Manchester United returned to winning ways with a 2–1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, ending the Eagles’ 12-game Premier League home unbeaten run. Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw delivered standout performances as Ruben Amorim’s side climbed to sixth place.

Crystal Palace took a deserved lead before halftime when Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a retaken penalty following a foul by Leny Yoro. United struggled throughout the first half, with Palace controlling midfield and pressing aggressively.

But the match flipped after the break. Joshua Zirkzee equalised with a sharp finish from a tight angle, scoring his first Premier League goal in almost a year. Moments later, Mason Mount completed the turnaround with a clever low strike under the Palace wall from a Fernandes free-kick.

Fernandes was central to both goals, dictating play and stepping up as captain. His set-piece delivery caused constant problems, and his work rate kept United competitive even when they were stretched.

Luke Shaw, making his 300th appearance for the club, was solid throughout. He produced a crucial last-ditch tackle on Eddie Nketiah before halftime to prevent a certain goal.

Despite the win, United still showed vulnerabilities. Leny Yoro endured another difficult afternoon, conceding the penalty and getting caught out several times before being substituted early. Matthijs de Ligt also struggled in several duels with Mateta, while Casemiro had mixed moments in midfield.

Palace pushed late on, with Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr causing issues, but United held firm. Substitute Noussair Mazraoui helped stabilise the defence after coming on during the second half.

The win offers relief for Amorim after inconsistent recent performances and gives United momentum as they continue chasing the top four.

Alexander Isak finally scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool as the Reds secured a much-needed 2–0 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium. The British-record signing struck on the hour mark before Cody Gakpo sealed the win in stoppage time.

Liverpool came into the match in crisis, having lost nine of their previous 12 games across all competitions and slipping far from the top four. Arne Slot even dropped Mohamed Salah for the first time in the league since April 2024, underlining the pressure on the champions.

Despite their struggles, Liverpool produced one moment of true quality when Gakpo found Isak in space, and the striker squeezed a superb finish past Alphonse Areola. It eased tension around the team and may prove crucial in reviving their season.

Gakpo later turned scorer, thumping in a late goal after controlling Joe Gomez’s cross to wrap up the points and move Liverpool up to eighth — just two points off the top four.

West Ham played most of the second half with ten men after Lucas Paquetá was sent off for two bookings in quick succession, both for dissent. The Brazilian repeatedly confronted referee Darren England and left his teammates with an uphill task.

The game began with a tribute to West Ham legend Billy Bonds, who passed away earlier in the day at the age of 79. The Hammers adjusted their pre-match playlist to honour his playing era, and captain Jarrod Bowen placed a Bonds No.4 shirt on the touchline.

Liverpool created several good chances in the first half, with Isak denied by a brilliant save from Areola and Florian Wirtz also going close. West Ham threatened through Callum Wilson and Paquetá, but Ibrahima Konaté produced key blocks to keep the Reds level.

After the interval, West Ham briefly pushed Liverpool back, and Paquetá almost scored with a spectacular effort from 25 yards. But once Isak broke the deadlock, the Reds gained control, and West Ham’s spirit faded after the red card.

Bowen fired just wide late on, but Liverpool stayed composed and sealed a deserved away victory.

Arsenal missed the chance to extend their Premier League lead after a frustrating 1-1 draw against ten-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Despite playing with an extra man for more than an hour following Moisés Caicedo’s early red card, Mikel Arteta’s side lacked control and cutting edge for large spells.

Chelsea stunned the Gunners after the break when Trevoh Chalobah rose to head in the opening goal. Arsenal eventually levelled through Mikel Merino, who guided in Bukayo Saka’s excellent cross. But the visitors could not find a winner and now sit five points ahead of Manchester City instead of the seven they hoped for.

Below are the Arsenal player ratings from a tough night in London:

David Raya – 6

Little he could do about Chalobah’s looping header. Made routine saves and wasn’t troubled often.

Jurrien Timber – 6

Tasked with marking Chalobah on set pieces but switched off for the Chelsea goal. Decent otherwise.

Cristhian Mosquera – 5

Thrown in for the injured Saliba and earned a needless early yellow. Played cautiously from then on.

