18/11/2017 Football Focus

Welcome to Football Focus.

We have a global pick and mix

to light up an Autumnal lunchtime.

Fresh from captaining Brazil,

Chelsea's Willian on those

post-title Blues and his big pal.

I know he sees since he was eight

years old. He's my friend, I love

him.

18 months after being

Footballer of the Year.

Leicester's Mahrez

on the Foxes new leader.

Obviously it changes things.

We have some Yorkshire

grit from Liverpool's Mr Versatile.

Only 1 defeat all

season in League 1.

The scissors behind

Shewsbury's success.

This is Ian.

Hello, Ian.

This is our

club captain.

And there's this

bloke.

Mark Lawrenson, who's your

daddy? !

And Lawro is here to

take on Will Ferrell.

And the the gifts keep

coming; we have an Arsenal

legend in the studio.

Not you Martin.

Gilberto Silva is here.

And if that's not enough,

we'll be live with Kenny Dalglish

later in the show.

We'd like you to send your

questions for the great man.

Send them to.

#footballfocus.

We'll put some of

those to Kenny later.

Let's start with the news overnight

that Chris Coleman has left Wales

to take over as Manager

of Sunderland at the bottom

of the Championship.

He became the Welsh

boss back in 2012.

And will go down as the most

successful manager in his country's

history after leading Wales

to the European Championship's

semi-final last summer -

the highpoint that unforgettable 3-1

win over Belgium in

the quarter-finals.

He took them from 48th in the world

rankings up to their current 14th

and they just missed out

on the World Cup next summer.

He obviously has managed Fulham

and Real Zaragoza in the past.

Wales players upset

by his departure.

Is this a coup for Sunderland,

getting someone like Chris Coleman

whose stock is very high at the

moment?

I think it is. He's

well-equipped, did a great job for

Wales, it's gone a bit sour. He

needs a new challenge. Sunderland

are in all sorts of trouble. That

club is on a slippery slide, it

needs correcting urgently.

All sorts

of trouble in capital letters

because, look at the managers they

had that haven't been able to turn

it around. I thought he would have

waited a little bit longer and to

get a club in a better position, but

that is one heck of a job.

Really

interesting to see how that

develops. We shall of course keep an

eye on that.

The North London derby is the early

kick off today and we'll be

talking about that shortly.

David Unsworth is still in temporary

charge of Everton as they travel

to bottom club Crystal Palace.

The leaders Manchester City travel

to Leicester, where they took

a thumping last season.

David Moyes will be in charge

of West Ham for the first time

as they go to Watford tomorrow,

but we start at one

of the days 3 O'clock.

Where struggling West

Brom face Chelsea.

Caroline De Moreas has been to see

one of the humans who lives

on the Blues Planet.

It's amazing.

Willian scores for

Chelsea.

Since I arrive here, the

treatment by the fans was amazing.

Blue is the colour of the Premier

League winners...

How settled do you feel because I

know you've got twin girls and they

must be going to school now?

I love

to live in London. They enjoy a lot.

I enjoy a lot as well so when I

finish my career, maybe I can live

in London.

Nice. So you've got used

to the weather then?

Yes, the

weather is not so good, but... I

love the city.

On the team, you are

very close to David Luiz, you live

opposite each other?

I'm tired of

him!

Hey guys, welcome to training,

beautiful day. Let's enjoy with my

bro.

I know him since I was eight

years old, so he's my big friend. I

love him.

Nowadays in football,

there is a lot of squad rotation.

How to you handle that?

We want to

play every game, of course, but I

respect every decision because we

have great players in this squad.

You have to respect the coach's

decision. Every player wants to

play.

Last season, of course, was

fantastic and with that comes an

expectation and pressure?

It's

difficult to play when you fought

for the title because every team

wants to win.

You are very active on

social media. Do you see all of the

comments and how do they make you

feel?

When we win, yes, of course I

have a look but when we lost, no.

LAUGHTER.

And you posted a picture of John

Terry's shirt that he sent you and

it was signed with a really nice

message. Do you think the dressing

room misses him?

For me, I miss him.

I miss him a lot. Because he is a

legend with a great heart so yes, I

miss him a lot.

Good ball, good header. Good goal!

Morata scores for Chelsea.

You won

against Manchester United. Where

does that leave Chelsea in the title

race?

That game was strong mentally

so that is why we win, we create

some chances and we score a goal. I

think we have to continue in the

same way.

Do you think it's still a reality

that Chelsea could win the league

this season?

It's difficult.

Manchester City play very well. I

think we can fight for the title.

Interesting stuff. While we were

watching that, you asked a question,

say it again so the view, can hear.

Do you think Willian's been unlucky

not to start as much as he could for

Jose?

