Liverpool coach Arne Slot lamented his team’s defensive display despite clinching a 2-1 victory over nine-man Tottenham Hotspur in an English Premier League (EPL) clash on Saturday. Alexander Isak’s 56th minute goal fired Liverpool into the lead, 19 minutes after Spurs midfielder Xavi Simons was sent off for a tackle on Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk. And although striker Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s advantage (66th min), Richarlison pulled one back for the hosts in stoppage time as Arne Slot’s men scrambled to hold onto three points despite Tottenham also losing defender Cristian Romero to a second booking (for kicking Ibrahima Konate) late on. Arne Slot “I thought with nine [players], we will probably be able to keep them away from our goal, but it looked as if we were down to nine and they were on 11 because it was attack after attack after attack,” said Slot. Meanwhile, under-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank lambasted referee John Brooks. Frank was furious with Simons’s red card and the failure to disallow Ekitike’s goal for a push on Romero. “I don’t like this as a red card. It’s not reckless and it’s not exceptional force. Simons is trying to put pressure and then he [Van Dijk] changes direction. Unfortunately his foot is on his Achilles. You can say ‘You need to be smarter,’ but are we not allowed to have physical contact? The second goal is a mistake from the referee. There are two hands in the back. I don’t understand how you can do that,” said Frank. 04No. of EPL goals conceded by Liverpool in the last 15 mins of their previous six games 25No. of EPL goals conceded by Reds in 2025-26; 2nd-most among top 10 teams This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2025 10:11 AM IST | London | AgenciesArsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side have to learn to kill games off while they are winning after reclaiming top spot in the English Premier League with a 1-0 win at Everton. Viktor Gyokeres scored the only goal from the spot as the Gunners moved two points clear of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. But after needing a stoppage-time own goal to beat bottom-of-the-table Wolves last weekend, Arteta was again made to sweat for 96 minutes against a depleted Everton. “The margin should have been bigger. We have to learn while we are winning,” said the Spanish coach. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2025 10:06 AM IST | Liverpool | AFPFrench superstar Kylian Mbappe said it was an honour to equal his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 Real Madrid goals in a calendar year on Saturday. Mbappe, on his 27th birthday, tucked home an 86th-minute penalty against Sevilla in La Liga to match Ronaldo’s club record set in 2013 and secure his side a 2-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. “It’s a special day because it’s my birthday, I always said it would be a dream to play in a game on my birthday and at Real Madrid, the club of my dreams. It was the objective to finish the year with a positive result and the record is incredible. “To do like Cristiano did, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid’s history and a world great, it’s an honour for me,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2025 10:04 AM IST | Madrid | AFPLiverpool boss Arne Slot said on Friday that he was happy about the progress his new-look side are making after a torrid start to the season for the defending English Premier League (EPL) champions. Ahead of their EPL clash against a struggling Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool find themselves in seventh place after a run of seven losses in 12 games. However, it appears the Reds are finally beginning to find their footing, having gone unbeaten in their last five games across all competitions, which has led Slot to believe his team have finally turned a leaf. Arne Slot “We are getting closer to the team I want us to be. That has gone with ups and downs. For me, that makes complete sense because of the changes we made in the summer. You have to adapt, so it takes time. We have been very unlucky with refereeing decisions. [But] we have to make sure this team gets to a level where refereeing decisions don’t influence this team. I hope we continue to see [our momentum] in the results,” said the Dutchman. On Liverpool’s path to progress stand an equally off-colour Tottenham side under Thomas Frank. The London outfit is mired in 11th place with pressure on the Danish coach growing. However, Slot insists his team will not be taking the reigning UEFA Europa League champions lightly, having seen Frank mastermind a 3-2 victory against Liverpool in October last year with his previous side Brentford. The Reds also required two injury-time goals to beat them in the return fixture in January this year. “It took us 92 minutes to score away against Brentford last season, a Thomas Frank team,” said Slot, reminding his charges to be wary on Saturday. Liverpool will be without star forward Mohamed Salah despite his reintegration into the team for last week’s 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion after his public outcry over Slot’s decision to bench him for three games in a row. The Egyptian will be on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Slot restating that the rift between the two is well and truly over. “I said last week, actions speak louder than words. We moved on, he was in the squad and was the first substitution I made,” said the Reds boss. 07No. of times Liverpool have beaten Tottenham in their last 10 EPL encounters 30No. of goals scored by Liverpool against Spurs in their last 10 EPL clashes This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2025 09:36 AM IST | London | AgenciesRiding high on skipper Mahika Praveen’s brace, Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School (Bandra) clinched the girls U-14 Division-II title, defeating Canossa High School (Mahim) 3-0 in the Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school football tournament at Cross Maidan on Thursday. The Bandra outfit’s aggressive approach paid dividends in the ninth minute, when Esha Jain broke the deadlock with a neat finish to give her side a 1-0 lead, which they carried into the break. In the second-half, Canossa showed greater urgency and attempted to fight their way back into the contest, but the Bandra outfit’s defence held firm. Mahika then came to the fore for her side, converting a spot kick in the 27th minute after she was fouled by Canossa’s Anabia Lambe. Three minutes later, with just a few seconds left on the clock, Mahika scored her second, after a dazzling solo run which culminated in her dribbling past Canossa custodian Zainab Khan before calmly slotting the ball home to seal a 3-0 win. Meanwhile, St Peter’s High School (Mazgaon) secured third place after edging past Rustomjee Cambridge School (Virar) 4-3 via tie-breaker. For St Peter’s, Ruhab Ansari, Ayesha Khan, Aliza Khan and Kiara Kawala found the back of the net, while only Aaradhya Singh, Raina Singh and Vrishti Phadke were on target for Rustomjee.
