We're back! The Christmas/New Year period brought us plenty of good soccer to dissect, with the first weekend of 2025 no different when it came to talking points. Despite having a chance to extend their lead atop the Premier League, Liverpool had to settle for a spirited home draw against a Man United side that is finally showing signs of a turnaround under Ruben Amorim. (The Reds also picked a bad time for their most tired, uninspired performance of the season.)
In Spain, Real Madrid surged to the top of LaLiga with a win over troubled Valencia before heading off to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Supercup, while Barcelona welcomed back a key player from a long-termi injury in their Copa del Rey cakewalk.