The Game

Latest Episodes:

EFL Extra: Who makes the play offs? Who is in a late relegation scrap? Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up the penultimate round of fixtures in the EFL. Slowly but surely the key places are being decided. In the Championship Sunderland are limping into the play offs, while Blackburn and Millwall are on a charge. Game of the final weekend is a winner takes all between Coventry and Middlesborough At the bottom Preston have been pulled into a late relegation fight.

In League One Gary Bowyer and Burton look to have pulled off a remarkable survival feat, while in League Two Walsall are in danger of a remarkable failure to get an automatic promotion spot.

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What’s so special about Arne Slot? And Birmingham City in Europe..? Apr 28, 2025

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Liverpool have finally clinched their 20th league title. Arne Slot has landed the big one in his first season in charge. How did he do it, can he repeat it next year and is it unfair to look at the legacy left by Jurgen Klopp?

In the FA Cup Alyson Rudd is Crystal Palace’s lucky charm – she interviewed Oliver Glasner ahead of the final and was impressed by his bold approach. What now for Aston Villa?

Finally Gregor Robertson went to meet the owner of newly promoted Birmingham City – Tom Wagner. Ambitious doesn’t do him justice. He knows the financial figures inside out and he is preparing for the very top, a derby with rivals Villa in the Champions League. And he wants Birmingham to knock Manchester off its perch as a footballing city. Is it realistic?

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How Liverpool won the title – inside story of Slot’s triumph Apr 27, 2025

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Liverpool have won their 20th league title. In his first season in charge manager Arne Slot has led his side to the top of the English game.

How big an achievement is it and how was it done?

Times Northern Football Correspondent Paul Joyce has followed Liverpool, and Slot, since his appointment at the end of last season.

Here he gives an inside track on how the feat was achieved.

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How to stay in the Premier League and top five midfielders? Apr 24, 2025

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All the talk is Ange Postecoglou could be on his way out of Tottenham. Not so fast says Martin Samuel…he might have done better than you think. Could a Europa League win - especially if its over Man Utd - change the narrative?

Whoever is in charge next season Spurs are unlikely to be in 15th place again. But for the promoted clubs, what do they have to do to stay up? The gulf in wages, playing staff and finances is bigger than ever. Is it fair? What are the challenges on and off the pitch facing the teams coming up.

And the conclusion of our top five all time premier league midfielders debate. Gregor and Jonny have a list…

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EFL Extra: Two to go, so much to play for… Apr 22, 2025

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All the latest from the nail biting EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.

Congratulations to free scoring Leeds and rock solid Burnley who are both heading to the Premier League. How will they fare in the topflight?

In the play offs many of the contenders are losing games. At the bottom of the Championship its wins all round for Luton Plymouth and Derby. Could it be a record total getting relegated?

League One looks a little more settled. But League Two is remarkable, Carlisle are defying gravity and still have a chance of survival, at the top almost nine teams are still in it…two to go, all to play for.

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How important is momentum? Should you protect star players? And greatest ever midfielders… Apr 21, 2025

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Leicester are relegated, would they have fared better if they had stuck with Steve Cooper? Manchester United, fresh from a thrilling European come back crashed back to earth with a home defeat to Wolves. Would they have fared better if they had stuck with Ruud Van Nistelrooy? While Amorim lost momentum, Mikel Arteta maintained it at Arsenal but was the cost of a potential Bukayo Saka injury worth it?

Hamzah takes a closer look at Brentford and in particular Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo. The two front men have made the loss of Ivan Tony barely noticeable.

Lastly the start of the greatest ever Premier League midfielders debate…what is the right question to ask?

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Are Arsenal favourites against PSG? And a new contract for Van Dijk Apr 17, 2025

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Was Arenal’s win in Madrid a coming-of-age performance for Mikel Arteta’s side? After beating the fifteen-time champions Real Madrid what chance do they have against in form Paris Saint Germain? Is it best defence against best attack? Declan Rice shone in both games against Real, is he now one of the best in Europe?

Domestically, Virgil Van Dijk has followed Mo Salah in signing a new contract with Liverpool…could they cap the week by winning the league this weekend?

And Newcastle are now third, could they be title contenders next season or do they need to strengthen?

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EFL Extra: The EFL is mad! Apr 15, 2025

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Cliché alert: A week is a long time in football. Nothing stays the same for long in the championship, Leagues One and Two

Leeds were sinking, now they are top. Wycombe had fallen away now they're back and Walsall were top for 119 days, they've now lost ten in a row but are still third - just.

As for the bottom, where do we even start!?

Tim Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up all the latest from a gripping round of EFL fixtures and dare to ask - what happens next?

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Who is worse Man Utd or Spurs? Apr 14, 2025

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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are on course for their worst ever Premier League seasons. Do both now need massive re builds on and off the pitch? Or are they just a small change away from challenging at the top again?

Both have eyes on winning a European trophy but will that make any difference to clubs sitting fourteenth and fifteenth in the table?

Meanwhile, Forest and Chelsea are showing signs of nerves in their pursuit of the Champions League places whereas Arsenal are only focused on Europe. Will Arsenal and Villa do it?

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Have you ever seen a better free kick than Declan Rice’s? Apr 10, 2025

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Was Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid their best performance under Mikel Arteta?

At its heart was a dominant display from Declan Rice, topped off by two outstanding free kicks. Have you ever seen better? And where did Rice’s overall performance leave his England position? A six, an eight, a ten?

How do Arsenal approach the second leg, sit back and defend or go for more goals? Could that be their biggest challenge?

Bukayo Saka showed his calibre as he terrorised a star studded Real team and Miles Lewis Skelly once again showed confidence beyond his years.

For Villa it was a tough night albeit against an exceptional PSG side. Did Emi Martinez’s antics help or hinder his team? Is the tie over or could it be a famous night at Villa Park in a weeks’ time?

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