Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton ended their Premier League match in a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium. The match saw Brighton take the lead through Kaoru Mitoma, only for Southampton to equalise through Flynn Downes. A controversial VAR decision ruled out a potential winner for Southampton, leaving both teams to reflect on missed opportunities.
Liverpool's emerging star, Conor Bradley, delivered a performance to remember during the team's 2-0 victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League. At only 21 years of age, Bradley's relentless energy and fearless tackles, particularly one against Kylian Mbappé, captivated the Anfield faithful and highlighted his potential as a future mainstay in the Liverpool defence. His significant contributions, including an assist, were essential to Liverpool's success in maintaining their lead in the group stage. While Bradley's fitness has now raised some concerns, his rise offers the team both immediate benefits and long-term stability, especially amidst speculation about Trent Alexander-Arnold's future with the club.
In the series-deciding third ODI at Bulawayo, Pakistan chose to bat first against Zimbabwe, a decision that could be crucial in their attempt to secure the series victory. Having levelled the series in the previous match, Pakistan remained unchanged, while Zimbabwe made strategic alterations by including wicketkeeper Clive Madande and all-rounder Faraz Akram. Pakistan posted a formidable target of 303 runs, with Kamran Ghulam leading the effort with a maiden century. Zimbabwe’s response appeared fraught as they lost key wickets early, challenging their pursuit of a historic series win. The match holds the potential for a thrilling finish as Zimbabwe attempts to regroup and mount a series-winning chase.
Kane Williamson's return to Test cricket was marked by a resilient innings of 93 runs, stabilising New Zealand's innings against England at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Despite a solid start and forming crucial partnerships, New Zealand experienced a late-order collapse, closing Day 1 at 319 for 8. England fought back with Shoaib Bashir's impressive four-wicket haul, setting the scene for an intriguing second day in the contest for the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy.
Arsenal delivered a stunning performance against Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League, securing a historic 5-1 victory in Lisbon. The Gunners' emphatic win, featuring goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard, marks their largest away win in over 21 years in the competition. Manager Mikel Arteta hailed it as their best away European performance. Arsenal's dominance and tactical prowess propel them to seventh place in the Champions League table, boosting their aspirations as serious contenders in Europe.
Barcelona secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Brest in their UEFA Champions League encounter at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The impressive win was highlighted by Robert Lewandowski's milestone achievement of reaching 100 Champions League goals. Despite a series of missed opportunities, Barcelona's dominance was reflected in goals by Dani Olmo and two from Lewandowski. This victory propelled Barcelona to second place in their group, reinforcing their confidence as they prepare for upcoming matches.
In a surprising turn of events at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City squandered a comfortable three-goal lead to end up drawing 3-3 with Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League. City's early dominance with goals from Erling Haaland and İlkay Gündogan was undone by Feyenoord's resilient comeback, resulting in City's sixth consecutive winless match. Defensive errors and managerial frustration highlight the challenges that lie ahead for Pep Guardiola's team.
On 25 November 2024, West Ham United achieved a crucial 2-0 win against Newcastle United at St James' Park, breaking the home team's three-match victory streak. West Ham's Tomáš Souček opened the scoring in the 10th minute, followed by Aaron Wan-Bissaka's second-half goal. Despite Newcastle's dominant possession, they failed to score, placing them 10th in the league. This win lifted West Ham out of the relegation zone and alleviated pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui. Newcastle's manager, Eddie Howe, highlighted their need to improve finishing and decision-making.
Liverpool secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium, with Mohamed Salah emerging as the hero by scoring two late goals, including a penalty. The match began with Liverpool taking the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai, but Southampton equalised before half-time. Southampton took the lead again in the second half, only for Salah to level and then secure the win with a late penalty. Liverpool dominated possession but faced a challenging battle against a resilient Southampton team. manager Arne Slot commended his squad's perseverance, essential as they prepare for upcoming fixtures against Real Madrid and Manchester City. Southampton's Russell Martin highlighted the need for improvement as the team remains at the bottom of the league.
Ipswich Town and Manchester United played out an intense 1-1 draw at Portman Road in the kickoff match of Ruben Amorim's era as United's manager. Marcus Rashford gave United an early lead, but Ipswich responded with determination, equalising through a deflected goal by Omari Hutchinson. The match was marked by Ipswich's spirited play and crucial saves from United's goalkeeper, Andre Onana. Despite numerous opportunities, both teams settled for a point each, posing early challenges for Manchester United under their new management.