Chelsea eased back onto the winning path in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge.

During the Premier League game in West London, Chelsea set the tone early and never really loosened their grip. The breakthrough arrived in the 21st minute when Cole Palmer timed his run perfectly to meet Malo Gusto’s pass and steer the ball home.

The hosts continued to play with purpose and were rewarded again deep into first-half stoppage time. This time, Gusto completed a fine all-round display by finishing off a move started by Pedro Neto, giving Chelsea a commanding lead at the interval.

Everton showed greater urgency after the restart and enjoyed spells of pressure, reflected in their seven corners compared to Chelsea’s four. Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish were at the heart of Everton’s attacking efforts, but clear chances went begging and Chelsea’s back line remained composed. In the end, the difference lay in Chelsea’s sharpness before the break, with Gusto’s goal and assist proving decisive.

The result lifts Chelsea back to the Premier League top four temporarily. Everton, sitting seventh, saw their hopes of closing the gap on the European spots take a dent.

At Anfield, Liverpool also recorded a timely 2-0 win over Brighton, a match shaped by early drama and a notable tactical call from manager Arne Slot.

Hugo Ekitike struck almost immediately, finding the net inside the opening minute to give the hosts a flying start. Moments later, Liverpool were forced into an early change when Joe Gomez went off injured, prompting Slot to introduce Mohamed Salah in the 26th minute.

It was a significant moment, marking Salah’s first appearance since he criticised the club, saying he felt the Premier League giants “have thrown him under a bus”. His presence instantly lifted the crowd and sharpened Liverpool’s attacking edge.

Brighton threatened in patches and forced Liverpool to stay alert, but struggled to make their chances count. Salah tested the visiting goalkeeper just before the hour mark, and seconds later Liverpool doubled their lead. From the resulting pressure, Salah delivered the assist as Ekitike rose highest to head home and complete his brace.

Liverpool were ruthless, converting their only two shots on target into goals. Brighton, despite enjoying plenty of possession and creating openings, managed just one effort on target and were left frustrated by their lack of cutting edge.

The win has pushed Liverpool up to the 6th spot on the Premier League table pending the outcome of other Matchday 16 games. As for Brighton, they are currently occupying the 9th spot.

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]

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Legendary wrestler, Undertaker, has reacted to John Cena’s decision to retire from the sport.

Cena is set to step aside after 23 memorable years of fighting.

The 17-time champion meets Gunther in the main event of Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Undertaker wrote on X: “‘Nice job’
“Those were the words I said to you 23 years ago when you debuted. Now, on the day of your final match, I say again…nice job.

“Hustle, loyalty, and respect is more than just a catchphrase. For 23 years you have lived by those words. Your passion for our business and dedication to our fan base is unmatched.

“To have shared the ring with you and have been a part of your journey has been an honour. As your in-ring career winds down, be proud of the body of work and the memories you’ve created.

“Enjoy the last ride tonight my friend and one final time…nice job.”

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Bendel Insurance extended their unbeaten streak to five games after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Rangers at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday.

Both teams fought hard in the first half, failing to hit target despite creating a couple of chances.

‎Promise Anyanwu gave Insurance the lead nine minutes from time.

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Rangers however fought back deep into stoppage time after Chidozie Iwundu’s free kick was diverted into the net for an own goal.

Insurance moved to 14th position on the table with 20 points from 17 matches.

Rangers remain in fourth position with 26 points from same number of matches.

The remaining matchday 17 games will be played on Sunday.

By Adeboye Amosu

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Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso, has confirmed that Kylian Mbappe is fit and available for Sunday’s La Liga trip to Alaves, offering a timely lift as the Spanish giants look to halt a worrying slide in form.

Kylian Mbappe sat out Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Manchester City, a result that deepened Madrid’s troubles and left them with just two wins from their last eight matches in all competitions. The downturn has intensified pressure on Alonso, with his future under growing scrutiny.

“We’ve got Kylian back, he’s ready to play, and tomorrow we’ll see and decide (if he starts), that’s good news obviously,” Alonso told reporters on Saturday.

Madrid heads to Vitoria with their resources stretched. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga remain sidelined through injury, while Fran Garcia, Alvaro Carreras and Endrick are suspended. There is, however, a boost at the back, with defender Dean Huijsen expected to return for a fixture that could prove pivotal for the coach.

