Arsenal’s perfect weekend and Liverpool thrown into crisis – Football Weekly

Summary

Football Weekly: Arsenal’s Perfect Weekend and Liverpool’s Crisis – Episode Summary

Date: October 27, 2025
Host: Max Rushden
Guests: Barry Glendenning, Dan Bardell, Sam Dalling

---

Episode Overview

This episode delves into a dramatic Premier League weekend where Arsenal quietly strengthened their title credentials while other main contenders faltered. Liverpool’s alarming form is dissected, standout matches are reviewed, and the surprise resurgence of newly promoted and so-called “lesser” sides is celebrated with the show’s trademark humour and sharp analysis.

---

Premier League Headliners

Brentford 3-1 Liverpool: Crisis at Anfield (Starts ~01:43)

• Brentford's performance: Brentford dominated Liverpool, with host Max Rushden emphasizing how just focusing on Liverpool’s failings would be too easy. The panel lauded Brentford's tactical acumen, particularly Michael Coyote’s relentless long throws and dynamic right-back play.
  • “Had Liverpool nicked something in the 17th minute of added time... it would have been completely unjust.” (01:57, Max Rushden)
  • Recruitment praised: From Jordan Henderson (“hasn’t looked out of place at all”) to Mikhail Damsgaard and striker Tiago, who “gave Van Dijk more than a hard time.”
• Liverpool’s unraveling: Defensively undisciplined, looking lost tactically, and unsettled following injuries—especially in goal, with Alisson out.
  • “We're getting towards sort of fully blown crisis I would say.” (06:20, Barry Glendenning)
  • Panel questions whether Arne Slot is out of his depth: “Slot looks a little bit lost.” (08:44, Sam Dalling)
  • Notable quote: “There’s nothing I enjoy... more than seeing an annoyed Virgil van Dijk… he just gets really annoyed and it is a lot of fun seeing him like that.” (10:32, Max Rushden)

Timestamps

• [01:43] Brentford’s approach, Liverpool’s vulnerability to long throws
• [04:17] Coyote as standout fullback
• [06:57] Liverpool’s technical and mental shortcomings
• [10:32] Player body language, panel’s schadenfreude at Liverpool’s plight

---

Sunderland’s Statement Win at Chelsea (11:53)

• Sunderland defeat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, continuing their extraordinary start with seven summer signings in their starting eleven.
  • “Of the Sunderland starting 11... seven of them were new signings. ...They've all just slotted into Premier League life brilliantly...” (12:22, Dan Bardell)
  • The winning goal, crafted by Brian Brobbey, receives special praise for centre-forward play and calm finishing.
• Granit Xhaka and smart recruitment are spotlighted—Xhaka called “the signing of the season” (14:43, Sam Dalling).
• Discussion of Chelsea’s erratic form and reliance on youth.
  • “Chelsea are odd... they can be brilliant and then... inconsistency happens if you’re young.” (16:42, Barry Glendenning)

Timestamps

• [11:53] Sunderland’s transformation, squad building
• [14:05] Winning goal breakdown
• [16:42] Mukiele and Chelsea’s inconsistency

---

Villa 1-0 Man City: Another Home Scalping (19:16)

• Aston Villa beat Man City at home for the third straight season.
  • Set-piece goal was slightly improvised: “In the end it didn’t work quite as it was supposed to but... who cares? Villa were brilliant.” (19:24, Sam Dalling)
  • Pau Torres’ acrobatic clearance noted as a “lob wedge” (21:08)
• Guardiola’s midfield selection questioned—Pep again accused of overthinking.
  • “Maybe they're over reliant on Erling Haaland and when he fails to score they fail to score.” (21:50, Dan Bardell)

Timestamps

• [19:24] Villa’s performance, set piece
• [21:08] Defensive masterclass
• [21:50] City’s tactical missteps

---

Arsenal’s 1-0 Win Over Crystal Palace: Four Points Clear (26:38)

• Arsenal move four clear at the top with a workmanlike victory.
  • Eze’s winner described as “like Street Fighter 2… a spinning kick” (27:04, Max Rushden)
  • Arsenal praised for defensive solidity: “only conceded one shot on target in the whole of October” (29:41, Sam Dalling)
  • Set pieces again to the fore and a pragmatic approach: “If they can turn those one-alls... into one-nils, it can very much be a successful season.” (28:57, Max Rushden)
  • Notable quote: “This feels like a sense with Arsenal, it's just like, can we just get it done? Let's just get it done, stop all the noise and then we can just move on.” (30:38, Barry Glendenning)
• Discussion on Arsenal fans’ reaction to scoring from set pieces, and fixture outlook (Brighton in the cup, Burnley, Slavia Prague, Sunderland, Spurs, Bayern Munich, Chelsea upcoming).

Timestamps

• [26:38] Match breakdown, Eze’s goal
• [29:41] Arsenal’s defensive stats
• [30:38] Mindset, run-in preview

---

Other Key Matches

• Manchester United 4-2 Brighton
  • United strengthen with a third straight win; key performers Kunja and Bruno Fernandes. (32:38–34:07)
• Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest
  • Bournemouth now second, praised for reinvention after summer departures.
  • Manager Iraola’s future highlighted amid rising profile.
  • “Their model, right, is that we’re going to sell. We are a platform... I think they say that to players: you come, flourish, and you can move on…” (37:19, Max Rushden)
• West Ham and Wolves’ woes
  • West Ham with their worst start in over half a century.
  • Wolves lose at home to Burnley; back-to-back wins for Parker’s side (42:54–51:16).
• Burnley's Zian Fleming
  • Fleming’s goal hailed as “as good technically as anything we’ll see this season” (49:42, Barry Glendenning)
• Spurs continue strong away form at Everton (51:16–54:24)
  • Not “pretty at all,” but effective and third in the table.
• Newcastle 2-1 Fulham
  • Big late win for Newcastle, with praise for new striker Valtomada (54:24–56:44).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Liverpool’s Crisis:
  “Liverpool have now lost as many league games as they did in the whole of last season... so many of their players look off it... we're getting towards sort of fully blown crisis I would say.”
  – Barry Glendenning (06:20)

• On Sunderland’s Recruitment Model:
  “They've all just slotted into Premier League life brilliantly... and these guys are still getting to know each other so you'd hope they will get better and they're already very, very good.”
  – Dan Bardell (12:22)

• On Arsenal’s Approach:
  “If they can turn those one-alls in those close games into one-nils, it can very much be a successful season.”
  – Max Rushden (28:57)

• On Granit Xhaka:
  “I don't think Sunderland are doing as well without a lieutenant like Granit Xhaka in, in the middle of the park. ...He's been the signing of the season.”
  – Sam Dalling (14:43)

• On Bournemouth’s Identity:
  “Their model, right, is that we're going to sell. We are a platform. ...But it's just such a credit to Iriola to sort of rebuild this team again.”
  – Max Rushden (37:19)

• On West Ham’s Malaise:
  “...They've got legs, but they like, they've got no legs. Suchek is just not quite the player he once was, I don't think. And yeah, they're in real trouble.”
  – Max Rushden (43:31)

• Comic relief:

  • “There's nothing I enjoy... more than seeing an annoyed Virgil van Dijk... he just gets really annoyed and it is a lot of fun seeing him like that.”
    – Max Rushden (10:32)
  • “You could see I think concert was in the background with his head on his hands going how have you done that?”
    – Barry Glendenning (21:20)

---

Emerging Themes

• Arsenal’s title challenge is now methodical, based on defense and set pieces.
• Liverpool’s slide borders on a crisis—tactical confusion, injuries, and loss of discipline.
• Surprise packages: Sunderland and Bournemouth set the tone for upward mobility amongst promoted teams.
• Question marks: Man City’s inconsistency, Chelsea’s youth project, and the hopelessness of West Ham and Wolves.
• Managerial spotlights: Slot under pressure at Liverpool, Iraola’s stock rising at Bournemouth.
• Panel Tone: Witty, conversational, and incisive, with repeated light-hearted jabs and honest reflections on team performances and football tropes.

