Football Weekly | The Guardian

We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors.

This week, from 2023: The civilians of Sudan have been trying to throw off military rule for decades, but now find themselves caught in the middle of a deadly power struggle between former allies turned bitter opponents

Written and read by Nesrine Malik

Read the text version here

Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpod

Today in Focus heads to the embattled 2026 Reform UK Conference to find out where the party may head next

For months, Reform UK’s momentum has stalled – beset by financial scandals, falling poll numbers and, for the first time, the signs of splits within its leadership.

So the party’s conference this weekend was meant for a reset. Yet, on the eve of the gathering in Birmingham, more scandal: this time an investigative documentary broadcast by Channel 4 about Reform UK’s apparent willingness to accept illegal, foreign donations – claims the party denies.

The UK has attacked ‘settler terrorism’ deployed in a campaign of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, whilst announcing sweeping sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband delivered the strongest condemnation of the actions of the Israeli government ever by a British government, including the disproportionate killings in Gaza of at least 70,000 people including 20,000 children. Lucy Hough speaks to chief Middle East correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison – watch on YouTube

Rates of smoking in Australia are the lowest they’ve ever been, but at the same time, the illicit trade has never been bigger. It’s estimated 80% of the tobacco trade is now illicit and the same taxes that helped curb smoking are now fuelling organised crime.

One Nation and the Coalition both believe cutting the tobacco excise is the only way to stop crime. But with the potential for reform on the table, Matilda Boseley speaks to senior reporter Henry Belot about why the tobacco lobby are keen to influence debate

Read more:

Big tobacco is back in town as cigarette tax fight lights up Australian politics

Faye Carruthers and Suzanne Wrack are joined by Tom Garry and Ayisha Gulati to discuss match day one in the WSL

On the podcast today: Faye Carruthers, Suzanne Wrack, Tom Garry and Ayisha Gulati look back on an action-packed opening weekend in WSL 1 and WSL 2.

Crystal Palace’s win against Everton was blighted by a breach of the rules, the champions Manchester City picked up where they left off, and Chelsea were the only one of last season’s top three to drop points.

In the hours after the 9/11 attacks, the journalist Rozina Ali remembers her parents telling her that as Muslims, they would now be under suspicion. It took years for Ali to understand what they meant. She talks to Carter Sherman about this journey and how it led her to write about the history of Islamophobia in the US. Ali explores how attacks on Muslims by successive administrations since 9/11 cemented Islamophobia in all areas of American life, and she explains why she believes these prejudices are more pervasive now than ever.

• Seasons of Fury: Four Families, and the Rise of Islamophobia in America by Rozina Ali is out now

From his remote property in rural Texas, the millionaire businessman Michael Samadi is plotting a new kind of civil rights movement – for the welfare and protection of AI systems. Guardian journalist Michael Safi spends an afternoon at the Double Six ranch, meeting Samadi’s AI chatbots and catching a glimpse of a possible vision of the future

A British activist who was forcibly abducted by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank has been deported to the UK. The treatment of 22-year-old Finn Joughin comes after a surge of settler violence against Palestinian people in the West Bank that has been widely condemned internationally and also by many prominent figures within Israel. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s chief Middle East correspondent, Emma Graham-Harrison – watch on YouTube

Nearly a week after a catastrophic glacier collapse struck the Nepal-China border, the death toll continues to rise as emergency teams search through heavy mud and submerged hydro tunnels.

With thousands still unaccounted for, including dozens of Australian travellers, international rescue operations are racing against time.

Guardian reporter Cait Kelly speaks to Rafqa Touma from Kathmandu about the devastation on the ground, the search for survivors and what happens next

Read more:

Nepal rescuers race to reach hundreds feared trapped in hydropower tunnels

Australians missing in the Nepal floods: what we know so far

Border area between Nepal and China where 33 Australians are missing still almost entirely cut off

Number of Australians missing in Nepal’s deadly floods rises again, as Albanese deploys more personnel

Ever since the earliest known recording of whale song was made in 1949, researchers have been captivated by the wails, rumbles, clicks, grunts and squeals of their communication. As technology improves, scientists are decoding the intricate patterns that make different species’ vocalisations distinctive. Madeleine Finlay hears from Emma Bryce, a journalist who has spent months investigating human efforts to understand whale song. She explains how this knowledge could help us better protect whales from human-made harms.

