In the final pod of 2023, Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander, Tom Williams and Tim Spiers into The Athletic studio.

The final set of Premier League fixtures before Christmas pits the top two against each other with Liverpool taking on Arsenal. Are the Gunners well equipped right now to end their Anfield hoodoo?

Also on the calendar, Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest. Nick Miller laments the loss of Steve Cooper while Tim tells us how Nuno is more successful than we remember.

Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-finals provide plenty of drama, from Trippier’s nightmare to Onana’s jaunty penalty.

Plus Christmas anniversaries, the next fortnight’s breaking news stories and why we should all be watching the coin toss at Spurs v Everton.

Produced by Charlie Jones.
 
RUNNING ORDER: 
• PART 1: Forest’s managerial change with Nick Miller (03.30)
• PART 2a: Liverpool v Arsenal preview (14.00)
• PART 2b: Man City at the Club World Cup (23.00)
• PART 3a: Christmas On This Day (28.00)
• PART 3b: League Cup quarter-final round-up (34.00)
• PART 4a: The rest of the Premier League weekend (51.00)
• PART 4b: Analysing the news that will break in the next fortnight (60.00)

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Arsenal face title test at Anfield, as Nuno replaces Cooper at Forest

James Richardson and Team Totally are here three times a week with all the football news you need to know - and plenty that you don’t. On Monday, we review all the weekend’s action. On Tuesday, it’s the Euro crew with James Horncastle and Raphael Honigstein looking at matters across the continent. And on Thursday, Duncan Alexander brings the silliness and numbers.

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Tom Williams has written a fantastic new book all about French football from the 1980s to the present day, and he popped by the Totally studios to tell Iain Macintosh - and, by extension, you, dear listener - all about it. So plump up a cushion and brace yourself for tales of Marseilles-era Chris Waddle, Jean-Pierre Papin, Bernard Tapie, Basile Boli, Guy Roux, Claude Bez, PSG's multiple European failures and much, much more. Or beaucoup plus, as they say en français.
Get your hands on Va-Va Voom: The Modern History of French Football right now!
Presented by Iain Macintosh
Produced by Ben Green
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Va-Va Voom!  Tom Williams talks modern French football

An epic week sees Jimbo joined by the epic trio of Duncan Alexander, Rory Smith and Sasha Goryunov.

Jurgen Klopp suffers his first defeat at Goodison Park in his last visit there, a result that surely ends Liverpool’s title hopes. Have the Reds been too emotional? Did they lose it at Old Trafford? Will the fans accept Slot? And has this been a good season for Everton?

Arsenal’s title bid is still on track after their biggest win ever over Chelsea. It’s a great night for Havertz and what could be the crucial goal difference. Next up, the North London derby.

Elsewhere, we talk the numerous records that Sheffield United could break and the reinvention of Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner.

Plus the first match-up of the 2024 Inter Totally Cup pits Sasha up against last year’s runner up Tom Williams.

Produced by Charlie Jones.
 
RUNNING ORDER: 
• PART 1: Everton 2-0 Liverpool (04.45)
• PART 2: Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea - next up the North London derby (23.00)
• PART 3: Man Utd 4-2 Sheffield Utd & the rest of the PL midweek (34.00)
• PART 4a: Chelsea Women welcome Barca to the Bridge (45.00) 
• PART 4b: Inter Totally Cup - Goryunov v Williams (48.00)

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Everton win Klopp’s last derby, as free-scoring Arsenal take on Tottenham

Jimbo, James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo are all around the world after a weekend of drama across Europe.

Inter win their 20th Scudetto and they do it in the Milan derby. Hear why the Nerazurri are the best in Italy by a big margin and whether this will be Stefano Pioli’s last derby at Milan.

It was the weekend where the world learned that La Liga doesn’t have goal-line technology. Jude Bellingham scored another stoppage time winner in El Clásico. But could Xavi actually stay at Barcelona?

It’s been a great week for Luis Enrique at PSG. And Leverkusen stay unbeaten after yet another late comeback.

Plus what Julian Nagelsmann signing a new contract with Germany means for Bayern and Jurgen Klopp.

Produced by Charlie Jones.
 
RUNNING ORDER: 
• PART 1: Moment of the weekend (04.00)
• PART 2: Inter win their 20th Scudetto (10.45)
• PART 3: Real Madrid 3-2 Barcelona (27.00)
• PART 4: Nagelsmann stays on at Germany (42.00) 
• PART 5: A good week for Luis Enrique at PSG (54.00)

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Inter win their 20th title, while Bellingham wins another Clásico

Jimbo welcomes Carl Anka, Charlie Eccleshare and Jay Harris into The Athletic studios after a weekend full of incredible talking points.

Man United throw away a 3-0 lead against Championship Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final and are a toenail away from losing, before progressing to the final on penalties. We credit Cov and discuss the damage done to Erik ten Hag’s job prospects.
 
Everton beat Nottingham Forest in the relegation six-pointer on Sunday but Forest’s full-time tweet about the VAR being a Luton fan dominates the headlines. Did Forest cross the line or did these issues with officiating need to be highlighted no matter what?

While Man City are booking their place in the FA Cup final, Arsenal and Liverpool win to leapfrog them in the Premier League table.

Plus we ask can Burnley do the unthinkable and survive, and should West Ham stick with David Moyes?

Produced by Charlie Jones.
 
RUNNING ORDER: 
• PART 1a: Man United beat Coventry on penalties (02.45)
• PART 1b: Man City 1-0 Chelsea (18.30)
• PART 2a: Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest - VAR’s a Luton fan (28.00)
• PART 2b: Luton lose, Burnley win (40.00) 
• PART 3: Arsenal and Liverpool win to leapfrog City (46.00)
• PART 4a: Aston Villa 3-1 Bournemouth (55.00)
• PART 4b: Crystal Palace 5-2 West Ham (58.00)

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An embarrassing weekend for Man United and Nottingham Forest

Jimbo is joined in the studio by Duncan Alexander, Charlie Eccleshare and Adrian Clarke to discuss a massive week across 3 massive competitions.

The English coefficient takes a battering as both Man City and Arsenal are knocked out of the Champions League. Arsenal make it 2 defeats and no goals scored in a matter of days after their defeat in Munich. Have the Gunners progressed too fast too soon and what do they need to do to make it to the next level?

The holders are eliminated on penalties by Real Madrid. Just how tired are City and is Haaland still worth his place in the team?

Next up for City, it’s penalty-feuding Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals. The Blues stifled Pep’s side twice in the Premier League this season, can they do it again? And in the other semi, would it really be that much of a shock if Coventry beat Man United?

The Premier League sees some huge games at the bottom with Everton hosting Forest and Luton taking on Brentford. How many points will it take to stay up?

Plus Pompey, Mansfield and football in the 1340s.

Produced by Charlie Jones.
 
RUNNING ORDER: 
• PART 1a: Real Madrid knock out Man City on penalties (03.45)
• PART 1b: Bayern 1-0 Arsenal (12.00)
• PART 2: PSG and Dortmund also reach the semi-finals (22.00)
• PART 3: FA Cup semi-finals preview (28.00) 
• PART 4: Previewing the Premier League weekend (41.00)
• PART 5: Inter Totally Cup draw (54.00)

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Arsenal face title test at Anfield, as Nuno replaces Cooper at Forest

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