---

Noteworthy Stats & Segment Timestamps

• [01:43] Brentford–Liverpool analysis
• [11:53] Sunderland’s win at Chelsea
• [19:16] Villa v Man City analysis
• [26:38] Arsenal edge Palace; defensive stats
• [32:38] Man Utd v Brighton
• [37:19] Bournemouth’s model and rise
• [42:54] West Ham and Wolves’ struggles
• [49:42] Zian Fleming and Burnley
• [51:16] Spurs at Everton
• [54:24] Newcastle v Fulham
• [57:38] Tributes and AOB

---

Conclusion

This episode captures a power-shifting Premier League weekend: Arsenal gain the upper hand through precision and steadiness, Liverpool unravel, and surprise packages shake up the table. Panelists balance critique and praise with a trademark blend of detailed football insight and irreverent wit, making it an unmissable debrief for any English football fan.

Transcript

[Max Rushton]

This is the Guardian.

[Ericsson Advertiser]

Is your business struggling to keep up when the world moves fast? Relying on yesterday's technology will slow you down. Ericsson powers your business with 5G and AI enterprise solutions for. From local franchises to global companies, Ericsson helps businesses like yours to operate smoothly, stay protected and keep growing every day. Speed up and stay ahead. Visit [e-mail] Enterprise.

[Barry Glendenning]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. What a brilliant weekend for Arsenal. Quietly going about winning the league while everyone else we think should be in the title race slips up. Liverpool's fourth Premier League defeat in a row. Comprehending extensively outplayed by Brentford. Michael Coyote's long throw surely the best since De lap man. City are beaten at Villa. After spending quite a while on his right foot last week, we can now talk about Matty Cash's left. Sunderland a fourth.

[Max Rushton]

Fourth.

[Barry Glendenning]

Barry winning late at Chelsea. Bournemouth a second. There's a third winner row for Manchester United while at the bottom. The misery continues for West Ham at Leeds. And Wolves beaten late on by Burnley who score an absolute beauty on the way to victory. Spurs brilliant away form continues at Everton while Newcastle consigned Fulham to another defeat. It's a big weekend for old strikers. We'll answer your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Barry Glendennick. Good morning.

[Dan Bardell]

Hello Max.

[Barry Glendenning]

Welcome. Dan Bardell.

[Sam Dalling]

Morning Max.

[Barry Glendenning]

And hello Sam Dalling.

[Max Rushton]

Hello. Max Rushton.

[Barry Glendenning]

Right, let's start at the GTech. It's hard to know where to start and you know, lots of teams could say we should be first. But we'll start with Brentford's win over Liverpool. Samuel Adair on Saturday night. I thought Brentford were absolutely brilliant in this match.

[Max Rushton]

I'm glad you started with the Brentford angle as well because the easy thing to do would be to slay Liverpool. But yeah, they were fantastic, right? They were fully deserving of their win. Had Liverpool nicked something in the 17th minute of added time or whatever it was at the end of the second half, it would have been completely unjust. I mean the kudos goes right, the long throws. I know we've talked about them a lot. Michael Coyote, who believe it or not, he didn't realize he had that aptitude until he was about 16. It was when he was playing in Serie D with Gazzano. He was on Juventus books. They let him go and it wasn't until he was 16 he realized he had this weapon. But he is also, and I think what we shouldn't lose sight of is an absolutely brilliant right back. He Was he was player of the match. He won all five of his duels. A couple of takes on nicked possession off Liverpool seven times. Free clearances, two fouls. And then I was at the West Ham game as well on Monday which was a very different game. Brentford won that and I think he created six chances from open play. And it's just yet another example of Brentford's absolutely brilliant recruitment. You know a lot of us laughed when they signed Jordan Henderson in the central midfield. He hasn't looked out of place at all. I think Mikhail Damsgaard as their number 10. That pass for the Charda second goal. I know it was simple in terms of Liverpool. Liverpool probably should be defending better than that. But wow, what a pass. And then it's the. The striker, the chain of succession. I mean it's like some kind of royal lineage lineage, isn't it? If you go back to Mope Watkins, Toner Visser Thiago now who is an absolute bully, he gave Van Dijk a little bit of a. More than a little bit of a hard time. And he could see Arnie slot when that penalty was given immediately. Well in fact when they were doing the var check he knew it was going to be given so he immediately turned and got three subs ready to come on. But he just didn't have an answer. Keith Andrews, the set piece specialist is looking very much at home as a manager.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, I'm glad you brought up Coyote being a good footballer because there's a danger Barry of looking at like a Callum Giles short corner specialist or like a Sabutio corner kicker where that's all they can do. But actually he's a really good footballer as well. But his throw, it's so flat and he whips his arms so quickly. It's. There are lots of long throws going around but he is the standout in the Premier League I think.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, I don't think it's quite as flat as Rory Delaps that who seemed to just arrow it straight towards the near post or towards the middle of the six yard box. Coyotes does go up in the air but it. It's is a very potent weapon. Liverpool said after the game. I think Ernest Slott said after the game that they had prepared for it but they obviously didn't prepare for it adequately because they were undone by one and they had a warning before the one that's that Brenford scored their opener from. And you would think when you know that the opposition have this weapon in their arsenal you would try not to give Away throw in that dangerous area. But Liverpool did so repeatedly. Now the one from which the first goal came from was a little bit unfortunate. Marmanashvili tried to pick out Bradley with a pass. Bradley miscontrol and the ball went out. But before that Marmodashvili had put the ball out in much the same area when he didn't need to. I also agree Coyote is. If you take away the throw and he's still a terrific full black. He was all over the place yesterday. He was popping up on the left wing. He was making Maisie crossfield dribbles just. He was brilliant. Yeah. Really good.

[Barry Glendenning]

And you're right as well Sam, to talk about Jordan Henderson. I mean I, I'm definitely in that bracket of somebody who should stand in a queue and apologize to him. Not that I suspect he matters. I do wonder if, if Rory de Lapp can still do that that he could hire himself out, you know, just to go to training grounds and just lob in throw ins and make quite a good living as a kind of long throw consultant person. Yes. Sam, do you have intel on this?

[Max Rushton]

Do you have enough kudos in that queue? Because it's going to be a very, very long queue. Is it like when the Queen passed away? Could you be David Beckham? Could you queue jump to go and apologize to Jordan Henderson? Are you at that stage in your career?

[Barry Glendenning]

I don't know. I don't know if he's the ones that he really wants. I suppose it's probably the people that he's really annoyed with that he'd stop and talk to for a long time. I don't think I was that critical of him in the first place to be honest. I just get a nod and a walk past. Liverpool have now lost as many league games as they did in the whole of last season. They've let in 14, 9, 16 games to concede that many last season. Exposed again, Dan. Set pieces, hitting balls over the top, a high line. So many of their players look off it, you know, we're getting towards sort of fully blown crisis I would say.

