Lists

Michael Carrick insists that Manchester United can salvage their season despite a devastating Carabao Cup exit that saw the Red Devils surrender a two-goal lead at home. The Old Trafford faithful made their feelings clear at the final whistle, greeting the manager and his players with a deafening chorus of boos after Brighton staged a remarkable second-half comeback.

Emile Smith Rowe was highly regarded at Arsenal and expected to become a Premier League star after linking up with Fulham so why, at 26 years of age, has he not “kicked on”? Ex-Cottagers midfielder Danny Murphy has attempted to answer that question for GOAL, with a “super talent” finding himself restricted to a substitute role in west London.

Unai Emery has issued a significant challenge to Alejandro Garnacho, warning the Chelsea loanee that he has fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park. Despite his high-profile arrival in the summer, the Argentine winger is currently struggling to secure minutes under the Spanish tactician.

Roberto De Zerbi is “very Marmite”, Bobby Zamora has told GOAL, but the enigmatic Italian is being backed to avoid any sack threat at Tottenham. The north London outfit have made another slow start to the season in 2026-27, but they are considered to have the right man at the helm - even if the former Brighton boss can rub a few people up the wrong way.

Dominik Szoboszlai has sent a clear message to his doubters after helping Liverpool secure a hard-fought victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup. The Hungarian midfielder, who has faced scrutiny for his recent performances, insists he is happy to play anywhere on the pitch to help Andoni Iraola’s side succeed.

AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro has publicly confirmed that the club intends to sell USMNT forward Folarin Balogun during the upcoming January transfer window. The decision comes after a chaotic summer deadline day that saw a proposed move to the Premier League fall through at the eleventh hour, leaving the Ligue 1 side with a surplus of attackers and financial obligations to meet.

Florian Wirtz has been slightly unlucky at times during his spell at Liverpool, but Danny Murphy has told GOAL that there is “no excuse” for the German playmaker to endure a second season flop at Anfield. The talented 23-year-old remains short on end product, leading to a “question marks” warning being delivered when it comes to his future.

Jurgen Klopp has launched a scathing attack on the German press following the leak of his inaugural national team squad. The 59-year-old manager did not hold back during his press conference, labelling the premature reveal of Elversberg star Felix Keidel as 'pathetic' while explaining his unique 44-man selection.

Juventus have received a significant fitness boost ahead of their Europa League opener against NEC Nijmegen with the return of Weston McKennie. Head coach Luciano Spalletti has confirmed that the USMNT international is set to be thrown straight back into the starting line-up for the continental clash at the Allianz Stadium.

Serge Gnabry is in line to make his long-awaited return for Bayern Munich against Union Berlin after spending five months on the sidelines. Head coach Vincent Kompany confirmed the forward is ready to feature following a severe muscular injury.

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham has thrown his weight behind Lionel Messi to land yet another Ballon d'Or title after the legendary forward reached a century of goals for the MLS outfit. The former England captain believes Messi's continued excellence at the age of 39, combined with his talismanic performances on the world stage, makes him the standout candidate for football's most prestigious individual accolade.

Michael Owen has told GOAL that “stars need to align” in order for Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice to achieve what Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard could not. Two iconic midfielders from England’s not too distant past never savoured Ballon d’Or glory. Could a couple of Three Lions superstars in the present eventually go on to land the prestigious Golden Ball?

Real Madrid head into the Madrid derby looking to extend their brilliant form under the spotlight. Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has warned his side about their opponents' "incredible attacking strength" ahead of Sunday's crunch clash at the Metropolitano.

Jurgen Klopp has jumped to the defence of Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz, hitting back at the "experts" who have criticised the 23-year-old's recent performances. The Germany head coach insists that the focus should remain on Wirtz’s contribution to the team rather than individual statistics alone.

