Football never sleeps. During any of the 86400 seconds in a 24-hour day, somewhere in the world someone is doing something related to the beautiful game, whether that’s scoring a last-minute winner in a high-profile match, posting their expert take on social media or simply booting a ball against a wall with their mates.
It’s therefore impossible for any human being to keep up with everything that’s going on in the game, and it’s often those little yet most intriguing moments, like a fan’s alternative viewpoint of a penalty save, or a three-second yet incredibly telling interaction between two arch-rivals, or thread on X explaining why N’Golo Kante is the nicest man in professional sport, which make football so great.
GIVEMESPORT have created our live blog to help solve that problem, providing the best social media has to offer and the greatest football mini-stories from the last 24 hours.
21st January: Barcelona’s Raphinha Scores One of the Strangest Goals of All Time
Barcelona’s Raphinha scored yet another goal for Hansi Flick’s men against Benfica but, in truth, the winger knew very little about it. The Portuguese side earned a commanding two-goal cushion in what had a chance of being one of the shocks of Tuesday evening, but a moment of madness offered the Spaniards a glimmer of hope after a monumental gaffe from Benfica goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin.
With the score poised 3-1 to the home side at Estadio da Luz, Trubin opted to go long from a goal kick but failed to clear further than the eventual goalscorer. The Ukrainian’s under hit pass strangely hit the head of Raphinha, who was as confused as the rest of us, as the ball hit the back of the net. It was so surprising that TNT Sports’ commentators were late to comment on what had just happened.
Benfica soon went 4-2 up through a Ronald Araujo own goal – but Barcelona’s all-action approach failed to wane and their effort finally paid dividends. Robert Lewandowski dispatched from the spot to grab his second of the affair before Eric Garcia drew his side level with a header. Raphinha, who is one of the most in-form players in Europe, scored in the 96th minute to cap off a dramatic night in Portugal.
20th January: Tottenham Fans Slammed for Son Heung-min Treatment After 3-2 Loss to Everton
‘Horrible way to treat a LEGEND of Tottenham’
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur slumped to a new low on Sunday afternoon by losing 3-2 to Premier League strugglers Everton – and the away fans in attendance at Goodison Park have been lambasted for their treatment of skipper Son Heung-min.
The South Korea international, in the wake of their away loss, trundled over to the away fans and was relentlessly booed and jeered for the capital club’s poor performance. Fans have jumped to the defence of their club ‘legend’ on X (formerly Twitter).
“Horrible way to treat a LEGEND of Tottenham. Been a servant, through ALL the crap with us, doubled down and stayed. Yes, he’s not been good enough this season but he doesn’t deserve this.”
Another supporter wrote that seeing their captain, who has played 435 outings in the white of Tottenham since moving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015, so distraught on the back of the animosity is uncomfortable to watch : “Very sad to see him like this… I feel sorry for him.”
20th January: Baleba’s Celebrations in Old Trafford Tunnel Go Viral
The midfielder griddied past Man Utd skipper Bruno Fernandes with joy
Manchester United slumped to 13th place in the Premier League table following their 3-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion – and to add further salt to the wounds, the latter’s midfield maestro Carlos Baleba – who is being courted by plenty of top teams in Europe – was spotted celebrating by ‘griddying’ down the Old Trafford tunnel in jubilation.
Posted on Brighton’s X (formerly Twitter) account, a ‘very upset’ Bruno Fernandes, in the wake of a new low, walked straight past the jubilation but Baleba, who luckily escaped a red card in the first half, was enjoying every moment of his first full 90-minute display over the Red Devils since joining from French side Lille in the summer of 2023.
20th January: Man City’s Kick-off Routine Goes Terribly in 4-2 Loss to Man Utd
Ella Toone completed her hat-trick after Man City gaffe
Manchester United Women stole a march on their fierce rivals, Manchester City Women, on Sunday afternoon with a 4-2 victory on away soil. Ella Toone became the first player to ever score a hat-trick in the women’s Manchester derby and the midfielder’s third of the bunch was the craziest of them all as her opponent’s kick-off routine – in a must-win game, may we add – went horribly wrong.
