Archive December 25, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs are out of contention for this season’s NFL play-offs and so too are their conference rivals Cincinnati.

I just don’t see the Baltimore Ravens getting in either. They need to win their last two games to have a chance, so in terms of quarterbacks, that would be a three-headed monster missing from the AFC – Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes.

All three having injuries this season is just wild, and Jackson went off with another in Sunday’s loss to New England. He’s already missed three games and in each of the past six weeks has missed at least one day of practice.

I don’t think he’s ever fully recovered from the main hamstring injured he had. There was one game where it was like “hey, he’s back. He’s moving like the Lamar Jackson that we’re used to”.

But if you look at his other injuries – toe, ankle, knee, and now his back – I feel like he’s a bit more fragile at the moment, after all the hits he’s taken. He’s had injuries adding up over the years, so is his style of play sustainable?

I really hope his Super Bowl window hasn’t closed because he’s so wonderful to watch.

I just think there needs to be a bit of a shake-up at Baltimore because there were some odd moments in Sunday’s game, with the play calling and top players making big mistakes in big moments. At the end of the season, someone’s got to take responsibility.

The two main things they’ve struggled with is Lamar not being healthy and having zero pass rush. I just don’t understand it – defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike went down early in the season, so why you wouldn’t find an impact player from a pass-rush perspective?

The Ravens used to have this attitude. Teams used to be scared of that pass rush, that defensive line, and they’ve kind of lost that.

It’s the same with the Bengals and Chiefs. Although you keep winning, and that means you don’t have high draft picks, you’ve got to be able to build depth in those moments.

I worry more about Joe Burrow’s window closing because since reaching that LA Super Bowl in 2022, Cincinnati have not looked the same.

I don’t know if I trust their organisation to draft and bring in the depth they need. In Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals have the NFL’s most expensive offence, from a salary cap perspective.

It’s always been able to hum a little, but the offensive line still needs strengthening and the defensive line, in particular, has been anaemic.

They had this weird pre-season, not wanting to give Trey Hendrickson the contract he wanted, and they’ve drafted some good young players, but why did they not do this years ago?

When the Bengals had a back-up QB in there, it showed how much Burrow does for the team and how he really extends plays. He is a freak of nature.

He’s the kind of guy that you want in the play-offs, in the Super Bowl, because he gets more dangerous as the season goes on. But it’s sad to think all three of these quarterbacks won’t be there this time.

Other teams are stepping up, because you’re drafting to kind of beat the guys in your division. In the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers have always been consistent, but 100% it should have been the Ravens or Bengals winning that division this season.

The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers have been building out their rosters to beat the Chiefs in the AFC West. What happens now the tables have been flipped? What will next season look like now the Chiefs will have higher draft capital?

You hope that they’re able to bring in or develop some star receivers. I know they wanted Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy to be that. But really, since Tyreek Hill left in 2022, they’ve not had that number one, true threat receiver.

I like that in their last two games they’ll be able to get some of their young guys true NFL game experience. That’s going to be crucial and will probably give them an upper hand long term.

They’ve been working in some of the younger tight ends, but if Travis Kelce retires, what does that look like? Who becomes that reliable player that Mahomes feels comfortable throwing to because, especially coming back from injury, he’s going to need somebody he can trust.

This is a really big recovery for him. I would be amazed if he’s able to recover to the point where he can start next season and be mobile. But he’s always going to have an opportunity because of who he is as a quarterback and a competitor.

The Chiefs have a lot of pending free agents so how they manage that – who they’re bringing back, who they’re bringing in – will be a really big piece of the puzzle for them.

My concern for them getting back to the play-offs next season is that the AFC West is really competitive. Are the Chiefs going to beat the Broncos twice a year? Are they going to beat the Chargers twice a year?

I feel more confident in the Bengals and Ravens, and either of them winning the AFC North. The Ravens are probably the most whole team. They need a couple more pieces on defence.

The Bengals need an entire defence, but at least they’ve got an offence that can be high-powered. I feel like the Chiefs are going to have to start from ground zero.