Credits:

1. Copyright 1978 National Geographic Society and 1977 Capitol Records, Inc. Commentary by Dr Roger Payne

2. Valeria Vergara/Raincoast Conservation Foundation

3. Footage courtesy of Raincoast Conservation Foundation - Obtained for research under SARA permit XMMS 4 2026

4. Video by Amanda Cotton/Project CETI

5. Footage courtesy of Valeria Vergara and GREMM. Obtained for research under SARA permits QUE-MM02-2016 and QUE-LEP-001-2018

6. Project CETI

7. Project CETI

How decoding beluga whales’ chitchat may save them – and teach us more about ourselves

Support the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod

Faye Carruthers and Suzanne Wrack are back, and this week they’re joined by Emma Sanders and Sophie Downey to run you through the latest news from the WSL, plus deliver predictions for another bumper season

On the podcast today: Faye, Suzy, Emma and Sophie recap a busy off-season. Transfer deals, the arrival of the best player in the world, new financial sustainability rules coming into play and one manager swap already.

The 2026-27 campaign gets under way in Bromley on Friday evening as London City Lionesses host Manchester United. Chelsea kick off their campaign against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and on Sunday there is a London derby as Tottenham host West Ham, Brighton host Arsenal, Charlton open life in the league against Liverpool, Crystal Palace take on Everton, while holders Manchester City take on newbies Birmingham City.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson as Arsenal beat Aston Villa 1-0 and Bradley Barcola joins Liverpool

Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email.

On the podcast today: Arsenal win at Villa in one of those wins few remember when you win the title in May. It was a tight game, Aston Villa looked better than their opening hammering at the hands of Brighton, but do possess a concerning lack of cutting edge. Arsenal didn’t offer huge amounts more but, when it mattered, Bukayo Saka scored the crucial goal and that’s enough to maintain their 100% start to the season.

People are becoming convinced AI chatbots have helped them make scientific breakthroughs, cure diseases or invent new technologies. What does this reveal about a technology used by more than a billion people? A new series from The Guardian Investigates, coming soon

The White House has threatened sanctions on any country that trades with Iran in another bid to economically isolate the country, as US military efforts falter. Launching what he called Operation Economic Outcast, the US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, compared it with D-day. China, Iran’s biggest trading partner, has already signalled that it will not cooperate with Trump’s attack on the Iranian economy. Lucy Hough speaks to Julian Borger, senior international correspondent – watch on YouTube

Following a sexual assault allegation linked to the Sydney Swans, the AFL community’s response quickly shifted to premiership points and player suspensions.

But for many fans, the real issue isn’t on-field fallout, it’s how the football industry responds when allegations of violence against women emerge.

Host Matilda Bosley is joined by sports writer and editor Martin Pegan to unpack why, and how, the conversation needs to change.

Read more:

Women’s experiences sidelined in response to Sydney Swans sexual assault allegations | Jack Snape

Banned Sydney Swans players not welcome at Brownlows as AFL delays inquiry until police probe concludes

Sydney Swans’ tears flow after AFL football’s week in the sewer | Jonathan Horn

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jacob Steinberg and George Elek as Chelsea’s season starts with a win at Fulham

Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email.

On the podcast today: Chelsea start the season with a 3-2 win at Fulham. They were excellent going forwards but familiar Robert Sánchez-shaped problems persist at the back. Fulham looked bright and had two brilliant chances to equalise.

Creatine has become the go-to supplement for anyone wanting to give their fitness a boost and build muscle. It’s even made it out of the gym, with influencers touting its cognitive benefits. But what’s the science behind creatine, and does the evidence stack up? Madeleine Finlay hears from science editor Ian Sample and Dr Justin Roberts, professor of nutritional physiology at Anglia Ruskin University

Is it true that … we should all be taking creatine?

Athletes and fitness influencers use creatine, but what is it? And does it work?

