John Stones provided the extra dimension that took Manchester City to the Champions League in 2023. But, despite his unique skillset, the signs were that City had moved on, even before his departure was announced: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Manchester United's imminent return to the Champions League. The Lammens signing was key, the three new forwards have got important goals, Carrick has got a lot right - and they have done it despite the errors of the Amorim era: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Diego Simeone. It seemed his best days were behind him and yet, 10 years after his last Champions League final, he is two games from another. This is a very different Simeone team but Simeone has become the great constant: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Casemiro's legacy at Man Utd looks like being Champions League football. Carrick is set to steer them into it. Lammens, Maguire and Fernandes also helped beat Brentford, who definitely had their chances at Old Trafford. On Manchester United 2-1 Brentford: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Isak & Wirtz scored together on Saturday but Liverpool have too little to show for their £450m spending spree & too much to do in the transfer market after it. That reflects on Richard Hughes & Michael Edwards: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

A first Anfield PL goal for Liverpool for Alexander Isak, probably a last for Andy Robertson. Maybe an Anfield farewell for Mohamed Salah on an eventful day for Freddie Woodman. On Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool wait to see if Mohamed Salah's Anfield career is over after he suffered an injury in the win over Crystal Palace: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Alisson. It seems logical to keep him, despite some interest from Juventus, but Arne Slot stopped short of saying he will stay. So what should Liverpool do? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Jeremy Doku can top all the dribbling stats but he only has four goals this season. And to be one of the world's best wingers, he knows he has to score more: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Burnley's relegation felt inevitable but it is still damning. Under ALK Capital, they can't stay in the Premier League. There is no guarantee a yo-yo club will come back up this time: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Manchester City are top for the first time in August, ending Arsenal's 200-day stay there. But while Erling Haaland relegated Burnley, City could regret not boosting their goal difference. On Burnley 0-1 Manchester City: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liam Rosenior's LinkedIn profile needs updating now. But he merits sympathy. A manager of promise was promoted too soon and could be burned by his time at Chelsea: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ten years after winning the Premier League, Leicester are off to League One. On their dramatic decline and a shocking season: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ibrahima Konate is close to a new deal at Liverpool. Despite his mixed season, it probably makes sense for him and them. But if Konate is a bridge between different generations of centre-backs, surely Liverpool need fewer contract issues next year: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arsenal could come second in a one-horse race. That's not solely down to Viktor Gyokeres' no touches at Man City. But the City defeat, a lack of goals of late and summer signings could all be factors: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Bernardo Silva has been man of the match in two of the biggest games of the PL season. He has never been voted Footballer of the Year, though Pep Guardiola would surely vote for him if he could. But maybe this year Silva deserves to win it: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Now it is advantage City in the title race. Haaland may have had the decisive say as Donnarumma's big error didn't cost City and Arteta lost to Guardiola again: On Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Pep Guardiola says that if Man City lose on Sunday, the title race is over. But City could soon overhaul Arsenal. Guardiola claimed he likes watching Arsenal but he may enjoy the way this title race develops: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arne Slot says next season will be better that this. The Liverpool manager explains why he thinks that - though there are reasons to worry about next season: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Coventry's 25-year exile from the Premier League is over. Their fall and rise is complete, while Frank Lampard's appointment has proved a masterstroke. On Coventry's promotion: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Hugo Ekitike's season seems over after a promising start to life at Liverpool. Over to Alexander Isak, ineffective both against PSG and for Liverpool. Slot may not have a plan to use both, but now he only has one. On the Liverpool forwards: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Deja vu all over again for Liverpool, eliminated by PSG again, but this time more emphatically with Ousmane Dembele at the double. On Liverpool 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Michael Carrick has complained about officials in Manchester United's two games. But the 2-1 defeat to Leeds highlighted issues in his own squad and, in a broader sense, United have been in an advantageous position this season: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

