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Emma Hayes' side had a bumpy start to the October camp, but finished off in style by overpowering New Zealand 6-0

Frank Lampard is set to swap Halloween for Hollywood this year. The Coventry City boss, known for his spooky season enthusiasm, will miss out on trick-or-treating with his kids after dressing as the Grim Reaper last year. Instead, he’ll be leading his high-flying Sky Blues into a Friday night clash with Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s Wrexham under the lights.

Former Arsenal fan favourite Andrey Arshavin has once again made headlines, and not for his footballing flair this time. The Russian icon was spotted inside a Real Madrid store this week, proudly sporting a Barcelona jersey with his name across the back. The bizarre sight instantly went viral, sparking laughter and outrage as the ex-striker displayed his anti-Madridista feelings yet again.

Who are the scariest footballers ever to play in America, at the club or international level? For Halloween, GOAL takes a look

A senior sports official claims that Saudi Arabia has turned down an offer to sign Lionel Messi on a short-term stint ahead of the World Cup. The MLS season is currently at its playoff stage and will run until early December, and is expected to return again next February for the 2026 season. The season will then go on a break next summer for the showpiece event before resuming in August.

Mohamed Salah put pen to paper on a new Liverpool contract earlier in the summer. However, the Reds hitman has made a dire start to the season having scored just three league goals as Liverpool's title defence lies in tatters. The decision to hand Salah a new deal has been criticised and heightened speculation that the champions could cut their losses on the 33-year-old.

Former Manchester City star Kyle Walker's wife Annie Kilner is set for a court trial after she was caught speeding in a luxury car worth £100,000, only months after being penalised for holding her phone while behind the wheel. Kilner's trial is scheduled to take place in March 2026, and if found guilty of the charges, she could be banned from driving.

On the heels of a breakout season with both Orlando City and the U.S. Men's National Team, Alex Freeman has been named MLS Young Player of the Year. With his win, Freeman becomes the first Orlando City player to win the award in its current iteration and the second to earn this recognition overall after Cyle Larin's Rookie of the Year win back in 2015.

Enzo Maresca has told his Chelsea players that they need to improve when they play five-man defences. The Blues came undone against Sunderland last weekend as the Black Cats secured a late 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge as Regis Le Bris opted to change his setup for the game in west London. And the Italian delivered a humorous anecdote about Ange Postecoglou's decision to use a five-man defence.

Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have both confirmed they will retire at the end of the MLS season. The former Barcelona pair moved to Inter Miami in 2023, where they linked up with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. However, in the midst of the playoffs, Messi has made a heartfelt admission as the curtain falls on the Spanish pair's playing career, which could be over in the next week or so.

Koln sporting director Thomas Kessler has moved to calm the hype surrounding rising star Said El Mala, following reports of interest from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and several Premier League clubs. El Mala has committed his future to Koln by signing a contract until 2030 and the director insists he will not be sold any time soon by the Bundesliga side.

Lisandro Martinez is back in Manchester United training after eight months on the sidelines following a serious knee injury but Ruben Amorim has warned the defender not to rush his return to action. The Argentine centre-back was keen to face Nottingham Forest this weekend, yet Amorim has confirmed he will not feature as the Red Devils continue to manage his recovery carefully.

A Super Bowl champion has offered to help Harry Kane achieve his NFL dream of becoming a kicker in American football. Kane is shining for Bayern Munich having maintained his flying start to the season with a brace against FC Koln in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday night. However, the England captain has made no secret of his love and desire to play in the NFL one day.

Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti believes that Kylian Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid did not play a role in Les Parisiens' historic 2024-25 campaign, which ended with Champions League glory. The Italian midfielder defended the 26-year-old Frenchman's accomplishments in Paris and reflected on the team's failure to win the European crown with Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Reyna had a chance to build bridges with U.S. teammates and staff, but declined 'to take all the blame' for 2022 antics

Paris Saint-Germain are moving swiftly to extend the contract of club prodigy Senny Mayulu. The 19-year-old midfielder who scored in the 2025 Champions League final is being monitored by Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea as his current contract expires in 2027. However, the French champions are finalising a contract extension that could secure the future of one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, took to social media to congratulate her grandson on receiving his first call-up to the Portugal Under-16 national team. Portugal faced Turkey on Thursday in their opening game of the Federations Cup, and Ronaldo Jr came off the bench to make his debut for the Selecao U-16 side.

