The Game

A tribute to Diogo Jota

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 Chief Correspondent for The Times and Sunday Times Martin Samuel joins Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson to pay tribute to Portugal and Liverpool ...

Women’s Euros 2025: Will England defend their title?

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

England enter the tournament as defending Champions, but their preparation has not been smooth. With three senior players either retiring or making th...

England U21 Champions and all change in the Championship

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

England are European U21 Champions again.Lee Carley's side defended their title with an impressive 3-2 extra time win over Germany So, what next ...

Will Alexander Isak stay at Newcastle?

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Times’ Northern Sports Correspondent Martin Hardy analyses the chances of Alexander Isak remaining at St James’ Park and the potential destina...

Transfer latest: Manchester United, Wolves, Villa and Forest

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After the capture of Matheus Cunha, what next for Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United? Charlotte Duncker discusses summer transfers and new season ambi...

Your favourite football kit and what it tells you?

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Club World Cup is up and running, with some serious prize money on offer. Judging by the line ups of Chelsea and Manchester City in their first ga...

Wirtz to Liverpool and Cherki joins up with Manchester City

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It has already been a busy summer of transfer activity. Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all brought big signings in to ...

Bellingham revolts and Tuchel’s troubles

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First, they were embarrassed, then they were humiliated. It wasn’t the start Thomas Tuchel had in mind for his England team.How big are the problems...

Who follows Ange Postecoglou and are England going backwards?

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Seventeen days after ending Spurs’ seventeen year wait for a trophy Ange Postecoglou was out, sacked by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Was it the r...

Transfer latest, Grealish future and England squads

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Will England be the best prepared team at next year’s World Cup? Will it matter?As they head into a friendly with Andorra how many true tests of his...

Are PSG the future of football? And transfers you’d like to see…

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

PSG finally have their European crown, and they look phenomenal in winning it. Did their demolition of Inter Milan set a new standard? Gone are gifted...

Chelsea champions of Europe (sort of), Man United mortified in Malaysia

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsea triumph in Wrocław (which is in Poland) to bring home the first major trophy of the Boehly-Clearlake era. So are things looking up for next s...

Play Off finals – winners and losers

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The play offs are done and dusted. For Sunderland their manager Regis Le Bris championed his team’s togetherness, it showed as they scored anot...

Final day review and end of season awards

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the Champions League places decided it's time to evaluate who is happy with their season?Forest we're tipped for relegation but ended up in Europ...

What next for winners Tottenham and losers Manchester United?

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Spurs first trophy in seventeen years vindication for their manager Ange Postecoglou?Despite finishing 17th in the league they’ll be playing Cham...

EFL Extra: Play Off previews and predictions

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's play off finals weekend. Is it something fans love or hate? For some it is hard to enjoy the stomach churning, nerve shredding matches with so mu...

Palace win it! The battle for Europe and Spurs v Man Utd

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal Palace have won their first major trophy – the FA Cup! Oliver Glasner’s side beat Man City 1-0 giving Palace European football next season...

FA Cup final preview and VAR injury risks

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Taiwo Awoniyi recovers from a very serious injury, is it time to review VAR protocols. If it is a clear and obvious offside, why are officials told...

Champions League places, Trent booed and Man Utd Spurs misery

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The race for Europe is going down to the wire. After spending all season at the top are Forest on the brink of throwing it away, does a ‘passionate’...

Another trophyless season for Arsenal. Is the pressure on Arteta?

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The dream is over for Arsenal. How does Mikel Arteta turn his team from nearly men to winners? Is he even the man to do it?Arteta described Arsenal as...

EFL Extra: Last day drama and play off predictions

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The final day of the regular season didn’t disappoint. Twenty four thousand turned out for Bradford v Fleetwood…in the fourth tier. Leeds and Burn...

The race for Europe and Trent leaves Liverpool

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trent Alexander Arnold has finally confirmed what seemed inevitable – he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. His destination is not yet c...

Will Arsenal come back? And is Lamine Yamal the best in the world?

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was a tough night for Arsenal at the Emirates as they were largely second best to PSG. What hope do they have for a second leg in Paris? Well, PSG ...

EFL Extra: Who makes the play offs? Who is in a late relegation scrap?

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up the penultimate round of fixtures in the EFL. Slowly but surely the key places are being decided. In the Cham...

What’s so special about Arne Slot? And Birmingham City in Europe..?

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Liverpool have finally clinched their 20th league title. Arne Slot has landed the big one in his first season in charge. How did he do it, can he repe...

