Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi received a $5,000 fine Monday for elbowing Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway.

The incident occurred during the third period of Toronto's 3-2 home win in overtime on Sunday night.

Hathaway was carrying the puck along the boards when he was struck by Domi, who received a two-minute minor penalty for elbowing.

Domi, 29, has recorded 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) and a team-high 32 penalty minutes (tied with Jake McCabe) in 33 games this season, his second with the Maple Leafs and 10th in the NHL.

The fine amount is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.

The Buffalo Sabres didn't get that "New Year, New Me" memo. And that's putting it nicely.

Buffalo spent much of 2024 struggling to gather any positive momentum -- and its first outing of 2025 remained painfully on brand. The Sabres held three multi-goal leads over the host Colorado Avalanche last week, only to blow each one -- including a 5-3 advantage that evaporated when the tying goal was scored with eight seconds left in regulation. Buffalo's final fate felt determined well before Devon Toews called game with a breakaway goal in overtime to send the dejected Sabres on their way again.

For an encore, Buffalo turned in an inevitably listless performance against the Vegas Golden Knights two nights later. The promised refresh of a new year disappeared for the Sabres, along with another two points.

This isn't how Buffalo's season was supposed to go. It's also not the first time in (very) recent years we've said that about the Sabres.

The hockey world has been waiting on Buffalo to snap its 13-year playoff drought (longest among the four major sports leagues) with practically the same mindset that fans have for Alex Ovechkin's chase to overtake Wayne Gretzky's scoring record -- it's got to happen eventually, right?

Ovi's accomplishment is increasingly within reach. But Buffalo's chances of being back in the postseason picture? Those odds seem only to worsen.

The Sabres are eighth in the Atlantic Division, with a 14-21-5 record. A cringeworthy 13-game winless streak made up a majority of the club's December and, as noted, the Sabres have started slowly in January.

That's not to say Buffalo hasn't had its moments, with flashes of a team better than its woeful record. But sustaining success can be as great a challenge for the Sabres as creating it.

Which leads us to the big question: How can Buffalo salvage its season? The Sabres have burgeoning stars on their bench, exciting prospects ready to contribute soon, plus a veteran coach with a history of winning.

So what are the flaws being repeatedly exposed -- and can the Sabres fix them without sliding back into another difficult rebuild?

IT'S NOT THE PALM TREES in Florida that attract NHL players. It's the chance to win. And Buffalo hasn't proven (yet) that it can offer that same chance.

Still, when Sabres GM Kevyn Adams met the media in early December, he lamented how Buffalo was "not a destination city right now," with high taxes and a lack of tropical foliage not attracting free agents. Yet, is a lack of talent really at the core of Buffalo's ills?

Tage Thompson is a point-per-game player. Alex Tuch has thrived since returning to Western New York as part of the Jack Eichel trade. JJ Peterka is growing into a better player each game. And Jason Zucker -- a free agent signee last summer -- is overachieving in one of his better seasons. The Sabres have a back end loaded with high draft picks, including captain Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram. And Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has exceeded expectations in net throughout Buffalo's myriad struggles this season.

Ability? The Sabres arguably have enough of it to be a playoff contender -- or at least to avoid becoming the league's 29th-place team and Eastern Conference basement dweller.

Since the Sabres' aforementioned pre-Christmas skid, there have been repeated calls for Adam's firing, placing blame on Buffalo's GM for poor roster construction. Adams didn't make any major changes over the summer -- save for signing Zucker -- but that decision to stand pat could be coming from ownership.

When Adams maintained in his December news conference that he "believe[s] in the people in this room ... I'm going to war with these guys," it echoed a message from Sabres owner Terry Pegula to the team prior to its game Dec. 17 -- the solution for Buffalo was already in the room.

The Sabres responded to that vote of confidence by losing 6-1 to the lottery-bound Montreal Canadiens. To this point, even the ugliest defeats haven't cost Adams the gig he took over from Jason Botterill in 2020. Yet, Buffalo holds its lowest points percentage since Adams was hired, a fitting bookend to his tenure with the franchise if the team decides to move on.

But It's not like Adams hasn't tried to make Buffalo better. He has churned through three head coaches -- most recently bringing back veteran Lindy Ruff -- traded former captain Eichel for a solid return, and worked the phones to add impact players such as Byram.

The problem is that Adams' moves aren't moving the needle. Yes, Buffalo came close to reaching the playoffs with a late-season surge in 2022-23, but close isn't good enough. Fresh eyes in management could end the Sabres' spell of stagnation -- or it could plummet them into a dreaded rebuilding mode.

What could be the difference there?

Trades. Immediate trades.

APPARENTLY, PEGULA'S PREVIOUS MESSAGE landed on deaf ears.

That doesn't mean Buffalo's higher-ups can't send another to their group with a well-timed, well-executed trade (or two).

There are tiers of potential trade candidates for Buffalo. Pending unrestricted free agents such as Zucker, Nicolas Aube-Kubel or Jordan Greenway could be flipped for a new player. That's the Sabres' safe option, though.

If Buffalo is serious about turning things around quickly, then players such as Power, Dylan Cozens and even Byram start bubbling up. All three young skaters have ample runway into the perceived prime of their careers -- something Buffalo wouldn't want to trade away, but could potentially leverage for players better positioned to help the Sabres win now.

