Lists

Liverpool centre-back and captain Virgil van Dijk has claimed he is relishing the pressure that comes with trying to turn the club's stuttering season around. The Reds have endured a testing campaign both on and off the pitch to date, with the Premier League champions struggling to defend their crown in the wake of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota over the summer.

Randal Kolo Muani has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur’s players remain firmly united behind head coach Thomas Frank, despite mounting pressure on the Danish manager during a difficult first half of the season. With Spurs sitting 14th in the Premier League at Christmas after a run of inconsistent results, scrutiny has intensified around the club’s direction, yet Kolo Muani has offered a clear message of support from inside the dressing room.

Liverpool need to dip into the January transfer market in order to strengthen in the New Year, according to club legend Jamie Carragher. The Reds spent nearly £450 million ($607m) over the summer following their title triumph last season to bring in the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz. However, Carragher believes the Merseyside giants need to spend further next month.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has hailed goalkeeper Senne Lammens as an "absolute lifesaver" and backed the summer signing to be a first-team regular for the next decade. The 23-year-old swapped Royal Antwerp for United in September and has made a steady start at Ruben Amorim's side. And after keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day, Ferdinand has waxed lyrical about the Belgian.

Rodri has returned to the Manchester City matchday squad for the first time since featuring against Bournemouth at the beginning of November. The Spaniard has struggled for fitness following a serious ACL injury in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last September with his late showing in the 3-1 victory over the Cherries last month just his sixth league outing for Pep Guardiola's side.

Robert Lewandowski cast doubt on his Barcelona future after claiming he does not know "which direction to take" after a tough start to the season. The veteran striker, whose contract is nearing its expiry, acknowledged that no clear decision has yet been made over whether his journey in Catalonia will continue beyond this campaign after overcoming a few injury issues.

Ryan Giggs has named Gareth Bale as his country's greatest-ever player despite his impressive trophy haul for Manchester United. Giggs won 13 Premier League titles during a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford, which included four FA Cup triumphs and two Champions League successes. Even so, the Welshman believes that Bale is the best player to have ever played for Wales.

Pep Guardiola's Barcelona partnership might continue as Hansi Flick's side are reportedly eyeing a January deal with Manchester City ace Nathan Ake after he was linked with a move away in the summer. With Financial Fair Play restrictions continuing to limit their room for manoeuvre, the club are expected to focus on loan options rather than permanent acquisitions.

Arsenal have been revealed as Antoine Semenyo's preferred destination had the Gunners firmed up their interest in the Bournemouth star. Semenyo is expected to leave the Cherries in the New Year following a fine start to the season, during which he has scored eight goals and provided three assists. A host of Premier League sides have been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old.

Steven Gerrard has confessed that he may not return to football management anytime soon having turned down the 'perfect' Rangers job earlier this year. The Liverpool icon was heavily linked with a return to the Ibrox hotseat following Russell Martin's 123-day spell as Gers boss. However, despite coming close to a return to Glasgow, Gerrard opted against taking over the Rangers reins.

Ayden Heaven has lifted the lid on Ruben Amorim's formation change after Manchester United's 1-0 win over Newcastle on Friday night. Patrick Dorgu's stunning first half strike at Old Trafford was enough to secure all the spoils as United returned to winning ways at the Magpies' expense on Boxing Day. The victory saw Amorim's side go level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.

Kieffer Moore admitted there was a particular satisfaction in his Boxing Day heroics as his brace powered Wrexham to a remarkable comeback against Sheffield United. The Wales international struck twice as Wrexham overturned a two-goal deficit to claim a breathless 5-3 Championship win at the Stok Cae Ras, a contest that swung wildly before settling firmly in the hosts’ favour.

John Terry is in contention to take over as next Oxford United boss following Gary Rowett's exit two days before Christmas. The U's had won only one of their last 10 league matches, a run of form that cost Rowett his job at Kassam Stadium a year after his appointment. The 51-year-old had led Oxford to survival and a second season in the Championship having succeed Des Buckingham last December.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will watch Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa from the stands rather than the technical area, serving a one-match touchline suspension after yet another booking for dissent. Yet the Italian is not regretful for his behaviour; instead, he has struck a defiant tone, insisting he is "proud" if his players are mirroring his intensity on the sidelines.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot used his pre-match programme notes to pay tribute to forward Diogo Jota as the striker's two former Premier League sides meet at Anfield on Saturday. Wolves make the trip to Merseyside for the first time since Jota tragically lost his life in a car crash in July. The Portuguese hitman's brother, Andre Silva, was also in the car at the time.

