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Knockout Cup

Knockout Cup Overview

Sifiso Luthuli, Orlando Pirates

Former Sundowns coach reveals Buccaneers’ winning ingredient

After a few seasons of the Soweto giants showing flashes of being a dangerous outfit only to fall short at crucial moments, the Sea Robbers have produced a commendable run of form, signaling their intent to go for everything in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League season. The Bucs have already lifted three trophies before the halfway mark of the campaign — the MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup, and Carling Black Label Cup — while also sitting top of the league table, underlining their growing authority and consistency.

Abdeslam Ouaddou, Orlando Pirates

‘Chiefs coach can only run like Ouaddou when fans chase him with a sjambok! He can outrun Matlou!'

The former Morocco defender was captured in a moment of connection with his players after the Buccaneers beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 to win the Carling Knockout at Peter Mokaba Stadium last Sunday. The Soweto giants' coach sprinted on the pitch with his players in hot pursuit to shower him with champagne in celebration of their triumph and second major trophy of the season.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Orlando Pirates

Mbokazi believes 'winning energy' from Pirates will carry Bafana at AFCON

The Buccaneers were rewarded with their impressive domestic form as they produced nine players for Hugo Broos' South Africa, who will be in Morocco from December 21 to challenge for the continental glory. The 20-year-old defender who recently sealed a move to the Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire is convinced Bucs players will play a starring role for the national team at the tournament.

Marcelo Allende, Mamelodi Sundowns, October 2025

Allende, Vilakazi, Sundowns and Chiefs high-profile players set to face Pirates in Carling Cup

The Sea Robbers have been excellent in local competitions since the 2025/26 season began, already netting two crowns. This weekend, they have a chance to win another one, although unofficial, when they come up against a team selected by the fans at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Amakhosi and Masandawana have each produced four players in the starting side as voted in.

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Standings

PosTeamPWDLFA+/-PTSForm
1Bayern Monaco crestBayern Monaco322651116358183
D
W
W
W
W
2Borussia Dortmund crestBorussia Dortmund32207565323367
L
W
L
L
W
3RB Lipsia crestRB Lipsia32195863422162
L
W
W
W
W
4Bayer Leverkusen crestBayer Leverkusen32177866432358
W
W
L
W
W
5VfB Stoccarda crestVfB Stoccarda32177866462058
D
D
L
W
L
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Frequently asked questions

Manchester United and Liverpool both have 20 top-flight league titles to their name, and are the most successful sides in English history for league wins. With Liverpool securing their second Premier League in the 2024-25 season, they've won two in the Premier League era and 18 prior to its creation. By contrast, Manchester United have won 13 Premier League titles and seven before the league's inception, last winning a Premier League title at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

The Premier League in its current format has 20 teams. The first-ever season of the Premier League era in 1992-93 featured 22 teams, which was then reduced to 20 teams ahead of the 1995-96 season.

Garath Barry leads the way with 653 appearances for four different clubs: Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton and West Bromwich Albion. James Milner is second with 637, winning PL titles with both Manchester City and Liverpool. He is still playing with Brighton, so could surpass Barry if he carries on. Third is Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, with 632 appearances.

Jimmy Greaves, widely regarded as the most prolific English goalscorer ever, but Alan Shearer is the Premier League's top scorer of all time, with 260 goals across a famed career for both Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.

Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs holds the record for the most assists in Premier League history. Giggs spent his entire career at Old Trafford, making 672 appearances and registering 162 assists between 1991 and 2014.

Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri is the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League. Nwaneri was just 15 days and 181 days old when he made his debut for the Gunners against Brentford in the 2022-23 season.

Stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona, Steven Gerrard, Dennis Bergkamp, Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah (still playing) have all featured in the Premier League era.

Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Thomas Tuchel, Jurgen Klopp, and Arsene Wenger are among the most famous managers to have taken charge of a Premier League club.

Manchester United's Old Trafford is the biggest stadium in the league with a capacity of 74,310.