Buffalo needs secondary scoring help. Only four skaters -- Thompson, Zucker, Tuch and Peterka -- have double-digital goals this season, and only Thompson and Zucker have passed the 30-point mark. The Sabres are averaging over three goals per game (13th in the league), but a pitiful power play (17.4%, 25th overall) has been a detriment. Buffalo is also 26th in generating shots on net (averaging 27.1) and too often, its attack falls flat.

Addressing those issues could give the Sabres' season a second life, and extend Adam's stay with the organization. Pending positive results, of course.

It would also behoove the Sabres to start seeing more from some of their purported top-tier players such as Zach Benson (drafted 13th in 2023), Jack Quinn (selected eighth in 2020) and especially Cozens.

Buffalo could be criticized for putting too much pressure on such young players (Benson is 19, Quinn and Cozens are 23). But if the Sabres expect to salvage the second half of this season (and beyond), those core pieces can't continue underperforming.

Quinn has 14 points in 33 games and is minus-14. Benson has just 13 points in 34 games. And Cozens -- in the second season of a seven-year contract worth $7.1 million per year -- has only eight goals and 20 points in 40 games. Would Buffalo regret giving up on Cozens at this stage when he hasn't reached his potential? Or is that pliability what might make Cozens a desirable player elsewhere?

It's a combination of things that should drive Buffalo's decision-making. Dipping into the team's prospect pool for trade options isn't off the table, but might not support the Sabres' long-term ambitions. Adams sending Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado for Byram last March was a solid move given how Byram has evolved on Buffalo's blue line. Byram is also a pending restricted free agent, and the Sabres have been built to hold four left-shot defenders under age 25 on their top two pairings (meaning guys on their not-ideal "off" sides).

Then there's a question regarding the source of the Sabres' leadership. Dahlin, 24, is in his first season as the club's captain, a position previously held by veteran Kyle Okposo. Adams traded Okposo to Florida ahead of last year's deadline, and tried to shore up the Sabres with older acquisitions such as Zucker, Aube-Kubel, Ryan McLeod and Sam Lafferty. Outside of Zucker -- who has been on Buffalo's top line throughout the season -- the Sabres haven't gotten much from Aube-Kubel and Lafferty (a healthy scratch in that loss to Vegas) in fourth-line roles, and it has impacted the pressure placed on Buffalo's younger options to bear the brunt of the team's scoring needs.

All those factors -- from age, to experience, to what's required in the present and future -- should be taken into consideration if trades become a reality.

And they have to be. Adams can't be too attached to anyone in the Sabres' system, whether he acquired them or not. Buffalo can't afford to give up on this season either. Even if the postseason is out of reach, the Sabres must try to climb the standings and give themselves a greater chance of pulling in some veteran free agents this offseason -- the ones not turned off by a dearth of palm trees.

PERSONNEL CHANGES REMAIN a hypothetical for Buffalo. There must be tangible differences in how the Sabres are playing on a regular basis.

The power play has been a sore spot despite Ruff reentering the fold. He and assistant Seth Appert were supposed to make those units momentum-drivers. Instead, Buffalo has just 19 goals with the extra man -- tied for fifth fewest in the NHL -- and that's practically negating its decent scoring (fifth overall) at 5-on-5.

But even when the power play is clicking -- as it was against Colorado with two goals -- Buffalo's inability to close out quality teams is limiting. There was a stretch at the end of December, when Buffalo won three straight while outscoring opponents 17-5, that showcased what the Sabres might be at their best.

But those victories came against the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, and those first two clubs are also far outside the playoff mix. A 60-minute effort isn't something the Sabres deliver as readily when facing a higher-caliber foe.

Ruff was supposed to cultivate a new identity for the Sabres. He should be bringing Adam's preseason call for "raising the standard" to fruition. But the 64-year-old bench boss is at a repeated loss as to why his teachings aren't taking hold.

"It's on me to solve this," Ruff said after Buffalo's 5-3 loss to Toronto last month. "This is the toughest solve I've been around. It is on me to get these guys in the right place to win a hockey game. And nobody else. Just me."

That was the Sabres' 10th loss amid the 13-game slide. Tuch called it "s---ty." Byram spoke wistfully of a "magic potion" the Sabres could take to get out of their funk. Goaltender Devon Levi credited Ruff with giving Buffalo "a good speech" in the second period -- "it touched me and I wanted to go out there and try to win the game" -- but intentions couldn't match actions.

And therein lies a key to the Sabres saving themselves. It's their will, effort and mental toughness that can determine how the next few months play out. Because even if Adams shakes up the roster, it won't have the same effect without a buy-in from the guys already on the team.

Adams thought firing former coach Don Granato and bringing back Ruff would show the Sabres their previous lack of success was unacceptable. The Sabres haven't rallied. Whatever remedy Buffalo needs to succeed remains a mystery -- and it can't for much longer.

What the Sabres can do is stop wasting time. Buffalo has nothing to lose, and that mentality is a luxury when used properly. Why not take the big swing on a trade? Why not inject a little overconfidence into your team? The Sabres should be exhausting every option to figure out not necessarily how but why -- from ownership to management to players -- they've seemingly held themselves back.

A touch of soul-searching might not fix their fortunes this season. But it might start laying the groundwork for a team better equipped to thrive.

That's where the Sabres might finally find success.

Various opposition groups have called for Barcelona president Joan Laporta to resign following the fiasco over Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor's failed registrations.

