Just For Kicks

The opening week of the Premier League delivered drama in spades, headlined by a heavyweight clash at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Arsenal. In a tense encounter, a single mistake proved fatal for the hosts: stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir spilled a Declan Rice corner just 13 minutes in, gifting Riccardo Calafiori the simplest of headers to seal a 1–0 win for the Gunners. Over in London, Chelsea’s return from their Club World Cup triumph was far less celebratory, as they were held to a goalless stalemate by FA Cup holders Crystal Palace. The game’s defining moment came when Eberechi Eze’s brilliant free-kick was controversially ruled out by VAR, which judged Marc Guehi guilty of shoving Moises Caicedo to create space in the wall.

Meanwhile, champions Liverpool set the tone for their title defense with a stirring 4–2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield. It was a night charged with emotion, their first competitive outing since the heartbreaking loss of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. Black armbands, a minute’s silence, and tributes from players and fans made the victory feel as poignant as it was hard-fought. From shock upsets to stirring comebacks, all this and more unfolds on this week’s Just For Kicks.

At last, the football famine is over—Premier League’s back and the buffet is open! The 2025/26 season kicks off with a bang, and right at the centre of the first weekend’s drama is at Old Trafford, where Manchester United welcome Arsenal. The Gunners roll in with fresh firepower—Viktor Gyökeres and Martín Zubimendi—looking to go one better than last season’s runner-up finish. United, not to be outdone, have ripped up their old front three and gone full makeover mode with the signings of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha & Bryan Mbuemo.

Liverpool aren’t just defending their crown—they’re adding sparkle, with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already in, and Alexander Isak maybe waiting in the wings. Manchester City, meanwhile, are throwing £300 million at their “oops, no trophies” hangover, plus getting Rodri back to steady the ship. Chelsea have gone on a £250 million shopping spree (again), picking up Brazilians Joao Pedro & Estevao and a bit of confidence under Enzo Maresca. And Spurs? They’ve got Thomas Frank steering their post-Postecoglou reboot, hoping to keep up with the big dogs. All this and more in this week’s Just For Kicks!

Football returns with a bang—and a shock at Wembley! Crystal Palace lifted their first-ever Community Shield after edging Liverpool 3–2 in a tense penalty shootout, the sides having traded blows in a gripping 2–2 draw. The Reds roared ahead early, with Hugo Ekitike striking first with fellow debutant Jeremie Frimpong doubling the lead. But Palace clawed back—Jean-Philippe Mateta coolly converting from the spot before Ismaïla Sarr levelled the score. In the shootout, Dean Henderson stood tall, denying Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Mohamed Salah’s miss opened the door for Justin Devenny to slam home the winner. We break it all down—and catch up with national U-19 star Lauren Ruyi—in the Just For Kicks season opener!

Chelsea etched their name in the history books by becoming the first club to claim all five major European trophies, capping the feat with a commanding 4-1 comeback win over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final in Wroclaw, Poland. After trailing at halftime, the Blues surged in the second half, with Cole Palmer delivering a standout performance that sealed the victory. The triumph marks a breakthrough moment for manager Enzo Maresca and many of his players—potentially the dawn of a new era at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, on this side of the world, Manchester United’s woes deepened with an embarrassing 1-0 loss to a makeshift ASEAN All-Stars side in Kuala Lumpur, triggering jeers from the 72,550-strong crowd. Despite fielding several first-team regulars, United looked sluggish and disjointed under the sweltering conditions, with Burmese winger Maung Maung Lwin scoring the winner in the 71st minute. The defeat further compounds United’s miserable run, following a 15th-place Premier League finish and a Europa League final loss—casting an ominous cloud over a post-season tour driven more by commercial interests than sporting merit.

All that plus the Champions League final & review of the leagues around Europe on our last show of the season!