I'm sure it's hard for him

being on the bench, seeing the team

play. I think he could have a chance

to be in the squad. Especially now a

player of his ability is looking for

the World Cup next year in Russia,

to play for Brazil. Also, it's like

both hard combinations because,

while he's not playing for Chelsea,

he also is not playing for Brazil.

Hazard plays, either him or Hazard

and that's difficult.

Morata plays

up top with Hazard. They're almost

detached from the rest of the team

and he wants that pace. He's

unlucky. He's an outstanding player.

A he'd be starting in most Premier

League teams easily.

He was the

subject of a bid from Manchester

United, talk of him possibly going

to China as well to play football in

the future.

But you wouldn't go to

play in China if it's World Cup

year, would you?

Well, you would go

for the money...

Really, go for the

money to China? Whatever next? Well

in World Cup year... Why would you

risk playing for Brazil in Russia at

the World Cup by going to China? You

can go to China when you're 82,

can't you.

You talk about players who don't get

a game.

Has he gone of the boil

for Chelsea this season?

David Luiz; rumours that he's

unhappy and off to Old Trafford.

Captained Brazil this week.

How integral do you think he has

been?

When he return to Chelsea from

PSG, he looks better playing for

Chelsea. He plays in his natural

position as a centre back. Before he

took so many risks and put himself

out of a position, he tried to get

the ball and two forward. I'm sure

the experience from being out in the

squad and comparing maybe the league

and the teams, I think that was a

great decision for him to come back.

Everyone embraced him.

He has

something though. He has a spirit.

The last time we were together was

in the World Cup Germany absolutely

battered them, he had an awful

night. He's come back a long way

from that. He needs to be in the

middle. He's not a natural defender.

Three is probably his best position.

If you see him in this position, as

he's playing, he has somebody in

front of him who can protect him.

Any other defender, that helps a

lot.

There are rumours of

unhappiness at Chelsea. You have

also been there and continued to

win. How much of that is about

mentality in the squad and the

design?

All of it is about mentality

because you are presuming if you

have won you have the ability in

terms of the players. It comes from

within. The other thing with

Chelsea, it's a little bit like how

you look at them and you're thinking

every little problem now is a major

problem because they're not top of

the league, they're still a very,

very good side.

Their system,

everyone's found it out, the five at

the back, it was in vogue last year

but not now. We should all be

looking at City and how they play.

Funnily enough England are now

playing with a five at the back but

I think it's almost 12 months too

late.

If you take Costa out of any

team, because he's a piece of work,

even if he doesn't play, he occupies

people, he's a street fighter and

Morata's a very good player, but

he's not Costa.

Their recent form

doesn't look pretty.

Just 2 wins in 20 matches.

Steve Bower is at the Hawthorns.

He's lost a couple of

players to injury as well.

The fans aren't happy?

There is no

doubt the natives aren't hatch pill

at the moment because of the list of

results you have mentioned -- aren't

happy. Tony Pulis smoke well

yesterday in terms of expectation

and what a common theme. He got them

to tenth last season. Six months ago

ironically this was the fixture

where Chelsea clinched the title and

West Brom were comfortably on their

way to a top ten finish. For both

clubs, the memories seem distant.

West Brom didn't finish last season

well, they've only won two of the

last 20. Tony Pulis making the point

of the situation they were in. The

players haven't been available to

him. Only Rodriguez has scored more

than one Premier League goal. Chadli

is out today. He might have Burke

back for his debut which would be a

boost but when you look at West Brom

and where they've been in the past,

I think he's missing Fletcher's

influence as well this season on and

particularly off the pitch. Going

forward, he hasn't had the best

players available. When you look at

the season, they finished eighth

under Steve Clark, ironically

against Chelsea today that was down

mainly to the goals from one on-loan

Romelu Lukaku. They haven't scored

goals in ten of those 20 games.

Sometimes perception can outweigh

reaction and what is reality in. The

next two games, not looking good for

Tony Pulis, Chelsea at home today

and Spurs away next. He'd love

nothing more than to put one over

the big boys.

A tough few weeks

ahead.

Time to head to North London

for a derby which Gilberto rather

enjoyed back in 2006,

the first time it was

played at the Emirates.

152nd North London Derby, the first

in this stadium where no away side's

yet won. He's on side Adebayor.

First real chance of the game for

Arsenal. He takes it!

Fabregas.

Quickly to Roz inski. Chimbonda.

Challenge goes in. A penalty kick.

Gilberto. The Arsenal captain here.

Beats Robinson.

Van Persie makes the

forward run. Van Persie. Pulled

down, was he? Another penalty kick.

Gilberto for a 3-0 lead in the North

London Derby. Arsenal 3-0 Tottenham

Hotspur.

Happy memories for Arsenal fans.

