Salah fallout, Arsenal slip and a wild World Cup draw – Football Weekly

The NBA Cup is heating up as the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to face the Phoenix Suns, while the Los Angeles Lakers are set to take on the San Antonio Spurs. Additionally, the Toronto Raptors are being evaluated for their performance as the tournament progresses, and Paolo Banchero's return to the Orlando Magic lineup is anticipated after his recent injury.

Liverpool secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League, despite the absence of star forward Mohamed Salah, who has been embroiled in controversy regarding his future at the club. Chelsea faced a setback, losing to Atalanta, while Barcelona managed to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt, marking a mixed night for European football's elite.

Liverpool secured a significant victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League, marking Inter's first European home defeat since September 2022. The match saw Dominik Szoboszlai stepping up to take a crucial penalty in the absence of Mohamed Salah, who was left out of the squad amid ongoing tensions with manager Arne Slot. Fans at San Siro expressed their support for Slot during the match.

Arsenal secured a place in the Champions League knockout stage with a hard-fought victory over Twente at Meadow Park, thanks to an early goal from Beth Mead. This win guarantees Arsenal a top 12 finish in the league phase and keeps their hopes alive for a top four finish, which would allow them to advance directly to the quarter-finals depending on upcoming results.

Pep Guardiola has urged his restructured Manchester City squad to demonstrate their capabilities in the upcoming Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, emphasizing the transitional phase the team is undergoing. The absence of key players from previous encounters adds pressure to the squad as they prepare for this significant fixture.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed concerns that the team's pursuit of trophies this season may be jeopardized by a troubling cycle of injuries, exacerbated by a demanding fixture schedule. Key players, including Declan Rice, who is sidelined due to illness, and others like Leandro Trossard and William Saliba, are unavailable for upcoming matches, including the Champions League clash against Club Brugge.

Everton ended Chelsea's remarkable unbeaten streak in the Women's Super League (WSL) with a 1-0 victory at Kingsmeadow, thanks to a decisive goal from Honoka Hayashi. This defeat marks Chelsea's first league loss since May 2024 and Sonia Bompastor's first as manager after an impressive tenure. The match was discussed in the Women’s Football Weekly podcast featuring Faye Carruthers, Suzy Wrack, Marva Kreel, and Rich Laverty.

Arsenal has officially registered Gabriel Jesus for their Champions League squad following an injury to Max Dowman, making him eligible to play against Club Brugge. This decision comes after earlier reports suggested otherwise, highlighting the club's proactive approach in managing their roster amid injury challenges.