Revisited: Guardian journalist Michael Safi looks into the world of artificial intelligence, exploring the dangers and promises it holds for society

Today in Focus is on a summer break and will be back with new episodes from 1 September. In the meantime, we are bringing you season one of Black Box, before the launch of season two in early September. This episode was first broadcast on 7 March 2024.

For six months, the Guardian journalist Michael Safi has been trying to find out who is behind an AI company that creates deepfakes. These deepfakes are causing havoc around the world, with police and lawmakers baffled about how to deal with them. And in trying to answer one question, he has been left with a bigger one: is AI going to make it impossible to sort fact from fiction?

The trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former nurse accused of murdering her three children, is wrapping up its fifth week. On Friday morning, the defense rested, and the public attention to the case is at a fever-pitch — especially on social media. Clancy, 36, does not deny that she strangled her children, but has pleaded not guilty due to lack of criminal responsibility, also known as an insanity defense. She argues that she was in the throes of postpartum psychosis, a rare and devastating condition that can go unrecognized and untreated. Host Carter Sherman speaks with Jenna Amatulli, deputy head of news for Guardian US, about how the case has renewed attention on the fundamental shortcomings in the US's maternal healthcare system, and about why Clancy's story has captivated – and polarized – so many people

Correction added September 1st 2026: This episode referenced a study that appeared to overstate the prevalence of postpartum depression in the US as more than 80%. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control found that about 1 in 8 women in the U.S. report experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression up to 6 months after giving birth. This was based on data the CDC analyzed from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)

Christopher Berry-Dee has been a pioneer of the true crime genre for years. The UK’s all-time bestselling true crime author is a self-proclaimed expert in serial killers, persuading them to give interviews and laying out their crimes in extensive detail.

‘Persuasive,’ says Sirin Kale after speaking to many who know him, ‘that’s a word that comes up a lot.’

However, after an investigation with fellow investigations correspondent Lucy Osborne, Sirin tells Annie Kelly about a much darker side to Berry-Dee, who has been accused by multiple women of violence, rape and sexual assault. Berry-Dee denies the allegations

One of the UK’s best fossil collections has been sold overseas in what experts have called a loss to the nation. The collection, which is now on display at the Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi, was gathered on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. As dinosaur fossils sell to private collectors for increasingly large sums, scientists are worried that domestic museums are being priced out of the market, and in turn scientists are missing out on the opportunity to make new observations. To find out how fossils became big business and what it could mean for research, Madeleine Finlay hears from science correspondent Nicola Davis

One of UK’s best fossil collections sold overseas in ‘loss to the nation’

Support the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod

Investigations correspondent Sirin Kale reports on the allegations of violence and sexual assault against author Christopher Berry-Dee

Christopher Berry-Dee has been a pioneer of the true crime genre for years. The UK’s all-time bestselling true crime author is a self-proclaimed expert in serial killers, persuading them to give interviews and laying out their crimes in extensive detail.

‘Persuasive,’ says Sirin Kale after speaking to many who know him, ‘that’s a word that comes up a lot.’

When 18-year-old Nolan Wells went missing, his story immediately touched a nerve in Black families. He was last seen while hanging out with a group of white friends, at a popular beach near Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Wells never came home from the trip, and he was found dead days later. Many questions about how he died remain unanswered publicly. And the mystery surrounding his death has revived an old conversation within Black communities: are we ever truly safe in white-dominated spaces? Who will feel responsible for our children’s safety when we send them out into a world where Black life is not valued? Host Kai Wright talks with historian Stacey Patton and writer Ashley Stoney about why Wells’ story has captured so much attention – and sparked so much anxiety – among Black parents, in particular. What does our collective reaction to Wells’ disappearance and death reveal about the limits of interracial society today?

Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is on a diplomatic mission in the Middle East to meet Hamas officials and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in an attempt to salvage a ceasefire in Gaza.

The talks come after Netanyahu rejected the US-backed 15-point peace plan for the territory in a rare public break with the Trump administration this month.