Michael Carrick is facing an increasingly uncertain future at Old Trafford as the pressure begins to ramp up following a disastrous start to the new campaign. Despite only signing a permanent long-term contract in May, the Manchester United legend is already being warned that his tenure could be cut short if results do not drastically improve.

Tactical analysis highlights that Inter Milan enter their clash against Roma carrying an absolute obligation to win the Scudetto. Manager Cristian Chivu remains committed to an aggressive high-pressing identity despite recent defensive risks and key midfield adjustments.

Mykhailo Mudryk’s summer transfer was “a Tottenham thing to do” and very much a “Roberto De Zerbi signing”, Danny Murphy has told GOAL, but the Chelsea-owned winger only represents a “calculated risk” for Spurs. The Ukraine international, who has returned to action following a lengthy ban, has already picked up an injury since moving from west to north London.

Tactical analysis reveals that Gian Piero Gasperini has transformed Roma into genuine Serie A title dark horses. Featuring innovative midfield emptying mechanics and Donyell Malen's explosive movement, the Giallorossi possess the blueprint to bother Inter Milan.

Jurgen Klopp has officially ushered in a new era for the German national team by confirming Marc-Andre ter Stegen as his undisputed first-choice goalkeeper. The decision comes in the wake of Manuel Neuer’s definitive retirement from international football following his final appearance at the World Cup.

Struggling Juventus face a tricky Europa League test against Dutch side NEC and their unique 'Dickie-taka' style. Italian media highlight the aggressive approach as a major test for under-fire boss Luciano Spalletti at the Allianz Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp has officially ushered in a new era for German football by naming two distinct squads for his first four fixtures in charge of the national team. The former Liverpool manager has opted for a radical approach to the upcoming UEFA Nations League window, selecting a massive pool of 44 players to navigate a congested schedule.

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has addressed the growing backlash regarding his decision to obscure a support T-shirt for the city of Ceuta. The French forward, alongside team-mates Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate, faced significant criticism after partially covering the message during the pre-match ceremonies of Madrid's 3-2 victory over Elche.

Barcelona have officially entered a new era of dominance under Hansi Flick, with the German tactician transforming the Blaugrana into a relentless scoring juggernaut. Following a devastating 7-2 demolition of Racing Santander, the Catalan giants have secured their best-ever start to a season, while talisman Raphinha matches Lionel Messi in rewriting the club’s history books.

Alexander Isak is yet to truly convince following his record-breaking £125 million ($167m) transfer to Liverpool, but Michael Owen has explained to GOAL why the Swedish striker is not entirely to blame for those struggles. Just four goals were recorded across his debut campaign at Anfield, as fitness issues stunted his progress, but greater assistance is required from those around him.

Racing Santander manager Jose Alberto Lopez was left searching for answers after witnessing his side suffer a humiliating 7-2 defeat at the hands of a ruthless Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou. The visiting coach cut a dejected figure as he reflected on a defensive performance that saw the Blaugrana awarded three penalties in a one-sided La Liga affair.

Alejandro Garnacho’s loan spell at Aston Villa has suffered a fresh setback after Unai Emery admitted the winger is currently trailing his team-mates in the fitness stakes. The Argentine international was left as an unused substitute during Villa’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Coventry City, raising further questions about his role in the squad.

Manchester United continue to leak goals, with three more being conceded against Brighton, but Danny Simpson has explained to GOAL why Carlos Baleba could be the answer to their problems. The Cameroon international, who joined the Red Devils in a £70 million ($94m) transfer, is closing in on a return to full fitness and a competitive debut for his new employers.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has been forced to withdraw from the Brazil national team squad ahead of the upcoming international break due to an injury. The 24-year-old, who has been in sensational form in the Premier League, will miss the Selecao's matches against Australia and India.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has called for a fresh approach to the nicknames currently circulating for the club’s new-look attacking trident with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. Despite the immediate impact of the trio, the Brazilian admitted that neither he nor his teammates are particularly fond of the monikers created by the Stamford Bridge faithful.