Van Dijk slams refereeing and calls out VAR after mistake costs Liverpool as the Reds lost 3-2 in dramatic fashion. The Netherlands international believes he was fouled and blames the referee and VAR technology for not awarding a free-kick just before Amine Adli scored the winner.
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, approximately 200 furious Benfica fans stormed the club's training ground in Seixal on Saturday morning to protest a string of disappointing results. The disgruntled supporters confronted manager Jose Mourinho, as well as star defender Nicolas Otamendi and technical director Simao Sabrosa, demanding answers for the team's poor progress this season.
Kylian Mbappe scored two and Real Madrid were solid defensively in a relatively uneventful 2-0 win over Villarreal. Los Blancos were far from brilliant, but they were effective, and grabbed two second-half goals to secure a victory that sent them top of La Liga for at least 24 hours, ahead of rivals Barcelona playing Oviedo on Sunday afternoon, with the chance to put themselves back at the summit.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to 13th-place Augsburg, their first league loss of the season and there was a spiteful sting in tail from their opponents, who took to social media to crow about their stunning victory. The victory narrowed Bayern’s lead at the top of the table as Harry Kane drew a rare blank, but was also in Augsburg media department’s targets.
Virgil van Dijk attracted criticism after being at fault as Bournemouth opened the scoring during Liverpool's trip to the south coast on Saturday night. The Reds captain failed to clear a long ball into his team's penalty area, allowing Alex Scott to cross for Evanilson to put the Cherries ahead. The Dutchman has made some uncharacteristic errors during a difficult season for Arne Slot's side so far and this latest mistake brought him further under the microscope.
Liverpool's defensive frailties were their undoing once again after Arne Slot's side lost with the last kick of the match, beaten 3-2 in dramatic fashion by Bournemouth at a rain-soaked Vitality Stadium. The Red were behind midway through the first-half after captain Virgil van Dijk failed to deal with a long pass into the box and the hosts' lead was doubled moments later. The Reds battled back into the match, but were sunk in the last second as Amine Adli stabbed the ball home to send the Cherries fans delirious.
Thomas Frank was hit by chants of "sacked in the morning" from Tottenham fans after the Danish manager's side dropped more points in the Premier League in a 2-2 draw with Burnley. The former Brentford boss has been under immense pressure after a string of poor domestic performances throughout the 2025-26 season, despite sitting in the top eight of the Champions League. Spurs have only managed 28 points from 23 league games and have a seriously tough run of fixtures coming up in February.
Chelsea are among a number of Premier League clubs closely monitoring Paris Saint-Germain's teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye, following his eye-catching performances at the recent Africa Cup of Nations. The 18-year-old has emerged as one of Europe's most exciting prospects, but PSG are determined to retain their rising star and are reportedly working on a new contract.
Trinity Rodman became the highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world by staying in the NWSL. GOAL breaks down what that decision means - and the challenges that came with it.
Pep Guardiola went on an extraordinary tirade against Premier League referees after Manchester City were denied a penalty against Wolves due to an official overruling VAR. City earned a comfortable 2-0 win thanks to goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo but Guardiola's mood changed when asked about referee Farai Hallam opting against giving his side a spot-kick in the first half.
Granit Xhaka was involved in an argument with a West Ham United supporter during Sunderland's 3-1 defeat at London Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Black Cats captain was ruled out of the fixture due to an ankle injury and was sat among his team-mates while the row with the Hammers fan occurred. A break in play allowed referee Thomas Bramall to pause the game and put an end to the incident.
Liam Rosenior has given an update on suspended Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk and says he hopes to speak with the Ukrainian soon. The 25-year-old has not played competitively since November 2024, having been charged with a violation of the English FA's anti-doping rules in June 2025 following a failed drug test. Mudryk's career has been stuck in limbo ever since having been placed under an indefinite provisional ban, which could eventually be upgraded to a four-year suspension.
Wrexham scored two goals deep into time added on to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 in a chaotic finish to the clash at Loftus Road. The Hoops looked good for the three points until goals from Josh Windass and Oliver Rathbone sealed a stunning comeback win for Phil Parkinson’s side who move up into sixth place in the Championship table and into the play-off spots.
Manchester City strolled to their first Premier League victory of 2026 as Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo fired Pep Guardiola's side to a 2-0 win at home to Wolves. Erling Haaland was the most eye-catching absentee from the starting XI as Guardiola made six changes from the side who were battered 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, while Marc Guehi made an impressive debut.
Bayern Munich fell to a shock Bundesliga defeat on Saturday afternoon as they were beaten 2-1 by relegation-threatened Augsburg. Hiroki Ito had headed the German giants into a first-half lead, but Bayern were sloppy throughout the contest and fell behind after goals from Arthur Chaves and Han-Noah Massengo. Vincent Kompany's side could now see their lead at the top of table cut down if nearest challengers Borussia Dortmund beat Union Berlin.