Ten different parties and supporters' groups, led by Victor Font's Sí al Futur and Joan Camprubí Montal's Som un Clam have come together to demand Laporta step down.

They cite the the "negligence" in registering Olmo and Víctor as one of several reasons behind their movement against the president, who has a mandate to remain in charge until 2026.

The commission paid to third parties in the renewal of the deal with kit supplier Nike, the decision to close the singing section at the Olympic Stadium due to a dispute with supports, and the 100 million ($104.2m) sale of of VIP seats at Camp Nou, which is being renovated, for the next 20 years are also raised as issues.

A statement signed by the 10 groups said that if Laporta does not resign, they will consider raising a vote of no confidence against his presidency.

The fallout follows LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] announcement on Saturday that Barça cannot re-register Olmo and Víctor for a second time this season after they missed a Dec. 31 deadline to prove they were compliant with the league's financial fair play (FFP) rules.

Barça have announced they will appeal the decision to the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), the highest sports court in Spain.

Club sources continue to believe they will eventually have Olmo and Víctor available again this season, with both players named in the squad due to fly to Saudi Arabia this week for the Spanish Supercopa.

Barça will first ask for a "precautionary measure" to be put in place that allows them both to play pending a final decision in the case, with the team facing Athletic Club in the semifinal on Wednesday before a potential final against Real Madrid or Mallorca on Sunday.

The Catalan club will then argue on several fronts, according to sources, when they take the case to the CSD on Tuesday following a holiday in Spain which has delayed proceedings.

Barça will say force majeure was the reason the 100m sale of VIP boxes, which would have allowed Olmo and Victor to be re-registered, was not completed in time for the Dec. 31 deadline.

The Blaugrana will also fight the interpretation of rules which don't allow players to be registered twice with the same team in the same season.

Olmo and Víctor were unregistered on Jan. 1. Both had only been granted temporary registrations by LaLiga as Barça took advantage of a rule which allowed them to use 80% of the salary due to a long-term injured player -- in this case Andreas Christensen -- to register replacements.

Both players have clauses in their contracts which would allow them to leave for free should they not be registered for the second half of the season.

Sources close to the players recognise there is anger at how the situation has unfolded, but add that neither player is currently considering their future, short-term or long-term, away from Barça as they await a resolution.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has said he believes Manchester United were "disrespected" ahead of Sunday's 2-2 draw at Anfield.

A late equaliser from Amad Diallo denied Liverpool the victory after Arne Slot's side had cancelled out Lisandro Martínez's strike with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.

The expectation heading into the match was that Premier League leaders Liverpool would comfortably beat United, who had lost three games in a row before their trip to Merseyside.

However, Ruben Amorim's side turned in arguably their most impressive performance of the season to keep Liverpool at arm's length, and Van Dijk has admitted he feels the media underestimated United before the game.

"Do I feel United were disrespected? Yeah," Van Dijk said after the match. "I heard in the press conference someone asked if we were going to rotate players against United.

"I was shocked. It is one of the biggest games of the season and United will always make it tough. To hear that, I was surprised.

"We are playing against a good opponent. I think everyone from the outside world forgets that judging by the sound that had been going around before the game. They have good players. They are obviously a work in progress like we are but they made it difficult for us."

Van Dijk also defended teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has faced criticism for his lacklustre display against United. Both Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold -- alongside Salah -- are out of contract at the end of the season, but it is the right-back who has been at the centre of recent transfer speculation.

Real Madrid approached Liverpool last week about signing Alexander-Arnold in the January transfer window, though their advances were quickly rebuffed by the club. Some fans and pundits have suggested the 26-year-old's disappointing performance on Sunday was linked to the noise surrounding his future, but Van Dijk disagrees.

"No. I am fine with it," the centre-back said. "Trent has his own people around him, his family and we are there as well.

"He wants to perform in the best way possible like we all do. That is the main focus. In my opinion, maybe ask him, that is the distraction, the game."

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has sparked further speculation over his future, sharing a cryptic photo from his team's 2-2 draw with Manchester United on social media.

The photo shows Salah standing over a free-kick alongside teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

All three players are out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and, ahead of kick-off on Sunday, a new banner was unveiled on the Kop depicting the trio alongside the words: "[Liverpool owners] FSG give Mo & Co their dough."

pic.twitter.com/A37OWspaat

Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) January 6, 2025

Salah has repeatedly voiced his frustration over the lack of progress made in contract talks and last week said he was preparing for this to be his last season at the club. The 32-year-old Egypt international has so far enjoyed a stunning individual campaign, registering 18 goals and 13 assists in the Premier League to help Liverpool build up a six-point lead at the top of the table.

Negotiations over a new deal have been ongoing with Salah's camp for months, however no breakthrough has yet been made. Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, has been strongly linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, who have made him their top defensive target following a long-term injury to right-back Dani Carvajal.

The Spanish club made an approach to sign the 26-year-old in the January window last week but a source told ESPN their advances were quickly rebuffed by Liverpool.

Club captain Van Dijk, 33, has so-far remained tight-lipped over his future however he has spoken at length about his love for Liverpool and it is expected he will commit his future to Arne Slot's side.

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?

After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.

In this week's VAR Review: Should Brighton & Hove Albion's penalty have stood against Arsenal? Should Newcastle United's first goal at Tottenham Hotspur have been disallowed for handball? And why did Matthijs de Ligt concede a penalty?

Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Possible penalty overturn: Foul by Saliba on Pedro

What happened: João Pedro picked up a loose ball inside the penalty area in the 59th minute of the game. The Brighton player's first touch lifted the ball, which rolled up his chest and he nodded it forward. William Saliba accidentally headed the attacker in trying to make a challenge. After a brief pause, referee Anthony Taylor pointed for a penalty. It was checked by the VAR, Darren England. (watch here)

VAR decision: Penalty stands, scored by Pedro.

PENALTY TO BRIGHTON. Joao Pedro levels it from the spot after William Saliba's foul in the box!

NBC & Peacock | #BHAARS pic.twitter.com/2UOfBdSOqa

NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 4, 2025

VAR review: Much of the discourse centered around a lack of examples of penalties awarded in similar situations, yet there are key factors which mean it's not so straightforward.

It wasn't an aerial ball where two jumping players had the legitimate right to challenge and a clash of heads was an unfortunate result. Arsenal fans have questioned a decision from last season, when Nottingham Forest's Joe Worrall appeared to head into Kai Havertz at the near post on a corner. No penalty was awarded, but that was an example of two players challenging for a delivery with a genuine clash of heads.

Pedro having taken possession of the ball was important. Granted, Pedro's first touch was poor, meaning the ball ended up at head height. Saliba had the right to challenge, but he was late after the play by Pedro and made clear contact with the opponent's head. The ball did brush Saliba's head; this was a result of Pedro's play -- indeed, such a small brush of the ball is unlikely to be considered a factor especially when it has come after a controlled play by the opponent.

The alternative argument says that a defender doesn't usually get penalised when sliding in to make a challenge, blocking a pass or shot and then colliding with the other player. But upper-body contact does get viewed differently to lower body.

Earlier on Saturday, Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon wasn't awarded a penalty after a collision with Dejan Kulusevski, which resulted with the Tottenham Hotspur player's shoulder connecting with his head (watch here). That has been judged as a coming together, rather than a foul from a challenge being made, but you feel that wouldn't have been overturned either had the referee given a spot kick. Earlier this season, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk connected with Gordon in similar fashion, and the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel said the VAR was correct not to get involved and advise a penalty -- you'd imagine the same will apply here.

Verdict: There's very little comment within refereeing circles that this was the incorrect outcome, so it's not surprising that the VAR check was swift. Once awarded, and with Pedro having played the ball, there was no chance of it being overturned.

Arsenal fans will no doubt feel aggrieved that they have been on the wrong end of another "unique" situation, like the second yellows for delaying the restart for Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard this season, or the quick double yellow for Gabriel Martinelli in February 2022.

Possible penalty: Challenge by O'Riley on Gabriel

What happened: Arsenal won a corner in the 40th minute. As Rice prepared to deliver, Matt O'Riley was tussling with Gabriel Magalhães and the Arsenal player went to the ground. Gabriel Jesus headed over from Rice's corner, but was there a case for a penalty? (watch here)

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: A very simple one to look at -- because the ball wasn't in play when the possible foul on Gabriel took place. Therefore, a penalty isn't possible and the VAR has no role.

Verdict: It would have been one for the VAR to look at had the ball been in play, as O'Riley does make lower-body contact as the two players tussle for the ball. That said, it's unlikely to have been seen as a clear and obvious error for VAR to intervene.

Liverpool 2-2 Man United

Possible penalty: Handball by De Ligt

What happened: A ball was delivered into the Manchester United area in the 67th minute. Alexis Mac Allister attempted to flick a header toward goal, and the ball hit Matthijs de Ligt. Liverpool's players strongly appealed for a penalty for handball, but referee Michael Oliver waved play on. The next time the ball went of play the VAR, Chris Kavanagh, told the referee to go to the pitchside monitor to review a possible spot kick. (watch here)

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Mohamed Salah.

VAR review: There'd only been two VAR penalties for handball in the Premier League this season, and both involved the arm being way out from the body or above the head (Matty Cash, Tyler Adams).

Proximity could be a factor, but the VAR will still ask if there's any justifiable reason for the defender to have his arm up, and De Ligt was in a standing position and not stretching for a block.

United fans pointed to a penalty they didn't get against Spurs last season when Cristian Romero stopped a shot with his arm. Proximity was cited as a factor in that case, but just as important was that Romero was maneuvering his body to make a block, meaning his arms will naturally come up.

De Ligt was on a yellow card, but the law was changed last summer and a player should now be booked only in this situation if it's a deliberate handball.

Verdict: Comparing De Ligt and Romero was valid, but Sunday's incident is a stonewall penalty and should always lead to a VAR intervention.

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich

Possible red card: DOGSO by Davis on Wilson

What happened: Harry Wilson looked to be through on goal in the 27th minute when he was brought down by Leif Davis. Referee Darren Bond produced the yellow card, but was there a case for a red for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)?

VAR decision: No red card.

VAR review: Last month, Wilson was involved in a DOGSO situation at Liverpool which resulted in Andrew Robertson being sent off -- you could say this was a clearer goal-scoring opportunity, yet it resulted only in a yellow card.

As usual, much rests with the on-field decision and while comparisons will be made with the situation at Anfield, there's another from earlier in the season which is more suitable.

In November, Ian Maatsen was cautioned after bringing down Ismaïla Sarr, with the VAR (Alex Chilowicz) supporting that outcome. However, the KMI panel voted 3-2 that it should have been upgraded to a red through review.

