14 h. ago Liverpool power past brave Barnsley in the FA Cup to spare Szoboszlai’s blushes

A late Florian Wirtz-inspired flourish gave a convincing look to Liverpool’s margin of victory but Barnsley made their hosts battle for a place in round four. The League One club were a credit as they performed with commitment and ambition at Anfield, but Premier League class always had the edge and ultimately told.How Dominik Szoboszlai will be grateful for that outcome. The Liverpool midfielder gave his team the lead with a brilliant 30-yard strike only to gift Barnsley a way back with a ridiculous mistake shortly before the interval. Goals from Jeremie Frimpong and substitutes Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké spared their teammate any further embarrassment. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Best days to book off work to watch every England match at FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026 is just around the corner and Three Lions fans up and down the country will be eager to have a few days off to revel in the footballing spectacular

Politics

28 h. ago Sidemen Charity Match 2026 date and venue CONFIRMED – here’s how to get tickets

THE SIDEMEN have announced their next charity match will take place at Wembley Stadium on April 18. The group of YouTubers have been organising an annual football game since 2016 that sees influencers battling it out in the name of charity. Last year's match in 2025 saw more than £4.7milion raised as the likes of...

Politics

38 h. ago Raphinha doubles up as Barcelona sink Real Madrid to lift Spanish Super Cup

Supercopa de España: Barcelona 3-2 Real MadridRaphinha 36 73, Lewandowski 45+4; Vinícius 45+2, García 45+7Football is wild sometimes, and this was one of those times. A night that didn’t always make sense but was a lot of fun ended with every player on the pitch inside the Barcelona penalty area and the ball dropping through the crowd to Raúl Asencio, standing there on the edge of the six yard box. The board had gone up with six minutes on it, those six minutes had passed and now here it was, his moment and another twist: the chance to somehow take the Super Cup final to a penalty shootout.Instead, with the clock on 96.43 Asencio headed at Joan García. On his line, the goalkeeper grabbed the shot and held on hard; his team had done the same, two goals from Raphinha and another from Robert Lewandowski enough to take the trophy, goals from Vinícius Júnior and Gonzalo García not enough to take it from them. Whether they will be enough to keep Xabi Alonso in his job remains to be seem; ...

Politics

41 h. ago Danny Welbeck shines as Brighton dump Manchester United out of FA Cup

Manchester United’s hunt for trophies is over inside the second week of January after a ruthless Brighton took advantage of yet another loose defensive performance. This FA Cup third-round knockout means the 13-times winners have been dumped from the competition and the League Cup at the first opportunity for a first time since 1981-82.By the end of May United’s season will stand at a total of 40 games – their lowest number in a complete campaign since 1914-15. If August’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout elimination at Grimsby was dire, this disappointment was as concerningly insipid, goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck, one in each half, (probably) ending Darren Fletcher’s record as the interim manager as winless – this defeat following Wednesday’s draw at Burnley in the Premier League. Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Taty Castellanos edges West Ham past QPR in FA Cup to offer respite for Nuno

Forget the magic of the FA Cup, for West Ham the reality of what is likely to be a Championship fixture next season. An indicator that life in the second tier will be no cakewalk. That QPR took them to extra-time will do little for Nuno Espírito Santo’s standing, despite a first win since 8 November. There were, though, positives to take in the performance of Taty Castellanos, the Argentinian striker who scored the Hammers’ winning goal. Have West Ham at last ended a search for a striker that has lasted almost as long as their London Stadium tenancy? They’ve looked everywhere.The other goalscorer, Crysencio Summerville, who also supplied the assist for the winner, put in one of his better West Ham performances, too. For one cold afternoon only, the Cup could draw a thin veil over Premier League concerns. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago West Ham’s Guarino suffers tough start as Baltimore double seals Chelsea rout

Chelsea secured a statement 5-0 victory against struggling West Ham to breathe life back into their Women’s Super League title defence. Sandy Baltimore scored a brace while Lauren James and Alyssa Thompson also got on the scoresheet at Kingsmeadow in an impressive demolition of their struggling London rivals.Rita Guarino endured a nightmare start to her West Ham tenure as her side conceded four first-half goals to put them firmly on the back foot on in an already difficult encounter. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago West Ham’s Guarino endures tough start as Baltimore double seals Chelsea rout

