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Cristiano Ronaldo shared a bold new haircut as he showed off his shaved head as he returned to Al-Nassr training in Riyadh this week. The 40-year-old superstar looked every inch the warrior he is with his new look while going through the hard yards on the training pitch. Known for making regular tweaks to his hairstyle down the years, CR7 will hope this latest iteration helps him to deliver yet more success.

• Chasing World Cup glory at 40

  Ronaldo continues to smash records and defy logic at the age of 40. The Portuguese icon endured a mixed week on international duty as he missed a penalty in Portugal’s narrow 1–0 win over Ireland, before roaring back with two goals in a 2–2 draw against Hungary. With his 22nd-minute equalizer, Ronaldo broke Carlos Ruiz's record as the top World Cup qualifying scorer with 40 strikes, before adding a second to take his tally to 41 on the stroke of half-time. He now has a staggering 143 international goals and a combined total for club and country of 947 strikes. Each time he is on the pitch another record seems to fall and his appetite does not appear to be in decline. 

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• A look that screams ruthless ambition

  When Ronaldo arrived back in Saudi Arabia this week, it was his appearance that caught the eye. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner showcased his freshly shaved head on Instagram, rocking a military-style buzzcut that will have reminded many of his Juventus stint in 2020. Ronaldo's hairstyles have been as legendary as his goals over the years. From the boyish ringlets of his early Sporting CP career to the frosted tips and spiky mullet he donned during his Manchester United breakthrough, his fashion evolution has always tracked his career journey. By the mid-2000s, when he started to take over English football, his hair became shorter, spikier, and more angular – a reflection of the ruthless, no-frills forward he was turning into. In 2017, while still at Real Madrid, Ronaldo went back to the old, longer curls with blonde tips. Who will ever forget the Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff? The noodle-haired assassin scored a brace past Gianluigi Buffon to inspire Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory.

• The richest player on the planet

  Beyond his records, Ronaldo’s financial empire remains unmatched. His current deal with Al-Nassr is reportedly worth a staggering $280 million (£209m) per season, cementing his status as the highest-paid footballer in the world. Moreover, the CR7 brand has become a global commercial behemoth as it has ventured into several sectors, including fragrances, hotels, and fitness. Every move he makes, every haircut, and every Instagram post he shares generate headlines and, more importantly, revenue for his ever-increasing business empire.

  Despite the riches of Saudi Arabia, there have been talks about a possible third stint at United, the club that turned him from a raw teenager into a footballing legend. Reports have suggested that Ronaldo remains open to the idea of returning in some capacity after retirement, potentially taking on a directorial or ambassadorial role. Speaking toGOAL, former United defender Danny Simpson even hinted that such a reunion “shouldn’t be ruled out,” saying that Ronaldo’s emotional ties to Old Trafford run too deep to ignore.

  "I wouldn’t say no," he said. "If you look at his mentality, he obviously cares about the club. I think he would say that because he would like to come back again but in another way. I don’t think he liked the way he left so he’d like to come back and make United great again, on some kind of level making decisions.

  "The business side is obviously very different, but he’s also a businessman. You can’t knock that team he’s got around him. I’d love him to because I think he’s got a lot to offer, even on that side of the game going forward. Just his mentality and everything he does, he achieves it. That’s what United need."

  His time at United delivered the first Champions League trophy and Ballon d’Or of his glittering career. Though his second stint ended in controversy after a public fallout with ex-boss Erik ten Hag and contract termination, a third stint, this time in the boardroom, might bring back the glory days at Old Trafford.

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  All eyes on Al-Nassr

  Ronaldo will lead the line once again when Al-Nassr face Al-Fateh this weekend, intending to keep their title push alive. They have got off to a perfect start in the Saudi Pro League, winning the first four league fixtures, and the Portuguese icon will look to build on that early momentum. 

