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Borussia Dortmund are set to back Jobe Bellingham after his poor start to life in Germany. The brother of Real Madrid star Jude has struggled to make a real impact in Germany after making his move from Sunderland. Nevertheless, a new report claims that the club have full faith in his ability and are not interested in parting ways with the youngster.

Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister has issued a frank assessment of Liverpool’s season so far and revealed he believes the club made too many changes too quickly, which has caused the club to make a dreadful start to the defence of their Premier League title. And while the Argentina star has written off title hopes, he still believes his team can still enjoy success this season.

Declan Rice scored two superb second-half goals as Arsenal came from behind to seal a dramatic 3-2 success at Bournemouth and move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Rice, who was a doubt leading up to the game after missing the midweek victory against Aston Villa due to a knee injury, showed once again how crucial he is to Mikel Arteta's table-toppers with his decisive strikes which ensured the Gunners kicked off 2026 with a win.

Manchester City ace Nathan Ake admits that Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has told him that he must play more if he is to make the international squad for the 2026 World Cup. The defender has made just two starts in the Premier League so far this season and has hinted at the prospect of a January exit amid reported interest from Catalan giants Barcelona.

Enzo Maresca may be out of a job, but has been tipped to bounce back at another high level club following his surprise early departure from Chelsea. Maresca exited Stamford Bridge after a run of just one win in seven, but Premier League all-time top goalscorer Alan Shearer believes the Italian could walk into another top job in England or elsewhere as his reputation remains high, despite the troubled end to his time in west London.

West Ham were beaten 3-0 by Wolves on Saturday in a result that has left the club in dire relegation trouble and piled more pressure on manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Alan Shearer has called out the "pathetic" performance of the Hammers, as they were beaten by a Wolves team rooted to the bottom of the table and without a single win prior to kick-off at Molineux.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has confirmed the club still don’t know when Kylian Mbappe will return after the France superstar was diagnosed with an injury to his left knee. Mbappe picked up a knock in training and is expected to miss forthcoming crunch clashes with Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, and Alonso isn’t able to put an exact date on when he’ll be back in the side.

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike admits it is "difficult" to know that he is playing regularly for the Reds because of Alexander Isak's leg fracture. The £125 million ($168m) signing from Newcastle scored against Tottenham but, in doing so, was challenged by Micky van de Ven, and has since been ruled out for a significant period due to a leg fracture that required surgery.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has revealed Endrick’s ambition was behind the decision to allow him to join Lyon on loan for the remainder of the season. The Brazil star has been frustrated at his lack of playing time at the Bernabeu and has been granted his wish to leave in a bid to secure a place in the squad for this year’s World Cup in North America, Canada and Mexico.

The Kings League’s biggest stage arrives in Brazil in 2026 - here’s how the Kings World Cup Nations works and why it’s drawing global attention.

Brighton CEO Paul Barber has sent out a strong message to Manchester United over the future of Carlos Baleba, as he insists the midfielder is "not for sale" in either the January transfer window or the summer. Ruben Amorim's side are reported to be interested in signing the midfielder this month, but the Seagulls are not minded to allow him to leave.

In a celebration dubbed "Australian sport's wedding of the year," Matildas captain Sam Kerr married her long-time partner, American footballer Kristie Mewis, in a stunning private ceremony on New Year's Eve. The power couple, who welcomed their son Jagger earlier in 2025, exchanged vows in front of 120 guests at the picturesque Dionysus Villa in Perth's Swan Valley.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix were left fuming after Al-Nassr's defeat to Al-Ahli, as a Portuguese director of their opponents sprinted onto the pitch and celebrated with goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi. In doing so, he appeared to brush Felix's arm, and both he and Ronaldo were left angry at his decision to take to the field after their unbeaten run came to an end.

Ronaldo Araujo is back in Barcelona training after taking a break away from football for his mental health. Following the defender's red card against Chelsea in November, the 26-year-old requested some time off to help him refocus and rediscover his form. Off the back of his footballing pause, he is now nearing a first-team return, while manager Hansi Flick has received a double injury boost.

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been trolled by former Juventus team-mate Merih Demiral after his side lost their unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season. The Portugal international is attempting to win his first league title with Nassr but Al-Ahli dealt them a 3-2 defeat on Friday evening, much to Ronaldo's chagrin.

