Soham Mukherjee

Mikel Arteta revealed why he substituted Bukayo Saka against Port Vale as the Arsenal star suffered a fresh injury scare during the Carabao Cup win. The Gunners marched into the next round of the domestic cup competition with a late 2–0 victory over their lower-league opposition, but the sight of the England international hobbling after a bruising challenge left fans concerned.

Steven Gerrard could be "tempted" to return to Scottish giants Rangers as the Liverpool legend contemplates a return to management. Gerrard’s name is once again echoing around Ibrox as Rangers supporters grow increasingly impatient with current boss Russell Martin. The Englishman may have scraped a much-needed domestic victory over Hibs at the weekend, but his position remains precarious.

Wayne Rooney admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo's brain blew him away as the Manchester United legend hailed his former team-mate's "selfish mentality". The pair formed one of the most devastating partnerships Old Trafford has ever seen, firing United to Premier League and Champions League glory. Yet behind the scenes, differences in mindset and priorities were already bubbling.

Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry revealed a rare quality that Harry Kane brings to Vincent Kompany's side. The striker is proving unstoppable in Bavaria. The England captain struck yet another hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 4–1 demolition of Hoffenheim, his second treble of the Bundesliga campaign and ninth since landing in Germany.

Mason Greenwood's Marseille have been dealt a massive blow as Roberto De Zerbi was slapped with a ban after his red card against Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian boss saw red deep into stoppage time when his protests over a foul crossed the line. Initially shown a yellow card, De Zerbi’s refusal to let the matter drop and his decision to step onto the pitch pushed the referee to escalate matters. Moments later, the 46-year-old was walking down the tunnel, leaving the Velodrome in a frenzy.

Manchester United are reportedly on the verge of securing Senegalese sensation Mouhamed Dabo, after the young midfielder impressed during trials at the club’s Carrington base. According to Africa Foot, the U17 national team captain is “very close” to committing to the Red Devils, sparking excitement over another African prospect joining the club’s youth setup.

Chelsea star Malo Gusto delivered a brutal verdict on their Carabao Cup win against Lincoln and admitted that Enzo Maresca's side were "bullied" by the minnows. The Blues found themselves on the wrong end of a League One masterclass in the opening 45 minutes, trailing 1-0 and struggling to force a single shot on target at the LNER Stadium.

Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly weighing up a dramatic exit from Manchester United in a desperate bid to keep his World Cup ambitions alive. The 20-year-old midfielder, once billed as the jewel of United’s academy, is growing increasingly disillusioned with life under new boss Ruben Amorim after being frozen out of the starting XI.

Wayne Rooney has delivered his verdict on Harry Kane, hailing him as the finest striker ever to pull on an England shirt but also warning that the Bayern Munich hitman is missing one vital ingredient. Rooney, who once held the nation’s all-time goalscoring record, believes Kane’s unmatched finishing ability makes him the definitive No. 9. Yet the former Manchester United legend also suggested that the 31-year-old lacks a certain streak of nastiness that defined Rooney’s own career.

Barcelona have reportedly made a decision on Marcus Rashford’s future amid talk of a stand off with Manchester United over a transfer fee. The England forward has slotted seamlessly into life at the Camp Nou, scoring twice and setting up two more in his last three outings. At 27, he looks rejuvenated, with his performances turning heads in Catalonia and drawing warm praise from fans.

Chelsea fans are "absolutely fuming" and have accused the Blues of exploitation ahead of Jose Mourinho's much anticipated return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. The clash has been slapped with a Category AA label, the most expensive tier in the club’s pricing structure, meaning adult general sale seats stretch up to a staggering £83.

Jose Mourinho reportedly wanted 'to attend Chelsea games' before his Benfica appointment last week, but the Blues have no plans to offer a homecoming welcome to 'Judas' for their Champions League tie next week. Fresh from his abrupt sacking at Fenerbahce after failing to secure Europe’s top table through qualification, the 61-year-old is once again prowling touchlines where he believes he belongs.

Lionel Messi's former team-mate, Diego Gomez, scored a contender for the Puskas Award with an insane 35-yard goal for Brighton in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley. The Paraguayan midfielder ripped the Tykes to shreds in the Carabao Cup, smashing home four goals in a performance that will find a place in the Seagulls' folklore.

Nathan Broadhead's super double propelled Wrexham into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of a toothless Reading. After a docile first-half, Phil Parkinson's men jumped to life after the break to score twice and progress in the competition where they might come up against an opponent from the Premier League.

Barcelona’s hopes of returning to Camp Nou this weekend have been dashed once again as the City Council refused to grant the licence needed to reopen the stadium. Hansi Flick’s side, amid ongoing renovations, were aiming to host Real Sociedad at a reduced capacity of 27,000 at Spotify Camp Nou, but security concerns have forced the club to look elsewhere.

Mikel Arteta joked that Arsenal players reacted angrily to being nutmegged by Max Dowman. The prospect, who made his Premier League debut in August at 15 years and 235 days, has been training with the first team since last season and even joined the squad on their mid-season Dubai trip. He has emerged as a key figure in the squad and is primed to feature in the Carabao Cup against Port Vale.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is crossing his fingers that Erling Haaland will bounce back in time for the weekend after the striker hobbled out of Sunday’s bruising 1-1 draw with Arsenal due to injury. The Norwegian powerhouse shocked fans at the Emirates when he signalled to the bench after 76 minutes, complaining of sharp pain in his back. Guardiola had little choice but to hook off his star man, raising alarm bells just days before another relentless run of fixtures.

Florian Wirtz opened up on his slow Liverpool start and insisted that he is desperate to bring out his best form amid Jurgen Klopp's "give him time" message. The German star arrived at Anfield with the weight of expectation on his shoulders after tearing up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season. And the £116 million summer signing neither wants sympathy nor excuses for his rusty beginning.