Just nine seconds into the second half, Marc Skinner’s side were looking to apply more pressure to put the game to bed when the ball landed at the feet of Man City goalkeeper Khiara Keating. Deciding to go long, the undying press from Elisabeth intercepted her attempt mid-air. The bouncing ball landed ahead of Toone as she caught up and prodded home her side’s fourth of the affair.
17th January: Amorim’s ‘Cold’ Reaction to Amad’s Hat-Trick Goes Viral
Man Utd’s head coach went through a range of emotions
Amad secured Manchester United all three points in their home outing against strugglers Southampton with the 11th quickest hat-trick in Premier League history – and head coach Ruben Amorim’s ‘cold’ reaction has gone viral. Despite having their backs against the wall for the majority of the affair, the Red Devils relied on the brilliance of the Ivorian.
Amad’s first gave the home side a lease of life and his second, assisted brilliantly by Christian Eriksen, gave them the power to go on and complete his first-ever senior hat-trick. Amorim, on the touchline, kept it cool, calm and collected before turning to the home contingent to produce a double-fist pump.
16th January: Onana Pulls Off ‘Schmeichel-Esque’ Double Save
The Cameroonian prevented Man United going behind to Southampton
Manchester United’s Andre Onana has continued his remarkable redemption arc at Old Trafford this season by making a double save that has led to comparisons with the legendary Peter Schmeichel. United welcomed the Premier League’s bottom side, Southampton, to the Theatre of Dreams, but after making a slow start to proceedings, the hosts were fortunate not to have found themselves going behind.
A beautiful piece of play from youngster Tyler Dibling took Lisandro Martínez completely out of the picture. His low effort to the far corner was well stopped by Onana, but the best was yet to come. The rebound fell to Mateus Fernandes just outside the six-yard box, and the Cameroonian spread himself excellently to prevent the second effort from nestling in the back of the net, much like the Great Dane did on several occasions during his career.
15th January: Trossard Produces Magical Cruyff Turn in North London Derby
The Belgian’s moment of brilliance bamboozled Pedro Porro
Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard produced a mesmeric piece of skill to bamboozle Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro within half an hour of the north London derby – and it’s one that the latter will not want to watch back.
With the score poised at 1-0 to Ange Postecoglou’s men, the hosts were on the attack when the Belgian – who later struck to put his side in front – looked to turn back before a Cruyff turn left the Spaniard for dead in a heap on the floor.
Trossard was unable to make anything of his moment of magic as his cross met the head of Radu Dragusin, but that didn’t take anything away from the brilliance of the turn. Luckily, after the away contingent waited with bated breath, Porro returned to his feet and was able to carry on.
14th January: Fans Fact-Check Rio Ferdinand’s Anthony Elanga Claim
Said he has more goal contributions than Vinicius Jr, Mbappe, Musiala, and Leao since joining Forest
Fans online have called out Rio Ferdinand for his bizarre claim made when talking to Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. The pundit claimed that the former Manchester United star has more goal contributions than Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Jamal Musiala, and Rafael Leao since joining Forest in the summer of 2023.
When he told Elanga, the Swedish forward looked surprised and fans delving into the claim have questioned Ferdinand’s statistical research. Indeed, since the start of last season, Elanga has eight goals and 13 assists which is considerably fewer goal contributions than all the star names mentioned in the clip.
It was quickly picked up on social media, with one fan noting: “I like Elanga but come on man, there’s no need for Rio to so obviously lie like this. It’s not even close to being true.
13th January: Sol Campbell Savages Tottenham Over Arsenal Move
Brutal new advert goes viral
Sol Campbell has yet again fearless risked the wrath of Tottenham Hotspur fans, this time in a new advert for Google Pixel. The former Spurs captain famously joined north London rivals Arsenal in one of the most controversial moves in Premier League history.
