Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hailed "world class" Declan Rice, who shrugged off injury to score two goals in a man-of-the-match performance as the Gunners beat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Vitality Stadium. Arsenal now enjoy a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and Arteta has singled out Rice for the highest praise as his title challenge continues to gather momentum.
Ruben Amorim has defended himself against criticism that he does not take enough risks with Manchester United by insisting they are one of the most attacking teams in the Premier League. The coach has seen his tactics slammed by former Red Devils' greats such as Gary Neville and Paul Scholes in recent weeks while fans have taken against his substitutions.
Ruben Amorim had a tetchy exchange with a reporter as he refused to explain why he is veering from the 3-4-3 formation he wanted to build his Manchester United side around. The Portuguese was asked three times during Friday's press conference before facing Leeds what he had meant with previous comments about his change of heart. But each time he shied away from giving an answer.
Arsenal beat Bournemouth 3-2 to open up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, a victory which puts them on a superior trajectory to the legendary Invincibles of the 2003-04 season. The Gunners landed the title that season and the stats are adding up very favourably for Mikel Arteta’s side as they bid to land the club’s first league title in 22 long years.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has offered an update on Antoine Semenyo amid talk the winger is on the brink of a £65 million move to Manchester City. Semenyo played for Bournemouth against Arsenal on Saturday and, according to his manager, is set to feature for the Cherries again on Wednesday night against Tottenham in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane has revealed his excitement at taking charge of the team after Enzo Maresca's dramatic exit on New Year's Day. The 40-year-old, who takes charge of the club's Under-21s side, will be in the dugout opposite Pep Guardiola when the Blues visit Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.
Liverpool are reportedly close to finalising a £43m ($58m/€49.3m) transfer for Ecuador international Joel Ordonez, who has impressed at Club Brugge. The Reds defence has come under fire during their unsuccessful title defence and reinforcements are being sought after they missed out on Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi in the summer.
Chelsea's plans for the 2026 January transfer window have been revealed following the dismissal of manager Enzo Maresca. The Italian boss was given the boot on the first day of the year after falling out with the Blues hierarchy, while he also oversaw a run of three games without a win during the festive period. The west London club had a busy summer window but may not be quite as occupied when it comes to incoming arrivals this month.
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