عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Liverpool Starts Premier League Title Defense Against Bournemouth While Man Utd Hosts Arsenal 

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah celebrates with the Premier League trophy at the end of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 25, 2025. (AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah celebrates with the Premier League trophy at the end of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 25, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

Liverpool Starts Premier League Title Defense Against Bournemouth While Man Utd Hosts Arsenal 

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah celebrates with the Premier League trophy at the end of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 25, 2025. (AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah celebrates with the Premier League trophy at the end of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 25, 2025. (AFP)

Liverpool will begin its latest Premier League title defense at home to Bournemouth on Aug. 15, while Manchester United will host Arsenal in the opening round of next season.

The Premier League released its fixture schedule for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, giving teams and their fans a chance to start planning less than a month since the last campaign finished.

Liverpool will be bidding for a third league championship in six years, likely with Florian Wirtz in its squad, and will play the first match of the season in a Friday night start at Anfield against a Bournemouth team that finished in ninth place.

It's quite a tough beginning for Arne Slot's champions, with a trip to Newcastle in the second round followed by a home match against Arsenal — another team in the Champions League — a week later.

Arsenal, which finished second for a third straight year last season, heads to Old Trafford for its first game and will play Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle in its opening six matches.

Everton bade farewell to its long-time home at Goodison Park at the end of last season and the first game in its state-of-the-art, 53,000-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will be against Brighton on Aug. 23.

Thomas Frank’s first Premier League game in charge of Tottenham will be at home to promoted Burnley on Aug 16. That comes three days after Frank's competitive debut with Tottenham, the Europa League champion, against Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup.

Sunderland’s first Premier League game since the 2016-17 season is at home to West Ham, while Leeds hosts Everton first after returning to the top flight following a two-year absence.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Slot Angered by 'Weird' Szoboszlai Error in Liverpool FA Cup Win

Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP
Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP
TT
TT

Slot Angered by 'Weird' Szoboszlai Error in Liverpool FA Cup Win

Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP
Dominik Szoboszlai scored and committed a huge error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley. PETER POWELL / AFP

Dominik Szoboszlai produced a sublime goal and a ridiculous error as Liverpool eased to a 4-1 win over third-tier Barnsley to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

The Hungarian international unleashed a rocket into the top corner from long range to open the scoring at Anfield on Monday before Jeremie Frimpong doubled the home side's lead.

But Szoboszlai gifted the League One side a route back into the tie when he fluffed an attempted backheel inside his own box and Adam Phillips gratefully smashed home.

Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane claimed Szoboszlai's lax move was disrespectful and not one he would have tried in a Premier League game, said AFP.

Arne Slot was also far from happy with his midfielder, who has been Liverpool's outstanding performer so far in a difficult season for the English champions.

"I don't think you should do that in a FA Cup game, or a League Cup game, or in a friendly game, or in a training session. It was a weird choice," said Slot.

"I also have my opinion about it but I prefer to keep that to myself and speak about that with Dom."

Hourihane was furious his side were not awarded a penalty midway through the second half for a trip by Szoboszlai on Reyes Cleary.

Slot was forced to empty his bench of key players as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch were introduced just after the hour mark.

Liverpool labored going forward for most of the second period until their star duo of attacking substitutes clicked to clinch victory in the final six minutes plus added time.

Ekitike's deft flick found Wirtz, who curled into the top corner for his third goal in five games since breaking his duck in his 23rd appearance for the Reds.

The roles were reversed in stoppage time as Wirtz unselfishly crossed for Ekitike to tap in.

"We scored nice goals but I think for too long the game was tight," added Slot.

"Two-nil up then giving a goal away like that made it difficult until 10 minutes before the end."

Liverpool's reward is a home tie against Manchester United's conquerors Brighton in round four.

Sports

Real Madrid Replaces Coach Xabi Alonso with B Team Manager Alvaro Arbeloa

Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)
Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)
TT
TT

Real Madrid Replaces Coach Xabi Alonso with B Team Manager Alvaro Arbeloa

Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)
Real Madrid's defender Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs UD Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2015. (AFP)

Real Madrid replaced coach Xabi Alonso with B team manager Alvaro Arbeloa on Monday.

