Premier League pair Liverpool and Manchester City are set to be embroiled in a club vs country row ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations later this year. The duo are expected to be without respective forwards Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush for the end of 2025 and start of 2026. However, both sides are unlikely to release their players for a pre-AFCON friendly in mid-December.
Benfica presidential candidate Joao Noronha Lopes has sensationally confirmed that he has been in talks with Manchester City star Bernardo Silva “for a long time” about a return to his boyhood club. Speaking during a campaign debate ahead of November’s decisive election, Lopes reiterated his promise to bring the Portuguese international back to Lisbon if elected.
Michelle Agyemang has been backed to come back stronger after suffering a season-ending ACL injury on international duty. The teenager moved to Brighton on loan last season and re-joined the south coast side over the summer, and started the campaign well with one goal in her opening five WSL outings. However, Agyemang won't play again this season after falling foul to the issue in midweek.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has challenged Lucas Paqueta to lead the Hammers' revival after the FA formally closed its spot-fixing investigation into the Brazilian. Cleared of all major charges but sanctioned for non-cooperation, Paqueta is now being urged by his manager to embrace his No.10 role and help drag the Irons out of the relegation zone.
Paul Pogba’s long-awaited Monaco debut has been delayed yet again after the midfielder picked up an ankle injury in training just 24 hours before his expected return. The 32-year-old, who last played competitively over two years ago, is now set to miss this weekend’s Ligue 1 clash against Paris FC, with his first appearance for the club pushed back beyond the November international break.
Coventry made the trip to Wrexham on Friday night as Frank Lampard's side looked to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points. The Sky Blues have started the season brilliantly, winning eight and drawing four of their opening 12 games. However, their unbeaten run ended on Halloween as a Kieffer Moore hat-trick earned the Dragons just their fourth league win with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
Mary Earps has revealed she is in a same-sex relationship. The 32-year-old, who retired from international football earlier this year, was key as England secured Euros glory in 2022. Earps, who now plays for French side PSG having left Manchester United in 2024, revealed all in a statement to the BBC on Friday so that the revelation was shared on her own terms.
Laura Harvey, who has coached the Seattle Reign since 2021, revealed that she used ChatGPT to help form her tactics this season. The English manager admitted that the AI system helped her lay out a defensive system, which she then put into place for her playoff-bound Reign ahead of the campaign. They are currently fourth in the NWSL after finishing 13th last season.
He's used to terrifying defences but on Friday Manchester City striker Erling Haaland completed his transformation into the Joker for Halloween to scare unsuspecting fans. The Norwegian goal machine donned the famous purple suit, face paint and green hair to torment residents in Manchester given opposition backlines a brief reprieve before returning to action this weekend.
Jordon Ibe, once one of English football’s brightest young talents and a £15 million Liverpool export, has joined eighth-tier side Sittingbourne as he looks to “rediscover the joy of football.” The 29-year-old winger, who previously starred in the Premier League with Bournemouth, has embarked on a new chapter in non-league football after his move to Sweden fell through earlier this year.
Senne Lammens has admitted he appreciates chants from Manchester United fans comparing him to Peter Schmeichel. Schmeichel moved to United in 1991 and went on to become one of the most revered goalkeepers in the game. The Danish icon is still adored by supporters despite moving to rivals Manchester City in 2002, having been influential in numerous title triumphs during his nine-year Old Trafford stay.
Oliver Glasner has criticised the football authorities over Crystal Palace's impending fixture pile-up. The Eagles booked their spot in the next round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night as they eased past an inexperienced Liverpool at Anfield. An Ismaila Sarr first half brace and Yeremy Pino's late strike set up a fifth-round clash with Arsenal as Palace secured a 3-0 win on Merseyside.
The Premier League has confirmed a dramatic change to one of English football’s most cherished traditions, with only one fixture set to take place on Boxing Day this year. Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle United at Old Trafford will be the sole Premier League match on December 26, breaking with decades of festive scheduling that typically sees a full slate of games across the country.
