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The Game
Who Will Escape The Drop?
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Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Matt Dickinson and Matt Lawton.
Elland Road erupted when Leeds scored an added-time winner against Norwich. With Patrick Bamford back - are Leeds about to ‘do a Newcastle’ and accelerate away from the bottom three? (00:00)
Watford got a much-needed win at Southampton over the weekend. Does Roy Hodgson’s team have what it takes to stay up? (08:36)
Alyson is adamant Brentford shouldn’t be included in our relegation-threatened teams list, however Everton are a different matter. Does Frank Lampard have what it takes to turn things around? (13:14)
The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton has been looking into the ongoing situation at Chelsea and joins us to discuss the sale and longer-term impact on the club (19:46)
On the pitch, Chelsea scored a late winner against Newcastle. Alyson was at Stamford Bridge and was interested by the atmosphere (41:12)
Their opponents - Newcastle - have had lots of questions about their ownership recently - but is it right to keep asking them to Eddie Howe? (45:20)
Cristiano Ronaldo is now the (unofficial) top professional goalscorer with 807 goals. Does this settle the argument that he’s the best player ever? (53:32)
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Play off contenders, relegation battles and fog
45:15|Another thriller involving free scoring Cardiff City...are they really eyeing the play offs?West Brom and Wolves certainly are - with a mix of youth and experience the West Midlands are going under the radar.Norwich are charging and can Birmingham stay top...?At the bottom vital wins for Preston, Derby and Charlton but more trouble for Burnley and Bristol City.In the the FA Cup fog grabs the headlines - what is the worst weather Gregor ever played in?All the latest from the Championship and the FA Cup first round with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.Is Sacking Season here? Sage and Carrick on the brink
58:55|Pierre Sage at Palace and Michael Carrick at Man Utd are both under severe pressure, could one or both go in the international break.With both teams facing squads either underpowered or assembled by multiple managers will a change in the dugout make any difference? Oliver Glasner and Regis Le Bris had big wins to ease the pressure on them and place the spotlight on there opposite numbers in Enzo Maresca and Xabi Alonso The Sunderland and Forest wins were both spearheaded by 'powerhouse centre forward' displays; hats off to Brian Brobbey and Liam DelapIs it time to give credit to Leeds' Daniel Farke and their defensive solidity? Arsenal look easy at the top, who cares about flare and Brighton march on.Gregor Robertson James Gheerbrant and Tom Allnutt join Tom ClarkeTale of three forwards: Cunha, Isak and Barry
50:36|A better week for Michael Carrick as an academy star inspires a come back at Old Trafford and their first win in fifty five days. Aside from Shea Lacey's cameo Matheus Cunha stole the show with two goals and a red card - an inspiration or a liability? For Liverpool is £125 million striker Alexander Isak coming good after scoring his sixth of the season. That and the form of Trey Nyoni were the bright spots in defeat for Liverpool.After the break is Thierno Barry the best career turnaround story of the season, the Everton striker now has four league goals this season. Jack Grealish's career is going in the opposite direction, why?A quick look at Scott Parker joining West Ham, the dangers of football following the tragic death of Jesus De Miguel and how is Harry Kane's back up?Tom Clarke is joined Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor RobertsonEFL EXTRA: West Ham turn to Scott Parker
46:40|Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with all the latest from the EFL.Was there ever a more obvious choice for a club than West Ham asking Scott Parker to replace sacked Nuno Espirito Santo...can the former hammer get the team back to the Premier League?Birmingham City are on a charge with six goals in two games and up to second in the table, Tom thinks they're not even in top gear yet. Stoke continue to surprise sitting in third after their fourth away win in a row at Blackburn, but have they had an easy run of fixtures. Are Norwich finally proving Tom and Gregor right, are they heading for the play off mix?A statement win from Huddersfield in League One, putting three past miserly Bradford City. Dave Challinor got Sheff Wed up and running and some pantomime play at Wigan.League Two is as tight as the Championship with three points covering third to thirteenth. Fleetwood had a great win off the back of beating Arsenal in the cup and flat caps and sendings off at Swindon.Arsenal and Brighton show title credentials. Plus who is getting sacked first?
