Raheem Sterling left Chelsea by mutual consent on Wednesday, finally bringing an end to a nightmare spell at Stamford Bridge for the former England forward. Sterling had been training away from the rest of the squad after failing to secure a move during the summer transfer window. “Raheem Sterling has today departed Chelsea Football Club by mutual agreement, bringing to an end three-and-a-half seasons as our player,” Chelsea said in a statement.“We thank Raheem for the contribution he made while a Chelsea player and wish him well for the next stage in his career.” The 31-year-old was regarded as one of England’s leading wingers when he joined Chelsea from Manchester City in a £47 million deal in 2022. His move to west London quickly turned sour as he failed to replicate his form from the Etihad. Even the departure of Enzo Maresca, who had consigned Sterling to Chelsea’s so-called “bomb squad” of unwanted players — failed to revive his fortunes at the club. A season-long loan spell at Arsenal last term proved equally disappointing, with Sterling struggling to break into Mikel Arteta’s side. This season, Sterling was reportedly kept separate from the main Chelsea group, arriving and leaving at different times and using a separate training facility. New head coach Liam Rosenior, appointed on January 6, did not select him in any of his five matches in charge. Signed during Thomas Tuchel’s reign, Sterling last featured in a competitive match for Chelsea in May 2024. He leaves having made 81 appearances for the club, with 18 months remaining on a contract reportedly worth £325,000 per week. The 82-cap England international had been linked with Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Fulham, but no move materialised. He is now free to join any club as a free agent, even after Monday’s transfer deadline.

Arsenal head to Leeds United on Saturday looking to steady their Premier League title push as pressure begins to mount at the top of the table. Mikel Arteta’s side remain four points clear of second place, but their cushion has been dented after collecting just two points from their last three matches. Draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were followed by a damaging first home defeat of the season against Manchester United, giving renewed belief to the chasing pack. Despite the stumble, Arteta remains confident brighter days lie ahead, insisting “beautiful” things are still to come as Arsenal chase a first league title since 2004. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, however, believes the Gunners are beginning to “feel the pressure” after three consecutive runner-up finishes. Elsewhere, beleaguered Tottenham manager Thomas Frank faces another stern test as Spurs host Manchester City. Frank will hope his side can replicate their strong European form after a difficult domestic run, with City eager to capitalise on any further Arsenal slip. Aston Villa also remain poised to pounce in a tightly packed title race, while Crystal Palace will be looking to halt their own slide as the Premier League’s festive period gathers momentum.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admits Saturday’s clash with Newcastle United could be decisive in the race for a top-four finish. The Reds sit sixth in the Premier League, two points off fourth place and just three ahead of Newcastle heading into the Anfield showdown. “Every game is crucial,” Slot said. “But the way we’ve positioned ourselves makes every game even more important because top four is what we want to achieve.” Slot expects another tough contest against Eddie Howe’s side. “Games against Newcastle are always difficult, for us and for them,” he added. “We both had good results this week, and playing at Anfield is always something to look forward to.” Liverpool arrive off the back of a 6-0 Champions League win over Qarabag, but Slot warned that one big victory is not enough. “It helps, of course,” he said. “We qualified for the last 16 and played well, but one win is not enough at this club.” The Dutchman also stressed that Liverpool must cut out costly mistakes as the season enters a critical stage. “The closer you get to the end, the fewer chances you have to make mistakes,” Slot said. “We’ve made too many already, especially conceding late goals.” “There’s no room for that anymore.”

Liverpool booked their place in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) last 16 thanks to an emphatic 6-0 home victory over Qarabağ FK, extending the Horsemen’s winless run against English opposition to nine matches (D1, L8). Having seen their 13-game unbeaten streak come to an end against Bournemouth at the weekend, Liverpool knew a positive start was needed under the Anfield lights. An early injury blow to Jeremie Frimpong was far from ideal for Arne Slot’s side, but they overcame that setback and took the lead in the 15th minute when Alexis Mac Allister bundled a close-range header over the line for his second UCL goal of the league phase. Armed with the momentum, the Reds doubled their advantage just six minutes later, with Hugo Ekitike playing a clever ball into the path of Florian Wirtz, who took one touch to compose himself before slotting a clinical finish into the bottom corner.