Liverpool staved off the Everton threat to maintain their perfect record in the Premier League, winning the Merseyside derby

And Everton really did threaten. Liverpool blew their city rivals out of the park in the first half, romping to a two-goal lead thanks to fine strikes from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, but haven’t looked convincing when defending a lead this term, and Idrissa Gueye’s powerful finish set the nerves jangling.

These two were the stars of the show, and it’s curious that the latter should have started his Liverpool career on such strong footing, as he looks undroppable right now.

Liverpool haven’t been at their best so far this season by any stretch, but then they have stormed into a perfect lead at the top of the league table, and they won their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid too.

With players like Ekitike packing a new punch to the squad, there’s plenty reason to be optimistic for the term ahead.

Hugo Ekitike's start to life at Liverpool

When Liverpool announced the initial £69m signing of Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, it looked for all the world like FSG had closed the door on an ambitious effort for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

But that hasn’t been the case, with the goalscoring duo united under Arne Slot’s wing at Anfield. The 25-year-old Isak is billed as the more refined and accomplished, having ripped the Premier League apart at the seams over the past several years with the Magpies and joined the club for a British record fee, but four goals and an assist for the Reds mark a rather fruitful start for Ekitike.

Isak, who completed his transfer on deadline day, made his league debut for Liverpool against Everton, coming off the bench in the second half.

Last season, he was the villain down Anfield Road after scoring the winning goal in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, bagging what proved to be the most important of a 27-strike haul. Now, he is Liverpool’s.

The Swedish superstar will be expected to bring the goals in their droves this term, and Ekitike’s fast start only heightens the noise around the decision to bring both to the fold.

If the plan is to weave the duo into the same starting line-up, one would likely be required to drop onto the left flank. That would appear to be Ekitike, and should that happen, it would come at the expense of Cody Gakpo’s berth, with the Dutchman playing out a quiet game against the Toffees.

Why Slot should drop Cody Gakpo

Gakpo has impressed throughout the opening weeks of the campaign, invariably placed on the left wing and posting a goal and two assists across his first two Premier League outings of the campaign.

However, the well of potency has since dried up, and he toiled somewhat against the resilient Jake O’Brien, albeit winning the ball back in the build-up to Gravenberch’s opening goal.

FFC’s 6/10 match rating for Gakpo was determined after an assessment of what was an indifferent display, but one which also demonstrated the deeper tenacity of his skillset, with data platform Sofascore revealing he won four duels, made three clearances and created two passes across his hour on the field.

Curiously, Gakpo also looked to cut inside when Ekitike drifted wide. The 26-year-old shimmies inside with regularity anyway, but you can’t help but wonder if this is a tactical tweak on Slot’s part.

There were indeed a series of sequences which saw Gakpo and Ekitike move interchangeably. These movements were performed with practised coordination, and that makes a comment on Slot’s orders as Isak warms to life on Merseyside.

Might it be a system in the works to accommodate both Isak and Ekitike in the same starting line-up? The Frenchman’s vast ground-covering display certainly suggests that this could be so, with former goalkeeper Ben Foster remarking during the contest that he “looks like prime Fernando Torres”, so complete and deadly did he look in the final third and around it.

Gakpo, conversely, was quiet, with his 41 touches across the match the fewest of any Liverpool forward starting from the opening whistle. This actually put him behind the shot-stopping Alisson Becker for touches on the afternoon, who might have conceded but didn’t actually have all that much to do, making only one save besides and two punches to deal with aerial threats.

Given that Gakpo has been a fixed feature in the starting XI for Liverpool so far this season, and has perhaps petered out after an electric start, it might be time for Slot to make a change, having already shown a newfound willingness this term to enforce rotation as he hasn’t before, sticking with the same bunch for most of the title-winning 2024/25 campaign.

While a midweek clash against Championship side Southampton, struggling after their relegation from the Premier League, will see the boss ring wholesale changes, there’s a chance next weekend against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park for Ekitike and Isak to be unleashed in a partnership, thus pushing Gakpo to the bench.

