Thank you to our football overlords for making yet another courageous decision, giving back to the rich and taking away from the poor, not to mention limiting the experiences of the fans who support those clubs. How noble. What a game.

Latest episode of the Walk On podcast is out now. Joined by Tony Evans & Simon Hughes
Assessing why the goals have dried up, Palace setback, Nunez/Salah form, hopes of a European miracle v Atalanta, and PL title race. #LFC

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the…

'Clubs trade on the authenticity of their fan culture, but in some cases forbid authenticity when it is critical, negative or harms their commercial interests.'

Nick Miller on the latest front in the Premier League's corporate v supporter culture war.

This is how early it was possible to get the truth btw, told by articulate match-going football fans just like people you know. Not a tanked up mob, not murderers. Challenge it wherever you find it, for everyone who has been lied about since that day.

Today is the anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, when 97 football fans lost their lives.

These men & women survived but were scarred by their experiences for life.

They talk to Simon Hughes in a piece first published two years ago.

No paywall.

theathletic.com/5410240/?utm_m…

Hillsborough – the 97 remembered

theathletic.com/4400658/2023/0…

‘No one who was there that day was ever the same again’ – Hillsborough survivor Neil Hodgson

theathletic.com/2740154/2021/0…

Football is about people & communities, not profit & private equity. We assume when we set off for a match that we will return to our loved ones at the end of it, win, lose or draw. Hillsborough showed that was not the case & that institutional contempt of fans existed then

Thirty-five years since Hillsborough. In 2022, I listened to some of the men and women who escaped the central pens in the Leppings Lane terrace. Please take the time to read their stories, republished today. No paywall. theathletic.com/5410240/2024/0…

Bayer Leverkusen’s time has finally arrived.

A 5-0 win over Werder Bremen confirmed that German football’s eternal bridesmaids are now the country’s champions.

Alonso's magic, breaking up cliques and clever transfers — this is how they did it ⤵️

📝 @Honigstein Seb Stafford-Bloor

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐊 | MEN IN WHITE SUITS by Simon Hughes

The fascinating inside story behind the decline of #LFC in the 1990s, as told by a host of influential characters associated with the team during this tumultuous period in the club's history.

🛒 stanchionbooks.com/products/men-i…

In the first 35 years of the European Cup, former communist Europe clubs accounted for 71 of the 280 QF places.

In the last 20 years of the Champions League’s 8x4 group stage format, only 12 of 105 clubs have made it to the last 16.

theathletic.com/5252083/2024/0…

The demise of Ajax has been slow and insidious, but it accelerated this week with the CEO suspended and the team humiliated 6-0.

The problems go way beyond a painful De Klassieker defeat to Feyenoord — the club is engulfed in uncertainty.

⬇️ Jacob Whitehead

It’s this week’s Walk On pod from The Athletic | Football with me. James Pearce and Simon Hughes Go on, have a listen: pod.fo/e/22f3e1

Latest episode of the Walk On podcast is out now.
Joined by Simon Hughes & Tony Evans to discuss all the fallout from Old Trafford, the PL title race, the return of Alisson/TAA/Jota, Europa League mission, and Salah's future. #LFC

pod.fo/e/22f3e1

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Liverpool have been world class at passing the final ball roughly a yard behind where it should be. Gap between these sides as big as I've ever seen it. Still, United remain in it.

For the second time in a month, Manchester United host Liverpool.

The last match between the two rivals was marred by tragedy chanting.

Simon Hughes speaks to fans of both teams to understand the impact of this.

Alexis Mac Allister, a man of the land. theathletic.com/4715648/2023/0…

Latest episode of Walk On podcast out now. Joined by Tony Evans & Simon Hughes
Analysing Alonso's decision to stay at Leverkusen, where #LFC turn now in managerial search, Sheff Utd, and learning from previous mistakes on return to Old Trafford.
pod.fo/e/22d254