Rule changes kick things off after a short review of the international break as we dive straight into the fun stuff—what would you tweak, scrap, or totally reinvent in football? VAR meltdowns, handball headaches, maybe even bringing back the good old back-pass just for chaos—our pundits let loose with the rule fixes they’d love to see. From there, we hand out some well-deserved flowers to Pep Guardiola for hitting the incredible 1,000-game milestone—has he secured his place as the GOAT manager of our era? The conversation then expands into the wild world of club ownership: what makes an owner truly responsible, which models actually put fans first, and why certain approaches—especially those borrowed from American sports—might clash with the spirit and traditions of football.

Pep Guardiola marked his 1,000th match as a manager in perfect fashion as Manchester City swept aside Liverpool 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium - beating them for the first time since April 2023 - cutting Arsenal’s Premier League lead to just four points. Erling Haaland redeemed an early penalty miss with a towering header to open the scoring, before a deflected strike from Nico Gonzalez and a stunning solo goal from Jeremy Doku sealed a commanding victory. Doku was the standout performer, dazzling Liverpool’s defence with pace and flair as City’s attacking rhythm—driven by Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva—returned to its brilliant best. All that plus the rest of the weekend's PL action here on this episode of Just For Kicks!

Liverpool delivered a commanding display at Anfield, defeating Real Madrid 1–0 in the UEFA Champions League. Alexis Mac Allister sealed the victory with a precise header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s pinpoint free-kick in the 61st minute. Though the scoreline was slim, Arne Slot’s men dominated from start to finish, carving out chance after chance only to be denied time and again by the brilliance of Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal. Among a host of impressive performances, Conor Bradley stood out, expertly containing Vinicius Jr and embodying the renewed energy, confidence, and intensity that marked Liverpool’s resurgence after a difficult spell.We review that plus other European ties & also look forward to the weekend's football action, here on Just For Kicks!

Arsenal put on a strong show at Burnley, cruising to a 2–0 win with goals from Viktor Gyökeres and Declan Rice. The first came from a clever set piece — Rice whipped in a corner, Gabriel Magalhães flicked it on, and Gyökeres was in the right spot to nod it home. Later, Burnley tried to push forward with a long throw, but it backfired as Arsenal hit them on the break, with Rice finishing it off to seal the deal. The win keeps Arsenal’s unbeaten run going putting them seven points clear at the top of league. Elsewhere, we talk the end of Liverpool's domestic losing-streak, Manchester United salvaging a draw at Nottingham Forest, Chelsea coming up tops in a scrappy game against their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while looking forward to selected Champions League matches.

Liverpool’s Carabao Cup run came crashing down at Anfield as they fell 3–0 to a confident and composed Crystal Palace side. Under the floodlights, Palace dazzled—Ismaïla Sarr struck twice in quick succession before halftime, exploiting Liverpool’s frailties, while Yeremy Pino’s late finish in the 88th minute sealed a memorable triumph. Arne Slot’s bold decision to overhaul his starting lineup, making ten changes, backfired spectacularly, extending the Reds’ alarming run to six defeats in seven games.That plus the rest of EFL Cup action, plus EPL previews here on Just For Kicks!Photo: Getty Images

It may still be early days in the Premier League season, but Arsenal’s intent is unmistakable. After three consecutive runner-up finishes, Mikel Arteta’s side have opened up a four-point cushion at the top following a weekend where their main rivals stumbled. Liverpool’s ongoing crisis—four straight league defeats—and Manchester City’s slip at Aston Villa have left the Gunners as the clear early frontrunners. With the league’s best defensive record—just three goals conceded and six clean sheets—Arsenal once again showed their steel, as Eberechi Eze struck against his former club Crystal Palace to secure another vital win. Now sitting four points clear, could this finally be the season they end their 21-year wait for the title?Elsewhere, Manchester United survived a late Brighton fightback as Bryan Mbeumo’s brace offered a much-needed boost for the under-pressure Ruben Amorim. Sunderland’s remarkable run continued with a 2–1 away victory over Chelsea, while the new-manager bounce faded for Nottingham Forest’s Sean Dyche, whose side fell 2–0 to Bournemouth. All that and more, right here on Just For Kicks!photo credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Harry Maguire’s time at Manchester United has evolved into one of football’s most compelling tales of redemption. Once the world’s most expensive defender following his £80 million transfer from Leicester City in 2019, Maguire endured a dramatic fall from grace — stripped of the captaincy, relegated to the bench, and relentlessly scrutinised by fans and the media alike. A failed move to West Ham United in 2023 seemed to signal the end of his Old Trafford chapter.Yet under Rúben Amorim’s guidance, Maguire has rewritten his story with resilience and quiet determination. His resurgence was on full display over the weekend, as Manchester United stunned Liverpool with a 2–1 victory at Anfield — sealed, fittingly, by Maguire’s dramatic last-minute winner. We delve into that monumental triumph for Amorim’s 'rejuvenated' side, review the midweek European action, and look ahead to another enticing round of Premier League fixtures.Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

