Essential Football

Ron Walker, Sam Blitz and Will Bitibiri look ahead to the weekend's Premier League fixtures and discuss what Mo Salah's new contract at Liverpool could mean for the club as they try to wrap up the title.Watch Arsenal vs Brentford, Liverpool vs West Ham, Newcastle vs Manchester United and Bournemouth vs Fulham all live on Sky Sports over the weekend.Listen to every episode of Essential Football on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker.You can also listen to Essential Football on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential Football".For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/footballFor advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk

Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel joins the podcast this week to preview Sunday's Manchester derby between United and City at Old Trafford.Ron Walker and Dave Richardson tee up the game and discuss the major talking points before we hear from Peter in the second half of the episode.Peter also talks to Ron about "Schmeichel" - a brand-new Sky Exclusive feature documentary which offers an exclusive look at his life and career."Schmeichel" is available on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW from Sunday 6th April.Listen to every episode of Essential Football on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker.You can also listen to Essential Football on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential Football".For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/footballFor advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher joins Sky Sports' Vicky Gomersall to dissect Trent Alexander-Arnold's looming move to Real Madrid. Carragher shares insights on the mixed feelings among fans and the impact on team morale. He discusses how Trent's departure could affect other star players like Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk. The conversation delves into loyalty versus ambition and how such moves reshape a player's legacy, while also analyzing Liverpool's future strategies in the right-back position.

In the latest episode of the Next Up series, we take a closer look at Geovany Quenda after Chelsea agreed a deal with Sporting for the exciting teenager.Ron Walker and Zinny Boswell look at how Chelsea moved quickly to sign him amid Man Utd interest, his rise to prominence and where he might fit in at Stamford Bridge.Listen to every episode of Essential Football on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker.You can also listen to Essential Football on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential Football".For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/footballFor advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk

On an Essential Football special and only days before Thomas Tuchel becomes the third foreign coach to sit in the home dugout for an England Men's national team game, we're going on a deep dive into why there are so few English coaches at the top of the game.At the start of the Premier League in 1992, only one of the 22 managers was from overseas - and that was Irishman Joe Kinnear.But as the game has grown more global, Englishmen have fallen by the wayside. How do England make sure when they make their next appointment after Tuchel, they have a pool of English coaches to choose from - or is it even possible?Hear from Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Roy Hodgson, Harry Redknapp and more, as we get to the bottom of why English coaches are on the decline.Watch the accompanying documentary, English Coaches: The Decline, on YouTube or On Demand.Presented by Ron Walker, with Sky Sports News Reporter Rob Dorsett. This episode was produced by Daniel Eales for Sky Sports.

What's a vegan football boot, and is it any good? Rangers Women's Tessel Middag is the final guest on Playing for the Planet season 4, and she tells David Garrido about her journey in climate action, including wearing sustainable Sokito boots. Tessel talks about how fans can get involved, about standing up to FIFA, all ahead of Rangers v Hibernian in the Sky Sports Cup Final this weekend.

Sky Sports presenter David Garrido has an engaging chat with Dr Brett Staniland - model, sustainable fashion advocate and Derby County fan.They discuss how the clothing and textile industry contributes to climate change, how sportswear companies can help by setting new standards, and where progress is being and could be made in future - all in episode 3 of season 4 of Playing for the Planet.

This week, we open the doors to a British boxing legend. The first female to compete for Team GB at The Olympics and a two-weight world champion, but did you know she had early ambitions of being a World Cup winner instead?A Liverpool fan, she remembers the 2005 Miracle of Istanbul very fondly, but not for the reason you might expect. And stand by for the most unique Favourite Player selections in Football Museum history. The Football Museum will be closing its doors for a brief refurbishment, but we'll be back with some new exhibits very soon.

In this second episode of season 4 of our Playing for the Planet series, David Garrido speaks to Magda Pozzo, part of the ownership group at Udinese Calcio.Magda explains how she brought football, fashion and sustainability together in the club's launch of their third shirt, and why being climate-conscious and activating well with partners can help a club's bottom line and balance sheet.

Sky Sports presenter David Garrido speaks to former England and Premier League goalkeeper David James as the Green Football campaign continues.In this first episode of season 4 of Playing for the Planet, they discuss James' favourite jerseys from his career, how kit has changed over time, and his role with Utilita as co-founder and ambassador of their Football Rebooted initiative.