BBC ‘Match of the Day’ pundit, football journalist, former England player, Fulham Captain, Spurs and Liverpool midfielder, Dad of 3 and Grandad to 1 – Danny Murphy has achieved quite a lot in his mere 45 years! Currently residing in Surrey, we had the pleasure of catching up with the sporting legend to find out all about his predictions for the upcoming FA Cup Final match between Liverpool and Chelsea on May 14th.
What are your predictions for the FA Cup Final?
I think with finals it’s not always about form. Liverpool are just on a mission at the moment, they are beating everybody and are playing with such energy. You have to make them favourites really. Chelsea, though as we’ve seen, were champions of Europe last season. Wonderful players, great manager and they are more than capable of beating Liverpool. It’s certainly not going to be one-way traffic, but you have to say at the moment Liverpool are favourites, because of the way they are playing. Liverpool also have a great record in finals. The FA Cup is something Liverpool haven’t won for quite some time so I think it will be a real focus for them. I can’t see them losing.
What do you think is the secret of Liverpool’s success this season?
Good question! The success is not just this season it has been for the last 3 or 4 now. They are remarkably consistent. One of the main reasons is their manager Jurgen Klopp and his ability to motivate with the intensity they play at and the second reason is they have a wonderfully gifted squad of players that are all hungry for success. Sometimes you find a balance of quality and tenacity that just works. If you look at Manchester City and Chelsea, they have players that people the world over love and admire – but with Liverpool it is more of a collective. The main reason their manager though, although they do have to take onboard what he is saying and doing.
Who do you think are the best players are for Liverpool at the moment?
Mo Salah has been the star. His goal scoring has remained at a level that nobody ever thought he was going to achieve. He really has exceeded expectation, he will probably win ‘Player of the Year’ but there are lots of players in that side that deserve a mention… Virgil van Dijk the centre half probably one of the best central defenders in the world – cool, calm, collected, Allisson one of the best goalkeepers in the world who is always there when they need him and Henderson the captain that leads them so well. There is so many, but Salah is the game changer in any match.
What are the Liverpool tactics going to be on the day?
This is one of their strengths – they don’t change and they don’t alter tactics basically. Liverpool’s system doesn’t change, a bit like Man City really. The best teams very rarely change. They are so convinced they are doing it the right way and Liverpool’s strength is high energy, front foot and we’re coming after you and going to beat you. It’s not so much a game of chess. Chelsea, on the other hand to be fair, have been very good until recently at playing games of chess and changing what they do to compensate.
Who’s the best manager in your opinion – Jurgen Klopp or Thomas Tuchel?
I’d have to say at the moment Klopp ahead of Tuchel, just based on what he’s done. Tuchel’s still a terrific manager and I think Chelsea should still be keeping hold of him. He needs to win a Premier League to get in the same league as Klopp though.
The players must be getting pretty nervous, how did you cope with pre-match nerves before major games?
It came with time, experience and wisdom; the first time it really drains you though. Your breathing is affected, and your legs go a bit to jelly but once you’ve done it once or twice you learn from those experiences. The big moments are decided by those players that don’t get as nervous as the others; I mean penalty shootouts are a great example of that. But I don’t think nerves will be a factor in this game.
What was it like playing at Wembley in front of a 90,000 strong crowd?
It’s an iconic stadium that when you are from this country you desperately want to play at. I was 14 when I first played Wembley. I then played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, so I missed out on a couple. When you are a footballer you want to win trophies and play in the best stadiums in the world like Wembley. It’s an amazing experience.
Manchester United are getting a fair bit of stick of late, especially after their match with Liverpool, do you think commentator Gary Neville’s comments were fair?
I think the criticism was fair. Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and always getting talked about and they have had a disastrous season. However, the biggest criticism that any footballer will tell you they don’t want to hear is that they have a lack of effort and lack of commitment and that’s been labelled at the players at the moment. When you watch the team, you can tell they don’t settle well. I am not jumping on the bandwagon that they are not trying and they don’t care, I think it’s a lack of fitness, lack of confidence and a bad plan. They are miles away from competing with Liverpool and Man City. Considering they have spent more money than anyone else in the Premier League that is a sad state of affairs. They do have a new manager, Erik ten Hag, coming in so hopefully that will pick up.
It must be hard to comment on a game when you have been a lifelong fan of a team?
It gets easier because I have done it a long time now, but I think initially you tend to be favourable or biased towards your team because you know some of them or you don’t want to upset the fans. I mean over time you just start watching the game very neutral. I always want Liverpool to win but if I’m doing a live game and commentating you have to be honest or you get found out. So, it used to be hard but not now is your answer!
Do you still have rivalry with players you used to play against in Man U?
No if anything respect grows. When you first start out you play against Man U players for example as enemies – but then you go onto being in the England squad and form a friendship. When you meet them in punditry you have a laugh about the past and it’s gone, all that silliness. If anything, you have a greater respect.
Who do you believe is the greatest Liverpool player of all time?
Although Kenny Dalglish is king, and he was my favourite player as a young lad, I think Steven Gerrard could be on a par with him. Kenny Dalglish is called king for a reason – he won nearly everything there was to play as a player and then nearly everything as a manger. Gerrard just needs to win trophies as a manager to be in the same league.
And who is Chelsea’s greatest player of all time?
Their greatest goal scorer of all time was someone I respect and admire greatly, Frank Lampard – and to not even be a forward and score that many goals is impressive. Someone with the whole history of Chelsea may argue with me there… but I’d go Lampard.
BOX AT END
The Emirates FA Cup Final between Liverpool and Chelsea kicks off at 4.45pm on Saturday 14th May at Wembley Stadium. You can watch on BBC One, ITV, STV, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, STV Player and the BBC Sport Website.