Piero Hincapié – 5

Survived a couple of scares, including allowing Joao Pedro through. Lucky to avoid punishment for an elbow on Chalobah.

Ricardo Calafiori – 6

Kept Estevao quiet early on but took a cheap booking chasing Reece James. Substituted at half-time.

Martin Zubimendi – 6

Chelsea dragged him into a physical battle and he struggled to settle. Booked for a rash challenge and withdrawn before the hour.

Declan Rice – 6

Unable to impose himself in midfield. Caicedo had the upper hand before the red card. Improved slightly when moved into the holding role.

Bukayo Saka – 7

Arsenal’s brightest spark. Dominated Cucurella, assisted the equaliser, and created most of the danger.

Gabriel Martinelli – 5

A quiet performance. Rarely troubled Malo Gusto and lacked involvement before coming off.

Eberechi Eze – 5

A complete contrast to his Spurs hat-trick performance last week. Showed flashes but struggled to influence a scrappy match.

Mikel Merino – 7

Patience paid off as he timed his run perfectly to head home Saka’s cross. One of Arsenal’s more composed performers.

Substitutes

Myles Lewis-Skelly (45’) – 6
Energetic but quickly picked up a booking.

Noni Madueke (57’) – 6
Added directness and gave Gusto more problems than Martinelli.

Martin Ødegaard (57’) – 6
Brought creativity but couldn’t help Arsenal control the match despite the numerical advantage.

Viktor Gyökeres (72’) – 5
Struggled to make an impact and collided heavily with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez late on.

Arsenal missed the chance to open a seven-point gap at the top of the Premier League after being held to a 1–1 draw by ten-man Chelsea in a heated London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Despite Moisés Caicedo’s early red card for a dangerous tackle on Mikel Merino, the Gunners failed to fully capitalise on the numerical advantage. Chelsea showed remarkable resilience and nearly snatched all three points.

Trevoh Chalobah gave the hosts the lead early in the second half, rising above the Arsenal defence to head home from a well-delivered corner. The goal stunned the visitors, who had struggled to create clear chances despite dominating possession.

Arsenal eventually responded through Mikel Merino, who powered home a header from Bukayo Saka’s clever delivery — the winger’s first assist in a year. With more than 30 minutes to play and a man advantage, Mikel Arteta’s side pushed forward in search of a winner, but Chelsea’s defence held firm.

Arteta introduced Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres in an attempt to turn the game, yet the Blues maintained their shape and discipline. Arsenal came closest late on when Merino’s low strike was parried by Robert Sánchez, who was then clattered by Gyökeres as he gathered the rebound.

Despite the draw, Arsenal remain five points clear at the top and extend their unbeaten run to 17 matches. Chelsea, meanwhile, earned a morale-boosting point, celebrated by the home crowd almost like a victory.

It was a fiercely contested derby filled with raw intensity, heavy challenges and five yellow cards in the first half alone. Though Arsenal controlled much of the ball, they lacked the killer edge that saw them dismantle Tottenham and Bayern Munich earlier in the week.

In the end, both sides were left with mixed feelings: Chelsea proud of their defiant display, Arsenal frustrated at missing a golden opportunity to tighten their grip on the title race.

Arsenal supporters were full of admiration for Declan Rice after the midfielder produced a commanding display in the Gunners’ 3–1 Champions League victory over Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium.

Goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli secured a convincing win, overshadowing Harry Kane’s difficult return to North London. Bayern’s only goal came from 17-year-old Lennart Karl, but Rice was the standout performer despite not getting on the scoresheet.

Operating as a true box-to-box force, Rice controlled the midfield with authority. His heat map showed heavy involvement across the left and central areas, while match statistics highlighted his all-round contribution. He recorded 66 touches, 49 passes, and completed 39 of them. He also won duels, made a clean tackle, and remarkably did not concede a single foul all night.

On social media, Arsenal fans were quick to celebrate his performance, with some joking that West Ham deserved “another £105 million” for the England star. Others called him “a different beast” and insisted the club had actually underpaid for him.

