The Game

Phenomenal Liverpool more limited than Manchester City

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The most relentless title race in Premier League history is over. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Paul Hirst and James Gheerbrant to det...

A night to remember for Spurs and who will claim top spot on Sunday?

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are lucky to be joined in the studio by Alan Smith, and down the line Henry Winter gives his take on ...

Arsenal’s big rebuild and a plea to see the real Tottenham

06 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A big weekend in the Premier League and a big week to come in the Champions League. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Oli ...

Celestial Messi as Rafa awaits the Reds

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After an enthralling midweek of Champions League semi-finals, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter, George Caulkin and Bill Edga...

Bielsa back in the good books while Spurs squad enter breaking point

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by James Gheerbrant and Paul Hirst after a weekend of unique talking points in the world of football. Manch...

Pogba’s PFA puzzler and the underwhelming race for 4th

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Oli Kay and Alan Smith after a big midweek in the Premier League. Manchester City played their game in h...

Will disgraceful United rally for the Manchester derby?

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Alan Smith, Gary Jacob and Paul Hirst after a seismic Easter weekend.Manchester United are embarrassed and humiliated, los...

Poch reaches new heights as De Gea reaches crossroads

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It was a momentous midweek of Champions League football. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Paul Hirst and Alan Smith to pore through it al...

Is this title race good for the Premier League?

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar after another Premier League weekend where the top two were victorious.We ...

Stage set for Hazard as Liverpool face title race demons

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Oli Kay and special guest, Belgian football journalist Kristof Terreur.Liverpool host Chelsea and the gh...

Will Pep get funky and outfox himself?

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer is back alongside Gab Marcotti, James Gheerbrant and Alan Smith after an epic semi-final and ahead of some intriguing quarter-finals. A...

The substance of Sterling and Warnock on the warpath

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti is joined by Henry Winter, Alyson Rudd and Alan Smith to wade through some big issues and talking points in the world of football. Manche...

Sarri not helping himself as Liverpool & United get lucky

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After a Sunday full of drama and controversy, Gab Marcotti is joined by Paul Joyce, James Gheerbrant and Bill Edgar to discuss the major talking point...

Is Solskjaer the new Dalglish?

28 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Premier League football is back, as are Gab Marcotti, Alyson Rudd, James Gheerbrant and Paul Joyce for The Game podcast. And the big breaking news on ...

What’s the story Gab and Rory?

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a special episode, Gab Marcotti welcomes back Rory Smith to The Game podcast, as they pore through some of the biggest issues in football today. Wh...

Declan Rice and the curious case of Callum Hudson-Odoi

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Bill Edgar and George Caulkin to discuss the start of the Euro 2020 qualifiers.England face the Czech Re...

Will 48 teams dilute the quality of the World Cup?

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst to dissect club football before the last international break of the season. W...

Mane among the elite & Dier on Brexit

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With 4 English teams making it through to the last 8 of the Champions League, Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer, James Gheerbrant and Oli Kay run the rule ...

How do we protect players from pitch invaders?

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a weekend of incomprehensible refereeing decisions and inexcusable fan behaviour. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Matt Dicki...

Solskjaer’s smile and swagger as Real’s roof caves in

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Following a monumental week in Europe, Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Henry Winter and Alan Smith to examine the fall-out from a shocki...

Expectation and exhaustion weigh down Liverpool & Spurs

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After a derbylicious weekend, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are in the company of Alyson Rudd, Matthew Syed and Paul Joyce with plenty to discuss. L...

Struggling to assess Silva as Liverpool fall back on full-backs

28 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After a full midweek fixture list, Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer and Gary Jacob look ahead to a weekend packed full of derbies. Chelsea sweep aside Spu...

We need to talk about Kepa

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After a huge Sunday of football happenings, Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst to try and make sense of it all. ...

United desperate for Liverpool to fail

21 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Oli Kay, Bill Edgar and George Caulkin ahead of a huge weekend of football. Liverpool travel to Old Traf...

Premier League or Champions League? Will Pep and Klopp prioritise?

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer look ahead to another week of Champions League action in the company of Alan Smith and James Gheerbrant. With the top ...