This, if anything, is a glowing testament to Liverpool’s strength in depth. And Gakpo, should he be dropped, will pop up with pivotal moments over the year.

Slot may be brewing a bigger talent than Isak in "special” Liverpool teen

Liverpool boast one of the finest prospects in Europe in this up-and-coming star.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 19, 2025

Barcelona came close to missing the Champions League after UEFA threatened sanctions over financial fair play breaches. President Joan Laporta confirmed the club narrowly avoided sporting punishment by negotiating a reduced fine. The move highlights how far Barca have come financially, though challenges remain as the club continues rebuilding its economic stability.

• Barcelona narrowly avoided Champions League ban after UEFA scare

  Barcelona president Laporta has revealed that the club faced the real possibility of being banned from the Champions League due to financial irregularities. The Catalan giants had already broken UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules for the second consecutive season, paying a €15 million (£13m/$16m) fine after an initial breach in 2024.

  The threat of suspension, Laporta admitted, forced intense negotiations with UEFA to prevent a sporting sanction. His board inherited a financially troubled club under Josep Maria Bartomeu, with debts running high and strict La Liga regulations to comply with. The use of financial levers, which drew UEFA’s attention, was crucial in navigating this precarious situation.

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  Laporta explains negotiations that saved Barca from sanctions

  Speaking during the General Assembly, Laporta revealed that the use of several economic levers almost got the team suspended from the UEFA Champions League for a year. In fact, he had to negotiate directly with UEFA to ensure that such a sporting sanction was not applied, as the levers were necessary to navigate the difficult financial situation the club inherited.

  "UEFA wanted to punish us by not allowing us to play in the next Champions League. And the fact that Barcelona isn't a limited company and can't increase its capital was one of the arguments we used to get UEFA to reduce the fine for breaching financial fair play from 60 million to 15 million. They also wanted to sanction us by not allowing us to play in the next Champions League."

• Financial levers and TV rights sale key to stabilising club finances

  Laporta defended the use of several economic levers, explaining they were designed to prevent a mass exodus of members and stabilize the club’s finances. 

  “The levers were intended to prevent an extraordinary outflow of members and alleviate the situation we found ourselves in four and a half years ago,” he said. “Strictly speaking, leverage is not a capital increase. It is simply a transfer of assets for a specific period of time, which are then recovered."

  He added: “In exchange, you receive a certain amount of money. We transferred 25% of our television rights to a fund, which brought us €600 million. This amount, which represented around €35 million, will be returned to the club after 25 years. It is a transfer of assets that will be recovered after a certain period of time. This allowed us to save the club,” he concluded.

  This financial strategy illustrates the fine line the club has walked between compliance and necessity. With careful planning, the Catalan giants avoided UEFA’s strictest punishments, allowing their squad to remain eligible for Europe’s premier competition despite operating under significant economic constraints.

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• US fixture brings extra income despite player concerns

  The 63-year-old also discussed the upcoming La Liga fixture against Villarreal in the United States. While not entirely comfortable with moving games abroad, he emphasized the financial benefits.

  “We are not enthusiastic about taking our team far, but as President Gaspart said, it is necessary to obtain atypical income. Promoting our image in the markets has allowed us to have more sponsors. And we will surely take advantage of the opportunity to expand our image in the US, an increasingly important market where it also plays the next World Cup. Expanding the image generates sponsors.

  “Deco and Flick are the first ones who want to preserve the good physical condition of the players, but they go to Saudi Arabia (for the Spanish Super Cup) to earn money that otherwise would not be earned. And in Miami, exactly the same. La Liga will benefit, and with it all the other teams, with extra income, but Barca and Villarreal, who are the ones who play, will benefit more.”

Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Derby County and John Eustace have now been told to go and sign a Premier League gem who was previously a playoff hero.

Eustace bemoans "poor" Derby attack

Whilst they did manage to keep up their current run of just one defeat in their last six Championship games, Eustace was left frustrated at Derby’s decision-making going forward in a 1-1 draw with Charlton on Tuesday night. After James Bree’s opening strike, the Rams left it until the 79th-minute to find an equaliser through Matt Clarke and are now one point above the dropzone.

Having his say on the draw, Eustace told reporters: “I thought it was a difficult first half, though we did get into some really good areas, especially early on.

“In the final third again, decision-making was poor tonight, so it’s something that we’ve got to keep improving on. We got in some good areas, and then we were disappointing in the manner we conceded.

“When you go a goal down, especially at home, there’s always a lot of pressure on you and quite rightly so. We weren’t happy coming in at half-time and the fans weren’t happy. I thought the lads showed great character after half-time to change our style and play a lot more football throughout the second half.”

Results could see the Rams drop into the relegation zone in the coming weeks and that will be the greatest concern at Pride Park after avoiding the drop by just one point last season.

Alas, there is still time for things to change and the January transfer window could play a big part in that, especially if the Rams follow the advice of one of their former players.

Lee Hendrie tells Derby to go and get Watson

Speaking to Football League World, former Derby star Lee Hendrie told Eustace to go and get Tommy Watson in January.

After scoring the winner in the play-off final to send Sunderland up last season, the young winger completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, but has struggled for game time ever since. Now, Hendrie believes that Derby should hand Watson a January loan move.

A loan move back to the Championship would certainly make sense for the 19-year-old and as Derby set sights on survival, they should listen to Hendrie’s request.

Oliver Kahn has warned Bundesliga clubs that clinging to "tradition" will only see them fall further behind Europe’s elite. The Bayern Munich legend urged German football to follow Real Madrid’s forward-thinking model, stressing that long-term financial planning and strategic investment are key if the league wants to compete with the Premier League’s global power.

• Kahn urges Bundesliga to rethink ‘tradition-first’ mindset

  German legend Kahn has sounded the alarm over the Bundesliga’s competitive decline, urging clubs to “stop hiding behind tradition” and instead embrace a future-oriented strategy similar to Real Madrid’s. Speaking on , Kahn said the current model risks leaving the Bundesliga “a kind of training league” if major structural changes aren’t made.

  The ex-Germany goalkeeper pointed out that while Real Madrid remains a member-owned club, Spanish club's top brass is exploring ways to integrate strategic investors to ensure financial strength without compromising the club’s identity. “For now. And Florentino Perez is currently intensively considering how we can integrate strategic investors into this club," Kahn said. “We always hide behind this tradition, it’s used as an excuse too often. Of course, tradition is important, but it’s also about looking to the future.”

  According to Kahn, the Bundesliga’s financial gap with the Premier League and even La Liga is widening every year, driven by limited TV revenue and restrictive investment policies. He warned that German football risks becoming a feeder system for richer leagues if it fails to adapt.

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• ‘We have to wake up at some point’ – Kahn on German football

  Kahn admitted that heavy Champions League defeats suffered by German clubs should be a “wake-up" call for the entire football system. "I think we can't play tricks on ourselves. Yes, we have to get used to such results in the future if we don't wake up at some point. And if you look at what Real Madrid is doing now, you have to imagine that Real Madrid is an eV (registered association). There is no capital company; it's still a pure club," he said.

  "If I look at the Premier League, what's happening there, I might not be able to keep up with Real Madrid at some point. And that's called strategic thinking. Thinking about the future. And we have this tendency here in Germany, that we always hide behind this tradition, and I'll put it a bit bluntly, often. That means that tradition is always used as an excuse. Of course, it's important. It's a value, and the The entire club system in Germany. No one disputes that. Nevertheless, it's also about looking to the future. Ultimately, the most successful football is played where the most financial resources are. That's the way it is. So I have to address how we can ensure the financial resources are available in the future so that German players don't constantly go elsewhere, and the league doesn't gradually degenerate into a kind of training league. Nobody wants that."

