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!

The battle between Chelsea and Arsenal lived up to expectations, with 10-man Chelsea taking the game to Arsenal, despite being a man down after Moses Caicedo's rash tackle on Merino. They took the lead with a smart header from Trevor Chalobah, but Mikel Merino then equalized. Liverpool, meanwhile, got back to winning ways, thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, with Mohamed Salah looking on from the bench. Is this the sign of things to come? Our pundits look back on the week that was and look ahead to midweek matches as the festive season approaches, on another episode of Just For Kicks!Image Credit: theanalyst.com

Estevao outshone Lamine Yamal at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea swept aside Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League with a commanding performance, ahead of their showdown against Arsenal this weekend. Are Chelsea a dark horse both in Europe and in the Premier League? Speaking of Arsenal, they're looking more and more imperious, with another irresistible performance, this time against Bayern Munich at the Emirates. Who will come out on top this weekend? Our pundits share their thoughts on those matches and chime in on the issues surrounding Liverpool and Arne Slot, only on another episode of Just For Kicks!Image Credit: One Tiger Arena

Liverpool fell to a shocking 3-0 defeat at Anfield as Nottingham Forest delivered their biggest ever win at the stadium, scoring through Murillo, Nicolò Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White. Despite Liverpool controlling most of the possession, they created little and repeatedly broke down defensively, looking disconnected and low on confidence. Forest, meanwhile, were well-organized, clinical and fully committed, taking advantage of every mistake. The result adds even more pressure on the champions and brings up major concerns especially after an expensive summer.We dissect that and much more here on Just For Kicks.

Curaçao has stunned the football world, becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for a men’s FIFA World Cup after a dramatic, hard-fought draw with Jamaica. This tiny Caribbean island — long considered an underdog on the global stage — has shattered expectations with a historic, goosebump-raising achievement. Under the guidance of veteran coach Dick Advocaat, they went unbeaten through qualification and leaned heavily on players from the Dutch-Caribbean diaspora. At 78, Advocaat could become the oldest coach in World Cup history. We dissect that - alongside Scotland's return to the World Cup and preview the upcoming round of Premier League matches - only here on Just For Kicks. ​

Norway have officially booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a wait that stretched back to 1998. A commanding 4–1 victory over Italy sealed a flawless qualifying campaign, with eight wins from eight. Erling Haaland delivered once again, scoring twice in the decisive match as Norway topped their group with authority. Their resurgence leaves four-time champions Italy facing the uncertainty of the playoff path for the third time in a row while Norway celebrates a long-awaited return to football’s biggest stage. That plus other World Cup qualifying action & stories broken down here on this episode of Just For Kicks!

Rule changes kick things off after a short review of the international break as we dive straight into the fun stuff—what would you tweak, scrap, or totally reinvent in football? VAR meltdowns, handball headaches, maybe even bringing back the good old back-pass just for chaos—our pundits let loose with the rule fixes they’d love to see. From there, we hand out some well-deserved flowers to Pep Guardiola for hitting the incredible 1,000-game milestone—has he secured his place as the GOAT manager of our era? The conversation then expands into the wild world of club ownership: what makes an owner truly responsible, which models actually put fans first, and why certain approaches—especially those borrowed from American sports—might clash with the spirit and traditions of football.

Pep Guardiola marked his 1,000th match as a manager in perfect fashion as Manchester City swept aside Liverpool 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium - beating them for the first time since April 2023 - cutting Arsenal’s Premier League lead to just four points. Erling Haaland redeemed an early penalty miss with a towering header to open the scoring, before a deflected strike from Nico Gonzalez and a stunning solo goal from Jeremy Doku sealed a commanding victory. Doku was the standout performer, dazzling Liverpool’s defence with pace and flair as City’s attacking rhythm—driven by Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva—returned to its brilliant best. All that plus the rest of the weekend's PL action here on this episode of Just For Kicks!

Liverpool delivered a commanding display at Anfield, defeating Real Madrid 1–0 in the UEFA Champions League. Alexis Mac Allister sealed the victory with a precise header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s pinpoint free-kick in the 61st minute. Though the scoreline was slim, Arne Slot’s men dominated from start to finish, carving out chance after chance only to be denied time and again by the brilliance of Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal. Among a host of impressive performances, Conor Bradley stood out, expertly containing Vinicius Jr and embodying the renewed energy, confidence, and intensity that marked Liverpool’s resurgence after a difficult spell.We review that plus other European ties & also look forward to the weekend's football action, here on Just For Kicks!