The English Premier League returns from an eventful international break with a showdown that's sure to grab the headlines, despite both teams' erratic form. Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield, looking to get back on track after losing three games in a row - a feat that's unheard of for Arne Slot as he tries to get his new signings to gel together very soon for their title defence. Manchester United, meanwhile, won their last game at home against Sunderland, but Liverpool are a different proposition, and with Ruben Amorim so far not being able to string together two wins on the trot, can they really capitalise on Liverpool's poor form? There's only one way to find out, as the pundits look ahead to this match, and many others, including Nottingham Forest against Chelsea, and Man City vs Everton, only on another contemplative episode of Just For Kicks!Image Credit: Poh Smith / Shutterstock.com

So close, yet so far for Indonesia — their World Cup dreams slipped away in heartbreaking fashion after a narrow 1–0 defeat to Iraq in Jeddah, sealed by substitute Zidane Iqbal’s calm and clinical second-half finish. Throughout the match, Indonesia displayed admirable heart, grit, and belief, holding their own against a disciplined Iraqi side. Yet, for all their effort and possession, the finishing touch remained elusive, their attacks repeatedly stifled by Iraq’s resolute defense. The loss ultimately confirmed Indonesia’s exit from World Cup contention, drawing the curtain on a campaign that, while ending in disappointment, was rich with glimpses of promise, growth, and the stirring potential of a team on the rise.We dissect that, plus the rest of the weekend's round of internationals, here on Just For Kicks. photo credit - Reuters

A stunning stoppage-time goal from 18-year-old Estêvão sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory for Chelsea over Liverpool, denying the reigning Premier League champions a chance to reclaim top spot. Moisés Caicedo had given Chelsea the lead, but Cody Gakpo’s equalizer looked to have earned Liverpool a share of the points—until Estêvão’s 95th-minute winner stunned the visitors. Earlier in the day, Arsenal’s 2-0 triumph over West Ham had already dropped Liverpool to second, where they remain heading into the international break.Elsewhere, Manchester City stayed well within the title chase, inspired once again by Erling Haaland’s lethal form, as they edged Brentford 1-0. Antoine Semenyo’s impressive brace propelled Bournemouth into fourth place, while Ange Postecoglou’s wait for a first win as Nottingham Forest manager continued after a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle. Meanwhile, Manchester United claimed a much-needed 2-0 home victory over Sunderland. All that and more in this week’s Just For Kicks.

20 years on, there was no miracle in Istanbul as Liverpool’s tough run continued with a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, a night that piled on more frustration for Arne Slot’s side. Victor Osimhen’s penalty was the difference, but it was the injuries that stung most, with Alisson among those forced off. After a patchy start in the league, this result couldn’t have come at a worse time, especially with a huge showdown against Chelsea up next. Across Europe, there was plenty more drama. Man City let a two-goal lead slip as Monaco snatched a late equaliser for 2-2, while Spurs found themselves in last year's semi-final repeat with a 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt. Chelsea ground out a scrappy 1-0 over Benfica in a match full of cards, Arsenal were comfortable in their 2-0 win over Olympiakos, and Newcastle ran riot with a 4-0 thrashing of Royal Union SG, led by two goals from Anthony Gordon. To top it all off, PSG pulled off a last-gasp winner at the Camp Nou against Barcelona to round off a wild week of European football. All that plus PL action on this week' Just For Kicks. 

In Malaysian football’s biggest crisis in decades, FIFA has slapped FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) with a RM1.9 million fine with seven players suspended, after allegations of falsified documents have thrown the revamped national project into chaos. With an appeal still underway, the implications could be seismic — threatening to unravel the national football project and casting a long shadow over the country’s international ambitions. We break down the scandal, the stakes, and the possible fallout.Then on to the Premier League where Arsenal strengthen their title credentials with another late winner, Liverpool struggle to find rhythm in a transitional season, Chelsea sink deeper into crisis, and Manchester United continue to swing from promise to frustration. All that and more on this week's Just For Kicks. 

