Squawka Talker

How has the winter window changed the 2021/22 season? William Hill sponsors this episode of the Squawka Talker podcast as the team look at the impact of the 2021/22 January transfer window on the final stretch of the season. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Football London's Kaya Kaynak to look back at the key moves and assess how it impacts the race for Europe and the relegation battle in the Premier League and the Champions League last 16. Big spending Newcastle topped the charts with £93m splashed on new faces, Liverpool snapped u p Colombian star Luis Diaz and Spurs boss Antonio Conte raided former club Juventus for Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur. If you're 18+ and Gamble Aware, you can find out more about William Hill's Champions League market here.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at the picture at Manchester United in 2022 and the key questions facing Ralf Rangnick in the coming months. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and The Independent's Northern Football Correspondent Mark Critchley to assess the changes needed for United. The team look at United's long term plan to replace Nemanja Matic with the Serbian's aging limbs struggling with the demands of regular Premier League football and a long list of potential heirs to his No.6 role. Alongside Matic's future, Marcus Rashford's position at Old Trafford is on the agenda, after an injury plagued 12 months for the England star, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka's starting place also under threat, as the rise of the Premier League full back leaves him in the shade in 2022.

As 2021 turns into 2022, the latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at the calendar year stat leaders from Europe's top five leagues. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Squawka's social media editor Jake Entwistle to analyse the numbers behind the top performers in 2021. The Most goals, The Most assists, The Most chances created, The Most tackles are all covered, as well as some requests from listeners that joined the live Twitter Space. Among the metrics, the Squawka Talker team also look at rising stars Dusan Vlahovic and Aurélien Tchouaméni who will both be attracting plenty of interest in 2022 and beyond.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast gives an instant reaction to the draw for the 2021/22 Champions League last 16 with some heavyweight clashes penciled in for February 2022. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and freelance football broadcaster Tom Gayle to offer insight and analysis on the draw and predict the big stories to come in the knockout stages next year. The team look at the challenges facing last 16 novices RB Salzburg up against 2020 winners Bayern Munich, red hot favourites Manchester City v Sporting Lisbon, defending champions Chelsea against Lille and group stage headline grabbers Ajax clashing with Benfica. In part the gang turn their attention to the final four games of the last 16 with Manchester United looking for more Cristiano Ronaldo inspiration as they face Atletico Madrid, Villarreal take on Juventus, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool showdown with Serie A holders Inter Milan and Sergio Ramos heads 'home' as PSG face Real Madrid. T

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at the sensational crop of Portuguese talent currently dominating English football and asks the question - who is the best Portuguese star in the Premier League in 2021? Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Portuguese football expert Tom Kundert to run the rule over the wave of Portuguese superstars making a decisive impact on the Premier League title race. The guys assess the pros and cons of Cristiano Ronaldo's first few months back at Manchester United, as the goals continue to fly in for the 36-year-old, but so do the questions of how he fits into Ralf Rangnick's emerging tactical system. There is also the battle of the diminutive schemers, as Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva grab the headlines at opposite ends of the M62 for Liverpool and Manchester City, plus the phenomenal transformation of Joao Cancelo under Pep Guardiola. Alongside their eye-catching performances in English football, the team also

