Liverpool clash kicks off defining period in Chelsea's season

11 changes too many... Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey with him to look back on the disappointing 2-0 cup exit at the hands of Newcastle on Wednesday night. We ponder the wisdom of the decision to field an entirely changed XI - and whether we should be worried about the disparity in quality between the 'A' and 'B' teams. Now to see whether the changes were worth it - as Chelsea prepare for a trip to face Ruud van Nistelrooy's Manchester United. The Athletic's Carl Anka is on hand to help us gauge the mood around Old Trafford following the departure of Erik ten Hag as Enzo Maresca's side look to end a torrid run of form which has seen them fail to win on the road at United since 2013!! There's a round up of the Blues news elsewhere - with CFCW back in action after the international break with a trip to Everton on Sunday night. And of course - we finish with a quiz with a Manchester United flavour... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on events at Old Trafford and preview the midweek visit of Armenian outfit Noah in the Conference League. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher & Carl Anka PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Magpies double-header is off to a good start... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him to look back on Sunday afternoon's 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Premier League. We eulogise over *that* Palmer pass, discuss the return of Reece James amid questions over his 'leadership' credentials - and wonder what this line-up tells us about Enzo's roll in midfield... There's not long to wait until the next match-up with Eddie Howe's men - off to St James' Park on Wednesday night in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup. We pick our starting XI's for that game and ponder the importance of this competition. We'll be back on Thursday to look back on that cup tie AND look ahead of Sunday's trip to Old Trafford to take on a beleaguered Manchester United (new manager bounce, anyone?! Sigh) HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They're quite good at this whole Conference League thing... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Jessy Parker Humphreys and Luke Bosher to look back on the hugely comfortable 4-1 win over Panathinaikos over in Athens which leaves Chelsea with three wins from three in Europe. Liam Twomey was at the match for The Athletic and sends his musings. Will anyone be enough to stop Enzo Maresca's side from going all the way and winning the competition? It's back to the bread and butter of the Premier League on Sunday afternoon as the Blues host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge. There's a look ahead to that game - plus a focus on the fortunes of CFCW so far this season AND a first-time quiz match up as Jessy and Luke go head-to-head in a high-quality contest... We'll be back on Monday to recount the Premier League clash with the Magpies AND look ahead to Wednesday's trip to St James' Park for the second dose of Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Jessy Parker Humphreys and Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The winless streak against Liverpool stretches to 10... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher with him to look back on Sunday afternoon's 2-1 defeat at Anfield. We talk Reece's return, defensive fragility and the Neto v Sancho selection conundrum - plus a chance to hear from Enzo Maresca in conversation with Simon after the game. The attention turns to Thursday night's Conference League jaunt to Athens to take on Panathinaikos. Plus, Chelsea Women continue their winning start to the season with a 5-2 rout of Spurs - with a simply stunning goal from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd which left some of us choking at the breakfast table! We'll be back on Friday to review the Blues' trip to Greece and look ahead to Sunday's Premier League clash with Newcastle. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's about to get real... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him as we get back into the swing of domestic matters. We round up all the news from across the international break - including plenty of honours, national team fortunes and the return of Thomas Tuchel... Then it's all eyes on the trip to Anfield! The Athletic's Liverpool correspondent James Pearce stops by to give us an insight into Arne Slot's side ahead of Sunday's game - whilst we take a closer look at the key selection issues going into the clash. There's a round up of CFCW's recent fortunes - and a quiz! We'll be with you again on Monday to look back on the visit to Anfield (if Producer Lucy returns from Miami!) and preview Thursday's trip to Panathinaikos. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Those trees are awfully tricky... Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea experts Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey to look back on Sunday's spicy 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. So - was it a point gained or two dropped given the circumstances? And what's wrong with Enzo Fernández? Champions League football is back at Stamford Bridge! Chelsea Women get their campaign underway on Tuesday night when they take on Real Madrid. Jessy Parker Humphrey's swings by to preview that game and reflect on their early season fortunes under Sonia Bompastor. We'll be back after the international break to round up all the latest Blues news while we've been away AND look ahead to the huge trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey & Jessy Parker-Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday night under the lights... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher in tow to look back on the 4-2 victory over Gent in Matchday 1 of the Conference League at Stamford Bridge. Then - it's all eyes on the MDA Derby with Nottingham Forest in town on Sunday afternoon! Plus, CFCW may have the weekend off after the botched scheduling drama - BUT congratulations are in order for Millie Bright... We'll be back on Monday to reflect on Sunday's visit of Forest before pausing for the second international break of the season. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Simon Johnson & Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Cole's world and we're all just living in it... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to go full fanboy after a truly remarkable showing from Cole Palmer in the crazy 4-2 victory over Brighton on Saturday afternoon. After revelling in that glory it's all eyes on Thursday night's first UEFA Conference League 'League Stage' match - with Belgian side Gent in town. Listener Stephane - who's got a foot in both camps - give us an insight into what Chelsea can expect from the visitors. Plus, CFCW continued their perfect start to the season with a whopping 7-0 win at Crystal Palace. Jessy Parker Humphrey's drops in to give us the lowdown - and the latest on some scheduling shenanigans... We'll be back on Friday to reflect on the Blues' Conference League exploits the night before - and look ahead to Sunday's visit of Nottingham Forest! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey & Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not a bad whole new starting XI... Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey with him for your second weekly dose of Chelsea chat. The Blues cruised into the fourth round of the League Cup following their 5-0 victory over League Two Barrow... we look back on the game and hear from Pedro Neto in conversation with our very own Simon Johnson, who scored his first goal for the club. Then it's all eyes on Saturday's game against unbeaten Brighton at Stamford Bridge. We weigh up the chances of Christopher Nkunku starting - and rate the overall prospects against Fabian Hürzeler's side. There's a word on CFCW's second Friday night game in succession as they prepare to face newly promoted Crystal Palace, plus all the other Blues news AND the latest quiz match up between Bosher and Twomey... We'll be back on Monday to round up the visit of the Seagulls - and look ahead to the start of the Europa Conference League proper - with Belgian outfit Gent in town on Thursday night. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 goals in 12 London derbies already? Matt Davies-Adams has got two of The Athletic's finest - Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey - alongside him to look back on the impressive 3-0 win over West Ham at London Stadium on Saturday. We heap praise on Nicholas Jackson and Moisés Caicedo for their stellar performances - hear from Tosin in the mixed zone with Simon - and reflect on the presence of Todd Boehly AND Behdad Eghbali in the posh seats... Plus, there were a big three points to kick off their WSL campaign and title defence for Sonia Bompastor's CFCW - 1-0 winners against Aston Villa on Friday night. We'll be back on Thursday to reflect on the League Cup third round tie against Barrow AND look ahead to Saturday's visit of Brighton. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva (who apologises for the late publication of the podcast due to flight chaos on the way back from New York!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices