Episode 129 - Will Salah’s decline ruin Liverpool’s title hopes? + Does Hansi Flick need to change his tactics?

On this episode, Patrick and Ted begin with Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Chelsea. What’s going on with Mohamed Salah, can they replace Trent Alexander-Arnold's output and how much of this is on Arne Slot? Then, Barcelona’s defense collapses against Sevilla as Hansi Flick’s high press unravels. Are young stars being pushed too far in today's game? Finally, Frank Lampard’s Coventry City are flying at the top of the Championship, but is this the real deal or just a hot streak? Plus: Manchester United regress to the mean, Spurs flirt with hope, and Ted announces his new role in women’s football. Enjoy! Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: 00:34 – Liverpool’s slide continues: what’s wrong under Arne Slot? 01:08 – Salah’s dip in form & Trent’s absence felt everywhere 01:58 – Expected goals don’t tell the whole story 02:42 – Liverpool’s attack disappears after strong start 03:29 – Salah’s output vs. effort — should he defend more? 04:15 – Losing Trent’s passing lanes & creative control 05:10 – Szoboszlai, Wirtz & the missing playmaker debate 06:07 – Salah’s age curve and when to rotate your star 07:21 – Slot’s tactical growing pains vs. Klopp’s legacy 08:43 – Liverpool’s xGD and title race math 10:11 – Arsenal, City & Newcastle comparison 11:35 – Injuries piling up across top teams 12:21 – Barcelona’s 4–1 collapse at Sevilla 13:07 – Flick’s high press crumbles, xG tells the story 13:59 – Teenage stars overplayed, injections at 17 15:06 – Barça’s brittle midfield & tired defenders 16:22 – Why hybrid pressing models are failing 17:54 – Flick’s big challenge: adapt or persist? 18:40 – The “COVID generation” of chronically injured players 19:42 – Same minutes, higher intensity – fatigue crisis 20:37 – No summer breaks, endless tournaments 21:31 – Arteta’s “peak-speed” training & data-driven recovery 22:27 – Can player protection actually work? 23:12 – Leicester 15–16 lessons in high-intensity balance 23:54 – Coventry City under Lampard: from chaos to control 24:48 – Insane xG, one of the league’s best defences 25:39 – Lampard’s tactical maturity: less chaos, more structure 26:31 – Same squad, new identity 27:25 – Peak-age players driving the run 28:08 – Betting models underrating Coventry 28:52 – Why reps matter for young coaches 29:43 – Could Lampard get a big job again? 30:26 – Patrick’s early verdict on Lampard’s evolution 31:05 – Manchester United regression to the mean 32:19 – United vs. promoted sides: results fooling fans 33:14 – Cunha & Buemo’s overperformance collapse 34:06 – Bruno Fernandes & bad shot selection 36:02 – United look better, but not good enough 36:42 – Spurs creeping up the table again 37:20 – Villa grinding wins, Newcastle grinding harder 38:09 – Everton’s resurgence and Palace chaos 39:02 – Patrick’s soft spot for Everton 39:42 – Jack Grealish & emotional PL moments 40:19 – B-roll setup: Patreon, Man Down, and hair chat 41:08 – Halloween costumes & beard debates 42:31 – The horror of bearded men unbearded 43:52 – Beard trimmers, body vs. face guards 45:25 – Ted’s Copenhagen trip & secret projects 46:17 – Ted’s new Crux Football role announced 47:41 – Inside the women’s game: NDAs, strategy & growth 49:19 – Prize money, TV deals & tactical evolution 51:12 – Women’s football 100x smaller but rapidly growing 52:58 – Age curves, data gaps & scouting unknowns 54:42 – New audiences, sponsors & culture shifts 56:09 – Football as a vehicle for change 57:36 – Montpellier project & future ambitions 58:54 – Jobs in football