Nosheen Iqbal speaks to global editor Devika Bhat – watch on YouTube

With just months to go before New Zealand voters head to the polls, the prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has survived his second leadership spill in just four months.

As flagging poll numbers, a sluggish economy and high-profile gaffes build pressure on Luxon, can the embattled leader retain his grip on power through November?

The Guardian’s New Zealand correspondent Eva Corlett joins Reged Ahmad to look inside NZ politics and whether the PM can make it to election day

Read more:

New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon wins confidence vote, surviving second challenge to leadership

The criminal trial of veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has begun, almost two years after he was arrested over multiple counts of indecent assault and sexual touching — charges he strongly denies.

What did week one reveal about the prosecution’s case, and the way Jones treated his alleged teenage victim? Nour Haydar speaks to Guardian Australia’s media correspondent Amanda Meade to unpack opening statements and key evidence from the trial’s first week

An outspoken conservative endorsed by Donald Trump was sworn into office as Colombia’s new president on Friday. Abelardo de la Espriella is the seventh rightwing politician to take office in Latin America since the start of Trump’s second term. Kai Wright speaks to former US ambassador to Panama John Feeley about why the region is moving rightwards, and how it is boosting Trump’s foreign policy objectives, from immigration to containing China.

With more than 7m pairs reportedly sold in 2025, Meta’s Ray-Ban smartglasses are fast becoming the world’s most popular new gadget.

But while supporters say they are transforming photography and accessibility, others have labelled them ‘pervert glasses’, with some UK pubs and restaurants, including Wetherspoons, banning the technology from their premises.

Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy Opinion editor Kirsty Major – watch on YouTube

Barrie Cassidy is back, and kicks off the episode by analysing the conflict in the Labor party over migration that led to the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, pulling out of his scheduled press club speech this week.

Tony Barry delves into new Redbridge polling suggesting small gains for One Nation and the Coalition at a federal level. And as the conversation turns to Victorian politics, he surprises everyone – including himself – by defending a trade union leader.

They also answer some listener questions, and Tony has his say on Jetstar’s new cabin luggage charges.

Email the Barries: backtobackbarries@theguardian.com

Read more:

Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2026, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it.

This week, from January: Universities in Britain rely on overseas applicants paying full fees, which has given rise to some unscrupulous recruiters and left many hopefuls and their families deep in debt

By Samira Shackle. Read by Dinita Gohil

Read the text version here

Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpod

Donald Trump’s second term is unlike his first. The politicians who challenged him are gone. The lawyers who once pushed back now choose their battles. What remains is an imperial president with almost no internal checks, using executive power to reshape everything from the economy, immigration and even the presidency itself.

Few journalists have covered Trump as closely as the New York Times journalist Jonathan Swan. Jonathan Freedland speaks to him about how the president has consolidated such power – and what it could mean for the US and the world

Watch Jonathan Freedland on our new Politics Weekly YouTube channel

You can find Jonathan Swan and Maggie Habermans’ book Regime Change here

Send your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyamerica@theguardian.com

Leftwing Democrats are having their moment in the sun, with Zohran Mamdani in New York, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and endless calls for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for president in 2028. Has Democratic socialism shifted from the political fringe to the mainstream? And can this group lure back the all-important swing voters?

Jonathan Freedland speaks to Bhaskar Sunkara, president of the Nation magazine, founding editor of Jacobin and author of The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequalities

Archive: AP, Reuters

Watch Jonathan Freedland on our new Politics Weekly YouTube channel

Send your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyamerica@theguardian.com

Help support the Guardian. Go to theguardian.com/politicspodus

Intensive farming has all but destroyed England’s ancient woodlands and freshwater wetlands. On a farm in Lincolnshire a radical aristocrat hopes to show there’s money in protecting nature

By Patrick Barkham. Read by Dermot Daly

Read the text version here

Support the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpod

The summer issue of the Long Read magazine is out now. Click here to order

Two years into her role representing King Charles, Australia’s head of state, governor general Sam Mostyn says she has observed a ‘woeful lack of understanding’ among the adult population about the civic underpinnings of Australia’s democracy – beginning with the constitution.

