The Premier League’s financial rules will still be in place for next season despite plans to change them.

Teams like Manchester United, Aston Villa and Newcastle blame these rules for stopping them spending heavily on new players.

So why the delay for the new rules?

And how exactly do they impact clubs and their summer transfer plans?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Matt Slater & Jacob Whitehead

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday night Chelsea suffered a fourth defeat in eight Premier League games, going down 3-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Having slipped from fourth to sixth, frustrations have come to the fore including from star player Cole Palmer.

So, has Maresca ball gone flat?

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Chelsea writer Liam Twomey and senior football writer Oli Kay to analyse Chelsea's recent shortcomings, discuss the form and contributions of Palmer as well as assess whether or not Chelsea are improving under Maresca.

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Liam Twomey and Oli Kay

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Guy Clarke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The self destruction derby? The banter bout? El Calamitico? 

The Athletic’s Manchester United writer Carl Anka and Tottenham writer Jack Pitt-Brooke join football writer Tim Spiers and host Adam Leventhal to preview Tottenham vs Manchester United. 

With the sides sitting 13th and 14th respectively, who will be holding the crisis baton come Sunday evening? 

Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC, setting you up for the big fixtures elsewhere. 

Host: Adam Leventhal

With: Carl Anka, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Tim Spiers

Featuring: James McNicholas, James Pearce

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby delivered with James Tarkowski popping up with the stoppage time equaliser for Everton in their 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders, Liverpool.

Despite the draw sending Arne Slot's side seven points clear at the top of the Premier League could the draw at Goodson disrupt their title charge?

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Stu James and Andy Jones to pick the bones out of the Merseyside derby, the context of the wider title race as well as the run of games to come for Slot's side.

Arsenal writer James McNicholas also joins to discuss the impact of Kai Havertz's hamstring injury for Arsenal, given Mikel Arteta's side are the closest challengers to land the Premier League title.

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Andy Jones, Stu James and James McNicholas

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Guy Clarke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight’s Merseyside derby will be the last ever at Goodison Park - and there have been some absolute belters in the past.

So what are Everton losing in moving from Goodison?

And what are the benefits of football clubs switching to a new home? 

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Paddy Boyland, Rory Smith and Adrian Clarke

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Santos fans welcomed back club legend Neymar after 12 years away.

So why is he back in Brazil, why did it go so wrong in Saudi Arabia?

And how hard is it for players to live up to exorbitant price tags?

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Natalie Gedra and Phil Hay

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Mike Stavrou and Nick Thomson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the space of just four days, Tottenham Hotspur have been knocked out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup at the hands of Liverpool and Aston Villa.

It means their hopes of ending their 17-year trophy drought now rest solely on the Europa League.

So where do Spurs and Ange Postecoglou go from here? 

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke and lead writer for The Athletic FC newsletter, Phil Hay, while Jay Harris also drops by to react to Ange Postecoglou's post-match press conference having been at Sunday's defeat to Aston Villa.

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Jack Pitt-Brooke and Phil Hay

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Guy Clarke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first piece of silverware in 2025 will be contested between Newcastle and Liverpool, when they meet in the Carabao Cup final. 

The Athletic's senior writer George Caulkin joins Tim Spiers and host Adam Leventhal to discuss whether Eddie Howe's side can finally end their 70 year trophy drought.  

Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC, setting you up for the FA Cup fourth round. 

Host: Adam Leventhal

With: George Caulkin, Tim Spiers

Featuring: James McNicholas, James Pearce, Andy Mitten, Simon Johnson

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy to discuss the introduction of an independent football regulator within English football.

Whether it’s financial mismanagement, questionable ownership, or lack of accountability - football in England has faced some huge challenges in recent years which is why the British government, wants to appoint an independent regulator.

So why are the Premier League and its member clubs unhappy with the plan and are the concerns of fans really at the heart of all this, as all sides claim?

Ayo Akinwolere is also joined by The Athletic's senior football news reporter Matt Slater and Phil Hay, lead writer of The Athletic FC newsletter.

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Lisa Nandy MP, Matt Slater and Phil Hay

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Guy Clarke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Bayer Leverkusen’s miraculous title-win last season, this season it seems to be business as usual, with Bayern Munich six points clear of Leverkusen at the top of the table.

So, can anyone stop Bayern reestablishing themselves as the dominant force in the Bundesliga? 

And is Vincent Kompany creating a side that are serious contenders for Champions League glory? 

Host: Ayo Akinwolere

With: Jan Åge Fjørtoft & Seb Stafford-Bloor

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.