Sorry chaps, been down with the flu
BBC
Saudi club Al-Hilal are ready to launch a January bid for Liverpool's Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, 33. (Sun), external
Liverpool have already lined up a replacement for Salah - Bournemouth's Ghana international forward Antoine Semenyo, 25. (Express), external
The Reds are understood to be relaxed about the situation regarding Salah, who is also being discussed by MLS side San Diego. (GiveMeSport), external
Tottenham are monitoring 28-year-old France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta's unresolved contract situation at Crystal Palace. (Football Insider), external
England and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, plans to play Champions League football at his next club, and currently tops Manchester United's transfer shortlist. (Mirror), external
Liverpool and Barcelona have been told they can sign Brazil midfielder Ederson, 26, for £50m from Italian club Atalanta in the January transfer window. (Football Insider), external
Arsenal are ready to rival Real Madrid in the race to sign 20-year-old Turkey winger Kenan Yildiz in January, amid his stalled contract talks with Juventus. (Goal), external
Roma have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, 24, from Manchester United. (Football Insider), external
Newcastle United and West Ham United are among several clubs lining up a move for Chelsea's French centre-back Axel Disasi, 27. (Caught Offside), external
Manchester United have decided against signing Senegalese 17-year-old Mouhamed Dabo as they seek to bolster their midfield. (MEN)
Sky Paper Talk
Salah could be omitted from Liverpool's Champions League trip to Milan to play Inter on Tuesday after his outspoken attack on the club and Arne Slot - The Guardian.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has taken aim at Salah for his fiery outburst following the dramatic 3-3 draw against Leeds on Saturday night - Daily Mail.
Salah's Egypt national team boss, Hossam Hassan, has appeared to back the player by posting a picture of himself and the player on Instagram, captioned: "Always a symbol of determination and strength." - The Mirror.
La Liga
Jude Bellingham was left with a nasty cut to his eye during Real Madrid's defeat by Celta Vigo in LaLiga - The Sun.
Cricket
Ben Stokes has warned his team that the England dressing room is no place for "weak men" and accused them of wilting under the intense mental pressure of Ashes cricket - The Telegraph.
THE DAILY RECORD
Wilfried Nancy insists he is 'not about losing or winning' after kicking off his Celtic reign with a 2-1 loss to Hearts - Daily Record.
Guardian
Rutter rescues late point for Brighton against West Ham after Bowen’s opener
John Brewin
Unusually devoid of creativity, Brighton were imprisoned within Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactical cage. Jarrod Bowen, West Ham’s talisman, had executed perfectly his manager’s counter‑attacking strategy. Nuno’s team were fighting their way towards safety, with three points appearing to be heading back to London.
Nuno’s plan was coming together so well that Bowen’s goal had been supplied by Callum Wilson, a substitute on the field for just 51 seconds. Yet the masterplan fell short. The Amex Stadium, home of late goals, staged another, Georginio Rutter squeezing in a stoppage-time equaliser for his first goal of the season to complete the type of madcap scramble commonplace at Brighton.
Before that timely late surge, Brighton had not landed a shot on target. Ambitions of returning to the European stage are being hindered by the inconsistency shown by Aston Villa’s comeback in midweek. West Ham’s horizons are significantly lower. Leeds’s recent form has deepened relegation worries and Rutter’s goal meant the three‑point gap to Daniel Farke’s team had only one chiselled from it. “We did so much to get into the lead,” Bowen said. “But we sat back too far and invited the pressure.”
Nuno, unhappy that a handball by Rutter within the decisive scramble had been passed over by the video assistant referee, said: “We contained them, then we scored, and we tried to close out the game but unfortunately we couldn’t.” At least the West Ham team he inherited – shapeless, hopeless, rudderless – are playing for him.
Amid a horrible swirl of wind and rain that appeared to be keeping spectators from the Amex’s lower tiers, West Ham adopted Nuno’s trademark low block, thwarting their opponents’ speed in transition. Bowen, Lucas Paquetá and Crysencio Summerville were meanwhile asked to chase long balls out of defence. With none of that trio as adept as Wilson at holding up the ball, the passing of Paquetá, back after suspension following his tantrum, was the weapon of choice.