If Sir Alex Ferguson told you to come and sit next to him in the Manchester United dugout in the middle of a European match, what would you say?

On one stormy night in Moscow in 1992, photographer Magi Haroun was “literally dripping” from the downpour and found herself in the unlikely scenario of being asked to do exactly that by the then Manchester United manager.

Haroun faced a choice between a soggy spot for the perfect shot or a dry seat between Ferguson and his assistant Brian Kidd.

As a female photographer – the first to be given Premier League accreditation, while working for the Today newspaper – unlikely positions were pretty regular occurrences for her at that time and so she chose the dugout.

After a 0-0 draw in the Uefa Cup first round first leg in Manchester, the skies opened during the return fixture in the Russian capital and with that came a game as unpredictable as the weather.

Haroun said she had “never seen rain like it. It was going sideways… it was dreadful”. Her gear was “soaking” and her cameras would stop working “any minute”.

In the second half, the soaked photographer was spotted by Ferguson, who asked her: “Magi, are you a bit wet?” and told her to “come and sit between Kiddo and myself”.

She spent the rest of the match there, although admits said she would “rather be behind the goal” for better photographs.

Following another goalless draw, United were beaten by Torpedo Moscow on penalties, leaving Gary Pallister – who missed the final spot-kick – “sobbing into his shirt”.

Pallister was facing towards the dugout – and Haroun, who saw the opportunity for a snap she knew would become the back page splash the following morning.

Ready to take the shot, she said: “I had my flash and my wide angle. I thought to myself, ‘Alex will be really annoyed at this’.”

Haroun’s family connections meant she had been around Manchester United since she was six years old and knew all the players well.

Her uncle, Louis Edwards, was the chairman of the club from 1965. Her cousin, Martin Edwards, took over when his father died in 1980, and became one of the chairmen who helped form the Premier League.

Magi’s father Denzil Haroun was also a director at Old Trafford.

But her experiences as a female photographer were not always as great as sitting in the dugout next to the manager of the club she has supported all her life.

Haroun said she had a tough time being “taken seriously” in the almost entirely male-dominated industry that was being a photographer in the Premier League.

“According to the stewards and the police, I was always picked on because I was the weakest link,” said Haroun, who graduated from Manchester Art College.

Despite this, she was not going to let other people stop her, even if that meant getting into trouble.

At a fixture between Leeds and Manchester United at Elland Road, with fans “colliding”, Haroun found herself “in the middle of it” and thinking “mind my cameras!”

Being so close to the action also posed other occupational hazards.

“Trabzonspor versus Aston Villa, I was suddenly knocked out because of the supporters throwing rocks,” said Haroun.

Rocks were not the only danger, it was footballing legends taking shots on goal, too.

“Wayne Rooney, [while] practising, knocked me out one day,” she added.

“Denis Irwin, he shot at goal, but he knocked me out and I think it was Bryan Robson who turned round and said: ‘If you’re going to kill a photographer, Denis, make sure it’s not the chairman’s cousin!’

Sometimes, though, the players were helpful when trying to get the perfect shot.

Before one European match involving Arsenal, Haroun had a word with Gunners legend Ian Wright and told him to celebrate in front of her if he scored.

Wright did score, but started running in the opposite direction.

To Haroun’s relief, the striker realised his mistake.

Haroun is not only known for her football photography, but also a cat lover – she currently has seven.

And that was once the cause of an unexpected phone call.

Because of her personal connection with Manchester United, Haroun formed a close relationship with many of the staff, including Kath Phipps, the receptionist at their Carrington training ground, who worked for the club for more than 50 years, and who died in December 2024.

One day, Phipps rang saying: “Magi, we’ve got this cat. It’s been abandoned, I think it’ll have a good life with you.”

Already owning 23 cats at the time, she was reluctant to say yes, but a familiar Scottish voice on the other end of the phone told her: “Magi, take the cat!”

Who among Wayne Rooney’s attempts to defeat former world champion Joe Calzaghe was unable to bear Mr. Tumble?

