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Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has explained why Lionesses star Lucy Bronze missed out on Sunday's Women's Super League defeat to table toppers Manchester City. The England defender was a surprise absentee from the teamsheet at the Etihad Stadium and there will be concern that she could be unavailable for even longer, having felt pain in the same shin that she broke during the 2025 European Championship.

Manchester United hero Benjamin Sesko, fresh from netting a dramatic winner in a five-goal thriller with Fulham, admits that Michael Carrick has improved “work rate” in the Red Devils ranks - allowing an impressive run of results to be enjoyed. United edged out Fulham 3-2 at Old Trafford and have now taken maximum points from three games under their interim head coach.

Defending champions Chelsea were taught a harsh lesson as Women's Super League leaders Manchester City took a huge step towards claiming the title with a 5-1 victory over the Blues on Sunday. Kerolin struck an impressive hat-trick while Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema also got in on the act, with Alyssa Thompson merely able to register a consolation which did little to change a devastating result for Sonia Bompastor's side.

Mohamed Salah has taken a Premier League record off Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney and Arsenal great Thierry Henry, with the Egyptian superstar further highlighting his value to the Liverpool cause following a testing time at Anfield. Salah teed up one of the Reds’ four goals as they recovered from falling behind on home soil to see off Newcastle.

Lionel Messi recreated an iconic scorpion kick with legendary goalkeeper Rene Higuita ahead of Inter Miami’s latest friendly outing. The Herons, fresh from their historic MLS Cup triumph in 2025, are readying themselves for the start of a new campaign. Javier Mascherano’s side are working their way through a pre-season programme in South America.

Manchester City have one hand on the Women's Super League trophy after opening up an 11-point gap at the top of the table on Sunday by beating Chelsea, the six-time reigning champions, 5-1. Blues boss Sonia Bompastor admitted last week that she felt the title race was already over and this result only strengthened that feeling, as a Kerolin hat-trick and goals for Khadija Shaw and Vivianne Miedema gave the Cityzens what is surely an unassailable lead with just eight games remaining.

Allan Saint-Maximin’s brief spell with Club América came to an abrupt end after the French forward revealed his children were victims of a racist incident in Mexico. The situation deeply affected the player, who requested his release amid growing doubts about continuing in Liga MX, closing a short but intense chapter in Coapa.

Manchester United's winning start to life under Michael Carrick continued in dramatic fashion as Benjamin Sesko's stoppage-time strike secured a 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday. Goals from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha had the Red Devils cruising towards victory, only for late strikes from Raul Jimenez and Kevin to pull the visitors level. Sesko, however, had the last laugh when he lashed his shot into the top corner.

Noni Madueke has been awarded an Olimpico goal that has brought his 12-month drought in the Premier League to a close. The Arsenal winger was a threat throughout the Gunners’ 4-0 victory over Leeds at Elland Road, having only been drafted into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI following an unfortunate injury to Bukayo Saka. He forced a first-half goal direct from a corner.

Rumours linking Bruno Fernandes with a stunning January move to Real Madrid have been shut down by Fabrizio Romano. The transfer guru reports that claims the Manchester United captain offered himself to Los Blancos this month are "completely fake". Fernandes' future has been a frequent topic of discussion, but it appears likely that the 31-year-old will remain at Old Trafford until at least the end of the season, as his side seek Champions League qualification.

A late, if rather fortuitous, Kylian Mbappe penalty bailed out Real Madrid as they edged Rayo Vallecano, 2-1, on Sunday. Los Blancos were poor for most of the game, but a spot-kick deep into second-half stoppage time, converted by Mbappe, handed them a narrow win to stay within a point of Liga leaders Barcelona. Vinicius Jr also found the net in what was an unconvincing victory at the Bernabeu.

Marc Guehi may have felt disrespected by the failed transfer to Liverpool in the summer window and "probably" won't regret moving to Manchester City in January instead, according to former Germany international Didi Hamann. The England defender saw a switch from Crystal Palace to Anfield break down at the last minute and instead moved to the Etihad Stadium earlier this month for a reported £20 million.

Manchester United moved - at least temporarily - up to second in the Women's Super League as Lisa Naalsund's double helped Marc Skinner's side beat Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday. The Norwegian midfielder struck either side of Alice Bergstrom's equaliser before Fridolina Rolfo bagged a late third to help United pick up their third win in a row and put pressure on Chelsea before the Blues' clash with Manchester City.

Enigmatic Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has seen his behaviour criticised again, with supposed “arrogance” on the Argentine’s part being called out by an international goalkeeping rival. Uruguayan shot-stopper Sergio Rochet does not “like the way” a fellow South American is - despite the World Cup winner being considered “phenomenal” at his job.

