It’s a Saturday. Your team is in action and it’s an absolute roller coaster as usual. The highs and lows. The thrills and spills. But you can make the armchair football experience even better. This is where a good football app comes into its own…
1. Fantasy Premier League
Best for: trash talking your friends and work colleagues
Consider yourself a bit of a budding Pep Guardiola? With a budget of £100m to spend, choose your squad of 15 Prem stars and lead your team to glory. Players score points through their real-life on pitch performances, so make sure to pick your side carefully…
Set up a league with your mates - or get the team at work involved – and let the (mostly) friendly rivalry commence. With a little bit extra riding on every matchday, it’s a great way to get even more immersed in the beautiful game.
And let’s be honest. Bragging rights are everything. Right?
Get Fantasy Premier League on Android and iOS
2. LiveScore
Best for: discovering key stats and keeping track of the latest scores
Life can get in the way of the football. And if you’re having to miss out on the big game, following it from your phone with LiveScore is the next best thing.
Check the team’s formation. View the league table. See the latest scores. Or just argue with your mate for the billionth time about that striker who always makes the starting line-up but can’t hit a barn door. You can do it all, and more. A live match overlay even lets you see who’s on the attack – making those last few minutes while you cling on for a 1-0 win even more nervy.
With the ability to track the results and upcoming fixtures of your chosen club and international side, you’ll never miss a match either.
And for you real football hipsters out there, yes, you can keep an eye on the German third division. Or any other niche league around the world if that’s your thing.
3. Spotify
Best for: a weekly deep dive and debate about your club
The world of podcasting has been booming for a good while now. And when it comes to football-based pods, there’s plenty out there to pick from.
Want to know more about your favourite team? Most clubs now have at least one dedicated fan-led podcast, using the platform to discuss the latest results - and call for the manager’s head. Football fans, eh?
If you’re after a more general chat covering the key goings on in the world’s game, the likes of The Guardian Football Weekly and The Football Ramble are good places to start. You’ll learn something and have a laugh along the way too.
Get Spotify on Android and iOS
4. BBC Sport
Best for: getting up to date football news
The transfer rumour mill is swirling. Is your team about to drop a boatload of cash on Kylian Mbappé? Check out the BBC sport app to clear things up. With trustworthy reporting focusing more on fact, rather than pure speculation, this is the place for those important breaking stories.
That’s not all though. Opinion columns from some of the best pros to ever grace a football pitch add insight to the weekend’s action. And you can even stream matches from the FA Cup, FA Women’s Super League, the World Cup, and the Euros. It’s a real football feast.
Get BBC Sport on Android and iOS
5. BT Sport
Best for: watching the game on the go
It’s fine having goal updates, match highlights and more than enough stats to shake a stick at. However, there’s nothing like watching the actual match live.
Being out and about usually rules this out. But when you can’t watch on the big screen, the small screen is a great alternative. That’s where the BT Sport app comes in. Watch live football on your phone with your monthly 4G/5G data allowance. Or, if you’re watching down the pub or local café, use their free Wi-Fi and save your data.
And as BT Sport have the rights to both Premier League games and the prestigious Champions League, it’s definitely the place to be to catch a game.
Get BT Sport on Android and iOS
Don’t forget: the app is free to download, but you’ll need a BT TV and broadband package (or a monthly pass) to watch a match.
Need a new phone to take advantage of the latest apps? Our wide range of smartphones has got your back.
