25 things we loved this weekend: Benzema, Firmino, Palmer & more
After that weird period of not knowing what day it is around the turn of the year, we’re finally back in the swing of things and the first proper weekend of football in 2022 didn’t disappoint – particularly some cracking ties in the FA Cup third round.
Elsewhere, the major leagues across Europe are all back underway after their winter breaks and Roma and Juventus played out one of the games of the season, while over in Cameroon the 2021 African Cup of Nations finally got underway.
We’ve rounded up the best of the action on and off the field.
Roberto Firmino
The most Firmino goal you will ever see.
Trademark Roberto Firmino 💫
(via @EmiratesFACup)pic.twitter.com/pvgqd8J0Go
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 9, 2022
Kaide Gordon
Liverpool have a really special talent on their hands.
17 – Aged 17 years and 96 days, Kaide Gordon is the second-youngest goalscorer in Liverpool's history, after only Ben Woodburn v Leeds in November 2016 (17 years 45 days). Dream. #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/cck5dboZks
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 9, 2022
Daniel Udoh
Truly excellent shithousery.
Shrewsbury Town's Daniel Udoh pulled out @Cristiano's celebration against Liverpool at Anfield 😂
via @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/U7T7Ls9CeE
— utdreport (@utdreport) January 9, 2022
Cole Palmer
The placement on this strike is absolutely stunning.
A brilliant finish by #YoungLions forward Cole Palmer in the #EmiratesFACup third round 👏pic.twitter.com/boGni5ifyT
— England (@England) January 7, 2022
Ruben Dias
Flashbacks to Raheem Sterling against Italy in 2014. We’ve all been there, Ruben.
What a goal from Joao Cancelo… oh wait! 🤯
Even Ruben Dias thought it went in 😅#bbcfacup #facup
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 7, 2022
Lewis Hall
Chelsea’s academy just keeps on producing gems.
The youngest player to start an #FACup game for Chelsea! 👏
17 years and 122 days, Lewis Hall. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/dHwhFnI2qV
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 8, 2022
Roy Keane
Classic Keane.
"They look like Real Madrid but they're playing like a pub team" 😡
Roy Keane isn't pulling any punches after that first-half display
🏆 @EmiratesFACup | @Arsenal | @NFFC pic.twitter.com/36GzLw6n3D
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 9, 2022
Cambridge United
The FA Cup hasn’t lost its magic.
They've done it!
Third tier Cambridge knock Premier League Newcastle out of the FA Cup 😱 pic.twitter.com/pY5dox71cJ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 8, 2022
Kidderminster
The non-league side are now going to face West Ham in the next round.
Take it away, Gaffer…❤ pic.twitter.com/hIh6CAamoY
— Kidderminster Harriers 🦅 (@khfcofficial) January 8, 2022
Boreham Wood
We bet they all had sore heads on Sunday morning.
🤩𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐒
📍Destination: 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝#WeAreTheWood pic.twitter.com/vzqQvVlhzh
— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) January 8, 2022
Chesterfield
It was a consolation in a 5-1 defeat but those Chesterfield fans didn’t care.
Absolutely f*cking love this from the Chesterfield fans. 🥲👏
🎥 @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/SAx6te7RNm
— Footy Limbs (@FootyLimbs) January 8, 2022
This commentator
You should probably turn the volume down before watching this clip.
The commentator really enjoyed this Barrow goal 😂#bbcfootball #FACup #bbcfacup pic.twitter.com/8utazbHrVZ
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 8, 2022
Angel Correa
You won’t see many goals better than this in 2022.
WHAT A GOAL! 😱😱
Angel Correa scores from just past the halfway line! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Or6Mb6Yd1w
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) January 9, 2022
Karim Benzema
Only Di Stefano, Raul and Ronaldo have scored more Madrid goals than him.
💯 ➕ 💯 ➕ 💯
⚽ @Benzema has now scored 300 goals as a madridista!#RealFootball pic.twitter.com/4LrIkSqn6P— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 8, 2022
Vinicius
The Brazilian is already a fan favourite at Madrid but this will make him even more popular.
Vinicius jumped because he didn’t want to step on the Real Madrid logo.
Respect 📈 pic.twitter.com/Bjcgq9KyA9
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 8, 2022
Paul Wanner
He was six months old when Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi…
Paul Wanner becomes the youngest-ever Bundesliga player for Bayern Munich.
At 16 years and 15 days old, he's the second-youngest Bundesliga player in history 👶#NXGN pic.twitter.com/Wm2GMHY69z
— GOAL (@goal) January 7, 2022
Francisco Conceicao
The stuff that dreams are made of.
Sérgio Conceição's son Francisco scores a winning goal for @FCPorto in the 89th minute, just three minutes after being subbed on by his Dad. pic.twitter.com/iq89MHjj4i
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) January 9, 2022
Lorenzo Pellegrini
A stunning goal in a remarkable game that finished Roma 3-4 Juventus.
RIDICULOUS HIT! 💥
Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini with an incredible strike! 🤤
You don't score a free-kick much better than that. pic.twitter.com/RSM4OMVWIG
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 9, 2022
Endrick
What were you doing at 15? Actually don’t answer that…
Remember the name: Endrick, only 15 years old. Same agents as Vini Jr pic.twitter.com/0E2ssCQwux
— Marcus Alves (@_marcus_alves) January 8, 2022
Allan Saint-Maximin
Is there a better value footballer on Twitter?
Ok Fabrizio just to clarify, is Lucas Digne going to join Newcastle ? https://t.co/15ueJUpWGz
— Allan Saint-Maximin (@asaintmaximin) January 8, 2022
Marseille fans
They finally got over their hoodoo and look what it means to the fans.
Marseille forward Amine Harit's video of celebrations with OM fans after their first win at Bordeaux in 44 years last night.pic.twitter.com/VBS6LZDcII
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 8, 2022
Sadio Mane
A lovely welcome for the Senegal icon.
This is soo beautiful ❤️
Sadio Mane before he departed for Afcon.
Here he is dancing in Senegal 🇸🇳 with his people. This is what it’s all about. The honour & passion of representing your country. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021
— Mimi Fawaz (@MimosaFawaz) January 6, 2022
Jobe Bellingham
That’s one very talented family.
The next chapter.#bcfc | @j_bellingham pic.twitter.com/reGijvPWlx
— iamjbohemia (@iamjbohemia) January 8, 2022
D’Margio Wright-Phillips
While we’re on the subject of talented families…
3️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗔 𝗖𝘂𝗽 🤩
Congrats on making your professional and #EmiratesFACup debut, D'Margio Wright-Phillips 🤩@IanWright0 @swp29 pic.twitter.com/a4B0lwb0dU
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 9, 2022
This fan
A classic Dad joke.
Had to do it 😂😂 #ItSaysPress @ManCity @RhiannonBakerxo pic.twitter.com/4rnqncmgQD
— J.B. (@Citizen_baker) January 8, 2022
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