Sky Sports’ EFL editor Simeon Gholam and digital journalists Ben Grounds and Jack Wilkinson join host Peter Smith for the latest edition of the Essential Football Podcast… PART ONE | To sub a goalkeeper, or not to sub a goalkeeper? Was there method or madness behind Thomas Tuchel’s decision to replace Edouard Mendy with Kepa Arrizabalaga for Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final shootout defeat to Liverpool? The panel dissect the major incidents from Wembley and explore how domestic cup success could act ...
Feb 28, 2022•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kelly Cates is joined by Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to discuss Liverpool's Carabao Cup win over Chelsea and they analyse the "ridiculous" call to bring Kepa Arrizabalaga on for Edouard Mendy for the penalty shoot-out.
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast David Jones is joined in the studio by Micah Richards and Karen Carney as they reflect on Phil Foden’s late goal that condemned Everton to a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park as Manchester City extended their lead over Liverpool to six points.
Feb 26, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kelly Cates is joined by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher to look back at Southampton's 2-0 home win over Norwich. Nev and Carra were full of praise for the way Ralph Hasenhuttl's men took Norwich apart, with Nev calling it a "2-0 mauling."
Feb 25, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest Football Essential Podcast, host Ron Walker is joined by Sky Sports features writer Adam Bate and digital football journalist Declan Olley ahead of the first domestic cup final of the season - and plenty going on in the Premier League too. PART ONE | What did Antonio Conte mean with his comments about his future, and where's it all gone wrong? Was Ralf Rangnick right to criticise Man Utd's players when praising Anthony Elanga, and is he doing a better job than he's given credit for...
Feb 24, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest Football Essential Podcast, host Ron Walker is joined by Sky Sports features writer Nick Wright, digital football journalist and resident tipster Lewis Jones and Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge to discuss a huge twist in the title race and more drama at the top and bottom of the Premier League table across the weekend's games. PART ONE | Where else to start than the Etihad Stadium? Harry Kane's masterclass, what Spurs got right and Man City got wrong, and how the City vs Li...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Roy Keane, Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Keane reflect on a rainsoaked Super Sunday as Manchester United held off a spirited Leeds fightback as Ralf Rangnick's side secured a thrilling 4-2 victory at Elland Road whilst Wolves kept themselves in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 2-1 win against Leicester..
Feb 20, 2022•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jamie Carragher, Graeme Souness and Micah Richards discuss Tottenham's 3-2 win over Manchester City in the Premier League as a 95th minute winner from Harry Kane stunned Pep Guardiola's side.
Feb 19, 2022•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest Football Essential Podcast, host Ron Walker is joined by Joe Shread and Ali Muzaffar to discuss a thrilling weekend of Premier League fixtures as Tottenham travel to Manchester City on Saturday while Manchester United, Wolves and Leicester continue to compete for the top four on Sunday. PART ONE | After thrashing Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in the Champions League this week, Manchester City will host Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday Night Football. Pep Guardiola’s side have been...
Feb 18, 2022•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest Essential Football Podcast, host Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports features writer Nick Wright and senior football journalist Oliver Yew to discuss Liverpool's title challenge, Spurs' latest error-strewn performance and Newcastle's resurgence PART ONE | After Liverpool make it six wins in a row in all competitions to move back to within nine points of leaders Manchester City, we assess the Reds' title aspirations and explore where Pep Guardiola's side could lose points to hand Ju...
Feb 14, 2022•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Jones hosts Super Sunday and is joined by Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and Graeme Souness as they dissect the talking points from Leicester against West Ham which ended in a 2-2 draw. Souness said that the result was a fair outcome but couldn’t understand why Craig Dawson’s late equaliser was not ruled out whilst Richards felt it was not a clear and obvious error and therefore the correct decision was to award the goal. There is also reaction from Craig Dawson, Declan Rice as well as bot...
Feb 13, 2022•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kelly Cates is joined by Jamie Redknapp, Chris Hughton and Andy Hinchcliffe as they analyse and discuss the talking points from Manchester City’s 4-0 win against Norwich City at Carrow Road. Redknapp feels that Raheem Sterling is ‘fundamental’ to City after ongoing rumours about his future at the champions whilst Hinchcliffe highlighted their consistency in performance and described it as ‘extraordinary’. There is also reaction from the hat-trick hero Sterling as well as Pep Guardiola and Dean S...
Feb 12, 2022•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a winter break of its own, The Essential Football Podcast returns as guest host Charlotte Marsh is joined by Sky Sports football features writer Adam Bate and digital football journalist Ron Walker to look back on the midweek action and ahead to another captivating round of Premier League games which could have ramifications at both ends of the table. PART ONE | With more rumours circulating around Old Trafford and two points dropped at Burnley, what's the state of affairs looking like in ...
Feb 11, 2022•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast As we approach the end of the January transfer window, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville discuss their experiences of transfers during their playing career.
