Bio: If you can’t make a living from playing the game, then make one writing about it. I did my best to tick the first of those boxes, but it was not to be. I have been working hard at the latter for the best part of two decades and joined the collection of international stars that make up team GOAL in 2016. I am now Senior Staff Writer, which means my days are spent covering everything that the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of football has to offer. I have always been a fan of mercurial talents and love an underdog story, which goes some way to explaining why - alongside my East Midlands roots - Nottingham Forest are (for better or worse) my team of choice.
My Football Story: From the local playing field with friends, all through school, representing teams at various levels and facing a number of future professionals, to endless hours spent at the City Ground, a university degree and professional employment that has taken me to iconic venues across the country, football has always been the thread that ties my past, present and future together. I wouldn’t have it any other way and consider myself fortunate that I have been able to pass my passion for the game down to my son, who now finds himself heading down a similar path.
Areas of Expertise:
Nottingham Forest Football Club - with there always a lot going on there
News sourcing and writing - identifying what real fans want to talk about
Interviews - don’t believe those that say you shouldn’t interact with your heroes
Analysis & insight - not just explaining what happened, but how and why
Favourite Footballing Memory: I was too young to have witnessed Nottingham Forest’s European glory years and not yet old enough to have seen them add a third star to that famous Garibaldi shirt, being at Wembley as a 23-year wait for Premier League football came to a close will always be a special experience. I don’t remember much about the game itself, given the nerve-shredding nature of play-off finals, but the celebrations afterwards made enough memories to last several lifetimes.
Reece James and Emi Martinez have been set a leadership challenge at Chelsea, with Frank Lebouef telling GOAL that the Blues have become “too nice” as a collective. He wants to see senior figures, especially those donning the captain’s armband, ask questions of those around them when individual standards are allowed to slip - with clean sheets proving hard to come by at present.
In an era where superstar No.10s are all the rage - with Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer and Rayan Cherki among those strutting their stuff in the Premier League - are Liverpool lacking “magic” in that department? Ray Houghton has answered that question for GOAL, with the Reds legend addressing the ongoing struggles being endured by £116 million ($154m) playmaker Florian Wirtz.
Emile Heskey has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, named Celtic boss Martin O’Neill and Liverpool icon Gerard Houllier as the best managers that he worked under. The ex- England international, who spent time with Leicester and at Anfield in his playing days, is now helping to find potential Premier League coaches of the future as part of an inspiring new enterprise.
An in-house goal “competition” at Chelsea between Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers is inevitable, Carlton Cole has told GOAL, with there benefits to be found in the “banter” that two close friends are indulging in. Having been reunited at Stamford Bridge, the ex-Manchester City colleagues are determined to outperform one another in 2026-27.
Joao Pedro has become one of the Premier League’s best strikers, in the eyes of Carlton Cole, with the former Chelsea frontman explaining to GOAL why the man filling the fabled No.9 shirt at Stamford Bridge can get into “high double figures” on the goal front. The Brazilian forward has already found the target on three occasions in the 2026-27 campaign.
Kylian Mbappe has been told he should “never talk about the Ballon d’Or”, with fellow World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf telling GOAL why the Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ is coming across as selfish when compared to in-form Barcelona star Raphinha. Mbappe has been talking up his claims to the most prestigious of Golden Balls, but is expected to miss out again in 2026.
Morgan Gibbs-White does not need to leave Nottingham Forest in order to become an England regular, Reds legend Des Walker has told GOAL. The talented playmaker has been drafted into the latest Three Lions squad following the injury-enforced withdrawal of Cole Palmer. He was overlooked for 2026 World Cup duty, leading to inevitable questions being asked of where his long-term future should lie.
Josh King’s star continues to rise at Fulham, but will the teenage wonderkid go on to be as good as fellow creative influences Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White? That trio all have senior England caps to their name, with King eager to tread a similar path. Former Cottagers midfielder Ray Houghton has told GOAL why a future transfer may help to unlock full potential.
Jurgen Klopp has been set the simple challenge of being “less sh*t” as he prepares to embark on a new challenge as manager of the Germany national team. Robert Huth has told GOAL that the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss will bring “heavy metal football” to the international arena while chasing down European Championship and World Cup crowns.
England would be “very lucky” to have Jude and Jobe Bellingham in their senior squad at some stage, Bobby Zamora has told GOAL, with the potential for sibling rivalry in the Three Lions camp exciting many fans watching on from afar. That situation has not played out as yet, but Thomas Tuchel is said to be keeping a close eye on how two talented brothers are faring.
Jeremy Jacquet fits the fabric of classy Liverpool centre-halves, Ray Houghton has admitted to GOAL, with the French defender considered to be cut from similar cloth to Reds heroes Virgil van Dijk and Alan Hansen. Having moved to Merseyside in the summer of 2026, Jacquet has been showcasing his physicality, reading of the game and clever distribution.
Jadon Sancho still finds himself without a club following his release by Manchester United, with the England international being surprisingly snubbed after hitting free agency. His last competitive action came during a loan spell at Aston Villa, with Ray Houghton explaining to GOAL what the important questions are that the 26-year-old winger must find answers to.
Liverpool legend Ray Houghton has boldly predicted during an exclusive interview with GOAL that Alexander Isak will score 20-plus goals for the Reds this season. The two-time First Division title winner has also explained why the £125 million ($167m) striker looks different in 2026-27 - having endured a four-goal flop during his debut campaign at Anfield.
Liverpool still have defensive transfer questions to answer, having opted against reinforcing their full-back ranks during the summer of 2026, so what approach will they take when it comes to recruitment in upcoming windows? Former Reds star Danny Murphy has been presented with that poser by GOAL, with Virgil van Dijk, Ronald Araujo and Jeremie Frimpong figuring prominently in the subsequent discussion.
In the first instalment of GOAL’s ‘Brits Abroad’ series, a man that worked with Ruben Loftus-Cheek at Chelsea, passed through China and ended up in Scandinavia talks culture shocks, the cost of salmon and what to do in the Finnish capital
Liam Delap has been told what he “needs” in order to become Harry Kane’s successor in the England national team, with Bobby Zamora admitting to GOAL that replacing an “extremely special” striker will be almost impossible. Following his big-money transfer from Chelsea to Nottingham Forest, 23-year-old frontman Delap is hoping to prove himself deserving of a chance to lead the Three Lions’ attacking unit.
Dominik Szoboszlai is on the “right path” to inherit captaincy duties at Liverpool and become “Steven Gerrard’s successor”, Reds icon Vladimir Smicer has told GOAL. The all-action Hungarian midfielder, who shares many qualities with a legendary No.8 from the not too distant past, has signed a new contract at Anfield and committed his future to Premier League giants.
Yasin Ayari boasts the potential to follow in Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Carlos Baleba’s footsteps by becoming the next big-money sale at Brighton, Bobby Zamora has told GOAL, with the Swedish midfielder considered to be an “incredible” talent. While agreeing a new contract with the 22-year-old remains a top priority for now, interest is expected to be shown in upcoming transfer windows.
Liverpool did not sign a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah during the summer transfer window of 2026, after seeing the ‘Egyptian King’ leave as a free agent, with Danny Murphy explaining to GOAL why the Reds decided against spending precious funds for the sake of it. Additions were made to the attacking ranks at Anfield, but none of those drafted in are considered to be natural right wingers.
Former Tottenham striker Bobby Zamora has boldly predicted to GOAL that the north London outfit will “be in the top 10” when the 2026-27 Premier League campaign comes to a close. Spurs have not scaled such heights for some time now, having become stuck in a rut, but are expected to become upwardly mobile before fully awakening from their slumber next season.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
