The 2026/27 Premier League season is underway. So is it too early to hand Arsenal the trophy?

Miguel Delaney was at the Emirates on Friday night, while Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jonathan Wilson had to watch on TV. They discuss what we learned from the opening weekend, and how much of an advantage it is to go into this season with an established manager.

The three big losers this weekend were Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Aston Villa, but how much should those fans be worried?

But maybe finding answers to those questions is just asking one round of league games to bear too much weight. Should all calm down with our narrative-formation for a few weeks?

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Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today - Claude.ai/LIBERO.

It's Wilson Month! What does that mean? It means anyone signing up for SC Libero over the next four weeks has the opportunity to enjoy our member benefits of bonus content on the end of every regular show and a weekly bonus episodes with 30 days of access for FREE. We didn't tell your generous benefactor Jonathan Wilson about this in advance and he will be upset. The offer applies for all tiers of SC Libero membership, but be aware, only Einsteins and above get the extra episodes. More details and sign up is here.

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The Libero Fantasy League is also back for the new season. You play against your fellow listeners by using ⁠this link⁠ or using this code: la4foa.

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions

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With the Premier League in the midst of a period of upheaval, Arsenal, the reigning champions, stand alone as the sole pillar of stability amongst the traditional challengers. Neither of the league's other recent title winners - Liverpool and Manchester City - appear as strong as they have been in the past couple of seasons, while Enzo Maresca has the additional unenviable task of trying to replace Pep Guardiola.

Rory Smith asks Miguel Delaney and James Horncastle for their thoughts on the Premier League title race.

P1: (10:36)

P2: (38:11)

Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today - Claude.ai/LIBERO.

It's Wilson Month! What does that mean? It means anyone signing up for SC Libero over the next four weeks has the opportunity to enjoy our member benefits of bonus content on the end of every regular show and a weekly bonus episodes with 30 days of access for FREE. We didn't tell your generous benefactor Jonathan Wilson about this in advance and he will be upset. The offer applies for all tiers of SC Libero membership, but be aware, only Einsteins and above get the extra episodes. More details and sign up is here.

—

The Libero Fantasy League is also back for the new season. You play against your fellow listeners by using ⁠this link⁠ or using this code: la4foa.

---

Produced by: Tom Bassam

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Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions

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The 2026/27 Premier League season is finally upon us. Even after a transfer window where all the big money has been spent domestially, there are hopes for some exciting new arrivals into 'our league', and maybe for a game which is more determined by individuals, rather than set pieces.

On today’s episode, Jonathan Wilson and James Horncastle discuss what we actually want to see this year, while Jack Pitt-Brooke gets sidetracked obsessing over QPR’s transfer business from the early Tony Fernandes era.

P1: (06:03)

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Join SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, now: liberopodcast.com.

The Libero Fantasy League is also back for the new season. You play against your fellow listeners by using this link or using this code: la4foa.

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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Gianni Infantino, the embattled 'Pope of Football', is limping on as Fifa president and has split the world's federations into two factions, one that wants to see him removed from office and the other who wish for him to remain. Why, despite his obvious flaws and major errors, does Infantino retain such levels of support? Jonathan Wilson is joined by Miguel Delaney and Tariq Panja to unpick the motivations behind those who want Infantino gone and the reasons he may be able to cling on.

P1: (03:12)

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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A new era of Premier League football will begin this month. With Pep Guardiola out of the picture, and Jurgen Klopp long gone, none of the ‘big beasts’ of management will be in jobs. Instead, the 'big six' will largely be coached by managers in their mid 40s, all with something to prove.

On today’s episode John Brewin, Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jonathan Wilson ask how this will affect the dynamic of the new season. Will we talk about managers less than we used to? Or will we hope that the generation of Enzo Maresca, Andoni Iraola and co step up into that space?

Perhaps this all just proves how hard it is to coach a top Premier League side and why the more relaxed world of international management is now where you'll find the totemic figures who have been stalking English top-flight dugouts for the last decade.

P1: (07:32)

P2: (26:59)

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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Arsenal’s pursuit of Vinicius Junior is over after Real Madrid announced on Thursday afternoon that the Brazil international had signed a new long-term contract.

But on today’s episode - recorded just before the news was confirmed - Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Horncastle and John Brewin discussed why Arsenal’s attempted move for him felt so significant. For all the Premier League’s wealth and success, it generally does not buy in the most famous players in the world. Apart from the arrival of Erling Haaland in 2022, there have been few other high-status imports in recent years.

So does that actually matter? Is the league itself the star? Especially when big signings like Paul Pogba or Angel Di Maria fail to make too much of an impression in the Premier League. Or should the willingness of young players like Michael Olise and Jude Bellingham to reach the top outside the Premier League be a cause of concern in this country?

P1: (07:31)

P2: (32:25)

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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With a $15bn World Cup bolstering Fifa's bank account, Gianni Infantino was riding high and set fair to continue as football's self-appointed pope, with another term as president all but guaranteed. Little more than two weeks later, following an abruptly abandoned plan to sell a stake in the golden goose to the brother of Donald Trump's son in-law and Infantino is facing the prospect of having to resign the Fifa presidency. How did we get here and what does it say about modern football? Will this finally be the moment the game changes? Jonathan Wilson is joined by Miguel Delaney and Tariq Panja to discuss.

P1: (00:20)

P2: (32:47)

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham are all beginning the new Premier League season with different managers than started the last. With a cast of new characters now coming into focus, Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson consider what storylines might take shape and the longtail impact of the World Cup. Also discussed is how the creep of football is eroding away the traditional summers sports and the return of international football to borderline irrelevance.

P1: (00:56)

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A note to listeners, it's fair to assume that Libero 145 will be discussing the drama in Fifa-land at length.

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions

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Johan Manzambi has become the latest player to earn a big transfer off the back of an impressive World Cup, following the likes of James Rodriguez, Ilie Dumitrescu and Papa Bouba Diop. Yet in recent years clubs have turned away from scouting players at major tournaments, but why is that when they provide tangible evidence of a player's quality and ability to handle playing under immense pressure? James Horncastle, Tariq Panja and Rory Smith look back at the history of this phenomenon and ask if once more the World Cup is becoming a viable proving ground.

P1: (02:43)

P2: (32:53)

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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The sad passing of Kevin Keegan at the age of 75 last week brought to an end of the ultimate football lives. One of British football's earliest superstars, highly decorated as a player, revered as one of the game's boldest attacking coaches, Keegan was beloved figure both in England and further afield. Here John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson look back at the life of 'King Kev'.

This was originally released for SC Libero members last week, but we thought it would be nice for all Libero listeners to hear John and Jonathan's tribute to the great man.

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Produced by: Tom Bassam

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