It worked out well for Campbell, of course, as he won two league titles with the Gunners. All these years on, though, the switch is still a sore point for Tottenham supporters and ahead of the derby this week, the Englishman has stoked the fires once more as he details the virtues of ‘switching to something much much better’ in this new advert for Google Pixel.
It was quickly caused a storm online, with fans writing: ‘Might be the greatest ad of all time’;
‘Love it. Needs to be played on the big screen on Wednesday’; ‘This ad deserves an award’; and
‘Unbelievable s***housery!! I can’t believe this! Hahaha’
13th January: Zirkzee Destroys Saliba in Man Utd’s FA Cup Win over Arsenal
Manchester United’s Joshua Zirzkee may have had his rightful doubters in recent weeks – but he produced a mesmeric moment of brilliance against one of the best defenders in the world, William Saliba, during his side’s FA Cup third round win over Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal as he weaved in and out of the Frenchman, who finished the contest on the floor.
Having entered the fray in favour of Rasmus Hojlund with nine minutes of regulation time left on the clock, the Dutchman’s fresh legs made all the difference when attempting to hit the north Londoners on the counterattack.
A brilliant touch with his right foot before shifting his weight onto his left, nutmegging Saliba in the process, saw the defender scrambling for the ball. The new slow-motion footage, which has since gone viral, shows the forward then cutting back while scanning his options up ahead before leaving both Saliba and Jorginho for dust. Wow!
12th January: VAR Expert Explains Reason Behind Martinelli’s Disallowed Goal vs Man Utd
The winger opened the scoring inside 19 minutes of Arsenal’s FA Cup clash
VAR expert Dale Johnson has explained why Gabriel Martinelli’s goal against reigning FA Cup champions Manchester United was disallowed. The Brazilian wheeled away in celebration in the 19th minute before realising that the linesman’s flag was held aloft.
Gabriel Jesus attempted to thread a pass to Martinelli between the lines of the Red Devils but a clean through ball was prevented after it deflected off Maguire’s foot – but ESPN’s Johnson has suggested that the defender’s touch ‘doesn’t reset the phase’.
“That has to be offside against Gabriel Martinelli as Harry Maguire’s touch doesn’t reset the phase. A “deliberate play” isn’t just playing the ball with intention, it’s having the expectation of control in the action.”
What has saved Maguire and his teammates from conceding early on in the all-Premier League encounter is because the central defender’s stuck out leg cannot be considered a “deliberate (controlled) play”, the VAR expert wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
12th January: Tamworth defender goes viral after mugging Tottenham star off with delicious skill
The magic of the FA Cup was at its glittering best on Sunday afternoon
At 32 years old and having spent his career in the lower leagues of English football, Haydn Hollis of Tamworth never imagined he’d face Tottenham. But that’s the magic of the FA Cup—dreams really do come true.
The veteran defender shone in the third-round clash, even earning viral attention for a stunning roulette move to escape a challenge from Pape Matar Sarr. With the game locked at 0-0 after full-time, it’s clear Hollis more than held his own in defence, playing a pivotal role in the memorable encounter as it entered extra-time. Could they really do it?
10th January: Jude Bellingham Angers Mallorca Players After Real Madrid Goal
Bellingham had Pablo Maffeo rattled
Jude Bellingham went full s**thouse during Real Madrid’s victory over Mallorca in the Supercopa de Espana on Thursday evening. Tensions boiled over numerous times in what was an ill-tempered match at the King Abdullah Sport City in Saudi Arabia, with Bellingham instigating a mini-scuffle deep into stoppage-time.
After Rodrygo found the net to make it 3-0 to Real Madrid, Bellingham decided to pat Pablo Maffeo on the head while making his way over to join the celebrations. Bellingham’s actions were not received well by Maffeo and several Mallorca players, who quickly made their displeasure known.
