adding he did play in the Africa cup of nations. Kravach Galea 25 games. Nuno Menge, as you like to call him, Mendez 20 games. Desiree do a 20 games. So I mean they look fit, they look fresh by comparison. We've got some data here that percentage of minutes played for for their teams this season. Bettinha 74% of minutes and Pacho 68% of PSG's most used outfield players. Yet they barely crack the top five at any English club in the entire league. Arsenal have rice at 93%, Zubamendi 93%, Timber 80%, Gabriel 80% all significantly higher. Even City with their squad 95%. Semenya, I know he's joined recently. Gay 94%, Haaland 91%, Bernardo Silva 85% and so it goes on and on. Marquinhos, PSG's captains played just 32% of league minutes, roughly 11 full games out of the 30 that they've played in the league. Dembele 34% is he's essentially a part time league player. This season concentrates on the Champions League. So that is a significant advantage.

Alan Shearer (11:40)

I would say them stats are very good. But psg, don't forget PSG had a lot of injuries also and I think they've all come into form at the right time. Similar to last season. You remember when they had to go to the playoffs to get through and end up winning it. I think what's interesting about that, the English players have had to play, all the people in the Premier League have had to play that much. But it's how physical it is as well, you know, I think that is more what I be looking at with those stats. But don't Forget PSG went to the club World Cup. You mentioned Hakimi was at the African nations as well. So they are putting minutes in other parts in other competitions. But you're totally right, that's not sustainable for the players in the Premier League with that physicality to be able to be consistent. But that's when you say are the Premier League teams utilizing their squad as they should be. So I think the wider point is yes, they have got an advantage 100 and the stats tell the story. But when you've got 25 players that you can pick from and we boast about Arsenal having such a big squad this year, then that's the manager's, you know, should be managing the plays a little bit better.

Micah Richards (13:01)

I would say we can't have it both ways. I mean the finance in our league dictates probably why we've got the best league, albeit not this season. So we can't have it always. You get huge finance and the clubs have huge squads for a reason. You know, they don't have to play those big hitters all the time if they don't want. They've got bigot as it was sitting on the bench. But that's the reason why they get paid huge money. That's why the Premier League is known worldwide and everyone wants to watch it because of the finance in there. So it's, it's I suppose as well.

Gary Lineker (13:33)

I suppose as well. When you look at it, PSG are pretty much guaranteed to win the French League. I mean they were trailing for a little while this season but now I think they're about five points clear. I mean Bayern Munich have absolutely cruised the league this season. So he's been able to rest certain players. Harry Kane's been left out and rested a little bit. He's had one or two little Knox as well. So it, I think it's a really interesting point.

Micah Richards (14:00)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (14:00)

But you know, it's. I suppose it's perhaps the price you pay a little bit for the competitive nature of our football. Yeah, I want to talk about the two front threes which is the best of those two and then I'll come on to all time club best front threes. I mean Kavish K, Desiree Dewey and Dembele is, is pretty much Scalia is

Alan Shearer (14:25)

on the left without, without doubt. It's unbelievable if you see how hard he works as well to get the ball back and then he can go both ways. Got to play on the left at least. I don't think he can say which one's better I think you've got to mix the two. At least say, he's the best on the right, isn't he? You've got to say, at least at the moment.

Gary Lineker (14:48)

I mean he's. Yeah. I mean we were talking about how you've let him go from the Premier League. I remember talking to Steve Parish when he. He was going to lose E and. And Elise and he went, elise is the one. He's a superstar. He said, I don't think people realize yet, he said, but he's so, so special and he's been proven absolutely right.

Micah Richards (15:08)

You know what was so refreshing about the front threes last night in terms of not not only the running off the ball, but as soon as they got the ball, the first thought was one, either I'm putting the ball or two, I'm going at the full back. Like news. It was hardly any thought of. I'm just going to knock it back. That for me was the big thing last night is how positive both teams were. Passing forward, running forward. The standard of, of both front threes was just. It was magnificent. It was. It was great to be there and watch it.

Gary Lineker (15:39)

It was Harry Kane as well. Not. Yeah, he got his goal obviously and also that pass for Diaz was. I mean, what all that.

