European Night

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Arne Slot tries his best not to choke up when he talks of last year’s meeting between Liverpool and PSG. “I hope every fan around the world was hoping this game wouldn’t stop because it was incredible,” he blubbed in March 2025. His team had just lost on penalties to the soon-to-be Bigger Cup winners. “It was the best game of football that I was ever involved in.” If the Slot regime comes to its end this summer, with a significant groundswell of opinion among Kopites nodding in that direction, then it is curious he keeps returning to an infamous European night at Anfield which may well prove the beginning of the end. A few days later, Liverpool deservedly lost a Fizzy Cup final to a much more inspired Newcastle. Things have never quite been the same since, despite a 20th league title being claimed in April. With Aaron Ramsey having been without a club since the end of last year and now retiring, it looks like we’ve moved from players announcing their retirement who we weren’t even aware were still playing to players announcing their retirement who were already retired but weren’t aware of it themselves”​ – Noble Francis. Dear Arsenal, how do you sustain this insane consistency in blowing your chances? Every. Single. Time. Players come and go. Managers stay and leave. The only constant is the fans’ anguish. What wizardry will you wield now to hand over the title to Manchester City?”​ – Krishna Moorthy. Re Thursday’s letters. John Groom is correct that not many Aussies use flamin’, but you don’t have to be Stefan Kuntz, Danny Sh1ttu or Christian Fuchs to know our modern alternatives aren’t always printable” – Rowan Sweeney. No-one says flamin’ anymore John, but most of us still have a flamin’ sense of humour” – Greg Wyatt.

Jimbo is joined in the Athletic studios by special guest Martin O'Neill, Duncan Alexander and Joey D'Urso to discuss the midweek games and look ahead to the Premier League weekend. Liverpool collapse on their worst European night at Anfield as Real Madrid come from 2-0 down to win 5-2. Man City draw at Leipzig as City's away troubles continue and the panel ponder whether Man City are a better side with or without Haaland. League toppers Arsenal go to Martin's old side Leicester, and he remembers Bergkamp's hatrick against them and Henry missing chances on his debut at Filbert Park. Newcastle take on Man United at Wembley in the League Cup final with third choice keeper Loris Karius in goal, as they bid for their first trophy since 1969. Martin reminisces on his secret night out in Madrid after winning the 1980 European Cup Final with Forest and talks about his book 'On Days Like These'. Plus Gareth Ainsworth leaves Wycombe after 10 years in charge and your questions for Martin. Produced by Jesse Howard RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: A classic at Anfield (06.00) • PART 2a: Man City held in Leipzig and Haaland talk (22.00) • PART 2b: Arsenal Vs Leicester (29.40) • PART 3a: The League Cup Final preview (37.00) • PART 3b: Ainsworth leaves Wycombe after 10 years (48.20) • PART 3c: Listener questions for Martin O'Neill (50.00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.