Nottingham Forest have sacked head coach Nuno Espírito Santo just three games into the new Premier League season. The move comes after his public clash with Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis.

Nuno, who joined Forest in December 2023, helped the club to a strong run last season. He guided the Reds to seventh place and secured a Europa League place for them. It was their best top-flight result in years and marked a huge step for the club.

Fallout with owner Marinakis

Despite the success, tension grew between Nuno and Marinakis. Back in August, the ex-coach shared how he feared for his job at the club. He once spoke out about the club’s squad and transfer plans at the time, which strained his ties with the owner. ‘Last season we were very close…this season it is not so well,â€?Nuno remarked. 

On their official website, Forest thanked Nuno for his part in last season’s success. In the same post, they’ve confirmed that Nuno has ‘been relieved of his duties as Head Coach.�/p>

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Leeds United returned to the English Premier League (EPL) and were up against Everton at Elland Road. Everton’s defence held firm for most of the match, keeping Leeds from finding the net until late on. Free transfer Lukas Nmecha scored in a controversial late penalty, winning the match for Leeds.

The game ends 1-0 in favour of Leeds United, putting them at number 7 in the 2025/26 EPL standings. It’s an exciting moment for the returning club after two seasons playing in the English Football League Championship.

‘Thank God I didn’t step in� says Leeds boss Daniel Farke

Leeds manager Daniel Farke wasn’t confident in Nmecha at first. He looked hesitant early on and needed time to settle. When the referee called for a penalty over Everton captain James Tarkowski’s handball, Farke was about to tell Nmecha, �..it’s perhaps not the day to take a penalty�

Fortunately, he allowed the free transfer to take his shot, and it led to Leedsâ€?victory. This gives the club a much-needed morale boost to start the season. Whether or not they can keep this momentum is yet to be seen, but it’s a win worth celebrating. 

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Everton FC has signed Jack Grealish on a season-long loan from Manchester City for their 2025-26 run. Jack completed his deal on Tuesday, August 12, which will cost Everton about £12m. The 29-year-old winger eyes this move as a way to regain his form after a tough spell at City.

Jack joined City in 2021 from Aston Villa in a £100m deal. He played a key role in the club’s winning season back in 2022-23, but his injuries have seen his minutes drop. He was also left out of City’s recent FIFA Club World Cup squad. ;

The football star now heads to Hill Dickinson Stadium after several offers to leave Man City. Only David Moyes was able to talk with him about relaunching his Premier League career, to which Jack responded, ‘I knew there was only one place that I wanted to go,�and signed with them.

Jack hopes to take part in Everton’s Premier League opener vs Leeds United on Monday, August 18. This could be his chance to restart his career and prove his skills in the field.

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The 2025 Summer transfer window began on 16 June, and major signings have already happened. Plenty of high-profile transfers have already been made public. See who the top-billing players of the English Premier League (EPL) are and where they are transferring to for the 2025/26 competitive season. 

Florian Wirtz (from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool)

Leading the list is German midfielder Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million, making him one of the most expensive transfers in football history. 

Leverkusen had hoped to extend Wirtz’s contract, but the midfielder opted to move to Liverpool in May, prompting swift negotiations. The German playmaker confirmed his decision in May 2025, which led both clubs to begin formal talks.

Matheus Cunha (from Wolverhampton to Manchester United)

Manchester United is investing heavily in its attack and has signed Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Brazilian forward joined on 12 June for £62.5 million, agreeing to a five-year deal with an optional extra year. 

Cunha carries high expectations as part of coach Ruben Amorim’s effort to rebuild the club after last season’s run. He is expected to lead the line alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes.

João Pedro (from Brighton to Chelsea)

In an impressive £60 million agreement, Chelsea signed João Pedro from Brighton. Newcastle also bid £50 million, but Pedro made it clear he only wanted Chelsea. 

He flew to the United States, joining Chelsea’s Club World Cup (CWC) lineup for his official debut with the Blues. His first match with the team was at the quarter-finals versus Palmeiras on the 5th of July, which they won 2-1. 

Tijjani Reijnders (from AC Milan to Manchester City)

Following Kevin De Bruyne’s move to Napoli, Manchester City signed Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for £46.3 million. The Dutch midfielder will be part of City’s midfield rebuild for the 2025/26 Premier League season. Despite the team’s early exit at the Club World Cup, he impressed manager Pep Guardiola with his performances and versatility, suggesting he could be a strong addition to the squad.

Milos Kerkez (from AFC Bournemouth to Liverpool)

Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth has effectively moved to Liverpool on 26 June with a five-year contract at £40 million. The Hungarian left-back is determined to play a heavy part in the club’s success. 

The move addresses Liverpool’s ageing defence, with veterans like Andrew Robertson and Virgil van Dijk already in their 30s. Kerkez’s inclusion adds a younger, dynamic spirit to the club’s strong lineup. 

See them in the 2025/26 EPL season

The 2025/26 EPL season is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet, with these high-profile transfers adding fresh firepower to top clubs. As teams reinforce their lineups and fans gear up for kickoff, all eyes will be on how these new signings perform under pressure. 

