The Athletic FC Podcast
Episode: Have Man City reignited the title race?
Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Sam Lee, Simon Hughes
Overview
In this insightful episode, host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by football journalists Sam Lee and Simon Hughes for a detailed breakdown of Manchester City's dramatic victory at Anfield, how it impacts the Premier League title race, and what it means for Liverpool’s struggling season. The panel explores the importance of City's win, analyzes Liverpool’s woes, dissects VAR controversies, and evaluates key players and managerial futures. The tone is a blend of analytical, passionate, and at times, “man-in-the-pub” relatable debate.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Significance of City’s Win at Anfield
[01:04–03:32]
- Historical Context: First time City did a league double over Liverpool since 1937; Pep Guardiola’s first win at Anfield with fans in attendance.
- Sam Lee: “Even if they'd got a point, you'd go, oh, that's all right. They would've been eight points behind Arsenal, but, oh, okay. They never win at Anfield. They've been battered for the second half. They've gone a goal down. For them to get a point seemed like a shock at that point… To win it, the belief it gives them… that's massive.” [01:51]
- Emphasis on City’s struggles with controlling games, unlike previous seasons, yet wins like this can boost belief and momentum.
Quote:
"There's just a long way to go. You sound crazy for just suggesting that it might not go as everyone's expecting." – Sam Lee [02:45]
2. Liverpool’s Ongoing Frailties & Mood Among Fans
[03:38–07:07]
- Slow First Half: Liverpool’s lack of intensity early led to City dominance.
- Recurring Issue: Liverpool have conceded eight points in injury time this season, showing defensive frailty late in games.
- Simon Hughes: “It was one of Frank Bruno's late performances from Liverpool. I mean, City should have been at least 2-nil up at halftime.” [04:02]
- Fan Sentiment: Simon notes “fatalism” among Liverpool supporters and erosion of trust due to inability to build form or win consecutively at home.
3. Who Needed the Points Most?
[05:31–07:07]
- City’s Title Ambition: Margins for error in a title race are smaller compared to top-four chases.
- Liverpool’s Reality: Chasing Champions League places, but form too inconsistent.
- Sam Lee: “If you're trying to win the title… if they'd lost, that would have been it for the title. Even if they'd drawn and gone to eight points, that's how it would have felt.” [05:58]
4. VAR Madness & Refereeing Debates
[08:47–14:41]
- Dramatic Ending: Controversial last-minute goal disallowed for City following a VAR check and red card debate.
- Simon Hughes: “Is this what entertainment looks like now? Are we seriously having this discussion about football? It's just pointless, really.” [09:04]
- VAR Critique: Both journalists rail against the current VAR regime, lamenting the loss of spontaneity in football and constant rule changes.
- Sam Lee: “You can't just referee games on vibes… but you can't just referee everything on, oh, it needs to be this and it needs to be that.” [10:54]
- Man-in-the-pub Energy: Both exclaim their preference for less VAR interference. “Total abolition!” says Simon. [13:01]
Quote:
"Now we have to wait until some bozo in his studio 200 miles away has stopped picking his nose and has drawn a ruler across the screen. Sorry, I am turning into the man in the pub. I'll just stop now." – Simon Hughes [13:54]
5. Donnarumma & Alisson: Contrasting Goalkeepers
[16:04–21:52]
- Donnarumma’s Heroics for City: Key save denied Liverpool an equalizer; represents a philosophical shift in City's goalkeeping priorities.
- Sam Lee: “You just need someone to keep the ball out. It’s kind of gone full circle… that is what he’s good at. And the best example of that was yesterday.” [16:31]
- Alisson’s Bad Day: Unusually poor performance, including giving away a penalty. Hints at a potential end of an era as Liverpool begin transitioning to a new keeper.
- Simon Hughes: “When I watch an opposition striker go through on goal, I think there's a 50-50 chance he makes a save… yesterday, some of his kicking was bad. A very rash decision.” [19:41]
6. Liverpool’s Title Defense & Season Analysis
[21:52–24:07]
- Worrying Stats: Liverpool trail previous low points totals from the Hodgson era after 25 games.
- Simon Hughes: “The defense of those titles have been abysmal… winning the title is important, but defending that title is just as important as the hardest thing to do. And Liverpool have made a hash of it.” [22:23]
- Liverpool’s Champions League campaign is a consolation, but lack of league performance remains a major concern.