One of England’s and Manchester United’s greatest players, “The Wayne Rooney Show,” has provided a unique insight into his life in 2025 despite the fact that they are frequently closed books these days.

Since its debut in August, the BBC Sport podcast has enticed audiences with intrigue, humor, and insight.

Not every footballing hero has a hatred for Mr. Tumble on a daily basis, you may say!

Rooney has had enough of watching the child entertainer on television, despite raising four children.

When Rooney declared, “I hate Mr. Tumble, I hate him,” the podcast panel was laughing in fits. He was next to me in the dressing room when I was there for Match of the Day.

I don’t hate him for what he does, but I’ve had to endure it with every child, which is the only reason I hate him.

Rooney has never hidden his passion for boxing.

In 2015, he even rubbed elbows with friend and ex-Manchester United player Phil Bardsley in his kitchen.

However, Rooney revealed that he has targeted former world champion Joe Calzaghe, who would put up more of a fight than Bardsley, at his agent’s wedding as well.

Wayne is present at the wedding, according to Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford, who explained the details. And after a few drinks, he offers Joe Calzaghe to drink. He says, “Alright Joe, Alright Wayne? ” as I sit with them both while we talk. I might have you, please.

I’m looking and I’m thinking, “You’re joking me,” I think. He is saying, “No, just calm down,” Just a little shadow boxing with him, I want to. In the middle of my wedding, we cross the green field.

“Joe’s going, ‘ Don’t worry, it’s nothing’. Joe simply sat there while [Rooney] went into the ribs.

Could Rooney, who is a member of the Everton family and a great player for Manchester United, have any less adoration for Liverpool?

However, after winning the 2019-20 Premier League title, his wife Coleen raised Liverpool flags around their home.

Rooney recalled that Coleen had Liverpool flags up outside the house when Liverpool won the Premier League a few years ago when I returned home from Derby.

The flag was outside the window of our old house, so I told her to go outside and get it down.

Everton believed they had a new hero when Rooney, a 16-year-old academy product, scored a remarkable goal against Arsenal.

Rooney, who turned down a club-record contract offer from the Toffees in 2004, made the short journey along the M62 to Manchester United in a £27 million deal in 2004.

“I’ve been getting death threats,” said Rooney. My parents’ house was being strewn over and painted black.

“Her house was being painted,” said my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife. You must have mental strength there, in my opinion. You must rely on the people around you to assist.

I left because I attended Manchester United, and the big rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester made things even more difficult.

“But I was always thinking, “I don’t care,” I suppose. I was aware of my desires and route.

Rooney grew up a big Everton fan, and Duncan Ferguson was his all-time favorite.

Ferguson initially signed for Everton on loan in 1994, but he soon signed for a permanent deal, which instantly impressed Rooney.

The young Rooney wrote letters to his hero and received correspondence when the Scot was sent a three-month prison sentence for headbutting John McStay in 1994 while playing for his former club Rangers.

Rooney remarked, “Duncan Ferguson was my idol.

When I was a young boy, I used to write to him in jail, and he would respond.

“I was playing alongside him for ten or twelve years when I was younger.”

He would take me home from training because I was too young to drive at the time. My dad would be out the window when he would drive up from my family home because my family was a massive Evertonian.

What contributed to Manchester United’s five Premier League victories and a Champions League victory? video games !

The Red Devils’ all-time top scorer explained how the team-mates’ communication skills improved while traveling on the team bus and playing five-a-five in the PlayStation Portable’s SOCOM combat game.

Rooney said, “I really believe that a large portion of our success was playing on the PSP.”

We used to play it on the plane and the team bus, and it increased our communication.

Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, and Wes Brown, would be the winners.

Rooney also discussed how he came up with a pre-game routine that included listening to Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who rose to fame on Britain’s Got Talent on television and had one song in particular as his go-to.

“I’ve said before that I only listened to one song,” Boyle said. Rooney said, “I wasn’t really fussed about what music it was.”

“I only listened to one song called “Wild Horses,” that’s it. prior to each game. It eased my mind and relaxed me just before I left.

It was a relaxing song because I used to watch all the talent shows, so why not?

