Essential Football

Ron Walker, Pete Smith and Sam Blitz discuss the fall out from this week's London derby between Chelsea and Spurs, amid seeming mounting pressure on both managers. Plus, they look ahead to the Premier League fixtures this weekend.

Ron Walker is joined by Sky Sports News' senior reporter, Melissa Reddy and Sky Sports digital football journalist Adam Bate to discuss the reports touting Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement as Liverpool manager.

Ron Walker, Peter Smith and Nicholas Wright discuss the current situation at Manchester United and consider whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment in the club can help them return to the top of English football.

Ron Walker, Peter Smith and Richard Morgan discuss the huge clash between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford this weekend, and consider whether both sides must win the game as the Premier League season edges towards its conclusion.

Sky Sports Senior Reporter Melissa Reddy joins Ron Walker to discuss Xabi Alonso's decision to stay in Germany at Bayer Leverkusen, where Liverpool might turn next in their pursuit of Jurgen Klopp's successor, and will we see Ruben Amorim or Roberto De Zerbi on Merseyside?

Sky Sports football journalists, Ron Walker, Peter Smith and Sam Blitz are back after the international break to preview the huge Super Sunday games between Manchester City and Arsenal and Liverpool's match against Brighton. Could this be a decisive weekend to decide who will end up lifting the trophy? Where will City vs Arsenal be won or lost? Is this De Zerbi's audition for the Liverpool job?

Manchester City defender and former England captain Steph Houghton has announced her retirement from football at the end of the season. Houghton is City's most decorated player - she's won the League, FA Cups, League Cups, and earnt 121 England caps. In 2020, Steph joined Caroline Barker to look back at one of her proudest moments in an England shirt, at the 2015 World Cup in Canada. Ultimately, Steph was part of the team that suffered a heart-breaking last minute defeat to Japan in the semi finals, but as she says, it "changed women's football for the better". Here’s a chance to relive that tournament, that moment, and that interview.

Ron Walker, Peter Smith and Sam Blitz discuss the Premier League title race and make a case for each of the three contenders - Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

It's Liverpool against Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp versus Pep Guardiola! Michael Dawson and Peter Drury join Sky Sports' Peter Smith to look ahead to this huge match at Anfield, which you can watch, live, on Sky Sports on Sunday.

Michael Dawson and Peter Drury join Pete Smith to look ahead to Chelsea vs Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Sky Sports' Peter Smith and Melissa Reddy discuss the latest on Liverpool's hunt for a successor to Jurgen Klopp, weighing up the attributes of the key contenders and the criteria the Anfield club will be looking for from their next head coach. From standout favourite Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, to potential Premier League picks, such as Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi, Brentford's Thomas Frank and Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou, Sky Sports News senior reporter Reddy assesses what each of the front runners would bring to the role - and what obstacles could be in the way.

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher reacts to Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season. For more on this story, keep across Sky Sports News and the Sky Sports website and app.

As he prepares to return from an eight month ban for breaching gambing rules, Brentford striker Ivan Toney sits down with Darren Lewis to discuss his time away from the game. Toney describes how he avoided watching football for a period of time, what he has done to keep himself in shape and how he wants to repay his club by helping them stave off relegation from the Premier League.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke exclusively sits down with Sky Sports to reflect on a successful 2023, looks ahead to Euro 2024, Scott McTominay’s impact, his squad selection dilemas and more.

The England manager Gareth Southgate sits down with Sky Sports News' Senior Reporter Rob Dorsett to look back at 2023 and look ahead to next summer's Euros.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher joins Peter Smith to look ahead to the huge Saturday lunchtime showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad, which you can watch live on Sky Sports. Carragher assesses the key battles across the park, Alexis Mac Allister's crucial role in the Liverpool midfield and whether Erling Haaland or Mo Salah will steal the show for their side. He also reveals what the key selection decision is for Pep Guardiola ahead of the contest - and what a rare positive result at the home of the defending champions would mean for the title hopes of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

England host Australia on Friday – 20 years after the Socceroos stunned the Golden Generation. In February 2003, sandwiched between a dominant Australia Ashes win and England’s famous rugby World Cup triumph Down Under, the Aussies beat England at football for the very first time. It was the night when Sven-Goran Eriksson changed the entire England team at half-time, Wayne Rooney made his international debut and Australia landed a painful blow on their big sporting rivals. Peter Smith reflects on that game with players who were on the pitch...

In this special episode of Essential Football Ben Ransom and Jamie Carragher discuss the concern around football tragedy abuse. They are joined by Joe Blott from the FSA, Charlotte Hennessey, who lost her father at Hillsborough, and Gareth Senior, who was in Istanbul when two Leeds supporters were murdered in 2000.

In an exclusive interview, Cesc Fabregas describes his move into coaching with Italian side, Como after retiring from playing football and says he would like to manage a team in the Premier League one day. The former Arsenal and Chelsea player also runs the rule over his old clubs as the new season gets underway.

Anton Toloui and Charlotte Marsh return for a final Essential Football podcast to reflect on England's defeat to Spain in the Women's World Cup final. They discuss where the game was won and lost, whether Wiegman got her tactics right and the wider impact of Spain's win. Plus, the pair pick their moment of the tournament and why it's important to keep supporting women's football heading into the new WSL season.