Chelsea secured a statement 5-0 victory against struggling West Ham to breathe life back into their Women’s Super League title defence. Sandy Baltimore scored twice and Lauren James and Alyssa Thompson once each in an impressive demolition of their London rivals.Rita Guarino endured a nightmare start to her West Ham tenure as her team conceded four first-half goals to put them firmly on the back foot on in an already difficult encounter. A combination of defensive errors and careless work in possession contributed and left West Ham’s new head coach with problems to solve as the Hammers remain locked in a battle with Liverpool at the bottom. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago Gnonto and Tanaka turn tie on its head as Leeds knock Derby out of FA Cup

Daniel Farke had no need to channel Marcel Bielsa and send any spies to watch Derby train this past week to know that, even with eight changes to his starting XI, his Leeds squad had more than enough Premier League class to overcome mid-table Championship opposition. Goals from the fringe players Wilfried Gnonto, Ao Tanaka and James Justin enabled Leeds to bounce back from their dramatic 4-3 defeat at Newcastle and overturn Ben Brereton Díaz’s first-half goal. Leeds have lost just once in nine games now and, as well as an eight-point buffer from the relegation zone, can now countenance the prospect of an FA Cup run.With all the history surrounding this midday kick-off, it was a tame opening half-hour before Leeds upped the intensity to earn the chance to go ahead. Even with their much-changed lineup, the running off the ball and incision of passing of the Premier League side suggested an opening goal was incoming. The fact it then went to Derby only accelerated the adrenaline. Conti...

Politics

62 h. ago Chelsea thrash Charlton to get Liam Rosenior era off to winning start

It sums up the uneasy state of affairs at Chelsea that the new head coach winning his first match in charge was not enough to stop the mutiny. This was a controlled, clinical performance from Liam Rosenior’s second string, who strolled into the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 5-1 win over a game but limited Charlton Athletic, but once again the big talking point was the travelling support spewing venom in the direction of their unpopular owners.Dissatisfaction with the project is not going away. It did not even matter when Rosenior looked at his bench with Chelsea 3-1 up in the second half and decided to give Estevão Willian a runout against tired, lowly Championship opposition. The Brazilian winger is one of the best young players in the world and his runs were soon making Charlton’s defenders dizzy, but even signings like Estêvão have done little to sway the view of a fanbase united in opposition to an ownership almost four years in and still to convince naysayers that their un...

Politics

64 h. ago Buendía deepens gloom for Frank and Spurs with victory for Aston Villa in FA Cup

This was Tottenham’s second defeat to Aston Villa this season and it is becoming increasingly hard to imagine Thomas Frank being in charge when the teams come together a third time in May. A performance that put an end to any realistic chance of a trophy this season, it fell well below the expectations of a furious crowd. That their opponents offer the diametric opposite of Spurs’ dysfunction can only have heightened the sting.Goals from Emi Buendía and Morgan Rogers put this tie to bed for Villa in the first half, Wilson Odobert’s strike after half-time bringing a closeness to the scoreline that was not reflected in the general play. A scuffle on the field at the final whistle involving Rogers, João Palhinha and a host of Tottenham players only added further sourness to the occasion. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Buendía deepens gloom for Frank and Spurs as Aston Villa progress in FA Cup

This was Tottenham’s second defeat to Aston Villa this season and it is becoming increasingly hard to imagine Thomas Frank being in charge when the teams come together a third time in May. A performance that put an end to any realistic chance of a trophy this season, it fell well below the expectations of a furious crowd. That their opponents offer the diametric opposite of Tottenham’s dysfunction can only have heightened the sting.Goals from Emi Buendía and Morgan Rogers put this tie to bed for Villa in the first half, Wilson Odobert’s strike after half-time bringing a closeness to the scoreline that was not reflected in the general play. A scuffle on the field at the final whistle involving Rogers, João Palhinha and a host of Tottenham players only added further sourness to the occasion. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago Ramsdale the shootout hero as Newcastle edge out Bournemouth in FA Cup thriller

Aaron Ramsdale was Newcastle’s hero as they edged past Bournemouth into the FA Cup fourth round on penalties. The on-loan Southampton keeper saved from Evanilson, Álex Jiménez and Bafodé Diakité to seal a 7-6 shootout win after a pulsating encounter had ended 3-3 after 120 minutes on a bitterly cold afternoon.Marcus Tavernier had taken the tie to penalties with an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of extra time seconds after Harvey Barnes thought he had won it for the much-changed Magpies. The hosts had led through a Barnes goal, but trailed 2-1 after Alex Scott and David Brooks scored in quick succession before Anthony Gordon’s late spot-kick. Continue reading...