How Liverpool won the title – inside story of Slot’s triumph

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Liverpool have won their 20th league title. In his first season in charge manager Arne Slot has led his side to the top of the English game.How b...

How to stay in the Premier League and top five midfielders?

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All the talk is Ange Postecoglou could be on his way out of Tottenham. Not so fast says Martin Samuel…he might have done better than you think. Coul...

EFL Extra: Two to go, so much to play for…

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All the latest from the nail biting EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.Congratulations to free scoring Leeds and rock solid Burnley who are both...

How important is momentum? Should you protect star players? And greatest ever midfielders…

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leicester are relegated, would they have fared better if they had stuck with Steve Cooper? Manchester United, fresh from a thrilling European come bac...

Are Arsenal favourites against PSG? And a new contract for Van Dijk

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Arenal’s win in Madrid a coming-of-age performance for Mikel Arteta’s side? After beating the fifteen-time champions Real Madrid what chance d...

EFL Extra: The EFL is mad!

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cliché alert: A week is a long time in football. Nothing stays the same for long in the championship, Leagues One and Two Leeds were sinking, no...

Who is worse Man Utd or Spurs?

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are on course for their worst ever Premier League seasons. Do both now need massive re builds on and off the p...

Have you ever seen a better free kick than Declan Rice’s?

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid their best performance under Mikel Arteta? At its heart was a dominant display from Declan Rice, topped off by tw...

"There is jeopardy everywhere you look!”

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

‘Crunch time’, ‘the pressure is on’, ‘squeaky bum time’… call it what you like now is when it matters. The EFL is an edge of the seat ri...

Is this a great season or an awful season?

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is there something ‘off’ this season? Run away leaders Liverpool lost, but Arsenal had already dropped points, and relegation was sorted out weeks...

Jose Mourinho – a great or a clown? And VAR … again

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If ever a game highlighted the problems of VAR it was the Merseyside derby. There is universal agreement that James Tarkowski’s tackle on Alexis Mac...

Best ever full backs and Premier League predictions

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With Forest, Villa and Palace all through it’s a varied FA Cup semi final line up…but does the presence of Manchester City have an inevitable fell...

EFL prediction time: Who's going up and who's going down?

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All the very latest from an enthralling EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.With eight games to go the EFL is far from over. In the Championship ...

How do Liverpool replace Trent Alexander Arnold?

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It looks like Trent Alexander Arnold is off to Real Madrid. Where does that leave Liverpool? Does it mean Salah and Van Dijk might now stay? Alexander...

"Is international football crap?”

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thomas Tuchel’s first game is out of the way…it wasn’t memorable. Did anyone learn anything from it? Did they lack leadership, is Lewis Skelly a...

Does Thomas Tuchel need to win the World Cup?

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Thomas Tuchel’s England squad a step forward or a step back? The selection of Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker with the omission of younger talen...

Newcastle United win! A one off or the first of many?

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Newcastle United won their first domestic trophy in 70 years. what does it mean to the club, the city and its fans? A well-deserved win on the pitch w...

Champions League, VAR and Manchester United’s ‘circus’

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is this why VAR was brought in, for a ‘perfectly good penalty’ to be ruled out?It may be in the letter of the law, but what about the spirit?Real ...

EFL Extra: “This is when it really matters!”

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All the latest from the EFL as Gregor and Tom look at the top and bottom of the Championship and the best from Leagues One and Two.It was a very spike...

Which teams offer the best entertainment value? (It’s not Man Utd or Arsenal)

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Arsenal stumbled – again. Manchester United were average – again. So, which teams do deserve the prime time 4pm Sunday slot? Spurs v Bournemouth p...

Can an English club win the Champions League? And Alisson heroics

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Paris Saint Germain were amazing…they just weren’t quite as good as Alisson Becker. Liverpool’s one nil win in the French capital was largely do...

FA Cup reaction and are Man Utd fans turning on Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Shoot outs, red cards and moments of madness – the FA Cup delivers. At old Trafford cup holders Man Utd were dumped out by Fulham and the fans made ...

Best ever individual seasons: Salah, Henry, Terry? Plus, hats off to Arne Slot

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The title race is done, so time to recognise the job Arne Slot is doing at Anfield. It is much more than ‘tweaks’ according to Gregor and Martin.W...

EFL Extra: Championship snakes and ladders and EFL fatigue

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson for all the latest news from the Championship, League One and League Two.Is it time to give Frank Lampard credit?...

Liverpool bossed it; have Arsenal blown it?

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Arsenal fluffed their lines at home to West Ham. Liverpool capitalised with their first win at Manchester City in ten years. It puts Liverpool eleven ...