7. City’s New Defensive Signing: Marc Guéhi
[24:07–28:14]
- Impressive performance; aggressive, calm, and composed under pressure.
- On the potential red card incident: Panel debates but acknowledges referees have little room for “common sense” in the VAR era.
- Sam Lee: “He was unbelievable yesterday… making blocks, getting his foot in, he was great on the ball, the concentration was spot on.” [24:49]
8. Arne Slot’s Future & Liverpool’s Outlook
[28:25–31:23]
- Under Pressure: With inconsistent form and no previous experience handling such pressure, Slot’s position grows precarious if Champions League qualification slips.
- Simon Hughes: “He hasn’t proven it yet… this will be his biggest test ever this season for all the reasons that we discussed before. But at the moment all he can focus on really is trying to get the points on the board that gets Liverpool into the Champions League." [28:47]
- Goodwill from last season’s title win is fading, and online chatter about his future is increasing.
9. City’s Title Race Mentality & Key Players
[32:52–38:22]
- Can City Catch Arsenal?: Experience of players like Haaland, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri could be decisive. Young squad still learning.
- Sam Lee: “As much as there's character there… are they going to be able to turn that into consistency? Not until they learn to stop teams having 25, 30 minutes of momentum.” [36:23]
- Haaland’s Nerves: Candid admission from Haaland about being “really nervous” before penalty highlights psychological pressure in the title race. [36:39]
10. Phil Foden’s Form and Guardiola’s Trust
[38:22–40:39]
- Foden struggling for form and consistency; Guardiola seems to trust him less lately.
- Sam Lee: “He treated the ball like a bomb. I just wanted to get rid of it… There was always a feeling with Rooney that, like, no matter how good he was, there should always be more…. Maybe we’re always going to be demanding more from Foden, but what he is actually doing is fine.” [38:40]
11. Decisive Upcoming Fixtures: City vs. Arsenal
[40:39–42:20]
- Carabao Cup Final in March, League Clash in April: Could be psychologically decisive if league points gap narrows further.
- Simon Hughes: “If both teams approach that game and they're pretty close and they both still feel that the League title is active, then it could be very… it could define everything, really.” [40:57]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- "Total abolition, just total abolition, full abolition. Football doesn't need VAR. Football survived as a sport and thrives as a sport for 150 odd years without this." – Simon Hughes [13:01]
- “He’s not going to help you in the buildup, but he can make these saves. And they know that games are more transitional. You just need someone to keep the ball out.” – Sam Lee on Donnarumma [16:31]
- “At this moment of time, Arne Slot's earned the right to work and try and find a solution… but that goodwill only lasts for so long.” – Simon Hughes [30:08]
- “If [the points gap] was to shorten and then shorten again, we’d really see the mettle of this Arsenal team.” – Simon Hughes [37:13]
- “He treated the ball like a bomb. …Not in a keep the ball moving way, in a not taking responsibility way.” – Sam Lee on Phil Foden [38:40]
Key Timestamps of Major Segments
- [01:04] — City’s win at Anfield and its importance
- [04:02] — Liverpool’s frailties and fan mood
- [06:59] — Who needed the points most?
- [08:47] — VAR controversy and the changing spirit of football
- [16:04] — Donnarumma’s save and City’s goalkeeper shift
- [19:41] — Alisson’s struggles and possible future change
- [24:26] — Marc Guéhi’s performance
- [28:47] — Arne Slot’s pressure and Liverpool’s future
- [33:00] — Can City catch Arsenal?
- [38:22] — Foden’s form and City’s attacking doubts
- [40:57] — Upcoming City vs Arsenal showdowns
Tone & Style
The discussion shifts comfortably between measured analysis and impassioned debate, often with a "man-in-the-pub" candidness. The panelists hold strong opinions on refereeing and VAR, critique performances without sugarcoating, and sympathize with fan frustrations.
Takeaway
Manchester City’s win at Anfield has injected new life into the title race and raised new questions about Liverpool’s direction under Arne Slot. Despite imperfections, City’s proven winners still pose a threat, while Liverpool’s season risks unravelling further. VAR continues to dominate fan and expert discourse, often overshadowing the football itself.