Should Eriksen play on, World Cup L-plates & a new Athletics rivalry?

For more than two decades, Christian Horner was at the heart of Formula 1 — building Red Bull Racing into one of the most dominant teams in the sport, managing world champions and navigating the ruthless politics of the F1 paddock. But behind the victories, rivalries and extraordinary success lies a story far more complicated than the trophies suggest. The former Red Bull Racing team principal joins Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman for an in-depth interview on The Sports Agents ahead of the release of his autobiography Drive. Horner reflects on his remarkable rise through Formula 1, his relationships with the sport’s biggest personalities, the battles fought behind closed doors and the extraordinary events that brought his time at Red Bull to an abrupt and controversial end. From the pressures of leading an F1 powerhouse to the personal cost of life at the very top, this is a rare insight into the power, politics and personalities that shape Formula 1 — from a man who spent 20 years at the centre of it all. Drive by Christian Horner is out now and available to buy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1911754785 Christian will be sharing stories from the book at the Cambridge Theatre in London on Monday 26th October. Tickets are available from the venue here: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/christian-horner/

A goal from the halfway line. Five past Crystal Palace. Brighton are taking on the Premier League’s richest clubs — after selling key players yet again. We discuss Diego Gómez’s extraordinary strike, the ambition to shoot from that far out and how Fabian Hürzeler’s side are gatecrashing the top five. Can Brighton turn another flying start into Champions League qualification? Then, football’s financial knife edge: two-thirds of English clubs could face insolvency within 30 days if owner funding stopped. With 94% of clubs across the top five divisions making a loss, how secure is the game behind the record transfer fees? Sports business expert and founder of The Long Play, Jordan Macauley, joins us to unpack the Independent Football Regulator’s stark report and its connections to the Manchester City case. We explore the pressure on broadcasters, whether TV revenues can keep growing — and what happens to clubs if wealthy owners decide football is no longer worth the investment.

Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid has left plenty to unpack — not least Lisandro Martinez’s explosive post-match comments. Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha react to the biggest talking points from another dramatic week in Europe. Then, we turn to something far less visible but increasingly common inside football: Snus and nicotine pouch use. Why has nicotine become so normal in dressing rooms? Why are players using it, and what happens when a habit that starts socially becomes something much harder to control? We hear from a former Premier League footballer speaking candidly about his own addiction to snus, explore how these behaviours spread through teams and academies, and ask whether snus is really the story — or simply one symptom of a much wider issue. From nicotine and gambling to nitrous oxide and the search for a release from the intensity of elite sport, this is a conversation about what happens away from the pitch — the dressing room culture which fuels addiction amongst footballers.

Manchester City were outstanding at Anfield but, with sanctions looming, has this been the perfect start to a title challenge or a relegation battle? Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha unpack City’s sublime 3–0 win over ten-man Liverpool and the boos at Old Trafford as Manchester United fail to beat ten-man Tottenham. Why did the two sides respond so differently to having an extra player — and what does it actually take to break down a team of ten men? Plus, George Elek (Not the Top 20 podcast) joins us to explore life beyond the Premier League: Southampton’s Spygate fallout, Robbie Savage at Peterborough, outspoken owners and the uncertain future facing players without clubs.

After the boardroom drama of the last fortnight the Premier League is back and focus shifts to Manchester City’s players who face the court of public opinion for the first time since the guilty verdicts vs Liverpool at Anfield. It’s going to be a bear pit and, as Liverpool await, lifelong City fan Nedum Onuoha opens up for the first time about how the Manchester City financial case has changed his relationship with the club. He joins Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman to explore the pressure facing City’s players and your ideas for making Premier League spending rules fairer. Plus: Manchester United v Tottenham — already a must-win? And what is going on with Cristiano Ronaldo after he accuses his Portugal manager of broken promises while insisting his international career isn’t over.