Author: James Brooks

Liverpool are in advanced talks with Andoni Iraola as the club looks to appoint a new head coach following the sacking of Arne Slot. Iraola departed Bournemouth at the end of the season and is considered the clear favourite to take charge at Anfield. The Reds are keen to move quickly on an appointment and are looking for a manager who fits their preferred playing style of front-foot, aggressive football. Iraola, 43, is understood to be keen on bringing his former Bournemouth assistant Tommy Elphick with him should he take the role at Liverpool. Elphick, a lifelong Liverpool fan, has…

Ghana have named former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey in their final 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup tournament. Partey, who now plays for La Liga side Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault. The allegations relate to claims made by four different women between 2020 and 2022, with the 32-year-old due to stand trial next year. Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku offered his full backing to Partey, speaking directly to BBC Sport about the midfielder’s inclusion. “Thomas is our vice-captain. He is one of the top midfielders in the world…

Mark Chapman is joined by Conor Coady, Chris Sutton and Adam Crafton on Football Daily to react to Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. PSG claimed their second consecutive Champions League title after defeating Arsenal in a penalty shootout, extending their dominance in European football. The panel dissect Arsenal’s setup throughout the match and debate whether the club need to fundamentally change their approach going forward. A central question raised by the panel is why Arsenal so frequently frustrate supporters, even when competing at the highest level of the game. Particular attention is paid to Gabriel, who missed…

Mason Greenwood has emerged as the top transfer priority for both candidates seeking the Fenerbahce presidency ahead of a crunch vote this Sunday. Former president Aziz Yildirim and rival candidate Hakan Safi are competing for control of the Turkish club, with an announcement on the outcome expected on Sunday. Despite their battle for the presidency, the two candidates are united in their desire to bring Greenwood to Fenerbahce this summer. The 24-year-old forward has endured a difficult few months at Marseille, where he has attracted significant interest from elsewhere in Europe. Marseille’s new sporting director Gregory Lorenzi said last week…

Chelsea have turned down several approaches from rival clubs for young defender Josh Acheampong, making clear he is not available for transfer. The 20-year-old has come through the academy system at Stamford Bridge and has been granted what is described as “untouchable” status regarding his future at the club. That designation places Acheampong alongside a group of players Chelsea consider central to their long-term plans and not for sale under any circumstances. He joins the likes of forwards Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, as well as midfielder Moises Caicedo, in that protected category at the club. The decision is notable…

Manchester City have faced Real Madrid a total of 17 times across all competitions, producing a closely contested head-to-head record. City have won five of those encounters, while Real Madrid have claimed eight victories over the English club. The remaining four meetings between the two European giants ended in draws, making the overall record firmly in Madrid’s favour. The fixtures have taken place predominantly in UEFA Champions League competition, where both clubs have been regular contenders in recent decades. Manchester City’s head-to-head database covers an extraordinary range of opponents, spanning over 150 clubs from domestic and international football. Against Premier…

Manchester City’s domestic double signals the beginning of what the club hopes will be a sustained period of trophy-winning success. Striker Khadija Shaw announced a shock four-year contract extension on Monday at the club’s celebratory parade, reversing weeks of speculation about her departure. Around 19,000 fans at the Co-op Live arena erupted with joy as Shaw confirmed she would be staying, ending an emotional rollercoaster for supporters. Shaw had been linked with a move away from City, with Chelsea poised to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding her future. She proved her value immediately at Wembley, scoring the opening goal…

Liverpool are preparing to open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week over becoming their new head coach. The club sacked Arne Slot on Saturday, just one year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title. Liverpool hope to have a successor in place as soon as possible, with departing Bournemouth manager Iraola identified as the leading contender. The 43-year-old delivered Bournemouth’s finest season to date, guiding them to a sixth-placed finish and qualification for next season’s Europa League. Iraola announced in April that he would leave Bournemouth this summer and has also been linked with Crystal Palace…

The Brentford FC vs Arsenal FC timeline shows how this clash played out in the Premier League at a glance. Brentford and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw at Brentford’s ground on 12 February 2026 in the Premier League. The result extended the head-to-head record between the two clubs to 24 meetings across all competitions since 1902. Brentford’s overall record against Arsenal now stands at six wins, seven draws, and eleven defeats across that history. The two clubs first met in the FA Cup in December 1902, with Woolwich Arsenal winning the replay 5-0 after an initial 1-1 draw. Brentford…

Manuel Ugarte has been included in Uruguay’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, while veteran striker Luis Suarez has been left out by coach Marcelo Bielsa. The Manchester United midfielder is one of three Premier League players selected for the tournament, which is being held in North America. Wolves defender Santiago Bueno and Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur are the other two Premier League representatives in the 26-man squad. Bielsa opted against including 39-year-old Suarez, the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker, despite the player recently leaving the door open for a return. Suarez had said he would reverse his international retirement…