Liverpool make hard work of 4-1 win over Barnsley after Dominik Szoboszlai mistake

Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunner and gave away a howler which disappointed Arne Slot, as Liverpool beat third-tier Barnsley 4-1 on Jan 12 to set up a home FA Cup fourth-round clash with Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, Reuters reported. 

The Hungarian opened Liverpool’s account with a long-range screamer in the ninth minute after Barnsley’s Davis Keillor-Dunn had bounced a header off the home upright inside the first 30 seconds.

Right-back Jeremie Frimpong, on his FA Cup debut, unleashed a tremendous left-footed effort in the 36th to put the Reds 2-0 up at a chilly Anfield, according to Reuters. 

FIFA taps Stats Perform for betting data, live-streaming rights ahead of World Cup

FIFA has selected sports AI firm Stats Perform as their first official betting data and betting streaming rights distributor, which includes live streams for all matches at the 2026 World Cup, world soccer's governing body said, Reuters reported. 

The agreement also grants Stats Perform exclusive rights to distribute official betting data and live streams for other FIFA competitions such as the 2027 Women's World Cup, Futsal World Cups, youth World Cups and the Intercontinental Cup.

The three-year agreement will run until 2029, according to Reuters. 

Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid after seven months and replaced by Álvaro Arbeloa

Xabi Alonso has left his job as coach of Real Madrid, only seven months after arriving for his first day at the club’s Valdebebas training ground. A brief statement announced his departure “by mutual consent” on Monday evening after Madrid’s 3-2 defeat in the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona the previous night, The Guardian reported. 

He will be replaced, at least in the short term, by his former Real Madrid and Liverpool teammate and friend Álvaro Arbeloa, who was coach of Castilla, Madrid’s B team.

Alonso had been on the edge over the last month, with the defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League in early November beginning a run of two victories in eight games which also turned a five-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table into a four-point deficit, according to The Guardian. 

Martinelli hat-trick sends Arsenal past Portsmouth in FA Cup, Man Utd beaten

Gabriel Martinelli scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal as the Premier League leaders beat second-tier strugglers Portsmouth 4-1 to reach the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, Reuters reported. 

The Brazilian was criticised in midweek for his behaviour after Liverpool's Conor Bradley suffered a serious injury near the end of their Premier League clash on Thursday but ended the week in style with his first goals in the FA Cup.

Manchester United bowed out though as they lost 2-1 at home to Brighton and Hove Albion with Danny Welbeck on target against his former club, according to Reuters.