Jan 25, 2022•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest Essential Football Podcast, host Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom and Sky Sports Football features writer Adam Bates to digest a big weekend of action at both ends of the table, Sky Sports’ Charlotte Marsh offers her take on the Women’s Super League title race and Sky Sports News transfer reporter Lyall Thomas shares his insight on the state of play entering the final week of the transfer window. PART ONE | Given Chelsea’s recent league struggles but Car...
Jan 24, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast David Jones is joined by Roy Keane, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Jamie Redknapp as they discuss Chelsea's 2-0 win over Tottenham, in which was their fourth meeting this season. Liverpool also won 3-1 against Crystal Palace on Super Sunday as the Reds and the Blues keep up the heat on Manchester City.
Jan 23, 2022•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Micah Richards and Graeme Souness join David Jones to discuss Southampton's 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League as Ralph Hasenhuttl's side ended Pep Guardiola's winning run at 12 games.
Jan 22, 2022•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Jones is joined by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher who analyse and discuss Norwich City’s crucial 3-0 away win against relegation rivals Watford on Friday Night Football. There is also reaction from matchwinner Josh Sargent as well as both managers, Dean Smith and Claudio Ranieri.
Jan 22, 2022•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Essential Football Podcast returns as host Alice Piper is joined by Charlotte Marsh and Ben Grounds to preview another captivating round of Premier League games which could have ramifications at both ends of the table. PART ONE | After their dramatic, late victory at Leicester, the panel assess whether Antonio Conte’s Tottenham can crack the Stamford Bridge code and haul Chelsea back into the wide open race for the top four PART TWO | Cristiano Ronaldo’s tantrum stole the headlines but havin...
Jan 20, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest Essential Football Podcast, host Alice Piper is joined by Ben Ransom, Nick Wright and Ron Walker to discuss another eventful weekend of Premier League football, while Simeon Gholam gives his analysis on the race to win promotion from the Championship. PART ONE | Fresh from covering the news of Rafael Benitez's sacking at Everton, Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom brings us all the latest developments from Goodison Park. What went wrong for Benitez at Everton and what could be nex...
Jan 17, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Jones is joined by Micah Richards, Robbie Keane and Graeme Souness as they analyse Leeds’ thrilling 3-2 win away at West Ham on Super Sunday. There is also reaction from David Moyes, Marcelo Bielsa and hat-trick hero Jack Harrison.
Jan 16, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jamie Redknapp and Roy Keane are looking back on Saturday's 2-2 draw between Aston Villa and Man Utd, with the Reds taking a 2-0 lead. They also reflect on Benitez's future at Everton and whether their loss to Norwich has added even more pressure.
Jan 15, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast David Jones is joined by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher to look back on Brighton's entertaining 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, a match that saw VAR penalty checks, an inspired goalkeeping performance from Jack Butland and late goals.
Jan 14, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest Essential Football Podcast, host Alice Piper is joined by Nick Wright, Charlotte Marsh, and Peter Smith to preview this weekend’s Premier League action. Plus we hear from Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith ahead of the north London derby. PART ONE | Alan Smith delivers his north London derby verdict ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Tottenham and explains why the midfield battle will be key after the Gunners’ tiring battle with 10 men at Liverpool on Thursday. PART TWO | It’s first vs second in...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast David Jones is joined by Jamie Redknapp and Paul Ince as they reflect on Wolves' historic win at Old Trafford as they defeated Manchester United 1-0, thanks to a goal from Joao Moutinho.
Jan 03, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the first Essential Football Podcast of 2022, host Alice Piper is joined by Nick Wright and Richard Morgan to dissect an action-packed New Year’s round of Premier League fixtures which delivered, goals, drama, and may just have determined the destination of the title. PART ONE | Has Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool stolen the game of the season title? Has the Premier League seen a better goal than Mateo Kovacic’s volley this season? Why Thomas Tuchel had no choice but to discipline Romelu Lukaku for his...
Jan 03, 2022•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Graeme Souness, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Jamie Carragher join David Jones in the Super Sunday studio to reflect on a thriller match at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Liverpool. They debate whether Sadio Mane should have seen red for a challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta in the first few seconds of the match and also debate if Romelu Lukaku has a future at Chelsea.
Jan 02, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kelly Cates is joined in the SNF studio by Karen Carney and Alan Pardew as West Ham started 2022 firmly in the top-four race as first-half goals gave them a 3-2 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League, despite a late rally from the hosts.
Jan 01, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gary Neville criticised Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo for negative body language once again during the 1-1 draw with Newcastle at St James' Park while Jamie Carragher and Neville gave their half season predictions.
Dec 27, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kelly Cates is joined by Jamie Redknapp and Karen Carney as they discuss Chelsea's 3-1 win over Aston Villa, featuring a superb performance from Romelu Lukaku as he come off the bench. The panel also reflect on Brighton ending their 12-game winless run as they defeated Brentford 2-0 at the Amex Stadium.
Dec 26, 2021•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