  He argued that financial sustainability and sporting competitiveness must coexist, and clubs should find creative ways to secure future investment. “Selling the club and its tradition to investors isn’t the point at all,” Kahn explained. “It’s simply about considering what paths we can take to maintain the club’s value and still generate financial resources. That’s the job of a professional football club.”

  Kahn’s comments came in the wake of renewed debate about the Bundesliga’s ownership model, following protests against potential external investors in the DFL. His remarks highlight a growing divide between those who wish to protect Germany’s unique 50+1 rule and those who believe change is necessary to survive financially.

• Kane and the Premier League comparison

  Bayern's superstar striker Harry Kane, who left Tottenham to join Bayern Munich, has also noted differences between the Bundesliga and the Premier League. The England captain described German football as more open but less structured than its English counterpart. “In the Bundesliga, more teams try to play out from the back, more teams press and sometimes even play man against man,” he said. “The spaces are a bit bigger, which we can take advantage of by bringing pace into our game.”

  Kane added that the Bundesliga atmosphere was “fantastic” but admitted that the Premier League’s global reach and commercial structure make it the most dominant league in world football. While, Kahn echoed that sentiment, warning that unless German football adopts a more business-savvy mindset, its clubs will struggle to retain top players and talent will continue to flow abroad.

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  From European glory to chasing the pack

  In recent seasons, the Bundesliga’s influence in Europe has dwindled, and over the past decade, only two German clubs have lifted major continental trophies, Bayern's 2020 Champions League triumph and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League win in 2022.

  According to UEFA’s five-year ranking, the Bundesliga has slipped to fourth, trailing behind the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga. Financially, the gap is even more alarming, Premier League clubs generated €7.4 billion in revenue last season, compared to the Bundesliga’s €4.8 billion.

  The disparity extends to television rights, where the Premier League’s domestic and international deals far outstrip Germany’s. For the 2025-26 season, English clubs will share nearly €2 billion from TV income, while Bundesliga sides will split just €1.12 billion, across both divisions.

  Kahn’s warning reflects growing concern that German football is losing both its best players and its global appeal. High-profile exits like Florian Wirtz, Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman in the summer underscored that trend, while the arrival of only a handful of top names, most notably Luis Diaz from Liverpool, highlighted the league’s struggle to attract elite talent. 

  The challenge now lies in striking a balance between Germany’s footballing values and the realities of modern economics. Kahn’s comments could reignite debate within club hierarchies, particularly at Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, where calls for reform are growing louder. 

It’s a travel day in Major League Baseball, which means there are just nine games – instead of 15 – to bet on. 

There are a couple of prop bets I’m eyeing on tonight’s slate, with two star right-handers looking to build on their strong starts to the 2024 season. 

The first prop comes in the New York Yankees-Baltimore Orioles matchup, which went to extra innings on Wednesday night with the O’s pulling out a win. Starter Luis Gil gets the ball for New York, and oddsmakers may be undervaluing him after a couple of outings where he showcased some command issues (eight walks over the last three games). 

Plus, there’s a play for Seattle Mariners ace Luis Castillo that I love tonight. Let’s break down these bets to send ourselves into the end of the week on a high note. 

Best MLB Prop Bets for Thursday, June 20

• Luis Gil UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-165)
• Luis Castillo OVER 4.5 Strikeouts (+115)

Luis Gil UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-165)

Gil has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, posting a 2.03 ERA in 14 starts (the Yankees are 12-2 in those games). 

While the rookie did allow three runs in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 9, Gil has still given up two or fewer runs in 11 of his 14 starts and eight of his nine starts since May 1. 

Since May 1, he’s compiled a 1.14 ERA while holding his opponents to a .128 batting average. That bodes well for him against the Orioles, who did not score and picked up just two hits against Gil across 6.1 innings of work earlier this season. 

We do have to lay some juice with this prop, but Gil is hitting the UNDER on his earned runs at an insanely high rate in 2024. He’s worth taking on Thursday night.

Luis Castillo OVER 4.5 Strikeouts (+115)

Castillo doesn’t have the easiest matchup on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians, but he could be undervalued in his strikeout prop. 

The Guardians average just 7.25 strikeouts per game this season, but Castillo needs just five to clear this prop, something he’s done in 12 of his 15 starts in 2024. 

There are a couple of advanced stats that I love for the Mariners ace here, especially his chase percentage. Castillo is in the 85th percentile in chase percentage, 69th in strikeout percentage and 64th in whiff percentage. 

The other reason I love this prop is out of the 12 games that Castillo finished with five or more punch outs this season, 11 of them have come with him picking up six or more. So, he doesn’t even have to put up one of his best games to get past this prop. 

At plus money, this is an easy bet for one of baseball’s top pitchers.

New West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo has wasted no time making his mark at Rush Green, and he’s now being tipped to take action against another star player after his controversial James Ward-Prowse decision.

Nuno assessing West Ham squad after James Ward-Prowse axe

Almost immediately after replacing Graham Potter last Saturday, Nuno axed Ward-Prowse from the matchday squad for his debut game in the dugout at Everton, despite the player being a mainstay for his predecessor.

West Ham players were allegedly left shocked by Nuno’s decision to drop the 30-year-old (GiveMeSport), and it has since been reported that Ward-Prowse has no future at the London Stadium under Potter’s heir.

The Englishman could even re-join former club Southampton after being told that he’s surplus to requirements behind-the-scenes (Dean Jones), but Nuno has attempted to quell reports about Ward-Prowse by suggesting that the midfielder still has a chance to play his way into the squad.

However, despite Nuno’s attempts to silence the noise, respected journalist Fabrizio Romano is among the media sources to claim that Ward-Prowse’s January exit is a very real possibility.

For other members of the squad, Nuno is set to assess them over the coming months.

Ward-Prowse is actually just one free-kick goal away from equalling David Beckham’s all-time Premier League record of 18, but all the signs suggest that he won’t be reaching that milestone in East London.

In terms of other players who could meet Nuno’s wrath, former Brentford boss Martin Allen has claimed that the 51-year-old could take action against star midfielder Lucas Paqueta after an incident in the 1-1 draw at Everton.

Nuno tipped to take action against Lucas Paqueta after West Ham incident

Speaking to West Ham Zone, Allen tipped Nuno to pull Paqueta aside for talks in the West Ham offices.

This is due to the Brazil international’s playacting on Merseyside, with Paqueta going down and clutching his face after a challenge from Vitali Mykolenko in a possible attempt to get the defender sent off.

The 28-year-old sent a clear message of loyalty to West Ham after his goal against Nottingham Forest, kissing the badge amid reports at the time that he could join Aston Villa, with Paqueta ultimately deciding to stay with Nuno’s side.

West Ham stuck by the former Lyon star during his spot-fixing scandal, and he could now be looking to repay the Irons’ faith by making an excellent start under Nuno.

A 2022/2023-esque performance against Arsenal wouldn’t go amiss this weekend, with Nuno up against the Premier League’s set-piece specialists and potential title favourites, before West Ham take a fortnight off for the international break.

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.

• Chelsea's flaky set-piece defending abilities

  Maresca faced questions in his pre-match press conference about Chelsea’s worrying trend of conceding from set plays ahead of their trip to Tottenham. The Blues have shipped multiple goals from such situations in recent weeks — including a damaging long-throw equaliser against Sunderland and a chaotic concession to Wolves in the Carabao Cup. Those lapses have amplified scrutiny on a side that sits ninth in the Premier League after nine games, struggling to find defensive balance despite notable progress in attack.