20 December,2025 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamRayan Cherki’s stunning strike sent Manchester City into the EFL Cup semi-finals thanks to a 2-0 win over Brentford. Pep Guardiola praised the non-regular members of his squad for stepping up in the absence of the big names who were rested. “These players who didn’t play much played really, really well. We struggled early, but after that we took the game,” said Guardiola. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2025 08:53 AM IST | Manchester | AgenciesIndia witnessed the magic of Argentina's legendary footballer Lionel Messi during his "GOAT India Tour", for which crore of money was spent. Several fans enjoyed the event across four cities, where they got an opportunity to get a glimpse of the football icon. Following the conclusion of the event, Indian footballer Sandesh Jhingan has expressed concerns over the future of the sport in the country. Currently, the domestic football tournaments, such as the Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League, are struggling to find a sponsor for their resumption. Expressing his thoughts on the tour, the footballer shared a post on his official social media handle in which he stated that India loves football, but not enough to extend support to our own players. "Now that the euphoria of the past few days of the entire country suddenly embracing football has settled somewhat, I felt compelled to share my thoughts. First and foremost, it genuinely made me happy to see that our country does love football, that it can fill stadiums to full capacity and that people are willing to spend lakhs to witness the sport," his post read. "What troubles me, however, and leaves me deeply reflective, is that at a time when our own football ecosystem is in jeopardy, arguably facing one of its most difficult phases, we stand on the brink of having no active domestic football ahead of us. It feels as though we are close to shutting everything down because there is no willingness to invest in football within India, yet crores were spent on this tour," it added. "What this tells me is that we do love the sport, but perhaps not enough to support our own players," wrote the 32-year-old footballer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sandesh Jhingan (@sandesh21jhingan) Earlier, India's stressed football players had issued a joint statement with the administrators to start the currently paused ISL, by saying that their anger and frustration had turned into desperation. The plea came after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it did not receive any bids for the commercial rights for the ISL. Earlier, the board had also put out the Request for Proposal (RFP), inviting bids for a 15-year contract. (With ANI Inputs)
18 December,2025 12:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThey say your partner is always your biggest supporter, and Raphinha’s better half, Natalia Rodrigues, definitely proved that on Tuesday, by posting a stinging rebuttal to FIFA’s decision of omitting the Barcelona star from their Best XI of the year. According to the British newspaper, The Daily Mail, in a now deleted Instagram story with the image of the 11 players selected in the background, Rodrigues wrote: “Is Raphinha a basketball player? Injustice.” The Barcelona star had a stellar campaign last season, scoring 34 goals and notching up 26 assists in all competitions, as he propelled his team to the La Liga title. He even finished fifth in the Ballon D’Or list. The Brazilian winger’s spot on the left was taken up by his club teammate Pedri, who is normally a midfielder. The rest of FIFA’s Best XI included: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Willian Pacho (PSG), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), and Lamine Yamal. Raphinha and Natalia have known each other since 2013 and tied the knot in 2022. They have a three-year-old son, Gael.
18 December,2025 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentChelsea coach Enzo Maresca said he appreciated the backing of the Blues fans after they sung his name during Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Cardiff in the League Cup quarter-finals. Chelsea moved into the semi-finals thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s double and a Pedro Neto strike after David Turnbull equalised for League One leaders Cardiff. It was a well-timed victory after Maresca claimed on Saturday that the previous 48 hours had been his worst at the club because he lacked “support” from “many people.” “I’m just happy, we’re going to play another semi-final. It’s what the fans deserve,” Maresca said after acknowledging the Chelsea fans. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 December,2025 09:51 AM IST | Cardiff | AFPArgentine football legend Lionel Messi has expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received from the fans during the "GOAT India Tour". The tour saw the footballer make his appearance in four different cities. He also extended his stay by a day and paid a visit to Anant Ambani's Vantara wildlife rescue in Jamnagar. Messi then departed for his base in Miami. The Rosario-born footballer shared a video on his official social media handle. "What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India!#GOATTourIndia #GOATconcert #MessiinIndia A Satadru Dutta Initiative," his post read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) His wishes come at a time when Indian football is struggling for its survival. The Indian Super League (ISL) has been brought to a halt as the league's board is trying to find a commercial partner. On the other hand, the national team is also struggling from poor results. The Argentine superstar did not play any competitive football during the overall trip. Throughout the "GOAT India Tour", Messi was accompanied by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. Messi's overall visits to Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi went smoothly, as fans enjoyed the experience of witnessing the star footballer in person. However, his visit to Kolkata turned ugly after politicians and officials surrounded him, denying fans, who had paid thousands for a seat to get a clear view of the icon. Following the incident, the gathered spectators indulged in vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, prompting Messi to be whisked away sooner than the originally planned time. In Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, the star player charmed fans by posing for pictures and showcasing some of his warm-up routines besides playing briefly with young players. "...we carry all this love with us, and we will definitely return, hopefully one day to play a match or on another occasion, but we will definitely return to visit India," he said after the final leg of the tour in Delhi. (With PTI Inputs)
17 December,2025 05:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRuben Amorim said Manchester United inspired the crowd in a 4-4 draw against Bournemouth, but must be more ruthless to turn draws into wins. “People want to see a team play good football. We did that in certain moments. But we are really disappointed [with the draw]. We need to find ways of closing games,” lamented Amorim. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 December,2025 09:12 AM IST | Manchester | AFPADVERTISEMENT
