Football Weekly — Liverpool’s Champions League Bid Takes a Hit & Everton End Home Hoodoo

The Guardian
Episode Date: March 4, 2026
Panel: Robin Cowen (host), Barry Glendenning, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, Seb Hutchinson

Overview

This episode delves into a dramatic night of Premier League and other footballing action. The panel breaks down Liverpool's faltering Champions League ambitions after a late defeat to Wolves, Everton’s much-needed home win, notable results in the Championship, and looks ahead to key upcoming fixtures. The panel also touches on the Lionesses’ emphatic win in World Cup qualifying, a genuine FA Cup "giant-killing," and broader football talking points with the show’s signature wit and debate.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

[02:41] Wolves 2–1 Liverpool: Late Drama and Liverpool’s Troubles

• First-Half Doldrums, Second-Half Mayhem:
  The first half was described as "really pretty bad," but “came into life in the last 15 minutes” ([02:41] Robin Cowen).

• Wolves’ Freedom & Fan Joy:
  “Wolves are becoming the ultimate player hater now… they don’t even need the points… when the pressure is off, you definitely express yourself better.” ([05:27] Jordan Jarrett-Bryan)
  Rob Edwards celebrated joyously, reflecting the rare moment for the Molyneux crowd ([09:09] Robin).

• Rodrigo Gomes’ Exquisite Finish:
  “The first touch… thought it had taken a bit too far but then just with the inside foot, poked it past the keeper – sensational.” ([06:34] Robin)

• Wolves’ Attitude & Squad Future:
  Panel agrees several Wolves players will be picked up by Premier League sides despite relegation ([05:27] Jordan).

• Liverpool’s Alarming Pattern:

  • Fifth defeat to a 90th-minute goal this season, “the most of any single side in a single campaign in the competition’s history” ([09:09] Robin citing Opta).
  • “Liverpool’s midfield basically disappeared. They offered Wolves freedom of the park.” ([10:02] Barry Glendenning)
  • The panel consistently links Liverpool’s struggle to “so many of their big-name players are not playing well this season” ([10:02] Barry).

• Impact of Grief on Liverpool:
  Debate around how Diogo Jota’s death has influenced the squad:
  “It is something to do with that so many of their big-name players are not playing well this season and that is bound to have an effect.” ([10:02] Barry)

• Future Uncertainties:
  Doubt about manager Arne Slot’s future, with Xabi Alonso “lurking in the background” ([12:52] Seb Hutchinson).

Notable Quote

“It’s difficult to know what to make of this Liverpool team... too many big-name players aren’t performing well enough. They’re now in a chase for fifth place.”
— Barry Glendenning [03:07]

[14:29] Everton 2–0 Burnley: Ending the Home Hoodoo

• Dominant but Wasteful:
  Everton win their first home match in six. Burnley described as “arguably their worst performance of the season… absolutely dismal.” ([14:49] Barry)

• Set-Piece Strength:
  First goal from a set piece.
  On James Tarkowski: “Unmarked at a free kick. James Garner, good free kick from him.” ([14:49] Barry)

• Dewsbury-Hall’s Class and Pool Table Story:
  “Should’ve done the snooker cue celebration… beat Brendan Rodgers 3–0 at pool, and a week later sent out on loan to Blackpool.” ([17:50] Robin)

• Pickford’s World Cup Form:
  “I just think his performances in recent weeks have reminded everyone that he’s one of the best keepers in the League… England do have a very, very good goalkeeper.” ([16:26] Jordan)

Notable Quote

“Any Premier League side in the Conference League should win the Conference League, I think, given the financial advantage.”
— Barry Glendenning [14:49]

[23:12] Leeds 0–1 Sunderland: A Dreadful Spectacle

• Sluggish Match, Big Win for Sunderland:
  “This was one of the worst football matches I’ve ever seen.” ([23:22] Barry)

  • Sunderland’s only shot on target was a “bad penalty,” which won the game.
  • Leeds denied a penalty, and time-wasting played a part.

• Luka O’Nien’s (Anti-)Heroics:
  From stealing towels to creative time-wasting:
  “Went to take a long throw in only to discover that Sean Longstaff… had stolen his towel and run away with it.” ([25:40] Barry)

• Leeds’ Missed Opportunity:
  Briefly discussed unlucky break in timing their “peak” form, potentially making their current position precarious ([28:28] Jordan).