Harvey Elliott looks like he has already played his last Aston Villa game as manager Unai Emery revealed the decision over his future was made months ago. The playmaker swapped Liverpool for the Villans on a season-long loan move but he has barely featured for the West Midlands outfit this season. The 22-year-old is now stuck between a rock and a hard place amid his uncertain future.

Premier League clubs face unusual kick-off times this weekend, as the New Year's schedule continues apace. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all in action on Sunday, with 3pm kick-offs being aired live on television. GOAL can explain why the kick-off times are out of the ordinary as the year of 2026 gets underway.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has laid down the gauntlet to Eberechi Eze after dropping him from his XI. The playmaker joined the Gunners from Crystal Palace for an initial fee of £60 million ($81.2m) in August, and after impressing in the first few months of the season, Arteta has barely called upon the 27-year-old in recent weeks. Now, he has gone as far as saying Eze needs to "improve" certain parts of his game.

Wayne Rooney has revealed that Sol Campbell did not speak to him for six months after Manchester United beat Arsenal to end their 49-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford in 2004. The former United striker won a penalty in the game, as he cut in from the right and went down easily under the challenge of Campbell, who claimed his compatriot dived.

Chelsea are reportedly 'intensifying' their efforts to recruit Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior following the sacking of Enzo Maresca. The Italian head coach was dismissed after 18 months in charge following a fraying of relations with the club's owners, BlueCo. Now, the Premier League outfit have set their sights on the 41-year-old Englishman, who may have opened the door to a mid-season switch.

Sunderland stalwart Luke O'Nien has brutally trolled Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma following their heated post-match clash at the Stadium of Light. The Mackems defender didn't play in the goalless Premier League draw but still found time to wind up the Italian stopper, while manager Pep Guardiola appeared to play the role of peacemaker after the game.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca reportedly left the club 'without saying a word to his players' amid his determination to quit. In the wake of the Blues' 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at the end of December, assistant coach Willy Caballero spoke to the media on the Italian's behalf. And as the west London outfit looks for his successor in early 2026, more details over his exit have come to light.

Pedro Neto says he felt "sad" and "surprised" at the news of Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca's sudden sacking. It appeared that tensions between the Italian and the board were heightened when the former Leicester City manager admitted he had endured his "worst 48 hours" at the club in December. Weeks on from those remarks, he has been given the boot - something Neto is disappointed by.

Manchester United have reportedly explored the conditions of signing Brighton star Carlos Baleba in January. The Red Devils tried and failed to recruit the midfielder in the summer as they refused to pay upwards of £100 million ($135m) for the 22-year-old. Despite the Seagulls holding firm on their asking price, Ruben Amorim's team have not given up trying to secure his services.

Mykhailo Mudryk has urged Chelsea fans not to "give up" on him as he hints at a return from his doping suspension. The 24-year-old was provisionally suspended in December 2024 following a positive test for banned substance meldonium, before being charged the following summer. As he appeals the decision, the Ukrainian has posted an update in a New Year's message.

After Napoli beat Bologna on December 22 to win the Supercoppa Italiana, Rasmus Hojlund posted a picture of him holding the trophy, accompanied by the words, "What a great decision looks like." Unsurprisingly, some Manchester United fans didn't react well to the perceived slight on their club. One comment on Hojlund's Instagram photo with more than 14,000 likes sarcastically congratulated the Dane for finding his 'level' before adding, "[The] Premier League is too difficult for amateurs."

Liam Rosenior has spoken out after being touted to replace Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. The Italian was dismissed from his post on New Year's Day and the Blues are in the process of selecting a new head coach, with Rosenior thought to be the leading candidate at this stage. The 41-year-old has been in charge of the Ligue 1 side for over a year and helped them qualify for the Conference League in his first season.

Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal squad to end their wait for a Premier League title this season. The Gunners have gone close over the past few campaigns, often holding strong positions at the halfway point, but they remain without a trophy since 2020. They are favourites to finish at the top of the pile but will face stern competition from the likes of Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Major League Soccer revealed the 2026 MLS Official Match Ball, introducing a striking red, white, and blue design that nods to the people, places, and culture shaping the sport across North America as the region gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Set to debut when the MLS season kicks off on the weekend of Feb. 21–22, the new match ball turns the playing surface into a symbolic map of the league.