Verdict: Both Wilson and Sarr are ahead of the defender, around 10 yards outside the area with open space in front of them. The only real difference is that Wilson's touch takes the ball slightly to the left, which gives Dara O'Shea the possibility of covering. The VAR, Paul Tierney, decided a yellow was acceptable -- but if a red card had been shown there wouldn't have been an intervention either.

In the Villa case, Chilowicz also indicated there was a chance the defender would have got across, but the KMI panel said that "Sarr is in control, touches the ball towards the goal and would have had an obvious opportunity to have a shot on goal."

It's a borderline call, but O'Shea is just about close enough and the run of the ball makes no intervention the right call.

Possible penalty: Challenge by Morsy on Wilson

What happened: Wilson broke into the area in the 65th minute and went to ground under a challenge from Sam Morsy. Referee Bond waved away the penalty appeals.

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Raúl Jiménez.

VAR review: This is exactly what VAR was brought in for, to correct a very clear error where the referee may have been unsighted.

Emile Smith Rowe ran across the referee's sight line at the point Morsy makes the foul contact on Wilson, and it's entirely possible he couldn't see it and thought the Fulham player had clipped his own heels. And that's where the VAR comes in.

The reaction of Wilson was completely unacceptable, gesturing with his arms and appearing to call the referee a "cheat." That he escaped without even a booking is remarkable, and the nature of complaints could and maybe should have resulted in a red card. Indeed, Fulham were able to get into the position to win the penalty only because the referee had played a good advantage on a foul seconds earlier.

Verdict: An easy VAR intervention for Tierney, but Wilson's behaviour should have been sanctioned. Being unhappy with a referee's decision, even if it's wrong, doesn't excuse such abuse of officials.

Possible penalty overturn: Foul by Castagne on Delap

What happened: Just seconds later Ipswich Town were awarded a penalty for Timothy Castagne's challenge on Liam Delap. This time the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

VAR decision: Penalty stands.

VAR review: It's a soft penalty, but when it has been given on field and there's clear low-body contact from a kicking motion there's no realistic prospect of an overturn.

Verdict: You can argue that allowing penalties to stand when a player has made the most of a challenge only encourages such theatrics -- especially as Delap also won a penalty in dubious circumstances against Chelsea last week.

It's highly unlikely this would have been a spot kick had Bond not awarded it himself, and that will always be the inconsistency with this system of VAR.

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Possible handball: Joelinton before Gordon goal

What happened: Newcastle equalised in the sixth minute when Anthony Gordon scored, but was there a case for handball in the buildup against Joelinton?

VAR decision: Goal stands.

VAR review: Lucas Bergvall had attempted to play the ball past Joelinton, but it hit the Newcastle attacker's arm and dropped kindly for Bruno Guimarães to provide the assist for Gordon.

When the law was first changed, any accidental handball by an attacker in the phase leading to a goal was deemed an automatic offence. It meant goals were being ruled out for innocuous situations in the buildup.

The law was then tweaked to say only the goal scorer or the player creating the goal could be punished. Even that proved to be too harsh, and after one season it changed to what we have now -- only the goal scorer can be penalised for accidental attacking handball before a goal.

Verdict: Joelinton had his arm in an expected position for his movement, close to his side, and he didn't move it toward the ball. While you might see a referee give a handball in this kind of situation, on video review there's no reason in law to disallow the goal. That Newcastle effectively gained an advantage, with Guimarães getting possession in a dangerous position, isn't a consideration.

Southampton 0-5 Brentford

Possible foul: Wissa challenge on Bednarek before Van den Berg goal

What happened: Sepp van den Berg headed Brentford into a two-goal lead in the 53rd minute on a corner. But as the players celebrated, the VAR, Craig Pawson, was looking at a potential foul.

VAR decision: Goal disallowed.

VAR review: Holding alone doesn't determine a VAR intervention, it must also be judged that Bednarek would have a genuine chance of challenging for the ball, and potentially stopping Van den Berg from scoring.

It's a fair argument that Jan Bednarek may have been able to get to Van den Berg, but it's controversial because the central defender threw himself to the ground and that did not seem commensurate with the level of holding by Yoane Wissa.

What really cost Wissa was having both arms around the waist of Bednarek, which is a non-footballing action, and on balance that will have persuaded the VAR to intervene.

Verdict: It's perhaps a harsh VAR intervention, especially because there's plenty of examples of holding on set pieces which appears to be more impactful that haven't led to a VAR intervention. The KMI panel will no doubt say this was a correct intervention, but giving the goal feels an outcome more in keeping with other such calls.

It's the first goal to be ruled out through VAR for holding by an attacker this season.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

Possible penalty: Challenge by Mitchell on Neto

What happened: Pedro Neto appealed for a penalty in the 62nd minute following a challenge by Tyrick Mitchell. Referee Tim Robinson signalled for play to continue and it was checked by the VAR, Paul Tierney.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: This is a close call, and looking at replays from various angles gives different perspectives on whether or not Mitchell touched the ball or simply fouled Neto.

From the front camera angle, it looks like Mitchell didn't get to the ball; from the reverse, it seems he may have.

Verdict: There's no clear, definitive evidence from the replays that Neto alone got to the ball, and was fouled by Mitchell. The Crystal Palace player makes contact with the opponent in the process of sliding in to touch the ball, but it's impossible to say there was a clear and obvious error and a spot kick was missed. The VAR shouldn't intervene in such cases.

