It's the new year, Enzo Maresca is out, but what does the future hold for both the manager and the club? And is Liam Rosenoir the right choice to replace Maresca? 

On the latest episode of The Game, the team also discuss Arsenal's statement win against Aston Villa, Liverpool's draw with Leeds and another big performance from Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. 

And finally with the increased use of set pieces we continue the debate about entertainment in the modern game. 

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat. 

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Reaction to all the Christmas fixtures as Villa keep winning, Arsenal look nervous and City look ominous. If Villa win at Arsenal can they go all the way?

Are Liverpool's signings starting to click and hats of to Keith Andrews and Regis Le Bris.

Elsewhere, Palace look knackered, Ruben Amorim finally plays a back four, West Ham need to buy a defender or they are down and will Iraola change his system?

Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson.

We'll be back on Friday to review the new year fixtures and predict the rest of 2026. Happy New Year and we'll see you then.

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It’s Christmas but the EFL doesn’t stop and neither do Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson – here with a bonus Christmas edition of EFL Extra.

They’re doing their end of year awards – teams, players and managers of the year for each of the divisions…and many more.

If you need a break from the festivities, go for a walk or find a quiet corner and join Tom and Gregor for all the latest from the EFL.

From everyone at The Game podcast – a very Merry Christmas. We’ll be back for an end of year episode on the 29th, see you then. 

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As Villa cement their place in the top three just how good are they? Do they have the squad depth to last the course? Is their star midfielder Morgan Rogers now elevating himself to world level?

David Moyes thinks Declan Rice is the best midfielder in the world. Is he…and if not, then who is?

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has found form and fitness at Leeds how far could it take him and his club?

Spurs lost at home again and had two men sent off but seem to have received some credit in the process. Lastly, are Wolves in danger of breaking Derby’s lowest ever Premier League points total?

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and tom Allnutt

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Chelsea are through to the semi-finals of the League Cup, but behind the scenes there is more chaos. Manager Enzo Maresca is unhappy, but no one quite knows why. The fans chanted his name but are the board happy? A day in the life at Chelsea…

Man City are looking ominous, could they be considered title favourites by the new year?

One of their shining lights is number ten turned left back Nico O’Reilly – Jonny and Gregor think he is now England’s first choice for the World Cup.

After the break 2025 awards and wishes for 2026.

Tom Clarke joins Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft

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Arsenal are still top of the Premier League but are Manchester City favourites for the title after this weekend? City beat Palace convincingly but Arsenal wobbled against Wolves. Elsewhere Aston Villa kept up the pace and we ask - just how good is Morgan Rogers? Is he on the same level as his friend Cole Palmer?

On this show we also discussed Sunderland's win against Newcastle and why the promoted side can already start planning for next season in the Premier League. And we finish with a look at the bottom of the table and the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat.

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Liverpool got a much-needed away win at Inter Milan, but their hundred million pound star striker looked lost - why? Off the pitch will Mo Salah still be a Liverpool player come January?

It was a good week for English clubs in Europe with Man City beating Real Madrid and Spurs and Arsenal also winning. Are the English teams starting to dominate, is the pace and physicality of the Premier League an advantage or is the competition just not very good in the early rounds?

Tony Cascarino has a hunch that Noni Madueke can play centre forward

Lastly, a look ahead to the Tyne Wear derby, the first in the Premier League in ten years – who are favourites going into Sunday’s game?

Tom Clarke joins Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel

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Leaders Coventry suffered first defeat in sixteen games at Ipswich. Wil the result create doubt in Frank Lampard’s squad, or was it just a blip?

For Ipswich the result takes them fourth in the table and a season which started falteringly is starting to gain momentum.

Southampton and Sheffield Utd had dreadful starts to the season, but after managerial changes both are now looking at the playoffs – with strong squads will they makes late charges?

League One remains tight but Cardiff look like they have the resources to stay at the top. Who will join them?

And in League Two…Walsall, surely this season is different? Who else looks threatening?

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Mo Salah dropped a bombshell on Saturday evening. After starting on the bench for the third game in a row he gave an incendiary interview after the match claiming to have been thrown under the bus, a scapegoat for recent poor form and said he had no relationship with coach Arne Slot. So, what happens next - will it be the end of Salah or Slot at Liverpool? Can any player be guaranteed a place in the team regardless of form as Salah seems to be suggesting?

On the pitch Villa coach Unai Emery led his team to a win over Arsenal and third in the table - remarkable achievement after the start they had. Are there worrying signs for Arsenal, or were they just beaten by a better team on the day?

After the break a valuable three points for Spurs and Thomas Frank, but an even more important performance; top quality at the Cottage and does Nuno like his players?

Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd join tom Clarke.

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 After what felt like a nine hour draw England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama.

Scotland will face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.

Is there a group of death? What are the potential routes to the final?

Over to Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft

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After a goal packed set of midweek fixtures what has changed?

Chelsea’s title credentials were checked as a buoyant Leeds put three past them at Elland Road. Man City won but looked anything but assured. Villa are now only six points off top spot and play Arsenal at the weekend. And as for Arsenal - no change there, while others toil they won again.

Elsewhere is Cristian Romero a defender or a striker and how good is Erling Haaland?

Arne Slot and Liverpool continued to labour. Tony sees worrying signs as Salah, Van Dijk and Isak all struggle. But Sunderland continued to demonstrate what a well coached, well drilled side they are, taking points of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool already this season.