“Evidently, despite the players we’ve got out, we have strong enough players and a strong enough team,” Alonso added.

Real Madrid currently sits four points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona, a gap that reflects a season that has drifted off course in recent weeks. Yet Alonso believes the adversity could still forge a more resilient side if results begin to turn.

The coach said, “We are having difficulties, but we can grow, if we can get past these tough times, change the dynamic, maybe in a few weeks we’ll look back and think ‘we went through a lot, but it made us stronger’.”

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President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ibrahim Gusau, has said Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s mandate for the 2025 AFCON is to reach the final.

After the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attention of Nigerian football fans is the 2025 AFCON which will kick off on December 21 in Morocco.

The Super Eagles are in Group C with AFCON 2004 champions Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.

Ahead of the tournament, Gusau

“The mandate is for him to get to the final of the tournament.”

When asked if Chelle gets to the final whether it means he has delivered, Gusau replied: “Yes.”

There were lots of reactions after the announcement of the final 18-man Super Eagles squad for the AFCON.

The inclusion of certain players was questioned, leading to claims that the NFF influenced the selection of players in the final squad.

Reacting to the claims, Gusau denied that he or NFF had anything to do with the final list of the Super Eagles for the 2025 AFCON.

“Any national coach can be asked privately if me, Ibrahim Gusau as NFF president has ever called them to say this is a player that must be taken into a team. I have never done that,” he said.

“I know quite well few days ago the technical committee has been speaking with Eric Chelle and when people are talking I want them to be careful about what is going on especially in social media because there are a lot of interest. The environment is highly polluted, every area of football sector, you will find a lot of agents roaming about in that sector.

“If you are a player in Serie A and sit on the bench and hardly play 20 or 25 minutes and someone plays in a league where he plays week in week out and performing well, then how can someone who sits on the bench in Serie A be invited?

“I think the coaches have a mandate and football now is scientific and every coach has a pattern of play he wants to play. So we have people who go out to talk without making proper investigation to know why but because of certain interest. And like I said the environment is highly polluted because of this agent issues and which comes from all sectors be it the coaches, media people who are now agents, so they can talk anyhow when it comes to selection of players. Unfortunately for them this players are known by everybody and whose information can be gotten.

“So I don’t have and I will never have any input or interest in telling the coach which player he is going to invite. Since I became president I have never even stayed in one hotel with the senior national team whenever they go because I don’t want to distract the coach and I don’t want any distraction with the players, I want them to concentrate and do their job, so I have never done that and I will never do that.”

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Scenes of chaos unfolded at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in India, earlier today, December 13, after Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance ended abruptly, leaving thousands of fans furious and disappointed.

Supporters who had paid as much as 12,000 rupees to see the Argentina captain ripped up plastic seats, hurled bottles and stormed the pitch after the football icon was escorted away barely 20 minutes into the event.

Lionel Messi, in India as part of his promotional GOAT tour, emerged onto the pitch to wave at the crowd but was largely hidden behind a heavy entourage of officials, celebrities and security personnel. When it became clear that his appearance was over and that no exhibition match would take place, tempers flared inside the packed stadium.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the disorder, as footage showed fans tearing down banners, smashing chairs and running onto the field.

Local media reported that many in the crowd had expected far more than a brief walkaround. The 2022 World Cup winner was widely believed to be taking part in a short exhibition game, according to AFP.

One fan, speaking to Indian news agency ANI, voiced the frustration shared by many in attendance, saying: “Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi… Why did they call us then… We have got a ticket for 12,000 rupees, but we were not even able to see his face.”

Another supporter told the Press Trust of India that the cost of attending had been enormous for ordinary fans. “I paid Rs 5,000 for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians. The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame,” the fan said.

Lionel Messi was accompanied during his short visit by Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez and fellow Argentina international Rodrigo de Paul. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan also met the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner earlier in the day.

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is known for its deep football culture despite India being largely dominated by cricket. Huge crowds regularly attend local derbies, and anticipation around Messi’s visit had reached fever pitch. Fans travelled from across the country, chanting his name, wearing Argentina jerseys and donning “I love Messi” headbands.

