Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick confirmed he is aware of a supporter’s viral vow to stop cutting his hair until the team wins five consecutive matches.

Michael Carrick has reacted to a fan’s unusual commitment to avoid the barber until United secures five straight victories.

Speaking on the viral pledge, the head coach noted, “I’m aware of it. My kids have made me aware of it but it certainly won’t go into the team talk.” While the story has gained traction online, Carrick remains focused on immediate results.

The former midfielder admitted the lighthearted protest has reached his household but insists it remains a side note to professional duties.

“I can understand what’s going on. It does make me smile but it won’t make an impact in the end,” he explained.

For Carrick, tactical preparation outweighs the pressure of ending a supporter’s growing mane through a winning streak.

Eni Aluko has accused Ian Wright of being disrespectful for refusing to accept her apology following a public feud over the prominence of male pundits in women’s football coverage.

Former England international Eni Aluko has reignited her public dispute with Ian Wright, accusing the Arsenal legend of “disrespect” after he reportedly refused her apology.

Aluko had previously criticized broadcasters for using male pundits like Wright for women’s football finals over highly-capped female players.

Despite reaching out both publicly and privately to mend the relationship, Aluko claims Wright has failed to show “allyship.”

The fallout escalated on social media, where Aluko expressed disappointment over the lack of a resolution nine months later.

Broadcaster Laura Woods also joined the fray, defending Wright and arguing that punditry roles should be based on communication skills rather than caps.

Aluko stated: “Unfortunately, my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect. When I apologised to Ian Wright publicly and privately he had an opportunity to show the grace.”

Joan Laporta and several board members have resigned from their positions at FC Barcelona to run in the club’s presidential elections scheduled for March 15, 2026.

Joan Laporta has officially stepped down as president of FC Barcelona to facilitate his candidacy in the club’s upcoming elections on March 15.

The move complies with club statutes requiring sitting presidents to resign before seeking re-election. Several board members joined Laporta in resigning, effectively triggering a leadership transition.

Rafael Yuste will serve as interim president until a permanent board is elected this spring.

The club confirmed the procedural move following a board meeting on Monday where the election timeline was finalized.

The official statement noted: “President Joan Laporta has resigned from his position in order to be able to stand for election to the Board of Directors, which will be held on March 15.”

The interim management committee will now oversee administrative duties as the electoral process begins.

Aston Villa face a battle to keep star man Morgan Rogers this summer as a £100 million price tag draws interest from Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal.

Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers is set to ignite a bidding war this summer as elite Premier League clubs intensify their interest.

Despite signing a significant contract extension through 2031 just months ago, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggests the 23-year-old’s future remains uncertain.

Valuation for the versatile England international has reportedly soared toward £100 million following his immense form under Unai Emery this campaign.

Chelsea and Tottenham are leading the pursuit, with the latter viewing Rogers as a “dream” signing for manager Thomas Frank.

Arsenal and Liverpool are also monitoring the situation, as Villa faces a major challenge to retain their standout playmaker if Champions League qualification is not secured.

As Fabrizio Romano noted, “Yes, Morgan Rogers extended his contract at Aston Villa a few months ago, but there will be movement again.”

Gary Neville criticized VAR for “killing one of the great moments of the season” after Rayan Cherki’s spectacular 50-yard goal was disallowed during Manchester City’s win at Liverpool.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville hit out at the decision to disallow Rayan Cherki’s late long-range strike during Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

The goal was overturned following a VAR review that identified a foul by Erling Haaland on Dominik Szoboszlai.

Despite the technical correctness of the ruling, Neville argued the intervention stripped the match of its natural competitive spirit.

Expressing his frustration on co-commentary, Neville emphasized that strict adherence to the rulebook ruined a historic Premier League moment.

“I just don’t get this. He’s fouled him. That’s the foul. That feels so unjust. I know there’s rules but there is the smell of the game. No referee should disallow that goal but it is going to be disallowed. Talk about killjoy. Just let the goal be.”

Erling Haaland’s late penalty secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Manchester City at Anfield, punishing a defensive lapse by Alisson Becker and leaving Liverpool six points adrift of the league leaders.

​Manchester City reignited the Premier League title race with a stunning comeback victory against reigning champions Liverpool.

After a scoreless first half dominated by City’s pressure, the game exploded into life in the final twenty minutes.

Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to have won it for the hosts with a thunderous 76th-minute free-kick, but Bernardo Silva quickly equalized.

The drama peaked in stoppage time when a collision between Alisson and Omar Marmoush resulted in a penalty, converted by Erling Haaland, followed by a red card for Szoboszlai in a frantic finale.

​Player Ratings and Analysis

​Alisson Becker – 3

The Brazilian goalkeeper endured a nightmare conclusion to an otherwise steady game. While he could do little to prevent Silva’s close-range equalizer, his “moment of madness” in clattering Marmoush gifted City the winning penalty. His late foray upfield for a corner further destabilized the side, leading to the chaotic sequence that saw a third City goal ruled out and a teammate sent off.

​Dominik Szoboszlai – 6

Deployed as an auxiliary right-back, the Hungarian faced a difficult afternoon defensively but provided the game’s individual highlight with an “incredible free-kick.” His strike from distance momentarily sparked hopes of a crucial win. However, his day ended in disgrace as he received a straight red card for a tactical foul to prevent Rayan Cherki from scoring into an empty net.