You might feel like giving up if one of the many Fantasy Premier League managers is having trouble this season or is significantly behind the pace in your mini-league.

But don’t worry! Hope exists. Many FPL managers soare up the rankings to save their seasons each year.

How?

Their Premier League form appears to be improving, and they have some great games on the horizon despite having no other midweek fixtures and no European football.

Many FPL managers are wary of investing in United’s attack due to Bruno Fernandes’ injury, particularly given the absence of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo at the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, Matheus Cunha (£8m) is a wise pick and has led recent games in shots.

Since returning from injury, the Brazilian has started scoring in three straight games, making his debut as my top goalkeeper in this crowded holiday season.

In Gameweek 19, he squares off against his former employers Wolves, which is a really juicy match-up.

It’s obvious that changing to Cole Palmer ($10m) is a risky move because his minutes are likely to be iffy while he recovers fully active.

The gamble may be worthwhile if you have to chase mini-league rivals.

The midfielder may have a shorter starting lineup, but he will likely still be the team’s penalty taker and can score hat-tricks to blow-up opponents. He has produced more than 20-point gameweeks than there are other players.

Without the use of an Egyptian as their talisman, there is freedom in their attacking play. Alexander Isak has been sidelined for a long time with a broken leg, making up the top of the shopping list along with Hugo Ekitike (£8.9m).

Ekitike is in excellent form, scoring eight goals in the Premier League at once.

Dominik Szoboszlai, a midfielder for the FPL and a paid free agent, appears to be ready to take the penalty duties in Salah’s absence. He will also be a valuable addition when Gameweek 19 arrives.

However, for those chasing, this is a good time to jump on some differentials with better fixtures instead and avoid the Gunners.

Yes, many of the Arsenal assets have done well so far, making them one of the best league teams.

There is no reason why some of the alternative options can’t out-score them because their fixtures are likely to be difficult for the foreseeable future.

You might be wondering whether it is worthwhile to choose a forward to lead midfielders instead of winning the FPL’s player of the week award, which is the highest point scorer this season.

With team-mate Phil Foden back to his best this year, we have a viable alternative to the Manchester City attack for their favorable fixtures, despite the safe play of backing Erling Haaland.

Switching from a well-known formation, such as 3-5-2 and 3–4-3, to a formation with five defenders is a way to stand out from the competition.

Defenders have a good chance of double-digit hauls even in 0-0 games if they get a clean sheet, bonus points, and defcon, especially with defensive contributions (defcon) playing a huge role this season.

Defcon points favor center-backs, which is also useful for recruiting rotation-proof players because some full-backs, midfielders, and forwards frequently share time with their team-mates.

Great journalism without brilliant photography is like Christmas dinner without roast potatoes.

Getty Images’ team of award-winning photographers covered more than 50,000 sports events in 2025, from grassroots tournaments watched by a few dozen fans to World Cups seen by millions around the globe.

BBC Sport brings you the best sports photos of the past 12 months – and the photographers explain the stories behind them.

Ever wondered how you get a picture at the top of the pole vault? What is a ‘star filter’? And how much does luck play a part in capturing amazing images?

Adam Pretty: I took this picture at the relatively new Surftown wave pool in Munich, where some elite French Polynesian surfers had booked private training sessions. Athletes use the pool to focus on training specific manoeuvres and aerials on the perfectly consistent man-made wave.

Mahmoud Khaled: I am always searching for grassroots football tournaments in Egypt’s villages and working-class neighbourhoods, where spontaneity meets pure passion. The Al-Qudah tournament in Sharqia was one of the most impressively organised I have seen, almost like a professional league match: huge crowds, co-ordinated team entrances, players from the lower divisions, and even referees who officiate in the Egyptian Premier League.

What I love most is the journey itself, from discovering the story to reaching the place. The real reward comes afterward, seeing the joy on people’s faces when they see their photos published.

Pool photo: The image – taken during the most exciting competition of the World Athletics Championships – illustrates Sweden’s superstar Armand Duplantis’ dominance in the pole vault final.

