The Athletic FC Podcast

The Champions League semi-finals get underway tonight as Arsenal welcome PSG to the Emirates Stadium.The winner of that tie faces either Barcelona or Inter in the final.So how are the four teams shaping up, and who are the favourites to win it?Host: Ayo AkinwolereWith: Max Callegari, Tomas Hill-Lopez Menchero, Tom Williams, Jordan CampbellExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Mike Stavrou and Nick Thomson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool are Premier League champions after securing their second title in five years at home to Tottenham Hotspur, their first in front of supporters since 1990.So how has Arne Slot done it and what needs to be done for Liverpool to stay at the top next season?Host: Ayo AkinwolereWith: James Pearce, Andy Jones and David OrnsteinExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Guy Clarke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the NFL Draft looming large this weekend, we decided to take a spin on the format and bring it into the world of the Premier League. What would it look like if we held an All-Time Premier League Draft? Which legends go first and can anyone build the perfect squad?Host: Duncan AlexanderWith: Jacob Whitehead, Oli Kay, and Jack LangExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Mike Stavrou & Liam WarburtonPremier League Draft article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6301841/2025/04/24/premier-league-draft/ Teams:Jacob: Cech, Azpilicueta, Van Dijk, Kompany, Baines, Rodri, Lampard, Silva, Salah, Rooney, GiggsJack: Alisson, Walker, Ferdinand, Campbell, Irwin, Kante, Fabregas, De Bruyne, Hazard, Shearer, HenryDuncan: Ederson, Ferreira, Adams, Vidic, Robertson, Keane, Toure, Beckham, Bergkamp, Aguero, SuarezOli: Schmeichel, Alexander-Arnold, Carvalho, Terry, Cole, Vieira, Gerrard, Scholes, Ronaldo, Kane, Bale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

West Ham sit 17th as they prepare to face Brighton this weekend. So how have they ended up in this position, and how much is it down to the approach of manager Graham Potter? Host: Adam Leventhal With: Roshane Thomas, Liam TharmeExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Jay Beale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 20 years old and with only 22 Premier League starts, Dean Huijsen is attracting interest from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid. So what makes him so special, and  who might trigger his £50m release clause?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by senior data analyst Mark Carey and lead writer for The Athletic FC newsletter Phil Hay to discuss the Spanish international.Football correspondent David Ornstein as well as James Pearce, Liam Twomey and Guillermo Rai also drop by with their insights to the level of interest held in Huijsen across the Premier League and beyond with the Bournemouth defender set to have his pick of a number of clubs this summer.Host: Ayo AkinwolereWith: Mark Carey and Phil HayContributions: David Ornstein, James Pearce, Liam Twomey and Guillermo RaiExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Guy Clarke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After their Champions League exit, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to leave Real Madrid this summerSo… when will it happen? And is Xabi Alonso the inevitable replacement?  Host: Ayo AkinwolereWith: Guillermo Rai & Tomas Hill Lopez-MencheroExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Mike Stavrou & John Rogers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, Leeds United reclaimed their seat at the top table after two years in the ChampionshipSo, what lessons can they learn from their Premier League relegation last time out?And how can they stay up for the long haul this time?Host: Ayo AkinwolereWith: Phil Hay, Beren CrossExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They left it late, but Chelsea grabbed a crucial win in their bid to secure a top five finish, as Tyrique George and Pedro Neto saw the Blues come from behind to win 2-1 at Fulham.Victory at Craven Cottage keeps them in the mix for a return to European football’s elite competition next season.But with fan discontent growing, how important is Champions League qualification for Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea future?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey to discuss the importance of the win as well as our football correspondent David Ornstein to analyse the pressure on Maresca and look ahead to the summer transfer window.Host: Ayo AkinwolereWith: Liam Twomey and David OrnsteinExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Guy Clarke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are six games to go in the Premier League, so we’re focusing on the race for Champions League football as Aston Villa take on Newcastle United, while Manchester United and Spurs kept their dreams of qualifying for next season’s competition alive with victories in the Europa League. Mark Critchley joins us to talk about a ridiculous night at Old Trafford that saw Ruben Amorim's side score two goals in injury time of extra time, to beat Lyon 5-4 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate. We hear from Jay Harris who was in Frankfurt where a Dominic Solanke penalty saw Spurs win 1-0, so Ange Postecoglou isn't going anywhere quite yet. The Athletic's Newcastle writer Chris Waugh and Aston Villa writer Jacob Tanswell are with us to preview their respective side's clash at Villa Park on Saturday evening, in what could be a pivotal game in the race for Champions League football. Host: Matt Davies-AdamsWith: Chris Waugh, Jacob Tanswell, Mark Critchley, Jay HarrisExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Jay Beale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal are through to the semi-finals of the Champions League for only the third time in their history - and they had to beat the holders to do it.So how far does that 5-1 win on aggregate propel Mikel Arteta’s project forward? And crucially, can they now go all the way in the Champions League?Host: Ayo AkinwolereWith: Art de Roche, Guillermo Rai, Charlie EccleshareExecutive Producer: Adey MoorheadProducer: Mike Stavrou & John Rogers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.