Gregor Robertson is joined by Tony Cascarino and Jonathan Northcroft

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Arsenal went to Stamford Bridge without both first choice centre backs and took a point. Chelsea played the league leaders for sixty minutes with ten men and without their best player and took a point. Who will be happier?

Liverpool finally won again and dropped Mo Salah in the process. Is this straight forward squad rotation or the beginning of a transition which doesn’t include the club legend?

It’s happy times in the Northeast at the moment as Newcastle win away for the first time in over two hundred days and Sunderland come from behind to show their European credentials.

And finally, it is tough times for Thomas Frank at the Tottenham Stadium. Was he right to criticise fans who booed their goalkeeper? 

Gregor Robertson is joined by Tom Allnutt, Martin Hardy and Alyson Rudd.

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Arsenal are dominating the Premier League and now they’re doing the same in Europe. Can they win both the big titles? Gregor Robertson thinks their success is built on a rock solid defence.

Chelsea are looking equally effective in Europe; their game against Arsenal at the weekend is set up for the blues marauding wingers to take on Arsenal’s galloping full backs.

It was another tough night for Spurs, but there were some encouraging signs as they at least scored three.

After the break Liverpool. How deep is the crisis? The effect of the death of Diogo Jota off the pitch is incalculable, but on the pitch his and Luis Diaz sale is very apparent. Does the spending of four hundred million pounds amount to mismanagement?

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Pete Rutzler and tony Cascarino

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More new managers in the Championship as Swansea, Middlesborough and Norwich all appoint. In South Wales Vitor Matos wants to bring back the DNA of the club…but what does that mean?

Are Birmingham starting to find their feet in the Championship? Off the pitch they have unveiled ambitious plans for a new stadium and redevelopment of the surrounding area.

Coventry continue their free scoring run, with a goal difference of +28 and seven points clear at the top, can they keep it up?

League One seems up for grabs this season with most teams capable of beating or losing to each other. Peterborough and Wycombe are on an upward trajectory while Port Vale are sinking and Bradford are still second but with no win in six.

In League Two the Gregor Robertson derby ended in a draw and Christina Fuchs – a Premier League winner with Leicester City - has joined rock bottom Newport County. We wish him well.

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Eberechi Eze scored a brilliant hat-trick to win the North London derby for Arsenal and proved he is now a certified star at the very top of the Premier League. 

Arsenal are six points clear but the 4-1 defeat leaves Spurs in ninth and further questions about Thomas Frank's suitability for the big job at Tottenham. 

Elsewhere Leeds missed another chance to pick up points at home as Morgan Rogers starred for Aston Villa. 

It was another defeat for Liverpool - how does Arne Slot turn around a disastrous season? 

We also hear about an interview with a commentator who had his big moment ruined by Gary Neville! 

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Kit Shepard 

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A quick reflection on an epic night for Scotland, a big win for Wales and some of the surprises who have qualified for World Cup 26’

Then it’s back to the Premier League. How much will Arsenal miss Gabriel? They have strength in depth but are any up Gabriel’s tag of ‘defender of the season’ ?

Predictions; first for  the north London derby and Liverpool v Forest and then a much longer term -  how will the table look come the end of the season?

Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson

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There was magic in the air said Scotland manager Steve Clarke as his team won a dramatic winner takes all qualifier against Denmark at Hampden Park.

The victory means Scotland are going to a World Cup – for the first time in 28 years.

It was a night which will never be forgotten and that’s before mentioning the three worldie goals that were scored.

Tom Clarke is joined for former Scotland under 21 international Gregor Robertson and Scottish football correspondent Michael Grant. 

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Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with all the latest from the EFL.

It has been a mad fortnight for managers in the Championship with Norwich, Swansea, Southampton and of course Middlesborough just some of those undergoing a change at the top.

Who is in line for the vacancies and how will the teams respond?

League One is proving why it’s arguably the toughest division – with six points separating the top twelve clubs!

At Charlton Nathan Jones is getting impressive results; Gregor has been to meet him.

In League Two it is a quiet but welcome return for Tom Lockyer, the former Luton Town captain who had two cardiac arrests whilst playing for the hatters is now a regular at Bristol Rovers.  

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He's back in the squad but can Jude Bellingham cement his place in the England team by next summer? Tom Clarke is joined by Tony Cascarino, Tom Allnutt and Gregor Robertson to discuss why the Real Madrid star continues to clash with the England manager Thomas Tuchel, and to debate the other starting spots in the England squad that are up for grabs. 

They also discuss Ireland's heroics after securing a play-off place in dramatic fashion, and which Times columnist has a WhatsApp group dedicated to Ireland's historic World Cup success?

Also on the agenda: Scotland's match against Denmark, Italy's continued struggles and the Wythenshawe Vets - the Sunday League team packed with Premier League stars. 

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Thomas Tuchel has boldly declared he won’t play Foden, Bellingham and Kane in the same team. The key question is will he be brave enough to stick to his decision?

As Rob Edwards leaves Middlesborough after only ten months in charge to return to Wolves, is there any loyalty in football?

Martin Samuel has met with David Kogan, the new chair of the independent football regulator.

And amid the furore over corners, throw in’s and set pieces, is the Premier League in danger of being boring?

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Martin Samuel.

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