The Rest Is Football

Harry Kane becomes the fifth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or and the first since Michael Owen in 2001. After scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich and winning the domestic double, Kane beat Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to claim the prestigious award. But can he go back-to-back? Will Mbappé ever get his hands on the trophy, and how many Ballon d’Ors could Yamal win over the course of his career?

Gary and Julien Laurens also look back at El Clásico, where Real Madrid overcame Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Plus, Julien reveals how the rest of Europe views the situation at Manchester United and discusses who could be the club’s next manager.

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Manchester United plunge deeper into crisis as Bournemouth humiliate them 3-0 at Old Trafford. Gary, Micah and Alan dissect a miserable afternoon for Michael Carrick's side, who now sit 16th in the table and are winless in eight. They debate whether United are in a genuine relegation battle, why Bruno Fernandes was left on the bench, and whether Carrick is running out of time to save his job.

Gary, Alan and Micah turn their attention to Aston Villa, where Nicolas Jackson’s double ended Manchester City’s 100% start to the season. Are cracks finally starting to show in City’s defence? And at Stamford Bridge, Spurs pull off a rare win against 10-man Chelsea, as a debutant keeper’s howler and a Cole Palmer red card give Xabi Alonso a night to forget.

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It’s been a disastrous week for Manchester United as they suffer a heavy defeat to Cesc Fàbregas’s impressive Como side. To add fuel to the fire, Bruno Fernandes appears to have fallen out with Michael Carrick following his explosive post-match comments. Can it get any worse for United?

Harry Kane delivered another stellar performance as Bayern Munich drew with Arsenal. He impressed with his passing range and creativity, as well as converting a well-taken penalty. Is the Ballon d’Or heading back to Munich with him?

Gary, Alan & Micah also pick their Champions League winners. Are PSG the frontrunners once again after another brilliant victory over Barcelona, who many consider to be among the favourites?

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The Independent Football Regulator has released its State of the Game report and the findings are eye-opening as the perilous financial situation much of the pyramid faces is laid bare. Gary Lineker and Alastair Campbell speak to the chair of the IFR David Kogan and find out what powers he has to improve the landscape in English football.

We also look at what it would take for him to intervene and force an owner to sell a club, and how he could possibly get involved in the Manchester City case once the appeal is heard.

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Brighton are brilliant again, but are the Seagulls genuine title-race outsiders or is a Champions League push the more realistic target? Arsenal struggle to break through in the first half yet again before another substitute rides to the rescue. Is the bench becoming their most important weapon, or a warning sign?

Gary, Micah and Alan also turn their attention to Manchester City’s new-look midfield and their continued unbeaten run despite a cloud looming over them. Liverpool get back to winning ways despite still looking like they can be got at. And with Newcastle’s defensive struggles showing no sign of easing, how deep do their problems run?

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Luis Enrique and PSG keep up their impressive record against English clubs as they beat Manchester City in one of the games of the season so far, are they favourites to get that third consecutive Champions League title?

Michael Carrick comes under increasing pressure as his side fall to an in-form Atlético Madrid. There were signs of improvement, but with a trip to bitter rivals Leeds coming up this weekend, is it already a must-win game for Carrick?

Plus, Gary, Alan and Micah wax lyrical about Lamine Yamal. Could his sensational start to the season put him on course to win the Ballon d’Or?

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Following the worst start to a Premier League season in their history, is Michael Carrick the right man to turn Manchester United around? Do United still belong among football’s elite, or has the club lost its status as one of the game’s true giants? And are the Glazers solely to blame for the decline of one of British sport’s greatest dynasties?

Gary is joined by Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic’s Manchester United correspondent and co-host of the Talk of the Devils podcast, to dissect the problems plaguing Old Trafford. From ownership, management and recruitment they explore why Manchester United have struggled to recapture their former glory since Ferguson’s departure, and what it will take to restore the club to the top of English and European football.

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Manchester City thump Liverpool at Anfield after a controversial red card to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season. But with the 115 charges hanging over the club and the case still unresolved, is City's dominance becoming a bad look for the Premier League? What does it mean for the competition when City sit top of the pile while the legal battle continues?

Gary, Micah and Alan also turn their attention to two clubs in crisis, Manchester United and Spurs. With results and performances falling short, how much longer can Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi afford to struggle before the pressure really starts to mount?

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Fulham and England Under-21 midfielder Josh King joins TRIF for an illuminating conversation on what it was like to be called up by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup training camp, how he's adjusting to life as one of Fulham's talismen under Alvaro Arbeloa and his ambitions to follow in the footsteps of Elliott Anderson, Rio Ngumoha, and Alex Scott by breaking into the senior squad

There's also reflection from Gary, Alan and Micah on their Under-21 days including a remarkable claim from Big Meeks...

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England rounded off a hugely positive international break with a 3-0 win over Czechia. Thomas Tuchel’s side scored 15 goals across the three matches, but beyond the scorelines, it was the style of play that really caught the eye.

When was the last time England played with this much energy, intensity and positivity? And can Tuchel take this team to the next level by finally getting them competing with and beating the biggest nations?

Gary, Alan, Micah and TRIF’s England reporter Rob Jones also discuss the Cristiano Ronaldo saga and ask whether it’s finally time for the Portuguese legend to hang up his boots.

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