Chelsea Women Demolish Dismal Liverpool 9-1 to Storm into Conti Cup Semi-Finals

Defending champions Chelsea Women delivered a ruthless performance, hammering Liverpool Women 9-1 in the Women's League Cup quarter-final at the BrewDog Stadium on December 21, 2025, to advance to the last four with a commanding display.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd starred with a second-half hat-trick (53', 73', 80'), while Sam Kerr opened the scoring with a quickfire brace (13', 17'). Wieke Kaptein also netted twice, with further goals from Aggie Beever-Jones (32'), Sjoeke Nüsken (76'), and captain Millie Bright (86'). Liverpool's sole response came via a Jenna Clark header (72'), but it proved mere consolation in a one-sided affair.

The Blues, managed by Sonia Bompastor, raced to a 4-0 lead by halftime, exploiting Liverpool's injury-hit squad and defensive errors. Despite the Reds earning a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the WSL just last month, they were overwhelmed this time, managing only limited substitutes amid their ongoing struggles at the bottom of the Women's Super League.

"This was a statement performance as we end 2025 strongly," said Bompastor. Liverpool manager Gareth Taylor admitted his side was "punished for errors" and highlighted the need for January reinforcements.

Chelsea will now face Manchester City away in the semi-finals, scheduled for January 2026, as they continue their defense of the trophy.

Yamal Strikes as Barcelona Tighten Grip on La Liga Summit with 2-0 Win Over 10-Man Villarreal

Lamine Yamal scored the decisive second goal as Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over 10-man Villarreal at Estadio de la Cerámica on December 21, 2025, restoring their four-point lead at the top of La Liga ahead of rivals Real Madrid.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a confidently converted penalty after being fouled in the box. The match swung further in Barcelona's favor when Villarreal's Renato Veiga received a straight red card in the 39th minute for a reckless challenge on Yamal, who required brief treatment but continued to influence the game.

Yamal sealed the win in the 63rd minute, calmly finishing from close range after a goalmouth scramble, assisted by Frenkie de Jong. The 18-year-old's strike marked his seventh La Liga goal of the season and ninth in all competitions, underscoring his growing importance to Hansi Flick's side.

Despite Villarreal's resilient performance and several threatening moments, Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García produced outstanding saves to preserve a clean sheet. The result extends Barcelona's La Liga winning streak to eight matches and marks a strong end to their 2025 campaign.

"This was a tough away game, but the team showed character," said coach Hansi Flick. Villarreal remain in contention in the upper half of the table despite the setback.

Barcelona now head into the new year firmly in control of the title race.

Morgan Rogers Brace Fires Aston Villa to Historic 2-1 Win Over Depleted Manchester United

Morgan Rogers scored two stunning goals to inspire Aston Villa to a 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Villa Park on December 21, 2025, marking a rare home triumph against the Red Devils and extending Villa's remarkable winning streak.

The 23-year-old England forward opened the scoring just before halftime with a superb curled effort from the edge of the box, cutting inside before bending the ball beyond goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Manchester United equalized in first-half stoppage time through Matheus Cunha, capitalizing on a defensive error by Matty Cash.

Rogers restored Villa's lead in the 57th minute with another exquisite strike, curling home from a similar position after good work from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins. The brace secured Aston Villa's 10th consecutive win across all competitions—the club's longest such run as a top-flight team since 1914—and their seventh straight Premier League victory, a feat never previously achieved in the competition era.

The result, only Villa's second home league win over United in the last 30 years, lifts Unai Emery's side to third in the table with 36 points, just three behind leaders Arsenal at Christmas. Manchester United, hampered by injuries—including captain Bruno Fernandes being forced off at halftime with a hamstring issue—remain seventh and face mounting challenges under Ruben Amorim.

"This is a massive win against a big team," said Rogers post-match. Emery praised his team's resilience, while Amorim lamented the growing injury list but refused to discuss panic January transfers.

Aston Villa next travel to Chelsea on December 27, while Manchester United host Newcastle on Boxing Day.

AFCON 2025: Hosts Morocco Open Account with 2-0 Win Over Stubborn Comoros in Tournament Opener

Tournament hosts Morocco kicked off the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a resilient Comoros side in the opening match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on December 21, 2025.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, the Atlas Lions were frustrated in a goalless first half, highlighted by a missed penalty from Soufiane Rahimi, superbly saved by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor. Morocco also suffered an early blow when captain Romain Saïss was forced off with injury.

The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Real Madrid's Brahim Díaz side-footed home from close range after excellent work from Noussair Mazraoui. Substitute Ayoub El Kaabi then sealed the win with a spectacular overhead kick in the 74th minute, a moment of brilliance that lit up the rain-soaked evening and is already a contender for goal of the tournament.

Comoros, appearing in only their second AFCON finals, defended stoutly and created occasional threats on the counter, but ultimately couldn't breach Yassine Bounou's goal. The result extends Morocco's world-record winning streak to 19 matches.

"This was a difficult opening game, but we improved in the second half," said Morocco coach Walid Regragui. Comoros coach Stefano Cusin praised his team's effort against the continent's top-ranked side.

Morocco top Group A and next face Mali on December 26 in Rabat, while Comoros take on Zambia on the same day in Casablanca.

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations continues with matches across six Moroccan cities until the final on January 18, 2026.

Chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca to Serve Touchline Ban for Upcoming Aston Villa Clash

 Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will be absent from the touchline for the Blues' Premier League match against Aston Villa on December 27, 2025, at Stamford Bridge, following a one-match suspension triggered by his third yellow card of the season.

The booking occurred during Chelsea's recent draw against Newcastle United on December 20, 2025, where Maresca was cautioned for protesting a refereeing decision. This marks the Italian manager's second touchline ban this season, having previously served a suspension earlier in the campaign.

Maresca explained the incident post-match, stating he was booked for complaining about a call, and expressed frustration over the accumulation of cautions leading to the ban. Despite the setback, Chelsea has received a boost with key players potentially returning from injury for the fixture, providing some positive momentum amid a competitive season.

The absence of Maresca from the dugout could impact Chelsea's strategy against a strong Aston Villa side, as the team aims to maintain its position in the league standings. Further updates on team news and preparations will be provided as the match approaches.