Chelsea and Enzo Maresca face their sternest examination yet when Premier League leaders Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Maresca’s side enter the London derby riding a wave of confidence following their stunning 3-0 Champions League demolition of Barcelona on Tuesday night.

The emphatic victory showcased Chelsea’s evolution from early-season inconsistency into genuine contenders, with teenage sensation Estevao’s spectacular solo goal providing a potential glimpse of the exciting future being built in west London.

However, Arsenal represent an entirely different proposition.

Mikel Arteta’s men arrive at the Bridge unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Chelsea, not to mention 16 games unbeaten overall since losing to Liverpool in August.

The Blues currently trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League table, meaning Sunday’s clash carries enormous significance for their title ambitions.

Victory would reduce that deficit to three points and encourage realistic title hopes, while defeat would establish a potentially irrecoverable nine-point gap to the leaders with barely a third of the season completed.

Maresca faces crucial selection decisions, particularly surrounding Cole Palmer’s fitness.

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Chelsea have done well to cope without their superstar player, but reports have suggested that Palmer could be in contention to face Arsenal after breaking his toe recently.

The England international has been out since Chelsea’s defeat to Man United at Old Trafford in September, first being kept out by a niggling groin problem before then suffering that toe injury earlier this month.

It’s been a nightmare start to 25/26 for Palmer personally, with the Englishman desperate to get back on the field.

Enzo Maresca provides Cole Palmer update ahead of Arsenal clash

Now, in some good news for the Blues, Maresca has confirmed that Palmer is ready to start against Arsenal this weekend.

In more good news, Maresca also confirmed that midfielder and summer signing Dario Essugo also took part in a training session this morning.

Palmer’s availability for Sunday’s clash provides Chelsea with their most potent weapon against the Premier League leaders, coming as a big boost for Maresca.

The 23-year-old has been instrumental in Chelsea’s transformation under Maresca, providing the sheer quality that elevates their attacking play.

The former Man City star racked up 18 goals and 14 assists last term, spearheading Chelsea to the Conference League, Club World Cup and a top four Premier League finish.

His composure in decisive moments separates him from Chelsea’s other attacking options, and against high-pressure opponents like Arsenal, Palmer’s calmness on the ball and intelligent decision-making will prove invaluable.

Suddenly, Chelsea’s chances of upsetting Arteta have just increased tenfold.

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Mikel Merino salvaged a 1-1 draw for Premier League leaders Arsenal, but they will feel like this was two-points dropped against a Chelsea side who were reduced to 10 men after just 38 minutes when Moises Caicedo was sent off. In an extremely feisty London derby that was littered with early yellow cards, it was no real surprise to see a dismissal, with Caicedo seeing red for a brutal tackle on Merino seven minutes before the interval.

It was a big blow to Chelsea, but they dealt with it well and got themselves in front just after half-time when Trevoh Chalobah flicked on Reece James' corner and his header looped over everyone and into the far corner.

Arsenal hit back quickly, however, and got back on level terms when Merino rose to power Bukayo Saka's cross past Robert Sanchez, and you felt at that point the visitors would go on to make their extra man advantage count.

But they struggled to create any clear cut chances and had to settle for a point which keeps them six points clear of the Blues and moved them five clear of second-placed Manchester City.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Stamford Bridge…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (6/10):

Got caught out a bit by the free-kick that led to the corner which Chelsea scored from. Didn't have much to do in terms of saves.

Jurrien Timer (7/10):

Class act as always. Amid all the chaos, especially in the first half, he was the one calm head in the Arsenal back four.

Cristhian Mosquera (6/10):

Surprisingly named in the XI due to the training ground injury suffered by William Saliba. Looked edgy on the ball as Chelsea pressed, but never hid and played his part,

Piero Hincapie (6/10):

You could see him trying to talk Mosquera through the game at times. Played the senior defensive role quite well. Almost set up a late winner with his cross into the box. Booked.

Riccardo Calafiori (5/10):

Stupid booking in the first half. Chelsea dealt with him quite well, so he wasn't his usual attacking threat. Replaced by Lewis-Skelly at half-time.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Martin Zubimendi (6/10):

Booked in the opening minutes so was always walking a tightrope. Found very little as was in a constant battle with Enzo.

Declan Rice (7/10):

Probably the one player who showed any consistent quality for Arsenal. Produced one exceptional tackle to deny Neto. 

Eberechi Eze (5/10):

Never really got into the game. Looked frustrated by the constant fouls and stop-start nature of the game.