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at a controversial Ballon d'Or Award in 2021 and some of the biggest 'Ballon d'Or robberies since 2000'. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and freelance football journalist and broadcaster Mo Stewart to run the rule over Lionel Messi's seventh Ballon d'Or, ahead of Robert Lewandowski, amid a social media storm over the vote. The guys ask what comes next for the award after the most controversial decision in recent years? Is there a need for change and more consistency over the voting criteria for it to survive? Alongside the 2021 award, and what it means for the future, the team also look back at some of the biggest 'Ballon d'Or steals' in recent seasons. Thierry Henry coming second to Pavel Nedved in 2003, treble winning Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder losing out to Messi in 2010 and plenty more close calls from the most prestigious individual honour in football.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at Xavi's plans for Barcelona in 2022 as the La Masia production line whirrs back into action Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Barcelona-based La Liga writer and broadcaster Rik Sharma, to discuss the role of La Masia in Xavi's new-look Barcelona side and how he intends to remodel the Catalan giants. The former Spanish international is blessed with the strongest crop of young talent at the club in over a decade with Ansu Fati and Pedri joined by Gavi, Nico Gonzalez, Abde Ezzalzouli and others since the start of 2021/22. Despite the positivity of youth, Xavi faces a conundrum over his experienced stars - and former teammates - in the coming months with big decisions to be made on Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique. The guys also look at Xavi transfer plans in 2022, with departures expected in January, as he aims to reignite the fire of excellence at the Camp Nou.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at West Ham's chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League in 2022. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and West Ham correspondent for Football London Tom Clark, to assess the Hammers chances of crashing the Champions League party this season. David Moyes has looked to build on the Hammers sixth place finish in 2020/21 with an impressive start to the current campaign placing West Ham at third in the table ahead of the international break. The team dive into the key factors behind West Ham's excellent start to the season and Moyes' thinking on tactical stability in recent months. Declan Rice's development, alongside the goal scoring exploits of Michail Antonio, are examined as part of West Ham's push to secure a first ever Champions League place in 2022.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at how Gareth Southgate's England midfield could line up at Qatar 2022 and beyond. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Chief Football Writer Muhammad Butt and Football London journalist Kaya Kaynak to take a deep dive into Southgate's midfield options moving into the World Cup next year and future tournaments. Southgate opted for the safety at Euro 2020 with a double pivot of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips but will he move with the times and opt for a single deep-lying midfielder? Is Marcelo Bielsa's lynchpin the man for the job or can Rice shoulder the weight alone? And what about the Lions Cubs? England are blessed with a slew of young midfield, can any of them can force their way into Southgate's thinking. Conor Gallagher is the poster boy for Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace and Emile Smith-Rowe is the reason for Arsenal's upturn in form. Finally, Phil Foden is scaling new heights at Manchester City in a left-wing role - but will his home

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at how to rebuild Newcastle United in 2022. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Chief Football Writer Muhammad Butt and Newcastle United fan and BBC Sport journalist Harry De Cosemo to asses the current picture at St. James' Park following their Saudi Arabia-backed buyout. The team analyse what the Magpies transfer policy will be in the coming months with growing pressure on the club to spend big in January to force their way out of the Premier League relegation battle. Will they look to bring in Premier League stalwarts like James Tarkowski and John McGinn or will they roll the dice on 'European mercenaries' such as Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona and Gareth Bale at Real Madrid? Or will the new regime on Tyneside invest in young British talent on the continent with Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Jude Bellingham all stamping their mark on the game?

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at who could be the next manager of Manchester United. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Rob Blanchette from the Manchester United podcast The Masterclass and James Young from The Stretford Paddock to assess the situation surrounding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford and the candidates to replace him if the Norwegian is sacked. The team analyse where Ole let go of the wheel, and how his legacy at United has been impacted by the ongoing speculation on his future. Former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte is the red hot favourite to replace Solskjaer following his summer departure from the San Siro. There is lots of analysis on how the Italian's preferred 3-5-2 system could lead to major changes at United.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks to preview the biggest day of football so far in 2021/22. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Muhammad Butt and La Liga journalist and podcaster Euan McTear to look ahead to an insane weekend of derby and high stakes clashes right the way across Europe this weekend. The team focus on the eagerly anticipated visit of Liverpool to Manchester United, Ronald Koeman's face off with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti as El Clasico heads to Barcelona and the big one in Ligue 1 as PSG travel to Marseille in Le Classique. Alongside those ties, there is also a dedicated predictions section on those games, plus five more, including West Ham v Tottenham, Ajax v PSV, AS Roma v Napoli, Inter Milan v Juventus and Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad. 

