Soham Mukherjee

Chelsea star Malo Gusto delivered a brutal verdict on their Carabao Cup win against Lincoln and admitted that Enzo Maresca's side were "bullied" by the minnows. The Blues found themselves on the wrong end of a League One masterclass in the opening 45 minutes, trailing 1-0 and struggling to force a single shot on target at the LNER Stadium.

Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly weighing up a dramatic exit from Manchester United in a desperate bid to keep his World Cup ambitions alive. The 20-year-old midfielder, once billed as the jewel of United’s academy, is growing increasingly disillusioned with life under new boss Ruben Amorim after being frozen out of the starting XI.

Wayne Rooney has delivered his verdict on Harry Kane, hailing him as the finest striker ever to pull on an England shirt but also warning that the Bayern Munich hitman is missing one vital ingredient. Rooney, who once held the nation’s all-time goalscoring record, believes Kane’s unmatched finishing ability makes him the definitive No. 9. Yet the former Manchester United legend also suggested that the 31-year-old lacks a certain streak of nastiness that defined Rooney’s own career.

Former Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg, revealed a bizarre incident with Cristiano Ronaldo after the Euro 2016 final. The 50-year-old former referee, now better known for trading his black kit for the bright lights of BBC’s Gladiators, was the man in charge when Portugal toppled France to lift their first-ever European Championship nine years ago.

Barcelona have reportedly made a decision on Marcus Rashford’s future amid talk of a stand off with Manchester United over a transfer fee. The England forward has slotted seamlessly into life at the Camp Nou, scoring twice and setting up two more in his last three outings. At 27, he looks rejuvenated, with his performances turning heads in Catalonia and drawing warm praise from fans.

Chelsea fans are "absolutely fuming" and have accused the Blues of exploitation ahead of Jose Mourinho's much anticipated return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. The clash has been slapped with a Category AA label, the most expensive tier in the club’s pricing structure, meaning adult general sale seats stretch up to a staggering £83.

Jose Mourinho reportedly wanted 'to attend Chelsea games' before his Benfica appointment last week, but the Blues have no plans to offer a homecoming welcome to 'Judas' for their Champions League tie next week. Fresh from his abrupt sacking at Fenerbahce after failing to secure Europe’s top table through qualification, the 61-year-old is once again prowling touchlines where he believes he belongs.

Lionel Messi's former team-mate, Diego Gomez, scored a contender for the Puskas Award with an insane 35-yard goal for Brighton in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley. The Paraguayan midfielder ripped the Tykes to shreds in the Carabao Cup, smashing home four goals in a performance that will find a place in the Seagulls' folklore.

Nathan Broadhead's super double propelled Wrexham into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of a toothless Reading. After a docile first-half, Phil Parkinson's men jumped to life after the break to score twice and progress in the competition where they might come up against an opponent from the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta joked that Arsenal players reacted angrily to being nutmegged by Max Dowman. The prospect, who made his Premier League debut in August at 15 years and 235 days, has been training with the first team since last season and even joined the squad on their mid-season Dubai trip. He has emerged as a key figure in the squad and is primed to feature in the Carabao Cup against Port Vale.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is crossing his fingers that Erling Haaland will bounce back in time for the weekend after the striker hobbled out of Sunday’s bruising 1-1 draw with Arsenal due to injury. The Norwegian powerhouse shocked fans at the Emirates when he signalled to the bench after 76 minutes, complaining of sharp pain in his back. Guardiola had little choice but to hook off his star man, raising alarm bells just days before another relentless run of fixtures.

Florian Wirtz opened up on his slow Liverpool start and insisted that he is desperate to bring out his best form amid Jurgen Klopp's "give him time" message. The German star arrived at Anfield with the weight of expectation on his shoulders after tearing up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season. And the £116 million summer signing neither wants sympathy nor excuses for his rusty beginning.

Tottenham's Carabao Cup clash with Doncaster has been thrown into the spotlight after a bizarre twist in the script as academy gem Damola Ajayi is set to line up against his parent club. The 19-year-old attacker, who only burst onto the scene last January with a thunderbolt debut strike against Elfsborg in the Europa League, was sent on loan to Rovers in the summer. Now, in a rare exception to the usual rules, he's been given the green light to feature on Wednesday night against Spurs.

Kyle Walker went out for an expensive dinner with Phil Foden and his other former team-mates ahead of Burnley's trip to Manchester City. The full-back joined a table of City stars at Fenix, a high-end Greek restaurant. Walker, who left City for Turf Moor this summer, is back in Manchester to face his former team on the pitch in the Premier League on Saturday.

AC Milan & Inter have hired the architects behind Manchester United's new stadium to build a 71,500-capacity ground, with San Siro set to be demolished. The €1 billion project will see the two fierce rivals come together off the pitch in a once-in-a-generation move. Work is scheduled to begin in 2027, with doors opening to fans in 2030.

Liverpool Women's manager Gareth Taylor paid a moving tribute to former boss Matt Beard after he passed away at just 47. Taylor admitted the shock has left a "big void" across the Reds' Melwood base and beyond. On Monday, the squad gathered in silence at training, holding a minute of reflection in his honour.

Ruben Amorim put up a passionate defence of Casemiro as he insisted that the Brazilian showed he "cares" with his reckless red card against Chelsea. The Brazilian midfielder had already found the net to double United’s lead, only to undo his own good work with a reckless challenge just before half-time. Already carrying a yellow, he lunged into another rash foul, leaving the referee with no choice but to send him packing.

Liverpool have been left devastated after confirming the sudden death of former women’s team manager Matt Beard at the age of just 47. The news has sent shockwaves through football, with tributes pouring in for a man who transformed the women’s game in England and became the most decorated coach in Liverpool Women’s history.