Football Weekly — Liverpool Bounce Back in Frankfurt and Chelsea’s Teenagers Thrash Ajax

The Guardian | October 23, 2025
Host: Max Rushden | Panel: Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen, Nicky Bandini

Episode Overview

This episode covers an action-packed week in European football, focusing on Liverpool’s resounding win in Frankfurt, Chelsea’s youthful dominance over Ajax, and noteworthy moments from the Champions League and upcoming Premier League fixtures. The panel brings their usual mix of sharp analysis, humor, and exasperation at odd defending and off-field sagas. Highlights include discussion about Liverpool’s tactical shifts, Chelsea’s teenagers, Tottenham’s tedium, and a round-up from Europe with classic Football Weekly banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Liverpool’s 5–1 Victory at Frankfurt

[02:00 – 11:23]

• Early Setback & Response: Frankfurt opened the scoring with a well-worked goal, slicing through Liverpool’s press with Rasmus Christensen finishing off the move. Barry noted, “Frankfurt just played their way through the Liverpool press with ease. It was a really, really good opening goal.” (02:19)
• Liverpool’s Tactical Lineup: Mo Salah was benched (the “big story” pre-match). No Gravenberch due to injury. Slot set up a 4–4–2, offering space for Ekitike, who shone.
• Ekitike’s Emergence: Lars and Max agree Ekitike is now hard to drop, especially as Isaac went off injured. Lars: “It starts to become slightly silly if he was gonna persist on not prioritizing Ekitike because he looks so much sharper.” (03:54)
• Frankfurt’s Defensive Woes: All panelists criticize Frankfurt’s chaotic, porous defense: “It’s not new…they’ve conceded 18 goals in seven Bundesliga games. That is some going.” — Nicky (05:00)
• Caveats: Both Lars and Nicky caution not to read too much into the result, as Frankfurt are unpredictable and generally leaky. Slot’s attacking setup may not work against more organized or physical Premier League teams.
• Mo Salah’s Frustrations: Returning as a sub, Salah appeared eager to score but overlooked passing: “He should have squared it…second game in a row he hasn’t squared at anyone…maybe he is actually trying a little hard.” — Lars (11:00)
• Notable Quote: “It would be churlish to sit here and kind of urinate on that particular parade.” — Lars, on celebrating Liverpool’s relief but noting tactical concerns (06:44)

2. Chelsea 5–1 Ajax: Youth on Parade

[12:00 – 18:55]

• Red Card Changes Game: Ajax down to 10 inside 17 minutes. Nicky confirms it was “a red card for me. Studs are up, they go into a shin. That’s a red card.” (12:32)
• Teenage Dream: Three teenagers (Estevão, George, Mark Guiu) score for Chelsea; Reggie Walsh becomes their youngest ever Champions League player at 17 years, 2 days.
  • Nicky emphasizes the symbolism: “One of those nights that reflects the shifted reality, because Chelsea…can put a team out that is younger, the youngest in this year’s Champions League, and play with that much swagger.” (17:40)
• Credit to Chelsea’s Recruitment: Lars highlights the upside of the scattergun Todd Boehly era: “They have actually signed a lot of really exciting young players…out of this sort of chaotic first couple of years of Blueco I would not be surprised if a genuinely brilliant football team grows.” (15:08)
• Ajax Decline: Ajax look a “real mess”—depleted, playing a 41-year-old keeper, and have “four draws in the first nine, which is disgraceful.” (17:08)

3. Tottenham’s Bore Draw in Monaco

[18:55 – 22:34]

• Tottenham’s First 0–0 in 125 Games: Both Max and Lars tongue-in-cheek about the “fascinating contest.”
• Vicario’s Heroics: Tottenham’s keeper single-handedly earns the point. “If it wasn’t for Vicario, the aggregate score would have been 19 all. I mean, I don’t think you’re quite doing the hiding Spurs got here justice. He was incredible.” — Barry (22:01)
• Attacking Stagnation: Under new boss Thomas Frank, Spurs are defensively more solid but offer little going forward. Lars: “But we are now, we’re almost in November, so I am kind of expecting the team to occasionally know what to do when they have the ball, and that doesn’t seem to be the case.” (21:26)

4. Other European Highlights

[23:21 – 33:32]

Real Madrid 1–0 Juventus

[23:21 – 26:21]