Jonathan Pearce was

watching that one.

And he's there again today.

Thankfully the sound quality has

improved in the last decade

and JP has the teams.

How Arsenal could do with a holding

midfield player like Silva these

days. Their team changes though,

Lacazette starting for the first

time this season. Arsenal looking to

extend their ten-match Emirates win

record of course. Mustafi is fit

after six weeks out with a hamstring

injury. Welbeck is fit enough for

the bench. Giroud and Walcott are

sidelined. Giroud on international

duty. Walcott's fallen ill. Harry

Kane's fit. Lloris and Ali over

their injuries. Wink is only OK for

the bench. Dembele starts in the

league for the first time since

August. Is Pochettino the future?

Arsene Wenger a glorious past. Spurs

top doing in London last season.

Today will be a big signpost game to

see whether that supremacy will be

long-term.

Thank you, Jonathan. Let's show you

the Arsenal team here. You claimed

this week that only four of this

side would get into a combined 11.

Oceana, Bellerin, Ramsey and

Sanchez.

He is lucky to be on that

side, Bellerin, but I do feel that

Sanchez should be in there. There

are three good defenders at

Tottenham. We are talking about this

because it is almost the demise for

Arsenal now, and Tottenham are

striving for excellence, it really

is an outstanding team, but it could

maybe go wrong for Tottenham today.

Arsenal at home are totally

different animal, with the fans

behind them, vociferous, I think

Arsenal will turn it around. I think

they can pull it off today. Arsene

Wenger has to be positive. We were

in a dressing room that had lots of

winners and people believing in what

they did, and they need that belief

today.

Do you share Martin's

optimism? Spurs fans have many

reasons to be very positive going

into this game and looking at the

rest of the season as well,

Gilberto.

Yes, as you see the

progression of the team year by

year, it is something that we have

to respect. But the other thing that

Martin said, it is a good point for

Arsenal when they go for this kind

of game, and you have the

possibility of achieving many

things. This is a must win game for

us. If they want to have better

ambition from the position they are

at the moment, how they want to

finish for the next year.

I remember

talking to you at the FA Cup final

last season. You were coy about the

future of Arsene Wenger,

understandably. Have you seen

improvement this season, all reasons

to think he might be there for a

longer time, and the club are moving

in the right direction?

So, the

last, some of the results they have

had fun now, it's always going

against him, if they don't win the

game, if they draw the game, always

the pressure is on. And any time he

loses the game, it is not Arsenal

lose the game, it is Arsene for many

people, and it increases the

pressure. But I'm sure he is

confident in what he is doing. He

has the backing he needs to support

him through this season.

I think the

problem is he is 12 points behind

Man City, and the Gulf in class

between the teams, it is difficult

for him to run away from that

question. Sanchez and Ozil's

contracts are up at the end of the

season, he is halfway through a

two-year deal.

Manchester City are

ahead of everyone, though. These two

would walk into the current Arsenal

team, and I think therein lies the

problem, which is everybody believes

they have got very good players but

they have got a soft centre.

And

what about Spurs? Every week we seem

to pick out a different Spurs player

to highlight, and Ericsson, the

hat-trick for Denmark against the

Republic of Ireland. There are many

there you could pick out and say

they will have a great game.

I

didn't read the article that he

wrote, I saw the headline which was,

Spurs need to win something. Even

coming from an ex-Arsenal man, that

is absolutely right. If they don't

win something this year, as good a

side as they are, your Real Madrids

will come knocking, your Barcelonas,

we know they will want the players.

Since Pochettino went to Spurs, for

all the talk of Spurs playing great

football, and they are, Arsenal have

won two trophies, and Spurs have yet

to pick up any silver.

Yes, and with

Lawro they won trophies, and that

cements you as a club, and they

haven't had that yet, they are

unfulfilled as a club, and they need

that to stay together as a group, or

clubs will come calling. So many

good players in there, Dembele,

Kieron Dyer, so many good options

for Pochettino, and again, can they

keep the manager? They are the

second best team in the league,

behind city.

Thank you for the

moment, gentlemen. Time now to

concentrate on a Liverpool team in

fifth.

This week, James Milner was honoured

at the Northwest Football Awards

for the terrific work he does

to raise money with

the James Milner Foundation.

We sent along a lifelong Liverpool

fan and Olympic gold

medallist for a chat.

I'm Sam Quek, and I was born and

raised just around the corner here

where the spirit of the great Bill

Shankly still lives on today, so I

am going to pop inside and have a

chat with Liverpool midfielder and

one of my favourite players from

last season, James Milner. You were

my Liverpool Player of the Season

last season, a solid left-back, you

can play any position on the pitch,

and to do that you have to be a

quality player, this season you

haven't started any match -- every

match, but when you do, you are a

top player.