57:28|Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield for the first time in sixteen attempts. The Champions showed a familiar resilience, is their defence as good as they have ever had? For Liverpool they have only scored four home league goals all season, what isn't working going forward?Is it time Brighton were in the conversation with Arsenal as title contenders. After winning at Man City - also for the first time in sixteen attempts - they are a side getting results and topping many data metrics which suggests being third is no fluke.Michael Carrick remains enormous pressure at Man Utd but he is not the only manager under pressure; which of Le Bris at Sunderland, Carrick at Man Utd, Sage at Palace and Glasner at Forest will still be in post after the international break?Lastly, is James Hill at bournemouth in line for an international call up?Gregor Robertson is joined by Tony Cascarino, Alyson Rudd and Pete RutzlerDid the Stretford End save Michael Carrick?
44:54|Manchester United latest in part two. Part One Fleetwood, Dowman and KaneIn front of a raucous five thousand fans at Highbury Fleetwood Town beat Arsenal on penalties - did the cold rainy night cliche play a part?Fleetwood managed to get under the skin of young star Max Dowman, was his red card a valuable lesson or unfair?England captain Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or - and it couldn't have happened to a better man. Michael Carrick is staying at Manchester United - for now. Was he saved by the fans and if so did sentimentality get the better of reality? Paul Hirst brings us the latest as Carrick makes peace with Bruno Fernandes, could he be in line to stay longer than anyone thought?Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd, Paul Hirst and Martin SamuelEFL EXTRA: Southampton climbing, Burnley sinking and Middlesbrough magic
42:58|Middlesbrough look set for another charge at promotion this season as Kim Hellberg's side put on a masterclass away at Bolton.They might have competition from Southampton who would be in second but for their points deduction and their defender James Bree thinks they can win the league.Burnley looked woeful in Nicky Hayen's last game in change, could they follow Leicester and Luton with a double drop into League OneIn League One good times at Mansfield and Plymouth. Managerial change at Sheffield Wednesday and is Dave Challinor about to get a return to management?Fleet footed brilliance from Exeter City's Luca Woodhouse in League Two and another managerial change as bottom of the pyramid Crawley sack their manager. And remember Ryan Reynold's mate Paul Mullin...? He's still scoring goals at Rotherham.Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with all the latest from the EFLUnited dismal, Liverpool dynamic and Villa dreaming
58:59|Another weekend, another disastrous result for Manchester United who slumped to a 3-0 defeat against an impressive Bournemouth side. At the final whistle, Old Trafford delivered its verdict – support for Michael Carrick, resounding boos for his players. But is this the end for United’s beleaguered manager? Could Eddie Howe be next in line to take on this most poisoned of managerial chalices? More importantly, will it make any difference?Meanwhile, there were big results for both Liverpool and Tottenham - whose was more impressive? Pierre Sage is under pressure at Palace and Arsenal are good at set-pieces again. Then it’s all aboard the Villa hype train after they inflicted Manchester City’s first defeat of the season. Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, James Gheerbrant and Gary Jacob to discuss all that and look ahead to tonight’s Ballon d'Or ceremony in London.Who's at fault - Carrick or Fernandes?
51:08|It goes from bad to worse for Manchester United. A humiliating loss to Como followed by captain Bruno Fernandes turning on the manager. Is this now a power struggle between player and manager...if so, who wins?Aside from the chaos off the pitch what is the problem on it, is it about players not trying, poor coaching or just a simple lack of ability? Will Michael Carrick still be manager in a weeks time?Elsewhere, Harry Kane shows why he's in line for the Ballon D'or, Liverpool's up and down performance, another PSG masterclass and a big weekend for Spurs and Chelsea.Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke