Essential Football

On the latest Essential Football Podcast Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports football writers Gerard Brand and Ben Grounds to look back on another big weekend at both ends of the Premier League table after Chelsea's lead slipped following a 1-1 draw with Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.PART 1 | Was Michael Carrick right to opt against starting Cristiano Ronaldo - and should United have signed him at all? United's interim-to-the-interim manager's tactics are assessed ahead of Ralf Rangnick's arrival, questions raised over Chelsea's attacking prowess, while will Arsenal fancy facing this United side next given their own form?PART 2 | Where does another bad result at Brentford leave Everton boss Rafa Benitez ahead of the Merseyside derby in midweek? Do Liverpool have anything to fear? And the curious case of Marcelo Bielsa and Kalvin Phillips...PART 3 | Newcastle show Eddie Howe the scale of the task ahead of him with a six-pointer against Norwich next up, Aston Villa grind their way to victory again - and with two points separating the top three, who's going to win the Premier League?

Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith, and football journalist Simeon Gholam to look ahead to the Premier League weekend. PART 1 | Alan Smith discusses Ralf Rangnick’s appointment as Man Utd interim boss, what he will bring to the club, and how he could help their young players kick on. Is he paving the way for Mauricio Pochettino? Alan assesses Rangnick’s consultancy role, which is planned to start next summer, too. PART 2 | Simeon Gholam breaks down Brighton’s mixed start to the campaign and what they need to do to get back to winning ways against Leeds. PART 3 | Simeon – our EFL Editor – also looks at newly-promoted Brentford, who have also had a good start followed by a frustrating period, ahead of their Super Sunday clash with Everton.

In a special edition of the Essential Football Podcast after a seismic 48 hours in the Premier League, Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports News’ north-west reporter Ben Ransom, plus Sky Sports features editor Pete Smith and writer Nick Wright to reflect - and look forward - on events at Manchester United as well as the rest of the division. PART 1 | Was the writing on the wall for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? What went wrong, what problems remain at Old Trafford and are they in a better position than when he came in? Did Cristiano Ronaldo prove a kiss of death after all?PART 2 | Who should replace Solskjaer in the hotseat? The runners and riders are discussed, and questions asked about the club’s plans to introduce an ‘interim’ interim manager to follow Michael Carrick until the end of the season.PART 3 | Senior football journalist Gerard Brand joins the team to discuss Tottenham’s turnaround against Leeds and Antonio Conte’s passion, Steven Gerrard’s winning start at Aston Villa plus the first glimpse of Norwich and Newcastle under new management - and Manchester City ‘going under the radar’ despite another fine win over Everton.

Premier League Preview – Souness on ‘angry’ Liverpool’s point to prove vs Arsenal | Delph’s impressive return |Kane’s confidence boostPeter Smith is joined by Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness, and football writers Oliver Yew and Ben Grounds to look ahead to the Premier League weekend. PART 1 | How will Liverpool respond after their first defeat of the season? Graeme Souness explains why they’ll be ‘full throttle’ against an Arsenal side who, he feels, are still a long way off, despite their recent unbeaten run PART 2 | Oliver Yew and Ben Grounds look at the contrasting impacts of Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus this season, and discuss Fabien Delph’s surprise return to form with Everton, ahead of his side’s trip to a club he won two Premier League titles withPART 3 | Harry Kane scored seven goals in two games during the international break but will that translate to the Premier League? We talk Tottenham ahead of Antonio Conte’s first home league game in charge, and explain the reasons behind Leeds’ slow start.

Charlotte Marsh is joined by Sky Sports’ lead WSL commentator Seb Hutchinson, co-commentator and former England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain and Sky Sports News’ Anton Toloui to look back on a busy Women’s Football Weekend. PART 1 | Will Tottenham or Arsenal be happy with a North London derby point? Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema continues to show her class. Plus just what has been going wrong for Man City this season after another WSL defeat, as Chelsea close the gap on Arsenal. PART 2 | Siobhan gives an insight into Everton’s equaliser from a player and goalkeeper perspective, and can Jean-Luc Vasseur mould his talented squad? Reading hit back for a draw at West Ham, Birmingham and Leicester struggle again. PART 3 | The success of Women’s Football Weekend and the joys of the WSL. Plus Anton give us a transfer update and a rundown of the top five summer signings this season.

On a special Women's Football Weekend edition of the Essential Football Podcast, digital football journalist Charlotte Marsh and Sky Sports WSL presenter Caroline Barker are joined by a trio of great guests to preview the weekend's action.In Part 1, Ballon D'Or runner-up Lucy Bronze gives some unique insight into Everton's new manager Jean-Luc Vasseur and looks forward to their televised clash with Man Utd this weekend, while explaining why Man City's season has got off to a rocky start ahead of their game with champions Chelsea.In part 2, Gilly Flaherty ponders why Tottenham have started the season so well and whether Arsenal can go unbeaten with a north London derby on the way this weekend, and looks forward to her West Ham side taking on Reading on the back of their own solid start.In part 3, Sophie Haywood explains how Aston Villa have kicked on from last season ahead of their second-city derby with Birmingham, and considers why Leicester have found the jump to the top flight tough as they face Hope Powell's in-form Brighton side.

As Off Script returns, Jamie Carragher takes a deep dive into Liverpool's transfer during his time at the club. After falling just short of the Premier League title on two occasions during his 17 years at Anfield, could the recruitment have been improved? Which player arrivals brought the most - and least! - excitement in the dressing room? And what issues do Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have to navigate in the transfer market with the current crop of players?

Alice Piper is joined by senior football journalist Gerard Brand, Sky Sports features writer Nick Wright and digital football journalist Ron Walker to discuss the weekend's Premier League action - and Monday's fallout. PART 1 | West Ham stun Liverpool to continue their remarkable start to the season. Can David Moyes’ side finish in the top four this season? Can they mount a serious Premier League title challenge? Plus, Liverpool’s slip up in east London and Arsenal’s rise continues. PART 2 | The pressure continues to increase on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United following their Manchester derby defeat to Manchester City. What’s next for Solskjaer and Man Utd? The axe has already wielded on Daniel Farke at Norwich and Dean Smith at Aston Villa? We discuss the next moves of both clubs… PART 3 | And finally, we put our panel to test in our Essential Football podcast awards. With over a quarter of the season gone, who has been the player of the season so far? Who is the signing of the season? Who will win the Premier League title? The panel give the verdicts on those questions and much more…

Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports football journalists Richard Morgan and Ben Grounds to discuss the huge Saturday lunchtime showdown between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford. PART 1 | How are the two rivals shaping up for the big clash? We weigh up how Man Utd’s injury concerns in defence could affect their approach, while we ask whether Jack Grealish is living up to his big price tag and the reasons behind some inconsistent form from the defending champions. Is this match now a must-win for them with Chelsea pulling clear at the top of the Premier League?PART 2 | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a winning record against Pep Guardiola so what’s the secret to his success in this rivalry? And how will the clash go on Saturday? We make our big match predictions!

Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom, Sky Sports features writer Nick Wright and digital football journalist Charlotte Marsh to discuss the weekend's Premier League action - and Monday's fallout. PART 1 | Were Spurs right to sack Nuno Espirito Santo? Where did it go wrong in four short months? How do Manchester United build after beating them, and can Jadon Sancho fit in? Plus Man City's blip, and more good signs for Crystal Palace. PART 2 | How much is the pressure rising on Dean Smith after Aston Villa's four defeats on the spin? How good is Declan Rice, and the job David Moyes is doing at West Ham? PART 3 | What has Aaron Ramsdale brought to Arsenal to shake off his critics - and theirs? Should winless Norwich stick or twist after another disappointing result against Leeds? And can Marcelo Bielsa's side finally build themselves?