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Manchester City has been fined £1.08 million for delaying kick-offs and restarts in nine Premier League games during the 2024-25 season. The club has 14 days to pay the fine, which is less than the £2.09 million fine they received last 2023-24 season.

The Premier League confirmed that City broke the League’s Rule L.33, which states that any club that delays matches without good reasons shall be dealt with disciplinary action. The club’s biggest delay was during the Manchester derby, where they held up play for two minutes and 24 seconds.

Another notable delay happened in November 2024 when City started their match against Tottenham late to hold a short Ballon d’Or ceremony for midfielder Rodri. That moment caused a delay of one minute and 38 seconds.

The League said these delays affect match broadcasts and scheduling. City accepted the ruling and issued an apology, adding they’ve reminded players and staff to follow time rules more carefully.

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Liverpool FC’s joyful day turned into one of panic, as a car crashed into a crowd of fans during the club’s Premier League victory parade on Monday, May 26. The incident happened around 6:00 PM on Water Street, just after the club’s open-top bus had passed the area.

A total of 47 people were confirmed hurt in the accident. Twenty-seven were taken to hospitals, with two in serious condition. The North West Ambulance Service also confirmed that four people were trapped under the car and had to be pulled out by firefighters.

Emergency services responded quickly, and roads were closed for hours while police investigated. A 53-year-old man was arrested at the scene. Police said the act is not being treated as terrorism.

Liverpool FC shared that the club is in contact with Merseyside Police about the incident. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident� they wrote on their socials.

The city had been in high spirits earlier that day, celebrating Liverpool FC’s latest Premier League title—their first since 2020. Thousands lined the streets for the team’s parade, which had passed through major roads in Liverpool.

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Three teams are in a stalemate in the English Premier League (EPL) table—Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. This standoff has led to fans asking the big question: who has the bigger edge over the other? Explore their recent performances and other fine details to determine which can best the other two. 

Newcastle’s current situation

From April 3 to May 18, 2025, Newcastle won six out of nine of their EPL matches. They also lost two matches and drew one. Some might say their results are volatile, but it is a good display of skill and still means they can win most of their matches. 

Despite this, they still have five players out of play, and one suffers from an Adductor Strain injury—Alexander Isak. The earliest player to return to the field is Kieran Trippier, who is set to return on May 25, 2025. 

Chelsea’s hiccup

Chelsea’s recent win streak was impressive, but their hiccup with Newcastle can mean two things: they’re likely to lose again if they face off, or they’ll exact revenge upon meeting each other on the field. 

However, looking at their previous EPL matches, the lead over their opponents is only one to two points. One can say that they are not fully in control of the field, but many factors can affect this, including powerful opponents or tough playing conditions. 

Aston Villa’s consistency

So far, Aston Villa has had the most consistent performance among the three. Newcastle was a problematic opponent for Chelsea, but to Aston Villa, they destroyed them 4-1. Their only stutter was against Manchester City, where they lost 2-1.  

Considering their performances, they are one of the top performers among the three, but their ‘Goals Forâ€?are the lowest at 58 points. Compared to the other two, who already breached 60 points, they might lag once given the chance to fight Newcastle and Chelsea. 

Who’s likely to lead?

Despite poor recent performances, Newcastle still has a higher chance of topping Chelsea and Aston Villa. Aston Villa might take it for the second, and Chelsea might come last. These assumptions are based on recent English Premier League data, so there is no guarantee that it would happen. 

Expect the unexpected

Football matches are some of the most unpredictable games, so there is no surefire way of knowing who will beat whom. However, based on data, current form, and past results, a calculated deduction can be achieved. 

So far, Newcastle is still in the lead, maintaining a consistent performance that keeps them ahead of the competition. Their recent victories and strong squad dynamics suggest they could hold their position if the momentum continues.

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Now EPL eighth placer Brighton pulled off a stunning 3-2 win over Premier League leaders Liverpool at the Amex Stadium on Monday, May 19. The home side came from behind twice before sealing the match with a late goal from 20-year-old Jack Hinshelwood.

Liverpool started strong, with Harvey Elliott giving them the lead in just the 9th minute. Yasin Ayari quickly answered for Brighton, slotting in an equaliser. Liverpool took the lead again through Dominik Szoboszlai, but Brighton would not give up. Substitute Kaoru Mitoma made it 2� with a cool finish.

With just five minutes left on the clock, Hinshelwood came off the bench and scored what looked like the winner. The goal was flagged for offside at first, but after a VAR check, it was allowed to stand. 

Liverpool, who have already secured the league title, looked flat at times. Mohamed Salah had a big chance in the second half but failed to finish.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed his Liverpool exit at the end of the 2024/25 season, closing a 20-year journey with his boyhood club. The 26-year-old icon shared the news on social media on Monday, May 5. Meanwhile, news reports of him agreeing to a free transfer to Real Madrid surfaced just hours later.

Trent joined Liverpool’s youth system at six years old and made his senior debut in 2016. Since then, he has played 352 matches with the Reds and scored 115 goals as a right-back. He was also a key player with the club’s bids for the Premier League, Champions League, and the FA Cup.

