Soccer

Liverpool had no trouble overturning the 1-0 deficit against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semifinals, as the Reds thrashed the Spurs 4-0 at Anfield to secure their spot in the final with a 4-1 aggregate victory. The Reds Showed No Mercy Liverpool’s onslaught began in the 34th minute after relentless attacking pressure and a previously disallowed goal for offside. Cody Gakpo opened the scoring with a well-placed shot following a precise cross from Mohamed Salah, who delivered the ball from right to left inside the box, setting up the Dutchman for a first-time finish. The second goal came early in the second half, in the 51st minute, through the man of the moment, Salah. The Egyptian converted a spectacular penalty after Tottenham’s goalkeeper fouled Darwin Núñez inside the area. Dominik Szoboszlai extended the lead in the 75th minute, finishing off a brilliant team play with an assist from Conor Bradley that left him in prime position to strike home. You may be interested in: Newcastle Crushes Arsenal to Reach Carabao Cup Final Finally, captain Virgil van Dijk sealed the victory with a signature header off a corner kick in the 80th minute, making it 4-0 and putting the match to bed. Liverpool will now face Newcastle in the EFL Cup or Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 16, at the iconic Wimbledon. Cover photo: X (@LFC)

Pumas fell 2-1 to Cavalry FC in their Concachampions debut and will need to mount a comeback at CU on February 13 to advance to the next round. Pumas UNAM had a cold reception in Canada, as they suffered a 2-1 comeback defeat against Cavalry FC in their opening match of the Concacaf Champions Cup, formerly known as the Concachampions. Now, they will have to turn things around in the return leg at CU if they hope to move forward in the tournament. Pumas Took the Lead At Westhills Stadium, the university squad fielded a relatively alternate lineup, a decision that raised some eyebrows. However, this match also marked the debut of goalkeeper Alex Padilla, who recently arrived from Athletic Club to reinforce the Auriazul goal. The Mexican team found the net in the 44th minute when Piero Quispe unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box. The Cavalry goalkeeper managed to stop it but left a rebound that Santiago López capitalized on, slotting the ball into the net. Cavalry Turned It Around In the second half, Pumas’ defensive weaknesses became evident. Off a corner kick, Charlie Trafford positioned himself near the six-yard box and, with no Pumas defenders marking him, struck the ball high to beat Padilla and level the match at 1-1. In the 80th minute, Ali Musse delivered a cross to the far post, where Jay Herdman headed it back into the area. Tobias Warschewski controlled the ball with his back to goal, executed a brilliant turn, and fired a precise shot to complete a stunning goal, sealing a 2-1 victory for the home side. Now, Pumas will have to give it their all on Thursday, February 13, when they host the Canadian team in Mexico City. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Before that, they will take on Mazatlán this Sunday, February 9, at 6:00 p.m.

Marcelo announced his retirement from football after a successful career with 30 titles, including 5 Champions League trophies with Real Madrid and a Copa Libertadores with Fluminense. Marcelo’s Farewell In a video posted on social media, the now former full-back reflected on his football journey, highlighting his time at Real Madrid, where he became a household name. He spent 16 seasons defending the club’s colors and won an impressive 25 titles, including five Champions League trophies. He also spoke about the pride of representing his country, Brazil, in international competitions, mentioning the Olympic medals he won in 2008 (bronze) and 2012 (silver), as well as the Confederations Cup in 2013. He concluded the reflection on his career with his return to the club that saw him grow, Fluminense, with whom he won the club’s first Copa Libertadores in 2023 and the Recopa Sudamericana in 2024. Thus, one of the best attacking full-backs in recent years says goodbye to professional football at the age of 36. However, in his farewell video, Marcelo made it clear that he still has much to offer to football, so it would not be surprising to see him remain involved in the sport in a different role. It is worth noting that since the end of last year, Marcelo had been away from the pitch due to a conflict with his coach at Fluminense. While his retirement is understandable at his age, the announcement still came as a surprise. Cover photo: X (@ChampionsLeague)

Newcastle United eliminated Arsenal from the Carabao Cup with a dominant 4-0 aggregate victory, securing their place in the final. Arsenal struggled throughout the semifinal series, failing to challenge Eddie Howe’s side. Newcastle now awaits the winner of Liverpool vs. Tottenham. How Newcastle Secured the Victory At St. James’ Park, Newcastle took control from the opening whistle. Just four minutes in, Alexander Isak found the net, but his goal was ruled offside. Arsenal attempted to respond with a few half-chances, but in the 19th minute, Newcastle struck first. After an Arsenal attack that hit the post, Anthony Gordon started a counterattack, brilliantly controlling the ball before setting up Isak. The Swedish forward’s shot hit the post, but Jacob Murphy was perfectly positioned to tap in the 1-0 goal. Despite Arsenal’s desperate attempts to break Newcastle’s defense, the Magpies held firm, sitting deeper with their 3-0 aggregate lead. Second-Half Dominance Newcastle capitalized on Arsenal’s frustration early in the second half. In the 52nd minute, the Gunners made a costly defensive error. David Raya attempted to play out from the back but under pressure, Arsenal lost possession. Fabian Schär’s sliding challenge forced a turnover, setting up Gordon, who easily slotted home past a misplaced Raya to make it 2-0 on the night. From there, Newcastle managed the game expertly, while Arsenal’s late efforts lacked creativity and conviction. Newcastle Awaits Their Final Opponent With the 4-0 aggregate win, Newcastle advances to the Carabao Cup Final and now awaits the winner between Liverpool and Tottenham. The Spurs currently lead 1-0 on aggregate, setting up an intriguing second-leg showdown.