Fabian Hürzeler said of his Brighton team: “We wanted more definitely, but in the end we didn’t deserve more because we didn’t play with energy and intensity in the first half.” Amid the hosts’ slim pickings of the first 45 minutes, the closest they came was Maxim De Cuyper almost emulating Bruno Guimarães in scoring from a corner. Worsening weather played its part in Mats Wieffer missing a more genuine chance, De Cuyper’s cross skidding from the mud beyond reach when any touch would have done.
When Paquetá’s low shot tested Bart Verbruggen for a first proper West Ham attempt, it suggested Nuno’s strategy could pay off. The grimmer that conditions became, the more likely a mistake or deflection would result in a goal. Half-time arrived as respite from wholly missable fare.
Jarrod Bowen celebrates after giving West Ham a second-half lead. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters
With El Hadji Malick Diouf blocking off the speed of Yankuba Minteh down the flank, Summerville and Bowen began to grow in threat and Verbruggen, left unprotected, was asked to make a brilliant double save from Bowen’s grubber and Summerville’s volley.
Carlos Baleba departed on the hour. Concerns continue over the prized asset’s ability to complete a full 90 minutes, as Hürzeler sought a control of midfield that would not arrive until the fourth official was preparing to display the stoppage time allowance. Minteh blasted wide – his shot selection is often wayward – for his last participation in the game, amid changes from both managers that brought Wilson into West Ham’s forward line, and Brajan Gruda and Charalampos Kostoulas into Brighton’s.
Those alterations immediately preceded West Ham’s goal as Wilson pounced on Jan Paul van Hecke’s mistake to send away Bowen. “We deserved to concede a goal and we reacted well,” Hürzeler said.
Late goals being habitual at the Amex Stadium kept home supporters, previously quiet, expectant that their team could find some way back. “They have scored lots of late goals against us in the past,” Bowen said.
Prior experience failed to preserve the three points. Alphonse Areola, previously all but decommissioned, made a fine save from Kostoulas but, as tired defenders slackened concentration, the Hammers goalkeeper was left unprotected from Rutter’s initial shot, before Van Hecke, calm amid the squall, laid the ball laterally for Rutter to crash in.
The hint of handball and flailing high feet, plus a lengthy VAR wait, gave false hope to West Ham. “A natural position,” according to Stockley Park. “I was confused and scared about the VAR,” Rutter said.
Nuno said: “It’s a handball … I don’t understand,” lamenting his winning strategy being squandered by fortune and fatigue.
The Athletic
Were West Ham unlucky with Brighton equaliser? Was it right call? What are the rules?
Nuno Espirito Santo did not agree with the decision to allow Brighton's goal Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images
By Roshane Thomas
“It’s hard to take, man, it’s really hard to take.”
Nuno Espirito Santo spoke for himself, his squad and a large section of West Ham United supporters when discussing the events leading up to Brighton’s controversial equaliser in the 91st minute on Sunday.
It was these words that the mournful head coach repeated often in his post-match press conference.
In the build-up to Georginio Rutter’s goal in the 1-1 draw, Charalampos Kostoulas’ acrobatic overhead kick was close to the head of defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Kostoulas’ strike then hit Rutter’s right hand. These were the two incidents Nuno complained about.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola saved Rutter’s initial strike, but Jan Paul van Hecke pounced on Areola’s save to assist Rutter to finish the job.
The goal stood after checks from referee Simon Hooper and video assistant referee (VAR) Tony Harrington. The potential high boot on Mavropanos was overlooked by VAR because it was not deemed dangerous play.
The rules of the game (Law 12) state: “Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury. A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible provided that it is not dangerous to an opponent.”
As for the handball, the Premier League Match Centre posted on X: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR — with it deemed that Rutter’s arm was in a natural position and he did not deliberately handle the ball. The contact with the arm was not immediately prior to him scoring.”
The laws of the game state that it is a handball offence if a player scores directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental. Or if they score immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental. Mitigating factors include the goal not being scored immediately or being scored by a team-mate. As stated by the Match Centre post, Rutter’s goal did not come immediately after contact with the arm as his initial shot was blocked.
Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Second-half West Ham substitutes Freddie Potts and Tomas Soucek protested the decision, but Hopper remained unmoved by their pleas.
Post-match, midfielder Guido Rodriguez and goalkeeping coach Rui Barbosa confronted the referee, but failed to get an explanation. Nuno opted against approaching the referee at full-time but bemoaned his lack of luck with VAR.
Top League Content
“It’s clear (there was a high boot on Mavropanos), I saw it, and everyone else did,” said the head coach. “We cannot understand how they gave the goal. No, no, no (the referee hasn’t explained why). VAR saw it, everybody saw it. It’s hard to take, it’s very hard to take. I think both situations (handball and high boot) should have been checked.
“It’s hard to take, man, it’s really hard to take. Especially after the hard work of the boys, the support of our fans that made us feel like we were in London. Then came one situation, so many people saw it, it’s hard to take. It’s hard to speak when you have a group of players so disappointed.
“We are in a tough position. This game meant a lot to us, the boys worked really hard, and it’s hard to take to go back to London with a point. If Dinos (Mavropanos) stood on the ground, maybe (they would have deemed it dangerous). There’s contact on his head, isn’t it?”
Brighton’s equaliser denied West Ham their third win under Nuno and a first clean sheet under the Portuguese. The draw leaves Nuno’s side in the relegation zone, on 13 points, two adrift of 17th-place Leeds United, with a home game against high-flying Aston Villa on Sunday.
But there were encouraging signs of West Ham’s attack developing under Nuno. Crysencio Summerville’s return from a calf strain offered them more attacking threat. The winger, who missed games against Bournemouth, Liverpool and Manchester United, had two meaningful attempts on goal, with Nuno memorably throwing his blue towel in anger when Summerville’s right-footed curling effort went wide. The attacker, who was brought off in the 72nd minute for Callum Wilson, was only supposed to play an hour but had signalled to first-team coach Mark Robson he wanted to continue.
Lucas Paqueta played well on his return from suspension, Jean-Clair Todibo’s stock continues to climb, and Areola continues to add fresh material to his compilation of highlight reel saves. In the last seven days, West Ham have yielded two points from a possible nine in league games against Liverpool, Manchester United and Brighton.
Post-match, captain Jarrod Bowen was not as candid as Nuno when reflecting on the incidents leading up to their draw, but the England international remains hopeful that improvements will continue.
“I think we’ve seen a lot of handball decisions this season and it’s probably the one grey area in the Premier League in terms of what’s given and what’s not given,” he told the club’s official website.
“I think we trust the referees. We trust the VAR to get involved if they think something needs getting involved with, and they didn’t today, so we have to accept that. We need to show the same work, the same spirit that we’ve shown in the last few weeks, but I think we’ve also got the most important thing, spirit, and that’s going to be massively important coming up into the new year.”
OS
U18s put five past West Brom to end 2025 in style
West Bromwich Albion U18s 1-5 West Ham United U18s, U18 Premier League South, The Fitlife Foods Performance Centre, Saturday 6 December 2025, 12noon GMT
West Ham United U18s ended the calendar year in style with a dominant 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion U18s in the U18 Premier League South, thanks to braces from Joel Kerr and Andre Dike, with Majid Balogun also on the scoresheet.
Our young Hammers were looking to respond after last weekend’s narrow loss to Chelsea, and they made their intentions clear immediately, scoring within the opening two minutes.
Balogun capitalised on an error at the back as West Brom attempted to play out, racing through on goal and finishing calmly on his left foot to make it 1-0.
And just two minutes later, the lead was doubled. Joe Scanlon played a perfectly-timed ball in behind for Kerr, who started centrally, and showed great composure to slot home and put West Ham firmly in control inside the first eight minutes.
Kerr was nearly through again just moments later, as another ball in behind caused problems, but this time West Brom defender George Shaw recovered well to deny a shooting chance.