After spending much of the season in the top spots, Nottingham Forest suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to fierce rivals Chelsea, just missing out on a coveted Champions League place. A decisive goal from Levi Colwill secured Chelsea’s return to Europe’s top tier, with the Blues finishing fourth in the league table. Meanwhile, ten-man Aston Villa were left heartbroken after a controversial 2-0 loss to Manchester United, allowing Newcastle to edge them out of the Champions League on goal difference. Ironically, Newcastle didn’t help their own cause either, falling 1-0 at home to Everton thanks to a strike from Carlos Alcaraz. With European places now locked in and the league season wrapped up, we take a look back at all the drama here on Just For Kicks.

“I always win things in my second year,” declared Ange Postecoglou after a narrow defeat to Arsenal last September—a bold proclamation that was met with smirks and skepticism. But fast-forward to the Europa League final, and it’s Postecoglou who’s smiling now. In a tense, hard-fought clash, it was Brennan Johnson’s scrappy first-half strike that proved decisive, securing Tottenham Hotspur their first trophy in 17 years. More than just silverware, the 1-0 win delivered Spurs a golden ticket back to the Champions League.

For Manchester United, the night told a different story. The loss deepens an already grim campaign, with the Red Devils languishing near the bottom of the Premier League and now missing out on European football entirely. For manager Ruben Amorim, the challenge ahead is steep: rebuild a fractured squad without the magnetism of continental competition at Old Trafford.
All that and more, on this week’s episode of Just For Kicks.

Eberechi Eze's 16th minute strike after a swift counter attack was enough to secure a historic FA Cup win for Crystal Palace against a dominant Man City side that eventually ran out of ideas to break Palace down. The Just For Kicks' team dissect the win and celebrate the diversity of winners in the domestic English game this season. Then, they look back to Matchweek 37 and calculate which team will make it to the European spots, as well as look ahead to the Europa League Final between Man Utd and Tottenham Spurs. All these, and more, only on Just For Kicks!
Image Source: The Independent

Everton Football Club is set to bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, their iconic home since 1892, with the final Premier League match at the stadium taking place this weekend against Southampton. Affectionately known as "The Grand Old Lady," the stadium has stood as a pillar of English football, witnessing countless historic moments—from Dixie Dean’s astonishing 60-goal season in 1928 to hosting matches during the 1966 World Cup.

Though once destined for demolition, the stadium will now live on as the permanent home of Everton Women beginning in the 2025–26 season, following a landmark decision by the club’s new owners, The Friedkin Group. As the men’s team prepares to move into their new 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, fans are reflecting on over a century of passion, pride, and unforgettable memories. It’s the end of an era and the dawn of a new chapter—and we’re covering it all, from the poignant goodbyes to this weekend's on-pitch action, right here on Just For Kicks.

In one of the most thrilling clashes in recent memory, Inter Milan edged Barcelona 4-3 after extra time to clinch a dramatic 7-6 aggregate win and book their place in the Champions League final. Lautaro Martínez and Hakan Çalhanoğlu gave Inter early control, but Barça roared back with goals from Eric García, Dani Olmo, and a late strike from Raphinha in the 87th minute. Just when it seemed over, Francesco Acerbi leveled in stoppage time, and Davide Frattesi sealed it in extra time. Yann Sommer’s vital saves kept Inter alive — and now, it’s a showdown in Munich against PSG for the crown of Europe.

All that, plus Arsenal v PSG and the latest from the Premier League — right here on Just For Kicks

Chelsea secured a vital 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, reigniting their push for Champions League qualification. Enzo Fernández struck early, putting the hosts ahead within three minutes, before a defensive mix-up led to a Jarell Quansah own goal to double Chelsea’s lead. Although Virgil van Dijk narrowed the gap late on, Cole Palmer coolly converted a stoppage-time penalty—his first goal in 18 games—to seal the result. Named man of the match, Palmer’s performance helped Chelsea snap a seven-year home league drought against Liverpool and climb to fifth in the table, keeping their top-four ambitions alive. That plus much more PL action reviewed, here on this episode of Just For Kicks.