The right-back star is known for his link-up play with forward Mohamed Salah, and has shared over eight years of bond with him. The latter penned a heartfelt message on his X (formerly Twitter) account: ‘It’s been a pleasure sharing a special friendship with you and playing alongside you�

Real Madrid on Trent for Club World Cup

News about Real Madrid wanting Trent to join them in time for the Club World Cup this summer surfaced after the footballer announced his exit from Liverpool. The Spanish side plans to talk with Liverpool about Trent’s possible ‘early release�from his contract.

Real Madrid believes participating in the said tournament will help Trent settle faster before the 2025/26 season begins.

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In football, every moment counts. A single goal or foul can turn a team’s hope into heartbreak in just seconds. That’s why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) came into play. Introduced to bring more fairness to the game, this tech aims to help football referees make better calls by using video footage.

Since its launch, VAR has corrected key game errors, some even deemed crucial for a win. Yet, despite all the good it’s done, it remains one of the most argued tech tools in the football field. Fans, players, and coaches often clash over whether it helps or ruins the flow and feel of the match.

Dive into the story of VAR. Discover what it is, how it works behind the scenes, and the big football moments where it either made history or caused backlash.

What is VAR?

The Video Assistant Referee is a support system designed to help match referees review major decisions. It is a team of three people, assisted by video technology, who revisit key incidents during a match, especially those that could impact a match result.

Think of VAR as a second pair of eyes. It’s not there to replace the main referee and take over the game. Instead, it works like a safety net that catches big mistakes before they can affect the final score. The main referees still oversee the match; the VAR is only there as a backup when things get unclear.

The use of VAR in football was introduced during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, following its inclusion in the 2018/19 edition of the Laws of the Game. Since then, the system has been used in over 100 competitions worldwide.

How does VAR work?

The VAR review follows a simple three-step process:

1. Incident occurs

A possible mistake or controversy happens on the pitch. It could be a foul, offside, or handball. The referee can request a review, or the VAR team can recommend one if they spot an error.

2. Review by the VAR team

The VAR team replays the footage from various camera angles. They confirm whether the decision was wrong or not. The VAR head then notifies the main referee about it.

3. The referee makes the final call

The main referee receives the team’s verdict. If unsure, they can also review the footage from the pitch-side monitor to double-check before making a final call.

To break this down, here are some key factors and considerations that keep the VAR process fair and accurate.

When is VAR used?

Unlike other sports, where video reviews are only presented when asked by a referee or players, VAR monitors each match nonstop. They’d instantly alert the referee in case a wrong call was made or if there had been an overlooked mistake.

However, the VAR doesn’t get involved in every play. It can only step in during four key incidents on the pitch where ‘a clear and obvious error�is likely to occur:

• Goals: Checks if a foul, offside, or handball occurred before the team scored a goal.
• Penalty: Confirms whether a foul happened inside the box or a penalty was wrongly given or denied.
• Direct red cards: VAR is also used to judge if a serious foul deserves a straight red card. The team also checks for possible red-card incidents that the referee might have given a yellow card for.
• Mistaken identity: Fixes cases where the wrong player is shown a yellow or red card.

Timing rules for VAR intervention

Timing plays a big part in how VAR works. The team must flag an issue as quickly as they can, as they can only intervene in the match after the ball goes out of play. Once the game restarts, though, the chance to use VAR for that play has passed, and any calls made can’t be overturned.

For instance, if the VAR team spots an incident as the ball goes out of play, they must notify the referee to pause the game until it is dealt with. Otherwise, no reviews or calls can be made unless it’s a case of mistaken identity. 

Moments caught on VAR

Since its debut in 2018, VAR has captured some of football’s most dramatic moments. It has helped referees make the right call, but also triggered outrage from fans and players due to errors or missed calls.

In the Premier League, there has been a drop in incorrect VAR calls. From 23 mistakes last season, the 2024-25 season has only seen 10 so far. Even so, fans still call out flaws in how VAR handles real-time decisions. The loudest comments are all about missed fouls, inconsistent offside lines, and long delays. 

Here are some of the most talked-about VAR calls that still get football fans debating:

• RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid (UCL 2024)

Leipzig scored a goal early in the game, thanks to Benjamin Šeško. However, the VAR flagged an offside in the build-up, which meant the goal was ruled out. The call made fans and the club itself furious for questioning a clearly kicked goal. The match ended in a Real Madrid win at 1-0.

• Wolves vs Man Utd (EPL 2023-24)

In stoppage time, the Utd goalkeeper André Onana collided with Wolves player Sasa Kalajdzic inside the box. Despite loud protests, neither the referee nor the VAR awarded a penalty. A later review admitted that one should have been given after PGMOL manager Jonathan Moss said it was a mistake. The Wolves lost the match 1-0.

VAR in football: Its future or flaw?

VAR was built to make football fairer, and in many cases, it has. It helped clear up mistakes, which then led to major trophies and careers. Still, no system is perfect. Football authorities are working hard to refine VAR for future seasons. You may love or hate the VAR, but one thing’s sure: it will always be a part of football’s identity.

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