Football fans and TV lovers were treated to the sight of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry sitting alongside superstar actor Jason Sudeikis, creator and star of the hit show Ted Lasso, at Stamford Bridge for the highly anticipated Women's Super League clash between Chelsea Women and Arsenal Women. The celebrity duo watched on as the visiting Gunners secured a crucial 2-0 victory over their London rivals.
The reason behind Chelsea's continued lack of a front-of-shirt sponsor has been revealed, with the Blues still playing in plain jerseys as they search for a new backer. The Premier League giants' last long-term sponsorship deal was with telecommunications company Three and that came to an end upon the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign. They have since bared the names of Infinite Athlete and DAMAC on their shirts, though both partnerships were short-lived.
Diego Simeone has hit back at criticism aimed at Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. The Argentine striker moved to Atletico 18 months' ago, joining from Manchester City for £81.8m. Alvarez enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in Spain, scoring 17 times and laying on an additional four assists for Los Colchoneros. However, the 2022 World Cup winner is enduring a testing second season.
Pep Guardiola has dropped Erling Haaland from the starting line-up for Manchester City's Premier League game against Wolves amid a run of eight games without scoring from open play. Haaland had started all 22 of City's previous league games, scoring 20 goals. But he last hit the net against Brighton from the penalty spot in early January and has not scored in open play since December.
Arsenal were imperious at Chelsea in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off as second-half goals from Beth Mead and Mariona Caldentey saw the Gunners claim a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. They moved to within one point of their capital rivals in the Women's Super League table as Renee Slegers' side returned to north London with a huge three points in tow.
Chelsea were handed a major blow to their hopes of retaining the Women's Super League title as they were beaten 2-0 at Stamford Bridge by London rivals Arsenal on Saturday. The visiting Gunners struck twice in the second half through Beth Mead and Mariona Caldentey, with the Blues failing to come up with a response. They are now in danger of the current gap to leaders Manchester City increasing to nine points by the end of the weekend.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has sent a 'proud' message to son Kai after the 16-year-old made his Old Trafford debut on Friday night. The younger Rooney came off the bench during United Under-18s' FA Cup fourth round win over Derby with his mother and father watching on in the stands. Darren Fletcher's side had to work hard to claim victory on home turf, however.
Jason McAteer has revealed how his long-running feud with former Republic of Ireland team-mate Roy Keane was put to bed in a cafe last year. The pair shared a number of battles in the Premier League during the late 1990s and 2000s, with Keane's Manchester United often getting the better of McAteer, who played for Liverpool before a later stint with Sunderland. Now, the latter has revealed how their disagreement came to a surprising end thanks to the help of Jamie Carragher.
Manchester United have conceded that midfield target Elliot Anderson favours a summer switch to rivals Manchester City. The Nottingham Forest star has caught the attention of the Premier League pair having shone for the Tricky Trees this season. Forest are adamant that Anderson won't leave the City Ground in January and are expected to demand £100 million ($136m) to cash in on their prized asset later this year.
Jose Mourinho once fly-kicked a table in the Chelsea dressing room in a fit of rage, former Blues winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has revealed. Mourinho famously dubbed himself 'The Special One' following his first Chelsea appointment in 2004. The Portuguese boss guided the west London side to ample success across two separate stints at the Stamford Bridge helm.
Sadio Mane was given a hero's welcome by his Al-Nassr teammates following Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations success. Mane captained the Lions of Teranga to a second AFCON triumph in their history in Morocco last weekend as Senegal claimed a drama-filled 1-0 win over the tournament hosts courtesy of Pape Gueye's extra-time winner in Rabat.
Chelsea midfielder Dario Essugo has suffered a setback in his bid to return to action following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The 20-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Portuguese powerhouse Sporting CP last summer but has been restricted to just three Club World Cup outings following his arrival. Now Essugo faces another month out after a freak incident in training.
Everton star Jack Grealish's season may be over with the on-loan attacker set to undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot. Grealish joined the Toffees from Manchester City last summer and has become a key man for David Moyes' side, starting 18 of 22 league games for the Merseyside outfit. However, the 30-year-old is potentially unlikely to feature again this campaign.
Cole Palmer is believed to be 'untouchable' amid reports that the attacker is homesick and is hoping to leave Chelsea. A boyhood Manchester United fan, Palmer has been linked with a move to Old Trafford and a return to Manchester having left City for the Blues in 2023. Since making the move to Stamford Bridge, he has gone on to become a key player for the west London side.
Barcelona supremo Joan Laporta has been criticised by presidential rivals over his decision to call elections before the end of the season. The Catalan giants are owned by their members, meaning they have the chance to vote in a new club president every five years. Laporta was sworn in back in 2021, and had to call an election before the end of June.