Football Articles | Mail Online

• Why Mikel Arteta will rue Arsenal's draw at Nottingham Forest, where the Gunners must improve if they are to win the Premier League - and the encouraging signs for one player18 January 2026, 2:00 am
  ISAAN KHAN AT THE CITY GROUND: Three points squandered, Arsenal failed to cut loose at the top of the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest.
  
• How Man United beat Man City to earn derby-day bragging rights, the gambles that paid off for Michael Carrick - and the warning signs for the rest of the season, writes CHRIS WHEELER18 January 2026, 2:00 am
  CHRIS WHEELER: Daily Mail Sport looks at how Carrick and his new backroom team lifted United in the space of three days, and found a way to out-manoeuvre Guardiola.
  
• This dismal draw is a microcosm of Arne Slot's bipolar side - with fans growing tired, it's glaringly obvious what the Reds are missing, writes LEWIS STEELE18 January 2026, 1:49 am
  LEWIS STEELE AT ANFIELD: Liverpool were loudly booed off the pitch at full-time and rightly so as Arne Slot puffed out his cheeks and looked like he wanted the Anfield turf to swallow him whole.
  
• Man United 2-0 Man City PLAYER RATINGS: Who scored 8.5/10 with sensational display? Who looks in dire need of a rest? And which defender shut up his critics?18 January 2026, 1:27 am
  Michael Carrick's interim reign at Man United is off to a flying start after a resounding 2-0 win over their local rivals Man City. Here Chris Wheeler and Jack Gaughan give their player ratings.
  
• Man United 2-0 Man City: Michael Carrick tastes victory for first time as Red Devils boss as hosts put in electric performance to down rivals and revive feel-good factor at Old Trafford18 January 2026, 1:26 am
  OLIVER HOLT AT OLD TRAFFORD: There have been a number of false dawns at Manchester United over the last 13 years. Maybe this will just be another of them.
  
• Michael Carrick challenges Man United to replicate derby display as head coach revels in dream start at 'magical' Old Trafford18 January 2026, 1:26 am
  Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu gave Carrick a 2-0 victory over Manchester Cit yin his first game since being put in charge for the rest of the season.
  
• Why this Manchester derby triumph felt different for Man United - and how their thunderous dismantling of City under Michael Carrick will have earned the respect of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Co, writes IAN LADYMAN18 January 2026, 1:25 am
  IAN LADYMAN: 'It's a daarby.' Former United captain Roy Keanelikes to say, the Irish accent deepening in direct parallel to his habitual disapproval of most of what he watches at Old Trafford.
  
• Former West Ham star Dimitri Payet accused of 'forcing his ex-mistress to perform degrading acts on camera' and 'using punishments to control her every move'18 January 2026, 12:57 am
  The former West Ham United midfielder, now 38, is set to go on trial in Brazil over the claims made by his former mistress Larissa Natalya Ferrari.
  
• Parkinson pops up to be the hero as brave Bairns hold their nerve to dump out Hearts in a shoot-out18 January 2026, 12:01 am
  Thrown on at half-time as part of a three-pronged switch-up to try and get his new club a foothold in the game, Ben Parkinson emerged the penalty shoot-out hero
  
• A World Cup cancellation seems utterly unthinkable despite Donald Trump's imperialism - but here is why FIFA should be concerned ahead of this summer's showpiece, writes IAN HERBERT17 January 2026, 11:56 pm
  IAN HERBERT: Governments decide whether to withdraw their teams from a World Cup, but it would be hard to see anything but a boycott for the Danes in those circumstances.
  
• Thomas Frank's Tottenham future is in DOUBT after toxic atmosphere during 2-1 home defeat by rivals West Ham - with hierarchy weighing up his fate amid Spurs fans' calling for his sacking17 January 2026, 11:13 pm
  CRAIG HOPE: Daily Mail Sport understands the North London club are now considering a change of manager, but are not preparing an imminent announcement.
  
• California dreaming! Auchinleck comes first but Trusty is already looking ahead to USA's World Cup opener17 January 2026, 10:30 pm
  It's a long way from Beechwood to Inglewood on the global football landscape.
  
• Chelsea step up pursuit of Ligue 1 star, Newcastle eye Brugge left back - and Leeds join three-way chase for £40m-rated Wolves star: TRANSFER WINDOW WATCH17 January 2026, 9:41 pm
  The transfer window is open and here are today's latest developments from Daily Mail Sport's Simon Jones, including three Premier League clubs chasing a £40m-rated Wolves star.
  
• More misery for Mo! Salah loses AFCON third-place final with Egypt as he and Omar Marmoush both have their penalties saved during shootout defeat by Nigeria17 January 2026, 9:18 pm
  The match was forced to penalties after finishing 0-0 in a 90 minutes where Nigeria scored two disallowed goals, and Ademola Lookman would go on to net the decisive spot-kick.
  
• Arsenal were denied a 'very clear penalty' during goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, fumes Mikel Arteta - as he labels officials' explanation for not awarding spot-kick as 'not right'17 January 2026, 9:10 pm
  In the second half, Ola Aina appeared to have committed handball when he and Elliot Anderson tried shielding the ball on the touchline in their own box, which struck the defender's arm.