Chelsea continued their dominant run in the Europa Conference League, edging closer to the knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Heidenheim in Germany. The win keeps Enzo Maresca’s side at the top of the 36-team table with a flawless four-game streak in the group phase.

Christopher Nkunku, in scintillating form this season, opened the scoring with his fifth goal in the competition. The French forward expertly controlled Jadon Sancho’s pass before delivering a clinical finish. Nkunku, who played in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig before joining Chelsea, now has 11 goals across all competitions this season.

The match saw Chelsea’s defense tested by a spirited Heidenheim side, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen delivering a standout performance. Jorgensen made crucial saves, including a brilliant one-handed stop to deny 18-year-old Paul Wanner in the first half. He also thwarted efforts from Leo Scienza and Wanner again after Chelsea took the lead.

Mykhailo Mudryk sealed the victory in the 86th minute, curling a superb strike into the top corner. However, the game ended on a slightly sour note for Chelsea, as midfielder Cesare Casadei was sent off in injury time after receiving a second yellow card.

Heidenheim, known for their remarkable rise through the German football leagues, posed Chelsea’s toughest challenge so far in the group stage. Despite their resilience, the Bundesliga club couldn’t overcome the visitors’ quality.

A contentious moment occurred in the first half when Chelsea thought they had won a penalty after Mudryk went down under a challenge from Patrick Mainka. Following a lengthy VAR review, referee Serdar Gozubuyuk opted against awarding the spot-kick, deeming the contact insufficient.

Chelsea remain the team to beat in the competition, having scored 18 goals across their four group matches.

The Football Association (FA) has launched an investigation into claims that referee David Coote discussed issuing a yellow card with a fan before a Championship match. Coote, 42, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “false and defamatory.”

The allegations, reported by The Sun newspaper, suggest Coote exchanged messages with a fan about issuing a yellow card to Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski during a 2019 match between Leeds and West Brom. The booking, made during the game, has not been disputed as incorrect, and there is no indication of financial gain on Coote’s part.

This comes amid separate investigations into Coote’s conduct by the FA, UEFA, and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which has suspended him from officiating duties pending the outcomes.

In a statement, Coote emphasized his commitment to the integrity of the game:

“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life, they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

Coote, one of the Premier League’s most experienced referees, has been officiating top-flight matches since 2018.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has voiced his frustration at the club’s failure to offer him a new contract, casting doubt on his future at Anfield. The 32-year-old, who has been Liverpool’s standout performer this season with 12 goals in all competitions, is set to become a free agent in the summer.

Speaking after Liverpool’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday, where Salah scored twice—including a decisive penalty—he admitted feeling disheartened.

“We are almost in December, and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay at the club,” Salah told reporters. “I’m probably more out than in.”

When asked if the lack of an offer disappointed him, Salah confirmed, “Of course, yeah. I’m not going to retire soon. I’m just focusing on the season, trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well.”

Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, Salah has become a fan favorite, helping the team secure a Premier League title, Champions League trophy, and several domestic and international honors. Despite his current concerns, Salah expressed his deep connection to the club.

“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this,” he said. “I love the fans, and the fans love me. In the end, it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see.”