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah, it can't be far off, can it? That. That run of results. It's not just a run without winning, it's a. It's a run of defeats and you've just pointed out an armory of things that are wrong. You just watch them defensively and they're all over the place and you watch them going forward to be honest. And I think they're all over the place in, in that regard as well. Each game now I think he's got to settle on a right back when things are going badly. He takes kind of Bradley often move Shabazzli there. I think he played there for like 10, 15 minutes and then was moved back in midfield because he, he wanted in midfield. There' changes in a game for me with Liverpool at the moment when they were behind last season, which wasn't very often, they kind of had that way of playing that they almost knew they could keep it as it was and they'd get back into it. Now he just seems like he's just throwing so much mud at it and waiting for something to stick and nothing seems to be sticking at the moment. I think it was an interesting game for it for a number of reasons and I'll credit Brentford as well. I thought Brentford were brilliant and I was one of the people that heavily criticized Jordan Henderson when he made the move that he made and then was in the England squad. I didn't think he should be but he's been an absolutely brilliant pickup for Brentford. And there's a couple of other kind of ex Liverpool players in that Brentford team as well who I don't think will be feeling smug, but I thought that. I thought van der Berg was very, very good. Kelleher's probably in goal down the other end thinking, well actually when I used to come in for Alisson things were a lot more stable defensively. I think the last thing Liverpool needed right now was Marmadashville to come in goal and Alisson to be injured because I think having a new goalkeeper amongst all the chaos already has added to the problems that that Liverpool have. I mean I was about to say I don't know when they'll get out of it but they've got Villa next week so potentially they could get out of it next week because Villa love going to get teams out of out of bad runs. Hopefully that doesn't happen. But Liverpool, I think you're right. I think it's bordering on a crisis and slot looks a little bit lost.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, Dr. Villa. It's no Dr. Tottenham. No, they can do a job. Yeah, look, Liverpool have Palace at home in the carabao, then Villa at home, Real Madrid at home in the Champions League, then man city away. And Sam, I mean you obviously watched. You know when you're there you can see like players body language and how things going slightly better on the telly. And I sort of think given how well Bournemouth are doing with a new back four and a keeper, how well Sunderland are doing with 14 new players and I am really conscious that what happened with Yogo Jota will have a huge impact on this season and so we always have to have that in our minds. But are we giving Slot a bit of a pass with this kind of. Well, these new signings need time to gel. When you know Sunderlands, your signings don't need time to gel.

[Max Rushton]

It's an interesting one. I was been thinking, am I going to say this? Are we at a stage and it's going to annoy people? Can we say that we are thinking about whether Slot just inherited a side that was primed and ready to win a title Anyway, this is a proper test for him and he didn't have any answers. I mean, body language wise. Salah scores a brilliant goal at the end. There's one in the first half where Gakpo plays him in and he gets this. He takes a touch. A normal Salah would take a touch on his right, stop it dead and get the shot away and score and his touch is really heavy. And then second half, he cuts inside from the right and you just see, right, this is Mo Salah. He's going to curl this in the top corner and the shot goes into the away end. It is really awful. There's nothing I enjoy. And again, I'm going to annoy Liverpool fans here more than seeing an annoyed Virgil van Dijk because he carries himself as this. Like I'm really calm, cool and collected. Nothing phases me. As Barry was saying last week, he's got a career in Hollywood afterwards when he's finished with football, but he just gets really annoyed and he's really moany and it is a lot of fun seeing him like that. And as Dan said, Van der Berg, there was a night David Heitner did an interview with him in the Guardian and actually Slot coached Van den Berg. I think it was Voller's youth team and there was a chance meeting just after Slot was appointed. They were in their hometown and he's having a coffee. Van den Berg and he just gets a tap on the shoulder and it's Arnie Slot and he's saying, oh yeah, you know, good to see you. Are you looking forward to pre season? Are you ready And Vanderbilt's? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll see you there. Knowing that he has no intention of going back to Liverpool at all that season. So he's done brilliantly. Liverpool less so I think it is a crisis.

[Barry Glendenning]

I mean, I suppose if Van Dijk can do annoyed as well as cool and calm, it shows he has range as an Actor. You know, he can play the sort of rock role, but he can be a kind of skittish Rick Moranis in other movies. Tim Robinson came on for the second half for Simon Hooper as 35 pints. He said, we're going to see a new trend of officiating teams bringing on finishers. Yeah, like that. With 10 minutes to go, you bring on Craig Pawson. But they're all bald. They're just all bald. It's amazing to see just so many, you know, bald men running onto the pitch at the same time. Anyway, let's go to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 1, Sunderland 2. Asher says, will Barry be disappointed if Sunderland don't win the league? And Tusha with a good question. Which would Baz prefer Sunderland to win the Premier League and England to win the World cup or Sunderland not to win the Premier League and England to not win the World Cup?

[Dan Bardell]

The latter option I'll take. I don't think there's even the remotest possibility that Sunderland will win the Premier League, but they have got off to an incredibly good start. This was a fantastic win. Not massively surprising, I would say. I wouldn't say it was a massive shock that they won it. And we talk about various players needing to be given time to, to adapt to the Premier League. But of the Sunderland starting 11 on Saturday, seven of them were new signings. And of the 14 players who Sunderland players who played a part in this game against Chelsea, only two of them, Bertrand Traore and Granit Jacket, had previous Premier League experience. So. And then in on their own news sub. I think Arthur Masuake was the only one with Premier League experience. You look at some of the signings they've gone in that Regis Labri or, and, and HR or recruitment department have brought in. Robin Roos, Nordy Muk, Noah Siddiqui, Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fay, who to be fair was there last season on loan, Kemsdean Talby, who scored the winner. They've all just slotted into Premier League life brilliantly and slotted into. These guys are still getting to know each other so you'd hope they will get better and they're already very, very good. So hugely impressive job that Regis Lubri is doing and obviously the worry now is that other teams will want him. So that, that I suppose that's life. If, if you're a Sunderland fan or a Bournemouth fan or a Brighton fan, the big boys will all be monitoring your, your head coach and monitoring your players. But a tip of the hat as well to the, the traveling fans who made all the noise at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Yeah, and they made noise.

[Barry Glendenning]

Sunderlands went down, we scored and actually, Dan, I don't know if you agree with this, but I just think if you're Chelsea and probably everyone in that stadium and probably a lot of Sunderland fans are just thinking, well, it's either going to be a draw or Chelsea are going to win. You know, that last goal, Chelsea on the attack. They're like, there is no danger. We don't need to worry about what's behind us. We've got attack, attack and try and get a late winner. And so when this goal comes out of nowhere and is it Gertrude who just. It's sort of. It's better than just whacking it. Like he sort of knows where he's kicking it. But Brian Brobie, which is a fun name to say, he held it up for like two and a half hours, didn't he? Just wait. Just waiting. The finish is brilliant. It's such a brilliant goal.

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah, I'm glad you said his name just before. I was going to have to just in case I, I got it wrong. But it's, it's exceptional center forward play. Does feel like he holds it up for about a day waiting for another Sunderland player to join him, but he just occupies that, that defense and lays it off and he's actually a really, really calm, composed finish as well. And Sunderland probably deserved it. I, I would say I thought the distances between their players, they were so compact when they needed to be. They kind of all moved as one going forward, but when they needed to defend as well, they were. They were all in the right place. And I think Jacques has been the. Been the signing of the season. We mentioned Henderson earlier just. There's a few teams that have picked up midfielders with experience. Experience, sorry. In, in the Premier League and they've made the world of difference. I don't think Sunderland are doing as well without a lieutenant like Granit Xhaka in, in the middle of the park. I thought they'd be okay. I liked the look of their signings. I know it's often hard to knit it all together when you sign that volume of players, but they've obviously got a really, really good manager who's. Who's managed to do that and to be where they are in the league at this stage, I think they've been pretty much halfway there to the points total that you'd need to stay up. And I think Barry's being coy. Jonathan Wilson said that Chelsea were the favourites at the start of the season. If Sunderland are going to the title favourites and winning, then they've got to be in with a shot of the title bus.

[Dan Bardell]

But you say there, Dan, that you like the look of Sunderland signings. The thing is they signed 14 players. I would say I hadn't heard of at least 10 of them. So hats off to them just for identifying them, recruiting them and then getting them. There hasn't been one bomb signing yet that I've seen.