History for Leeds with a first league win at Old Trafford in 45 years, courtesy of Noah Okafor's brace. A bad night for Manchester United, compounded by Lisandro Martinez's red card for hair-pulling. Not a great night for Tottenham, either. On Man Utd 1-2 Leeds: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool need at least two goals against Paris Saint-Germain. Arne Slot has done the maths. Now he has to do the tactics to try and conjure a comeback. Dominik Szoboszlai has vowed to go all in. Slot and Szoboszlai on PSG: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Andy Robertson on his Liverpool career and exit as Virgil van Dijk leads the tributes to the departing left-back: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

A day for wingers old and new. Mohamed Salah's goodbye to Anfield started with a goal. Rio Ngumoha, 16 years his junior, scored first and starred. On Salah, Ngumoha and Liverpool 2-0 Fulham: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Enzo Fernandez, Rodri and a difference between Chelsea and Manchester City: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Andy Robertson has announced he will leave Liverpool in the summer. An end to an outstanding Liverpool career: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arne Slot said Liverpool are in survival mode. He and they need to survive a season they may wish could end now, while Virgil van Dijk started to talk of a future beyond him: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arne Slot switched to a back five for the first time in his reign and Liverpool only conceded two, though it should have been more. They are just about still alive in this, but rank outsiders now. On PSG 2-0 Liverpool: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arne Slot has kept harking back to Liverpool's games against Paris Saint-Germain last season. But a reunion comes with peril. Alisson saved Liverpool in the Parc des Princes last year but they are a rather more troubled team this time: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arne Slot says Liverpool’s history gives him hope they can revive their fortunes: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Florian Wirtz says the Liverpool players still believe in Arne Slot: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Harry Maguire signs new one-year Manchester United contract, with the possibility of a further year after that: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On Antoine Griezmann, ahead of perhaps his last Champions League tie and the greatest player of the Diego Simeone years at Atletico Madrid: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City in the summer, Pep Lijnders confirms: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool's identity was intensity. Now they aren't intense often enough. But what are Arne Slot's side? On their identity crisis: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Dominik Szoboszlai said Liverpool lacked fighting spirit in their 4-0 defeat to Manchester City. Arne Slot was unhappy with the way they conceded the four goals: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Four goals in 18 minutes for Manchester City, a hat-trick for Erling Haaland but a capitulation from Liverpool, whose season is set to end without silverware. On a bad day for Slot and a great one for Guardiola, Man City 4-0 Liverpool: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Arne Slot accepts he will be seen as the bad guy in Mohamed Salah's departure but says he has no regrets in his handling of the Egyptian. Slot on his part in replacing Salah - and why Salah is irreplaceable: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Jimmy Anderson on the Lancashire captaincy, whether or not this is his last season and his new target: www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricke...

A third consecutive World Cup without Italy was unthinkable, yet it is reality. This Italian squad is nowhere near as good as its predecessors, but nowhere near as bad as their recent World Cup qualifying record shows. On Italy: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

A first trophy for a new team or one-off for a group who will go their different ways? Time will tell what Man City's Carabao Cup win leads to. And much of it depends on what Pep Guardiola will do: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Blimey O'Reilly. Nico O'Reilly at the double to get Pep Guardiola his fifth League Cup, extend Arsenal's wait for silverware and show Mikel Arteta's choice of goalkeeper failed as Kepa Arrizabalaga's error. On Arsenal 0-2 Man City: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Pep Guardiola said the quadruple was "almost impossible" when Man City were going for it in 2019. Now he says it is "possible" for Arsenal. But City could deny them it & Guardiola might now be the quadruple buster: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Nico O'Reilly on his telephone number tattoo, growing up Mancunian and swift rise into Manchester City's left-back, occasional No 10 and lucky charm: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Harry Maguire & Kobbie Mainoo are close to agreeing new deals to stay at Manchester United: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Mohamed Salah had his most shots in a game for almost a year and his most on target in a match since 2022 yesterday. He was playing as one of two strikers. Could it be a solution both for him and, when fit, for Alexander Isak? www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Much better from Liverpool, in every respect. Mo Salah missed a penalty and then was integral to a three-goal burst to sweep them into the CL quarter-finals. But Galatasaray were rubbish. On Liverpool 4-0 Galatasaray: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...