Mostyn speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy at Admiralty House in Sydney about her decision to focus on a wide-ranging civics education for modern Australia, to address the ‘growing catastrophe’ that undermines democratic participation

Read more:

Governor general warns of ‘growing catastrophe’ that threatens to undermine democracy in Australia

Guardian US beauty columnist Jessica DeFino explores the rise of ‘tweakments’ and cosmetic procedures – and the pressure it puts on everyone to get something done

Aesthetic inflation. That’s what Jessica DeFino calls the rise in “tweakments”, minor procedures and even more extreme operations – lowering the barrier for people to get some kind of cosmetic treatment, and increasing the pressure on those who don’t.

Helen Pidd discusses with the Guardian US beauty columnist what these procedures entail – from blepharoplasties to tip stitches to botox – and why they are on the increase, and among younger and younger women too.

The US military has carried out a wave of airstrikes against Iran in response to Tehran targeting American bases in Jordan. The strikes were launched after Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran ‘very hard’ following a days-long pause in fighting. Iran has expanded its military strikes in the region, raising fears of an all-out war. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian senior international reporter Peter Beaumount – watch on YouTube

After a lull in fighting, airstrikes between the US and Iran resumed Wednesday, killing at least 20 members of Iraq’s popular mobilization force. The conflict between the US and Iran has now entered its fifth month, with no obvious conclusion in sight. Analysts have warned that the latest escalations are pushing the Middle East region into "unchartered territory". Carter Sherman is joined by the Guardian’s senior international correspondent Julian Borger and Deepa Parent, an independent journalist who reports on Iran, to answer the question: is this a forever war? 

A long and bitter legal battle between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman has culminated in victory for the OpenAI boss. Musk has vowed to appeal the verdict. But what did the trial reveal about big tech and the global AI race. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian US tech and power reporter Nick Robins-Early - watch on YouTube

It has been nearly three weeks since the first reports that a rare hantavirus had spread through a cruise ship, killing three people and infecting others. And now, the World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic ‌of Congo and Uganda a ‘public health emergency of international concern’.

While these outbreaks are unconnected and remain low risk for Australia, questions are being asked about how prepared authorities are for another global outbreak.

Medical editor Melissa Davey speaks to Nour Haydar about the two viruses causing health authorities to reexamine their pandemic plans

Read more: What is Ebola and why is WHO treating outbreak as global health emergency?

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Sophie Downey and Marva Kreel to review the 2025-26 WSL season

On today’s pod: as the WSL season comes to an end, the panel reviews each team as Manchester City officially lift the Barclays WSL trophy after ending their 10-year wait for a league title. The panel reflects on Andrée Jeglertz’s instant impact, Bunny Shaw’s remarkable season and what the summer could hold amid uncertainty surrounding her future.

Elsewhere, Arsenal secure second place and automatic Champions League qualification but, after another trophyless domestic campaign, the panel assesses where things fell short for Renée Slegers’ side and what the departures of Beth Mead and Katie McCabe mean for the club moving forward.

Anna Isaac on Nigel Farage’s response to the Guardian revelation that he was given an undisclosed £5m gift from a crypto billionaire in 2024

Just weeks before Nigel Farage decided to run as an MP in the 2024 general election, he accepted a £5m gift from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.

“When MPs become members of parliament, they are given a copy of the code of conduct,” the Guardian’s City editor, Anna Isaac, tells Annie Kelly. “These are the rules that every MP has to adhere to. And in that code of conduct it says that you need to declare benefits and financial interests. So within 28 days of becoming an MP, you need to go back through your books, through your finances for 12 months beforehand.”

All month, people all over the world have been nervously watching as the Hantavirus spread aboard a cruise ship called the MV Hondius. Three people from the ship died and as the virus spread to other passengers, people wondered – is this the next pandemic? It isn't. But as Guardian health correspondent Melody Schreiber tells host Kai Wright, the outbreak revealed how Trump's cuts to government funding for public health and a climate of rampant misinformation have affected our readiness for the next pandemic.