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah, Mukele's been incredible. Hasn't he played it? He's played at a really high level. Played for some, play for some big teams. I was surprised to see that Sunderland were the team that. That managed to pull him in. Probably Gertrude as well. He's played at a really high level. Didn't work out at Leipzig. They've just made some really, really smart signings. And like I've said, it's hard for that to come together as easily as Sunderland have made it.

[Barry Glendenning]

Look, Wilson Isidor said, we're lucky to have Nordy Mukieli in the team. He's a machine. When we have a long throw in the box, we have to be ready. I'm the number nine. I have to be ready in the box. The ball just bounced on me. Or maybe I was in the right position. And Chelsea are odd, Sam, like Chelsea are odd. They've just beaten what? They've just beaten Liverpool. The hope is there they are young. A lot of people say. Maybe it's too simple to say. Look, if they had an old like, you know, we talk about Jacob and Henderson. If they had someone old wandering around somewhere at center back or center mid, they'd be okay. But they can be brilliant and they. I suppose inconsistency happens if you're young.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah. And I think that's what Maresca will fall back on. You look at their side and almost certainly. Well, maybe not almost certainly because football is so unpredictable. But I do feel like at some point in the next year or two, may probably not this year, but that will click and they will suddenly not be young anymore. They will be people with a little bit of experience. And I think they are title winners with that squad of the future. But they, they should be doing better. I mean, does Rhys James get a bit of a free pass at right back? We all sort of herald him as being. Whenever he's fit, he should be an automatic choice for England. I don't know. Sometimes he makes mistakes. It was good to see Garnacho took his goal well and I can't quite understand if he's any good or not with all that happened last year. I know the Manchester United fans loved him and then they turned on him to be interesting to see. Of all their signings he is the one that. I really am intrigued to know which way it goes for him because probably being at Manchester United is not a good way to be. It's not a good place to be a young player and for us to decide if not that he cares what I think but well, what I'm trying to say, it'd be interesting to see where he goes and as a Newcastle fan I will say kudos to. To Sunderland, like fair play to them. We have these debates quite often and I love the fact they got promoted because I like the derby. I love those days of getting on in conspicuous yellow buses and having eggs chucked at your bus and not be able to leave the game until two hours later. But I'm also worried. I liked it when they were in the championship and we went there in the FA cup and won comfortably. Not so sure about December.

[Barry Glendenning]

Sunday 14th December 2 o'. Clock.

[Dan Bardell]

I think we can establish whether Sunderland are title contenders or not before Christmas. Their next eight games, Everton, Arsenal, Fulham. So you know Everton, Fulham, that's six points but the Arsenal, Bournemouth, Liverpool man, City, Newcastle, Brighton there that we'll see what they're made of by the end of that run I think.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah. Let's go to villa Park. Villa 1 Man City Nil. Third season in a row. Villa have beaten City at home. Dan, you were. You were there some goal to win it as well?

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah, a slightly fortunately worked set piece in the end it transpires from Matty Cash's post match interview. I was there waxing lyrical about it thinking that it was something that they'd worked on on the training ground and then Matty Cash kind of said that it didn't work quite as it was supposed to but the ball ended up in the back of the net so. So who cares? Villa were. Villa were brilliant. That's the best they've played this season. I said on Thursday when they lost to Go ahead Eagles. If they beat Manchester City on Sunday, realistically nobody's going to remember them losing to Go ahead Eagles and they should be comfor Europa League anyway in terms of. In terms of finishing in the top eight. And Villa Parker has become a little bit of a bogey ground for Manchester City. That's four years in a row they've been there with without winning. Now one draw Three, three wins for Villa. Haaland scored one in four. There he was. He was pretty quiet. I thought Villa defended so, so well. ESRI Consa was magnificent. Boubacar Kamara's just a Rolls Royce in that midfield and actually probably for the first time in a long time I thought Amadou Andana looked like a. A 50 million pound midfielder. He made so many blocks and was so, so crucial when so many headers off offset pieces as well. So just all around just a really, really good performance from Villa and that's four in a row in, in the Premier League for us now you know after, after the start that we had to be sat here at the end of October talking about being where I would kind of wanted us to be in the mix for that top six. I'm absolutely delighted. And it's three years of Unai Emery now for Villa as well. That was his three year anniversary this week. The he said afterwards that that game was kind of accumulation of 3 years of hard work. When he eventually does go it's that kind of performance that I remember because Villa are just so good at villa Park. Only one defeat in, in 13 months I think it is. It's just an incredible record.

[Barry Glendenning]

Pau Torres did one brilliant clearance where he turned into, into a lob wedge. I don't know how he managed.

[Dan Bardell]

That was.

[Max Rushton]

Get that over the bar.

[Dan Bardell]

Sensational clearance. It was unbelievable. I do not know how he did it.

[Barry Glendenning]

You could see I think concert was in the background. So with his head on his hands going how have you done that? And then obviously Haaland not only failed to score but like he did, he did score and then get himself in the Phil Babs and then the goal was disallowed which is sort of, you know that really added you know, extra pain to the dull sick pain that he would have had. Do you think Barry Pep over thought that you know he didn't play a holy midfield A bit sort of echoes of that Champions League final. It's Chelsea Rinders playing there and didn't really work.

[Dan Bardell]

No, they did flag this up on match of the day and Reinders wasn't great in that position. It's not his natural position and they did have three DMs on the bench so I don't. Pep wasn't asked about it afterwards enough that I heard anyway. So I don't know what, what he had to do say about it if anything. Maybe they're over reliant on Erling Haaland and when he fails to score they fail to Score. That was the first time in 13 games for club and country he didn't score a goal, just on the. The Matty Cash shot. Because do you remember that sensational pass he played to Lucadinha and then his shot yesterday that he scored with. I didn't notice, like the balls quite a bit behind his standing foot when he strikes. I'm just wondering, is this some new technique he's worked on or is it just. That's what happens to be where the ball is. And I mean, I don't know.

[Barry Glendenning]

These guys are good, right? These guys are good. I think. I mean, I thought his first touch was brilliant to, like, control it, but I think. I don't think he was thinking if I put this five inches behind my left foot. It was a bit of a swinger, I thought a brilliant finish, but a bit of a swing quickly. Dan. So, you know, the social media is awash with, you know, Jaden Sancho flop, because he was. Came off the bench and then he was subbed again. But I actually thought he looked. In the stuff that I watched, he looked quite good. And Emery afterwards said, actually that was always my plan. He played an hour on Thursday. He was never going to play more than half an hour. And he did in the end. How did he actually look to you?

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah, I thought he was actually probably Villa's best player on. On Thursday night. And he came into a game which is quite often hard to. Hard to do. It was. It was an intense. Within 30 seconds, he'd done some neat and tidy great work on the ball. I knew as soon as he went off that there would be a storm made out of it because it's Jade and Sancho. I learned this last season when we had Rashford as well, that certain players. There'll be a storm over everything that happens. And the plan would have been for Sancho to come on in the second half and played 20 or so minutes. Like you said, he came on early in the first half because Emmy Buend went off injured. So when Villa needed to make changes, the changes were kind of already prepared to protect what they had. I'm sure that was the position that Villa hoped they'd be in at that stage of the game, 1 nil up. So it's a mountain out. Out of a molehill. There's absolutely nothing in it. But I knew that in the age where everyone just wants clicks, that it's easier to make something out of it for. For certain outlets, but there's nothing in that at all.

[Dan Bardell]

He did do a couple of decent things. My concern would be more of a Harvey Elliot who doesn't seem to be making any kind of impression at Villa and was the squad yesterday. I don't know if he was injured or just not picked.

