Liverpool have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Alisson is expected to be ruled out until the November international break through injury. The Brazilian was forced off early in the second half of Liverpool's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray on Tuesday night after suffering a hamstring problem at RAMS Park, with Giorgi Mamardashvili in line to deputise.
Two decades have passed since Mexico shocked the world in Peru with a 3-0 victory over Brazil in the 2005 U17 World Cup final. For many fans, that night at the Estadio Nacional remains one of the defining moments in Mexican football history. The tournament launched the careers of players such as Carlos Vela, Giovani dos Santos and Héctor Moreno.
Tottenham have been subject to interest of a takeover bid by DJ Brooklyn Earick, but the 41-year-old has been accused of breaking takeover rules. Earick has emerged as the public face of a mystery consortium that has claimed it is willing to pay a world record £4.5bn to acquire the club. Spurs are reported to have rejected any interest from the consortium to acquire the north London side.
Marseille midfielder Arthur Vermeeren has been warned against joining Premier League giants Chelsea or Manchester United, as he has been told that he would ruin his career if he ever moves to either of the English clubs. After failing to make a mark at RB Leipzig, Vermeeren joined the Ligue 1 giants on loan towards the end of the summer transfer window.
Referee Jarred Gillett broke PGMOL protocol in the process of denying Arsenal a penalty at Newcastle last weekend. While Arsenal went on to win 2-1 at St. James' Park courtesy of late goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes, fans were incensed as Gillett overturned his decision to award a penalty in the 14th minute when it looked as though Nick Pope had fouled Viktor Gyokeres.
Premier League chief Richard Masters dropped a huge hint over the future of the 3pm blackout. The rule has been in place for the last 60 years and the Football Association has consistently policed the blackout as it is viewed as essential to protect attendances in the Football League. However, in recent years, there have been several rumours of a push to abolish the system.
Ex-Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer believes that Steven Gerrard should return to management as head coach of Wrexham or Birmingham. Gerrard, who has managerial experience with Rangers and Aston Villa, has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq at the turn of the year. And Smicer has mapped out Gerrard's career plan that'll see him take over Liverpool one day.
Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi confessed that he "dreams of wearing the AC Milan shirt" one day, adding that he regularly watches Massimiliano Allegri's team. This past summer, the Rossoneri signed Swiss international Ardon Jashari from Brugge in what was a record transfer fee received by the Belgian Pro League giants. Tresoldi dreams of following a similar pathway to the Serie A.
The Premier League are set to vote on scrapping the divisive Profit and Sustainability Rules and bringing in a new system that will be more aligned with the UEFA financial regulations. The PSR was introduced by the Premier League ahead of the 2015/16 season in a bid to prevent clubs from overspending on transfers, however, time and again, the rules have faced criticism.
France manager Didier Deschamps claims Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe possesses a remarkable range of abilities, adapting his game depending on the system, though he thrives most in a central role. The 26-year-old has recently become France’s second-highest goal scorer, surpassing national legend Thierry Henry, and continues to lead Les Bleus in their World Cup qualifiers.
AC Milan are interested in signing Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer, with his contract set to expire in 2026. His high salary could prove to be an obstacle, so Milan are also evaluating other options and may look to bring in a new striker in January. Lewandowski’s future is not limited to Milan, however, as he also has offers from Saudi Arabia.
Casemiro has received the backing of his former Real Madrid and current Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti to wear the captain's armband for the Selecao in the build up to next year's World Cup. Having marked his return to the national team setup after a prolonged absence, Casemiro hasn't lost the trust of Ancelotti, who has urged the resurgent Manchester United man to "set an example everyday."
Liverpool wonderkid Giovanni Leoni sent out a positive message after undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament surgery. Leoni suffered knee ligament damage when making his competitive debut for the club in a Carabao Cup clash with Southampton last week and will not remain out of action for almost a year. The teenage defender only moved to Anfield over the summer from Parma.
Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has set summer signing Viktor Gyokeres a huge goal target for his debut season in England. Gyokeres moved to the Gunners after a goal-laden spell with Portuguese side Sporting CP. And while the Swede has failed to score in five games, Martinelli believes that hefty goal target is attainable as Arsenal look to land domestic and continental success.
Benjamin Sesko has been sent a warning about life at Manchester United by Slovenia national team head coach Matjaz Kek, as the striker is off to a slow start at his new club. Since completing a big-money transfer from RB Leipzig to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window, the Slovenia international has managed to score just one goal in his opening seven games.
Manchester United have been told to avoid Oliver Glasner as a potential successor for Ruben Amorim. United are under pressure to sack Amorim, who has struggled since replacing Erik ten Hag at the Old Trafford last November, and replace him with the Austrian. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, though, believes the Premier League powerhouse should avoid the Crystal Palace boss.
France head coach Didier Deschamps admitted that he has no doubt that Paul Pogba's goal is to return to the national team ahead of next year's World Cup in the USA. At a press conference on Thursday, Deschamps explained what the 32-year-old must do in order to earn a recall to Les Bleus' squad, with the ex-Manchester United and Juventus player expected to make his Monaco debut later this month.
Several big names are returning to the U.S. men's national team squad as Mauricio Pochettino has named a 26-player roster for October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. Among the key returnees are Weston McKennie, Matt Turner and Antonee Robinson - all of whom missed the September camp - as they join headliners Christian Pulisic and Chris Richards.
From Stamford Bridge to the fairways of New York, Gianfranco Zola has lived a life of sporting triumphs, with his latest joy coming far from football. The Chelsea and Italy legend joined Europe’s Ryder Cup team as Francesco Molinari’s buggy driver, contributing to Europe's 15–13 victory over Team USA at Bethpage Black last week.
Jamie Carragher has hailed Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as “one of the best pieces of business” the club has done under Mikel Arteta, calling him a “real upgrade” on Aaron Ramsdale. The Spaniard’s stunning save in the first half proved crucial as Arsenal beat Olympiacos 2-0 on Wednesday to continue their perfect Champions League start with two wins in two.
Barcelona legend Xavi would be “tempted” by the project at Manchester United if Ruben Amorim were to be removed from his post at Old Trafford and an official approach was made, claims Gaizka Mendieta. The Red Devils continue to see more change in their dugout mooted, with speculation rife regarding who could be handed the reins if the decision is taken to move in a different direction.
Inaki Pena was "left with a bitter taste" after spending the latter half of the 2024-25 season on the bench, with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick opting to play Wojciech Szczesny as the first-choice goalkeeper. Pena also revealed that the Catalans pressured him to delay his departure amid difficulty in registering summer signing Joan Garcia and the long-term absence of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Thomas Muller became Germany’s most successful player after winning the Canadian Championship with Vancouver Whitecaps, who defeated local rivals Vancouver FC 4-2 in the final. Muller had previously been tied on titles with Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos. However, he downplayed the achievement, saying he plays for the love of the game and not for trophies.
Wrexham's Hollywood owners have been warned that their valuation of the club may be significantly lower than they estimate. A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac value the club at $472m (£350m) but it could in fact be far lower according to a football finance expert. Reynolds and Mac have invested heavily in a team that has scaled the football pyramid since their 2021 purchase.
Manchester City stand accused by La Liga president Javier Tebas of “losing money and cheating” for 10 years. The Premier League heavyweights currently find themselves at the centre of a long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga, with serious questions being asked of whether rules were breached. Tebas is less than impressed with goings on in England, while he has also taken aim at Champions League title holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford has set himself an ambitious target for his debut season at Barcelona, with the England star determined to be involved in 30 and 40 goals. The former Manchester United forward has made an instant impact under Hansi Flick, already contributing six goal involvements in his first nine appearances in the Blaugrana jersey.
Inter have been hit with a major blow as star striker Marcus Thuram will be sidelined for over a month due to a thigh injury. The French forward had initially downplayed the problem after Inter’s 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague but recent scans portray a lengthy absence. Now, with a congested fixture schedule looming, manager Cristian Chivu faces the daunting task of reshaping his attack.
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has come to the defence of Jobe Bellingham following the young midfielder's struggles at the club in the ongoing campaign. Bellingham was substituted in the 69th minute of Wednesday's Champions League clash against Athletic Club, with Kovac shielding the ex-Sunderland starboy's underwhelming form by stating that he was "nervous" starting his first game in while.
Kylian Mbappe was left raving about Achraf Hakimi’s performance for Paris Saint-Germain in the French side’s Champions League victory over Barcelona, with the Real Madrid superstar admitting that his close friend is “too much” to handle when performing at the peak of his powers. The buccaneering full-back put in another classy display as the reigning kings of European football claimed another notable scalp in Catalunya.