Getty Images SportAttack

Bukayo Saka (6/10):

Was in and out of the game, but found a moment of real quality when he got to the touchline and picked out a perfect cross for Merino to score.

Mikel Merino (6/10):

Not his best game. His touch and passing range was off at times, but still popped up with a crucial goal.

Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):

Had one shot well saved in the first half. Looked rusty, which is no surprise given this was his first start in well over a month.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Myles Lewis-Skelly (5/10):

On at half-time to replace the booked Calafiori, but picked up a yellow himself almost immediately.

Martin Odegaard (6/10):

Good to see him back. Got involved, but was unable to unpick the lock in the Chelsea defence.

Noni Madueke (6/10):

Booed relentlessly on his return to Chelsea. On the fringes of things. 

Viktor Gyokeres (N/A):

Couldn't get into the game, though did look like he was about to score the winner right at the death, but Timber took Hincapie's cross off his head.

Mikel Arteta (6/10):

It felt like his late attacking changes didn't work. It made the game more open and Arsenal lost any control.

The symbolism was striking. During India’s main training session ahead of the first ODI against Australia, Virat Kohli was having a typically intense hit with Rohit Sharma to his left in the next net at Optus Stadium.Shortly after, India’s last two Test and ODI skippers were joined in the nets by their successor Shubman Gill, who started preparation ahead of his ODI captaincy debut as a new era begins.Having set such a commanding tone launching his Test captaincy against England, where he finished as the highest run-scorer with 754 runs at an average of 75.40, Gill has suddenly become the face of Indian cricket.Although his predecessors, especially Kohli, still hog most of the attention publicly as gleaned by a strong Perth media presence and smattering of fans around Optus Stadium following their every move.Related

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It could be viewed as an awkward balancing act amid a transition for this India team after Kohli and Rohit dominated the leadership over the past decade, a particularly fruitful period across formats.But their presence will undoubtedly deflect some spotlight off Gill, who can ease into the role with the support of his sage team-mates as India make their first steps towards the 2027 World Cup.”This is a great experience for Shubman too. Rohit are here and Shubman is doing the captaincy. It will help in Shubman’s growth as a captain. It’s good if young and experienced play together.”While typically steely in the nets, Kohli has been notably jovial during the first couple of days of the Australian white-ball tour.After his 40-minute net session on Friday, Kohli clearly enjoyed himself bantering with several team-mates leading to much laughter all around. India’s training sessions have had a relaxed vibe around them, perhaps a sign of things to come in this new era.But much focus of this three-match ODI series will be on the performances of Rohit and Kohli, almost certainly their farewell on Australian soil, at the top of the order.Shubman Gill won his first Test series at home as captain•BCCI

“If you look at their form, the way the two of them have prepared – they trained at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and also played practice games – I think they are ready performance-wise,” Axar said.”They look in good touch in the training sessions. And if you talk about their physical fitness, of course everyone has passed their fitness tests, I think they are ready to go.”The series is a chance for Gill, 26, to start moulding a XI in a bid to put his stamp on the ODI team. Axar, 31, looms as an intriguing player, whose versatility makes him so appealing in the shorter formats.Having been picked ahead of Ravindra Jadeja for this tour, there will be pressure on Axar who is set to bat at No.5 and will be India’s leading allrounder with Hardik Pandya on the sidelines due to injury.”I am very confident about this series,” Axar, who last played in Australia during the 2022 T20 World Cup, said. “In the Asia Cup, I did well with bat and ball. I am ready for the challenge.”If you look at my growth – I came here in 2015 for the first time during the World Cup – I have been with the Indian team regularly in recent years.”I know what I have to do. The team relies on me now – ‘it’s Axar, he can get us the results’. If you perform continuously, you get the confidence too.”I am more confident now and I know and I can do my bit to win games for my team.”

New York Mets star Juan Soto crushed another home run Wednesday night and the best moment from that blast came courtesy of a young fan in the right field stands who made a heck of a catch that left everyone around him in awe.

Soto smashed a two-run bomb (his fifth homer in his last five games) in the bottom of the third that traveled 400 feet. The ball sailed over the Mets' bullpen and then was hauled in by a young kid who reached over the railing and caught it with his glove like it was no big deal.

The catch was awesome. The celebration might have been even better:

Here's another look at the home run:

Safe to say that kid will never forget that moment.

A relatively routine infield batted ball became the source of much confusion and debate on Wednesday night in a game between the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers.

Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford hit the ball, which was picked up off a chop by Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck. Houck fired the ball over to first, but his throw was off target, toward the home plate side of the bag and low. First baseman Romy Gonzalez fumbled the catch and stood in the way of the bag as he corralled it. Meantime, Langford ran down the line but missed the bag, jumping over Gonzalez along the way to avoid a potentially dangerous collision.

The play was reviewed, and the safe call was confirmed. Fans, in response to an MLB social media post on the call, were completely split:

At first glance, it looks simple. Gonzalez fumbles the ball, and therefore, Langford should be safe. But further, slower angles show that Langford, as he jumped around Gonzalez, failed to touch the bag. Before Langford was able to return to first base after overrunning it, Gonzalez picked up the ball and stepped on the bag. A logical person may assume that means Langford is legally out.

Umpires reviewed the play, and the on-field call of safe was confirmed. No explanation was given on the public address system. Boston manager Alex Cora came out to dispute after the review and appeared to leave satisfied with what the umpires told him.

The Red Sox did not appeal the safe call in real time. Such an action could have prompted a change from "safe" to "out" on the field. Appeals are an inherent part of the game and are frequently referenced in the MLB rulebook for "missed base" situations.

Another possible interpretation is that González was interfering Langford's path to first base. Section 5.05(b)(3) of the 2025 MLB rulebook says a runner shall be safe if, "the catcher or any fielder interferes with him," and specifically says, "if the batter-runner missed first base… he shall be considered as having reached the base," if interfered with. He certainly impedes the first base path as he reaches to grab the errant throw.

So, in all, not an easy or straightforward call to make or review. And while Sox fans may not like the outcome, it does appear to be grounded in rulebook logic, assuming one agrees that Gonzalez committed interference.

Interestingly, an almost identical play happened a few years back, then benefiting the Red Sox.

Jamie Carragher took aim at one Liverpool star, who was “really poor” against Sunderland, as Arne Slot’s side endured another mixed evening at Anfield.

Liverpool struggle at Anfield yet again

After victory over West Ham United last weekend, Liverpool looked to their game against Sunderland as an ideal chance to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League and stop the rot. The Black Cats had different ideas, however, and soon reminded the Reds why they find themselves in the position they’re in.

In many ways, Chemsdine Talbi’s deflected effort summed up Liverpool’s recent fortunes. With the Premier League champions entering the game off the back of two Anfield losses, the last thing they needed was for Virgil van Dijk’s block to find the back of Alisson Becker’s net.

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One positive for Liverpool in recent weeks has been the form of Florian Wirtz, though, and at long last the German made his mark in the Premier League. His effort went down as a Nordi Mukiele own goal, but there’s no doubt that one of the summer’s most expensive signings stepped up to get his side level.

It was far from a vintage display from the champions, but they’ll at least be relieved to avoid another defeat. Following victory at West Ham, Slot’s side should see the Leeds United game this weekend as the opportunity to turn the narrative to two wins from three games in the same week.

That said, whether Alexander Isak plays a part this weekend remains to be seen. The Swede didn’t follow up from last weekend’s first Premier League goal for the club and had just 15 touches, much to Carragher’s frustration.

Jamie Carragher slams "really poor" Alexander Isak

Watching on from commentary, Carragher slammed Isak as “really poor” and said that the forward has no “excuses” for his disappointing form at this stage of the campaign.

After smashing their transfer record to welcome the £280,000-a-week star, Liverpool were in dreamland in the summer. Alas, that dream has quickly turned into a nightmare for all involved.

Isak has gone from strike to strike-less at times. Liverpool sit eighth and their attack has never seemed so toothless under Slot. With Hugo Ekitke also struggling to find the back of the net in recent weeks, there’s no doubt that the Reds have an attacking problem on their hands.

It doesn’t get any easier, either. On paper, a trip to a newly promoted side should be a routine affair, but Liverpool will be squaring off against a Leeds side who just defeated Chelsea.

Before then, Slot simply has to find a way to get Isak more involved. With just 15 touches, the Swede was always likely to struggle.

Liverpool open talks this week to sign "monster" Real Madrid target

Thomas Frank needs consistency at Tottenham Hotspur, having blown hot and cold in the months since replacing Ange Postecoglou in the dugout.

Postecoglou won the Europa League last season, but he was dismissed from his duties – some would call it Daniel Levy’s final act – and a new era has been ushered in, with Frank making a series of signings and reworking the Spurs set-up.

Room for one more? The Londoners’ attacking efforts have left something to be desired this season, and with so much on the line this term, ENIC Group have a dream of signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth during the January transfer window.

