Upsets

The18 knows a Puskás goal contender when we saw one. Afterall, we did write about all 11 nominations from 2022 before they were actually nominated. It’s only three weeks into 2023 but we have our first goal of the year contender with this amazing Joshua Kimmich goal vs. Köln (Cologne).

BRIGHTON — Brighton & Hove Albion winger Solly March netted twice early in the second half and set up another goal in a 3-0 home win over a sluggish Liverpool on Saturday that lifts them above the Reds to seventh in the Premier League standings.

The victory was Brighton's first over Liverpool in the top flight and they deserved to take all three points once March helped them convert their dominance in possession into goals.

When Chelsea signed Portuguese talent João Félix from Atlético Madrid on loan I don’t think they imagined his debut would have gone as poorly as it did during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat against Fulham on Wednesday.

Félix joined the Blues just 30 hours before he was given his first start. With Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling and a litany of injuries plaguing the Blues they really didn’t have a choice.

There were glimpses of talent from the 23-year-old as he recorded six shots and four on target. His finishing wasn’t up to snuff but at least he was creating chances.

SOUTHAMPTON — Defending Premier League champions Manchester City crashed out of the League Cup after suffering a shock 2-0 defeat at struggling Southampton in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Southampton, bottom of the Premier League table, scored twice in the first half through Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo and City never seriously threatened to get back into the match.

It'd been 18 long years since Newcastle United had advanced to the semifinals in one of England's cup competitions, but their supporters can once again dream of breaking a major trophy curse that's lasted since 1955 after beating Leicester City 2-0 in the League Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday night at St James' Park.

With Leeds United just two points above the Premier League relegation zone nearing the campaign's halfway point, an FA Cup exit to EFL Championship side Cardiff City on Sunday would've certainly left Jesse Marsch's job security on the brink.

It looked pretty hopeless at halftime after Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo scored to give Cardiff a 2-0 advantage while the 6,000 Leeds supporters who'd made their way to Wales booed their players and manager off the pitch.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s hit show Welcome to Wrexham is going to have quite the episode after fifth-tier Wrexham AFC defeated EFL Championship outfit Coventry City 4-3 in Round 3 of the FA Cup on Saturday.

If you want to talk about a game that had everything: this was the game to watch. Wrexham nearly blew a 4-1 lead, there was an insane goal, a red card and drama right to the end.

Coventry City was the host of match, but you wouldn’t have known it from the massive traveling support for the Welsh underdogs.

LONDON - Brentford pulled off their latest Premier League shock by beating Liverpool 3-1 at home on Monday, bringing Jürgen Klopp's side's four-game winning streak to an end and rattling their top-four ambitions.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté knocked the ball into his own net in the 19th minute while Yoane Wissa doubled Brentford's advantage before halftime after his side had two goals disallowed following VAR reviews in a frantic opening 45 minutes.

TOKYO - Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu will remain in charge of the Asian team for another World Cup cycle, the country's football association announced on Thursday, with the aim of breaking new ground after a number of near misses.

That Moriyasu would continue in the role came as little surprise after he led Japan to victories over former World Cup winners Germany and Spain during the finals in Qatar en route to topping what was considered the most difficult group at the tournament.