• Dour but controlled. Bellingham scores, Vinicius turns on the style in the build-up.
• Thibaut Courtois earns praise as the best keeper in Europe. “300 games now for Madrid and he certainly has deserved his spot there.” — Nicky (25:21)

Bayern 4–0 Club Bruges

[26:21 – 29:54]

• Leonard Carlton, 17, scores a long-range screamer—one for the “Wonderkids” files.
• Harry Kane notches his 20th goal for the 12th season in a row—”by October, it’s hilarious.” (27:24)
• Panel debates Ballon d’Or prospects: “He doesn’t score in semi-finals and finals, Max, does he?” — Barry (28:08)

Galatasaray, Sporting, Athletic Club, Atalanta Recaps

[29:54 – 33:32]

• Bodo Glimt’s brave attempts at playing out from the back go punished.
• Sporting vs. Marseille features dramatic VAR reversals and a comedic yellow card for diving (31:10).
• Fun stat: Leandro Andrade becomes the first player to score in the first minute of three different European games (33:07).
• Atalanta v Slavia Prague “was a game. That’s what happened.” — Nicky (33:16)

5. Premier League & English Football Preview

[34:28 – 43:44]

West Ham vs. Leeds Friday Night

• After an “unspeakably abysmal” West Ham performance, Leeds look favorites. Nuno’s managerial prospects hotly debated: “He might not whip them into shape because he can’t make those players faster. And that is a big problem.” — Barry (36:21)

Sean Dyche at Bournemouth with Forest

• Dyche’s arrival marks a sensible move in an existential battle: “We need to bring in someone who will make sure we don’t go down and lose 200 million quid…very, very sensible under the circumstances.” — Lars (38:34)

United vs. Brighton

• Brighton’s capacity for “stinkers” analyzed, but panel feels they’re the better side at their best (40:19).

Key Stats & Fixtures

• Liverpool have lost their last four away games against London sides (42:00).
• Arsenal v Palace pitched as a true top-of-the-table encounter, both defending well and playing brave football. “Palace are a dangerous team…they have shown real resilience.” — Nicky (43:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Frankfurt: “Frankfurt are not good at the back, which is not news…they’ve conceded 18 goals in seven Bundesliga games. That is some going.” — Nicky Bandini (05:00)
• On Chelsea’s Recruitment: “I would not be surprised if a genuinely brilliant football team were to grow out of that chaos.” — Lars Sivertsen (15:08)
• On Tottenham’s Draw: “If it wasn’t for Vicario, the aggregate score would have been 19 all.” — Barry Glendenning (22:01)
• On Dyche’s Style: “Five years ago, people were going, ‘Why do you rely on set pieces?’ Now they’re in vogue. Skinny jeans, flared jeans, skinny jeans, flared jeans. My daughter hammers me for whatever jeans I wear.” — Sean Dyche, quoted by Max (37:15)
• On Ballon d'Or: “The Ballon d’Or is a popularity contest…turning into like the Oscars of football.” — Lars (28:27)
• On Ajax: “It’s just a shame to see Ajax seem to have fallen so far…Ajax look a real mess.” — Barry (15:49)
• On Brighton: “Brighton stinkers sounds like a really amazing basketball team if you ask me.” — Max (41:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Liverpool-Frankfurt analysis: 02:00–11:23
• Chelsea-Ajax & teenagers: 12:00–18:55
• Tottenham-Monaco 0-0: 18:55–22:34
• Champions League roundup (Real, Bayern, Sporting): 23:21–33:32
• PL Preview, West Ham, Dyche: 34:28–43:44
• Mailbox/Listener stories/AOB: 43:44–52:21

Panel’s Tone & Vibe

The mood is classic Football Weekly: irreverent, insightful, sometimes skeptical, and always packed with memorable analogies and digressions. The hosts are quick to nudge each other with dry humor, especially on Thomas Frank’s “defensively solid, attacking starved” Spurs, Chelsea’s unexpectedly fun youthful side, and West Ham’s woes. There’s open affection for the game and the podcast’s community, with a final segment for listeners’ stories and a “Barry blessing” for a listener’s wedding.

Conclusion:
For those seeking a lively, comprehensive, and occasionally uproarious look at the week’s football, this episode covers all the bases—from deep tactical debates to the joys of lost AirPods found, and listeners’ warm tales of football fandom. Essential listening for Football Weekly regulars and new fans of European football alike.