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.
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.
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.
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.
Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have been told to "go for it" in the January transfer window as they bid to secure a Premier League promotion. The Red Dragons were the Championship's biggest spenders over the summer and they are now within touching distance of the playoffs. As a result, ex-defender Curtis Davies thinks they should "double down" and invest again this month.
Inter Miami CF have signed goalkeepers Rocco Ríos Novo and Luis Barraza on permanent deals, terminating the contract of veteran Oscar Ustari in the process. Ríos Novo spent last season with the club and started in the MLS Cup final. Separately, defender Tomas Aviles will join CF Montreal on loan for more playing time.
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. However, the 30-year-old is potentially unlikely to feature again this campaign.
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 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.
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.
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.
Wayne Rooney watched on incognito as his son, Kai, made his first Old Trafford appearance for Manchester United. The Red Devils' Under-18s took on Derby in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at the Theatre of Dreams on Friday night and claimed a 2-1 win to book their place in the next round. Darren Fletcher's side are one of the favourites to go the distance in the competition this season.
Michael Carrick’s first game back in charge of Manchester United was a euphoric occasion, with his side’s dominant win over Manchester City bringing a smile to every person present at Old Trafford. Well, almost every person. Benjamin Sesko did not get on the pitch during the 2-0 win, raising questions about his place in Carrick’s thoughts and his team for the rest of the season.
Three years on from his seismic arrival at Chelsea after one of the most dramatic transfer sagas in recent memory, Enzo Fernandez is facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge. Supposedly growing disillusioned with life under BlueCo, the midfielder has been linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs - and his current employers are said to be willing to do business.
U.S. Men's National Team striker Patrick Agyemang scored another goal on Friday to continue his recent hot streak with Derby County. Agyemang, who joined Derby this past summer, helped earn his side a 1-1 draw with West Brom. The 25-year-old now has eight league goals in 24 matches this season. The Rams now sit eighth on the table.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has confessed that the club’s ongoing contract standoff with Vinicius Junior is completely out of his hands, despite expressing his desperate hope that the Brazilian superstar remains at the Bernabeu. The future of the Ballon d'Or contender remains uncertain, with the forward’s representatives currently in the capital, yet fresh speculation over a lucrative exit refuses to disappear.
Everton have announced Jack Grealish has suffered a stress fracture to his foot, which could reportedly sideline the winger for around two months. The 30-year-old joined the Toffees on a season-long loan from Manchester City at the start of the season in the hope of earning more regular game time. However, this latest injury has put his dreams of being named in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy.
Liverpool will reportedly recall on-loan Roma defender Kostas Tsimikas if Andy Robertson joins Tottenham this month. The Scotland international is out of contract at Anfield this summer and has struggled for game time following Milos Kerkez's arrival. As Spurs begin talks with the 31-year-old, the Reds may bring back their Greek full-back as cover.
Michael Carrick has hailed Kobbie Mainoo's "quality" and admits he is enjoying working with the young Manchester United midfielder. The 20-year-old was relegated to being a fringe player under former Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim as he did not quite fit into his 3-4-3 system. However, it appears that the England international will get more of a chance under interim boss Carrick.
Manchester United were reportedly 'stunned' to learn that a deal for Arsenal-linked Benjamin Sesko was on last summer. The Slovenian international looked set to swap RB Leipzig for the Gunners, but Mikel Arteta's men swooped for prolific Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres instead. That left the door open for United to sign Sesko and now the two strikers will face one another this weekend.
Liam Rosenior says he has spoken to Cole Palmer about his Chelsea future amid talk of the playmaker being homesick. The 23-year-old grew up in Manchester and reports emerged earlier this week claiming he misses his hometown. However, Blues boss Rosenior insists that the England international is "very happy" at Stamford Bridge and that "every player has problems".
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