The latest on Spurs' interest in Semenyo

Bournemouth supposedly rejected an offer from Tottenham for Semenyo’s signature during the off-season. But the Lilywhites are back in the running, ready to contest Liverpool and Manchester City for the Ghana winger’s services, with his £65m release clause going live in January.

It’s going to be difficult, luring the 25-year-old to north London next month. While all the pointers suggest Semenyo will leave the Vitality Stadium, he has a range of elite outfits to pick from, and Liverpool and City often get their way in the transfer market.

But Tottenham do need a talismanic force on the left flank. After all, Heung-min Son left for Los Angeles after lifting the Europa League trophy, and his presence and influence have been keenly missed.

Patience, though, is so often a virtue in football, and while Spurs don’t have a frontline firing on all cylinders right now, Frank leads a number of players who could become real stars down the line.

And there’s one in particular who has fired himself into form over the past week, with his market value a reflection of just how talented he is.

The Spurs star who's overtaken Semenyo

This summer, Tottenham completed a series of signings, and when we look back on that window, we might view Xavi Simons as being the pick of the bunch. The Netherlands star, 21 years old, moved from RB Leipzig for about £51m in August, having been pursued by Chelsea.

He hadn’t hit the ground running this season – far from it – but Simons is starting to grow into his skin, and his silky, combative style of play suggests he could have been perfect for the Mauricio Pochettino era.

Yes, Simons’ natural playmaking qualities make him a tailor-made fit for that thrilling chapter of the previous decade. He has been flagged for a lack of physicality amid early-season struggles, but Simons is beginning to put those to rest, settling into life in London.

This is a show-stopper of a midfielder, boasting something special, something different to his teammates. When Frank gets his squad playing to his tune from a creative vantage, you can bet that Simons will be smack-bang in the middle of the success.

Already he ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for passes attempted and ball recoveries, as well as the top 3% for ball recoveries per 90 (data via FBref).

And he’s beginning to showcase an aptitude for the defensive side of the game, working hard in recovery and getting stuck in when against the ball.

Minutes played

90′

90′

Goals

1

1

Assists

1

0

Touches

60

70

Shots (on target)

4 (2)

3 (1)

Accurate passes

36/43 (84%)

35/41 (85%)

Chances created

1

0

Dribbles

0/0

1/4

Recoveries

7

2

Tackles won

0/1

1/2

Ground duels won

4/7

6/16

Hailed by statistician Statman Dave for his ability to create “magic” on the ball, Simons suffered a tough start to his Tottenham career, but he has shown flashes of elite quality throughout the campaign, and now, with two goals from as many games, there’s a sense that the Dutchman could be about to kick on.

Could we be set to return to the halycon days of Poch’s reign? Tottenham didn’t win a trophy then, but the football was good, envied, and Simons looks like he could be an architect of such a revival of creativity and sharpness in the final third.

He has just started to earn some recognition, having already proven himself on the financial front, with CIES Football Observatory suggesting his value has already skyrocketed to £95m since his summer move, above Semenyo’s maximum market value of £67m.

Semenyo would be a terrific addition, and there’s no question that offensive signings will be made in 2026, but Tottenham fans must remember that their club have signed one of the most exciting playmakers in the business, and after seeing his market value skyrocket, he’s only going to keep getting better.

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Leeds United have now made contact over signing a midfield star who’s been likened to Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, according to recent reports.

Daniel Farke Leeds "preparing" for January window

There’s no rest for the wicked and Leeds’ clash against Liverpool at Elland Road represents another tough test for Daniel Farke’s side, who have already squared off against Manchester City and Chelsea this week.

On paper, the visit of the reigning champions should be a daunting task, but Liverpool’s crown has been snatched this season and the Reds find themselves in the middle of a disastrous defence. Leeds, meanwhile, just ran Man City close and swept past Chelsea in shocking fashion. Those at Elland Road couldn’t be facing Liverpool at a better time.

Victory over Slot’s side could take the Whites five points clear of the dropzone if results go their way in a crucial step towards survival as the festive fixtures arrive thick and fast.

Meanwhile, as things progress on the pitch, the 49ers are already “planning” ahead for the January transfer window, according to Farke. The Leeds boss told reporters earlier this week: “I have not one second to think about what could happen, it also depends on injuries and how the players deliver in these upcoming games.

“I spoke in the summer about what he might have liked to sign and this has not gone away, in the background we are preparing but now is not the time to speak about it.”

