Just For Kicks

Manchester City overcame a first-half deficit to claim a 2‑1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, maintaining their pursuit of the Premier League title. Dominik Szoboszlai had put the hosts ahead with a long-range strike, but City responded in the second half through Bernardo Silva’s precise volley. In stoppage time, Erling Haaland converted a penalty amid a tense sequence involving a red card and a disallowed goal, sealing the win. This win is City’s first in front of a crowd at Anfield since 2003 and one that keeps them in the Premier League title race. All that plus much more here on Just For Kicks!

Arsenal and Manchester City will meet in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley after both sides came through their respective semi-finals, setting up a high-profile clash between the Premier League’s leading teams. Arsenal secured their place with a 4–2 aggregate victory over Chelsea, sealed by a late goal, while Manchester City advanced comfortably after dispatching Newcastle 5–1 across two legs. With both clubs also competing at the top of the league table, the final adds extra significance to the rivalry, offering not only a major domestic trophy but also a potential psychological edge in the race for the PL title. We review that and much more here on Just For Kicks!

Daniel Gordon, documentary filmmaker well-known for a number of iconic works around football, including the North Korean football team's exploits at the 1966 World Cup (The Game of Their Lives), Man Utd's legendary winger, the late George Best, and the Hillsborough tragedy, was in town recently. We got him into the studio to share the journey behind documenting these stories, as well as his love for Sheffield Wednesday.This is a special, podcast-only episode of Just For Kicks - a slightly different flavour from our usual format.

Benfica secured a dramatic 4–2 victory over Real Madrid to clinch a place in the Champions League playoffs, with the decisive moment arriving deep into stoppage time. In a match marked by goals, two red cards for Real, and a brace from Kylian Mbappé, Jose Mourinho's Benfica still required another goal to qualify before goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin went forward for a late corner and headed in the much-needed fourth goal in the 98th minute, sealing progression and denying Real Madrid an automatic top-eight finish.We dissect that roller-coaster of a match & much more here on Just For Kicks.

Manchester United pulled off a stunning, late-drama victory at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in a five-goal Premier League thriller, coming from behind to win 3-2 and inflict the Gunners’ first home league defeat of the season. After an early own goal put Arsenal ahead, United hit back through Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, only for Mikel Merino to level late on before Matheus Cunha curled in a sensational winner in the 87th minute, cutting Arsenal’s lead at the top to four points and giving interim manager Michael Carrick another impressive victory under his belt. We review that potential match-of-the-season & the rest of the weekend's action, this week on Just For Kicks!

Under the Arctic lights, Bodø/Glimt wrote a football fairytale, stunning Manchester City 3–1 as Kasper Høgh’s quickfire double and a superb strike from Jens Petter Hauge left the European giants reeling; City briefly rallied through Rayan Cherki, but Rodri’s red card killed any comeback, sealing a magical night for the Norwegian underdogs and one of the season’s biggest Champions League shocks.We review that and much more midweek European action, plus PL previews right here on Just For Kicks!

In a heart-stopping finale in Rabat, Senegal etched their name into history, defeating host nation Morocco 1‑0 after extra time to claim their second Africa Cup of Nations crown. The decisive moment came in the 94th minute when Pape Gueye’s thunderbolt broke the deadlock, igniting jubilant celebrations across Senegal. The match was a rollercoaster of tension: a late VAR-awarded penalty for Morocco ended in heartbreak as Édouard Mendy’s heroic save denied Brahim Díaz, prompting Senegal to briefly storm off the pitch in protest. Despite Morocco’s relentless pressure, Senegal held firm, turning chaos into triumph in a final that will be remembered as much for its drama as for its glory.We review that plus action in European football, here on Just For Kicks!

Manchester City and Arsenal seized the initiative in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with City clinical on Tyneside, easing past Newcastle 2–0 as new £64m recruit Antoine Semenyo striking early and Rayan Cherki finishing the job, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side firmly in control heading into the return legs. The Gunners meanwhile survived a five-goal London thriller to beat Chelsea 3–2 at Stamford Bridge, their firepower proving just enough despite a late scare.We review that plus look forward to the weekend action including the Manchester derby, here on Just For Kicks!

The magic of the FA Cup! In what may stand as the greatest upset the competition has ever seen, the wand was waved at Moss Rose as tiny Macclesfield toppled defending champions Crystal Palace 2–1. Reborn from the ashes of financial ruin, Macclesfield—117 places below their Premier League visitors—played with fearless belief, struck twice, and held firm against a late Palace surge to seal a night for the ages.We review that extraordinary moment, along with plenty more FA Cup drama, right here on Just For Kicks!

Arsenal and Liverpool fought out a goalless draw at the Emirates, a match rich in intensity but short on reward. Arsenal pushed early and often, Liverpool threatened on the break and struck the woodwork, yet chances faded as the game wore on. Tempers flared, VAR loomed, and neither side found a finishing touch, leaving Arsenal still in command of the title race by six points. We review that and much more on this week's Just For Kicks!

Manchester United have dismissed Ruben Amorim after a 14-month spell in charge. His final outing came in a 1–1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road, after which Amorim openly criticised the club’s hierarchy and stressed that he wanted to operate as a “manager”, not merely a “coach”. United currently sit sixth in the Premier League after 20 matches.We break that down, alongside the PL action in which Arsenal has a six point cushion at the top of the premier league, here on Just For Kicks!

Enzo Maresca’s time at Chelsea has come to an end after 18 months, with things unravelling as results dipped and tensions grew behind the scenes. While he had enjoyed real success earlier on, including winning trophies and getting the club back into the Champions League, a poor run of league form and disagreements with the board gradually wore away trust. In the end, both sides felt it was better to part ways as Chelsea look to reset and steady their season.We dissect that alongside the PL action here on this episode of Just For Kicks!

Aston Villa came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2–1 at Stamford Bridge, extending their winning run to 11 matches, equaling their century-old club record. Chelsea took the lead in the first half through João Pedro, who converted from close range following a corner. Villa improved after the break, with substitute Ollie Watkins making an immediate impact by scoring the equalizer shortly after coming on. Watkins then completed the turnaround late in the match with a headed winner, securing a significant away victory that maintained Villa’s strong league momentum while leaving Chelsea frustrated after failing to hold their advantage. A result that has huge implications in the title race, we review that plus the rest of the PL action, here on Just For Kicks!

In a pulsating Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Emirates, Arsenal and Crystal Palace served up a dramatic night of football that ended 1–1 in regular time before Arsenal edged through 8–7 on penalties to reach the semi-finals. Arsenal dominated possession and created the better chances, finally breaking the deadlock in the 80th minute when Maxence Lacroix inadvertently turned a corner into his own net, only for Marc Guéhi to snatch a stoppage-time equaliser in the fifth minute of added time to send the tie to spot kicks. From there, both sides calmly dispatched their first seven penalties in a tense shootout before Arsenal keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga became the hero by diving to save Lacroix’s attempt, sealing the win and sending the Gunners into a last-four clash with Chelsea

Liverpool carved out a dramatic 2–1 victory at Tottenham, weathering red cards, shifting momentum and a tense late surge to claim all three points. Florian Wirtz unlocked Spurs with a sharp assist for the opener, though the scorer was forced off injured almost immediately, before Hugo Ekitiké added a second to put Liverpool in control. Spurs rallied late despite being reduced to nine men, but Liverpool held firm through a tense finish to see out a gritty victory that brings them level on points with Chelsea.That plus the rest of PL action here on Just For Kicks!PHOTO: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Rayan Cherki announced himself in style, lighting up Manchester City’s Carabao Cup win over Brentford. After curling a glorious strike into the top corner, the Frenchman didn’t just celebrate — he performed, borrowing Erling Haaland’s now-iconic robot pose with a grin that suggested confidence, cheek, and belonging. With Haaland watching on approvingly from the bench, Cherki’s imitation felt less like mockery and more like a statement: he is settling in, expressing himself, and beginning to carve out his own place in City’s star-studded cast.We review that plus preview the upcoming PL matches & a bit of AFCON, here on Just For Kicks!

Mohamed Salah’s Anfield return was always going to be in the spotlight. After publicly clashing with Arne Slot, he came off the bench against Brighton, setting up a goal and earning wary applause from fans. His muted lap of honor hinted at tension, remorse, or both—was this the start of an apology or a farewell in disguise? Salah remains the heartbeat of Liverpool, but the cracks in the relationship are clear, leaving fans to wonder: can the king of Anfield mend fences, or are fans witnessing the end of his Liverpool story?That plus much more action & drama, here on Just For Kicks!

Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League didn’t just sting—it seemed to crack open the pressure cooker around Xabi Alonso, who now finds himself trying to steady a giant that’s suddenly stumbling. Injuries, missed chances and just two wins in eight have turned the Bernabéu’s usual roar into a restless murmur, even as stars like Bellingham, Courtois and Rodrygo rally around their coach. Alonso insists the dressing room is united, but the air feels charged: a club built on triumph is flirting with turbulence, and the question hanging over Madrid is whether this rough patch is merely a blip —or the start of something far more destabilizing.That plus other European action & Premier League previews on this episode of Just For Kicks!Photo: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

Aston Villa delivered pure chaos and late-game magic, toppling Arsenal 2–1 in a thriller that blew the Premier League title race wide open. Villa Park erupted when Matty Cash smashed in the opener, but Arsenal clawed back as Leandro Trossard leveled the match and cranked up the tension. Just when it looked destined for a draw, Emiliano Buendía unleashed a stoppage-time dagger in the 95th minute, sending the stadium into bedlam and snapping Arsenal’s 11-game unbeaten run. It was Villa landing a knockout blow, Arsenal reeling from the hit, producing a finale that's the season's most dramatic so far.We break down the action and much more here on Just For Kicks!

Arsenal’s 2–0 win over Brentford, sealed by goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, not only restored their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League but also extended their impressive unbeaten run to 18 matches. Yet the victory came with a cloud, as centre-back Cristhian Mosquera was forced off through injury, deepening the club’s defensive worries amid the ongoing absences of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Will Arteta's men cope especially with a challenging trip to Villa Park on the weekend? That plus all the football action dissected on this episode of Just For Kicks!