Category: Football (Soccer)

Refereeing is now an impossible job owing to the culture of micro-analysis the Arsenal manager has helped to create

A gentleman is never rude unintentionally, only by design. Nobody really knows who said this first. But it could easily be a line from the Elite Football Manager’s Guide to Press Conferences (Premier League edition). Because nothing happens by accident in these spaces.

Every word spoken in front of the board covered in adverts is metered and planned. A manager is never angry, or concerned, or even charming unintentionally. The game is the game, but so are all the other bits spilling out either side of it.

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“Enzo, Enzo, Enzo, in your head” was how delirious Manchester City fans regaled Enzo Fernández, who after a star role in a memorable victory has instant cult hero status.

This 199th derby was won by Erling Haaland’s ninth strike in the fixture but the visitors’ totem was their new No 17. He was the key nuisance in a goal ruled out initially for offside and which the video assistant referee overturned when ruling that Fernández was not distracting Lisandro Martínez when Josko Gvardiol’s ball came over. The Argentinian, too, was an emblem of the fight Maresca’s team carried to Manchester United after Phil Foden appeared to turn the game the hosts’ way on 22 minutes.

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Erling Haaland’s controversial goal set up a mighty victory for City, who played brilliantly after Phil Foden’s early red card

Brighton’s fourth goal was a screamer from Lewis Dunk, of all people, prompting this email from Steve Bradfield.

Is Brighton’s fourth goal a slam Dunk for goal of month?

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How will Manchester United and Manchester City fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options

The first Manchester Derby of the season comes at an interesting time for both clubs. City are building momentum under new manager Enzo Maresca while United are attempting to move on from a summer that raised questions about their transfer market strategy.

After conceding two goals in each of their three league games so far, Manchester United have made their worst defensive start to a season since 1972. Meanwhile, Manchester City would win their opening four Premier League games for a record seventh time with victory at Old Trafford.

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This victory has been a long time coming for Gary O’Neil. The Millwall supporter from Beckenham, whose son plays for Crystal Palace’s academy, had picked up a solitary point on his previous five trips to this part of south London as a manager. So it was no wonder that he celebrated Zian Flemming’s winning goal in the 90th minute with the same gusto as the travelling Ipswich supporters.

On a topsy-turvy afternoon Palace took the lead before Emersonn and Leif Davis cancelled out Anan Khalaili’s first goal for Palace after Axel Disasi’s red card. Jørgen Strand Larsen equalised with 15 minutes remaining but Khalaili had his head in his hands after missing an open goal minutes later and it was to prove crucial as Flemming – the last of the 14 new players signed by Ipswich in the summer in a record spend of £190m for a promoted side – scrambled home the winner after Davis hit the crossbar with a looping header.

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There were wins for Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, Chelsea and Liverpool were held and Bournemouth lost more points from a winning position

Championship: Standing on the opposition goalline, Birmingham City’s South Korean midfielder Paik Seung-Ho can’t miss as he heads his side in front at Pride Park from a wonderful Liam Millar inswinger of a corner. The visitors lead Derby County 2-1 after 63 minutes.

WSL: West Ham haver doubled their lead against London City, with Viviane Asseyi making it 2-0 at Victoria Road after 48 minutes.

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How will Sunderland and Arsenal fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options

Arsenal can continue their strong start to the season with a victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Sunderland, however, are no pushovers at home, as they demonstrated in a 2-2 draw with the Gunners last season.

Mikel Arteta’s defending champions are performing at the peak of their powers. Arsenal have won all five of their competitive fixtures this season and are setting the early pace at the top of the Premier League table.

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How will Spurs and Everton fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options

Tottenham Hotspur’s resurgence after a season that saw them nearly relegated from the Premier League has yet to materialize. Indeed, Roberto De Zerbi’s side are still searching for their first win of the league season, placing a certain importance on Saturday’s fixture.

Anything less than a Spurs victory could turn the atmosphere toxic. The sound of boos from the home fans would be music to the ears of David Moyes and his Everton players as they aim to improve a run of just one win in 16 visits to Tottenham.

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How will Liverpool and Fulham fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options

The 2026-27 Premier League table is starting to take shape with Liverpool aiming to be closer to the top of the standings after an underwhelming campaign last term that saw the Anfield side finish a lowly fifth.

For Fulham, this season could be about survival. The Cottagers have lost all three of their opening fixtures with new manager Álvaro Arbeloa still integrating a contingent of talented but young and unproven summer signings.

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English top flight’s forwards are not well represented on the list, reflecting a season of set-piece grapple, but 2026-27 already looks brighter

Premier League representation is low when it comes to the 16 attacking players on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are there but Cole Palmer, one of the nominees in 2025, is out after an injury-hit year and English football’s shift towards physicality and set pieces last season is summed up by none of the forwards from the best team in the country making the cut.

The trio giving Arsenal a presence – Gabriel Maghalhães, Declan Rice and William Saliba – are all defensive minded. Arsenal won the league but their forwards are not regarded as elite. Injuries played a part, denying Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka fluency, but Mikel Arteta’s side were not loved by neutrals. There was respect rather than admiration for their defensive rigour. There was an argument that a lack of ambition after going 1-0 up stopped Arsenal from beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

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Manchester City travel to Manchester United for an intriguing derby on Sunday after Sunderland host Arsenal

Saturday 3pm Venue Villa Park

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