Welcome to your Saturday morning dose of Totally!

This is a space where we let our figurative hair down and free ourselves from the relentless merry-go-round of this season. We’ll have nostalgia, we'll have trivia, we'll have whatever nonsense tickles our fancy really. And we'll be taking a look back through the annuls into the week in football that was through the years...

Today we're taking a trip down memory lane and charting the remarkable life and career of Mario Balotelli - who happened to celebrate his 35th birthday on the 12th of August.

A great entertainer, social media legend, fireworks enthusiast, bib denier, misunderstood character, sensational striker and hugely significant cultural figure - from Inter to Genoa and everywhere in between.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Welcome to Totally Extra - Cotswolds recommendations, sausage pasta, road trips and a quiz question (00.40)

• PART 2: This week in football - Triffic Niko Kranjčar, the start of the Premier League and crazy lockdown scorelines (12.00)

• PART 3: Why Always Me? The life and times of Mario Balotelli (16.35)

• PART 4: AOB, James' hotspot password and a correct answer? (55.00)

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Jimbo's joined by Tom Williams, Daniel Storey and Tim Spiers as we continue our look ahead to the 2025-26 Premier League season - and after shining the spotlight on the six teams competing in the Champions League during our last episode, today we turn our focus to the rest of the sides in the top flight.

But we begin in Udine, where Tottenham saw a two-goal lead dashed to be beaten 4-3 by PSG on penalties in Wednesday night's Super Cup final. Despite defeat - are there reasons to be positive for Spurs fans?

Back to domestic matters, and there's plenty of intrigue around the return of Sunderland after an eight-year spell out of the big time. The Athletic's football finance writer and Mackem Chris Weatherspoon joins us to consider their chances of staying up - before we run the rule over how fellow promoted sides Leeds and Burnley could fare after breaking the 100-point barrier in the Championship last season.

Elsewhere - surely Manchester United can't be as bad as they were last season? Laurie Whitwell stops by to talk us through the pros and cons of their pre-season - and hopes for this campaign with the pressure on Ruben Amorim to turn their fortunes around.

Will Everton be interesting this season with Jack Grealish added to the mix? Are Brighton the side most likely to upset the established 'big six' this time round? What kind of season will Forest have after the unexpected highs of last season? And are Brentford the 'B' team at risk of get dragged into a relegation scrap?

All those questions and many more answered - plus a low socks convention, bad penalties and regretful friendships.

Produced by Jesse Howard and Lucy Oliva.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: PSG lift the Super Cup (05.00)

• PART 2a: Sunderland's return to the top flight with Chris Weatherspoon (18.30)

• PART 2b: The hopes for Leeds and Burnley of survival (26.45)

• PART 3: Are Manchester United going to be better this season? With Laurie Whitwell (42.45)

• PART 4: Who'll be the best of the rest? (53.25)

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Jimbo's back for the 2025-26 season and he's got Charlie Eccleshare, Duncan Alexander and Daniel Storey alongside him to bring you our first preview episode ahead of the shiny new Premier League campaign.

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on the six clubs who qualified for the Champions League last season.

Liverpool have made the most eye-catching signings over the summer - but are they favourites to retain their crown? Could world champions Chelsea be the surprise package? Can Arsenal *finally* go from bridesmaid to bride and take home their first title since 03-04? And Will Pep Guardiola's new-look coaching staff help take them back to the heights of seasons past?

How will Newcastle recover from their tumultuous off-season? George Caulkin joins us with the latest on the Alexander Isak saga after it was revealed he has no intention to play for the Magpies again - even if he isn't sold.

And - can Thomas Frank take Europa League winners Tottenham from 17th in the table to a serious Premier League outfit again?

All that plus bad knee slides, petulant teenagers and the plight of Sheffield Wednesday.

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Reasons for excitement ahead of the new season (02.00)

• PART 2: The latest on Alexander Isak and Newcastle with George Caulkin (07.40)

• PART 3: Are Liverpool the team to beat? (21.40)

• PART 4: Who are the contenders to Liverpool's crown? Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal's chances assessed (31.15)

• PART 5: How will Tottenham fare under Thomas Frank? (46.00)

• PART 6: Our top four predictions & Championship opening weekend drama (53.00)

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