Arsenal put on a strong show at Burnley, cruising to a 2–0 win with goals from Viktor Gyökeres and Declan Rice. The first came from a clever set piece — Rice whipped in a corner, Gabriel Magalhães flicked it on, and Gyökeres was in the right spot to nod it home. Later, Burnley tried to push forward with a long throw, but it backfired as Arsenal hit them on the break, with Rice finishing it off to seal the deal. The win keeps Arsenal’s unbeaten run going putting them seven points clear at the top of league. Elsewhere, we talk the end of Liverpool's domestic losing-streak, Manchester United salvaging a draw at Nottingham Forest, Chelsea coming up tops in a scrappy game against their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while looking forward to selected Champions League matches.

Liverpool’s Carabao Cup run came crashing down at Anfield as they fell 3–0 to a confident and composed Crystal Palace side. Under the floodlights, Palace dazzled—Ismaïla Sarr struck twice in quick succession before halftime, exploiting Liverpool’s frailties, while Yeremy Pino’s late finish in the 88th minute sealed a memorable triumph. Arne Slot’s bold decision to overhaul his starting lineup, making ten changes, backfired spectacularly, extending the Reds’ alarming run to six defeats in seven games.That plus the rest of EFL Cup action, plus EPL previews here on Just For Kicks!Photo: Getty Images

It may still be early days in the Premier League season, but Arsenal’s intent is unmistakable. After three consecutive runner-up finishes, Mikel Arteta’s side have opened up a four-point cushion at the top following a weekend where their main rivals stumbled. Liverpool’s ongoing crisis—four straight league defeats—and Manchester City’s slip at Aston Villa have left the Gunners as the clear early frontrunners. With the league’s best defensive record—just three goals conceded and six clean sheets—Arsenal once again showed their steel, as Eberechi Eze struck against his former club Crystal Palace to secure another vital win. Now sitting four points clear, could this finally be the season they end their 21-year wait for the title?Elsewhere, Manchester United survived a late Brighton fightback as Bryan Mbeumo’s brace offered a much-needed boost for the under-pressure Ruben Amorim. Sunderland’s remarkable run continued with a 2–1 away victory over Chelsea, while the new-manager bounce faded for Nottingham Forest’s Sean Dyche, whose side fell 2–0 to Bournemouth. All that and more, right here on Just For Kicks!photo credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Harry Maguire’s time at Manchester United has evolved into one of football’s most compelling tales of redemption. Once the world’s most expensive defender following his £80 million transfer from Leicester City in 2019, Maguire endured a dramatic fall from grace — stripped of the captaincy, relegated to the bench, and relentlessly scrutinised by fans and the media alike. A failed move to West Ham United in 2023 seemed to signal the end of his Old Trafford chapter.Yet under Rúben Amorim’s guidance, Maguire has rewritten his story with resilience and quiet determination. His resurgence was on full display over the weekend, as Manchester United stunned Liverpool with a 2–1 victory at Anfield — sealed, fittingly, by Maguire’s dramatic last-minute winner. We delve into that monumental triumph for Amorim’s 'rejuvenated' side, review the midweek European action, and look ahead to another enticing round of Premier League fixtures.Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

The English Premier League returns from an eventful international break with a showdown that's sure to grab the headlines, despite both teams' erratic form. Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield, looking to get back on track after losing three games in a row - a feat that's unheard of for Arne Slot as he tries to get his new signings to gel together very soon for their title defence. Manchester United, meanwhile, won their last game at home against Sunderland, but Liverpool are a different proposition, and with Ruben Amorim so far not being able to string together two wins on the trot, can they really capitalise on Liverpool's poor form? There's only one way to find out, as the pundits look ahead to this match, and many others, including Nottingham Forest against Chelsea, and Man City vs Everton, only on another contemplative episode of Just For Kicks!Image Credit: Poh Smith / Shutterstock.com

So close, yet so far for Indonesia — their World Cup dreams slipped away in heartbreaking fashion after a narrow 1–0 defeat to Iraq in Jeddah, sealed by substitute Zidane Iqbal’s calm and clinical second-half finish. Throughout the match, Indonesia displayed admirable heart, grit, and belief, holding their own against a disciplined Iraqi side. Yet, for all their effort and possession, the finishing touch remained elusive, their attacks repeatedly stifled by Iraq’s resolute defense. The loss ultimately confirmed Indonesia’s exit from World Cup contention, drawing the curtain on a campaign that, while ending in disappointment, was rich with glimpses of promise, growth, and the stirring potential of a team on the rise.We dissect that, plus the rest of the weekend's round of internationals, here on Just For Kicks. photo credit - Reuters