Just For Kicks

Liverpool moved 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 victory over West Ham at Anfield, sealed by Virgil van Dijk’s towering 89th-minute header. On an emotionally charged day that coincided with the Hillsborough anniversary, Luis Díaz opened the scoring for the hosts, only for an Andy Robertson own goal to level things late on. But just as the game seemed destined fo...

In what was the shock of the Champions League quarter-finals, Arsenal delivered a commanding 3-0 first-leg victory over Real Madrid at the Emirates. Midfielder Declan Rice was the standout performer, scoring two exceptional direct free-kicks —his first-ever in professional football. This also made him the first player in tounament's history to score multiple direct free-kicks in a knockout stage g...

What threatened to be an actual procession to the title turned sour, as Liverpool stumbled against a very impressive Fulham side. The Reds' lead still remains healthy though, as Arsenal, not for the first time this season, failed to capitalise on any potential mishaps, drawing 1-1 against Everton the day before. Meanwhile, over in Manchester, United and City played out a dull 0-0 draw - a result t...

There were bittersweet moments for clubs in MD29 as Arsenal edged Fulham 2-1, but the win came at a cost with injuries to defenders Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber, taking the shine off Bukayo Saka’s long-awaited return and goal since December. Former Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga proved a point with a lively, match-winning display for Nottingham Forest against his old club, exposin...

In his debut match, Thomas Tuchel guided England to a dominant 2-0 victory over Albania in their World Cup qualifier, with Myles Lewis-Skelly making history as the youngest goal-scorer for the Three Lions. Early signs under Tuchel were promising, as England combined tactical discipline with attacking fluidity, setting an exciting tone for his tenure. Meanwhile, the Nations League has reached its f...

Hurrah, international football is back! The UEFA Nations League quarter-finals kicked off with high drama, as Croatia stunned France with a 2-0 victory despite an early missed penalty. Ante Budimir opened the scoring in the 26th minute, while Ivan Perišić doubled the lead just before halftime. France, boasting stars like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, controlled possession but struggled to bre...

It was a sea of black and white over the weekend as Newcastle United ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought, clinching their first major silverware since 1969 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak, either side of halftime, sealed a historic triumph—one that will be etched into Geordie folklore and stand as a crown...

The Champions League Round of 16 delivered pure footballing drama, with Real Madrid once again breaking Atletico hearts in a thrilling penalty shootout. In this domestic clash dripping with history, Los Blancos saw their first-leg advantage erased as Atletico forced extra time with a 1-0 lead on the night. But when the dust settled, Madrid held their nerve from the spot - with a dash of VAR contro...

The race for the coveted Champions League spots is more unpredictable than ever as we enter the business end of the campaign. The latest twist? Nottingham Forest’s stunning—yet not entirely shocking—1-0 victory over Manchester City at the City Ground. Callum Hudson-Odoi sealed the win in the 82nd minute with a clinical counterattack finish, while City, despite dominating possession, failed to brea...

A colossal quarter-final berth in the AFC Champions League Elite hangs in the balance as Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta'zim and Thai giants Buriram United battle for a shot at glory against a Saudi Pro League contender. The stage is set at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this Tuesday, where all eyes will be on Hector Bidoglio’s men after their defensive masterclass secured a goalless draw in Burir...

The FA Cup fifth round was packed with drama, surprises, and some big moments. Delivering arguably the biggest was Fulham who pulled off a shock by knocking out defending champions Manchester United in a penalty shootout at Old Trafford. After a 1-1 draw in extra time—Calvin Bassey scoring for Fulham and Bruno Fernandes equalizing for United—Fulham’s keeper Bernd Leno came up clutch in the shootou...

The FA Cup quarter-finals promise an exciting weekend of football, featuring seven Premier League clubs alongside Championship underdogs Preston North End. Fulham and Crystal Palace clash in a high-stakes London derby, each hoping to edge closer to their first-ever FA Cup triumph. Brighton, riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, seeks redemption against Nottingham Forest after their February setback...

