Dom Smith

Xabi Alonso agrees with comparisons between Mike Penders and Thibaut Courtois and has revealed he spoke with Courtois at the World Cup to ask him for a scouting report on Chelsea’s young goalkeeper... www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Chelsea changed their transfer strategy after the sporting directors realised “what the fans want”, says #CFC great Gus Poyet Poyet also praises the owners for their three £100m+ signings all being a success (Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo, Rogers) www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Column: Stop talking Carrick vs Fernandes — Manchester United's desperate situation belongs to Jason Wilcox more than anyone. Here’s why: #MUFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Inside the rise of the most exciting goalkeeper in the Championship 🧤Who is #QPR's Pierce Charles? ❓Will #ManCity recall him in January 🔀 Failed #avfc & #safc trials 📄Why he left #SWFC 🔝 Northern Ireland No1 saves pens from Bowen & Kvaratskhelia www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Who is Mike Penders, the goalkeeper Chelsea believe can be their long-term No1? How Genk unearthed a gem who is following in Thibaut Courtois's footsteps — and why #CFC  manager Xabi Alonso is so fond of the man now set for a run of games www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Chelsea's unsung hero came to the fore at Everton, but Pedro Neto could have been playing his football elsewhere this season. Piece on his role under Alonso and why #CFC valued him close to £100m this summer amid transfer interest www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Sarina Wiegman signs contract extension to lead Lionesses at Euro 2029. Details and quotes: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Chelsea are awful in the North. This was their first meaningful PL win (ignoring Burnley) north of the Midlands since Aug 2022 when Tuchel's #CFC beat Lampard's Everton. In that time, 0 wins at Man U, City, Sunderland, Newcastle, Everton, Leeds, Liverpool www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Alonso was more than a little surprised when I told him today that Chelsea have only scored 2 goals across their last 9 visits to Everton. 😅 “Really?” he replied. The #CFC  manager said of putting that right: “Yes, we are confident. We have the chance to break it tomorrow.”

Xabi Alonso insists Chelsea will sometimes line up with a three-man midfield even while Reece James is absent, and has explained in detail what each of his fit midfielders can bring. #CFC Quotes: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

🚨 Understand Reece James is not expected back for around three months. Chelsea sources indicating it could be mid-January before we see him. #CFC  insist they won’t rush him back.

NEW: Chelsea announce Reece James has undergone minor knee surgery. Statement says: “Reece has already begun his road to recovery and will be supported by the club's medical department at Cobham during this rehabilitation phase.” #CFC

What we know about the Alex Scott situation at this stage… The context surrounding the #AFCB star's future explained: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Opinion: This is Chelsea's most likeable team since the Champions League winners of 2021. Here's why… #cfc www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Joao Pedro has presented a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that Enzo Maresca was talking nonsense. How #CFC's striker ended the Chelsea No9 curse to become the Premier League's best striker on current form… www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Moises Caicedo reveals he felt tired when he was substituted by Chelsea on his return from injury and insists he needs to “be careful” to avoid any more setbacks. #CFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

I expect Chelsea's clinical attack and leaky defence to be the regular themes this season. So my analysis here on why this 5-1 win was all because of the #CFC   midfield… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇨 🇧🇪 www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

NEW: Xabi Alonso has revealed Cole Palmer was “cautious” with the injury he was carrying ahead of England duty and withdrew because he felt he “wouldn't have played how he wanted”. Reoccurrence of pubalgia #CFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Xabi Alonso says Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Reece James and Marco Palestra have all been training and are "ready to go tomorrow" #CFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

“You want to get punched in the balls as early as possible.” Exclusive interview with Nathan Jones. Discusses #CAFC's five-year plan, where Tyreece Campbell should be aged 35, and defends his 95-day spell at #SaintsFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

“You want to get punched in the balls as early as possible.” Exclusive interview with Nathan Jones. Discusses #CAFC's five-year plan, where Tyreece Campbell should be aged 35, and defends his 95-day spell at #SaintsFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Should England copy Spain? Piece in print in @thelondonstandard.bsky.social this afternoon/evening and through the weekend

Should England copy Spain, who are unbeaten in 42 games and world champions? In this piece I explain why the answer should be a resounding no… www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Who does what in Chelsea's sporting leadership department? Explaining each person's role as Winstanley, Jewell, Shields and Fallows prepare for life after Laurence Stewart at #CFC: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Should England copy Spain, who are unbeaten in 42 games and world champions? In this piece I explain why the answer should be a resounding no… www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Chelsea have internally been planning for Laurence Stewart's exit for some time, and Sam Jewell and Joe Shields have already assumed his duties between them. He will stay on for a while and is expected to keep attending #CFC games in the coming weeks www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Harry Kane the main character, a Chelsea star presses his case, and fringe players get their moment. Analysis from Wembley of another handsome England win: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

What a finish from Coufal. Just the striking instincts Kane was hoping to cross to.