The final whistle went shortly after as Real Madrid booked their place in the final, where they will face Barcelona on January 12.
10th January: Mohamed Salah Mugged Off by Mascot
The winger had a night to forget vs Tottenham
Mohamed Salah struggled to get involved in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat at Tottenham. The Egyptian’s night didn’t get off to a great start either when he was royally mugged off by a Spurs mascot.
During the pre-match handshakes, the 32-year-old extended his hand to a young mascot, who quickly retracted her hand and made a funny gesture towards the Liverpool star. Salah took it all in good spirits and simply smiled in response.
However, this was a sign of things coming in the game, as the Tottenham defenders also had his number. The Reds’ attack have rarely blanked this season, but Ange Postecoglou’s side kept the main man quiet, and as a result, kept a clean sheet.
9th January: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s gesture to Tottenham fans
The right-back’s gesture could be aimed at one of two things
Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night marked only the Reds’ second loss under Arne Slot since he replaced Jurgen Klopp in the summer. Lucas Bergvall’s controversial goal proved decisive, though controversy surrounds whether he should have still been on the pitch following a reckless challenge on Kostas Tsimikas while already on a yellow card.
In the immediate aftermath of the goal, home fans were caught on camera heckling Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Real Madrid target retrieved the ball to restart play. In response, the Englishman raised six fingers toward the vocal Tottenham supporters. While the exact meaning is unclear, it leaves little to the imagination. He could have been referencing Liverpool’s 6-3 victory over Spurs just two weeks prior or their sixth Champions League triumph, achieved against Tottenham in the 2019 final. Either way, it was a clear jab at the home crowd.
8th January: Neville Held in Wrestling Move Until he Admits Liverpool Will Win League Title
WWE star Sheamus: ‘Now say Liverpool are going to win the league!’
On the latest episode of ‘It’s Called Soccer’ on The Overlap’s US strand, WWE star Sheamus brought out his trademark wrestling moves to get former Manchester United right-back-turned-pundit that Liverpool are going to win the Premier League this season.
The Irishman, while he had the host in what he called ‘The Clover Leaf’, shouted: “Now say Liverpool are going to win the league!” before Neville, with the blood rushing to his head, replied: “F*** Liverpool!”
It got to the point when Neville, as he became increasingly scared of the wrestling move and the damage it could do, admitted his side’s fierce rivals are going to reign victorious come May 2025 before Sheamus let him go.
8th January: Clip of Arsenal Fan Going Berserk About Mikel Arteta on AFTV After Newcastle Defeat Goes Viral
Being an Arsenal supporter can be an emotional rollercoaster, and this fan is living proof
Arsenal suffered their first home defeat of the season at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored in a 2-0 victory for Newcastle United in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. Despite firing 23 shots, only three of Arsenal’s attempts were on target, while the Magpies scored twice from just seven shots, four of which were on target.
From the video above, it’s clear that the Gunners fanbase hasn’t taken the defeat well. AFTV has long been a go-to for rival fans seeking the ultimate Arsenal meltdown, and Tuesday night didn’t disappoint. One fan went absolutely berserk during his interview, shouting that Mikel Arteta is “not going to win us nothing!” before claiming he was “mentally, physically, emotionally disturbed” by Arsenal’s performance.
It’s probably not too far-fetched to say this supporter has blown things out of proportion… or at least, we think so. All we can recommend is a long hot bath or a rest in a dark room.
6th January: Leny Yoro Shows Insane Recovery Pace to Produce Last-Ditch Tackle in 90th Minute
Shay Given: ‘Look at this for desire from the young man. Look at this sprint!’
Manchester United’s summer addition Leny Yoro is yet to cement himself as a first-team regular after his early injury struggles – but has proven his weight in gold with a last-ditch tackle in the 90th minute to keep the score against Liverpool at 2-2 on Sunday afternoon. Shay Given, on Match of the Day 2, praised him by saying:
“Look at this for desire from the young man. Look at this sprint! I know he’s only just come on and he’s going to be fresh, but his timing, Mark. It’s an unbelieavable tackle, there’s a risk to it but he’s got it absolutely spot on.”
