Overview of The Totally Football Show
This episode is a fast-moving recap of a chaotic Champions League midweek, headlined by Liverpool’s surprising defeat, Manchester City’s narrow win, Arsenal’s professional away result, and Como’s astonishing nine-goal rout in France. The panel then pivots to a packed Premier League weekend, highlighting pressure points at Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Manchester United, while also flagging rising teams like Spurs, Brighton, Bournemouth, and Ipswich. A late-breaking news item closes the show: Cristiano Ronaldo announces his international retirement.
Champions League Recap: Chaos, Comebacks, and a Historic Scoreline
Liverpool 2-3 Fenerbahce
- Liverpool were two goals up but collapsed late in Istanbul.
- The discussion centered on defensive fragility and three avoidable goals conceded.
- Liverpool experimented with Bradley Barcola as a false nine, which did not work.
- The atmosphere, heavy pitch, and set-piece chaos were all cited as contributing factors, but the bigger issue was Liverpool’s inability to close out the match.
- A notable stat: Liverpool have now conceded three goals in three straight European matches for the first time in their history.
Manchester City 3-2 RB Leipzig
- City won a wild, end-to-end game with little control from either side.
- Erling Haaland scored the winner, continuing his extraordinary Champions League record.
- City’s defensive issues were again exposed, with the team conceding far too many goals of late.
- Leipzig’s Nusa impressed and reinforced why bigger clubs are watching him closely.
Arsenal 2-1 Slavia Prague
- Arsenal rotated heavily and still won comfortably enough, at least until Slavia improved in the second half.
- Viktor Gyökeres scored and assisted, with the panel noting his improving all-round contribution.
- David Raya produced a crucial late save that helped preserve the win.
- William Saliba was rested and used as a sub, which was seen as a positive sign for Arsenal’s squad management.
Como 9-1 Lens
- The standout story of the night: Como’s biggest-ever away win in the Champions League and one of the competition’s most extraordinary scorelines.
- Tasos Douvikas scored a hat-trick and continued his remarkable scoring run.
- The panel praised Como’s verticality, rotation, movement, and clinical finishing.
- The result also reflected how badly Lens managed the game, with heavy criticism for their coaching decisions and in-game adjustments.
- The club’s rapid rise was highlighted: from the fourth division not long ago to the Champions League, and currently competing in the top end of Serie A.
Real Madrid, Porto, Brugge and others
- Real Madrid again came from behind, with late winners from Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.
- The panel debated which goal was better, agreeing both were outstanding.
- Porto beat Napoli 4-1 as Napoli’s crisis deepened.
- Club Brugge won at PSV, while Dortmund beat Real Betis and Viking claimed their first Champions League win.
Premier League Weekend Preview
Key fixtures
- Everton vs Coventry opens the round on Friday.
- Leeds vs Spurs is a major Saturday lunchtime game.
- Arsenal vs Hull looks like a routine win on paper.
- Fulham vs Newcastle is a pressure game for Newcastle.
- Nottingham Forest vs Man City raises questions about whether Forest can score enough against elite opposition.
- Sunday features Brighton vs Brentford, Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, Ipswich vs Bournemouth, Sunderland vs Chelsea, and Man United vs Aston Villa.
What the panel focused on
- Spurs have won three in a row, but there is still concern that too many of their goals are coming from set pieces or long-range efforts rather than open play.
- Brighton vs Brentford was singled out as a particularly interesting tactical matchup: Brighton’s evolving style under their young coach versus Brentford’s efficiency and directness.
- Newcastle were described as low on confidence, with fans reportedly very unhappy and the team struggling in both boxes.
- Crystal Palace were described as carrying too many injuries and absences to be functioning properly, despite some sympathy for their situation.
- Villa/United was framed as a high-stakes game amid broader speculation and pressure around managerial futures.
Stats, Trends, and Talking Points
Notable numbers
- 44 goals across the nine Champions League matches on Wednesday.
- Como scored 9 away at Lens.
- City have conceded 14 goals in their last 7 matches in all competitions.
- Ipswich have earned the most points from losing positions in the Premier League this season: 8.
- Josh King leads the Premier League in touches in the opposition box.
- Julio Enciso has more Premier League shots only than Erling Haaland.
Themes from the discussion
- Several teams are in a phase of transition, where results can swing wildly from week to week.
- Coaches are being judged not just on results, but on whether they are improving structure, clarity, and adaptability.
- Set pieces, squad rotation, and late-game management were recurring themes across the midweek and weekend previews.
Late-Breaking News: Cristiano Ronaldo Retires from International Football
- Midway through the episode, news breaks that Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his international retirement.
- The panel reflects on the size of his legacy:
- 234 caps
- 146 goals
- Five Ballon d’Or awards
- Major international honors, including Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles
- The conversation frames it as the end of an extraordinary chapter, even if a formal farewell match may still be arranged.
Bottom Line
The episode is a broad sweep of European football drama: Liverpool’s fragility, City’s chaos, Arsenal’s control, Como’s absurdly dominant win, and Madrid’s trademark late heroics. Looking ahead, the Premier League weekend is packed with pressure games, rising contenders, and a few clubs already feeling the heat. Ronaldo’s retirement news adds a major historical note to the end of the show.