Episode notes
The World Cup is in the rearview mirror but before it disappears from our collective consciousness, amid well-earned holidays or a headlong dash back into the gnarled embrace of club football, we take a look back at the tournament in its entirety. Jack Pitt-Brooke is joined by Jonathan Wilson and Rory Smith for this one. P1: (04:28) P2: (33:04) --- For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a…
More from Libero
-
E144 · 31 Jul 2026 · 55 min
144 | The Premier League Will Return In A Vastly Different Place
Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham are all beginning the new Premier League season with different managers than started the last. With a cast of new characters now coming into focus, Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson consider what storylines might take shape and the longtail impact of the World Cup. Also discussed is how the creep of football is eroding away the traditional summers sports and the return of international football to borderline irrelevance. P1: (00:56) P2: (25:51) A note to listeners, it's fair to assume that Libero 145 will be…
-
E143 · 29 Jul 2026 · 55 min
143 | You've Just Signed A World Cup Star, Was It A Good Idea?
Johan Manzambi has become the latest player to earn a big transfer off the back of an impressive World Cup, following the likes of James Rodriguez, Ilie Dumitrescu and Papa Bouba Diop. Yet in recent years clubs have turned away from scouting players at major tournaments, but why is that when they provide tangible evidence of a player's quality and ability to handle playing under immense pressure? James Horncastle, Tariq Panja and Rory Smith look back at the history of this phenomenon and ask if once more the World Cup is becoming a viable proving ground. P1: (02:43) P2: (32:53) Join SC…
-
27 Jul 2026 · 50 min
Bonus 013 | Remembering Kevin Keegan
The sad passing of Kevin Keegan at the age of 75 last week brought to an end of the ultimate football lives. One of British football's earliest superstars, highly decorated as a player, revered as one of the game's boldest attacking coaches, Keegan was beloved figure both in England and further afield. Here John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson look back at the life of 'King Kev'. This was originally released for SC Libero members last week, but we thought it would be nice for all Libero listeners to hear John and Jonathan's tribute to the great man. — Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in via…
-
20 Jul 2026 · 50 min
World Cup 014 | How We Saw Spain Become Champions Again
Spain have beaten Argentina in the World Cup final in a slightly underwhelming conclusion to an overwhelming tournament. This episode was recorded throughout the day of the final by our Liberi on the ground, Rory Smith, James Horncastle and Tariq Panja. It is a bit rough and rugged but it is how we saw it. Build-up: (01:38) Pre-match: (03:23) 90mins: (14:35) Post-match: (16:39) - For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four…
-
17 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
World Cup 013 | England Crumble To Set Up Heavyweight Final
England's latest World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina was both familiar but also a new type of failure. The familiar retreat was exacerbated by Thomas Tuchel doubling down on the tactics that had worked in Mexico City and it all means that Spain will play la Albiceleste in Sunday's final. James Horncastle, Jonathan Wilson and Miguel Delaney review both semi-finals before turning their attention to Spain v Argentina at MetLife. P1: (05:43) P2: (33:48) - For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs,…
-
14 Jul 2026 · 58 min
World Cup 012 | The Tale Of Two Very Different Semi-Finals
France v Spain and England v Argentina are the World Cup semi-finals FIFA wanted but they could not be more contrasting in terms of what they offer the viewing public. One side promises technical prowess and a game for the chin strokers, on the other a mess of emotions and brilliant moments. You work out which way around those are being billed. Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Rory Smith have this one. P1: (00:12) P2: (27:44) For this summer's main event, we are offering all new signups to SC Libero, the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time…
-
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.