The Christmas period is upon us, which means we are somehow already more or less at the midway point of the 2025-26 football season. As many of Europe's leading leagues pause for the winter break, it's time to take stock and reflect on four scintillating months of action. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed transfers across the continent in the summer, now that they have a decent sample size of games under their belts.

Mason Mount's 2026 World Cup dreams are all but over after the midfielder came off at the break during Manchester United's 1-0 Boxing Day win over Newcastle. Mount was replaced by youngster Jack Fletcher for the second half of Friday's narrow victory on just his 23rd league start since he left Premier League rivals Chelsea for Old Trafford back in 2022 .

Sebastián Córdova has reportedly found a new challenge in Liga MX. The 28-year-old midfielder is set to join reigning champions Toluca after his contract with Tigres expired, giving him a fresh opportunity to rediscover his best form. The move strengthens the Diablos Rojos as they chase an unprecedented third straight title.

Club América have entered a new era after announcing the sale of a 49 percent stake to global investment firm General Atlantic in a deal valuing the club at $490 million. The partnership aims to accelerate growth and innovation ahead of the Clausura 2026, while Grupo Ollamani retains control and the club’s identity remains unchanged.

Gary Neville singled out one Manchester United player for praise after the Red Devils ground out a 1-0 win over Newcastle but was critical of Ruben Amorim for his surprising changes late on in the game. Patrick Dorgu's brilliant volley gave United the lead in an excellent first-half display but the hosts had their backs against the wall after the break and had to dig deep to see out the win.

Liverpool are weighing up a bold six-month loan move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos following a devastating injury to Alexander Isak, which has left Arne Slot short in attack. With the Reds facing a crucial period of the season, the Premier League champions are exploring short-term solutions to maintain their title push while their record signing recovers.

Wrexham’s players could barely contain their pride after producing one of the comebacks of the Championship season, roaring back from two goals down to beat Sheffield United in an eight-goal Boxing Day thriller. From James McClean’s blunt verdict to emotional post-match reactions, the Red Dragons’ belief and unity were on full display at a raucous Stok Cae Ras.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has somewhat taken back his criticism of Casemiro following the Brazilian's renaissance under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford. Carragher famously said of Casemiro that "the football has left him" in May 2024, but has now slightly gone away from those remarks and stated that the 33-year-old's ability at the highest level has not entirely diminished.

No Bruno Fernandes? No problem. Manchester United picked up their first home win in two months as they edged out a 1-0 win over Newcastle without their inspirational captain. Lisandro Martinez made a thunderous return to action - taking the armband in Fernandes' absence - while Patrick Dorgu was an even bigger revelation, dazzling in attack and winning the game with a tremendous volley.

Harvey Elliott might have to settle for spending the remainder of the season at Aston Villa despite his disappointing loan spell thus far, as complications surrounding the terms of his season-long move from Liverpool have emerged ahead of the January transfer window. The 22-year-old completed a loan deal with a £35million ($47.2m) obligation to buy if he makes 10 appearances for the Villans, which appears unlikely to happen - but there are no guarantees he will return to Anfield soon.

GOAL ranks the five best players across CONCACAF after a standout 2025.

Pep Guardiola has revealed the results of Manchester City’s post-Christmas weight checks after issuing a firm warning to his squad not to overindulge during the festive break. With the Citizens closing in on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, the Catalan coach confirmed his players returned in top condition ahead of a crucial trip to Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United fans were left in awe at Patrick Dorgu after the youngster scored his first goal for the club with a brilliant volley against Newcastle United. The 21-year-old joined the Red Devils last January but hasn't quite hit the heights many would have hoped at Old Trafford. But he achieved lift-off at United with a terrific strike against the Magpies on Boxing Day.

Kieffer Moore was the match-winner for Wrexham as the striker scored twice to sink former club Sheffield United in a thrilling Boxing Day bonanza at the Racecourse. The Blades led 3-1 in the first half following a Moore error in his own box but a stunning comeback saw Phil Parkinson's side steal all three points in a 5-3 victory, which begun with an audacious Patrick Bamford backheel flick for the visitors and ended with Josh Windass powering home a penalty to complete the turnaround.