After a winter break of its own, The Essential Football Podcast returns as guest host Charlotte Marsh is joined by Sky Sports football features writer Adam Bate and digital football journalist Ron Walker to look back on the midweek action and ahead to another captivating round of Premier League games which could have ramifications at both ends of the table.
PART ONE | With more rumours circulating around Old Trafford and two points dropped at Burnley, what's the state of affairs looking like in Manchester United's top-four chase? What's been behind the upturn in form for Southampton, their opponents on Saturday? We discuss Spurs' disappointing evening against the Saints in midweek, ask whether Wolves will stop them bouncing back, and decide who's best-placed in the race for the Champions League spots...
PART TWO | How serious - and warranted - is the pressure on Brendan Rodgers at Leicester? How much can we read into West Ham, their next opponents, beating Watford on Tuesday night? What's changed the mood at Newcastle so quickly, and will Aston Villa - and perhaps Jacob Ramsey - bring it crashing back to earth this weekend?
PART THREE | Frank Lampard takes charge of his first home Premier League game in charge of Everton this weekend, but is the pressure already on as Leeds visit Goodison Park? Are Manchester City really not the best in the world, as Pep Guardiola has said, and where do Norwich even begin to hope of taking any points off them at Carrow Road live on Saturday Night Football?