I have been lucky enough

to be playing 15 years, I realise

careers are short, 15 years is a

long time, but I remember all the

players when I started, saying I was

fantastic, you just want to enjoy it

and play as much as you can. Last

year I played left-back and it

wasn't my first choice, but the team

comes first, and hopefully I can get

my way into the midfield and helped

Liverpool be successful.

COMMENTATOR: Sessegnon's cross, and

Rhian Brewster, the Liverpool

striker with his eighth goal of this

under 17 is World Cup. England are

the under 17 World Cup winners.

One of the big things that happened

this year was the under 17 England

lads went and won the World Cup.

What advice would you give those

youngsters making names for

themselves going forward?

Amazing

achievement to go and win a World

Cup at any level, and that is the

danger now, the distractions and

expectations that go on shoulders,

people saying, get them in your

squad straightaway. They need to

keep working hard, keep their heads

down and keep doing what they are

doing, surround themselves with the

right people, because everyone wants

a piece of the success, agents,

media, criticism, it is all part of

it and you have to learn to deal

with that, and you need good people

around you, that is massive,

surround yourself with the right

people, keep your head down and work

hard and keep striving to achieve

what you want to achieve, because

that is the first step of a long

path.

Is a fellow athlete, people

think the road to success is easy,

but it's not, it is ups and downs,

and you experience that at England

and club level. What advice would

you give to the youngsters who may

not have that easy road to where

they want to get?

I would say, like

you know yourself, it is peaks and

troughs throughout your career, you

are flying one minute and then the

next minute, injury or out of favour

with the manager or anything like

that. Something outside of football

which people never think about, we

are humans as well, and there are

things going on outside your life

which might affect you as well. It

is ups and downs, but one thing you

do know in sport, things change so

quickly, and it is about doing the

right things, preparing the right

way, keep that even keel and working

hard.

Where do you see Liverpool

Football Club at the end of the

season, what is the minimum

expectation?

We have been up and

down, we have had a lot of injuries,

Adam Lallana is coming back now and

that is fantastic for us, he is a

massive player for us. If we can

keep everyone fit, now is the

business part of the season, going

through Christmas, a lot of games,

and we will have a better idea

coming out of Christmas, so

hopefully we can do that for

Liverpool Football Club.

He's positive about

the return of Adam Lallana.

What would you give them out of ten

this season?

Six and a half, I would

say. The report at school, must do

better. We know defensively they

have not been great, and the guys

across midfield in front of the

defence haven't exactly been a

shield of iron, so the strength

going forward, as every body knows,

Lallana coming back will be massive.

When you look at the selection of

players they have available to play,

the forward-thinking players, they

can almost have two teams of those.

Sala has almost been the signing of

the summer.

Would you play him with

Lallana?

Yes, you have to get him

into the team, we have seen Gomez

playing midweek England, wires he

playing right back?

He has played

centre-back a few times.

Not enough.

Put him in the middle and give him

the reins. I think Jurgen Klopp has

not been well this week.

He read

your article!

It will be a lot

better when he goes into the middle.

Even Gilberto read that article.

He

was in hospital, he was surprised

how much attention that got, but he

is out and enjoying things again. On

that Liverpool midfield, it is great

that you are on today. Coutinho, how

important is he for Liverpool, and

also that he stays at the club, his

future is essential?

I think it is

good for him to stay this year for

Liverpool, it is hard because he is

very tempted for the club, when some

club like Barcelona approach, they

want to take him to the club. And if

Barcelona wants him, what shall I

do? But I think he was right to

stay. And make the change one year

before the World Cup for his

aspirations, the national team for

Brazil. Maybe it is quite risky.

He

plays differently when he plays for

Brazil, he plays a little deeper to

free Neymar up, is that right?

The

combination of the Bose is amazing,

because they know each other, since

when they play in the early days in

the national team. And it is

amazing, but Coutinho, he has a lot

of vitality, and I'm sure taking

this decision to stay at Liverpool,

to help the team and then for us,

the country, Brazil, he is amazing.

They had a history of that with

Suarez, he was convinced by Brendan

Rodgers at the time to stay for the

year, and then he went. So he might

continue, like the NFL in America,

here's what they call a franchise

player, he is that good.

I think in

the summer when the World Cup comes

around, Coutinho will be a shining

light. It has been a bit difficult

the Liverpool this season, but wait

until the summer, he is a special

player.

Why are you smiling?

I

wondered what he was going to say!

I

want to show you this from one of

Southampton's Moroccan players.

Extremely impressive keepy-uppy with

the academy in Southampton. The lad

at the end backs away, which I find

quite interesting, a lot of pressure

at that point, but very impressive.