[Sam Dalling]

No, he wasn't. Emory said it was tactical. He had to basically pretty much except for Tillman's got a fully fit squad at the moment. So he said he tapped for tactical reasons. He decided not to put him on the bench because he obviously thought he wouldn't bring him into to that type of game. It's been a bizarre situation. I think more will become clear in January because as soon as Harvey Elliott hits 10 appearances and I think he must be on three or four at the, at the moment Villa have to sign him for 35 million. But Emery certainly had a huge reluctance not to use him. I think when Villa have signed players previously, permanently, maybe a few times, they've took time to bed in and get used to what Emery wants. And that's particularly apparent in the, in the attacking positions, which is where Harvey Elliott plays. But you know, he's not, he's not getting a sniff. He hasn't, he hasn't come on for, for three, four weeks and I suppose at least when he was on the Liverpool bench he was, he was coming on and impacting games for Villa. He's nowhere near it at the moment. So if we get to January and he hasn't triggered that, that'd be interesting to see what happens.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, because he's a super player, isn't he? Anyway, that'll do for Part one. Part two will begin at the Emirates.

[Ericsson Advertiser]

Is your business struggling to keep up when the world moves fast? Relying on yesterday's technology will slow you down. Ericsson powers your business with 5G and AI Enterprise Solutions. From local franchises to global companies, Ericsson helps businesses like yours to operate smoothly. Stay and keep growing every day. Speed up and stay ahead. Visit [e-mail] Enterprise avoiding your unfinished home.

[Sam Dalling]

Projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows home, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte, paint, finish and satin or what that clunking.

[Max Rushton]

Sound from your dryer is.

[Sam Dalling]

With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app. Download today.

[Barry Glendenning]

Welcome to Part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Arsenal are clear at the top four points, clear of the mass of teams below them. And they beat Crystal Palace 1, nil. Not a classic. Sam, you were there. I mean, we should start with Eze's finish because it's like. It's like Street Fighter 2. Like how you can. Or was that when he. That was. Maybe that was something out of his fists, but he did a kind of spinning kick that was a bit like that. It was sort of incredible finish.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah, the athleticism. Arteta had spoken before about magic moments and he was asked afterwards, like, is that the kind of magic moment you were after? And he said, yeah, very much so. That's why we signed him. And look, naturally the spotlight was on Eze because of the history. Arteta was asked about whether it impacted him. He said, no, he's just very. He's a relaxed character. It doesn't. He wasn't very good in the game before that. And look, Arsenal weren't very good. We should give credit to Crystal palace, who were brilliant. They just squeezed all the space. They're. They're sort of quite attacking. 3, 4, 2, 1. Basie became a. A 5, 4, 1 for most of the game. And everywhere E turned, he had a couple of little moments and everywhere any Arsenal player turned, they were just shut down, I think as they got to the edge of the box once and there Adam Wharton was sticking the tackle in.

[Barry Glendenning]

But.

[Max Rushton]

But that's what. As it does, right? He's not. Not a typical Arsenal signing in that he doesn't necessarily fit into a system and do things efficiently. He can float in and out of games and then just pop up with that finish. It came from a set piece, though, and I think it was Jurian Timber down on the right. He's held off a couple of players in gold and then Pinot pulled him down and Ole Ver Glasna turned towards the bench and sort of screamed and was annoyed because he knew it was almost Palace's first mistake and he knew how dangerous Arsenal are for. From set pieces. And so they got that goal that calmed a little. There was a lot of nerves actually walking into that ground because of what had happened the previous day with Liverpool. They didn't know Manchester City were losing at the time. And Arsenal fans are in these. Almost. There were some that are quite cocky and brash about it now, almost saying, yeah, we can win the title. And then there's others who are like, no, no, it's way too early to say that. Please be quiet. So it's interesting hearing those conversations going on, but they were definitely tension. They were better in the second half. They could have done with that second Goal. They nearly got it. I think they hit the bar. Was it. Gabrielle hit the bar from ahead. It was Eze and Rice, that neat little free kick. Then Rice's follow up was blocked. And then Sakaka one wide. It was a good day. It wasn't a classic. 1 nil to the Arsenal and George Graham was watching and that seems to be how they're doing it. I think they had. They had three of those already in nine games. I think they had four, four, maybe five last year, but also seven one alls. And if they can turn those one alls in those close games into one Nils, it can very much be a successful season. They'll have to few worries because Rice went off, Martinelli I think was injured. Saliba, who'd been a doubt started the game and came off at halftime. He'd actually been given a bit of a hard time by Mateta as well. And Saka hadn't trained all week. He'd been ill, but seemed to put in an okay shift as well. But yeah, good day for Arsenal.

[Sam Dalling]

As I saw yesterday, a stat where Arsenal only conceded one shot on target in the whole of October.

[Barry Glendenning]

Now there's only, there's only three games. I think it's only in the Premier League. I don't know if it includes two Champions League games if it does Olympiagos and Athletic, but I think it's just a Premier League. So West Ham at home, Fulham away and palace at home. And that one shot on target was that moment where Inketia and David Raya went for the ball at the same time. And I thinkettia might get the ball first, it might be a header on target. But yes, I saw one Instagrammer who I don't know saying this isn't a shot on target. How dare they. But defensively, I mean, six clean sheets this season, three goals conceded, 72 shots faced, 19 shots on target faced a total XG. I think across the season of 5.3. I've stole these from Match of the Day, so I presume they're right. Unlike our stats department. They are top four. They are top for all of them. And like this is how you win the league, Barry. It's not interesting, it's not fun.

[Sam Dalling]

But.

[Barry Glendenning]

But I sort of. There feels like a sense with Arsenal, it's just like, can we just get it done? Let's just get it done. Stop all the noise and then we can just move on with our lives. That, that's, that's the sense you kind of get.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, it's. It's hard to escape the fact that after this weekend it was, it was more or less a six point weekend for Arsenal because they won and the three teams who were seen as their realistic title contenders or fellow title contenders all got beaten. So it's, it's the equivalent of a six point gain for, for Arsenal really. Now Bournemouth may well end up challenging for the title. Sunderland may well end up challenging for the title. I'd give Bournemouth more of a chance than Sunderland if I'm honest, but because they're hugely impressive. But there was, you know, this was just a workman like performance from Arsenal. Nothing special, not a clean sheet. Another goal from a set piece. Another three points in the bank or bracket six in the bank next what's, you know, move on next game please. And if they win that one nil with a goal scored from a corner free kick, great. The one thing I've noticed is there are some Arsenal fans who seem to be getting annoyed with the fact that people point out, oh, they've scored from another set piece. But that's fine, it's allowed, it's a goal and there's. If you're good at them, make a with them.

[Max Rushton]

They weren't in the ground. They were singing set piece again. Ole, ole.

[Barry Glendenning]

So they were quite happy with it. Yeah, they've got quite an interesting. They've got Brighton in the carabao this week. They go to Burnley in the Premier League and then Slavia Prague in the Champions League. Then Sunderland away, Tottenham at home, Bayern Munich home. Chelsea away is an interesting November that they have before we do Bournemouth who are second. Manchester United's third win in a row. They beat Brighton 4 2. Brighton had won their last three games at Old Trafford and rather than the sort of binary Are they bad, are they good? Sam? I just think every win is significant and there were lots of positives here.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah, plenty of them. Annoyingly so because it felt, I mean I'm of that generation of basically hating Manchester United. So last weekend it felt really wrong to be willing them on to win at Anfield. And so it was very nice to be back in the status quo of wanting them to lose. But they didn't. And yeah, they, they were brilliant and they've. Matthijs Kunya I thought was excellent. He's been their best player probably a couple of games. That goal from outside the box. Lovely, lovely finish. I think he scored more goals from outside the box than anyone in the league since the start of last season. And Buemo is just doing what we expected him to do. And so they're starting to come together really nicely. Even Casemiro.

[Barry Glendenning]

Right.