Rice’s blend of ball-winning ability, passing range, and relentless energy proved crucial as Arsenal overpowered the German champions, further cementing his importance to Mikel Arteta’s side this season.

Kylian Mbappe delivered a sensational four-goal performance in Real Madrid’s 4–3 Champions League win over Olympiakos, but the night ended with a tense exchange between the French star and a journalist.

Mbappe, who already has 22 goals in 18 games this season, produced one of the fastest hat-tricks in Champions League history, scoring three times within just seven minutes before adding a fourth after the break. His brilliance carried Madrid to a much-needed victory after a difficult run of results.

However, during the post-match press conference, a reporter suggested that Real Madrid were becoming “too dependent” on Mbappe — a comment that instantly irritated the forward. He shut down the claim, calling it a “bad question,” and insisted that his success is a product of the entire team’s efforts.

“Everyone has their role in the team. Mine is to score,” Mbappe responded.
“But without my teammates we don’t win games. I don’t think there is any dependency. That’s something people from the outside like to say.”

His four-goal display placed him alongside Real Madrid legends Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás and Cristiano Ronaldo — the only other players to score four in a Champions League game for the club. Mbappe said it was an honour, but made it clear he still has more to prove.

Madrid’s win comes at a time when manager Xabi Alonso has been under pressure following three games without victory. Mbappe stressed that the squad is united behind their coach and that the players must protect him amid growing media scrutiny.

“People talk a lot when you play for Real Madrid,” Mbappe said.
“We have to protect the coach, the staff, everyone. We’re all in this together.”

The victory lifts the mood in Madrid, but the team knows improvement is still needed as they navigate a demanding season.

Real Betis winger Antony has revealed he has been struggling to sleep after receiving a straight red card during his team’s 1-1 draw against Girona on Sunday.

The former Manchester United forward attempted an overhead kick in the closing minutes of the match, but his boot struck Girona’s Joel Roca in the face. VAR reviewed the incident and advised the referee to show a direct red card.

Since joining Betis permanently after a loan spell, Antony has impressed with six goals and two assists in 12 appearances, a sharp contrast to his difficult spell at Manchester United, where he managed only 12 goals in 96 games following his £85.5m transfer in 2022.

Speaking after the match, Antony insisted he meant no harm and confirmed that Real Betis will appeal the decision.

“I had no intention. When I went for the overhead kick, I was looking at the ball and didn’t see him,”
the Brazilian said.
“It was very hard to sleep. I stayed up all night thinking about it.”

Antony was visibly emotional as he apologised to the Girona fans, placing his hands together in a praying gesture before leaving the pitch.

The suspension could see him miss this weekend’s highly anticipated Seville derby at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. However, the winger remains hopeful:

“We have to try [to appeal]. I know how important this game is and I want to play it.”

If the appeal fails, Betis could be without one of their in-form players for one of their biggest fixtures of the season.

Strasbourg’s rise from bankruptcy to European football should have been a fairytale. Instead, supporters say the club has lost its identity under BlueCo, the ownership group led by Chelsea chief Todd Boehly.

Despite competing in Ligue 1 and Europe with the strongest squad in their history, many fans believe the club’s heart has been “destroyed,” accusing the owners of turning Strasbourg into a development arm for Chelsea’s global football project.

The tension reached boiling point after allegations surfaced that actors were brought in to fill the stands and sing during protests — a move that infuriated traditional fan groups.

BlueCo Takeover Leaves Strasbourg Split

BlueCo bought Strasbourg in 2023 for £65m, just a year after purchasing Chelsea. While the investment brought new facilities, star players, and a £160m stadium renovation, it also brought deep division.

Ten supporters’ groups remain loyal to the board, but four prominent groups — including the Ultras and Pariser Section — have launched an all-out protest movement.

“We lost the club that felt like family,” said Christophe Seng, leader of the Pariser Section. “Now it feels like a company and we are just subsidiaries.”

These fan groups have staged silent protests, held marches, and displayed “BLUECO OUT” banners. In response, the club reportedly removed certain privileges from protesting fans.