  Tottenham, meanwhile, present an added layer of danger. Thomas Frank’s men have thrived on creative dead-ball routines, with Micky van de Ven scoring twice from corners in their recent win over Everton and Kevin Danso’s long throws causing havoc in the opposition's box. With Spurs earning a reputation for their clever set-piece execution, Chelsea’s defensive fragility in this area has become a clear talking point heading into the London showdown.    Maresca, however, remains calm in his assessment. The Italian pointed out that set-piece situations are inherently unpredictable and believes that while the numbers are concerning, they do not paint the full picture of his team’s defensive performances this season. Still, with Chelsea having conceded more expected goals (xG) and shots from set pieces than any other Premier League team, their ability to withstand Tottenham’s aerial threat will be under close observation this weekend.

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  Maresca downplays the focus on set-piece frailties

  “Tottenham, I think that they are doing very good,” Maresca said when asked about the upcoming derby. “They finished last season winning the Europa League. They started very good this season and also because it's a derby for sure it would be a difficult game.”

  Addressing Chelsea’s defensive frailty from set-pieces, he added: “I think that set-pieces you are going to score goals and you are going to concede goals. The reason why is because if we say that when we concede, we are not strong enough.”

  “I think that with set-pieces, there are teams that they score more goals, less goals, but at the end, set-pieces you are going to score and concede goals because there are actions that are so difficult to defend. We are working on [defending set-pieces]. For sure, we are working. For sure.” 

• Chelsea's defensive structure collapses during set-pieces

  Maresca’s comments come against the backdrop of alarming statistics that underline Chelsea’s struggles at defending dead-ball situations this season. The Blues have conceded an expected goals value of 6.10 from set-pieces, the highest in the Premier League, and 45% of their total xG against comes from such situations. Nearly 40% of all shots faced by Chelsea have arrived from corners, free-kicks, or throw-ins, leaving Maresca with a clear tactical headache to solve.   

  These defensive shortcomings have come despite improvements elsewhere. Chelsea rank among the league’s best in open-play defensive shot quality (0.14 xG per shot conceded), reflecting a well-structured unit that is generally difficult to break down. However, lapses in concentration and organisation during set-piece phases have repeatedly cost them crucial points, including the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland that exposed their susceptibility to long throws and second-ball scrambles inside the box.

  While some have attributed the issue to personnel changes and physical mismatches, Maresca insists it is a collective problem that requires repetition and focus on the training pitch. With Tottenham’s tall defenders and aggressive delivery style, this weekend’s clash serves as an early test of whether those sessions have begun to yield results.  

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  Chelsea face massive test against dead-ball specialists Spurs

  Chelsea head into Sunday’s London derby aiming to bounce back from the inconsistency that has defined their Premier League campaign. Maresca’s men currently sit ninth with a record of four wins, two draws, and three defeats — a mixture of high-scoring triumphs, such as the 5-1 demolition of West Ham, and frustrating slip-ups at Stamford Bridge. They remain a work in progress, but one with clear attacking potential and renewed belief under their new coach. 

  Tottenham’s own home form has been patchy, with just four points collected from four matches in North London. Yet their ability to create danger from corners, free-kicks, and throw-ins has been a defining strength this term, and they’ll look to exploit Chelsea’s vulnerabilities in this area. The duel between Maresca’s possession-based control and Frank’s direct, set-piece-focused strategy could prove decisive in determining the outcome of this derby.  

Elly De La Cruz just won't stop making history in the early days of his promising MLB career.

The Cincinnati Reds phenom stole his 100th career base Friday night in the fourth inning of a matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park, swiping second base against right-hander Mitch Keller.

Per Opta Stats, De La Cruz is the first player in MLB history to notch at least 100 stolen bases and 30 homers over his first two seasons in the big leagues. De La Cruz has mashed 37 homers—and counting—over his first 250 career games.

De La Cruz's accomplishment is even more impressive when stacked up against more MLB history.

He is one of four players in league annals to tally at least 20 homers and 75 stolen bases in his first two seasons, joining Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. and two other players who competed many decades ago—New York Yankees outfielder Ben Chapman and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bug Holliday.

