0:01 probably saying you've gone from
0:02 strength to strength. That win at the
0:04 weekend over Aston Villa was very
0:07 important. Building on that tonight.
0:09 >> Yeah, I think there was uh a lot of
0:11 energy, a lot of hard work put in the
0:14 performance today. I think um you
0:16 obviously I think they won 14 in the
0:20 last 15. They have a lot of quality. We
0:21 all know that. We we know their
0:23 strengths. We know how they can punish
0:25 you. We've seen it in recent weeks. So,
0:26 we had to be spot on in everything we
0:28 do. And at times you come in a low block
0:30 and that that's something that we had to
0:33 accept and I think we uh performed our
0:34 game plan perfectly.
0:36 >> You have been on a disappointing run
0:38 before that game at the weekend and we
0:39 know after the Manchester United game
0:42 you took the players together and tried
0:44 to kind of find out maybe I don't know
0:46 you tell us what was going on. How
0:47 important was that meeting do you think
0:49 and how things have changed since then?
0:51 was easy to say now because we won twice
0:53 in a row that that it helped pretty
0:56 well. But I think in a world of chaos,
0:57 you have to try and stay calm and and
1:00 look take the perspective of of things.
1:02 You know, we in uh at that meeting the
1:04 time was October. So many football to be
1:06 played, so many twists and turns that
1:10 can happen. And I think um at times the
1:12 the noise was a was a lot.
1:13 >> You looking at anybody around here?
1:15 >> No, I'm not I'm not at all. Listen, I think
1:17 think
1:19 I think it's it's it's it's very
1:21 important to put things in perspective.
1:24 Uh keep your head down, work, and get
1:26 out of situation because quality we
1:27 have. That's not the issue. It's about
1:29 keep working and keep going.
1:30 >> Does the outside noise affect your age,
1:32 Joe? Are you just happy plotting along
1:34 just trying to put people right?
1:35 >> I think all of you know here that you're
1:37 dealing with obviously a squad of 25
1:40 players, a lot of young players, couple
1:42 older players like myself, and everyone
1:44 lives a different life. So I can say
1:45 like for me personally like it doesn't
1:47 affect me but obviously I'm dealing as a
1:48 captain with players that might been
1:51 affected about it. So you have to
1:53 >> has the criticism and some of it been
1:54 fair do you think?
1:55 >> Of course it is. If you lose game as a
1:57 Liverpool player four or five in a row,
2:00 then that's a fair criticism. That is
2:04 absolutely normal in that sense. But I
2:07 think it's um over the top at times as
2:09 well at at at that point. But listen,
2:10 that's that's because we live in a world
2:13 that so many platforms, so many people
2:15 can say stuff and will be picked up and
2:17 made bigger than what else. Well, I
2:19 think it's good that especially ex
2:21 players that play at the highest level
2:22 played at the top that dealt with
2:24 difficult moments as well to put also a
2:26 lot of things in perspective. I think
2:27 >> I'm not saying it no more. I think I've
2:29 spared them on. I think we put them on a
2:31 winning streak. But no, I think when you
2:32 win the Premier League and I think what
2:35 I've said it was fair when you win the
2:37 Premier League and then you go on a run
2:39 where you lose three, four games in a
2:40 row, which you don't expect from
2:42 Liverpool over the last few years. And
2:44 then as Virgil as the cap as you as the
2:46 captain I think that's your opportunity
2:48 then to go and lead the players in and
2:49 that and that's what I was saying. I
2:51 think that happens in football and I
2:53 think the response has been great um
2:55 from from Virgil from the team. So um
2:57 >> I I think if you would watch games then
2:58 I would definitely take the
2:59 responsibility. I think the comment
3:01 about that I signed my new deal and then
3:04 it's like you know that's it and I'll
3:05 let it uh let it slide. I think that was
3:06 a bit
3:08 >> but that's my personal opinion.
3:10 >> But do you use do you use things like
3:11 that? Does that inspire you?
3:13 >> Because I want I want to perform for the
3:15 team, for the club, for each and
3:16 everyone that will support us through
3:18 thick and thin and when we go through a
3:19 tough time as a team, when we lose in
3:22 games that obviously unfortunate that
3:23 didn't happen too many times and it
3:25 hurts me so much and I want to turn this
3:28 around and because I also see the hard
3:30 work we put in each and every day. I see
3:33 the quality that we have and um
3:34 >> can we talk specifically about defense
3:36 because that's backto-back clean sheets
3:38 and 10 games before that
3:38 >> forever. Yeah. >> Yeah.
3:40 >> Yeah.
3:41 didn't achieve that. So, a great
3:43 performance from Connor Bradley tonight
3:45 as well. How how much does that please you?