[Max Rushton]

And if you'd have said, yeah, what was it a year and a half ago? I've talked about before on the podcast, but I went to Old Trafford with Newcastle and they started Casemiro and Eriksen in midfield and Kobbie Manu, they were coupled down early and Kobbie Manu came off and he. And it just changed it. If you just said back then that we would be in a position now where actually Mainoo is on the bench being kept out by Casemiro, I'd have said you're absolutely off your rocker, basically. But he's doing a really good job. And Bruno Fernandes and that was his 300th Manchester United game. Like he is just brilliant. Quietly brilliant as well. I mean, he's not quite on the pitch as he's quite yappy, but it doesn't. Doesn't quite get the kudos he deserves. Or maybe I'm misreading that. I don't know.

[Barry Glendenning]

I don't know. It snuck up on me. 300 games. Life passes you by these days, doesn't it? The older that you get. And actually Dan, yeah, I thought Sesco had a good game as well. Dan, you know, brought people into play, did part of the job. He's been there to do and him, if he's working well as a kind of pivot in the same way that, you know, Newcastle have Voltimara with pace around and if he is playing well with Cunha and Mbuomo, that is really actually quite exciting.

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah, that's. They haven't had that front three together many times this season. That might be the second or third time that the three of them have played together this season. And people might look at it and think, well, Sesko didn't score, but the two players that are playing off him scored. So it almost doesn't matter. I thought he put in a really, really strong number nine performance. Manchester United. Whereas before I've looked at each individual unit and thought, can't see what they're doing here. Not. Not sure what's happening. Definitely that attacking front three. You look at it now and think that's a very good Premier League front three. That's going to score a lot of goals probably. And I think actually beating Brighton is probably more of a sign of progress than when they beat Liverpool last last week. Anfield, because they've had the odd flash where they've gone over the years and picked up surprise results. And Rio Ferdinand saying Manchester United are back. I actually think beating Brighton at home, a team they've really struggled to deal with at Old Trafford, is a bigger sign of progress.

[Barry Glendenning]

Barry, do you think? I, I, I thought Brighton were a bit unlucky with that third goal. Like Luke Shaw pulls router, he stops and maybe he should play to the whistle because it's how long you're holding the shirt for. Var decides, but he's fouled and then, you know, I'd go and score. I'm not sorry saying it changes the game, but I would be annoyed if I were Fabian Herzler.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah. And I'd say he probably was annoyed because it doesn't take much to annoy him during the game. Like you say, you got to play the whistle. And I'm not sure how Var could look at that and decide it wasn't a foul, if that's what. Well, that is what they decided, because it clearly was.

[Barry Glendenning]

I agree with you.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, good.

[Barry Glendenning]

Stat here on Costulas goal. James Milner's assist for Costulas header. Biggest age gap between goal scorer and assist in the Premier League. 21 years and 146 days. First time in Premier League history that a player has assisted a teammate who wasn't born when the former made their Premier League debut. So Milner's debut was 2002 November. Costulos was born in May 2007. So the idea of when he's born and he's being held there and James Milner should wander up and go, oh, I'm going to assist you. Goal for you from a corner in 18 years time.

[Dan Bardell]

It was a brilliant header as well.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, lovely glancing header, wasn't it? Anyway, to the vitality. Bournemouth a second. And if you are a Bournemouth fan, maybe you should yell at us for not being higher up the running order. But another convincing win against Sean Dyche in his first game as Forest manager in the Premier League after they'd beaten Porto on Thursday and looked so many strong performances. Sam, I mean, Tavernier, like, who must have wondered in the summer what's going on when everybody in the back line left and just left in there on his own. Alex Scott and Tyler Adams brilliant in midfield. And it's, you know, it's just such a credit to Iriola to sort of rebuild this team again.

[Max Rushton]

It's remarkable, isn't it, because their model, right, is that we're going to sell. We are a platform. And I think they say that to place you come flourish and you can move on to an inverted commas Bigger side. And I. I don't think they stand in the way.

[Barry Glendenning]

I think. I think. Hang on. So I think. I think with Zabani going at PSG and Heisen going to Real Madrid, I don't think you need the inverted commas.

[Max Rushton]

No, I know. Yeah, I did think that. As I was saying, but, you know, everything is subjective, right? Well, not everything, but that could be subjective. But look, they didn't mean. I don't think they intended to sell 10 and bring in eight this summer. But like you say, I think it was the PSG one.

[Sam Dalling]

Right.

[Max Rushton]

They hadn't expected that and they just couldn't stand in the way and they shouldn't. So. Yeah. Tavernier scores from the corner. It's just Eli Croupy Jr Jr. Because I think his dad played for Lorient and won the French cup about 20 years ago. But what's that? He scored for the third time in a week and he's only playing because Evan Olsen. And I'm just looking at my notes actually, and it's auto corrected Evan Olsen to Venison. So that's why I paused briefly for the name and Unala Long term injury. So they just have this depth and it's a remarkable story. As I said, the only slight caveat is the Iriola contract thing. Right. It's running out. There's a sense that he might want to leave it until the end of the season and just see he's very much in demand. I don't think Bournemouth want to let it run that long. But we shouldn't talk too much about that because it says it's credit to them. I genuinely thought that given who they lost and I don't think it was an unfair thought at the time that they would struggle this year. And actually it's the team they were playing against on Sunday that are struggling very much.

[Dan Bardell]

And just. So, Sam, I don't know if you're aware, but Venison's father famously played for Newcastle and Liverpool. Had a splendid hairstyle. He really did.

[Sam Dalling]

Yes.

[Barry Glendenning]

Glasnow's contract up as well at the end of the season. That'd be quite interesting if they're both on the market. I'm Steve Paris was on the radio the other day saying that they're trying to talk to him about it or they are talking to him. A new contract.

[Dan Bardell]

Bill Foley is over in Bournemouth to hold talks with Iraola and one imagines Iraola can just pick any number he wants. Give it to me.

[Barry Glendenning]

I mean, yeah, yeah. It's a nice position. To be in. Yeah, I mentioned the center midfields already but like does anyone have any strong thoughts on that? Because Alex Scott and Tyler Adams turned up. I remember you saying Barry, they turned up and they were injured. They got injured very quickly and that.

[Dan Bardell]

Was a real problem.

[Barry Glendenning]

But actually they look such a good partnership and like Scott I just had the better of England's best midfielder in the world Elliot Anderson at the moment and I'm just super impressed with that.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, well definitely when I think the world signed on the same day and Adams came from Leeds he was definitely long term injured. I think he might have been out with a cruise suit or something and I possibly both of them were injured but I don't think either of them actually made their debut for borum at for quite a few months until after they'd signed maybe even more than six months but massively impressive yesterday. But I, I don't think the job is doing can it can be understood it's just sensational given the players they lost during the summer and Kirk has was so good for them last season and is struggling so badly with Liverpool this time.

[Barry Glendenning]

Meanwhile Forest, you know they're still in the bottom three. Sean Dyche came up with some cliches. It's the old adage of after the Lord Mayor's show regards the fact that he turned up and they beat Porto which must have been really annoying for Ange. We came to a side who are number one in the Premier League for physicality and they showed it. I don't think we can match that yet. So clever. A bit of this team aren't fit enough which is obviously what you have to say when you arrive as a manager. You know it's not a guarantee. Sean Dyche arrives. They should be fine. That was such a talented squad, Dan but they have to get the points.

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah. He mentioned fitness so I imagine there might be a world famous gaffer's day coming for the the Nottingham Forest players pretty soon off the back of that defeat. Bournemouth are just way ahead of Forest at the moment. Forest are almost going to go a little bit backwards to come forwards. In fact they have gone backwards to try and come forward a couple a couple of times now. They'll be fine. And under Sean Dyche I've got absolutely no concerns for them whatsoever. They can still aim and push towards a top half finish and they can still make a run at the Europa League as well. They just needed to draw a line under what's happened. Anyone going to Bournemouth at the moment? I think he's going to struggle, especially a team that's not been with their new manager that long.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, just on that win against Porto, liam says Bednarak vs Vestergaard. Quiz question which one of these is playing for Porto? And did you know that? Barry?