Jude Bellingham has suffered a serious injury scare during England’s countdown to the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder was left clutching at his hamstring during a La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano. He was clearly in some pain, after crumpling to the turf, and has handed untimely fitness concerns to Blancos boss Alvaro Arbeloa and Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel.

Leicester City have reportedly been in contact with Enzo Maresca over a potential return to the King Power Stadium. The Foxes, who are struggling in the Championship, recently sacked manager Marti Cifuentes and gave the job to Andy King on an interim basis. Maresca helped the 2015-16 Premier League winners earn promotion to the top flight in 2024 after claiming England's second-tier title and has been out of work since New Year's Day when he was given the boot by Chelsea.

Declan Rice has set a “legacy” challenge for his team-mates at Arsenal, with the Gunners’ class of 2025-26 continuing to chase down major honours on multiple fronts. In the Premier League, they are seeking to become the first side since the fabled ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-04 to deliver a top-flight title to north London. Rice is determined to become an immortal in that department.

Hansi Flick criticised his Barcelona players for not scoring enough goals in Saturday's comfortable 3-1 victory over Elche. The victory kept the Catalan giants at the top of La Liga, four points ahead of rivals Real Madrid who play Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, but the former Bayern Munich and Germany boss insisted the scoreline should have been more flattering for his side given the chances they created. In the end, goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford were enough to take the points.

Ivan Toney has explained why he followed Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League, with the England World Cup hopeful netting more goals in that division this season than Portuguese GOAT CR7. Toney has also delivered a bold statement regarding the standard of competition in the Middle East and that which he previously graced in the Premier League.

An old Lionel Messi shirt sold for more than a Cristiano Ronaldo jersey as Chelsea legend John Terry parted with over 50 items in a recent auction. The pair are renowned as the two greatest players of their generation and have won a combined 13 Ballons d'Or, with Messi leading Ronaldo with eight of those awards. Terry reportedly sold items from across his career for just over $695,000, with a percentage of that figure going to the John Terry Foundation.

Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker apparently received drunk text messages from British media personality Katie Price, according to her ex boyfriend. JJ Slater, who was on the television show 'Married at First Sight', claimed the former 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' star messaged the two England internationals behind his back while they were on holiday together in Cyprus back in October 2024.

Hugo Ekitike has insisted he will 'have to keep working' if he is to live up to iconic former Liverpool strikers such as Fernando Torres. The Frenchman scored twice in Saturday's 4-1 win at home to Newcastle, prompting club legend Steven Gerrard to compare the forward to one of his former team-mates.

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has claimed he takes no offence as the club's supporters prepare to protest against the ownership at Old Trafford before Sunday's clash with Fulham in the Premier League. While Carrick has overseen victories over Manchester City and Arsenal in his first two matches of this half-season spell, Red Devils fans remain disillusioned with the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with the former presiding over a troubled time in the club's modern history before the latter's more recent investment.

Liverpool are making one final push to sign a new defender before the transfer deadline, with Lutsharel Geertruida reportedly a top target. Geertruida played under Reds boss Arne Slot at Feyenoord and is currently halfway through a season-long loan spell at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, but talks are said to have taken place over a switch to Anfield.

Norwich City have confirmed on-loan Manchester United defender Harry Amass has suffered what could be a season-ending injury a little over a week after joining the Championship club. The teenager, who spent the first half of the campaign with Sheffield Wednesday, has only just made his Canaries debut and now faces a battle to play again in 2025-26.

Pep Lijnders has revealed Jurgen Klopp would have taken his job as Manchester City's assistant manager if he himself passed on the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola. Lijnders spent several years at Liverpool with Klopp but decided to cross the divide to City last summer when presented with the chance to coach at the Etihad Stadium.

Ibrahima Konate has revealed he returned to Liverpool earlier than expected following the death of his father to help Arne Slot's injury-hit squad after scoring in Saturday night's 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. After a three-game absence with compassionate leave, the French centre-back returned to Anfield and scored the Reds' last goal of the evening from close range, being reduced to tears in front of the Kop. With defenders like Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni all missing, Konate's availability was a big plus for Slot.

Chelsea have reportedly decided against sending Aaron Anselmino back to Borussia Dortmund on loan as they did not appreciate comments made by the Bundesliga club during his initial spell in Germany. The Blues opted to recall Anselmino midway through his season-long stint at Dortmund earlier this month, much to the surprise of BVB and the player himself.

Inter Miami claimed a dramatic 2-1 friendly win over Atlético Nacional in Medellín, with Luis Suárez on the scoresheet and Germán Berterame making his first appearance for the club. Lionel Messi played 76 minutes, while a late own goal sealed Miami’s first preseason victory after a tough loss in Peru.