Category: Football (Soccer)

Manchester City sent a message to Arsenal with this chaotic victory that takes Enzo Maresca’s team three points clear as leaders during the three-week international break.

Until the Premier League resumes on 10 October City can enjoy their status while Mikel Arteta’s champions have to stew following Saturday’s 3-0 humbling at Brighton.

Alexander Isak’s second-half goal was enough to give Liverpool the points in a disappointing game, taking them up to sixth in the table; Bournemouth are 17th

I don’t imagine Rose spent too long sweating over his team. Kluivert is a miss, and of course Junior Kroupi is long-term injured, but otherwise, his team is pretty settled. Adam Scott, who we might’ve thought would leave in the summer, stayed, and has started the season in excellent form. His ball-carrying is exceptional and he offers height in both boxes; if he can develop his passing, especially shirt, punched through the lines, he might develop into an all-round monster.

But back to our game, let’s have a closer look at our dramatis personae.

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

Andoni Iraola will make his first return to Bournemouth since leaving the south-coast club for Liverpool. Four games into the new season, the Reds remain a work in progress.

Liverpool have won just one of their opening four league fixtures while Bournemouth are still searching for their first league victory under new manager Marco Rose. Both teams are struggling to build some early season momentum.

Hull always knew that, sooner or later, they would lose a Premier League game but no one can say that Sergej Jakirovic’s team did not do everything in their power to try and delay that inaugural top tier defeat.

After conceding two goals in the opening seven minutes Hull could easily have folded but Jakirovic’s promoted players are made of sterner stuff than that. Tellingly, they also sensed the fragility of a gifted but injury hit and extremely youthful Newcastle.

Spurs scored their first goals of the season but Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson and Emi Buendía earned the win for Villa

This is the 176th meeting between the sides.

Spurs have the historical edge having won 79 to Villa’s 62. There have been 32 draws.

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

Arsenal have picked up where they left off – as the team to beat at the top of the Premier League table. Indeed, four wins from four games have underlined the strength of Mikel Arteta’s team with the Gunners favorites to retain the title they won last season.

Brighton have also started the new season on a strong foot, losing just one of their opening four league fixtures and fighting back from 2-0 down to knock Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup this week. Fabian Hürzeler’s side boast genuine quality.

How will Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are still searching for traction in the Premier League this season with both teams without a win in their opening four matches. It’s against the angsty background that Saturday’s fixture will be played.

Spurs are also yet to score their first league goal. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have failed to score against Brentford, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Everton. After the optimism of the summer transfer window, a familiar malaise has set in around the North London club.

Brentford beat Chelsea at home for the first time since 1938 thanks to a second-half flurry

2 min: Schade advances menacingly down the left, chasing after a long ball by Lewis-Potter. He enters the box ahead of Fofana, but the Chelsea defender does magnificently well to catch up, take over possession, and brush Schade off the ball. Schade claims for a penalty, but not with any real conviction. We play on. It was a fine challenge.

Chelsea get the ball rolling at the Gtech. More accurately, Palmer sends it sailing directly into touch, rugby-style, down the right. A wonderful few-Friday-night-pints-in atmosphere. “If Brentford have no defence at centre back, do Chelsea have a defence anywhere?” wonders Richard Hirst.

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

On and off the field, this is a fixture between two close neighbours. Just one point divides Brentford and Chelsea in the Premier League table, with just five miles between the two clubs’ stadiums.

Brentford enter Friday’s match on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run. Keith Andrews has forged a team with a clear identity and playing style. The same can’t yet be said for Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea.

Tottenham begin Saturday’s action against Aston Villa while at Brighton Arsenal are aiming to keep their 100% winning record

Saturday 12.30pm TNT Sports 1 Venue Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The billionaire’s departure will change little day-to-day but could be significant for club’s stadium plans

Not since a doomed foray into the thorny world of the transfer market has Todd Boehly had any real influence over the day-to-day at Chelsea. The American exits football as a diminished figure four years on, along with his fellow investor Mark Walter, and the first thing to say is that little will change in the Stamford Bridge boardroom just because Boehly has left the scene.

Clearlake Capital, the US private equity firm founded by Behdad Eghbali and José E Feliciano, was already the majority owner and guiding force. The trio of Boehly, Walter and the Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss had an equal share of a 38.5% stake but have drifted into irrelevance since the BlueCo consortium bought Chelsea from Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn in 2022.

Spurs and Villa meet in desperation derby and Andoni Iraola faces test on south-coast return

• Premier League top scorers: check the latest standings

Chelsea have not won this west London derby since Brentford’s first Premier League season. Each visit since October 2021’s 1-0 win, Ben Chilwell the scorer, has been a draw. This season has continued the divergence between the clubs’ respective approaches, Brentford’s solidity and continuity compared to Chelsea attempting their latest reboot. Kevin Schade, after two well-taken goals at Bournemouth, will fancy facing a defence not yet attuned to Xabi Alonso’s configurations. Only one team has won a Premier League title with a defensive trio: Chelsea’s last title team, in 2016-17 under Antonio Conte. Alonso’s attack has been rather more successful, presenting another challenge for Jannik Schuster. Replacing Nathan Collins, the 20-year-old central defender had a tough examination from Bournemouth’s Evanilson on his first Premier League start, emerging with credit. For Chelsea, João Pedro has registered three goals and three assists, but doubts surrounding his fitness could lead to Danny Welbeck’s first league start. John Brewin

Brentford v Chelsea, Friday 8pm (all times BST)

Tottenham v Aston Villa, Saturday 3pm