Madrid said in a statement that Alonso left by mutual agreement.

The announcement came a day after Madrid lost to Barcelona 3-2 in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. It ended a tumultuous stint that lasted less than eight months for the former Madrid and Spain midfielder.

“Real Madrid wishes to announce that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his time as first team coach to an end,” Madrid said. “Xabi Alonso will always carry the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.”

The club thanked Alonso and his coaching staff for “their hard work and dedication throughout this time and wish them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

Alonso was under pressure as the team struggled to play well under his command. He had spats with players such as Vinícius Júnior and widespread media reports said he'd lost the locker room.

Madrid trails Barcelona by four points at the halfway point of La Liga.

Like Alonso, Arbeloa is a former player of the Spanish powerhouse, helping it win eight titles from 2009-16, including two European Cups and one Spanish league. Arbeloa also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

He had been coaching the B team since June. He had also coached youth teams at the club.

Alonso arrived in May with high expectations and a contract to June 2028. He led Bayer Leverkusen to an unprecedented German league and cup double in his first full season after taking over the team when it was in the Bundesliga relegation zone the season before.

As a midfielder, Alonso won six titles with Madrid from 2009-14 and a World Cup and Euros champion teammate of Arbeloa's.

Sports

Teenage Super Sub Mbaye Could Prove Decisive for Senegal

Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP)
Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP)
TT
TT

Teenage Super Sub Mbaye Could Prove Decisive for Senegal

Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP)
Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Senegal and Sudan in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP)

Senegal’s 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye has emerged as a potential future star for African football, and his role as a super substitute at ​the Africa Cup of Nations could yet prove decisive for his team.

One of a number of exciting new players on display over the last three weeks at the tournament in Morocco, Mbaye has made the biggest impact, featuring in each of Senegal’s matches off the bench.

As they prepare to face Egypt in Wednesday’s semi-final in Tangiers, his impact will be part of the planning as Senegal look to advance to Sunday’s final.

His powerful and pacy running, dribbling skills, and a sharp nose for goal have given Senegal a ‌serious addition ‌to their already much-vaunted attack.

“He’s a gem, and we need ‌to ⁠nurture ​him,” said ‌coach Pape Bouna Thiaw.

“We know what he can bring to this team, and we will do everything we can to ensure he thrives and is at his best.”

Mbaye netted in Senegal’s 3-1 win over Sudan in the round of 16, officially becoming, at 17 years, 11 months, and 11 days, the second youngest scorer in tournament history. The youngest is Chiva Nzigou of Gabon, who was allegedly 16 when he scored in the 2000 finals, but has since ⁠admitted being an age cheat, although the record is not expunged.

Mbaye, who turns 18 this month, was close to a ‌goal in Senegal’s second group game against the Democratic ‍Republic of Congo when he was brought ‍on a minute after the Congolese took the lead in Tangiers.

IMPACT EIGHT MINUTES AFTER ‍COMING OFF THE BENCH

Eight minutes later, a surging run down the right led to him firing off a shot that the goalkeeper could not hold, allowing Sadio Mane to equalize.

"He has this spark within him. He's young, but you don't notice that on the pitch. Every time he comes on, ​he brings something extra," said Senegal teammate Krepin Diatta.

Mbaye won his first cap in November, in a friendly against Brazil, having one month previously played ⁠for France’s under-19 team, with Thiaw visiting him at Paris St Germain to persuade him to switch allegiance.

"It was easy to convince the player. Ibrahim wanted to play for Senegal," said the coach.

They had been tracking him from last season when PSG used him as a starter for their opening match of the Ligue 1 campaign. He was an unused substitute in the Champions League final against Inter Milan in May and this season has started eight times for the French giants, including October’s Champions League win at Barcelona.

Thiaw says the experience of rubbing shoulders with Senegal’s top players will be beneficial for Mbaye.

“He is in a squad where he has the chance to work with players like Sadio Mane, who has won everything ‌and can guide him, like Kalidou Koulibaly and Gana Gueye, who are familiar with the highest level. Now, we need to protect him properly,” added the coach.