Tottenham’s achievements are out of this world

14 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer and Bill Edgar discuss two big Champions League nights with a man who was at Old Trafford and Wembley – Henry Winter.To...

Sarri, Sancho and the power of Pogba

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Oli Kay and James Gheerbrant after a seismic Sunday where Man City hit Chelsea for six.After 3 defeats i...

Is Liverpool’s luck running out?

07 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter, Martyn Ziegler and Bill Edgar as the title race takes another twist. 7 days ago Liverpool ...

The interim and the intermediary

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Hughes and Paul Hirst after a good weekend for the Manchester clubs. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sensa...

Chelsea lose interest while City lose ground

31 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A full midweek Premier League programme and a transfer deadline – what a feast for Natalie Sawyer, Gab Marcotti, Oli Kay, James Gheerbrant and Georg...

Racism rears its head plus Pellegrini’s poor preparation

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Paul Joyce, Alan Smith and former Chelsea winger and award-winning author Paul Canoville after FA Cup 4t...

The perspective of a Premier League owner

24 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer host an author special this Thursday on The Game podcast.Joshua Robinson, co-author of The Club: How the English Premi...

Sarri raises the stakes as Rashford rediscovers his confidence

21 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Matt Dickinson and Alan Smith after an impactful weekend in the Premier League. Arsenal beat Chelsea emp...

Bullish Bielsa and the absence of the Arsenal way

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter and Bill Edgar on a week that has everyone in the world of football talking.Arsenal take on...

Solskjaer’s startling start. Plus is spying part of sport?

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are back with Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst in tow to talk the major issues of the weekendOle Gunnar Solskjaer’s perfec...

Arsenal can’t retain Ramsey as Solskjaer pumps up Pogba

10 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by James Gheerbrant and Oli Kay ahead of a big Premier League weekend and following a footballing week that...

Respecting the right to rotate in the FA Cup

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are reunited in the studio and are joined by Matt Dickinson and James Gheerbrant after FA Cup 3rd round weekend. Newpo...

Klopp still a winner as City fight for their title

04 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer brings you The Game podcast slightly later than usual – to take in the biggest game of the season so far with Henry Winter, Alyson Ru...

The Game changes the game

31 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For the final podcast of 2018, Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer bring you a one-off special, as the great writers at The Times give us their ideas for ...

Liverpool yet to peak as Burnley suffer identity crisis

27 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After a Boxing Day full of goals and surprises, Natalie Sawyer is back alongside Alyson Rudd, Alan Smith and Paul Hirst to digest it all. Manchester C...

Piling praise on Palace plus Tottenham’s troubling transfer window

24 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Christmas Eve but Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are hard at work bringing you The Game podcast from The Times with Henry Winter and Gary Jaco...

The Game meets Martin Tyler

22 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a special episode, Alyson Rudd sits down at Sky Sports with the voice of football - Martin Tyler.We talk about Martin's days as a non-league strike...

Solskjaer suited to managing Manchester United

20 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd, Oliver Kay and James Gheerbrant to discuss the biggest football story of the season, that b...

United need to be working on Mourinho’s replacement now

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are in the company of Oliver Kay and Matt Hughes, the morning after Liverpool sweep aside Manchester United at Anfield...

Liverpool in control and Rafa in need of relief

13 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by George Caulkin, Paul Joyce and Bill Edgar ahead of another seismic Saturday and Sunday in the Premier Le...

Brave Sterling’s done football a favour

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Alyson Rudd, Henry Winter and Matthew Syed to discuss a weighty issue in the world of football.Raheem Sterling was alleged...

No Fred for United and no striker for City?

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Paul Hirst and Bill Edgar to discuss the headlines in the world of football.Arsenal make it 20 games unb...

Micro-manager Emery and the incompatible Pogba and Mourinho

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What a weekend in the Premier League and with a full set of midweek fixtures to come, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Oliver Kay and Bil...

More Mourinho melodrama & the Merseyside midfield matchup

29 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Henry Winter and Gary Jacob ahead of a huge weekend of Premier League action.Tottenham have beaten Chels...

Pochettino proving priceless plus how good are PSG?

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After a big weekend in the Premier League, it’s an even bigger week to come in the Champions League. Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by A...