Bournemouth 1-0 Everton

Possible penalty: Mangala challenge on Ouattara

What happened: AFC Bournemouth won a corner in the 23rd minute. James Tarkowski made a poor clearance, and as Dango Ouattara moved to collect the loose ball he was kicked by Orel Mangala. Referee John Brooks signalled for play to continue and it was checked by the VAR, Matt Donohue.

VAR decision: No penalty.

VAR review: The VAR decided that Ouattara had gone into the space owned by Mangala, but the Bournemouth player got to the ball first and was prevented from continuing in possession by a kick from the Everton player.

Verdict: This may well go down as a missed VAR intervention, as Mangala should have been aware of an opponent around him and had a responsibility for the way he tried to play the ball. The Everton player kicks the Bournemouth attacker and it should have been a penalty.

Some factual parts of this article include information provided by the Premier League and PGMOL.

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 Supercopa de España, while Barcelona welcomed back a key player from a long-term injury in their Copa del Rey win. The German Bundesliga is still on winter break, but Italy's Serie A gave us a captivating Rome derby in which struggling Roma toppled their high-flying Lazio rivals in the game of the weekend. Elsewhere, there were talking points galore for Manchester City, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Let's get to it. Here are musings and reactions to the most memorable moments of the weekend.

Liverpool at their worst, Man United at their best ... and it's still a draw as Arne Slot's team dominate the expected goals

Maybe it shouldn't be surprising that the above is true, given that Liverpool have twice as many points in the Premier League (and, still, a game in hand) and have lost as many games in the past year (six) as United lost in December alone. On a day when the midfield wasn't dominant, when the back line showed plenty of holes and when the forward went AWOL for long stretches, Liverpool still put together an xG of 2.82 (to United's 1.05) in a 2-2 draw.

Of course, performance matters -- not just production -- and Slot will be reflecting on what went wrong on Sunday. The fact that he still brought on Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota for Luis Díaz and Curtis Jones after Cody Gakpo put them 2-1 up speaks volumes. Defending the lead was the last thing on his mind: He wanted to turn the game (and the performance) around.

For the first hour or so, Liverpool looked a little flat and you wonder if that isn't partly down to some players possibly feeling fatigued. Virgil Van Dijk has played every minute of every game in the Premier League and Champions League, while Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah have started every game in those two competitions. Slot rotates less than other managers, and that may need to change going forward if they are to stay sharp.

That doesn't explain their defensive frailties, but then they've always been there. Andrew Robertson was late on Amad Diallo's goal, but he's been slowing down this season. Trent Alexander-Arnold's deficiencies off the ball are nothing new and, no, they have nothing to do with his contractual issues. He simply has lapses and if you're going to have him in your lineup for what he gives you on the attacking end -- and let's face it, other than Salah, few on this team are as good at creating something from nothing as Alexander-Arnold -- you need to make tactical accommodations. In the 4-2-3-1 setup, he's simply more exposed, especially with a half-fit Ibrahima Konaté at the back, which is why we might see Slot tweaking the system to mask his weaknesses. (Or not: There's also an argument that there's no point switching things up if he's going to be out of there in a few months.)

Of Liverpool's shortcomings Sunday, the only one that really ought to be a concern is the aforementioned lack of intensity and legginess. That could mean making moves in the January window.

As for United, this should be a big confidence boost and not just because, without that late Christmas gift of a penalty from Matthijs De Ligt (shades of his Juventus days) they would have won this game. Manuel Ugarte turned in his best performance yet in a United shirt, Diogo Dalot was a constant thorn in Liverpool's flank and Amad Diallo showed just why he might be United's most intelligent player.

The fact that Amorim has six defeats in 12 games in charge in all competitions, whereas Erik Ten Hag had four in 14 when he was sacked, is largely irrelevant. Amorim is building and this performance shows what he can do when he actually has time to prepare for a game. Admittedly, it's easier to plan for an opponent like Liverpool where you know they will be taking the game to you (and not the other way around) and truer tests will come against other opponents. But the pieces are starting to fall into place.

Cast your mind back to when Amorim was appointed and everybody wondered about his 3-4-2-1 system and which players might fit where and how many signings they'd need to make to put together an Amorim-style starting XI. I'd argue that we got many of the answers we're looking for.

André Onana works as a ball-playing keeper and the back three could use some depth, but otherwise, they're getting the job done (if you swap in Leny Yoro). The Kobbie Mainoo-Ugarte partnership worked. Bruno Fernandes isn't going anywhere and Diallo looks a natural. Between Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, you have two competent wingbacks, and Rasmus Hojlund is still developing.

In terms of the starting lineup, you'd think maybe an alternative wide option -- at Sporting, he generally had one traditional wing-back and one more attacking player wide -- and perhaps a center-forward to challenge or upgrade Hojlund. And then, of course, you need to add depth. But as far as putting together an XI that fits what he wants to do, United aren't far away. Now it's a question of continuing to learn the system.

The latter may be the most important thing United need to do to close the gap on Liverpool. It's going to be tough, because Sunday showed how big it still is.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's redemption tale marks the Rome derby

Rome is different to most places, and AS Roma are different to most clubs. The intensity of the city and the team is wearying; the shirt is that much heavier if you're Roma born and bred like Lorenzo Pellegrini, the current captain, who joined as an 11-year-old and spent his entire career there, apart from two seasons as Sassuolo.