The home side thought they had pulled one back in the 12th minute after a rehearsed set-piece routine led to a rebound finish, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Despite West Brom’s attempts to respond, it was West Ham who remained ruthless and scored another quick goal. Kerr grabbed his second of the afternoon after Lewis Beckford drove through midfield and slipped him in with a silky pass, which Kerr finished confidently to make it 3–0.
Even with a comfortable lead, the Hammers stayed switched on defensively. Reece Basterfield found space down the left for West Brom, but Reggie Morris recovered brilliantly to block his effort.
Before half-time, the pressure from West Ham’s press created the fourth goal. Conor Brooks, who won possession repeatedly throughout, forced another turnover, leading to a counter-attack. He found Dike, who cut onto his stronger left foot and drilled a composed finish into the bottom-right corner.
The pace in behind remained a constant threat and was on display again when a West Brom corner turned into another counter - this time led by Balogun, but his effort for a second goal skimmed just wide.
Just before the break, the same transition pattern nearly produced a fifth. Brooks again won the ball, with Kerr driving through on goal, but his effort was saved and deflected behind for a corner.
After half-time, West Brom looked to get back into the game. Adam Okorodudu burst through on goal, shifting onto his right foot, but fired off target.
But the Hammers’ front line soon reasserted control. Kerr drove down the left and combined neatly with Beckford, who delivered another well-weighted pass for Dike to slot home his second of the afternoon and make it 5–0.
Beckford continued to influence the game in the second half, drifting into pockets and linking well with Dike. A slick one-two with Dike created a shooting opportunity for Beckford, but the goalkeeper closed the angle well to save.
Defensively, Callum Leacock stood out with several strong recovery runs, repeatedly denying West Brom’s Frazer Billings’ attempts to burst in behind. One of those recoveries eventually led to a Dike chance at the other end. He cut inside onto his left foot and unleashed a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar, denying him a hat-trick.
Substitute Jephthah Medine nearly made an instant impact after coming on after the hour mark. Vinnie Perkins delivered an inch-perfect cross, but he couldn’t convert. Moments later, he had another chance fall his way, but fired off target.
West Brom did eventually grab a consolation when Billings cut inside onto his left foot after a run down the right and finished emphatically.
The convincing victory lifts the U18s above West Brom into the top half of the table, rounding off the year on a strong note as they head into the winter break.
They return to action in the U18 Premier League South on 10 January with an away trip to Brighton.
West Bromwich Albion U18s: Lines, Asomugha (Parmar 65), Letlat (C) (Billings 45), Iqbal, Shaw, Jackson, McNeil (Freddie-George 45), Bastafield, Okoroduda ( Olumide 65), Sankohl (Oluwatobiloba 45)
Goal: Billings 80
Booked: Iqbal
West Ham United U18s: Awesu (GK), Perkins, Leacock (C), Montague, Scanlon (Jonyla 60) Morris (Omotoye 60), Brooks, Dike, Kerr (Obi 80), Beckford, Balogun (Medine 70)
Subs not used: Hooper (GK)
Goals: Balogun 2 Kerr 7, 23 Dike 36, 67
Booked: Obi, Brooks
Smith: There is a maturity in this group growing every week
Lead coach Luke Smith praised the Young Hammers for ending the year with an excellent performance.
He said: “We started well and came out with real intent and energy. We scored a couple of early goals through well-taken finishes, and that was a theme throughout the first half.
“In the second half, we felt we could have scored a couple more, and were disappointed to concede, but overall, the group is pleased with the performance.”
He also highlighted the strong individual displays, especially from the front line, and their clinical edge in key moments.
“We were aggressive without the ball and exciting on the break, showing quality and good timing in our fast attacks," Smith said.
“We broke with speed and made good decisions around the goal, around who was in the best position, and we scored some good team goals.
Smith then reflected on the first half of the season as the group heads into the winter break.
He added: “The reflection of the first half of the season would be the progress that the group has shown from the beginning until this point.
“We have been typically quite young throughout the first half of the season, and the progress, the maturity that we see growing in the group each week is a positive for us going into the second half of the season.”
Lilywhite Rose
@Lilywhite_Rose
#thfc Understand U16s Albanian winger Christian Lila has completed a move to West Ham United where he will sign a scholarship.