Sparky losing his spark and the Republic of Ireland reshuffle

22 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Premier League is back and so are Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti, aided admirably by Bill Edgar and George Caulkin.It’s a big weekend at the bo...

The Southgate and Scudamore success stories

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti is joined by Matt Dickinson and Matt Hughes in the aftermath of England’s progression to the Nations League finals after victory over C...

Torreira, Patricio & Fraser – the stars of the season so far

15 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not quite awards season but with a third of the Premier League season gone, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Gregor Robertson and ...

Sancho, Silva and United’s waste of money

12 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and Oliver Kay after a massive Manchester derby. Events at the Etihad throw up a number of q...

City and Sterling guilty of deception?

08 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by James Gheerbrant and Paul Hirst ahead of the Manchester derby. While United were securing a famous win i...

Rooney, City and the poppy

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Alan Smith in the studio to tackle some thorny issues in the football world. England’s...

Is Pochettino in play this summer?

01 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant ahead of another huge weekend of football.How will Liverpool, a...

Vichai got it right on and off the pitch

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a weekend where shocking events off the field have overshadowed football. On Saturday night, after Leicester City’s game with West Ham, ...

Mourinho’s handbrake and the psychology of goalkeeping

25 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are privileged to be joined by Henry Winter and Matthew Syed after a Champions League week that’s thrown up a number...

The Ronaldo dilemma and is Joka’s job in jeopardy?

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti is joined by Paul Hirst, Gary Jacob and Bill Edgar after a big weekend of football and ahead of a big week to come. With Cristiano Ronald...

Pochettino’s toughest test and a big time for Barkley

18 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League returns from the international break with a ve...

German decline and managers behaving nicely

15 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Martyn Ziegler and Alan Smith to discuss the biggest story in international football – the sudden regr...

Can Terry avoid being Aston Villa’s alpha male?

11 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Hughes and George Caulkin. And it’s a very difficult podcast for Natalie as Brentford have lost t...

Rating Ramsey and the damage done to the United brand

08 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back with Oliver Kay and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League tightens up at the top.The two title favourites dr...

Liverpool limping and Lloris in the limelight

04 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd to discuss a big week in the Champions League, and a bigger weekend to come in the Premier L...

Is Mourinho erratically engineering an early exit?

01 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back to review more misery for Mourinho at Manchester United. After defeat at West Ham confirms their worst start ...

Pogba and Mourinho enter end game

27 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the story that keeps on giving. The bad blood between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho continues to boil at Manchester United. Gab Marcotti and Nat...

Wizardry from Wolves as Keegan gets candid on cowboy Newcastle

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter and Bill Edgar after another eyebrow-raising Premier League weekend.With Liverpool maintain...

Poundings for Pochettino and PSG

20 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer react to an eventful midweek in the Champions League as Tottenham taste their third defeat in a row. Are we right...

Wounded Wilfried and Everton's unsavoury Silva situation

17 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer break down some major talking points after another big Premier League weekend, in the company of Alyson Rudd and Paul ...

Is Pogba miscast as a mercenary?

13 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Premier League returns, as do Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer in the company of Matt Hughes and Paul Hirst, to look ahead to what promises to be a...

Walker left wondering and the pressure to conform in football

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar to discuss the fall-out from England’s Nations League defeat to Spain at Wembley. With Joe...

The Nations League – how, what and why?

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and George Caulkin to discuss the inaugural UEFA Nations League weekend. But if you’re sti...

Playing out from the back and Pellegrini under pressure

03 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are back together in the studio after another Premier League weekend full of surprises. Oliver Kay witnesses the Woodw...

Champions League group stage draw 18/19

30 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a special bonus bite of The Game podcast, Gab Marcotti is in Monaco to give his reaction to the group stage draw of the Champions League. In Group ...

Spurs strong and stable as chaos reigns at Old Trafford

30 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer is back in the studio, alongside Alyson Rudd and Bill Edgar on The Game podcast.With The Times reporting that Anthony Martial has been ...

Examining Ozil’s illness and Owen’s injuries

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Alyson Rudd break down some complex issues on this Bank Holiday Monday edition of The Game. Arsenal secure their first win under Unai...