3:46 you?
3:48 >> Well, I think that's the basis of
3:50 hopefully success. You know, I think you
3:51 can see at the moment Arsenal is is
3:54 flying and and it's down to obviously
3:56 having that basis of clean sheets, not
3:58 conceding chances. And I think that's
4:00 the that's what we had as well and
4:01 that's what we trying to find back.
4:03 Consistency start with defending. We
4:05 have the quality to hurt anyone on in
4:07 possession on the break, but it starts
4:08 with defending how much you put in. And
4:11 uh today shot saw the hard work. We saw
4:12 it as well against Villa. We didn't
4:13 create too many open chances back then,
4:16 but we we managed to find a find a win
4:18 and we have to keep going and uh Sunday
4:20 is going to be another difficult one and
4:21 we have to be ready for that as well.
4:23 >> Perfect platform though that you've
4:24 given yourselves off Saturday and
4:26 tonight heading to the Etiad.
4:28 >> Yeah, but we all know how football
4:31 works. It can change overnight and then
4:33 but we focus now on recovery. It sounds
4:35 boring, but it is what it is. We recover
4:37 it tomorrow. probably back at it and
4:39 then full focus will be on a on a tough
4:42 one against a very informed striker as
4:43 well like tonight.
4:45 >> Verge, did you uh get any opportunity to
4:46 see Trent before the game? There was a
4:49 lot of talk of the actual the conditions
4:50 he would have coped tonight. Have you
4:51 managed to see him or are you going to
4:52 get a chance to see him? >> No.
4:53 >> No. >> No.
4:54 >> No.
4:56 >> Verge talking about the the new signings
4:57 that have come into the club, played
5:00 many big games so far, moments like
5:02 tonight. What sort of feeling will that
5:04 give them considering all the noise
5:06 we're talking about? I think massive you
5:08 know I think it's about for them like
5:10 just show what you've been doing you
5:11 know already for all those years like
5:13 Florian started today on the left wing
5:15 and obviously it's difficult for a
5:17 defender already to have a play in front
5:20 of you that will go anywhere so he
5:22 played outstanding also in defending I
5:24 think he was he was outstanding Yugo is
5:26 a handful he keeps running keeps going
5:28 and runs in behind in his feet technical
5:31 very good Georgie obviously in absence
5:33 of of Ali you know it's it's just keep
5:35 going find your way into the team and
5:37 whenever you play be important and if
5:39 you're not then be important off the
5:41 pitch and I think uh the players have
5:43 have settled in in my eyes perfectly
5:44 maybe you have to ask them yourself but
5:46 I think in my eyes perfectly but
5:47 obviously we all get judged what you do
5:50 on the pitch and um step by step we'll
5:50 get them
5:52 >> I think I think one disappointment for
5:54 me but I think you could have won the
5:56 game by a lot more goals tonight
5:58 would you would you see that as a
6:00 disappointment but you should have three
6:00 or four more goals
6:02 >> sometimes you have to hold your hand up and
6:03 and
6:05 >> ka Yeah, rapid 1 nil. But I think you know
6:06 know
6:07 >> Yeah. Well, you can make it easier, but
6:08 you you have a goalkeeper against you.
6:10 That was outstanding and I think given
6:12 me a bit of a feeling that we had in
6:14 Paris when we let the when we lost the
6:16 final as well, but he was outstanding
6:19 today again and uh but we found a way
6:20 >> and now we move on.
6:20 >> Good mom.
6:22 >> Sadly, we're being asked to let you go.
6:25 Um but thank you very much and chatting
6:26 and best of luck for the rest of the week.
6:26 week.
6:27 >> Thank you very much, guys.
6:29 >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.
6:35 I think I think it's all good. I think
6:36 it's a truce there. I'd call that,
6:39 wouldn't you? I think you could probably
6:40 come on your podcast.
6:41 >> I think Virgil had him on the ropes.
6:42 >> I know. He had him on the ropes. He was
6:44 he was it. But you know what? I think
6:46 what's what's really refreshing is, you
6:47 know, he he he didn't have to come up
6:49 here. He's come up here and and faced.
6:50 It's obviously a lot easier when you
6:52 win. I thought he was he was really good
6:54 tonight. And and and what I was trying
6:55 to say to him there is we know the
6:57 standards that he's setting. And you
6:59 know, when you win the Premier League,
7:01 the hardest thing then is to go on and
7:03 do it again. And um he he'll tell you
7:04 himself, he don't think he's been as his
7:06 best this season, but over the last
7:07 couple of games, he's getting back to
7:09 that. And you know, when he's had his
