Author: Andrew Rogers

Paul Pogba has finally stepped back onto a football pitch after more than two years away from the game, ending a long period defined by a doping ban, legal drama and repeated injury setbacks. The French midfielder made a brief nine-minute appearance for Monaco at Roazhon Park, bringing his long absence to a symbolic end. Since his last match for Juventus in September 2023, Pogba has remained in the spotlight despite not playing, following a four-year doping ban that was later reduced to 18 months, his release from Juventus, and a high-profile extortion and kidnapping case that resulted in his…

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a brutal assessment of Liverpool’s form, admitting the reigning champions are “a mess” and questioning whether his teammates are taking enough responsibility for the club’s slump. Speaking after Saturday’s 3–0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a team that began the day in the relegation zone, the Liverpool captain said his side are letting down new manager Arne Slot and themselves. The loss left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League with a negative goal difference and marked their sixth defeat in seven league matches. Van Dijk described the performance, particularly at the start…

Chelsea eased past Burnley to avoid any slip-ups, securing a controlled victory at Turf Moor despite missing injured Cole Palmer, who fractured a toe in a domestic accident. Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández were the decisive figures as Chelsea moved to within three points of the Premier League summit, making it four consecutive wins without conceding. Enzo Maresca admitted his side could have performed better but felt the result was deserved ahead of a demanding week against Barcelona and Arsenal. Burnley started brightly and matched Chelsea for large spells of the first half, with Loum Tchaouna and Jaidon Anthony finding…

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank has said Spurs are not close to spending £100m on a single player, despite comparisons with Arsenal’s big-money approach. Following recent leadership changes at the club, Spurs are aiming to grow both on and off the pitch, but Frank believes matching Arsenal’s £105m signing of Declan Rice is not imminent. Tottenham’s current record transfer remains the £60m signing of Richarlison in 2022. Frank said he does not expect Spurs to make such a huge outlay soon, stressing the importance of long-term planning, smart recruitment and player development over headline-grabbing spending. He added that while investment…

Ian Wright has defended Jude Bellingham, claiming some of the midfielder’s critics are uncomfortable with seeing a “black superstar” succeed. Bellingham was criticised following his reaction to being substituted during England’s World Cup qualifying win over Albania, with some suggestions he could be a disruptive influence in the squad. Wright dismissed that narrative, arguing that the backlash is driven by fear of Bellingham’s success and influence. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright said Bellingham’s confidence, performances and leadership make certain people uneasy. He suggested that outspoken, high-performing black players are often treated differently, contrasting the reception of players…

Manchester United’s proposal to introduce personal seat licences (PSLs) to help fund the £2bn redevelopment of Old Trafford is under pressure due to the government’s new measures against ticket touting. The club was considering a PSL system that would allow holders to resell match or season tickets at a profit. However, upcoming legislation will ban the resale of sports and music tickets above their original price, undermining the viability of such a model. Although football already falls under existing laws restricting secondary ticket sales, government sources say they would oppose any attempt by United to create a new resale market…

Arsenal fear defender Gabriel Magalhães could be sidelined for at least a month after suffering a thigh injury while on international duty with Brazil, ruling him out of several key fixtures in a critical stretch of the season. The 27-year-old limped off during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium and has since undergone further assessment back at Arsenal. While the club has not confirmed an exact timeline, early indications suggest he will miss the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday and the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich shortly after. Depending on his recovery, Gabriel could…

Germany stormed into next year’s World Cup with a ruthless 6-0 demolition of Slovakia, securing top spot in their group and sending Slovakia into the March playoffs. Four first-half goals set the tone: Nick Woltemade opened the scoring, Serge Gnabry added a second, and Florian Wirtz assisted two goals for Leroy Sané. After the break, Ridle Baku and 19-year-old debutant Assan Ouédraogo completed the rout. The Netherlands also qualified in style, cruising past Lithuania 4-0 at home to finish top of Group G. Tijjani Reijnders struck before half-time, with Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen adding rapid-fire goals in…

A sickness bug has disrupted Denmark’s preparations for Tuesday’s decisive World Cup qualifier in Glasgow. Joachim Andersen, Rasmus Højlund and a staff member have fallen ill, raising concerns for head coach Brian Riemer ahead of the match. Denmark lead Group C by one point and need only a draw to qualify automatically. Scotland, aiming for their first World Cup appearance since 1998, must win. Steve Clarke has urged supporters at Hampden Park to stay positive and back the team throughout the game.

Manchester City delivered a dominant derby performance at the Etihad, sweeping Manchester United aside 3-0 to strengthen their position at the top of the Women’s Super League. Goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp sealed a commanding victory that showcased City’s growing title credentials. United, coming off a historic Champions League win over PSG, looked fatigued and were punished repeatedly during City’s devastating 21-minute first-half burst. Despite several lineup changes aimed at injecting energy, Marc Skinner’s side struggled to keep pace and slipped to back-to-back league defeats for the first time since May 2024. City controlled possession, stretched…