Emery changing embedded norms as Newcastle stop trying

23 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti, Alan Smith and George Caulkin tackle some of the tough issues in football this week, starting with the never-ending dispute between Newc...

The wayward Woodward and the absent Aubameyang

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti is joined by Gary Jacob and Paul Hirst after a Premier League weekend that asks a lot of questions. Manchester United’s defeat at Brigh...

Time for Pep to shine without his biggest star

16 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer and James Gheerbrant take a look at the issues dominating the headlines in football ahead of another big Premier League weekend.Paul Jo...

Seamless City unstoppable as Pogba plants seeds with Mourinho

13 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and Oliver Kay after the opening weekend of the Premier League season. And it’s clear t...

The Game’s Premier League Preview 18/19

06 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Game is back for the new Premier League season and it's double trouble. Gab Marcotti is joined by new co-host Natalie Sawyer. We’ll be bringing ...

Pogba peaks and Mbappe mesmerises as France are crowned world champions

15 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After 32 days and 64 games, it is France who take home the World Cup after a pulsating 4-2 win over Croatia in Moscow. For our final episode, Natalie ...

England are a mid-table international side

14 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer presents the penultimate podcast of this World Cup. England are well beaten by Belgium in a slightly sobering third place play-off. Mat...

The future's bright…and football could still come home

12 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

England’s World Cup adventure ends at the penultimate hurdle as Croatia come from behind to defeat the Three Lions in the semi-finals of the World C...

England free from the past to make their own history

10 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer brings you The Game World Cup Daily with less than 24 hours to go until England take on Croatia for a place in the World Cup Final.Henr...

Saluting the most unified England team in 20 years

08 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The World Cup in Russia continues to give and give to England fans. The Three Lions are through to the last 4 for the first time since 1990 after seei...

England empathise with Southgate's squad as players and people

06 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Can Southgate’s side see off Sweden in Samara and soar to the semi-finals? Natalie Sawyer is joined by Henry Winter and Alan Smith to analyse Englan...

England's unbelievable opportunity to reach the World Cup Final

03 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Another historic night in Russia. At the World Cup where seemingly anything can happen, England win a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time ev...

England need to end embarrassing knock-out record

02 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time. England take on Colombia in the round of 16 in Moscow with the winner facing an appetising route to a return to the Russian capital in ju...

Stupid Spain slip out as changing of the guard continues

01 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer looks back at the second day of last 16 ties at the World Cup. Two matches, two 1-1 draws, two penalty shootouts and a whole lot of dra...

Modest Mbappe steals the show as Messi & Ronaldo exit the stage

30 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The knockout stage of the World Cup in Russia begins with a bang. Natalie Sawyer reviews the progression of Uruguay and France to the last 8. A stunni...

England's B team beaten to create Colombia clash

28 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After all the speculation over England's Group G decider with Belgium, two reserve sides face off in Kaliningrad with Gareth Southgate's side losing 1...

Entitled Germany out as the World Cup continues to shock

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For the third World Cup in a row, the holders are knocked out at the group stage. Defeat for Germany against South Korea spelled the end of their reig...

Messi moves Argentina towards fixture with France…and then Ronaldo?

26 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With the score at 1-1 against the Super Eagles in St Petersburg, Argentina were 4 minutes away from being eliminated from the World Cup. But a Marcos ...

VAR rescues Spain to set up Moscow meeting with Russia

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Spain lose and then regain top spot in Group B as VAR allows a disallowed Iago Aspas equaliser while simultaneously awarding Iran a penalty to push Po...

England are better off beating Belgium

24 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After pummelling Panama in record-breaking fashion, England’s attention now turns to the knock-out stages of the World Cup. But with a game to come ...

Kroos takes control but can Loftus-Cheek take his chance?

23 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A sensational finish in Sochi as a 95th minute winner from Toni Kroos keeps Germany’s World Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Sweden.Natalie S...

Nervy Neymar sheds tears as Southgate sours on the media

22 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer reports on another historic day at the World Cup as Neymar sees a penalty given, then rescinded by VAR. Gab Marcotti discusses the worl...

Abysmal Argentina and a scarcity of scoring for Sterling

21 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest stories of this World Cup in Russia continues to unfold as Argentina stand on the brink of elimination after their 3-0 drubbing by ...