After an enthralling midweek of Champions League semi-finals, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter, George Caulkin and Bill Edgar to break it all down.
Liverpool play well and lose 3-0 at the Nou Camp, as Barcelona are inspired by Messi magic, inspiring Bill to get lost in Messi stats. How will we judge this Liverpool season if they end up without a trophy?
Standing in their way in the Premier League title race this Saturday is their old manager Rafa Benitez. To what extent will he feel conflicted? And will this be Benitez’s last home game in charge of Newcastle?
The other Champions League semi-final saw Spurs undone by Ajax in North London. But the major talking point surrounded the treatment of Jan Vertonghen’s concussion. With Mauricio Pochettino insisting they followed the protocol, is the protocol right and how should it be changed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celestial Messi as Rafa awaits the Reds

The Game is the premier football podcast from The Times, with the finest writers previewing and reviewing all the action throughout the 2023/24 season. Twice a week, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke speak to the leading football writers from The Times and The Sunday Times, offering unparalleled analysis&nbsp;of the latest results and commentary on emerging issues.&nbsp;
On Mondays, Alyson Rudd, Tom Roddy and Tony Cascarino review the weekend's action and on Thursdays Martin Samuel tackles the biggest issues of the week alongside the likes of Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.
Subscribe to The Times to enjoy our award-winning sports journalism on your smartphone or tablet. Just search The Times online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Martin Samuel and Tom Allnutt join Gregor Robertson to console Tony Cascarino as Liverpool’s title challenge hits the buffers. What can Liverpool’s bad form be put down to, fitness, desire, off field issues? Tony has a hunch… And is Arne Slot the man to right the ship…? Arsenal have the wind in their sails again can they now go unbeaten for the rest of season…? Chelsea, are a mystery to the entire panel. What will happen to Poch and his erratic team come the summer? Erik Ten Hag may not be embarrassed but is his tenure coming to an end? Martin can understand his response to the media, Tom isn’t so sure…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Klopp crushed

Gregor Robertson joins Tony Cascarino, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to look back on a remarkable FA cup semi final. Did the last gasp VAR decision deny us an iconic FA cup memory? Gregor and Alyson think yes, ever the realist Hamzah is not so sure. Where does the result leave beleaguered Man Utd fans and their manager? Is an FA cup final enough or was this the final straw for Eric Ten Hag?  The deduction derby at Goodison Park lifted Everton clear of the drop zone, but the real drama came from Nottingham Forest’s ‘X’ account. Has a line been crossed by Forest, casting aspersions on the neutrality of officials?  On the pitch hope for Burnley, but is time up for Luton?  In the title race, good starts to a big week for Arsenal and Liverpool.       Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Wembley rollercoaster and does it matter who the officials support?

Gregor Robertson, Jonny Northcroft and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to perform the post-mortem on Man City and Arsenal’s exit from the champions league. Did they just meet better teams or was there any mental fragility or fatigue on show? Will last nights results have a bearing on the title race, if so, who could benefit? For Manchester City is the form of Erling Haaland a worry? 21 touches in the whole game and 37 minutes before he completed a pass…   Martin has had his head turned by Cole Palmer and it’s given him a bold plan for England. Finally, a look at the FA cup semi-finals - Chelsea managed to find a negative in a 6-0 win, will they offer any threat to City? For Manchester United is it win or bust for Ten Hag…?     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the future for Haaland and City?

Liverpool to finish fourth. Arsenal stumbling. Villa masterclass and City…back on top.    Liverpool and Arsenal lose at home - is that the final twist in the title race, or just the first? Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and a despondent Tony Cascarino who thinks Liverpool looked so bad they could even finish fourth behind Villa. Arsenal looked edgy but was that down to a masterclass from Unai Emery and his team? City sail on serenely, are there any potential slips in their run in. Was Spurs’ result a freak or a sign of things to come? How good is Alexander Isak and can Newcastle keep hold of him? After an appreciation of some mid table sides in Wolves, Fulham, Chelsea and Bournemouth  it’s time to consider the chaos at Manchester United… again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the title race over?

Fresh off the Eurostar having watched PSG v Barca Gregor Robertson joins Tom Clarke and Martin Samuel to review a thrilling set of Champions League quarter finals. Are Arsenal and Man City now favourites to meet in the semis? And is City v Madrid really the final everybody wanted? In the other half of the draw do any of the four have a chance, Gregor thinks Barca might… In the Premier League Everton face another points deduction, what does that do to the relegation battle? Is it fair for teams to go into the final day not knowing what they need to survive? We take another look at the title race, Alyson Rudd offers her belated thoughts on Liverpool’s ‘failure’ at Old Trafford and Gregor and Martin almost pin their colours to one particular mast…  
 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celestial Messi as Rafa awaits the Reds

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