MLB players with 20+ homers and 75+ stolen bases in first two seasons*

De La Cruz also is on the verge of becoming MLB's first player to lead all of baseball in both stolen bases and strikeouts.

Despite the 204 punchouts entering Friday's game, De La Cruz still has a .343 on-base percentage, high above MLB's league average of .312 this season. And he's clearly making the most of his time on base with 65 steals—14 more than Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani in second place.

Wayne Rooney believes Paul Pogba is among Manchester United's three strangest signings before INEOS bought a stake in the club. The former forward delivered a scathing assessment of the club's transfer strategy before Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co were onboarded, with their recruitment branded as 'horrendous'.

• Woodward’s chaotic years under the microscope

  Before INEOS’ partial takeover in late 2023, football operations at United were largely overseen by Ed Woodward, who held the executive vice-chairman role from 2012 until his resignation in 2021. His tenure coincided with United’s steady decline from domestic dominance to a club struggling to recapture its identity. Rooney’s comments reflect the frustration felt by fans who watched millions poured into signings that never fully delivered. Pogba’s then-world-record £89 million ($117m) return from Juventus, Romelu Lukaku’s £75m ($99m) switch from Everton, and even the short-term arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain have now been framed as decisions which show a lack of footballing vision.

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  Signs of change under INEOS

  Things have started to shift under Ratcliffe and his INEOS group, who assumed control of football operations after buying a 25 per cent stake in the club. Unlike the scattergun approach of previous years, United’s recent transfer strategy has focused on players with Premier League experience or emerging talents from abroad. This summer’s arrivals, like Bryan Mbuemo, Matheus Cunha, and Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, have injected both energy and stability into the side. Each has already cemented a place in Ruben Amorim’s first-team plans, helping United climb to seventh in the Premier League table, unbeaten in their last five matches and sitting on 18 points.

  Speaking on , brought to fans by Sky Bet, Rooney said: "The recruitment at Manchester United before last summer was horrendous. They were just bringing big names in – you look at Lukaku, Zlatan, Pogba – they're good players but they were just bringing names in and spending enormous amounts of money. It's going to take a bit of time to get over those mistakes."

• Amorim's Red Devils finding form

  United’s recent performances suggest a team rediscovering its rhythm. After a shaky start to the 2025–26 campaign, the Red Devils bounced back with three consecutive Premier League wins in October, beating Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton. And Rooney believes that the Red Devils could qualify for the Champions League next season.

  "If you look at Manchester United over the last ten years, the players have been absolutely battered," he continued.  "Now they've got a couple of results and you can see a bit of confidence coming back. You can even say that in the manager. They're gradually getting better, there's definitely been some improvement. It's been really tough for Ruben Amorim and I've been critical of him. We are seeing them improve though and players are getting to know each other a bit better. There's some promising signs and although they're not going to win the league they could possibly sneak into the top four."

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  Head coach calls for growth and grit

  But as has so often been the case at Old Trafford, progress has been fragile. November brought back-to-back 2-2 draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, exposing lingering defensive frailties. Speaking to after the Tottenham draw, Amorim acknowledged the mixed emotions.

  He said: "During the game we felt like the three points were there to take home. But then with everything that happened, Harry Maguire and Casemiro coming off and conceding two goals… we scored again and it's a point. When you cannot win you don't lose, once again we did that. We have so much to grow as a team, because today was our day to win this game.

  "We need to look at ourselves, we were not pressing with the same intensity, we felt comfortable but we need to understand that if we had more bravery we kill the game. But sometimes this happens, you have a better first half than second. We believe in our capacity to score goals until the last minute. It's a little frustration, but also pride at the response of the players at the response to second goal of Tottenham. This is the tip of the iceberg, we are at the beginning of becoming a strong team, so we have a lot to do."

  United will return from the international break with a crucial clash against Everton on Monday, November 24.