The Game
The thinking fan's football podcast, providing previews and reviews of all the action - every Monday and Thursday.
Listen to the best of The Times and The Sunday Times journalists as they cover the biggest sport on the planet; from winners to losers, who's in and out on the transfer roundabout, tactical developments, data analysis and the dreaded VAR.
Hosted by Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson alongside special guest appearances, the team bring you the latest on the Premier League and the EFL, as well as a front-row seat to international tournaments including the Champions League, European Championships and World Cups.
We know football isn't life and death. It's much more serious than that.
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- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 48 minutes
- Episodes
- 1226
- Years Active
- 2010 - 2025
Will 48 teams dilute the quality of the World Cup?
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst to dissect club football before the last international break of the season.
Wolves knock out Manchester United to progress to …
Mane among the elite & Dier on Brexit
With 4 English teams making it through to the last 8 of the Champions League, Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer, James Gheerbrant and Oli Kay run the rule over the contenders for Europe’s top title.
After…
How do we protect players from pitch invaders?
It’s been a weekend of incomprehensible refereeing decisions and inexcusable fan behaviour. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Matt Dickinson and Alan Smith to analyse it all.
After indivi…
Solskjaer’s smile and swagger as Real’s roof caves in
Following a monumental week in Europe, Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Henry Winter and Alan Smith to examine the fall-out from a shocking Tuesday and Wednesday.
Manchester United overco…
Expectation and exhaustion weigh down Liverpool & Spurs
After a derbylicious weekend, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are in the company of Alyson Rudd, Matthew Syed and Paul Joyce with plenty to discuss.
Liverpool are held by Everton and lose the leaders…
Struggling to assess Silva as Liverpool fall back on full-backs
After a full midweek fixture list, Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer and Gary Jacob look ahead to a weekend packed full of derbies.
Chelsea sweep aside Spurs despite the controversy surrounding the many s…
We need to talk about Kepa
After a huge Sunday of football happenings, Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst to try and make sense of it all.
Where else to start but with the Arrizabalaga sag…
United desperate for Liverpool to fail
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Oli Kay, Bill Edgar and George Caulkin ahead of a huge weekend of football.
Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to face bitter rivals Manchester United who …
Premier League or Champions League? Will Pep and Klopp prioritise?
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer look ahead to another week of Champions League action in the company of Alan Smith and James Gheerbrant.
With the top two in the Premier League both in action, will Li…
Tottenham’s achievements are out of this world
Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer and Bill Edgar discuss two big Champions League nights with a man who was at Old Trafford and Wembley – Henry Winter.
Tottenham dismantle Dortmund as the panel discuss how…
Sarri, Sancho and the power of Pogba
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Oli Kay and James Gheerbrant after a seismic Sunday where Man City hit Chelsea for six.
After 3 defeats in 4 games, with plenty of goals shipped in the pr…
Is Liverpool’s luck running out?
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter, Martyn Ziegler and Bill Edgar as the title race takes another twist.
7 days ago Liverpool missed the chance to go 7 points clear of Manches…
The interim and the intermediary
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Hughes and Paul Hirst after a good weekend for the Manchester clubs.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sensational performance as interim manager at Old Traffo…
Chelsea lose interest while City lose ground
A full midweek Premier League programme and a transfer deadline – what a feast for Natalie Sawyer, Gab Marcotti, Oli Kay, James Gheerbrant and George Caulkin.
Liverpool miss the chance to go 7 points…
Racism rears its head plus Pellegrini’s poor preparation
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Paul Joyce, Alan Smith and former Chelsea winger and award-winning author Paul Canoville after FA Cup 4th round weekend.
Millwall shock Everton but events…
The perspective of a Premier League owner
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer host an author special this Thursday on The Game podcast.
Joshua Robinson, co-author of The Club: How the English Premier League Became the Wildest, Richest, Most Disru…
Sarri raises the stakes as Rashford rediscovers his confidence
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Matt Dickinson and Alan Smith after an impactful weekend in the Premier League.
Arsenal beat Chelsea emphatically at the Emirates, causing Blues boss Mau…
Bullish Bielsa and the absence of the Arsenal way
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter and Bill Edgar on a week that has everyone in the world of football talking.
Arsenal take on Chelsea in a pivotal clash in the Champions Leag…
Solskjaer’s startling start. Plus is spying part of sport?
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are back with Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst in tow to talk the major issues of the weekend
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s perfect start as Manchester United manager continues, wit…
Arsenal can’t retain Ramsey as Solskjaer pumps up Pogba
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by James Gheerbrant and Oli Kay ahead of a big Premier League weekend and following a footballing week that provided plenty of talking points on and off the…