And the obvious celebrations! So,

Liverpool, Southampton, at Anfield

later, but for the Blues on

Merseyside, heart rate have probably

only just returned to normal after

their match against Watford last

time out.

COMMENTATOR: Here is a great chance

for Richarlison, and he is away

Hickford! And they have the lead. It

is hard to see anyway back for

Everton in match.

A great chance for a goal here now,

and it is in the back of the net and

Everton are back in the match at

2-1. And the header at the far post!

And Everton are level, Dominic

Calvert-Lewin. A chance to win the

game, surely? It is Leighton Baines.

It is 3-2 to Everton, an incredible

turnaround. Richarlison, he goes

down, and Watford have got a

penalty, I don't believe it! And can

Tom Cleverley do it? No, he can't,

and David Unsworth finally has a

win.

A first win for David Unsworth,

but the Everton hierarchy obviously

liked what they saw from Watford

as they've spent this week

trying to get Marco Silva.

A rumoured £10 million

offer turned down.

But Watford boss was coy when asked

about his future yesterday.

I'm not

going to talk about, I'm going to

talk about what is important for us

again. I am here to talk about the

West Ham match, I understand your

questions and everybody wants to

talk about the situation. If you

want to talk to me about Everton, it

is not the club where I work, where

I stay, it is a big club, nothing

more.

The Watford game is tomorrow.

It would be a blow for them if they

were loose him after the start of

the season.

Yes, there has been a

revolving door at Watford, managers

coming and going, my be some of

their own medicine, and is he the

right man for the job? Talk of £10

million. It doesn't look like he is

staying at Watford after that press

Conference. But the last result has

given him a bit more time to make

that decision.

Watford take on West

Ham this weekend, and he will face a

former Everton manager in David

Moyes, whose first game in charge at

West Ham. How big an opportunity is

this for him after what has happened

in recent jobs?

He knows it is his

big opportunity to get back in, but

also to be successful, but of course

success is always relative. You can

always tell with him, with his eyes,

there was a dullness in him after

Manchester United, Sociedad, etc.

But he can do well with West Ham. He

is probably a really good choice, I

am bound to say that, but he is

probably a really good choice at the

right time, taking the job at the

right time.

It is important that

West Ham fans get behind whoever the

manager is. It is a very difficult

place to go to now just for the home

players, and it can't be like that.

They have to get behind the team

now.

But your man Arsene Wenger

said, when you a couple of years,

and they are still in that now.

And

we have another Brazilian to talk

about. Richarlison, he started in

that sane team you started in?

Really highly rated as well. Is it

felt the same way back in Brazil,

people think of a real star of the

future?

If you compare him to some

other strikers in Europe, he's that

type of player. Quite similar to

Adriano with his physical strength

and I'm quite impressed the way he's

started here because it's not so

easy, especially because he's too

young and just arrived.

Another side enjoying some Brazilian

flair are Manchester City.

They've certainly got Noel purring.

MUSIC

They're just on another planet.

They're playing like cosmic

football.

It's a brilliant one.

Egypth enof the penalty area.

Federal nan teen owe. Caught it

well. Caught it very well!

Very,

very high standard has been set at

this moment in time and I can't see

it changing.

Where testimony end is

anyone's guess.

This is the most

glorious attacking football side I

can ever remember and I've done this

job for a number of years!

Kevin De

Bruyne.

They can play that well.

He's one of the most happiest men

I've ever met.

Silva. Tap-in for

two.

Once this era finishes, he'll

go down as a legend. If they don't

put up a statue of him, I'll put one

up and I'll pay for it.

He has a hat

trick.

Noel was talking to

BBC Music News Live.

Keep your eyes peeled

for that Aguero statue.

What have you made of the way he has

settled into that City side?

One of the best starts in PL history

behind Kevin Phillips and Andy Cole.

For a young man he's made a real

impact in Manchester City?

Yes, you

know. I look back on him and see

him, I just mentioned before, four

years ago in the World Cup in Brazil

he was just painting the picture of

where he lived.

We'll show that in a

minute.

It's amazing. He had that

situation and came back which is

hard for a Brazilian player to adapt

at this kind of age. He's got a

quality. This is a natural quality

and he can be one of the best

players for Brazil.

Here he is, a

17-year-old during the World Cup if

Brazil.

I thought you were going to

gloss over that.

Might be a red

card. Straight red? We won't remove

you from the studio though. High

praise there. He's got a real

swagger and a confidence for such a

young man?

Without doubt. He has

pace, he's in a wonderful team.

They're queueing up to get on the

end of the De Bruyne or Silva

assists and he's in there with good

company, he's pushed Aguero to

another level.

Of all the 20 Premier

League starts, only Cole and

Phillips are ahead of him. He's

joint third. For someone who's

joined in January, another point you

were making, a real impact?