Santiago Giménez made his AC Milan debut in the Coppa Italia and provided an assist for João Félix in a 3-1 victory against Roma, as the new signings made an immediate impact. Milan Took the Lead Without Santi in the Starting XI The Mexican striker started the match on the bench, waiting for his moment to step onto the pitch for one of Europe’s biggest clubs. The first 45 minutes were dominated by AC Milan, as they imposed their style at San Siro. In the 16th minute, Tammy Abraham opened the scoring with a powerful header from a well-placed cross by Theo Hernández. Roma responded with intense attacking play, forcing Mike Maignan to make key saves. However, in the 42nd minute, Theo Hernández launched a driving run from midfield, taking advantage of a misplaced tackle by Mats Hummels before setting up Abraham, who finished calmly to make it 2-0 before halftime. Milan’s New Signings Made the Difference Roma managed to pull one back in the 54th minute through Artem Dovbyk, making it 2-1. At minute 58, both Santiago Giménez and João Félix entered the game, and just 14 minutes later, the duo combined to seal the match. In the 72nd minute, Giménez received the ball in the attacking third, took a few controlled touches, and delivered a perfect through ball to João Félix, who chipped the goalkeeper with great finesse to make it 3-1. It was a memorable debut for Santi Giménez, who impressed Milan fans with his creativity and vision, hinting at a bright future in Serie A.

Today, the second leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal between Newcastle and Arsenal takes place. The Gunners must win by two goals to level the series. The winner will face the victor of tomorrow’s Liverpool vs. Tottenham match. The semifinals of the English EFL Cup, also known as the Carabao Cup, continue today with a thrilling second-leg clash between Newcastle and Arsenal. Both teams are enjoying strong form in the Premier League, and expectations are high for an exciting match. Arsenal Must Rise to the Challenge The match, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (Mexico City time), sees Arsenal in a must-win situation. The Gunners need at least a two-goal victory to push the series into extra time and potentially a penalty shootout, as Newcastle secured a 2-0 win in the first leg. The Magpies will aim to protect their lead from the first leg and, if possible, extend it to put their opponents in an even tougher spot. A single goal from Newcastle would force Arsenal to score at least three to level the aggregate, as the Carabao Cup no longer applies the away goals rule. The Winner Awaits Liverpool or Tottenham Once this semifinal is decided, the focus will shift to tomorrow’s match, where Liverpool and Tottenham will battle for the second spot in the final. Spurs hold a narrow 1-0 advantage heading into the decisive fixture.

AC Milan has signed João Félix from Chelsea on loan to reinforce its sporting project. The Portuguese forward aims to showcase his talent after failing to establish himself in London. This season has not been the best for AC Milan, as they have struggled in both Serie A and the Champions League. As a result, the “Rossoneri” have decided to start a new sporting project mid-season, making several major signings. Their latest big move is the acquisition of João Félix. The 25-year-old arrives from Chelsea, where he failed to secure a starting spot under coach Enzo Maresca. Seeking to prove that he can perform at the highest level, João will play for the Italian side on loan. Milan will also pay €5 million to the “Blues” and cover his full salary. You may also be interested in: Salah Leads Liverpool to Another Victory Despite struggling in London, where he managed 7 goals and 2 assists in 20 games, the Portuguese forward is still considered one of Europe’s top talents. His loan move could bring significant benefits to Milan. With this signing, João Félix becomes Milan’s fifth winter transfer, joining Kyle Walker, Santiago Giménez, Warren Bondo, and Riccardo Sottil as the club’s latest arrivals. Now, the Portuguese striker has another opportunity to prove he can become the superstar many expected when Atlético Madrid spent €126 million to sign him from Benfica in 2019.

Mohamed Salah remains unstoppable, as the Egyptian star netted a brace against Bournemouth, securing another win for Liverpool, who continue to dominate the Premier League. The Reds now sit firmly atop the table with 56 points, holding a nine-point lead over second-place Arsenal, who are set to face Manchester City later today. Salah Adds Two More to His Tally Action at Vitality Stadium started with both teams creating early chances, threatening their opponents’ goal with dangerous attacking plays. Controversy struck in the 27th minute when Cody Gakpo, contesting an aerial ball inside the box, stumbled while closely marked by a Bournemouth defender. Despite minimal contact, the Dutch forward appealed for a penalty, which was shockingly awarded after a VAR review. Salah capitalized on the gift from the referee, calmly slotting home the penalty in the 30th minute to put Liverpool 1-0 ahead. Despite the debatable opener, the game remained intense, with Bournemouth responding well and even finding the net—only for their goal to be ruled offside. The Cherries had several clear opportunities to equalize, but their missed chances proved costly. In the 75th minute, Salah once again proved decisive. Picking up the ball on the right side of the box, the Egyptian cut inside onto his left foot and curled a perfectly placed shot into the far corner. The goalkeeper could only watch as the ball curled past him into the net, sealing a 2-0 victory for Liverpool. Salah’s Record-Breaking Form, but No Contract Renewal in Sight With his latest brace, Salah now boasts an incredible 21 goals in 23 Premier League matches, leading both the goal-scoring (21) and assist (13) charts this season. Moreover, his 178th Premier League goal places him sixth on the all-time scoring list. However, despite his phenomenal form, Liverpool has yet to offer him a contract renewal, leaving fans uncertain about his future at Anfield.