Do you pity Manchester City? And is Darwin done?

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester City were dumped out of the Champions League by a dominant Real Madrid. At what point do we start to feel sorry for Pep and his team? Now, ...

Spurs win the dysfunction derby & 'never go full press'

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tottenham back to their best? Or did they just play against an EVEN worse team in Manchester United? Tony Cascarino, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Gregor...

Fitting finale at Goodison and the end for Pep?

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What a fitting finale for Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby. A thrilling roller coaster of a game, four goals, three red cards, VAR and a last ...

EFL Extra: Make changes, make 'em at the right time...

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Great escapes, standout signings and a managerial merry go round in this week's EFL Extra. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson discuss whether S...

Brilliant Plymouth but what is a cup shock?

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was it an FA Cup shock for the ages, bottom of the Championship Plymouth beating European and Premier League leaders Liverpool? Or did Liverpool’s l...

Newcastle bully Arsenal and Manchester United’s ‘Mission Impossible’?

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

St James’ Park was a cauldron, Arsenal were cowed, and Newcastle are off to Wembley.Is Newcastle’s forward line the best around at the moment? And...

Arsenal humble City and did Liverpool get lucky?

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 Arsenal stayed humble and thrashed Man City. Did the result say more about a dominant Arsenal performance or a fragile aging Manchester City tea...

TRANSFER SPECIAL

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Clarke is joined by Gary Jacob and Martin Hardy to look at all the latest transfer news.Will Ollie Watkins be an Arsenal player in the next 48 hou...

“Pep is losing it!” And is Ollie Watkins worth 60 million?

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do you think of the new Champions League format? It gets mixed reaction in the studio – full of excitement but was there any real jeopardy?Manc...

Groundhog Day for Spurs and what makes Bournemouth so good?

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can it get any worse for Spurs? Losses to Everton and at home to Leicester have piled the pressure on Ange Postecoglou, but the fans are turning on ch...

How do City rebuild? And the problem with Havertz

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester City threw away a two goal lead again. As they sign three players in a week, will Pep Guardiola be around for the re build?The result prove...

EFL Extra: Clash of the cash and managers old and new

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All the latest from the Football League with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.Tony Mowbray is back, and he is back at West Brom. After recovering from ...

Who are the ‘Big Six’? And how long will Ange last?

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What is the future of Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou? With his Spurs team sitting in their worst league position at this stage since 2009, injurie...

How many teams are in the title race?

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A tough win in the north London derby has but Arsenal well and truly back in the title race. But who else is in the picture? Liverpool and Forest; Che...

Arsenal v Man Utd and why play extra time?

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did Manchester United display fantastic spirit, organisation and grit or were they lucky and should have lost by three if Arsenal could finish?For Mik...

Will Newcastle or Spurs win the cup? And is Potter the answer for West Ham?

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How many Newcastle players would get in a Premier League team of the season - two, three…five?!Would any manager other than Ange Postecoglou buy a t...

EFL Extra – Managers on the move, promotion places and the FA Cup

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A must listen for fans of teams in the football league. With Stoke, Millwall, West Brom, Oxford, Hull just some of the clubs who’ve changed manager....

Have Amorim's Manchester United turned a corner?

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester United were more than worthy of their draw at Anfield. Should they have won? Was this an exception or a sign of things to come? Plus, Arsen...

Title race, Chelsea’s belief, Liverpool’s contracts and Amorim’s system

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Arsenal go within six points of Liverpool, could they make it a proper title race? Chelsea have slipped up Martin Samuel thinks it is self-inflicted a...

Predictions for 2025 and are Manchester United in a relegation fight?

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It goes from bad to worse at Old Trafford, are they really in a relegation fight? Will Amorim change his system, can he change his system? Ipswich hav...

What on earth is wrong at Man City and Man Utd? Plus, Newcastle, Fulham and Forest are flying.

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could Manchester United be in a relegation fight? Could Manchester City finish mid table and could Fulham or Forest make the top four? It might have s...

A Happy Christmas for Liverpool; Bah Humbug for Spurs, United and City

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Another pulsating game at the Tottenham stadium, another win for Liverpool another six conceded for Spurs. Is the title Liverpool’s to lose? For Ang...

What next for Marcus Rashford? And a great League Cup line up

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Marcus Rashford looks to be on his way out of Manchester United.A tail of a talent lost or stalled? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Tony Cascar...

City keep losing; Chelsea keep winning. Plus sackings and the greatest saves

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If Pep Guardiola is the greatest manager of the modern era, its time for him to prove his worth.Manchester City are a “crumbling dynasty” losing a...