He's so

young and can only get better. It's

frightening, the prospect for the

rest of the Premier League.

Are

Manchester City playing better

football than you lot played in your

days?

They probably are, yes. Their

team was different.

They could fight

you or play against you, whichever,

well, he could fight you all the

time. But the way City are playing

is sensational.

I think it's

wonderful what we are seeing every

week. I'm happen Foy be in the

exclusive club, I think they could

go the whole season unbeaten. I

don't see anyone going to stop them.

Themselves.

If they get complacent,

Guardiola will stop at nothing, he's

a serial winner of trophies, he

wants to win everything this year.

The league leaders are away

at Leicester today,

where the mercurial Mahrez seems

to be returning to the form

which saw him Player

of the Year a season ago.

He's been talking

to Rachel Stringer.

Mahrez can pull it back. Goes for

goal and scores!

Back on to the form

that we no and love to see of you.

-- we know and love to see of you.

Tell us how you feel your form is

getting on?

I feel good, you know.

We have had good results. It's

always good to score, you know,

especially for attacking players, it

gives you more confidence and I'm

glad to score and help the team to

pick up points.

The team currently

sitting in 12th, but have had some

pretty tough matches. Four of the

top six. You must be pretty OK in

12th position at this point in the

season?

Yes. I think the first four

or five games was difficult because

we played against the top four, top

five so it's always difficult. To

play against them. Now we are

playing against teams who are like

in the middle of the tables or, you

know, and we are doing some good

results, we need to keep going and

keep it up.

You have also got a new manager.

What has he changed in the month or

so that he's been here?

Obviously,

he brings some new ideas and changed

some little details as well. He

helps us and needs time to come into

the team properly and to know how we

work and us to know better how he

works, so I think at the moment it's

a good start. We'll see.

Manchester

City, you can beat them because this

is the fixture the same time last

year that you dismantled them 4-2.

Do you ever draw on those memories

to say, well, we did it before?

Of

course, of course. When you think

about it, you say, we can beat them,

obviously, it's the same team more

or less, depends on the game, you

know.

How do you approach this match

with City say being a team that

people are saying could go unbeaten?

We know we can beat them and they

know we can beat them as well. The

game of Saturday is a big game. It's

a big team and we play 100%, we are

going to give it everything. We'll

see after the game.

Mr Mahrez relatively subdued there.

He was probably still shellshocked

after this press conference whilst

he was on international

duty with Algeria.

And that was after a 3-0 win.

The next questions is,

why are you so angry?

Mahrez is so sheepish there.

There are a few managers who've

wanted to say that in a press

conference, I can fell you.

Ever

been in a press conference like

that?

Not in a press conference but

I remember when we played at

Brighton, he threatened to run us

all over if he saw us crossing the

street. It would have been a mass

killing with 20 of us.

Mahrez has

ability. Has he got that mentality?

There was talk of a move. Maybe he

wanted to cash in. I don't know what

sort of lad he is. Great successes

at Leicester and he seemed to be the

first one to go out the door or who

wanted to two out the door.

They are pressing high against City.

Let us see how they do. Mahrez will

cause them problems today.

He had

his head turned. Might take him a

season to get over it.

All the Leicester City fans didn't

want him, by the way. Social media

isn't it - why would we want him,

four points from two games, he's now

brilliant.

Got Southampton a Cup

Final last year, why did they get

rid of him, can't understand it.

Full of opinions you three today.

Liking it.

Keep across that and all the other

three o'clocks on Final Score

from 4.30pm on BBC One.

Martin's on with Garth.

Match of the Day is at 10.20

tonight, with Alan Shearer

and Phil Neville joining Gary.

This afternoon, there's a double

header of Rugby Union,

with Wales against Georgia at 2pm

on BBC One and Scotland taking

on the mighty All Blacks

live on BBC Two later.

England v Australia highlights

follow that, and in the early hours

it's England v Papua New Guinea

in the quarterfinals

of the Rugby League World Cup.

Time for some midweek FA Cup action.

Five non-league clubs were looking

to book their place in round two.

Johnson outside the area. And it's

in. They've broken the deadlock.

Delivers it.

Miles over. Penalty.

It's into the back of the net. And

they've levelled things up.

He

drills it left. They're through!

Plays it to the left. Opportunity

for Woking. Into the penalty area.

The first goal. Skipped past his

man. Woking have doubled their

advantage.

Given away inside the

penalty area. This could be three.

It's going to be three. Eventually

turned home by James Philpott.

Robinson.

Consider oh he scores! And they love

it! Here is a chance. Sliding back

in. Penalty. He's off!

Bounced in for the Tanners. Moore.

Wins it. Surely wins it.

Tranmere of the National League

were on the end of a 5-0 thrashing

from League 1 Peterborough.

