Exclusive

James Milner has explained in an exclusive interview with GOAL how he established the mindset that has allowed Ballon d’Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric to be joined in an exclusive club. Brighton star Milner - who has previously represented the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool - has become the Premier League’s all-time leading appearance maker at the age of 40.

Former Nottingham Forest star Marlon Harewood has told GOAL why Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis has every right to hire and fire managers, having worked through four in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign. Unwanted history has been made there, but the enigmatic Greek billionaire will stop at nothing in a bid to ensure that results on the field match his ambition off the pitch.

Jesse Lingard has been advised on what the biggest challenge he faces in Brazilian football will be, with the ex-Manchester United star having linked up with Corinthians. Gus Poyet knows all about life in South America, as a former Uruguay international, and he has told GOAL why Lingard could thrive in that part of the world as a result of the “aura” that he possesses.

Nottingham Forest have made Premier League history in 2025-26 by working under four permanent managers in a single top-flight campaign. Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Vitor Pereira have all filled the City Ground dugout. Ex-Reds star Marlon Harewood has discussed a “crazy” season on Trentside with GOAL and pondered how long the man currently at the helm will get.

Former West Ham striker Marlon Harewood has told GOAL that Tottenham’s struggles will provide added motivation for the Hammers in the ongoing Premier League relegation battle. Two London-based heavyweights are locked in a scrap for top-flight survival, with fierce local rivalry adding another intriguing dimension to what has already become an enthralling tussle.

Declan Rice is considered to be a leading contender for the 2025-26 PFA Player of the Year award, but Sunderland legend Don Goodman says the Arsenal midfielder “wouldn’t have an issue” with missing out to Granit Xhaka. One former Gunners star remains in the running to pip a current Premier League title contender to the most prestigious of individual accolades.

James Milner has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, explained how blending old and new school approaches have helped to make him a history-making Premier League legend. The ex-England international is a three-time title winner, with various other trophies to his name, and is still going strong at 40 years of age after mixing talent with technology.

Bruno Fernandes has often been a talismanic presence for Manchester United, but does the Portuguese playmaker hold the Red Devils back at times? Paul Parker has told GOAL why some of Fernandes’ behaviour on the pitch could be considered “brainless”, with questions being asked of whether he is the right captain to hoist another Premier League title aloft.

James Milner has told GOAL, in an exclusive interview, how “turmoil” and “luck” helped to mould him into a record breaker. The former Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool star, who is now on the books at Brighton, has made more Premier League appearances than any other player. How did he reach that point? The man himself explains.

Manchester United have announced that Casemiro will be leaving as a free agent this summer, but could the Brazilian midfielder complete a dramatic U-turn and sign a new contract? Former Red Devils star Kleberson has told GOAL that his fellow countryman would like to remain at Old Trafford as he brings Roy Keane-esque leadership to a rejuvenated squad.

Thierry Henry has leapt to the defence of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, insisting his fellow Frenchman has been unfairly criticised in his career due to the high standards expected of him. Mbappe rose to stardom with AS Monaco before securing a nine-figure move to Paris Saint-Germain and winning the World Cup with France as a key starter while still a teenager. To date, Mbappe has scored 365 times in 460 club appearances, while he has also grabbed 55 goals in 94 caps for France, second to only Olivier Giroud in Les Bleus' all-time leading scorers list. Despite these many accolades, Mbappe has never won the Champions League as a player, and despite being tipped to take home many Ballon d'Or awards in an era after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's duopoly, he has yet to claim a Golden Ball for himself.

Tottenham continue to sweat on the very realistic threat of being relegated in 2026, but would a tumble out of the top-flight trump Leicester’s title win from 2016 as the biggest shock in Premier League history? Former Spurs star Gus Poyet has told GOAL why it would, with the north London heavyweights enduring a decline of “tremendous” proportions.

Gordon Strachan has explained to GOAL what it takes to be an Old Firm manager, with the former Celtic boss admitting that “your entire life is ripped apart”. It takes a special kind of character to embrace that pressure in Glasgow, at Parkhead or Ibrox, with Martin O’Neill proving at 74 years of age that he still ticks the box when it comes to filling the most demanding of roles.

Mario Balotelli is representing the 14th club of what has been an eventful career, with a former Italy international team-mate telling GOAL why the enigmatic striker still has “that itch” to play. Giuseppe Rossi knows what ‘Super Mario’ is all about as a performer and person, and has pointed out that - amid all of the headlines - the charismatic forward has always just wanted to play.