An outbreak of Ebola has emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, leading to nearly 400 confirmed cases and more than 100 deaths. To find out how the outbreak might have begun, what authorities can do to contain it and why this outbreak is causing particular concern, Ian Sample hears from Daniela Manno, a clinical epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Support the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Dan Bardell and Sam Dalling to discuss the Premier League and FA Cup action.

On the podcast today; Southampton thought they had made the FA Cup final for three glorious minutes before Manchester City’s late comeback in their Wembley semi-final. In the other semi, Chelsea – under the interim management of Calum McFarlane – beat Leeds 1-0 thanks to an Enzo Fernández header to end a run of five straight defeats.

In the Premier League, Arsenal did just enough to return to the summit as the Gunners beat Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a lovely Eberechi Eze finish, while wins for Spurs, West Ham and Nottingham Forest mean the relegation places are unchanged with four games to go.

Plus: a wild Edinburgh derby, an incredible finale in the National League and your questions answered.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Dan Bardell and Sam Dalling to discuss the Premier League and FA Cup action

Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email.

On the podcast today; Southampton thought they had made the FA Cup final for three glorious minutes before Manchester City’s late comeback in their Wembley semi-final. In the other semi, Chelsea – under the interim management of Calum McFarlane – beat Leeds 1-0 thanks to an Enzo Fernández header to end a run of five straight defeats.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan and Lucy Ward to discuss the latest in the Premier League.

On the podcast today: we’ll begin with Chelsea and the sacking of Liam Rosenior after a terrible run of form that culminated with them being thrashed away at Brighton on Monday night.

Elsewhere, the Premier League title race. Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Burnley puts them top on goals scored – the first time City have topped the table since October. The result also sends Burnley back down to the Championship.

Plus, Leeds look safe with a late point at Bournemouth, we look forward to the FA Cup semi-finals and your questions answered.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan and Lucy Ward to discuss the latest in the Premier League

Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email.

On the podcast today: we’ll begin with Chelsea and the sacking of Liam Rosenior after a terrible run of form that culminated with them being thrashed away at Brighton on Monday night.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, George Elek and Sanny Rudravajhala as the Sky Blues return to the top flight after 25 years away. On the podcast today; we’ll begin at Selhurst Park - Palace 0-0 West Ham. Is that a good point for the Hammers? Or an opportunity missed? Regardless, it means it remains very tight at the bottom. Elsewhere, Coventry City are promoted, behind Frank Lampard’s side Millwall, Ipswich and Southampton are fighting to join them. At the other end of the table Leicester City look set to suffer back-to-back relegations. Plus, the headlines from Leagues One and Two, a grandstand finale in the National League and your questions answered.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, George Elek and Sanny Rudravajhala as the Sky Blues return to the top flight after 25 years away

Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email.

On the podcast today; we’ll begin at Selhurst Park - Palace 0-0 West Ham. Is that a good point for the Hammers? Or an opportunity missed? Regardless, it means it remains very tight at the bottom.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Barney Ronay and John Brewin to discuss a wild weekend in the Premier League.

On today’s pod: Manchester City take control of the title race with a huge win over Arsenal. The panel ask just how decisive this result is, did City win it, or did Arsenal lose it in the margins? What do we make of those near-misses from Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz? There’s also the small matter of the key battle: Erling Haaland v Gabriel as the panel asks if the head-rutting is the ultimate man-off.

At the other end of the table, it’s heartbreak for Spurs as they concede late against Brighton. The panel relive that gut-punch moment, ask whether Xavi Simons has the saddest face in football, and wonder if relegation is now more likely than not. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest surge clear thanks to Morgan Gibbs-White’s hat-trick, Leeds all but secure safety, and it’s now all eyes on West Ham. Will they survive?

Plus, in the race for Champions League football, there’s a seven-goal thriller at Villa Park, a failed dink from Habib Diarra for Sunderland, before Tammy Abraham breaks their hearts seconds later. Liverpool win a chaotic Merseyside derby in the 100th minute; Manchester United edge out Chelsea, and questions are asked about Eddie Howe’s future.

Also, the panel answer your questions, there’s a ‘gold’ testicular-related email, and a fine save from a Max Rushden left-footed scissor-kick