You're venerated, sure, but when things go wrong, you can also be scapegoated by a hugely demanding fan base. Especially when, like Pellegrini, you don't have the charisma of some of the captains who came before you, like Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti. And especially when the team hasn't been punching its weight for the past six months, you've lost your form and you're seen as part of the problem, not part of the solution.

That's why it had been six weeks since Pellegrini (despite being fit) had started a Serie A game. And that's why Roma boss Claudio Ranieri had told the media he wouldn't start the derby. ("Not in the right frame of mind.") The stakes were just too high.

But then, the old fox Ranieri wasn't being straight because Pellegrini did start and even scored a gorgeous goal, while working his backside off in the 2-0 Roma win.

After the win, Pellegrini enjoyed the adulation of the crowd. The hometown hero had been redeemed, and Ranieri had worked one of his psychological masterstrokes. (Either that or it's his derby hex over Lazio: played five, won five in his three stints as Roma boss.)

That said, it was far from comfortable. Roma went 2-0 up inside of 20 minutes, but failed to impose themselves as most of the rest of the game was one-way traffic, with Lazio enjoying 76% possession after the break and the Giallorossi in siege mode.

Look past the score and let it be a reminder that Lazio remain a far better side right now. But if you're a Roma fan, enjoy the mended bridges with your captain.

Ange Postecoglou can't have it both ways

I get that Ange Postecoglou is angry. His Tottenham side has taken one point from the past four games and sits closer to relegation than to European qualification in the table. He's had to deal with a frightening string of injuries, and his high-risk/high-reward style of play -- the sort that gets described as "brave" when they win and "naive" when they lose -- has plenty of critics.

On Saturday, against a resurgent Newcastle (six wins in a row) with an "on fire" Alexander Isak (nine goals in his past seven outings) they took the lead, hit the woodwork and ended up losing at home as a string of refereeing decisions went against them.

I'd be angry too, but if you're going to be angry, you need to speak up and be clear. Instead, he said: "On any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. ... I'm as angry as I've ever been that the players were denied their right rewards for a fantastic performance."

The problem is that this is the same Postecoglou who doesn't like VAR and says, "Decisions are decisions: you either accept it or you don't." And that he doesn't like the "forensic study of every decision."

Fair enough, but the decision that most incensed him -- Joelinton's handball in the build-up to Newcastle's equalizer -- needed just that: forensic analysis to establish if it was punishable, and if it led directly to the goal. (For the record, I thought it was and the goal should have been disallowed.)

You can't have it both ways. You can't preach old-school, no VAR, refs-are-human-too-so-live-with-it fare, and then get grumpy when you don't get the calls.

As for the game itself, had decisions gone Tottenham's way -- it wasn't just the Joelinton handball, Dan Burn could have been sent off and there was a Joelinton head-butt in there too -- they could have won the game, sure, but equally, Newcastle put together an xG of 2.45 (to 0.94). It wasn't exactly a smash-and-grab for the visiting team.

Quick hits

10. Napoli keep rolling as David Neres has some asking "Khvicha who?" OK, that's excessive. Napoli are a better side with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (who was unavailable in the 3-0 away win at Fiorentina, due to injury, not contractual reasons). But the production Antonio Conte is getting from Neres -- whose career has been more lows than highs, despite his unquestioned talent -- is astounding and give the club leverage over Kvaratskhelia. With his other first-choice winger (Matteo Politano) also out, Conte also reinvented left-back Leonardo Spinazzola (rumoured to be moving in January) as a wide forward. Conte may have his faults, but when it comes to coaching and finding solutions, he's among the best, which is why Napoli are top of Serie A.

9. Real Madrid are a microcosm of themselves in turbulent win at Valencia: Miracles from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, missed penalties (this time it's Jude Bellingham), a Kylian Mbappé disallowed goal, a Vinícius red card and a rousing Luka Modric-fueled comeback in the last five minutes: just your average Madrid game these days. The difference is that following a lackluster first half, Carlo Ancelotti's side dominated after the break against a fired-up Valencia side and fully deserved the three points. The only thing to spoil it was Vinicius' red card. A lot of it was down to Stole Dimitrievski's shenanigans, falling to the ground theatrically after Vinicius pushed him in the neck, but Vini didn't help himself, particularly after being given his marching orders. (Antonio Rüdiger appeared to physically take him off the pitch.) Sure, he plays on emotion, but this was the case of an opponent suckering him into a red card and a pedantic VAR. You expect more from him.

8. You wouldn't inflict Peter Lim on your worst enemies, let alone long-suffering Valencia fans: Before the Real Madrid game, there were wide-ranging protests against absentee owner Peter Lim, some of which had to be quelled by law enforcement. Lim isn't the reason Valencia are in dire financial straits -- theirs is a long-running story of mismanagement -- but he's a case study in bad owners. After an initial flurry of interest in the club, followed by fan backlash when things didn't work out, he seemingly withdrew in a pique of anger. His neglect is palpable. Rather than selling the club, it feels as if he'd rather see it flounder and drive itself into the ground, mainly because he's rich enough not to care.

