Peter Smith

First, though, we're going to have a quick word with Carvey Solicor about a very serious story which is looming over Manchester City at the moment.

They're banned from Champions League football and their intended appeal to the Court of Arbitration for sport.

Carvey, welcome back to the Sky Sports Football Weekend Preview podcast.

How are you doing?

Good.

Yeah, absolutely.

It sounds like Manchester City and UEFA have been keeping you very busy.

So can you just bring us up to speed with where we stand with this case at the moment and what comes next?

That's interesting, Kaveh.

Obviously, we saw on Wednesday night the City's playing staff were able to put this whole issue to one side to beat West Ham in the Premier League.

And after that game, Pep Guardiola reiterated his commitment to the club after the win.

But what impact do you think this appeals process and eventual verdict could have on the future of, say, City's star players?

Of course, if the Champions League ban does stand, Carvey, that has ramifications beyond Manchester City.

What does it mean for other Premier League clubs who are perhaps in and around those top four spots?

Right.

It's a fascinating case and obviously a very important case.

Carvey, thank you very much for bringing us up to speed on that today.

So it's a complicated situation, but if you head to the Sky Sports website, you can find lots of analysis there, including full transcripts of what Man City's chief executive has had to say and also lots of reaction from Pep Guardiola.

But Gerrard on the pitch, as I said to Carvey, says he were able to get a win on Wednesday night going to West Ham and it's Leicester next up on Saturday.

Does it feel a bit odd though, this Premier League campaign now with Liverpool so far ahead of them?