Events

66 h. ago Ramsdale the penalty hero as Newcastle edge Bournemouth in FA Cup thriller

Aaron Ramsdale was Newcastle’s hero as they edged past Bournemouth into the FA Cup fourth round on penalties. The on-loan Southampton goalkeeper saved from Evanilson, Álex Jiménez and Bafodé Diakité to seal a 7-6 shootout win after a pulsating encounter had ended 3-3 after 120 minutes. However, Eddie Howe was counting the cost, with Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Manchester City in mind.Marcus Tavernier had taken the tie to penalties with an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of extra time seconds after Harvey Barnes thought he had won it for Newcastle. The hosts had led through a Barnes goal, but trailed 2-1 after Alex Scott and David Brooks scored in quick succession before Anthony Gordon’s late spot-kick. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago Antoine Semenyo’s debut goal helps Manchester City rout Exeter 10

After 52 minutes, joy for Antoine Semenyo on his Manchester City debut. Rayan Cherki’s pirouette presaged him threading the ball in behind Exeter’s defence for the wideman to run in and beat Joe Whitworth to cap a memorable display.A little later Semenyo was replaced to an ovation and, from his seat in the stands, the suspended Pep Guardiola, in a flat cap and winter coat, surely approved as much as he did of the final score. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Macclesfield pull off FA Cup’s greatest shock by knocking out holders Crystal Palace

Macclesfield etched themselves into the FA Cup history books by pulling off arguably the greatest giantkilling of all time, as they stunned Crystal Palace, the holders, in front of a disbelieving and delirious Moss Rose crowd.Despite 117 places in the English football pyramid separating the sides, Palace became the first holders to crash out to non-league opposition since 1909. Palace were a shadow of the side that romped to Cup success last season – the club’s first major trophy – despite including three of that Wembley lineup. They were picked apart by John Rooney’s inspired Macclesfield, spearheaded by Paul Dawson, their captain. His header set the upset in motion before half-time, with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scoring a scrappy second on the hour mark. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Goalkeeper Okonkwo is the hero as Wrexham shock Nottingham Forest in FA Cup shootout

It should have been easier for Wrexham to dump Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup but triumphing on penalties after suffering a late fightback will have made knocking out the Premier League side sweeter.After Callum Hudson-Odoi came off the bench to score a late double to bring parity after 90 minutes, the Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo brought back the euphoria with two saves in the shootout to secure something akin to a shock. Liberato Cacace, Ollie Rathbone and Dom Hyam thought they had done enough to send Wrexham through at 3-1 but Forest threatened to ruin the party. They need not have worried as Okonkwo made sure there was glory at the end. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago When is every England match at the FIFA World Cup 2026? Dates and kick

As the countdown to the World Cup 2026 continues, we take a closer look at when England's matches will be played - and what their potential route to the final could look like

Politics

3 d. ago FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets: How to buy and full price list for every match

The World Cup 2026 is edging ever closer, with fans anxious to secure tickets for their country's matches across the USA, Canada and Mexico

Economics

4 d. ago Arsenal fail to take advantage of City slip as Liverpool hold leaders to draw

Point proven? Well, not exactly. Just when Arsenal looked ready to lay down a real marker for their title aspirations, a rejuvenated Liverpool side that has been through the wringer since they were crowned champions last season proved the Gunners are still far from the finished article.It could have been even worse for Mikel Arteta’s side if Liverpool had been awarded one of two potential penalties or if Conor Bradley’s brilliant chip had not struck the crossbar in the first half. Arne Slot will be delighted with the way his much-maligned defence coped with Arsenal’s threat before the break. Continue reading...

Politics