Danny Lloyd very happy

with his hat-trick.

The all-League 1 clash

between Scunthorpe and Northampton

was decided by this corker

from Hakeeb Adelakun.

A rare beauty.

Hip action to please

the Strictly judges, as well.

Scunthorpe now travel

to Doncaster in round two.

Staying in League 1,

and Shrewsbury are home

to Morecambe in round two.

But it's their league form

which has been incredibly

impressive this season.

A year ago they were

bottom of the table.

In came Paul Hurst, and this season

they've lost just once.

Time for a visit from Clem.

Not got a bad facility here have

you?

It's excellent.

Show me around

your little castle.

We do testing

every six weeks so we know where the

lads are. The brew room. Clean your

own boots. If the captain can do

it...

Why do you think there's been

such a transformation?

The gaffer's

got a lot to do with it. He has done

what needed to be changed.

That is

the prediction table that I found

that I wanted to share with the

players. We are hoping to prove

people wrong.

But you have been

living off the mantra all season

haven't you about, oh, it's just

survival, you got more points after

16 games than you had off 32 last

season.

Come on...

Might be on camera that.

This could

be a very special season for you,

your staff and your group of

players?

I think there's a great

feeling and one of the players

mentioned it recently in an

interview that, even if we were a

lot lower down the league, there'd

be a good feeling around the place

but it does make it that little bit

more special. For the fans,

especially, it's not been easy for

them, but I think they're in dream

land at the minute. It would be

great if the season finished

tomorrow and we were promoted, but

there's a long way to go.

Now, this looks interesting, this is

not a territory I am familiar with.

This is Ian, our club captain. The

Peaky Blinders hairstyle is very

topical with the new season coming

back.

But I'm not the one to ask

about hair advice! What a

transformation at this football

club.

Do we have to do this while

I'm sat here? If you had asked me,

would we be top 16 games in, we

might have been surprised by that,

but the gaffer sets high standards,

and long may that continue.

What are

you feeling about the season?

That

we need to get a 50 points.

All of

you are indoctrinated with this! Do

you think managers like you get

enough recognition? I didn't think

the opportunity would arise to

become a manager, and I'm proud of

the route I have taken to get to

this. So if you can manage further

down, why can't you manage higher

up? A lot of my principles, ethos,

beliefs, stay the same whether I

went back to manage a pub side,

whether I was managing in the

Premier League. I'd like to think

people would give you credit for

working your way up, and thankfully

at the minute, every time I have

made that step up, I've managed to

do a good job. And I'm hoping that

that can continue.

Brilliant. Great

to see you.

Thanks very much.

Magnificent handshake! Shrewsbury

Town, Rotherham today.

A couple of games in

the Championship last night.

Sheffield United returned

to the top of the table

with a 3-1 win at Burton.

Billy Sharp with a couple

of goals for the Blades.

Burton Albion just outside

the relegation zone after Bolton's

goalless draw with Preston.

We've allowed Martin

to bring a friend today.

So, time to hear

from one of Lawro's.

Kenny Dalglish has seen some

of football's greatest highs,

but also experienced

its deepest lows.

It's not something we ever discuss.

There was a lot of people that went

to that game that never came home.

He was falling apart after

Hillsborough.

I went and just cried

in my dads arms. It was just

something that had to be done. It

just gave everybody in that city

some thing to believe in.

Only Kenny

can tell us what that journey was

really like.

Delighted to say, the man himself is

here.

Kenny Dalglish joins us

live from Anfield now.

I know you had great success as a

player and manager, standing in

front of your own stand, as well!

Lots of people asking about

Liverpool this season, what do you

make of the current team under

Jurgen Klopp?

They have had one or

two games where they obviously could

have done better, we wanted them to

have done better. But I don't think

you just look at the short-term. I

think we've got a guy who's perfect

for the football club. Jurgen will

take us onwards and upwards. The

sooner the better favourably,

himself included, but he is

definitely a perfect fit for the

club.

A question from Calum Haggett

and on Facebook. Which defender from

your playing days would you bring in

if you were going to bolster the

Liverpool defence now?

I wouldn't

bring any of them in, because they

are all about 60 years of age! There

is no point looking back, you have

to look forward. Everybody thinks

that there is always somebody better

out there until you get them in, and

it doesn't normally happen. And I

don't think it's important how much

money you spend, it is more

important about who you get in the

quality of the person and his

performances. So for me, from our

age, you wouldn't want to sign a

couple of dinosaurs that are sitting

there beside you.

And unnecessary

dig at Mark Lawrenson, but we will

take it! Paddy Stavros wants to know

the biggest influence on your

career, and the best advice that

person gave you. I know you spend

some time with some of the greats,

but who would you pick out?