Saudi saga and more trouble in Manchester

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

World Cup 2034 is heading to Saudi Arabia and WC 2030 to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Martin Samuel was revolted by proceedings… “FIFA conducted t...

EFL EXTRA: Our Friends in the North

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The top of the Championship is dominated by teams from the north – Sheffield United, Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, Middlesborough and Blackburn.Martin...

Chelsea shine; Tottenham capitulate; INEOS embarrass

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can Chelsea win the title? Some think it is a silly question, but why?Were Spurs trying to perpetuate the ‘Spursy’ cliché? Two up at home but end...

Unstoppable corners and managers under pressure…

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A six-goal thriller at St James Park allowed Arsenal, Chelsea and City to pick up points on Liverpool. Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel wax lyr...

Who is in the title race?

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester City are out of the title race…right? Some think they might even have a fight on for top four. Liverpool by contrast looked in control th...

How good is Arne Slot? What’s too old in football?

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Under Arne Slot Liverpool are top of the Premier League and the new Champions League format. They’ve beaten Real Madrid for the first time in fiftee...

EFL EXTRA: Form teams and where to sign great players at great prices.

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke return to cast an eye over a busy week of EFL action.Leeds are starting to look like a team who were preseason favouri...

Liverpool in control, City in trouble and Arsenal back in gear?

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What a weekend! Are Manchester City in crisis? Has Martin Odegaard put Arsenal back in the title race, or are Liverpool going to run away with it? It ...

Pep’s new contract; Manchester United’s new start and Premier League previews

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Pep Guardiola’s contract extension end Manchester City’s poor run? Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to look...

England are fun again! Will it stay that way?

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lee Carsley has left England with a veritable spring in their step – a five-nil defeat of Republic of Ireland, four first time scorers and the joy o...

Why can't refs answer back?

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

David Coote’s career as a referee looks to be over; but do we have unrealistic expectations of referees? If referees are berated by players, fans an...

EFL Extra: Millwall and Middlesbrough on the up

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After slow starts Millwall and Middlesbrough sit seventh and eighth in the Championship. Millwall haven’t looked back since they went back to the fu...

Ipswich win! And Liverpool go clear

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Liverpool are top, why aren’t more people talking about them?Alyson Rudd and Tom Allnut think they know why.Ipswich won in the topflight for the fir...

Manchester City stalling; Liverpool soaring

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester City lost for the third time in a week. That hasn’t happened since 2018. Is it more serious than a blip? Martin Samuel thinks it could be...

Arsenal and Man City Shocked

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What’s going wrong at Arsenal? Was this a freak result for City?After both lose again is it down to better opposition, poor performance, lacklustre ...

Is Amorim the man for Manchester United?

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Ruben Amorim the man to bring the good times back to Manchester United? As the current Portuguese coach is set to be named the new man in charge at...

EFL Extra: Is Sunderland's start sustainable?

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the latest whistle-stop tour of the EFL, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke discuss Sunderland's surprise surge (which is starting to look less surpri...

Ten Hag sacked - midway through the show!

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The big talking point from the weekend was Arsenal's draw at home to Liverpool, until it wasn't. Midway through today's episode, news broke that Erik ...

“Arsenal won’t beat Liverpool playing like that!”

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Arsenal’s mounting injury list going to derail their title bid? Not according to Martin Samuel or Hamzah Khalique-Loonat who both think teams tha...

Are Liverpool and Chelsea serious contenders?

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Liverpool passed their first serious test of the season and Chelsea looked good even in defeat.Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarin...

Will Tuchel win England the World Cup?

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

England have appointed one of the world’s best coaches. What does he bring, how does he manage, and will it be enough to win the big one?Tom Clarke,...

EFL Extra: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson as they assess the Championship, League One and League Two. Leeds, Norwich, Plymouth. Wycombe, Exeter, Port V...

Fantasy Football - better than the real thing?

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Where now for England? A failed experiment; Carsley might not want it full time and is Pep waiting in the side-lines? Gregor Robertson thinks his sele...

Who really won…? And is Bellingham a centre forward?

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Was it Man City 1-0 Premier League? Jonathan Northcroft has reappraised and thinks it could be a score draw. Martin is sticking to his guns and Gregor...

Manchester City 1 - 0 Premier League: Special reaction show

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester City have won the first of their legal cases against the Premier League.What does it mean for City and for the rest of the Premier League?&...

Who are the real big six?

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This could have also been called: “Why are Spurs so Spursy?” as Ange Postecoglou’s team blew a two-goal lead at Brighton. Was it the Seagulls br...