Transfer Pipeline Strengthens ‘Chelsea B’ Claims

The squad has been heavily influenced by Chelsea-linked transfers:

• Ben Chilwell, a surprise permanent signing
• Kendry Páez, Mamadou Sarr, Mike Penders and others on loan
• Captain Emanuel Emegha announcing a move to Chelsea shortly after taking the armband

Some players have moved multiple times between Chelsea and Strasbourg in short spans, fuelling frustration.

“I don’t recognise some players,” Seng added. “Chilwell seems nice but nobody understands why he came here. Emegha scores goals but disrespects the club. We call him ‘second-division Zlatan.’”

Accusations of Actors in the Stands

During a major protest early this season, anti-BlueCo fans held a 90-minute silence against Marseille. Reports claim local theatre actors were drafted in to create atmosphere by singing and beating drums.

Strasbourg deny paying them, but the claim has intensified anger among dissenting groups.

“They realised without us it’s like a library,” Seng said. “So they filled the stands with actors.”

Rosenior Defends Club Identity

Manager Liam Rosenior insists Strasbourg is “definitely not Chelsea B,” despite the multi-club model.

“We are a club in our own right,” he said. “Our fans are passionate and deserve respect. My focus is on performances, not unrest.”

Some supporters believe Rosenior is being groomed as a future Chelsea manager, but he dismissed the comparisons.

Strasbourg’s Future Remains Uncertain

While many fans remain loyal to the board and pleased with on-field progress, protests continue to grow louder. With fan groups divided, player movements scrutinized, and local identity questioned, the battle for Strasbourg’s soul is far from over.

The club sits at a crossroads — torn between newfound ambition and a fanbase determined to defend its heritage.

Liverpool’s season has plunged into crisis, and even the players admit it. Curtis Jones summed up the mood after their latest defeat, admitting the team is “in serious trouble” and desperately needs change.

With nine losses in their last 12 matches and a string of heavy defeats — including seven goals conceded at Anfield in five days — the champions have slipped to 12th in the Premier League. They now trail leaders Arsenal by 11 points and sit below both Manchester United and Everton.

Arne Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last season, is under growing scrutiny despite guiding the Reds to the title last year. His frustration was clear after their 4–1 Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven, saying he was “beyond angry.” But many believe the Dutchman’s own decisions lie at the heart of Liverpool’s collapse.

A £426m Spend That Made Liverpool Worse

Liverpool spent a massive £426 million this summer — yet none of the new signings have made a meaningful impact. Full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have struggled, Hugo Ekitike has just one goal in 10 appearances, and £100m signing Florian Wirtz is weighed down by expectation. Even marquee forward Alexander Isak has suffered from fitness issues and a dip in confidence.

Meanwhile, key players from the Klopp era have also faltered. Virgil van Dijk has made uncharacteristic errors, Alexis Mac Allister has been nearly invisible in midfield, and Mohamed Salah is far from his usual electric form.

The emotional void left by Diogo Jota’s tragic death continues to hang heavily over the squad, with Andy Robertson recently saying he still thinks about his late teammate during big moments.

Klopp Looming Over Anfield Once Again

Jurgen Klopp’s legacy remains deeply embedded in the club. Last season’s title win was built almost entirely on players he signed. Slot made only minor tactical adjustments and largely relied on Klopp’s blueprint.

Now, with Liverpool’s season in freefall, calls for Klopp’s return are getting louder. And intriguingly, Klopp recently hinted that a return is not impossible, saying:

“I said I will never coach a team in England again. That means if it’s Liverpool, theoretically it’s possible.”

Klopp currently serves as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer, a less demanding role — similar to Steven Gerrard, who is also being mentioned as a possible interim option should Liverpool act quickly.

A ‘Break Glass in Emergency’ Moment

With the atmosphere souring, performances collapsing, and fans growing restless, this feels like a defining moment for Liverpool’s season. If the club decides a reset is needed, Klopp remains the only figure who checks every box.

Liverpool may have thought their future was secured when Slot arrived last year. But after a disastrous run and a costly transfer window gone wrong, the solution to their crisis might just be the man who transformed the club once before.