The

person that sets you on your way is

your father. He introduced me to

football, so after that there was

Jock, Bob, everybody who helps you

to move onwards and upwards, but

actually I would go for your family,

they give you the grounding for

many, many things, and hopefully I

got a very good grounding for my

parents.

Ryan has a question for

you, and a number of people asking

this, about you coming back into

football at some stage. Would you be

interested in a job like Scotland or

any other job, does anything tempt

you now?

What is the next question?

LAUGHTER

Don't you play that with us. You

heard the question.

When summary

asks you who is in a position to

offer you something, you can answer

it. But when they are not in a

position to offer, I don't think it

needs an answer.

Well swerved,

excellent Kenny Dalglish body swerve

there! You said Jurgen Klopp was the

perfect fit for the club. How far

are they from the likes of

Manchester City at the moment?

Manchester City are flying, they

have been fantastically enjoyable to

watch. We obviously have been going

over there, we got a 5-0 drubbing,

but really until we went down to ten

men, it was a lot tighter than that,

and they looked as if they might get

something from the game. So I don't

think we are too far away. But the

deeper the squad, the less injuries

you get, the same as every body

else, the easier it is to compete.

But we can compete with anybody in

the league. If we do that and we win

the games against the bigger clubs,

that gives you a chance to keep up.

So I think we're moving in the right

direction, and I wouldn't like to

put a time-honoured, but as

everybody says in football, the

sooner the better.

Kenny, it has

been fantastic to talk to you. Thank

you for everyone who has said

questions in today.

Martin Keown was saying he played

against you in a League Cup game at

Brighton in 2005, I'm sure you

remember.

I think he might have got an own

goal!

Thank you very much, all the

best, Lads.

I think he managed to

insult all of you apart from

Gilberto!

That film available on DVD now.

It is just called Kenny.

Kenny played in two World Cups,

and after last week's qualifiers

we now know the final 32

for Russia next summer.

That has brought you up to date.

These are the four pots

for the World Cup Finals.

England in pot two, as are Spain.

Which is good news

for Gareth Southgate,

as they can't draw them.

Gary Lineker is hosting the show,

so will no doubt get the blame

if England are in a dodgy group.

Denmark in pot three after that

thumping win over the Republic.

Do you think Martin O'Neill

will stay, Lawro?

Yes. I think they did well to

qualify for the knockout stages. If

you look at the team they've got,

they are honest, they have some

decent players, they are very

difficult to play against, but when

they have got to change the game,

they struggle with that.

We have a

World Cup winner in the studio.

You won the 2002 final, Gilberto.

In terms of the strength of the

squad and the chances and hopes of

righting the wrongs of some of the

past, how do next summer?

Much

better, last time, although they had

a team, they relied too much on

Neymar, the expectation, and the

media in Brazil, went Neymar got

injured, it was a bit panicky on

everyone.

How tough to take was that

defeat in Brazil against Germany?

It

is tough for us to understand what

went wrong on that particular day.

It is a day that we will never

forget. As a Brazilian fan, as

people who love football. And my

situation as a Brazilian ex-player,

I played for that shirt for so many

games. But now I see it very

positive, the way they are doing

things now. The manager is

organising the team very well and

the way they defend, and they have

the power up front.

Do you give

England any chance, by the way? Lets

get a Brazilian perspective.

I do

believe honestly, despite the

opinion, there are other teams in

front of them, but you never know in

this competition, because bringing

back 2002 when we were out, not the

favourite, and then we won, this can

be some additional, let's say hope

for some of the teams that didn't do

well for their qualification again.

When they start again it is a

different situation.

In a moment we'll have

predictions from Will Ferrell,

but first we asked him

about his opponent.

So, must moustache, and without a

moustache. Here he looks like a

dishevelled sea captain without his

ship, and there it is a strong gaze

off into the horizon for when he

used to have a ship, here he has

lost his ship.

That is unfair!

Who

is that bloke!

Your daughter is very

happy that you are with him.

Gentlemen, thank you. Will Ferrell's

predictions in a moment. 0-0 in the

London derby. Goodbye.

He is going

to ruin Christmas, I'm telling you.

I hate to hit you with the tough

love, but the only person who can

hit you with a tough love is looking

back at you from that mirror. I am a

Leeds fanatic,

back at you from that mirror. I am a

Leeds fanatic,. I believe... What

other colours again? Last season I

saw a Liverpool match, Chelsea

match, very exciting. I am a

minority owner of brand-new

LAFC, who started the spring. I

would like to sign Pele. We can move

him around on a motor wheelchair, we

just need his expertise on the

pitch. Manchester United, upset,

10-0 in a shocker. Oh, Burnley and

Swansea, draw. Five goals apiece. A

slugfest. Both goalies kicked out,

red Cards.