VAR overshadows the Manchester Derby & Barcelona can't stop scoring! | Weekend Review

The episode opens with extensive discussion of the Manchester Derby between Manchester City and Manchester United, which City won 1-0 courtesy of Erling Haaland. However, the victory was marred by two major officiating controversies: Haaland's goal came from a cross by Enzo Fernández who was in a clearly offside position affecting play, yet VAR overruled the on-field offside decision. The Professional Referees Association later admitted the goal should not have been allowed. Additionally, Phil Foden received a red card for violent conduct in an altercation with Bruno Fernandes that some panelists felt could have been a yellow card for both players. The hosts discuss how these VAR decisions exemplify broader problems with modern refereeing, where the rules have become a feature of the game rather than a tool to police it.

Despite going down to 10 men early, Manchester City played impressively and maintained tactical discipline under Enzo Maresca. The manager made key substitutions, particularly bringing on Ilham and Jai for Ryan Shirley to improve defensive stability and ball-carrying. Manchester United, conversely, played poorly and lacked creativity, resorting to rushed crosses that rarely found their targets. Michael Carrick's failure to make attacking changes early—particularly not bringing on Sesco until well into the second half—cost United opportunities. The panel notes this could herald the beginning of the end for Carrick's tenure, especially given supporter unrest over club ownership and direction.

Hull City earned significant praise for their continued unbeaten run (2 wins, 2 draws in 4 games), the third-best start for a promoted club in Premier League history. Their 2-2 draw at Chelsea showcased impressive counter-attacking and direct play under Yakubuovich. Despite Chelsea having more possession, Hull created better opportunities and arguably should have won. The panel credits Hull's tactical setup (a 3-4-2-1 formation functioning as a 5-4-1), particularly highlighting Baloumi's two goals and McBurney's link-up play. However, the hosts note Hull's underlying statistics (17th in xG, 15th in xG difference) suggest eventual regression once injuries occur and opponents adapt.

In other Premier League results, Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0, Nottingham Forest claimed their first win at Aston Villa in 32 years, Brighton thrashed Coventry 5-0 with Lewis Dunk scoring an outrageous dipping goal from defense, and Ipswich beat Crystal Palace 3-2 with Zain Fleming scoring the late winner. Liverpool drew 0-0 at home to Fulham, marking their worst recent home form. Most concerningly, Tottenham remain goalless after four games alongside Coventry, with Spurs in 17th place. The panel expresses worry about Roberto De Zerbi's project after making a bold pre-season claim that he was a top-three manager.

In La Liga, Barcelona continued their dominant form with a 4-2 win over Levante, though Graham notes they looked slightly tired from midweek Champions League play and gave up concerning defensive space. He argues Barcelona currently plays the best soccer in Europe but raises questions about whether they can maintain this against stronger Champions League opponents, citing depth concerns and a lack of elite defensive presence. Real Madrid beat Real Vallecano 4-1 with Mbappé scoring twice, and Atlético Madrid beat Sociedad 3-0 with new signings Grimaldo and Jonathan David scoring their first goals. In Serie A, Christian Pulisic came off the bench to assist in Milan's 2-2 draw with Roma, providing his first meaningful minutes of the season, and Sassuolo secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Juventus with late goals.