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On that front, names such as Nilson Angulo have emerged as reported targets. The impressive winger has been dubbed one of Europe’s standout wingers this season and would certainly inject some added spark to Farke’s frontline.

The same can be said for Jens Hjerto-Dahl. The midfielder has been likened to fellow Norway star Odegaard and now finds himself on the radar of those at Elland Road.

Leeds make contact over signing Jens Hjerto-Dahl

As reported by TeamTalk, Leeds have now made contact to sign Hjerto-Dahl in 2026, but face competition from Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Tromso midfielder has built up an impressive reputation in Norway for his ability as a goalscoring box-crasher – scoring five goals in 35 games in all competitions this season – and could now get the chance to do that in the Premier League.

Described as “powerful” by scout Kai Watson, Hjerto-Dahl was likened to Odegaard when he was linked with a move to Brighton earlier this month and Leeds should go all out to land his signature.

The towering star certainly fits the physical profile of what’s needed in the Premier League these days, but it remains to be seen if clubs act as early as January.

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تحدث لويس دي لافوينتي، المدير الفني لمنتخب إسبانيا الأول لكرة القدم عن قرعة كأس العالم 2026 والتي أقيمت أمس، الجمعة.

وتستضيف كلًا من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك نهائيات النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم والتي ستنطلق في الفترة بين 11 يونيو و19 يوليو.

وتعتبر تلك هي النسخة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم، بعد استحداث نظامها، حيث سيشارك فيها 48 منتخبًا، سيتم تقسيمهم على 12 مجموعة، ويتأهل متصدر ووصيف كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ32، بالإضافة إلى أفضل 8 منتخبات في مركز ثالث.

ووقع المنتخب الإسباني في مجموعة ليست سهلة أبدًا إذ يتواجد منتخب السعودية، الرأس الأخضر وأوروجواي.

وقال دي لافوينتي في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا”: “تقييم القرعة؟ إنها مباريات معقدة وصعبة للغاية ولكل منها تفاصيلها، إنها بطولة عالمية بمشاركة 48 فريقًا، وعندما اطلعت على المجموعات، قلت إن المدربين الآخرين، كما أكدت عند حديثي معهم، كانوا يفكرون في صعوبة كل مجموعة، أتفق معهم في أن هذه مباريات صعبة للغاية”.

اقرأ أيضًا | أنشيلوتي: نسخة 2026 من كأس العالم مختلفة.. ومواجهة هذا المنتخب الأصعب

وأضاف: “إسبانيا المرشح الأول للقب؟ هذا يعتبر اعترافًا بتطور كرة القدم الإسبانية ومستواها الكبير وعلينا أن نُقر بذلك لكنه لا يضمن لنا شيئًا وهذا الثناء لن يضعفنا، بل على العكس تمامًا، تقع على عاتقنا مسؤولية كبيرة، نريد أن نحقق إنجازًا مهمًا في كأس العالم هذه وهذا يعني تقديم أداء جيد في دور المجموعات والمضي قدمًا لأن المباريات تزداد تعقيدًا وصعوبة”.

وعن الملاعب أكمل: “أكثر ما يقلقني هو طول المسافات بين المباريات، سنرى غدًا كيف ستُقام المباريات ثم سنُقيم الوضع لكن ما يقلقنا أكثر هو ألا نضطر للسفر كثيرًا وقضاء كل ثلاثة أو أربعة أيام نقطع كيلومترات طويلة”.

وأردف: “من المهم دائمًا إنهاء المجموعة في المركز الأول نظرًا لما يحدث لاحقًا، التقيت بـ سكالوني وتحدثنا عن إمكانية مواجهة بعضنا البعض في حال تعثر أحدنا، قد ننهي المجموعة في المركز الأول والأرجنتين في المركز الثاني أو العكس، ما يمكننا التحكم به هو أداؤنا وهو السعي لإنهاء المجموعة في المركز الأول، ثم في الأدوار الإقصائية، الفوز ثم الفوز، هذا هو الشيء الوحيد الذي يمكننا التحكم فيه”.

وأتم حول انتهاء دور المجموعات ضد أوروجواي: “علينا أن نسعى للفوز بالمباراتين السابقتين، الرأس الأخضر يشارك لأول مرة، والسعودية فازت على الأرجنتين في كأس العالم الأخيرة، الأمر صعب للغاية، سنرى ما سيحدث في المباريات السابقة لنرى كيف سنتعامل مع المباراة الأخيرة ضد أوروجواي لكن بالنسبة لي، المباريات الثلاث صعبة بنفس القدر”.