Chris Burton

Florian Wirtz's situation at Liverpool has been likened to that of Darwin Nunez, with Peter Crouch confident that Reds supporters will take the German playmaker to their hearts. Wirtz has endured a tough start to his spell in English football, on the back of a £116 million ($156m) transfer, but he will boast the full support of those in the stands if he continues to give his all to the collective cause.

Gareth Southgate has reportedly laid out his demands for a "four-year rebuild" at Manchester United, with the ex-England boss continuing to see a return to management at Old Trafford speculated on. That is because current Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim finds himself falling under ever-increasing pressure, with more change in the dugout being mooted less than a year after reins were handed to the highly-rated Portuguese tactician.

Ange Postecoglou has made history at Nottingham Forest, but not the kind that the Australian coach was hoping for. The former Tottenham manager has failed to win any of his opening six games as Reds boss, since being appointed as successor to Nuno Espirito Santo. His latest setback came in a Europa League clash with Midtjylland, with fans at the City Ground airing their anger before the final whistle blew on Trentside.

Barcelona legend Xavi would be “tempted” by the project at Manchester United if Ruben Amorim were to be removed from his post at Old Trafford and an official approach was made, claims Gaizka Mendieta. The Red Devils continue to see more change in their dugout mooted, with speculation rife regarding who could be handed the reins if the decision is taken to move in a different direction.

Manchester City stand accused by La Liga president Javier Tebas of “losing money and cheating” for 10 years. The Premier League heavyweights currently find themselves at the centre of a long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga, with serious questions being asked of whether rules were breached. Tebas is less than impressed with goings on in England, while he has also taken aim at Champions League title holders Paris Saint-Germain.

Kylian Mbappe was left raving about Achraf Hakimi’s performance for Paris Saint-Germain in the French side’s Champions League victory over Barcelona, with the Real Madrid superstar admitting that his close friend is “too much” to handle when performing at the peak of his powers. The buccaneering full-back put in another classy display as the reigning kings of European football claimed another notable scalp in Catalunya.

Wayne Rooney claims that under-fire Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim would be “absolutely slaughtered” if he made selection calls similar to those which saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool suffer a disappointing Champions League defeat at Galatasaray. The Reds have now come unstuck in their last two fixtures, with the odd question being asked of why a Dutch tactician at Anfield is tinkering so much.

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been told - in an exclusive interview carried out by GOAL - that he would have “no chance” of winning the Ballon d’Or at Liverpool, as Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer is offered advice on how he could push himself into contention for the most prestigious of individual honours. Those words have been delivered by Blues legend Gus Poyet, who continues to keep a close eye on European football.

Lionel Messi is seemingly ready to extend his association with Inter Miami, with a new contract being mooted that will keep the Argentine GOAT in MLS. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has, however, been told that the “God-given” physical attributes that he possesses would make him a star in MMA if he ever fancied swapping a rectangular football field for a fighting octagon.

Liverpool, along with every other Premier League club, could be set for a mega pay-day if Manchester City are found guilty in their long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) case. At least 115 charges have been hanging over the Etihad Stadium since February 2023. A final ruling, following an independent hearing, is expected at some point in the near future, with several potential outcomes still being speculated on.

Manchester United have received a shock update on Gareth Southgate’s plans as Ruben Amorim continues to see questions asked of how much longer he will remain in charge at Old Trafford. Change is being mooted as the Red Devils struggle to establish any kind of momentum and consistency. It has been suggested that former England manager Southgate will be in contention if a prominent Premier League managerial post opens up.

Gus Poyet, in an exclusive chat with GOAL, has brutally explained why there is little chance of Harry Kane ending up at Manchester United if the England captain decides to return to the Premier League from Bayern Munich. There are said to be clauses in the prolific striker’s contract that could allow him to head home in 2026, but Old Trafford is not expected to be his next destination.

Paris Saint-Germain stars “don’t give a damn” about what opponents have to say when it comes to ‘best team in the world’ titles, with Lamine Yamal and Pedri being made to eat their words as the current holders of the prestigious Champions League crown secured another notable victory over Barcelona. A thrilling contest in Catalunya, which swung one way and then the other, ended in dramatic circumstances as PSG snatched a 90th-minute winner.

Manchester United are reportedly lining up a reunion with former fan favourite Cristiano Ronaldo. The Red Devils have been left with a £100 million ($135m) financial hole to fill after missing out on European qualification for 2025-26. It has been suggested that glamorous midweek friendlies could be arranged in a bid to raise much-needed funds, with one of those potentially seeing Ruben Amorim’s side line up against Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr.

Alisha Lehmann has been among the revellers at Oktoberfest in Munich, with the Swiss star making a point of passing through Germany before the 2025-26 campaign gets underway with new employers Como Women. Lehmann was in a party mood when chugging a huge beer in Bavaria - as is tradition - with the former Aston Villa and Juventus star also dressing up for the occasion alongside some of her club colleagues.

Antony claims to have been “disrespected” by Manchester United before his summer transfer to Real Betis was completed. The Brazil international enjoyed a productive loan spell with the Liga outfit over the second-half of last season and made it clear that a return to Andalusia was his preference. The Red Devils did not make that process easy, with Antony taking to holing up in a hotel at one stage as he endeavoured to push a deal through.

Jurgen Klopp has brutally roasted Manchester United, with the former Liverpool boss able to laugh at the struggles being endured by his former arch-rivals. The German tactician spent nine years locked in Premier League battle with the Red Devils, and ultimately emerged victorious as he was able to awaken sleeping giants on Merseyside from their slumber and turn them into serious contenders for the biggest domestic and continental prizes.

Joe Cole has joked that Jose Mourinho, who he worked under at Chelsea, must have “kicked Daniel Levy's cat” at Tottenham to deserve being sacked on the eve of a major cup final. The outspoken Portuguese was relieved of his duties in north London after guiding Spurs to the 2021 League Cup final. The decision to part with a proven winner raised a few eyebrows, with the Special One still chasing down tangible success at 62 years of age.