Micah Richards (15:48)

I mean, so clever at that.

Gary Lineker (15:49)

He's. His all round game is. I mean it's really incredible. And he drop deep a lot of times, but. Well, we saw. Didn't. With England when he drops deep, we didn't have the players go past. But obviously that is not the case with Bayern. They've got loads of players that go. And sometimes he's the three or four players in the box and he's not one of them.

Micah Richards (16:06)

Yep, exactly.

Gary Lineker (16:07)

But he's such an intelligent footballer, Harry Kane. He really is. Let's take a break here. When we come back, I'm gonna. I'm gonna put it alongside one or two of the all time front threes and we'll perhaps compare and get a view on that. Welcome back to the Resties Football with Alan Shearer, Michael Richardson, me, Gary Lineker. I did say before the break we're going to discuss front threes. For starters, there are only five front threes that have ever scored a combined total of 100 goals or more.

Micah Richards (16:51)

Really?

Gary Lineker (16:51)

Yeah. In certainly in recent times since. Since 2013, 14. This is so Kane, Diaz and Lisa have sneaked in there. They've now got 100. Obviously the PSG guys have not played as much football, so They've not made 100 goals but they Are absolutely fabulous, aren't they? Really are. So then, in fourth place, also with 100 goals, was Renown Ronaldo Benzema and Gareth bale. That was 2014, 15 top three. Any ideas?

Alan Shearer (17:26)

Messi, Neymar, Suarez.

Gary Lineker (17:29)

Yep, that's one of them. And the other two.

Alan Shearer (17:32)

Messi's got to be in it again.

Gary Lineker (17:33)

Yeah. Messi, Neymar, Suarez. In 2015, 16, 131 1.

Alan Shearer (17:46)

Wow.

Gary Lineker (17:47)

In 2014, 15, 122. And in third place, 111 goals. In 2016, 17. I mean, wow. Messi, Suarez and Neymar. I mean, that.

Alan Shearer (18:00)

That's just about.

Gary Lineker (18:02)

It's impossible to get better than that. But I think. I think these two front threes, along with perhaps that. That term, certainly that Real Madrid one would have to be, I would say, the next. I can't think of anything that gets remotely close.

Micah Richards (18:18)

Got everything?

Gary Lineker (18:19)

Yeah.

Micah Richards (18:19)

It's just. Just a joy to watch. It really was. I mean, that's why. That's why you pay the entrance fee to. To go and watch players like that. And they more than put on a show last night for whoever paid for a ticket. It was great value for money.

Alan Shearer (18:32)

Yeah. I mean, if you look at Real Madrid, they play with two up front now, though, because it's changed now.

Gary Lineker (18:38)

Yeah.

Alan Shearer (18:38)

You would like to just think Vinicius, Mbappe and another one could. Could challenge for that in the year. There's still good ages. I mean, Mbappe's been a bit unlucky and he. He leaves psg, they win the Champions League, he goes to Real Madrid.

Gary Lineker (18:53)

Could he play the way he plays with Mbappe, Luis, Enrique? There's a fascinating couple of clips that I've seen where lri is talking about his work ethic and stuff like that. Pressure. You've got to contribute, however good you are. And he, you know, he doesn't really like running back. And all the players at psg, they really do, don't they? So, yeah, it's part of the game. But, I mean, it's hard to be too critical. I mean, what's he got, 41 goals in 41 games or something this season in a team that's not been really that good.

Micah Richards (19:24)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (19:24)

Yeah.

Micah Richards (19:25)

He's different, isn't he? To what. To what they are. But, yeah, I'm not. I think there's no coincidence that they are a brilliant team now, and they weren't when he was there for. For obvious reason.

Gary Lineker (19:38)

Yeah. Can you remember who was the coach of Messi Suarez in Neymar?

Alan Shearer (19:43)

Enrique. Wasn't it trouble at Barcelona.

Gary Lineker (19:49)

What a team that was. Yeah,

Alan Shearer (19:57)

It's ridiculous.

Gary Lineker (19:58)

Yeah.

Alan Shearer (19:58)

No, the. The other one I was speaking at Real Madrid was Vinicius, Mbappe and Rodrigo. Remember when Rodrigo was on absolute fire, I thought.

Gary Lineker (20:05)

Yeah.

Alan Shearer (20:05)

I thought it was going to be those three who was going to injury

Gary Lineker (20:08)

as well, isn't it? Finish. So. Yeah, yeah.

Alan Shearer (20:10)

And he's had his injuries and stuff, but, yeah, it's going to be interesting.

Gary Lineker (20:15)

Which was the best goal in that game? That was nine goals, obviously. What the. The dodgy penalty decision.

Alan Shearer (20:20)

I like Klavashkeli as one.

Micah Richards (20:22)

Yeah, it was brilliant.

Alan Shearer (20:24)

I just. I just love how direct he was. And he could have went both ways.

Micah Richards (20:27)

Drop a shoulder, the pass and the touch. And the finish was brilliant.

Alan Shearer (20:31)

Yeah, Diaz's goal was good.

Gary Lineker (20:33)

Even Alicia's goal.

Alan Shearer (20:36)

Although the keeper, he's got in the middle of the goal. But the way he just. Yeah, there was some. Some brilliant strikes.

Gary Lineker (20:42)

Imagine being a keeper in that game. Oh, my God.

Micah Richards (20:46)

I mean, you should have saved that one. I just. It felt it would have been rude to even say that just because of.

Gary Lineker (20:51)

Yeah.

Micah Richards (20:52)

Do you know what they were just having. It was great to see because they would. It looked as if they were just playing in a park with, like, school football or something. It was like they just were having so much fun. It was. It was great.

Gary Lineker (21:03)

It was joyous. That's what it was. Absolutely joyous. Arsenal, I mean, it's a decent result away from home and there are different ways to win football matches and different styles to win competitions. I think you've said it micro. If there's one team that can perhaps play against and beat either PSG or Bayern, it might be Arsenal, with the way they, you know, they know how to defend. I mean, it's hard to look against either Bayern or PSG at present, but. But, you know, Arsenal have got themselves in a reasonable position. Unfortunate not to win the game, given the decisions that went against them, but they'd have taken that result, I think, before.

Alan Shearer (21:44)

Yeah, but I think we've got to look at the bigger picture. We've just been utilizing about all these front freeze and going back in history, in recent history. When you look at Arsenal's front three, they're not. They haven't got the confidence that the other players have. They're all good players. Martinet is a good player. I know Joker has. Gets stick. He's a very good player. And Madwicke, I know Saka's coming back from injury and he's gonna come on in the game, but they need to do More Arsenal can't now just rely on set pieces. So they got a set piece against Newcastle with the short corner. And Arsenal are very dangerous defensively. A back Arsenal more than anyone left in the competition to sneak a result, get a 1 nil. But they need more from the midfield and the attack because everything's too slow. No one's taking as much risk. They need to believe in themselves. Do you remember in October when they played each other Arsenal against Atletico and they need to play with that swagger again. Yes, of course. A couple of set pieces in, in that game. But it was oozing that confidence. If Arsenal get that confidence back. I know it's a little bit different because the end of the season it's pressure.

Micah Richards (23:00)

We've been seeing that for a while, haven't we now?

Gary Lineker (23:03)

I, I do. You know, I think there, there are some players that they've, I think Saka, they've missed. Obviously he's not played that much and he's kind of injury led season in many ways. I think Calif Fiori and Timber have a real energy about them and I think they've missed that. And I don't see that much energy in, in. In the side at the moment. Particularly in full, you know those four. But that, you know, you'd see Timber in the box a lot. Bombing for Califiori. Bombing for.

Micah Richards (23:36)

Yeah, we did analysis on that early on about how. How important they were to the way Arsenal play and how how clever they were in getting into forward positions.