Arne Slot's absence from the touchline did not affect Liverpool as they clinically brushed aside Newcastle, with a 2-0 win at Anfield in Matchweek 27 of the English Premier League. Arsenal's drab 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest meant that the Reds go 13 points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta must now be regretting their decision to not find a striker in the transfer...

In a high-stakes Premier League showdown at the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool claimed a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester City, stretching their lead at the summit to 11 points. Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a deflected strike from a meticulously crafted corner routine, marking his 30th goal of the season. The Egyptian star turned provider in the 37th minute, threading...

He didn't have the best of starts in Madrid, but months later, French forward Kylian Mbappe is now firing on all cylinders, scoring a majestic hat-trick to knock Man City out of the Champions League Play-Off round, with Real Madrid looking imperious, as they always do, at this stage of the tournament. We look back to the week that was in the European competitions, that saw some traditional giants...

"My job is so hard..." sighed Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim after a dismal 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, where James Maddison’s early strike handed Ange Postecoglou three invaluable points. "Hard" might even be an understatement when it came to the spectacle —fans endured a tedious 90 minutes in what critics are calling one of the dullest Premier League matches in recent memory. Tha...

The last Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park delivered on all fronts, with good goals, last minute drama and red cards, as Everton and Liverpool played a pulsating 2-2 draw that ended with a scuffle after the match. We unpack the drama in this mid-week EPL match, together with the Champions League fixtures, including Man City's last minute capitulation at the hands of Real Madrid at the Etihad. Then...

The magic of the FA Cup is well and truly alive! In a stunning fourth-round upset, Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 1-0 victory at Home Park. The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Ryan Hardie calmly slotted home a penalty, securing a historic win for the Pilgrims. With this unexpected defeat, Liverpool’s hopes of a quadruple came to...

It was a fairly busy end to the January transfer window, with clubs scrambling around to get their last minute deals done for the second half of the season. The much maligned Marcus Rashford finally left Old Trafford to join Unai Emery at Aston Villa on loan, and the Red Devils didn't replace him with anyone else up front, especially after Mathys Tel chose to go to Tottenham Hotspurs, after initia...

Premier League action over the weekend was capped off with a statement performance from Arsenal, who dismantled Manchester City with a commanding 5-1 victory at the Emirates. Martin Ødegaard capitalized on a defensive lapse to open the scoring, and although Erling Haaland briefly leveled for City, the Gunners responded in emphatic fashion. Goals from Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz,...

It's another busy week of football during the festive period, with the Lunar New Year ushering in the final round of European matches. Man City survived the dreaded scare of being knocked out of the tournament completely against Club Brugge, coming back in the second half to win their match and make it to the playoffs. We unpack some of the matches that were played in the Champions League, and the...

In a weekend full of dramatic twists, Tottenham’s struggles deepened as they edged closer to the relegation zone with a demoralizing defeat to Leicester, who broke their seven-game losing streak. Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have secured just one point from their last seven matches, with injuries and a gruelling schedule cited as key contributors to their dismal form. Elsewhere, Chelsea’s woes persist...

Manchester City's fortunes in the Champions League seem to not be getting better, as they suffered a demoralising defeat in Paris against PSG, despite taking a 2-0 lead against Luis Enrique's men. The prospect of Man City not qualifying to the next round is real, but despite that, Pep Guardiola now has to turn his attention to Matchweek 23 in the EPL, as they host Chelsea this weekend. Our pundits...

David Moyes finally had his first win on his return to Everton, as his team showed desire and guile against Spurs. The loss puts more pressure on Ange Postecoglou, with his team now closer to the relegation zone. Elsewhere, Arsenal squandered their chance to close the gap to Liverpool, drawing against an inspired Villa side. The Reds, meanwhile, left it late, with Darwin Nunez scoring two late goa...

It's another busy week of football, with Matchweek 21 wrapped up, and Matchweek 22 to look forward to this weekend. Our pundits, Bob and Dez, as well as the returning Sean Malhotra join Kam Raslan to look back at the midweek matches that saw Liverpool played a 1-1 draw against their nearest title challenger, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United surviving a scare at home against bottom-of-the-t...