In the early hours before the event, thousands lined the streets and gathered outside Messi’s hotel in the hope of catching a glimpse of him.

Messi’s India tour had begun in Kolkata with the unveiling of a 70-foot statue of the player, built over 27 days by a 45-member crew. Due to security concerns, Lionel Messi appeared virtually at the unveiling.

Following Saturday’s unrest, Banerjee announced an official enquiry and apologised to Lionel Messi and sports fans. “The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” she said on 𝕏.

A police official confirmed that the event’s “chief organiser” had been arrested, AFP reported, adding that authorities would also examine how ticket refunds could be arranged. The All India Football Federation said it had no involvement in the privately organised event.

Watch the video of the riot at Lionel Messi’s event below:

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Galatasaray commentator Uğur Karakullukçu has provided the latest update on Galatasaray’s interest in Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman.

According to Karakullukçu, Galatasaray are reportedly shifting their transfer focus towards Salah ahead of Lookman.

Both Salah and Lookman have been linked with a move to the Turkish Super Lig champions.

Lookman failed to leave Atalanta last summer and has just been reintegrated in the squad, while Salah had issues with Liverpool and was left out of the side that defeated Inter Milan in the Champions League.

On his YouTube channel, Karakullukçu indicated that Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek is inclined toward a more ambitious approach to acquire the Egyptian international.

“Dursun Özbek said, ‘Instead of paying Lookman 45 million Euros, and considering his salary will be around 10 million Euros plus taxes, let’s go for Mohamed Salah. If we can afford his transfer fee, let’s get Salah.’

“There is an idea to go for Salah instead of Lookman. The goal is to get him from Liverpool for free,” Karakullukçu said as quoted by Habersarikirmizi.

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By IAN HERBERT, DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER and DOMINIC KING and RIATH AL-SAMARRAI, CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER and KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER and CIARAN FOREMAN, SPORTS REPORTER

Updated: 08:57 EST, 13 December 2025

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Liverpool vs Brighton – Premier League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Mo Salah leaves Anfield exile ahead of final clash before AFCON – plus updates from Chelsea vs Everton

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No fewer than 25 players plying their trade in the English Premier League are set to leave their clubs for international duty at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The biennial African football showpiece will be held between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026, a period that traditionally clashes with the busy festive schedule of the English top-flight.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the most represented nations from the Premier League, with four players each expected to feature for their countries at the tournament.

Several EPL clubs will be significantly affected, with some losing multiple first-team players during a crucial stage of the season.

According to FIFA regulations, clubs are expected to release eligible players ahead of the competition. FIFA has directed that all invited players must be released from Monday, December 15, clearing the way for national teams to begin preparations.

Newly promoted Sunderland are the most affected club, with five players named for different African nations.

Sunderland (5): Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo)

Manchester United, Fulham and Burnley will each lose three players to the continental tournament.

Manchester United (3): Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3): Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3): Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

A number of clubs will also be without two players during the AFCON window.

Nottingham Forest (2): Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2): Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Crystal Palace (2): Ismaïla Sarr (Sénégal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali).

Wolves (2): Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Some of the league’s top sides will lose key individuals to the tournament.

Manchester City (1): Omar Marmoush (Egypt).

Liverpool (1): Mohamed Salah (Egypt).

West Ham United (1): Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1): Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Festive Fixture Headache For Premier League Clubs

Naija News reports that with AFCON scheduled to run through the Christmas and New Year period, Premier League clubs will be forced to cope without key players during one of the most demanding phases of the season, while African nations will hope their stars can shine on the continental stage in Morocco.

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]

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Bayer Leverkusen, head coach Kasper Hjulmand says the club will benefit from Nathan Tella’s omission from Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Hjulmand, however, said the winger is disappointed to be left out of the squad.

Tella was one of the notable omissions from the Super Eagles’ 28-man squad released by head coach, Eric Chelle this week.

The former Burnley star was hopeful of making the list after recovering from the injury that sidelined for several weeks.

The 26-year-old will, however, have to wait before adding to his two caps for the Super Eagles.

“This is beneficial for Leverkusen, of course. But Nathan had hopes, real hopes,” Hjulmand said ahead of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga clash with Cologne.

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