Alan Shearer (23:45)

But don't remember. It was just 18 months ago. We was talking about the partnership with Ben White and Saka. Ben White overlapping, Saka getting cross crosses into the box and all that sort of stuff. I think it's more coming from the, the manager now. I know they sort of change the shape in the game, but he's playing with essentially four center halfs at the back, isn't he? And he doesn't really want them to go. He wants to be a bit more defensive. But I totally agree with Timber because Timber, I think he made a difference and in, in terms of the stats going forward, yes, he was very good defensively. Put a. When he arrived in the box he just caused chaos and he had a little bit of calmness as well on the ball. So I would agree with that. But I think, I still think Ben White could be utilized in that position and do a good job like he's done before. But they're not playing that way anymore.

Micah Richards (24:32)

You know, I thought they did all right. Particularly first off, I Thought they were good, they were a better team. They silenced the quality, the quiet in the crowd and they were a better team first off. But Athletico came out a lot better in the, in the second half. And yeah, I think it was a, it's a, it's a decent result for them. But it's a tough one to call because two, I don't know, two stubborn sides, I would say, I would guess, yeah, similarities. A lot less flair in, in that game than there certainly was in, in last night's game. But you just never know in a one off game, do you? Just never know in terms of style of play and all of that. But it's a tough one to call. Arsenal, who's going to get through as is the other one.

Alan Shearer (25:13)

Actually, it's a strange one, you know, because I've been watching Atletico for a while now. I know that Al, you've been doing the Champions League, but actually they, they don't normally play like that. You know, subconsciously we think Atletico, they're just gonna have men behind the ball, but they've not been playing like that at all. They've been playing out from the back, taking risk. As soon as it gets to the Champions League semifinal, the revert back to what, what we all expect.

Gary Lineker (25:39)

Second half, they played more like they've done this this season.

Alan Shearer (25:42)

They needed a goal though, didn't they? They needed a goal and they pushed for it and they were trying to get the second one, so. So yes, that's normally how they've been

Gary Lineker (25:50)

playing, I tell you. Still a good player. Still a really good player. Antoine Griezmann. Oh, such a clever like footballer, isn't he's? Such a good player.

Micah Richards (26:01)

So is Alvarez, by the way.

Gary Lineker (26:03)

Oh, yeah. Oh yeah.

Micah Richards (26:04)

I don't know whether he's going to be injured or not for next week.

Gary Lineker (26:07)

He's been linked with Arsenal, hasn't he? And Barcelona, so all the big clubs,

Micah Richards (26:10)

you'd expect that good player, really good

Gary Lineker (26:12)

player who's going through to the final both games.

Micah Richards (26:19)

PSG and Arsenal.

Gary Lineker (26:21)

Micah.

Alan Shearer (26:22)

Yeah, I, I think psg, I'm going player for player. And if they're gonna go and play again like they did in the first leg, I think psg, just edge it on individual brilliance. Just edge it just a little bit. Just a little bit. I'm giving it even 51.49. That. That's how close I think is. Plus they've got the, the goal advantage. So I would say psg. Arsenal at the Emirates. I think it depends what happens against Fulham. If we get a good result against Fulham, then I think Arsenal go through you guys.

Gary Lineker (26:56)

I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go Brexit on the PSG game. 5248. I think Arsenal 65, 35 in their favor. I think. I think they're gonna. I've got food. Arsenal going to win the. I. I know this is mental, but I think they might miss out on the League and win the Champions League.

Alan Shearer (27:17)

Really could do.

Gary Lineker (27:18)

I mean, it would be a bit mad because it. They've never won that competition and. And in. In a way, I think some of the fans might be a bit disappointed with that, but they shouldn't be. They shouldn't. It would be exceptionally special, particularly if they manage to get to the final and beat either of these absolutely fabulous sides. But. But psg, whoever wins that, that game has to be a strong favor final for me. So there we have it. We shall see. We're often wrong, though, so. But we'll find out. Well, we'll find out who's the final next week. It's great that it comes around next week, so. Can't wait for that. But that's it for this episode. We'll be back with our usual Monday episode, looking at a big weekend of Premier League football. But for now, goodbye from me.

Alan Shearer (28:05)

Goodbye from me.

Micah Richards (28:06)

Goodbye from me.

Gary Lineker (28:07)

It.