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks to build a Premier League XI based on the best player in every position after GW7 of the 2021/22 season. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Muhammad Butt and freelance football broadcaster Tom Gayle to look at the most in-form Premier League stars and fill each position based on the top performers in the opening two months of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign. The team debate some key returns to form in 2021/22, the instant impact of new signings and the evergreen talents of the Premier League's brightest lights.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks to build a FIFPro World XI from 2020/21 with the awards set for later this year. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Muhammad Butt and freelance football broadcaster and Mo Stewart to run the rule over the best performing players from across Europe's major leagues to build an all star XI from the last 12 months. The team delve into domestic performances alongside heroics on the international stage to make their key decisions with plenty of debate over who makes the final cut. OFFICIAL FIFPro World XI rules The awards are given to the best players in each position based on their performances during the period from 8 October 2020 to 7 August 2021 inclusive.

The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast previews this weekend's high stakes Premier League clash between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Muhammad Butt and freelance football broadcaster and Liverpool fan Mo Stewart to look at what is expected as the Premier League's most potent attacking force comes head to head with its stubbornest defence. The team look at the key metrics which have underpinned an eye-catching start to the campaign for Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, assess the impacts of Diogo Jota and Aymeric Laporte in 2021/22 and offer their own predictions on this top of the table clash on Merseyside. 

How do you score a goal against the best defence in Europe? The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at Thomas Tuchel's incredible  record as Chelsea boss and analyses how to unpick the Blues back line... or at least try to. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Muhammad Butt and Football London's Chelsea correspondent Adam Newson to look at the numbers behind Tuchel's defensive juggernaut, the strategy behind Chelsea's plans and how to take your chances against the defending European champions. The team also look at the chances of breaking Jose Mourinho's famous Premier League defensive record from 2004/05.

The latest Squawka Talker podcast casts its eye over the wing wizards and flying full backs expected to catch the eye in the 2021/22 Champions League. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Muhammad Butt and podcaster Mo Stewart to look at the most exciting wing partnerships across European football this season. Who are the most lethal wide partnerships in the Champions League? What are the numbers behind the link-ups? How has the full back role evolved? The team also assesses how the impact of new partnerships on the pitch have changed the tactical shape of Premier League football.

The latest Squawka Talker podcast goes beyond the goals to find out how to win a Premier League Golden Boot winner. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Muhammad Butt and Jake Entwistle to look back over some of the Premier League's greatest goal-scorers since 1992 in their quest to find an answer. How many goals do they need to score? How many games do they need to play? Do they need to take penalties? Is a match-ball a must? Does it matter how they score? And should they still be passing to their team-mates? The team also look at this season's race with returning duo Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo going head to head against the current dominant duo Harry Kane and Mo Salah.  *EDIT* - Thierry Henry did not win the Golden Boot when also providing 20 assists in 2002/03, he was one goal behind Ruud van Nistelrooy. Jake got a bit excited, but the average of 7.6 assists per Golden Boot winner means the general chat remains the same. *EDIT* - Duncan Ferguson holds the record for most headed goals

Feargal Brennan, Muhammad Butt and Mo Stewart look at an incredible end to the 2021/22 transfer window and ask the question, 'is this the most bonkers window ever?' The team look at the key numbers behind Premier League spending this summer alongside the lack of investment across Europe in the wake of Covid-19 in 2021. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic moves are also analysed with a look at how free transfers have changed the priorities of clubs ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. The guys also give their shouts for the best signing of the window, best/worst clubs in the window and the most underrated signing of the summer.

The latest Squawka Talker football podcast is all about the incredible Champions League draw... and yes, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Man Utd after we had recorded. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Chief Writer Muhammad Butt and Sports Journalist Stefan Bienkowski, a Bundesliga expert making his debut on the podcast. PART ONE - PREMIER LEAGUE EYES ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Group A - How have perceptions of PSG changed based on their summer business and how will they rival Man City? Group B - How equipped are Liverpool for a Champions League push and how will De Pau and Cunha improve Atleti? Group F - What are Solskjaer's priorities in Europe? How will Emery fare outside of his beloved Europa League? Group H - A new pressure on Thomas Tuchel in 2021/22 as defending champions and how will Juventus cope post-Ronaldo? PART TWO - THE BEST OF THE REST Group C - What is the early vibe from Marco Rose at Borussia Dortmund? Group D - Can Carlo Ancelotti raise one more season from Real