Festive fixtures often say more than we expect.

In this episode, I talk through the upcoming games involving Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Hibs and Hearts — focusing on form, pressure, and what these moments might tell us before the ball is kicked.

This isn’t a predictions episode.
It’s a conversation about context, momentum, and why the festive period still matters in shaping a season.

A calm look at festive football and what’s really at stake.

The festive run often tells you more than months of form.

In this episode, I look ahead to the next stretch of games for Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Hearts, and Celtic — and talk through how short runs like this can start to shape title races.

I’m not chasing perfect predictions here.
It’s about reading pressure, momentum, and the moments where teams get the chance to make a real statement — especially with big head-to-head games coming up before the cup breaks.

This is a calm look at what’s next, and why the festive period still matters so much in football.

This episode isn’t about chasing perfect predictions.

It’s about how this weekend feels — the pressure around certain teams, the games that don’t sit comfortably, and the calls that could easily go wrong.

I talk through:

• Newcastle vs Chelsea and why I’m backing Newcastle

• Liverpool vs Tottenham and the pressure building at Spurs

• Aston Villa vs Man United and a call that goes against recent form

• Hearts vs Rangers and why this one feels too tight to separate

This is a weekly check-in before the games — reading the mood, the moments, and the uncertainty that makes football what it is.

Disagree? That’s kind of the point.

This episode isn’t about a standard match preview.

It’s about pressure, belief, and the moments that reveal where teams — and managers — really are.

I reflect on Celtic after their defeat to Dundee United, the body language and authority required at a club like Celtic, and why Hearts vs Rangers feels like a moment charged with belief. I also look ahead to big Premier League fixtures that carry more weight than just three points.

This is football talked about through mentality and meaning, not just results.

St Mirren beating Celtic in the League Cup Final wasn’t just a shock result — it was a psychological moment in Scottish football.

For decades, teams outside the Old Firm have carried an invisible barrier into these games. On this night, that barrier didn’t just wobble — it broke. This episode isn’t about tactics or stats. It’s about belief, mentality, and what changes when fear disappears.

This is football as thinking, culture, and emotion — not noise.

It’s one of the fiercest rivalries in English football — Sunderland vs Newcastle — and it returns for GW16 with massive stakes for both sides.

This isn’t just another GW16 fixture — this is Derby Day. Pride, pressure and passion all collide in one of football’s most emotional matchups.

Let me know your predictions and where you think the game is won or lost 🔥

Football swings fast — sometimes faster than we ever expect.

Last year Liverpool looked unstoppable: momentum, identity, belief, a title, and a manager people were calling the next great thing. Fast-forward and the picture feels completely different. Pressure, uncertainty, injuries, tactical shifts, and the Salah situation have turned the mood inside out.

In this episode, I’m looking at Liverpool not just as a club, but as the perfect example of how quickly football evolves. The highs never last forever. The lows don’t either. And that unpredictability is what makes this game addictive.

We break down:

• Liverpool’s rapid swing from stability to uncertainty

• Why big spending doesn’t guarantee progress

• How identity can disappear overnight

• What the Inter win means — and doesn’t

• Why football cycles move faster than ever

This isn’t a rant — it’s reflection.

A reminder to appreciate the highs, brace for the lows, and enjoy the chaos in between.

Let me know your thoughts. Where do Liverpool go next?

–––––

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This Midweek Drop looks across both leagues — and there’s a lot to unpack.

Liverpool have spent over £400M on attackers, yet still lack pace, 1v1 quality and unpredictability. The attack feels flat and easy to read, and while there’s been small progress, it’s nowhere near enough to challenge consistently.

Manchester City continue to embrace chaos under Pep — brilliant at times, mad at others. Arsenal on the other hand look controlled and comfortable, a rotated 2–0 win that keeps them five points clear and shows real squad depth. Chelsea throw in another unpredictable result, and I still don’t love the mentality behind Maresca’s “not ready for a title race” stance.

In Scotland, Celtic have hunted Hearts down after their late collapse against Kilmarnock. Martin O’Neill has returned with simplicity, organisation and clarity — and it’s working. Rangers drop more points and the top of the table starts to move again.

A fascinating week across both leagues.
What do these games tell us about where each club really is?

This week could completely reshape the title race in both the Premier League and the Scottish Premiership.

With three games packed into seven days, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Celtic, and Hearts all face huge midweek fixtures that could leave the table looking very different by Sunday night.

In this episode, I break down the key games, the momentum swings to watch for, and why this part of the season always exposes who’s really in the title fight.

From Arsenal’s trip to Brentford and City away at Fulham to Celtic and Hearts navigating a busy Scottish schedule, it’s a massive few days across both leagues.

Let me know your thoughts, predictions and reactions — and enjoy the episode.

This week’s Premier League weekend preview is dominated by one huge fixture: Arsenal vs Chelsea in what feels like a real Battle at the Bridge moment for Gameweek 13. I break down the momentum, the mentality, and what both sides will take from their midweek Champions League games heading into Super Sunday.