Manchester United are expected to lose both Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo when the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in December. The tournament, which takes place in Morocco, starts over the festive period and runs until mid-January. United won't lose a plethora of players for the competition but the absence of both Mbeumo and Amad will hit the Premier League side hard.

Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr remain committed to extending their partnership and were close to agreeing on terms but the process has stalled after the controversial Clasico incident. Once close to finalising a new deal until 2030, talks have frozen amid growing tension between the Brazilian star and manager Xabi Alonso. Behind closed doors, a power struggle is brewing between Madrid’s hierarchy, their new coach, and Vinicius.

Pep Guardiola delivered a worrying update on Erling Haaland's injury status ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth. The 24-year-old marksman sat out City’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Swansea midweek, a result that booked their place in the quarter-finals. But it is still uncertain whether he will be fit to face Bournemouth this weekend at the Etihad.

Barcelona have identified Victor Osimhen as a potential successor to the ageing Robert Lewandowski, who is expected to leave the reigning La Liga champions at the end of the season. Osimhen joined Galatasaray permanently from Napoli ahead of the 2025-26 season in a record-breaking move, but he could return to one of Europe's big five leagues next season if Barca are serious about signing him.

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has called for introspection following the sacking of Croatian coach Igor Tudor. The Serbian forward admitted that it would be counterproductive to blame one person for the club’s poor run of form as Tudor became the third coach to be dismissed in a year and a half, stressing the onus is on the players to make sure they turn things around.

Liverpool have been dealt another piece of concerning news, as it has been reported that Jeremie Frimpong will be ruled out for six weeks following the hamstring injury he picked up at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. The Reds' £29.5million summer signing has already spent time out injured and started just one Premier League game as a result, and his latest hamstring issue will keep him out for the near future.

Romelu Lukaku’s long road to recovery may soon be over. After a brutal thigh injury sidelined him for over two months, the Belgian striker is now returning to Italy to undergo final medical assessments. Coach Antonio Conte and Napoli’s staff are hopeful of a December return, as the club looks to reignite their attack and reshape their Champions League ambitions.

Santiago Gimenez’s goal drought in Serie A has forced AC Milan to consider reinforcements ahead of the January window. The Mexico international hasn't been able to find the net in any of the opening nine games of the tournament, prompting CEO Giorgio Furlani and sporting director Igli Tare to start scouting alternatives. Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee has re-emerged as a prime target, while Roma’s Artem Dovbyk remains a fallback option if talks stall.

Liverpool have been warned that Florian Wirtz could leave in January, as Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is keeping tabs on his former Bayer Leverkusen apprentice. The German arrived at Anfield amid huge fanfare this summer for a staggering £116 million ($153m). The 22-year-old was supposed to be the creative spark to define Arne Slot’s new era. But ten games into his English journey, the German wonderkid is already under the microscope for his ordinary performances, and the pressure is mounting fast.

Paris Saint-Germain were dealt a lethal blow on Wednesday evening during a Ligue 1 encounter against Lorient, as star attacker Desire Doue suffered an injury. The youngster had to be stretchered off in tears and new reports suggest the former Rennes prodigy will be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, deepening the crisis at Parc des Princes amid a mounting injury list.

Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox has spoken about the club's continued need to invest in new players ahead of the January transfer window, as they seek to drive standards on and off the pitch following three successive Premier League wins. Approaching one year since Ruben Amorim was appointed as head coach, the Red Devils have taken strides in the right direction but Wilcox reiterated that there is still a way to go.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes revealed his "biggest regret in football" that curiously involves former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Despite lifting 25 major trophies, including 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns, Scholes confessed that his biggest regret wasn’t a missed shot or a lost final. But it was a conversation he had with the legendary manager that he wishes he could erase from his memory.