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Anfield Jeers Won’t Sour My Love for Liverpool, Says Real's Alexander-Arnold 

Real Madrid's defender Trent Alexander-Arnold attends a training session of the team at Valdebebas Sports Complez in Madrid, Spain, 31 October 2025. (EPA) 
Real Madrid's defender Trent Alexander-Arnold attends a training session of the team at Valdebebas Sports Complez in Madrid, Spain, 31 October 2025. (EPA) 
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Anfield Jeers Won’t Sour My Love for Liverpool, Says Real's Alexander-Arnold 

Real Madrid's defender Trent Alexander-Arnold attends a training session of the team at Valdebebas Sports Complez in Madrid, Spain, 31 October 2025. (EPA) 
Real Madrid's defender Trent Alexander-Arnold attends a training session of the team at Valdebebas Sports Complez in Madrid, Spain, 31 October 2025. (EPA) 

Trent Alexander-Arnold could face a rancorous reception when he returns to Anfield for Tuesday's Champions League game against Liverpool, but the Real Madrid defender said no amount of hostility from fans could dampen his love for his boyhood club.

Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold came up through the club's youth ranks and won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the Merseyside team.

His decision not to sign a new deal at the club prompted an angry response from many Liverpool supporters, who jeered him in a Premier League game against Arsenal in May after he said he wanted to experience a new challenge.

"I think whichever way I am received is the decision of the fans," Alexander-Arnold told Amazon Prime on Sunday. "I will always love the club. I will always be a fan of the club.

"No matter what, my feelings won't change towards Liverpool. I have got memories there that will last me a lifetime and no matter how I am received, that won't change."

Liverpool have struggled in recent weeks, suffering six defeats in their last eight games in all competitions, but Alexander-Arnold said no one at Real would underestimate the Premier League champions.

"It will be a very difficult game, the reception and atmosphere will contribute to that, but more so the football for me," the 27-year-old added.

"Although they haven't had the results of late, they're still a top footballing team, and nobody here thinks it's going to be an easy game."

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Sports

Caballero Defends Maresca After Palmer Substitution Sparks Jeers

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Caballero Defends Maresca After Palmer Substitution Sparks Jeers

Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 30, 2025 Chelsea's Cole Palmer shakes hands with manager Enzo Maresca after being substituted. (Action Images via Reuters)

Chelsea assistant coach Willy Caballero defended Enzo Maresca's decision to replace Cole Palmer after the controversial substitution sparked jeered from angry fans during the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Maresca was barraged with chants of "you don't know what you're doing" when Palmer was brought off in the 63rd minute as Chelsea chased a winning goal that would have ended their disappointing spell.

The Chelsea manager's move backfired, leaving them with just one win from their last seven league games and sparking more boos at the final whistle.

The pressure is growing on the Italian, with fifth-placed Chelsea having dropped 13 points at home from winning positions.

But Maresca, who was absent from his post-match media duties due to an illness, remains an "example" to everyone at the club according to Caballero.

"Any supporter wants to have the best players on the pitch," he said. "We want to have that as well. But Cole is coming from a long injury.

"In this case we need to find a way to find the right substitutions to go for the game and also to look after the health of our players.

"We want to have them for the rest of the season."

Asked why Maresca didn't face the media to explain his Palmer switch, Caballero said: "He didn't feel well the last two days. He was with a bit of a temperature two days ago.

"He did the last two sessions, he wanted to prepare the team. But after the game he went to the changing room and asked me to replace him because he didn't feel well.

"He's dealing well, he's very professional. He does a lot of hours every single day, even when the last two days feeling bad he was there. He loves to train and to coach. He's an example for me and all of the staff."

Bournemouth went ahead after six minutes when David Brooks finished at the second attempt following a Robert Sanchez save, before Chelsea levelled through Palmer's penalty.

Enzo Fernandez then fired the hosts in front but again the Blues could not hold their lead, Justin Kluivert equalizing before half-time after Chelsea failed to deal with a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

Ghana forward Semenyo is reportedly set to join Manchester City and he appeared to say goodbye to Bournemouth's fans before leaving the pitch.

However, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is confident he will play against leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

"It's not his last game here with us," Iraola said. "I cannot say a hundred percent but I think he will play."

Sports

Depleted Man Utd ‘Lack Quality’, Says Amorim

Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
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Depleted Man Utd ‘Lack Quality’, Says Amorim

Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Manchester United's head coach Ruben Amorim walks on the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his side "lacked quality" to break down a Wolves team without a Premier League win all season in the latest blow to their chances of Champions League football next season.

Wolves secured just their third point of the campaign and snapped a 12-game losing streak as Ladislav Krejci's header cancelled out Joshua Zirkzee's deflected opener in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

United were missing captain Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo through injury, while Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

"We have a lack of fluidity and then lack of quality and then lack of creation of chances, and then we suffer a goal from a set-piece," said Amorim.

"These details are important to win these games in difficult moments."

United remain two points outside the top four in sixth.

But they could have been well on course for a return to European football's top table next season had they not failed to win four of their last five home games.

Amorim, though, remains confident his side will end the season strongly once they have their key players back fit and available.

"I think we are in one situation that you have a lot of players out in the same time.

"Of course, when you play Casemiro and (Manuel) Ugarte in the middle, you know that is different to when you have Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount or Bruno, that is normal. We just need to recover our players, the players from AFCON to return and then the fluidity is going to be different.

"I'm really confident when we recover all the players that we are going to be a strong team, there is no doubt in my mind."

Sports

Villa's Emery Downplays Missed Handshake with Arteta

Aston Villa's Spanish manager Unai Emery gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 30, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
Aston Villa's Spanish manager Unai Emery gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 30, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
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Villa's Emery Downplays Missed Handshake with Arteta

Aston Villa's Spanish manager Unai Emery gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 30, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
Aston Villa's Spanish manager Unai Emery gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 30, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery played down the absence of the traditional post-match handshake with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Tuesday after his side’s 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium snapped their 11-game winning run.

Emery was seen rushing back to the dressing room after the final ⁠whistle, while Arteta appeared to be waiting at the touchline.

"After the match, always my routine is quick -- shake hands and go with my coaches, with my players, or go to ⁠the dressing room," Emery told reporters when asked about his quick exit.

"And I was waiting, and waiting.

"Of course, he was happy and he was with his coaches and I decided to go inside.

"But for me, it's not a problem," added Emery, who spent 18 months in ⁠the Arsenal hotseat before he was sacked in November 2019.

According to Reuters, Arteta also played down the significance of the missed handshake. "No, that's OK. That's part of the game, not an issue at all."

Villa, in third, now trail leaders Arsenal by six points and next host Nottingham Forest on Saturday.