Manchester City’s Trial by Anfield, Arsenal’s Bounce Back Test & Tottenham Searching for a Spark | Big Weekend Preview 10/08/26

Roger Bennett (0:00)

The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? I'd start by saying, articulate what you love the most, and then build on it. First step, find the team that will most probably break your heart, and then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition, the key to so many of mine. It's Walmart, the place that has it all, the snacks, the coffee, the pies. But you can also get the TV at Walmart, the hoodie to wear on your couch. Get the couch if you need it, and wait, it gets better. Because their express delivery can get it right to your door, so you're all set for kickoff. Whatever your matchday needs are, you can find them at walmart.com/soccer.

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Premier League's back with a vengeance this weekend. The grudgesh grudge match of all time. Liverpool, Manchester City, a rivalry that wants to find an era of championships and more like an evidentiary court hearing on grass. Also in mere football, Arsenal, suddenly invincible, return to action, hoping to bounce back at home against Leeds and Winless in three, Manchester United, host Winless in life, Tottenham Hotspur. This is Big Weekend Preview, where we'll break down the supersized, lawyer-filled international break. I'm joined by Mr Rory Smith. Oh, and lucky, resplendent Humphrey Ker gents. This international break fell longer than the bloody World Cup.

Humphrey Ker (1:41)

I barely remember what domestic football looks like.

Who are the teams? What, they can have people from any country? This is mad.

Roger Bennett (1:49)

Wait till you find out what happened while we were away.

Beginning with the courtroom derby, Liverpool vs Manchester City, Sunday 11.30am Eastern on NBC proper. We're speaking just hours before the first salvo of managerial press conferences. Every player, every manager near a microphone will be grilled about the Manchester City 114 charge ordeal. Gents, to start raw, if you're in the press room facing Maresca amidst this sham-filled trauma, what one question would you be asking?

Rory Smith (2:23)

I would channel the energy of Rob Harris, the dog-eared Sky News reporter who asked Ferran Soriano at a conference, are you a sham club? I think that's the ballsy question I've ever seen anybody ask anybody. But I famously, Rog, I'm a coward. So I think the question that will go to Maresca the most when he speaks to the assembled media throng on Friday, I believe, is, has he talked to the players about it? That's what I'm really fascinated by, that I went to City last week, actually, to the press conference before their Women's Champions League game against Real Madrid. And Jade Rose, the Canadian defender, was the first representative of Manchester City who had to publicly address the charges, which I thought was a little bit mean on Jade Rose, if I'm honest.

And both she and Andrei Yedilets, the Women's Teams Manager, they clearly had a line which was, we haven't needed to talk about it, we're focusing on the game, we can't do anything about the noise, control the controllables. I don't think it's feasible that Moresta won't have discussed it with the players when they all kind of drip back into training after the international break. It's something they will have to address. And I would like to know what he says.

Roger Bennett (3:31)

You know, he's just going to say it's not news to us. We all knew it was happening. It's why we joined. It's just business as usual. Humph!

You're the most barrister like amongst us. What would you like the question to be?

Humphrey Ker (3:43)

I agree with Rory. The fascinating thing is like what, how much have they allowed this to bleed into their conversations? You know, they would have had what? Probably two or three training sessions so far. I think my question would be, where do any of you think you're going to be playing next season?

Roger Bennett (4:02)

I don't know if you're fancying the Hill Dickinson Erling. You know, it is fascinating because Thomas Tuchel has already admitted that the camp, it affected his Manchester City players. It was the talk of the camp. I've got a feeling the Marescas line will be more like, this doesn't bother us. You know, the club have said that they're appealing. We trust the club. This is, that's the line I think they will put out. But the English press, oh my Lord, this is a fever dream, the unprecedented darkness. They are feasting. Everyone in football is getting asked for comment. God bless. I think they've exhumed Tony Poulis to get his opinion. Jesse Marsh has leveled them.