Jamie Spencer

Mary Earps is preparing for a hostile reception on her return to former club Manchester United in the Women's Champions League this week, having turned down a new contract with the Red Devils in 2024 and departed on a free transfer. Her Paris Saint-Germain side visit Old Trafford, which also comes on the tail of the storm whipped up by revelations in her autobiography.

Chelsea cruised to a 6-0 win over Austrian side St Polten on matchday three of the Women's Champions League league phase on Tuesday night, which included a landmark 150th goal scored by the club in European competition. Sonia Bompastor's Blues move up to second in the standings, at least for the next 24 hours, with Sam Kerr working hard and rewarded for her efforts.

Jack Grealish has been announced as the 2025 winner of the Herman Ouseley Award for Equality and Inclusion, presented the accolade by Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor. The award is named for the Kick It Out founder and former chair, Lord Herman Ouseley, who passed away last year, and under a previous guise has been won in the past by Sir Gareth Southgate and Troy Deeney.

Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri is in hot water with the FA after being accused of disgusting behaviour towards Leeds supporters during the recent Premier League clash between the clubs. The former Manchester United player has been charged over a spitting incident and has just under three weeks to respond, facing possible sanctions for his conduct.

Lionel Messi has suggested that he finds life in the United States with Inter Miami a little more palatable because the pressure is different and less intense to what he used to face in Europe with Barcelona, and then Paris Saint-Germain. It was previously the case that the 'day to day grind' would leave him in a bad mood, unable to enjoy life with his family quite so much as he does now.

Raheem Sterling's Berkshire home was the target of an attempted break-in by masked men last weekend, which happened while the player was in the house with his young family. It is the second time in the last three years that the Chelsea winger has been targeted in a burglary, with the previous incident taking place when he lived in a different area.

Lionel Messi has admitted being taken by surprise by Jordi Alba's decision to retire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, with the left-back hanging up his boots alongside Sergio Busquets. The trio previously enjoyed much success over many years as Barcelona team-mates, but Messi will very soon plough on alone in Florida.

Michelle Agyemang worryingly left the pitch on a stretcher as England beat Australia 3-0 at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday night. The up and coming teenage forward has made a huge impact since bursting onto the international scene for the Lionesses earlier this year, going on to play a decisive role at Euro 2025, but could now be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

In the battle of North Wales versus South Wales, Wrexham fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, with the latter advancing to the quarter-finals. A 71st-minute strike from former Manchester United defender Will Fish made the difference in the end, after Red Dragons substitute Kieffer Moore had earlier cancelled out Yousef Salech's opener for the Bluebirds.

James Trafford found himself in the bizarre situation where he was both bought and replaced by Manchester City during the same transfer window this past summer, starting the 2025-26 season as the main man between the sticks but promptly dropped. Pep Guardiola is still an admirer, though, ultimately tipping the goalkeeper for a big role with England in the future.

Saudi Arabia's efforts to make waves in the sporting world look set to continue when the wealthy Gulf nation hosts the 2034 World Cup. But a football stadium 350 metres off the ground seems ambitious even for them following the viral emergence of concept designs for a brand new venue dubbed the NEOM Stadium. A list of 15 host stadia complete with concept art was first revealed in the summer of 2024.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to fitness could not have come at a more important time for Real Madrid, following the loss of Dani Carvajal to injury. It comes just a week before Los Blancos are due to face Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield, only five months after Alexander-Arnold decided to end a 20-year association with his boyhood team.

Marcus Rashford has been accused of lacking accountability for the problems he and Manchester United faced last season. The forward fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim as results fell off a cliff, failing to apply himself in training according to the head coach, but has since joined Barcelona on loan and is enjoying his best run of form in more than 18 months.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane shared an update with fans after some time off following the FIFA Club World Cup.

Alexander Isak has been accused of not holding himself to a professional standard after having his head turned by Liverpool in this summer's transfer market.

UEFA has approved requests to play two La Liga and Serie A matches overseas, on different continents, despite European football's governing body insisting it is against domestic fixtures being hosted abroad. Supporters infuriated by the news, that includes Barcelona playing an official competitive game in Miami, have now rounded on UEFA to make their feelings known.

Georgina Rodriguez is expanding her global presence by taking to YouTube, launching a brand new channel that promises to give an up close look at her glamorous life. It comes just over a year after fiance Cristiano Ronaldo started his own hugely successful and record-breaking channel on the 20-year-old video platform that has revolutionised the way people consume media.

Ex-West Ham United centre-back Nayef Aguerd has spoken about the ordeal he was put through by what is thought to have been an overzealous fan. The defender was at the airport in Marseille, waiting to fly to Morocco to link up with his national team for upcoming games, when he was attacked out of nowhere.