​Ibrahima Konate – 7

Konate was the standout performer in the Reds’ backline, demonstrating sharp anticipation and physicality. He managed to “snuff out attacks” effectively for the majority of the match, proving to be the most reliable obstacle for City’s creative players until the defensive structure crumbled during the seven minutes of added time.

​Virgil van Dijk – 5

It was a rare off-day for the captain, who seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable in physical duels. He was occasionally “outmuscled by Haaland” and struggled to dominate the aerial battles as he usually does. His distribution was also unrefined, frequently opting for long balls that failed to find their intended targets.

​Milos Kerkez – 7

The left-back provided a balanced performance, proving vital at both ends of the pitch. He recorded a “crucial clearance” in the opening minutes to deny Haaland and remained disciplined against City’s overlapping runners. His willingness to join the attack offered Liverpool a necessary outlet during their stronger periods in the second half.

​Ryan Gravenberch – 4

The midfielder struggled to impose himself on the contest, appearing overwhelmed by City’s technical superiority in the center of the park. He failed to provide adequate screening for the defensive line and was largely bypassed. It was a “tame display” from a player who never quite found the rhythm of the game.

​Alexis Mac Allister – 5

Mac Allister showed flashes of his vision, including a “pinpoint pass” that created a scoring opportunity for Mohamed Salah, but he was unable to exert sustained control. He spent much of the match chasing shadows as City’s midfield trio circulated the ball, leaving him unable to get “into the thick of the action.”

​Florian Wirtz – 6

After a quiet first half where he was starved of service, Wirtz began to show his quality as the game opened up. He threaded several “brilliant through balls” that tested the City high line, though he lacked the support to turn these creative moments into clear-cut goals before being substituted.

​Mohamed Salah – 4

The Egyptian forward was largely neutralized by City’s defensive organization. Despite having a few half-chances, he looked “toothless in attack” and lacked the clinical edge that defined his previous campaigns. His inability to find a way past the defenders left Liverpool’s frontline feeling disjointed for long stretches.

​Cody Gakpo – 5

Gakpo worked hard but lacked the decisive spark required for a game of this magnitude. While he “showed glimpses of quality” on the turn, he appeared overly cautious and “too reluctant to use his left foot,” which made his movements predictable for the Manchester City defenders.

​Hugo Ekitike – 6

The young forward was an energetic presence and caused problems with his intelligent movement. However, he will regret “missing a free header from close range” that could have changed the complexion of the game early in the second half. Despite his liveliness, he lacked the finishing touch required today.

Everton and Newcastle United are weighing up a summer move for Chelsea striker Liam Delap, who is fighting for his future over the remainder of the season after failing to make a major impact at the club.

Manchester United, who were keen on the 23-year old last summer, could also be in the mix if he comes back on the market.

🔵🟡 Anderson Talisca signs new deal at Fenerbahçe valid until June 2028, agreed and sealed today. pic.twitter.com/tDlprJvPDg

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 8, 2026

John Terry has hit out at Arsenal for ‘celebrating too much’ after the north London side beat Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final to book their spot for a tilt at the trophy at Wembley next month.

The former Blues captain was previously mocked by Arsenal… pic.twitter.com/VkMOpa7EHj

— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) February 8, 2026

John Terry has hit out at Arsenal for ‘celebrating too much’ after the north London side beat Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final to book their spot for a tilt at the trophy at Wembley next month.

The former Blues captain was previously mocked by Arsenal fans for his dismayed reaction to Kai Havertz’s late winner at the Emirates on Tuesday night, which he shared to TikTok despite his daughter Summer’s embarrassed pleas that he not post the video publicly.

But Terry has not let the opportunity to try and get one up on his London derby rivals, claiming that the jubilant scenes in Islington in midweek were a touch premature for Mikel Arteta’s side.

‘I just want to talk on Arsenal’s celebrations after… let’s not forget, it’s the Carabao Cup, it’s not the Champions League final,’ Terry criticised in a TikTok video.

‘They celebrated far too much for me, I think that showed the pressure that’s on them at the moment.’

Terry appeared to take umbrage with Arsenal’s bench and staff running onto the pitch at the final whistle as their spot was confirmed, with players pressing up against the advertising hoardings to celebrate with their fans in chaotic scenes.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points following a routine 3-0 victory over Sunderland, highlighted by a masterclass from midfielder Declan Rice.

​Arsenal moved nine points clear at the Premier League summit following a clinical 3-0 victory over Sunderland at the Emirates.

Goals from Martin Zubimendi and a Viktor Gyökeres brace secured the points, but it was Declan Rice who stole the headlines with a dominant midfield display.

The victory piles immense pressure on title rivals Manchester City ahead of their crucial trip to Anfield on Sunday.

​Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki admitted the difficulty of facing the England international, stating: “Rice is really special to play against one against one.”

Paul Merson echoed this sentiment, describing Rice as “absolutely outstanding” for his consistency.

Manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s defensive resilience and clean sheet, though he cautioned: “We still have to win so many games to achieve what we want.”