Wayne Rooney has revealed that former Manchester United teammate Carlos Tevez was his favourite strike partner at Old Trafford, snubbing Cristiano Ronaldo. The Red Devils legend said he shared a 'special connection' with Tevez during their two seasons together, describing their aggressive, hard-working style as the perfect blend that made them a nightmare for defenders.
Newcastle United’s wait to see Yoane Wissa in action goes on. The £55 million summer signing has suffered another delay in his recovery from a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury sustained while on international duty with DR Congo. Eddie Howe has confirmed that Wissa is “not close” to making his debut and will almost certainly remain sidelined until after the November international break.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has pleaded with supporters to roar the team on when they face Chelsea on Saturday. The Blues make the short trip across the capital to take on their rivals as Spurs look to build upon their fine start to the season. The north London side have a dire home record, having won just three of their last 18 league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Pep Guardiola has described what an honour it is to have watched Phil Foden's rise up close as the midfielder prepares to play his 200th game for Manchester City. The 25-year-old will reach the milestone if selected to face Bournemouth on Sunday. The coach, however, is staying out of the debate over whether Foden should be recalled to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel.
England fell to a 1-0 loss to Scotland earlier this week and were defeated by the same scoreline by Lithuania on Friday. Tomas Jonyla scored the only goal of the game as he got the better of George Mair with a 17th-minute free kick. Lithuania were able to hold out for a narrow victory, which leaves England with a mountain to climb if they wish to progress to the U17 Euros.
Dani Dyer has admitted that the son of Jarrod Bowen sings the X-rated chant about the West Ham captain to the former Love Island star. Bowen and the daughter of Danny Dyer started dating in December 2021 and were married in May this year. The England international has a son, Santiago, from a previous relationship, and Dyer revealed that he sings the chant to her.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has downplayed concerns surrounding his side’s defensive weakness from set-pieces ahead of Sunday’s London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. With Spurs emerging as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous dead-ball sides, the Italian insists Chelsea are working to correct their vulnerabilities as they look to turn mixed domestic form into consistency.
Wojciech Szczesny has recommended the Real Madrid and Barcelona players to practice "meditation and breathing" in the aftermath of last weekend's El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu. Tempers flared between the players of the two rivals following the hosts' 2-1 win, with the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Junior, and Lamine Yamal engaging in a tense exchange.
New Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has urged his players to be ambitious and set their sights on winning the Scudetto this season. The Italian tactician, who replaced Igor Tudor at the helm, emphasised that the players will be the driving force behind any potential turnaround, insisting that their mentality and commitment will determine how far the team can go.
Head coach Vincent Kompany has issued a simple but urgent warning to his Bayern Munich players: do not commit "stupid fouls" against Bayer Leverkusen. The coach has identified free-kick specialist Alejandro Grimaldo, who has scored four direct set-pieces already this season, as the primary threat to Bayern's perfect record in Saturday's Bundesliga clash.
Pep Guardiola has revealed that both Erling Haaland and Rodri have recovered from their respective injuries and will be fit for Manchester City's Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Sunday. Haaland had an injury scare during City's 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa last week but the Norwegian is ready to face Andoni Iraola's in-form side, who are second in the table.
Mohamed Salah has been in decline for three seasons according to a Liverpool legend. Emile Heskey joined the Reds from Leicester in 2000 and spent four years on the club's books until he left for Birmingham in 2004. And Heskey believes that a dip in performances is inevitable but added that if Salah isn't scoring, then it can be like playing with 10 men.
New Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti was subject to hateful banners and social media posts from Napoli supporters, who labelled the former coach as a "disgraceful man" and "a traitor." The reaction from the Partenopei fans comes after Spalletti joined their Serie A rivals in a deal until the end of the season, although the ex-Italy boss clarified that Naples will always be in his heart.
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