7. Is Leon Bailey what Aston Villa have been missing: After taking Aston Villa to fourth place (and the Europa Conference League semifinals) last season, this year was always going to be uphill for Unai Emery, what with the added stress of the Champions League and a squad that isn't substantially bigger than last year (Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and Jaden Philogene in, Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz, Álex Moreno, Nicolò Zaniolo and Clément Lenglet out). Missing too have been Leon Bailey's goals. Last year he had 10 in the league alone (14 overall), all of them from open play. The winner he scored Saturday in the 2-1 win over Leicester was his first of the campaign. Villa's squad is stretched and players will understandably have ups and downs. But if Bailey can find his "ups" in the latter half of the season -- as some of his teammates might decline -- Villa will be in the mix for a Champions League spot. And with his contract up in June (though the club have an option to extend it by a year), he'll be helping himself too.

6. Paris Saint-Germain down Monaco at home in French Super Cup: Or, as they call it, the "Trophee des Champions." And yes, I use the term "home" lightly, but aptly, because it was in Doha, Qatar. (I'm glad they're getting some use out of those stadiums, though it's weird that it was played at Stadium 974, the one made out of shipping containers that was supposed to be disassembled after the World Cup only to still be there over two years later.) PSG had the upper hand for most of the game and should have put things to bed earlier against a lacklustre Monaco. Instead, they had to wait for injury time and Ousmane Dembélé's winner. Dembele again played at centre-forward, with Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos on the bench. I've given up on trying to figure out Luis Enrique, but Dembele is up to double figures in goals on the season and I guess those are centre-forward numbers.

5. Can we agree that Enzo Maresca was right and Chelsea aren't ready? Being ready isn't just about outplaying the opposition, but about getting the details right. This weekend's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace highlighted the fine margins. Against an opponent who are better than their league position suggests (Palace lost just once since early November), Chelsea can pinpoint three moments that went against them: the two Nico Jackson misses (one of them which he took, weirdly, with the outside of his boot) and Cole Palmer giving the ball away (or being needlessly played into trouble, take your pick) ahead of the Palace equalizer. It's these margins that separate title contenders from young teams that are still developing. Chelsea are the latter.

4. Good and (self-inflicted) bad for Barcelona after cup win: It's the Barcelona way these days, as there's always a yang for every yin. The good news is that Ronald Araújo played 90 minutes in the 4-0 win at fourth-tier Barbastro in the Copa del Rey. The game itself -- beyond some stat-padding for Robert Lewandowski, who took his seasonal total to 25 -- was otherwise unremarkable, but the return of Araujo, out since his injury in the Copa America last July, is big. If they're going to mount a title challenge in the second half of the campaign, they can't rely solely on Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez. The bad, unsurprisingly, is the Dani Olmo situation after Barcelona's third appeal to re-register him was rejected. It's pretty simple: There are rules and there are deadlines, and they're not being respected. Barca say they're going to court as they see the denial as a technicality. Fine. But the irony of all this is that they risk losing a player who cost them a fortune and who they didn't really need to begin with.

3. Depleted Arsenal aren't quite the same thing, but Mikel Arteta is right to be angry: Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are Arsenal's three biggest attacking threats and when they take the pitch without all three (though Odegaard did play the last half hour), it's not going to be quite the same thing. Brighton may be winless in eight games after this weekend's 1-1 draw, but they're a tough out and an awkward opponent and, after taking the lead through Ethan Nwaneri (fine performance, but he's a totally different player from Saka), they were on the back foot for much of the second half. Still, the result would end up hinging on the penalty, awarded when William Saliba appeared to mistime his header and instead struck Joao Pedro in the face with his head. The dynamic of the incident was odd, and odder still was the fact that VAR showed Saliba also made contact with the ball. Arteta was furious, saying he'd "never seen a penalty like this." That makes two of us (probably more). I suppose if you apply a very twisted logic and you treat an attempted header like an attempted clearance with your boot -- at the same time ignoring the fact that Saliba makes contact -- you can sort of see the reasoning behind the decision... but man, that was weird.

2. Sérgio Conceição gets shot at trophy right away after replacing Paulo Fonseca: It's a Milan derby on Monday night in the Italian Super Cup (played -- why not? -- in Saudi Arabia yet again) and for the new Rossoneri boss, it's a chance at immediate silverware. At least, that's the line peddled. I seriously doubt any Milan fan will judge Conceicao or the decision to ditch Fonseca based on what happens in the Super Cup. Most see it for what it is: a manufactured "final four" that generates Saudi revenue and not much else. Milan weren't great in his first outing -- the comeback win against Juventus -- and they'll need to step it up against Inter. The odd thing about the Conceicao choice is that his style of football feels like a departure from what they tried to do under Fonseca. With the shadow of superagent Jorge Mendes luring in the background, you hope it doesn't also mean a shift away from the philosophy of pushing younger players and aggressive front-foot football too.

1. Back-to-back wins for Man City, but Pep Guardiola is still grumpy (and you can see why): Guardiola could lie to himself (and to us) and talk about how consecutive victories mean they're now just three points from third place, Savinho had turned the corner, Erling Haaland was scoring again and normal service had resumed in the 4-1 win over West Ham on Saturday. Instead, he talked about how the performance was "not good," how they're not composed and how they're not working the way they should. He's right. West Ham could have been a couple goals up early (Rúben Dias' absence can't be an alibi for how poor the defending is), Savinho's opener was deflected and they were again far too vulnerable in transition. Facing reality, which is what he's doing, is the first step in fixing things.