Notable Quote

“Arguably the highlight of the game was Luka O’Nien going to take a long throw, only to discover Sean Longstaff… had stolen his towel.”
— Barry Glendenning [25:40]

[29:43] Bournemouth 0–0 Brentford: 13th Draw & Missed Penalty

• Main Talking Point:
  Bournemouth should have won; main controversy was a non-penalty:
  “If Tavernier had gone down, he would have got it…” ([30:03] Barry)

• Entertaining Despite No Goals:
  “Probably the best of the four games, to be honest… even though there weren’t any goals.” ([30:03] Barry)

[31:18] Looking Ahead: Villa, Chelsea, Arsenal, & More

• Villa’s Midfield Injuries Shift the Top 5 Race:
  “No tears on my pillow about Villa… the timing of their midfield injuries has really killed them.” ([31:18] Jordan)

• Arsenal’s Set-Piece Debate:
  “Set pieces getting a bad rep. Everyone’s just jealous of Arsenal.” ([32:53] Robin & Seb)

  • Jordan: “The whole point of a corner is you try to threaten the goal. We found a way to make it a weapon of ours. It’s really boring and bizarre for me, this whole corner chat.” ([37:22])

Notable Quote

“For me, it’s not enjoyable. I can think of a handful of games where Arsenal have played attractive football and won… If Arsenal win the league, of course there’ll be inquest, there’ll be uproar because it’s been 22 years…”
— Jordan Jarrett-Bryan [36:26]

[39:17] Other Weekend’s Fixtures Preview

• West Ham’s Gym Ban Story:
  Nuno Espirito Santo bans Adama Traoré from the gym:
  “He needs to realize it’s enough weight he carries. That’s enough, Adama.” ([39:17] Robin)

• Man City vs Nottingham Forest:
  “You’d expect a clear City win here.” ([40:26] Barry)

• Newcastle vs Man United:
  Michael Carrick as manager—should United just stick with him? “Why would you bring someone else in? They win football matches.” ([40:47] Seb)

  • Jordan plays Devil’s Advocate about “riding the wave” with other managers that backfired ([42:53]).

[45:05] The Lionesses Blaze Through Euro Qualifying

• England 6–1 Ukraine:
  “It was one of the most dominant first halves you could ever think of… Ukraine didn’t complete a pass in the final third in the whole half, but it was 0–0 at half-time.” ([45:29] Seb)

• Key Moment:
  Ukrainian forward Kozlova’s serious early injury amid small, eerie crowd:
  “You could hear her distraught, you could hear her wailing—it was quite, quite tough.” ([45:29] Seb)

• Georgia Stanway Appreciation:
  “She’s one of the first names on the team sheet and she was excellent last night.” ([47:41] Seb)

• Jess Park’s Goal:
  “A beautiful sort of…dinked over the keeper. But it was so powerful.” ([48:08] Robin)

[50:05] Football, Influence & Fabrizio Romano

• Romano as State Influencer:
  Recently shilling for the Saudi regime and “not hiding it,” drawing panel ire.
  Barry: “He makes no apologies for what he’s doing. At least he’s blatant about it, I’ll give him that. Unlike many others.” ([50:05])

[53:24] FA Cup: Port Vale Giant-Killing

• Bottom-of-the-table Port Vale beat Bristol City in extra time to set up a tie with Sunderland:
  “That is painful for Bristol City… but great stuff for them [Vale]…” ([53:24] Robin)

[54:09] Other Business:

• Felipe Luis sacked by Flamengo after 8–0 win for allegedly negotiating with Chelsea’s parent company while still in charge ([54:09] Robin).
• Neil Warnock, Age 77, Returns:
  “Back in management at Torquay… I could do a better job but they never asked me.” ([54:59] Robin quoting Warnock)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Wolves–Liverpool:
  "Is the greatest escape on? Well, no, of course it isn't, but the joy at Molyneux..."
  — Robin Cowen [00:59]

• On Everton fans’ European hopes:
  "If they qualify for the Conference League… any Premier League side in the Conference League should win it, I think."
  — Barry Glendenning [14:49]

• On Luka O'Nien’s shithousery:
  “He went to take a long throw in only to discover that Sean Longstaff… had stolen his towel.”
  — Barry Glendenning [25:40]

• On Arsenal’s Style/Set-Piece Debate:
  "It blows my mind… why that we score so many corners is such a talking point… what should they do, not try and score from corners?"
  — Jordan Jarrett-Bryan [37:22]

Timestamps for Notable Sections

• [02:41] – Wolves v Liverpool analysis
• [14:29] – Everton v Burnley breakdown
• [23:12] – Leeds v Sunderland review
• [29:43] – Bournemouth v Brentford talking points
• [31:18] – Villa, Chelsea, Arsenal: Preview and debate
• [39:17] – Upcoming fixtures: West Ham, City, Man United
• [45:05] – Lionesses’ Euro qualifying win
• [50:05] – Influencer problem: Fabrizio Romano and the Saudi regime
• [53:24] – FA Cup upset: Port Vale
• [54:09] – Flamengo sack Felipe Luis after 8-0 win
• [54:59] – Neil Warnock’s managerial comeback

Tone & Structure

• Light-hearted, debate-filled with a love of absurd football details, classic Football Weekly blend of insight and banter.
• The panel balances serious analysis—e.g., Liverpool’s post-Jota future and the ethics of social media influencing—with stories like Dewsbury-Hall’s pool rivalry and Warnock’s return.
• Banter and one-liners—as when Jordan revels in Wolves ruining title races, or Barry paints an elaborate picture of Brendan Rodgers as a "bring-his-own-cue" type in the pub.

A thorough, insightful, and highly entertaining discussion—very Football Weekly.