I also dive into Liverpool’s defeat to PSV, the pressure building on Arne Slot, and how their mentality and performances are creating big questions heading into the West Ham match.

Finally, I run through the rest of the weekend’s fixtures and give my full Gameweek 13 predictions.

Thanks for listening — if you enjoy the episode, follow the podcast and leave a rating. It really helps.

Mikel Arteta has rebuilt Arsenal from the ground up — but the journey wasn’t simple.

In this episode, I break down how Arsenal went from a team with no identity to one of the most complete sides in Europe.

We look at the state of the club before Arteta arrived, the culture shift he brought in, the hits and misses in the transfer market, the 2021 window that changed everything, and how he created the perfect balance between physicality and technical quality.

I also explain what Arsenal still need to take the final step and become a dominant force in England and Europe.

If you enjoy honest football analysis, weekly previews, predictions and deep dives, make sure to follow the show for more episodes.

Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool all have massive runs coming up — so how many points will they take from their next five Premier League games?

In this GW12 preview, I break down each team’s fixtures, form and momentum, and give my predicted points total for all three clubs. I also reveal my friends’ predictions to see how they compare.

Perfect for anyone following the title race closely.

Only three managers in Premier League history have ever retained the title. In this episode, I break down why going back-to-back is so difficult - from fixture timing and new-manager bounce to injuries, squad depth and the mental side of winning. A clear look at what separates champions from the greats.

🔥 GAMEWEEK 11 WRAP-UPMan City absolutely EMBARRASS Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad — total control from start to finish.Arsenal drop points again after a 2-2 draw with Sunderland, and Hearts stay flying at the top of the SPFL.In this episode I break down:⚽ City’s tactical dominance and how Pep completely nullified Liverpool⚔️ What Arsenal’s draw says about their mentality and title push❤️ Hearts’ incredible run and why the gap keeps growing🎧 The biggest talking points from across the weekendFootball’s not just a game — it’s spiritual.🎙 Hosted by Josh Cannon🎧 On The Spot Podcast — where football meets culture, music, and real conversation.💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇Who impressed you most this weekend? Who bottled it?🔔 Subscribe for:https://www.youtube.com/@onthespot_podcast?sub_confirmation=1Weekly previews & wrap-upsHonest football debatesExclusive breakdowns for subscribers📲 Join the Sub Page for Exclusive Content👉 30-Day Free Trial: https://app.grouped.com/OntheSpot📺 Follow On The Spot:https://www.tiktok.com/@onthespot_podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/onthe_spotpodcast/https://open.spotify.com/show/2TCSEiYpvPoAoeNmTCbaXw?si=95929dfbeba54256https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/on-the-spot/id1792410324

The biggest game of the weekend.Two sides built to dominate — but who controls the chaos this time?In this week’s On The Spot preview, I break down the key tactical battles between Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot ahead of Man City v Liverpool in Gameweek 11.We’ll look at how Liverpool’s press matches up against City’s control, where this game could be won or lost, and what it means for the Premier League title race.

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00:00 Intro1:30 Spurs v Man United3:43 The Saturday 3pm's4:35 The Sunday 2pm's4:58 Man City v Liverpool5:40 The Tactical Battle6:45 Cherki v Wirtz7:20 Man City v Liverpool Head to Head Record8:46 Sunderland v Arsenal9:10 Arsenal's Current Run of Wins10:55 SPFL Fixture Preview12:20 Hearts to Continue to Show Title Winning Behaviour?12:47 WEEKEND PREDICTIONS15:00 Outro

All attention is on Arne Slot and Liverpool this weekend. 8pm at Anfield to Aston Villa on TV.

6 loses in the last 7. Can Slot stop the Liverpool slide?

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I couldn't get this thought out my head after the weekends games that the way the Premier League has gone, plus Hearts in Scotland right now has taken a lot of of us by surprise.

Arteta and Arsenal have been laughed at for how they play over the last 18 months, but seem to have been ahead of the curve while Liverpool look like they haven't built a side capable to handle this version of the Premier League.

Meanwhile in Scotland different thinking is also laughed at yet Hearts have blocked out the noise and shut up those who have laughed for now.

Interesting times.

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The blockbuster fixture this weekend is in Edinburgh at Tynecastle Park as Hearts take on Celtic in what could be a pivotal moment for the SPFL.

Im going Hearts to win 2-1 and everything to explode. Thoughts?

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00:00 Intro1:01 Hearts v Celtic2:49 Hearts v Celtic Head to Head3:20 Mcinnes to Play the Same XI?4:11 Mcinnes and Jurgen Klopp- Emotion6:10 Danny Rohl Starts at Rangers7:06 SPFL Fixtures7:42 Premier League Fixtures9:51 Liverpool Can't Just Play the Big Names11:42 Arteta's Job Has Been Underrated14:33 Man City Keep Winning15:42 The Sunday Games16:38 Weekend Predictions18:04 Outro

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