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Learn English Through Football Podcast: 2020 Premier League Champions Liverpool On this week’s football-language podcast we congratulate Liverpool on winning this season’s Premier League title – the first in 30 years for the club. We also explain some words and phrases that emerged from the football world this week, including ‘corker’. There is also a quiz and we look ahead to some more matches in our predictions competition.
Listen to the podcast by clicking on the file below – you can also subscribe and listen to all our football-language podcasts – there are hundreds of them dating from way back in 2006! You can improve your English by reading the transcript as you listen, or if you are a teacher of English you can use the transcript to make several listening and/or reading activities for your learners. We have also created a listening gap fill exercise based on a section of this podcast. If you have questions or comments then you can email us at: admin@languagecaster.com (Damon=DB; Damian=DF).
Learn English Through Football Podcast: 2020 Premier League Champions Liverpool
Introduction
DB: You are listening toA languagecaster.com. Hello everyone, we hope you are all safe and well and welcome to the podcast for fans of football who love the beautiful game of football. My name is Damon and I am based here in a hotand humid Tokyo, and I am feeling absolutely great. As long-term listeners will know, I am a Liverpool fan, so the fact they were crowned Champions last Friday is fantastic news for me! Ia€™m over the moon. Couldn’t be happier. Loving life and football.
Finally, after 30 years of hurt Liverpool football club have won a title again – their 19th. After last season, and losing out by one point with a record points total for a second place team of 97, I thought it would never happen. But it has!
You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Cantonese)
Line up
DB: OK, whata€™s on the show? Well, unfortunately Damian cana€™t be with us but thata€™s not going to stop me talking about Liverpool, and wea€™ll start with a little about Liverpool’s title win, wea€™ve got some football language, this week we look at ‘corker‘, a football language quiz question connected with winning titles, and a few predictions, which this week focuses on Serie A.
Football News
DB: Ia€™m, sorry but Ia€™m going to talk about Liverpool again! The Premier League title win really is good news for Liverpool and Liverpool fans. Manchester City’s loss to Chelsea 2-1 handed the title to Liverpool with seven games still to play a€“ a record. Now, Damian, who cana€™t make it today as I saida€“ is that because hea€™s a Spurs fan and cana€™t face me live? Anyway, Damian posted aA Liverpool’s title through numbersA this week, which has some great facts about the title win. Come along to languagecastre.com to check that out and more posts. A Ia€™d like to add some more numbers. In the last two seasons up to now, Liverpool have only lost twice – that’s 68 matches with only two defeats! They haven’t lost at Anfield, their home ground, since April 2017 – that’s 2017! – and they’ve won 23 of their last home games on the bounce – a record in the top flight in England. They’ve beaten every team in the division on their way to the title, and have wrapped the title up at the earliest stage ever in England. Astonishing – I am biased but very very good news for Liverpool!
Right, there is no bad or ugly news this week a€“ just good!
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Brazilian)
DF: Right, it’s time for a bit of football language and a football language quiz question.
Football Language Quiz
DB: This week’s football language quiz sticks with the theme of Liverpoola€™s title win! Again sorry! Now, I have already mentioned the phrase ‘wrapped up’ as in Liverpool wrapped the title up. We want to know, which other phrase means to wrap up, or to decide, claim a title. Is it –
- to sew up the title
- to stitch up the title
- to parcel the title
- to box up the title
And we’ll have the answer at the end of the show. Next, more language of football!
Football Language: Corker
DB: OK, this week’s football language is the phrase, corker.A What does the wordA corkerA mean? Well,A corkerA originally meant a point in an argument that finishes the argument, a statement the wins the argument. The idea is so good that there is no more discussion a€“ it is like putting aA corkA in a wine bottle; the drinking is over.
Over time, the meaning has changed slightly to mean fantastic, breath-taking, amazing. So, in football you will hear this noun used often to describe amazing shots a€“ shots that make you turn to your friend and go, a€˜Wow!a€™. It is also used to talk about matches a€“ a€˜This should be a corkera€˜ means you think the game will be exciting. It can also be used, though less often, in the phrase a€“ a corker of a€“ so, a€˜a corker of a matcha€˜, a€˜a corker of a tacklea€˜, a€˜a corker of a savea€˜ etc.
Here are some examples:
a€˜Williana€™s corkerA from inside the box three minutes before the hour mark ultimately saw off a resilient Newcastle side at Stamford Bridge.a€™A (fanside.com, 2019)
a€˜City meant business, and were not just threatening, they were REALLY threatening. That is untilA Andy RobertsonA curled an absolute corkerA past the entire City defence and Salah stooped to conquer.A (Thisisanfield.com, 2020) a€“ in this example, corker refers to a pass.
Predictions
Leta€™s look at some games now in our predictions section. Come along to our site at languagecaster.com and join the post lockdown mini predictions league wea€™ve got going and see if you can beat myself and Damian. Three A points for a perfect score; one for the correct score.
Serie A: Juventus v Torino
DB: OK, leta€™s turn to a few games coming up this weekend in Serie A. The title race is now a two-horse race really, but Lazio slipped up and dropped three points at Atalanta 3-2, leaving Juventus four points clear at the top. Juve take on a mid-table Torino. Torino do have to worry a little about relegation but I think the hunger for a title will see Juve win this comfortably 2-0.
Serie A: Lazio v AC Milan
DB: Second placed Lazio meanwhile take on AC Milan and need a win really to keep within touching distance of Juventus. I think theya€™ll get it, too. 1-0 to the side from Rome.
Football Language Quiz Answer
DB: OK, let’s turn to our football language quiz question and its answer.A We wanted to know, which other phrase means to wrap up, or to claim a title. Is it –
- to sew up the title
- to stitch up the title
- to parcel the title
- to box up the title
And the answer is number one, to sew up the title. Other phrases are to clinch the title, to seal the title, but stitch up, parcel up, box up, are not used in football, and definitely not to mean win the title.
Good Bye
DB: And that brings us to the end of the show. Remember that you can contact us here at languagecaster through our various social media platforms:A Facebook,A Twitter,A PinterestA andA Instagram. Come along to ourA forums, ask a question or just drop us a line atA admin@languagecaster.com. Take care everyone – stay safe and we’ll see you soon. Campione, the one and onlyContact Us
Learn English Through Football Podcast: A show for football fans to improve their English language skills
