Episode notes
Gianni Infantino, the embattled 'Pope of Football', is limping on as Fifa president and has split the world's federations into two factions, one that wants to see him removed from office and the other who wish for him to remain. Why, despite his obvious flaws and major errors, does Infantino retain such levels of support? Jonathan Wilson is joined by Miguel Delaney and Tariq Panja to unpick the motivations behind those who want Infantino gone and the reasons he may be able to cling on. P1: (03:12) P2: (35:32) Join SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, now:…
More from Libero
-
E151 · 25 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
151 | Premier League Kick-Off: Awarding The Trophy And Other Overreactions
The 2026/27 Premier League season is underway. So is it too early to hand Arsenal the trophy? Miguel Delaney was at the Emirates on Friday night, while Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jonathan Wilson had to watch on TV. They discuss what we learned from the opening weekend, and how much of an advantage it is to go into this season with an established manager. The three big losers this weekend were Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Aston Villa, but how much should those fans be worried? But maybe finding answers to those questions is just asking one round of league games to bear too much weight.…
-
E150 · 21 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
150 | Can Anyone Stop Arsenal?
With the Premier League in the midst of a period of upheaval, Arsenal, the reigning champions, stand alone as the sole pillar of stability amongst the traditional challengers. Neither of the league's other recent title winners - Liverpool and Manchester City - appear as strong as they have been in the past couple of seasons, while Enzo Maresca has the additional unenviable task of trying to replace Pep Guardiola. Rory Smith asks Miguel Delaney and James Horncastle for their thoughts on the Premier League title race. P1: (10:36) P2: (38:11) Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try…
-
E149 · 18 Aug 2026 · 54 min
149 | What Do We Want From The New Season?
The 2026/27 Premier League season is finally upon us. Even after a transfer window where all the big money has been spent domestially, there are hopes for some exciting new arrivals into 'our league', and maybe for a game which is more determined by individuals, rather than set pieces. On today’s episode, Jonathan Wilson and James Horncastle discuss what we actually want to see this year, while Jack Pitt-Brooke gets sidetracked obsessing over QPR’s transfer business from the early Tony Fernandes era. P1: (06:03) P2: (28:30) Join SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership…
-
E147 · 11 Aug 2026 · 57 min
147 | The Premier League's Big Beast Manager Is Now A Dying Breed
A new era of Premier League football will begin this month. With Pep Guardiola out of the picture, and Jurgen Klopp long gone, none of the ‘big beasts’ of management will be in jobs. Instead, the 'big six' will largely be coached by managers in their mid 40s, all with something to prove. On today’s episode John Brewin, Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jonathan Wilson ask how this will affect the dynamic of the new season. Will we talk about managers less than we used to? Or will we hope that the generation of Enzo Maresca, Andoni Iraola and co step up into that space? Perhaps this all just proves how…
-
E146 · 7 Aug 2026 · 58 min
146 | Did The Premier League Need Vinicius?
Arsenal’s pursuit of Vinicius Junior is over after Real Madrid announced on Thursday afternoon that the Brazil international had signed a new long-term contract. But on today’s episode - recorded just before the news was confirmed - Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Horncastle and John Brewin discussed why Arsenal’s attempted move for him felt so significant. For all the Premier League’s wealth and success, it generally does not buy in the most famous players in the world. Apart from the arrival of Erling Haaland in 2022, there have been few other high-status imports in recent years. So does that…
-
E145 · 4 Aug 2026 · 59 min
145 | How Infantino Tried To Sell The World Cup And Destroyed His Presidency
With a $15bn World Cup bolstering Fifa's bank account, Gianni Infantino was riding high and set fair to continue as football's self-appointed pope, with another term as president all but guaranteed. Little more than two weeks later, following an abruptly abandoned plan to sell a stake in the golden goose to the brother of Donald Trump's son in-law and Infantino is facing the prospect of having to resign the Fifa presidency. How did we get here and what does it say about modern football? Will this finally be the moment the game changes? Jonathan Wilson is joined by Miguel Delaney and Tariq…
-
E165 · 9 Oct 2026 · 1 hrNew
165 | Liverpool v Man City: It Means Everything And Potentially Completely Nothing
Manchester City travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday in a game that marks the first appearance of the boys in sky blue since the Premier League verdict dropped and opened the public's eyes to Sham City. A cauldron, a bear pit, a house of flying Kopperberg bottles, it's fair to say it will be lively on Merseyside. Does it mean more because it's Liverpool? Do the yet-to-be-defined sanctions render the whole thing meaningless? Rory Smith is joined by Jack Pitt-Brooke and John Brewin for this one. P1: (01:12) P2: (32:39) Join SC Libero, the most important of the least important…
-
E164 · 6 Oct 2026 · 56 min
164 | What The Manchester City Case Means For The Premier League
With Manchester City having been found guilty of systematically cheating their way to Premier League domination, what are the broader implications for competition itself? How robust will one of England's major cultural exports be in the face of its biggest ever scandal? But also has its previously successful formula of light-touch regulation and openness to foreign investment been the Premier League's undoing in the City case? Jack Pitt-Brooke is joined by James Horncastle and Miguel Delaney. P1: (11:20) P2: (27:25) Join SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs,…
-
E163 · 2 Oct 2026 · 56 min
163 | Is The Manchester City Case The Biggest Story In Premier League History?
Trying to place the scale of the Manchester City cheating scandal into context is not straightforward given there is almost no comparable event in the history of English football. However other historic scandals do exist, Calciopoli in Italy is one, but there are more closer to home too. Jack Pitt-Brooke, Jonathan Wilson and James Horncastle discuss where the City case lands among all of that, as well as what it means for the club's fans and the integrity of the Premier League. P1: (04:22) P2: (27:33) Join SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, now:…
-
E162 · 30 Sep 2026 · 59 min
162 | Manchester City: Sham Football Club
Manchester City’s epic run of glory lies in ruins after a long awaited verdict reveals the success was built on a mountain of sham contracts and more than £850m in side income from its Abu Dhabi royal overlords. Rory, Jonathan and Tariq try to dissect a ruling for the ages. P1: (00:55) P2: (26:16) -- Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod Join our Discord @Libero Podcast Follow us on X @podcast_libero Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast Follow us on Instagram @liberopod Follow us on TikTok @liberopod Follow us on Facebook…
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
