Anfield Intelligence Podcast

World Cup Special - Predictions & More

0:00 – 10:00 * World Cup opening, intro & scene-setting * Both hosts on their general feelings about the tournament — timing issues, kick-off times, watching habits * Group-by-group predictions begin: Groups A through E (Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, USA, Germany) 10:00 – 20:00 * Group predictions continue: Groups F through L (Netherlands, Belgium/Egypt, Spain, France, Austria/Argentina, Portugal, England) * Third-place qualifier selections * Round of 32 knockout matchups and predictions run through in full * Round of 16 matchups and predictions 20:00 – 30:00 * Quarter-final and semi-final predictions * Final prediction: Spain vs Argentina debate * Potential upsets discussed * Liverpool players at the World Cup — Alisson (Brazil) and the Mamardashvili/goalkeeper situation 30:00 – 40:00 * Dutch trio: Van Dijk, Gravenberch and Gakpo — futures debated * Alexis Mac Allister — World Cup role and potential Real Madrid exit * Florian Wirtz — Germany’s creative hub, pre-season implications * Wataru Endo — squad role, likely departure * Transfer targets: Yan Diomande, Barcola, right-back options (Palestra, Coyte from Brentford) * Iraola system discussed — direct, vertical, relentless pressing style 40:00 – 50:00 * Trent Alexander-Arnold return rumours debated * Alex Scott from Bournemouth — Sandeep pushes back, makes case for Sangare and Lamine Kamara instead * Youth players and academy pipeline under Iraola * Iraola compared to Klopp/Benitez/Bielsa hybrid — excitement for new era * Liverpool’s ambitions for 2026/27 season framed 50:00 – 60:00 * New IFAB rules: 8-second keeper rule, captain-only protocol, 5-second restarts, slow sub rule, expanded VAR, mouth-covering red card * Rules discussed as unintentionally anti-Arsenal * Heat concerns across host cities, 3-minute cooling breaks * AOB: plan to do a follow-up pod once first signing confirmed * Konate departure, Jacquet as replacement, French market targets (Boadi, Pardo) * Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anfieldintelligence.substack.com [https://anfieldintelligence.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S1 - Ep 038 - Number 20 and a Year Later, Slot Out the Door

00:00 — Cold open & well-wishes The sacking lands, and a word for Keegan and King Kenny. 10:00 — The title that already feels like a lifetime ago Inside the 84-point season — and why the two campaigns felt like two managers. 20:00 — Grief, gym time and a system that lost its way The summer that shaped a collapse, and the loss no spreadsheet captures. 30:00 — Enter the Basque: who is Andoni Iraola? From a Cyprus dugout to the Bielsa school — the making of Slot’s successor. 40:00 — Heavy metal, reloaded What Iraola actually does on a pitch, and whether this squad can run it. 50:00 — Building the XI: Bournemouth boss, Liverpool tools Position by position — what’s already here and what’s still missing. 60:00 — Konaté’s exit, the managerial merry-go-round & next season A free-transfer farewell, a top-six reshuffle, and a bold prediction or two. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anfieldintelligence.substack.com [https://anfieldintelligence.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S1 - Ep 037 - Farewells and a Fresh Start

* 0:00–10:00 — Intro and season wrap-up: Liverpool’s season ends with Champions League qualification but lots of disappointment. Early discussion on Salah, Robertson, and the general feeling around the squad. * 10:00–20:00 — Brentford match setup: Talk through the starting XI, Brentford’s lineup, and early reaction to the game structure and midfield issues. * 20:00–30:00 — Match analysis: Key moments from the Brentford game, including Salah’s assist for Curtis Jones, Brentford’s equaliser, and the general low-event nature of the match. * 30:00–40:00 — Player departures and legacies: Discussion of Salah as one of Liverpool’s all-time greats, Robertson’s decline, and Curtis Jones potentially leaving. * 40:00–50:00 — Jordan Henderson return and club direction: Reflections on Henderson’s return to Anfield, the emotional send-off for Salah/Robertson, and broader concerns about Slot, the coaching staff, and possible changes. * 50:00–54:00 — Future outlook: Managerial options like Luis Enrique and Iriola, transfer/squad rebuild talk, and a quick prediction on the PSG vs Arsenal Champions League final. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anfieldintelligence.substack.com [https://anfieldintelligence.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S1 - Ep 036 - Cracks Continue At Villa Park

0:00 — 10:00 Tejas opens with the Villa Park intro and hands over to Sandeep. Sandeep delivers a wide-ranging verdict on the defeat — the defensive shape, the high line, being outrun, and why he believes the players stopped playing for Slot some time ago. 10:00 — 20:00 Tejas runs through the goals and key match stats. Slot’s post-match quotes are discussed, including his set-piece admission. The conversation turns to whether there is any data-based case for keeping Slot — and both hosts conclude there isn’t, with Tejas adding the Diogo Jota factor as the one context stat numbers cannot measure. 20:00 — 30:00 Sandeep draws the Brendan Rodgers parallel and argues the club is in a full transition. Tejas reads out Salah’s Instagram post in full and the pair dissect what it means — the “heavy metal” line, the timing, and whether Salah had the right to say it publicly. 30:00 — 40:00 The full list of players who liked Salah’s post is read out, including current first-team players. Both hosts agree it reads as a dressing-room message to the board. Xabi Alonso signing for Chelsea is discussed — and whether Liverpool ever had a genuine chance to appoint him. 40:00 — 45:00 The Brentford final-day preview. Both hosts are pessimistic about Champions League qualification. Salah and Robertson’s farewell is discussed. Tejas closes with the outro. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anfieldintelligence.substack.com [https://anfieldintelligence.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S1 - Ep 035 - One All. That's All.

0:00 – 10:00 Welcome and intro. First reactions to the Chelsea draw. Lineups. The Gravenberch goal and Ngumoha’s role in it. 10:00 – 20:00 Isak’s return in context. Player performance ratings. Slot’s tactical limitations. The Charlie Brown analogy. Midfield losing the battle. 20:00 – 30:00 Match stats and xG. The Rio sub and Anfield boos. Richard Hughes watching from the directors’ box. James Pearce’s mutiny quote. Table position and remaining fixtures. 30:00 – 40:00 Slot’s future. The case for and against keeping him. The mutual consent timeline theory. Three Spanish managers teased. 40:00 – 50:00 The three names: Alonso, Iraola, Valverde. The Valverde case made. Arsenal vs West Ham VAR controversy dissected. 50:00 – 60:00 Infrastructure argument for the next manager. Villa preview and permutations. Midfield rebuild flagged for next pod. Outro. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anfieldintelligence.substack.com [https://anfieldintelligence.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]