Former Crystal Palace and Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle is the latest guest on the Beast Mode On Podcast, where he discusses his journey from non-league to the Premier League after being let go by Arsenal as a youngster. Now 36, Gayle looks back at idolising David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, why it never clicked with Tony Pulis and much more.

Tottenham eased their way into the last-16 of Champions League competition, but find themselves locked in a Premier League relegation battle. That inconsistency has left many in north London puzzled, with ex-Spurs star Gus Poyet telling GOAL why he is not buying “rubbish” excuses for domestic struggles and sees a falling giant tumbling out of the fabled ‘Big Six’.

Weston McKennie has told GOAL what leadership means to him, as a captaincy candidate with Juventus and the USMNT, while discussing the kind of characters that he likes to work alongside. The all-action midfielder is enjoying a productive 2026, with a new contract being signed in Turin, and is counting down the days to a home World Cup on American soil.

Manchester United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay in 2024 remains a “big surprise”, with the all-action midfielder thriving in Italy with Napoli. The history books have been rewritten there, with former Scotland international Gary McAllister telling GOAL why a break from tradition by the Red Devils has generated some uncomfortable questions at Old Trafford.

Legendary former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has questioned why fans that marred the latest Old Firm derby, those “wearing masks and punching police”, are being allowed to dictate how long managers spend in any given post. Wilfried Nancy lasted just 33 days in charge at Parkhead this season, while ex-Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou was given only 39 at Nottingham Forest.

GOAL Exclusive: The American midfielder discusses adversity, gratitude, and why this year’s challenges have prepared him to fight for a World Cup spot.

Weston McKennie admits that the USMNT will be under “pressure” to deliver at a home World Cup, but considers that level of expectation to bring with it “extra motivation”. The United States is counting down the days to another major tournament on American soil, with McKennie explaining to GOAL how Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will handle the demands of heat and travel.

Manchester United have been told that they made a huge mistake in allowing “phenomenal” David de Gea to leave the club in 2023. That is the opinion of former Red Devils striker Giuseppe Rossi, who returned to Old Trafford to train alongside De Gea and Co in 2019. He has told GOAL why it has taken so long for Premier League giants to get back on the “right path” in the goalkeeping department.

Arsenal will be “annoyed” at failing to win the Champions League, GOAL has been told, but that does not mean that the Gunners will “smash up” Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of this season’s competition. Former ‘Invincibles’ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere has warned Mikel Arteta’s side against complacency after being handed a supposedly favourable European draw in 2026.

Jurgen Klopp continues to see a return to management speculated on, and Gary McAllister has told GOAL that a second spell at Liverpool cannot be ruled out. The enigmatic German walked away from Merseyside in the summer of 2024, but questions are being asked of his Anfield successor Arne Slot and an emotional retracing of steps to a spiritual home is being mooted.

MLS is being urged to ditch its Lionel Messi playbook when the Argentine GOAT retires, with the division being advised to focus more on youth development. Global superstars have been crucial to the development and promotion of domestic soccer in the United States, but Giuseppe Rossi has told GOAL why a culture shift needs to take place in order for the game to truly thrive.

Frank Lampard and Coventry City have been warned that it could be a “disaster” if they fail to secure automatic promotion into the Premier League this season, given how dominant they have been in the Championship at times. Sky Blues legend Gary McAllister has told GOAL why a “big decision” in the dugout is paying off for a club that has been out of the top-flight for 25 years.

Leeds United legend Gary McAllister has explained to GOAL why the atmosphere generated at Elland Road could be worth more to the Whites than any transfer deal. Premier League status for 2026-27 is not yet guaranteed in West Yorkshire, but a passionate group of supporters are doing their bit to help ensure that Daniel Farke’s side get over that line.

Kylian Mbappe is a World Cup-winning global superstar in his own right, but can the Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ be considered to have eclipsed the legend of fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry? Jeremie Aliadiere - a former Arsenal team-mate of another ‘Invincible’ in north London - has explained why all-time lists will always be influenced by generational favouritism.

Mohamed Salah has been ranked second on Liverpool’s all-time list of Premier League superstars, with only Steven Gerrard considered to sit above the ‘Egyptian King’ of Anfield. Reds cult hero Gary McAllister has told GOAL why a modern day icon deserves a fitting finale to his Merseyside fairytale after making an “outstanding” contribution to the collective cause.