The episode kicks off with Aston Villa’s hard-fought Europa win over Bologna before shifting to Real Betis’ clash with Nottingham Forest — and what Ange Postecoglou’s influence is revealing about Forest’s evolving style. The pundits also weigh in on Rangers’ setback against Genk and other key results from the EFL Cup. Attention then turns to the Premier League’s headline fixtures: Liverpool’s bid to extend their unbeaten streak at Crystal Palace, Manchester City’s test against Burnley, and a host of other intriguing matchups. Plus, the team celebrates Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and applauds Arif Aiman for making history as one of the three finalists for the Asian Player of the Year award.

In a contest of two title-favorites, Arsenal left it late but snatched a 1-1 draw against Manchester City, with Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time strike wiping out Erling Haaland’s early goal. City, surprisingly toothless in possession, ended with a Pep-era record low of just 32.8%, as Mikel Arteta’s bold second-half changes—most notably Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka—turned the tide. Martinelli’s cool finish sealed the drama, and we’ve got the full breakdown of that thriller, plus the Merseyside Derby, United’s triumph over Chelsea, and loads more on this episode of Just For Kicks.

It’s been a whirlwind week in European football. Liverpool clawed their way past Atletico Madrid in a fiery showdown dripping with drama, while Arsenal cruised through Bilbao with a composed 2-0 that oozed confidence. Spurs scraped past Villarreal courtesy of a goalkeeping howler, and Harry Kane smashed home a brace for Bayern Munich against Chelsea. Over at St. James’ Park Marcus Rashford crashed the party with two goals for Barcelona, and Manchester City brushed aside Napoli with all the ease of a training-ground kickabout. Now, the stage shifts back to the Premier League. Arsenal and City are lining up for a blockbuster that could shake the title race, Liverpool and Everton prepare to light up the Merseyside Derby, and United lock horns with Chelsea in a heavyweight clash dripping with intrigue. All this and more on this week’s Just For Kicks!

Will England’s dominant win over Serbia set them on course for World Cup glory? Can Jack Grealish keep his emotions in check if he finds the net against his old club, Aston Villa? What does life after Daniel Levy look like for Tottenham Hotspur? And will Manchester be painted red or blue after this weekend’s fiery derby clash? We tackle all this and so much more—breaking down the biggest talking points, bold predictions, and the stories you can’t afford to miss—on this week’s episode of Just For Kicks!

Germany were stunned in Bratislava, falling 2-0 to Slovakia in their first-ever away defeat in World Cup qualifying, a result that also stretched their losing streak to three. Goals from David Hancko and David Strelec sealed the upset, leaving serious doubts over Julian Nagelsmann’s leadership and his team’s mentality. Elsewhere in Europe, England dominated possession (83%) in a routine 2-0 win over Andorra, France edged past Ukraine by the same scoreline, and Spain thrashed Turkey 6-0, with Mikel Merino’s hat-trick underlining their status as reigning European champions. We break it all down—alongside the mounting pressure on young players and the staggering sums in the transfer market—right here on Just For Kicks

Grimsby Town delivered a night of cup folklore, dumping Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup in a 12-11 penalty epic after a 2-2 draw that had everything—errors, drama, and raw emotion. Manchester United's André Onana, endured a nightmare, gifting the League Two underdogs both of their goals with a weak parry for Charles Vernam’s opener and a calamitous flap that let Tyrell Warren tap in a second. United clawed their way back, Bryan Mbeumo curling home with 15 minutes left before Harry Maguire rose to the occasion in the dying stages. But when the shootout stretched into sudden death, it was Mbeumo again—hero turned villain—who blinked, sending the Mariners and their fans into delirium. On this episode, we dissect that monumental victory for the minnows - alongside previews of this weekend's football, all here on Just For Kicks! 

It's only the second week of the new season of the English Premier League, and yet the familiar narratives are beginning to take shape. Spurs, once again, showed that they have Man City's number, with an impressive, solid, and pragmatic display at the Etihad. With five goals scored, and no goals conceded, is Thomas Frank proving to be Spurs' best signing this season? Meanwhile, their North London neighbours, Arsenal, set the pace again this season, dismantling newcomers Leeds 5-0, with Gyokeres silencing sceptics with two goals. Man United, on the other hand, only managed to settle for a draw against Fulham. We look back at all these matches, and more, on another exciting episode of Just For Kicks! Image Source: sportsview.co.uk

Newcastle’s game with Liverpool this weekend should’ve been a big talking point, but all the noise has been about Alexander Isak’s looming exit from Tyneside. The striker’s fallout with the club has completely stolen the spotlight, with reports of broken promises, him training on his own, and growing tension in the dressing room. Even Alan Shearer’s weighed in, blasting how badly the whole situation was handled. So while the Magpies go to battle against the champions on the pitch, the real story is off it. All that - plus more transfer talk and match previews - on this episode of Just For Kicks.