Trevoh Chalobah interview 🔵How 19 years at #CFC “tested” him 🇪🇸“Brilliant” Fabregas 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿”Amazing” WC debut 🇧🇷Instagram chats w Thiago Silva 🚤Boating past George Clooney’s house 🇮🇹Serie A “more tactical” than the PL 🧤Rob Sanchez “can’t leave me alone” www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ezri Konsa has returned to Arsenal and Alex Scott to Bournemouth. Both withdrawn from the England squad. No replacements called up

Croatia had never conceded more than 4 goals at home before. England had 5 after 53 minutes. 0-7. Croatia's heaviest-ever defeat. England's biggest win against a team in the Top50 since rankings began. And Croatia all the way up in 13th. Seriously impressive, however dire 🇭🇷 were

All of England’s front four score by HT. Everything going right. Saka needed a big showing and has his goal. Bellingham by a country mile the best player on the pitch. Croatia not looking like anything like the team that kept England out of Euro 08 and knocked them out of WC 2018

Interesting data from FIFA's technical study group's final report on the 2026 World Cup. England's average possession length the lowest of the 4 semi-finalists. But panel were impressed by ENG's corners and counter-press to regain the ball once it's lost www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/fifa-worl...

In @thelondonstandard.bsky.social this evening and tomorrow, a look at the issues facing England — and why they should take a lead from Anthony Gordon, their most in-form player

“I am here more than ever”, says manager of club he left four months ago

Playing a team that sits in isn’t easy. When they go down to 10 men, the opposition are even less likely to venture out. But England have been so tepid and slow so far. Saka, Guehi, Chalobah & Anderson all guilty of passes being weighted far too tamely. No zip. No risk. No goals

Excl: Joao Pedro has been receiving treatment from a specialist for his knee injury during the international break to speed up his return for Chelsea. #cfc www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ezri Konsa and Nico O'Reilly considered possible doubts for England’s match in Prague tomorrow. Both following their own individual programmes at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground this morning. Remaining 22 players are training as normal before flight this afternoon

Spoke to James Trafford, who says he is up for the challenge of achieving his dream of becoming England's new No1 goalkeeper #LUFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

How close they were to a 3-1 lead on the world champions. Those are the final margins. Analysis from Wembley as England “embrace the chaos” a bit too much www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Morgan Rogers interview -Why he feels his time at Chelsea so far has been “10/10” -Talks with Palmer & João Pedro -Glad Palmer isn’t with 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿! -Why he picked #CFC -That altercation with Declan Rice -Chelsea: some of the “best players in world” www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

All 24 members of the England squad out here training at Tottenham. Anyway, here is Thomas Tuchel, pensive:

Have been fascinated (and cringed) by other Ballon d'Or contenders doing so much talking and bigging themselves up, so I asked Harry Kane about it today. “It's just not my personality to talk about myself in that light” Kane on the Ballon d'Or race: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

BREAKING: Harry Kane heavily hints he would like to end his career in the MLS — and then get “serious” about becoming an NFL kicker. + Latest progress on #FCBayern contract talks with “announcement not so long away” www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Bukayo Saka has declared his Arsenal teammate Max Dowman an “insane” talent as he challenged the 16-year-old to deliver on his massive potential. Quotes: #AFC www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Dispatch from St George’s Park where England are training for the first time since the World Cup:

England begin their post-World Cup evolution. Nations League preview, featuring a new profile of passer, a poor record to put right, and 'load management' www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Only Brighton and Newcastle have outperformed their xG more than Chelsea. The front three have 20 goal contributions in just 19 games combined Yet their 7.3 league xG is lower than Ipswich and Fulham 😳 This and more in my review of #CFC's season so far: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Rice, Palmer and Rashford among five to withdraw from England squad as Gibbs-White and only one other replace them. Detais: www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba...

Cole Palmer will miss England's four Nations League matches due to what club sources are calling a muscular injury that #CFC  will manage over the next three weeks