Ruben Amorim’s men looked the more likely to grab a winner – and almost did when Harry Maguire blazed his effort above the bar in the dying seconds of the mammoth affair. But Yoro, who replaced Matthjis de Ligt in the 83rd minute, ensured that Liverpool didn’t walk away with all three points by preventing Darwin Nunez from getting a shot away. The tackle was far from being risk-free, but the 19-year-old’s timing and precision allowed to execute it to perfection.
5th January: Gary Neville Does His Best To Get Liverpool Game Postponed
The Man United icon has produced another moment of comedy gold with Jamie Carragher
There were early doubts about whether Manchester United’s trip to Anfield this weekend would go ahead, with the possibility of postponement looming. It took two separate meetings before Liverpool City Council finally gave the green light for the highly anticipated Premier League showdown. While fans of the current league leaders are eager for the chance to complete a double over their biggest rivals, the same enthusiasm doesn’t seem to extend to United supporters.
In a Sky Sports clip shared on X, Jamie Carragher was spotted shovelling snow off the pitch – only for Gary Neville to cheekily shovel it right back on. Premier League viewers could be in for a right treat as they tune in this afternoon to see the two react to the fanfare.
3rd January: Man United Fans Slam Luke Shaw For Viral NYE Clip
Injured defender makes surprise appearance on TikTok video
It’s easy to forget that, at the end of the day, footballers are just like everyone else. When the chance arises, they’ll enjoy themselves – but this seems to be something some Manchester United fans have overlooked in their latest efforts to criticize a player.
Over the New Year, Luke Shaw and his girlfriend Anouska Santos celebrated with close friend Molly-Mae Hague, the former partner of boxer Tommy Fury. A TikTok video from the party quickly went viral, showing guests lip-syncing to Mugshot – a trending song by Pete and Bas.
Fans who hadn’t realized Shaw was at the event were surprised to catch a glimpse of the United defender at the 11-second mark. But it didn’t take long for some to try and dampen the mood. One user commented: “Disgraceful from Shaw! We are 14th in the league. Perform or prepare to be sold!” while another added: “Club has sacked hundreds of people on low incomes and our perennially injured left-back is giving it large on TikTok about people on benefits. If nothing else, it is a terrible look.” Another commented: “Can you imagine a player daring to do this under Sir Alex Ferguson? We need to get rid of all players like this.”
Shaw is going through a difficult time as he continues to recover from his latest injury setback, having returned briefly from a calf problem in December. The 28-year-old has been plagued by injuries over the past year, managing just six appearances for club and country since February. The backlash feels a tad unwarranted – and it’s pretty clear why none of the critics made the guest list.
29th December: Rasmus Hojlund Messages Fan After ‘Disturbing’ Theory
Hojlund didn’t like what he was hearing and let the fan know it
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund responded directly to a fan who came up with a ‘disturbing’ theory regarding why the Red Devils signed him. The young Danish international has struggled with injuries and inconsistency during his time at Old Trafford, scoring just 12 Premier League goals in 43 games.
Pressure has been mounting on Hojlund to perform under Ruben Amorim amid recent links to Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres. However, one United fan expressed their skepticism online, claiming the only reason the club signed the striker was due to his association with the same agency as then-manager Erik ten Hag. The fan described the transfer as one of the “biggest scandals in history” and suggested Hojlund would not succeed due to a lack of ability.
The post circulated widely on social media and eventually came to the attention of the player himself. A leaked direct message on Instagram showed the frontman addressing the fan’s comments and calling out their behaviour. Hojlund wrote: “Hi. I find your post a bit disturbing, mate. U are right to have your opinion, but stop talking about things u know nothing about. That is all.”
