Liam Rosenior
January 2026
Joe Cole praised Rosenior’s early Chelsea spell after a 3-2 Champions League win at Napoli that secured a top-eight league-phase finish and automatic last-16 qualification. Cole pointed to results and a visible shift in mindset since Maresca’s exit, arguing winning in Naples and a strong short-term run validates the appointment despite initial skepticism about experience.
Jeremie Frimpong
January 2026
Frimpong went off early with a suspected groin issue, adding to Liverpool’s defensive injuries and forcing further reshuffles. He has had repeated muscle problems this season; with Bradley out long-term, Gomez injured, and Konate absent, Slot is improvising with players out of position and Endo stepping in after the early substitution.
Anatoliy Trubin
January 2026
Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2, with goalkeeper Trubin scoring a last-gasp header to secure a Champions League playoff spot as Madrid finished ninth and must play a February playoff. Benfica needed a win to stay in the top 24; Mourinho sent Trubin up for a late set-piece, he headed in, and Madrid ended with two late red cards as Benfica’s late swing decided qualification over rivals elsewhere.
Wilson Odobert, Kolo Muani
January 2026
Odobert and Kolo Muani were involved in a motorway accident on the M25; both were seen safe at the scene and Kolo Muani was confirmed uninjured. The incident reportedly involved Kolo Muani’s car with visible damage and airbags deployed, caused traffic disruption and an oil cleanup, and occurred while traveling to the airport from Enfield
Cole Palmer
January 2026
Rosenior again insists Palmer is happy at Chelsea and dismisses Manchester United links as baseless, saying there is no need for assurances about a sale. Rosenior repeats he has spoken to Palmer, frames the rumours as timing-related noise around managerial change, and says focus is on Palmer’s return and team improvement.
Arne Slot
January 2026
Slot said Liverpool’s early Champions League exit to PSG last season may have helped them win the Premier League by giving extra prep time, which has upset sections of the fanbase. He cites the PSG tie and the added weekly preparation as a competitive advantage for the league run-in, despite calling the tie the best match he has been involved in.
Pep Guardiola
January 2026
Guardiola implied some City players are not fully committed to playing through minor issues, citing Cruyff’s view that players who do not want to be injured generally are not, while listing multiple absences for the Galatasaray game. He referenced the club’s medical staff, then suggested mindset matters beyond bad luck. He confirmed several injured players will miss the Champions League tie, with January signings also ineligible.
Arne Slot
January 2026
Slot said he expects no major January arrivals, with Liverpool only moving if a clear market opportunity appears, despite depth concerns and a Champions League qualification push. Slot referenced a major summer spend and acknowledged the impact of long-term absences, including Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni, but said the squad can still compete if fitness stabilises.
Lucas Bergvall
January 2026
Bergvall suffered a suspected high ankle sprain and Spurs fear a lengthy absence, adding to an already heavy injury list. Bergvall was forced off after a second-half challenge; Frank said initial signs suggest it “could be a longer one” with medical assessment ongoing. Spurs already have multiple senior absentees, worsening squad depth.