A tiny camera, no bigger than a pack of cards, was mounted next to the support for the bar, and a customised technical solution allowed the photographer to trigger it remotely and receive the frame live on his laptop within seconds.

Duplantis cleared 6.30m in this competition, broke the world record for the 14th time and secured his third world title. It is an exceptional achievement by the athlete and a fantastic piece of work by the photographer to capture the very best at the peak of the action.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos: Living in the Netherlands, I am lucky to cover speed skating, one of our national sports, although most of it is indoors.

Emilee Chinn: Geordie Beamish is shown going down after getting caught in the congestion of the early laps of the 3,000m steeplechase at the World Championships.

Cameron Spencer: As the northern hemisphere works through winter, we are fortunate in Australia to start the year with a major international event in the middle of our summer, the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Michael Reaves: This photo was taken during a Major League Baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Often in sports photography you can plan for the big moments and control factors with light, moment and composition, but other times luck comes into play. This is one of those moments.

Matthias Hangst: This photograph was taken during the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Leipzig. The event was held at the Leipziger Messe, a very functional trade-fair complex and not always the most visually appealing setting. The roof structure was full of steel construction elements with plenty of light reflections, creating a rather distracting background.

Yong Teck Lim: Photo positions at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore were fixed, making it hard to get creative. Still, China’s Jincheng Guo was impossible to overlook – competing without goggles, cap and tech suit, and throwing in his trademark bubble technique for good measure.

Maja Hitij: Trophy-lift photos may look simple, but they require a bit of planning. Agencies and photographers divide responsibilities and co-ordinate positions in advance because the entire moment lasts only a few seconds.

Judit Cartiel: During the second half of the La Liga match at Espanyol, Atletico Madrid’s Giuliano Simeone started a run down the wing. While following the play from the corner with my camera, I saw Simeone approaching the assistant referee. He collided with him and I quickly decided to keep the focus on the official. I was looking to capture a moment that was unusual in football, where the player usually takes the spotlight.

Hannah Peters: I had been looking forward to the Crankworx mountain biking festival in Rotorua, New Zealand, because it often makes good pictures, but was disappointed when I set off early that morning to clouds and no light.

Adam Pretty: I have been trying to photograph water polo from the beginning of my sports photography career in 1998, as it has the potential for some amazing images. But it is so difficult to capture them because of the nature of the sport and the unpredictability of the water – the splashes and speed at which the drama happens.

This image was extremely fortunate as the timing had to be perfect. I was not in control of anything apart from my camera, which was in an underwater robotic housing at the bottom of the pool. I had to rely on the match beginning at the perfect time, and the athlete diving in just the right way to pass through a tiny pocket of light.

Tom Banks/McKlein Photography: Viera do Minho, a stage of Rally Portugal, features undulating roads and landscape scattered with large, round granite boulders.

Having never shot this area myself, we hitched a ride up the mountainside to a remote stretch with the local 4×4 club – an experience in itself. After scouting various vantage points I settled in the valley and awaited the cars. As Adrien Fourmaux blasted into view, the fans delivered a perfectly timed wave of the Portuguese flag – complemented by the arrival of the low-flying TV helicopter.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos: Photographing the best athletes at the height of their powers is one of the many joys of my job. Covering the men’s javelin F46 final at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, I noticed Guillermo Varona Gonzalez with a different pre-throw routine than most. Positioning myself low on the ground before his run-up, he would leap and double click his heels.

Seb Daly/Sportsfile: For the uninitiated, this is hurling – an Irish sport that is incredibly fast, very skilful and, as this image shows, highly physical. These two players are merely getting to know each other at the start of the match – a little “pulling and dragging”, as the locals might say, in an effort to throw an opponent off their game, to get into their head, assert a little dominance.

Maddie Meyer: In professional sports there is often such a distance between fans and athletes. It can feel sterile and as a photographer it can be hard to bring the atmosphere of the crowd and an athlete into one frame. Here Rory McIlroy ran to the adoring Europe fans after his team’s win over the USA in the Ryder Cup in New York.