[Dan Bardell]

Not a clue.

[Barry Glendenning]

It is Jan Bednarak, but yes, I didn't know that either. Anyway, that'll do for part two. Part three we'll go down to the bottom. Talk about West Ham and Wolves.

[Ericsson Advertiser]

Is your business struggling to keep up when the world moves fast? Relying on yesterday's technology will slow you down. Ericsson powers your business with 5G and AI Enterprise Solutions. From local franchises to global companies, Ericsson helps businesses like yours to operate smoothly, stay protected and keep growing every day. Speed up and stay ahead. Visit [e-mail].

[Barry Glendenning]

Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly so on Friday night, leeds beat West Ham 2 1, West Ham's worst start to the season for 52 years. Mark Langdon said on Thursday it already looked and felt like the end of a manager's tenure, but it's been four games, Nuno said afterwards. There is quality there, there is time. But nothing will happen if we don't change. We must change our attitude, we must change the way we approach things. We must commit ourselves better, prepare, better work harder. All the things. That is the reality. We don't expect things to change by themselves. Realizing we have time can be a mistake if we don't change things around quickly. So there he literally said it, Sam they need to change all the things.

[Max Rushton]

And he's right, they do. It's proof that perhaps you shouldn't just, even if you're out of work, take every job that's offered to you. Because he looks so unhappy. It's like the spurs days I've said before, like when he was at Forest, it was nice to see him sort of with his shoulders relaxed and a bit of a spring in his step. And I don't get it and I don't think he knows what he's doing just yet. And obviously I was there on Monday night, right, and they were dreadful and tactically so they've started without a striker because Fulcrug's injured and Potter's recruitment in the summer hasn't helped them because they insisted on Igor Julio, who's played like one minute. He bought Hermansen from Leicester, who spent time with who's already been dropped and he didn't want another forward and they signed Callum Wilson. So they're one nil down at halftime and he makes Three subs, of which all three are defenders. He brings on wing backs and a center half. And I know there was international duty that came into it. So he was playing with the players he worked with and then they're still one nil down. And he turns around and he's got two Callums on the bench. One's got England caps and more than 100 Premier League goals. The other is a 20 year old wearing number 52. And he went for Callum Matthews and then he. The final sub was this midfielder. And then you fast forward to Friday and they're losing two nil. And he turns to Callum Wilson after 25 minutes. He still hasn't started him. He hasn't changed it up, he hasn't started a striker. So it's just like this confused thinking. I'm not sure he's quite worked out what he wants to do with that squad, what he is doing. And it's pretty grim. I mean, I think West Ham fans are pretty worried. And that midfield, we've got an issue here because how do we say they haven't got legs without upsetting Nadimanua, because I know you dared use that phrase last time. We got a very fair response from Nadin. But they're just slow, right? They've got legs, but they like, they've got no legs. Suchek is just not quite the player he once was, I don't think. And yeah, they're in real trouble.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah. Nuno approaching sad medieval knight gathering moss. Faded Jedi, that old guy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade saying, you have chosen wisely. You know how quickly he goes from the ready. Brett glow of the City ground. Look, we should say, look, great result for Leeds. Elland Road is huge to them. Barry, the other promoted sides, you know, and it's just so refreshing that none of them are in the box three.

[Dan Bardell]

It is. It's very refreshing. It's good for the league and it's worrying for the likes of Fulham, for the likes of Everton as well as for the likes of West Ham and Wolves, who might have got away with their many shortcomings in previous seasons because the teams that come up have been so bad or so poorly equipped to compete. But. But there's no hiding places for these teams now.

[Sam Dalling]

This is where teams like Leeds have got a massive advantage over teams like West Ham and Wolves because Ellen Road will provide the atmosphere and the platform that's needed to get results in the big games like it did the other night. Whereas, you know, playing at home for West Ham is a huge, huge Problem playing at home for, well, playing anywhere for Wolves at the moment is a huge, huge problem as well. But it's that home support and kind of that home form that I think gives those teams a massive advantage over the likes of West Ham. West Ham are in absolutely massive, massive danger.

[Max Rushton]

And you wonder if there was a bit of complacency with the sides thinking with their recruitment, is everyone coming up going to be naff? Because an interesting stat is last year the newly promoted side who went down won 12 games across the season between them already, the three that have come up have won 11. So they are just far, far better than the teams that were promoted last year.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, and interestingly, the teams that went down last year, none of them are pulling up trees in the championship, are they? So that's also an interesting point. Wolves lost 3, 2 at home to Burnley. Two wins in a row for Burnley. Back to back wins. Absolutely massive for Scott Parker. Amazing injury time, Baz. I mean, that's a lovely little finish from Lyle Foster. But then Dubravka's save like 11 seconds later is amazing to change direction like that.

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah.

[Dan Bardell]

Low rasping shot from Santiago Bueno. And Debra had been wrong footed. He got down and kept it out with a strong hand and an iron wrist. It was a sensational save. Wolves have now lost to all three promoted sides. They're winless in nine for the second season in a row at the start of the season. But last season they ended up finishing 16th with 42 points and last season they only had three points after the first 10 games. So this is almost a replica of last season for them. But they shipped out three of their best players during the summer, as Wolves tend to do. And it could be argued maybe they got a little bit lucky last season in appointing Vito Pereira, who's, you know, a very well traveled journeyman manager that I don't think too many of us knew anything about. But he strung six, seven wins in a row together. That kept him up. I don't know, do they sack him and then just reappoint him? Hope for a bounce? But it was slightly worrying to see him and Jorgenstrand Larson getting into it with some fans after the game. Because it was weird that after they went two nil down yesterday, the Molyneux crowd was singing, you're not fit to wear the shirt. There was a conspicuous number of empty seats at Molyneux as well. And then they, they got two goals back. They had the better of the chances and they were on top. Onto Burnley, scored that late winner and they could have equalized. But yeah, Jorgenstrand, Larson and Pereira both got into it with some fans after. It's not a very edifying look.

[Barry Glendenning]

The opening goal here, Dan Zian Fleming is exceptional. I think this is goal of the season levels and people aren't talking about it enough. Maybe because it doesn't go in very fast or he doesn't absolutely leather it in the back of the net. But that finish, the pass and the finish is as good technically as anything we will see this season. I'm convinced of it.

[Sam Dalling]

It was quite a nonchalant finish, I thought. I don't even know if he. If he scored in the Premier League yet. I know he's obviously no first one two at the week. So you know, your first goal in the Premier League to finish like that is a bit of a. Bit of a statement finish. Bernie scored a very good goal last week as well from range. Didn't know that was a joy to watch as well. Scott Parker's a. A very, very likable character and I hope that Bernie can book the trend and to be honest I hope Leeds and Sunderland can book that trend as well and, and stay up. They've won games that might. The games they've lost in the main they've been in them but then they've kind of won the ones that you think that a team's going to be down the bottom needs to win the opposite of. Of Wolves to go there and get. Get that three points. It maybe sends them on a trajectory. To get back to backs in the Premier League as a newly promoted team is really hard because not many teams have done that over the last few years. But I was really, really pleased for them. Not, not just because it was Wolves. I was just pleased for Burnley and please for Scott Park. It's a funny game because when Wolves were doing badly the fans were booing and singing, you're not not fit to wear the shirt. When they were doing okay, it was almost. The players were then turning to the fans and saying you need to do more. It just seemed to keep changing, interchanging between those two things that game.

