Why 2026 could be the greatest year ever for football fans

Inter will head into the new year as Capolista after a gritty 1-0 victory over Atalanta on Sunday evening. Lautaro Martínez once again proved to be the difference-maker, securing the three points that keep the Nerazzurri at the summit of Italian football.

The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute. A horribly misplaced pass from Berat Djimsiti was pounced upon by the industrious Francesco Pio Esposito. The youngster showed veteran composure, laying the ball off to Martínez, who clinical finish sent the San Siro into a frenzy.

Scenes like these 🤩 pic.twitter.com/jpJOSd0oqV

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) December 28, 2025

For Martínez, the goal serves as further evidence that his early-season rust has been well and truly shaken off. After a sluggish start to the campaign that saw him net just four times in 12 league appearances, the Argentine captain has rediscovered his world-class form. He has now racked up five goals and an assist in his last four Serie A outings.

Crucially, this marks the first time since 2021 that "El Toro" has found the net in four consecutive league matches. Despite his earlier inconsistency, Martínez currently leads the Serie A scoring charts—a testament to his ability to influence games even when not at 100%.

"Hungry Kids" and High Standards

Speaking to the club’s official website after the match, Martínez was candid about his physical struggles following a grueling 2025.

"At the end of last season, I had a flexor problem and struggled, even while playing important games," Martínez admitted. "After the summer, I rested and worked hard to get to this season in the best possible way. The staff is key; they help us raise the bar. Plus, having young, hungry kids behind you pushes you... you always have to be ready and eager to grow."

The victory was more than just three points; it was a necessary response to a weekend where Inter’s rivals refused to blink. Just hours prior, AC Milan had briefly claimed top spot with a 3-0 dismantling of Verona, while Napoli kept pace with a 2-0 win over Cremonese.

Inter end 2025 with a slender one-point lead over Milan and a two-point cushion over Antonio Conte’s Napoli. For Cristian Chivu, overcoming Atalanta’s trademark aggressive pressing was the perfect way to sign off for the holidays.

"This victory is a nice Christmas gift for all Inter fans," Chivu noted. "We are a team that still wants to send signals, especially to ourselves. Atalanta is a strong team that makes you play badly, but we approached the race perfectly. These three points are a gift to the fans, but also to our families, who are always by our side."

Liverpool are beginning to rediscover their winning rhythm. On Saturday, Arne Slot’s men secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield — their third consecutive win and a result that stretches their unbeaten Premier League run to six matches.

Breaking the Deadlock

For much of the first half, Wolves offered a familiar frustration, sitting deep in a compact low block that dared Liverpool to find a gap. Slot’s side, however, refused to panicking. Their reward arrived in the 41st minute via a move of Premier League pedigree.

Jeremie Frimpong, a constant menace on the flank, reached the by-line before pulling a precise ball back for Ryan Gravenberch. The midfielder swept the ball home with composure, celebrating with a "crocodile" gesture—a direct homage to his teammate Jota.

The momentum shifted into a blitz. Just 90 seconds later, Anfield erupted again as Florian Wirtz marked his arrival in English football. Slid through by Hugo Ekitike, the German international showed exactly why he was the summer’s marquee signing, slotting past Jose Sa for his first Premier League goal.

Ekitike 🔗 Wirtz pic.twitter.com/KQudX8BkjB

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 27, 2025

The Set-Piece Achilles' Heel

Despite the two-goal cushion, Liverpool’s old ghosts returned to haunt them early in the second half. At the 52nd minute, a lapse in concentration during a set-piece allowed Wolves back into the contest. Tolu Arokodare’s initial header was parried by Alisson, but only as far as Santiago Bueno, who thumped the rebound into the net.

It was the 12th goal Liverpool have conceded from a set-piece this season—a statistical anomaly that Slot will be desperate to address if his side is to sustain a title charge. The final 25 minutes were far from comfortable, characterized by a "shaky" defensive line, but Liverpool ultimately held firm to secure their third consecutive victory.

🔴 @LFC are rediscovering their form pic.twitter.com/oDcAsr0O9d

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 27, 2025

Speaking after the match, Florian Wirtz reflected on his milestone goal and the team's late-game dip in intensity:

"It was a beautiful feeling on the pitch with the fans. I was confident the goal would come eventually, but I wanted it to happen sooner. We played a brilliant first half; every time we lost the ball, we won it back immediately.

However, we made the last 25 minutes difficult for ourselves. To be honest, I cannot explain why. We have to address this in training because we have to change it."

Liverpool are now unbeaten in six Premier League outings, taking 12 points from a possible 18. Liverpool are quietly building momentum. The question now: are they finally finding consistency under Arne Slot?

Arsenal returned to the summit of the Premier League on Saturday, though not without a self-inflicted late flutter of nerves. After Manchester City briefly displaced them with a clinical win over Nottingham Forest earlier in the afternoon, Mikel Arteta’s side responded with a performance that was, for an hour, a masterclass in suffocating dominance before fraying at the edges.

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4 - Four of Arsenal's last six goals have been opposition own goals, as many as across their previous 182 goals combined in all competitions. Blink. pic.twitter.com/Lim4xpRTYT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2025

The Turning Point

The cushion finally arrived seven minutes into the second half via a familiar route. Arsenal’s proficiency from dead-ball situations bore fruit once more when Declan Rice’s whipped delivery was inadvertently glanced home by Georginio Rutter.

It was a calamitous moment for the Brighton man, who looked to have cleared a ball that required no intervention, marking yet another own goal in Arsenal’s favor this season.

However, the 2-0 lead birthed complacency rather than composure. In the 64th minute, Brighton found a lifeline out of nowhere. Yasin Ayari’s low drive rattled the post, and Diego Gomez showed superb instincts to lash the rebound into the top corner, silencing a stunned Emirates crowd.

What followed was a frantic finale that Arsenal made far more difficult than necessary. The tension reached a crescendo in the 77th minute when David Raya produced a save of the season contender.

As good as a goal 😮

Still thinking about this @daviidraya1 save to earn @Arsenal all three points 🧤 pic.twitter.com/7L6gOKqDoH — Premier League (@premierleague) December 27, 2025

Yankuba Minteh, despite being off-balance, unleashed a strike destined for the top corner, only for Raya to fingertip it wide at full stretch.

"We played really well and controlled the game," Ødegaard reflected afterward. "When we got the second goal, I felt we could’ve done better to manage the game and not concede. But that’s football. We got the win, and we’re happy."

It wasn't the clinical afternoon Arteta might have drawn up, but in a title race where margins are razor-thin, Arsenal’s ability to weather the storm and reclaim their perch is all that truly matters.