[Barry Glendenning]

Maybe that Diane Fleming finish will be my Ethan Pinnock moment. But I am saying that's the best goal I've seen this season. Just think it's absolutely world class. To Hill Dickinson Stadium. Then Spurs. The first team who aren't everton to win there. Wet old day on Merseyside. They are top of the away table in form and 17th in the form table for playing at home. Spurs not pretty at all don't know how good they are, Barry, but they're third and three nil in a clean sheet away from home. Cannot argue with it.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, I think they were a little lucky to get a clean sheet. It didn't feel like a 3 nil but they did deserve to win another set piece goal or two set piece goals here. Mickey Van de Ven scoring a brace. Papasara scored the third. I. I don't know what to make for Everton. Of, of Everton. I didn't have high hopes for them before the season started but they, they're not playing dreadfully. They just, they're desperately short of a decent striker. Beto and Tierra. No, Barry can't really aren't doing the business for them despite them getting a lot of service. Good service from the wingers. Enjoying Grealish. Beto was a little unlucky to have. He had a good overhead kick saved by Vicario. That was really, really good save.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, brilliant save. Yeah.

[Dan Bardell]

Everton have only won i7 in all competitions. Drawn 2, lost 4. I'd be a little bit concerned about them but this was just their, their first defeat at the new stadium and I think three nil flattered Spurs a.

[Barry Glendenning]

Bit actually, you know, a different level. Say Tottenham are missing a center forward in a way. You know, Colin Muani played this one looked okay. Got Matthias tell who looks okay. Solanke's injured. Richarlison is sort of odd. Dan. So I, you know, if you, and you know, I don't know what, you know, fit. Solanke changes that side I think Dan. But I think if you're, if you're Spurs. It's interesting a lot of the noise around spurs is, you know, actually this isn't good enough. The football's boring, you know and they get to this position and they lose the next game and they're playing Chelsea next week. So everybody knows Chelsea will win that. But I think if you take a step back for Thomas Frank to have shored up Tottenham at the back compared to last year and to dig in and be a bit ugly and when we set pieces, totally fine.

[Sam Dalling]

Yeah, it's definite progress, isn't it? I mean he would have struggled not to Progress on finishing 17th in the Premier League. I would suggest with a club of Tottenham size. But Tottenham fans have got to decide what they want. No one liked Andrew's football, particularly because they lost every week in the Premier League. Thomas Frank is at least providing wins. I know they're still struggling a little bit at home like you said, but it's just effective football. And I think if you'd have offered Tottenham fans to be 3rd 27th of October, they'd probably all been pleasantly surprised by that and probably all have taken it. But I don't know what's going on in North London because both those teams now, it's just. Just set pieces. Set pieces, set pieces. Tottenham almost out. Arsenal. Arsenal this weekend by scoring two.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, the Tottenham way. Newcastle beat Fulham 2 1. It's a big look. Last minute winner for Guimaraes. It's a big result for Newcastle, isn't it Sam? Just the third win of the season.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah, massive. Like it's a game that Newcastle need to be winning. And that's no disrespect to Fulham, but if they have aspirations of finishing the Champions League again, they need to back up good performances in midweek in the Champions League. And I think of nine European sides or nine sides that played in Europe this week, only Newcastle and Arsenal managed to win both games. So this like rotation idea and having a bit of a squad is becoming starting to bed in Valtomada who's playing far more than they'd anticipated because Johann Visser has been injured. Like I've just fallen in love with him. Like what a footballer. It's so counterintuitive because when you see him you want to look up. But actually he's similar to like Dirk Nowitzki. I know he loves his basketball because he's a massive man, but he's just kind of popping in freeze from deep like. It's a bit like watching the old school, right. It was Shearer winning headers with Bellamy and Dyer running off in the pace and. And the likes of Gordon and Langer and Murphy are doing that. And Barnes off Automata. But it's a lot on the ground. Like I've barely seen him contest aheader. He doesn't when the ball comes along, he doesn't even jump with a center back. He's just looking to lean in. He wants it at his feet. He's quite a brilliant footballer. Not sure what it is about his shirt. People just seem to be tugging it constantly. They either desperately want it or they want to ruin it for everyone else. And I want to give some kudos to Jacob Murphy as well. He who must have sat on the bench for a lot of this season and God, hang on a minute. What have I done wrong here? Because they've spent 55, 60 million on a bloke who's meant to replace me. Murphy had 20 goal involvements in the Premier League last year and an Elanga. I think he will come good. But he's not really done out yet. I've seen. I don't want to criticize him too heavily because I know he was brilliant for Forest. But I've seen a couple of times where he's been in good positions and he's just messed it up. And he should have scored against Villa on his debut two minutes into it. And if he scored that, maybe it's a different conversation. Maybe it's about confidence. But yeah. Murphy is not a man who can strikes me as getting particularly angry. But I think he'd have been a little bit annoyed. And rightly so. Yeah. Good win for Newcastle. And they've won two games without Tonali starting, which is a good sign.

[Barry Glendenning]

Barry, can I repeat my joke from yesterday? Regards, Fulham. Is it worth repeating?

[Dan Bardell]

I can't even remember it to be honest.

[Barry Glendenning]

Would they have been better with Shirley Bassey at center back as opposed to Calvin Bassey? He had a bit of a mare. And you're slightly worried about Fulham?

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, well, for the reasons I said earlier. And I would put Everton in that mix as well. Fulham have now lost four in a row. And whereas before they'd have been able to go out, we'd be fine. Because those three are definitely going down. They can't do that now. And there's still a chance Wolves in West Ham could turn things around. Well, West Ham maybe not. But there's a chance Wolves could turn things around. But I don't think they're anywhere near as bad as West Hammer. I don't think anyone in the league is as bad as West Hammer. But yeah, I would be a little bit concerned for Fulham.

[Max Rushton]

After the game on Wednesday night, a Newcastle fan had a heart attack and sadly he passed away. His name was Bob. He was 95 years old. He'd been a season ticket holder for 50 years. So I just wanted to give him a shout out. Fortunately he did see Newcastle win a cup. He was there at Wembley in March.

[Barry Glendenning]

Well said. And worth butting in for that, of course. Just time for AOB El Clasico. Real Madrid won 21 against Barcelona. Jude Bellingham set up Mbappe's opener. Marcus Rashford set up the equalizer. Bellingham scored the winner. Bellingham had one ruled out for offside. Mbappe had two ruled out for offside and missed a penalty. Hartz beat Celtic 3 1. Lots of calls to go back to Ewan Murray's jazz bar. We will soon. Eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership EFL pod. Tomorrow we'll cover the Sheffield Wednesday news. But actually, if you haven't seen it, go and look what they put on the big screen before kickoff. It was great. In old striker news, Jamie Cureton became the first player to score in the top 10 divisions in England at the tender age of 50. There's some feat to have been good enough and bad enough or good enough to have played at all of those levels at all of those times. Jamie Vardy scored his first goal for Cremennaisi in a one all draw with Atalanta and he did a backflip. And Adam says, are you aware, Barry, that you've been used in the alignment chart Phil's page on Reddit as a good pundit, bad player? There's a kind of graph where you have great player, great pundit over one side and bad player, bad pundit at the bottom in like a grid. So they've got great player, great pundit Henri, Good player, great pundit Crouch. Okay player, great pundit, Nada Manua. Bad player, great pundit Emma Hayes. I don't know if Emma played good pundit, great player Roy Keane, Good player, Jamie Carrick. Okay player, Michael Richard, bad player, Barry Glendenning. But that's good to be a good pundit, bad player. Clearly, as Adam says, they haven't seen heard about your header, so. And I won't read out the. Okay. And bad pundits because, you know, we're lovers, not haters here. And that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Barry.

[Dan Bardell]

Thank you.

[Barry Glendenning]

Thanks, Dan.

[Sam Dalling]

Thank you, Manx.

[Barry Glendenning]

Cheers, Sam.

[Max Rushton]

Thank you.

[Barry Glendenning]

Football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens. We'll be back with an EFL pod tomorrow.

[Max Rushton]

This is the Guardian.