Category: Football (Soccer)

After scoring on 68 minutes, Erling Haaland’s expression was pure box office – and who could blame him? Manchester City had hit the front, Chelsea were cowed, and relief mainlined through Pep Guardiola.

The ruthless striker’s 18th Premier League goal of the season was a sweet lofted effort fashioned over a backpedalling, out-of-position Robert Sánchez in the Chelsea goal: Haaland watched the ball kiss the net, then offered a comical what-else-do-you-expect face to the jubilant congregation.

Second-half goals from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden boosted Pep Guardiola after an early mistake by City debutant Abdukodir Khusanov

Chelsea get the ball rolling. Then an early touch for the new boy Khusanov.

Before kick-off, a moment to remember three former Manchester City players who have recently passed on: Tony Book, Denis Law and Bobby Kennedy. The warmest of applause and an a cappella version of Blue Moon.

Dango Ouattara scored a hat-trick as Bournemouth hammered Forest, while Riccardo Calafiori gave ten-man Arsenal a crucial win

Arsenal are without Martin Odegaard, who is unwell, but William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly return.

Wolverhampton (3-4-2-1) Jose Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou; Nelson Semedo, Andre Trindade, Joao Gomes, Ait Nouri; Sarabia, Cunha; Larsen.
Subs: Johnstone, Hwang, Dawson, Rodrigo Gomes, Doyle, Toti Gomes, Bellegarde, Goncalo Guedes, Pedro Lima.

• Dewsbury-Hall and Chukwuemeka catch Moyes’s eye
• Dwight McNeil set for surgery on knee injury

Everton are hoping to send Armando Broja back to Chelsea in exchange for another loan from Stamford Bridge, with the midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka on David Moyes’s wishlist.

Everton had wanted to terminate Broja’s season-long loan after the Albania international was ruled out for 10-12 weeks with ankle ligament damage, only for Chelsea to demand compensation for the remainder of the deal. Moyes is desperate to improve his attacking options in this window but Everton, who still have to be mindful of profitability and sustainability restrictions, have used their full allocation of four loan signings this season. One potential solution that has arisen in talks between the two clubs is for Broja to return to Chelsea and Everton to take another of their players on loan.

Chelsea travel to the Etihad to take on Manchester City while Fulham host Manchester United at Craven Cottage

Saturday 3pm Venue Vitality Stadium

Harvey Elliott deserves a Liverpool start, Chelsea should go for the jugular at City and Mikey Moore would help Spurs

In a surprise to pre-season predictors, this match is as important as a fixture in January can be in the battle for Champions League football. Nottingham Forest head into the weekend level with second-placed Arsenal, while Bournemouth are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and seven back from Forest. The scrutiny on both teams is growing but they keep answering the questions thrown at them. Despite having no out-and-out striker last weekend, Bournemouth put four past Newcastle, giving Nuno Espírito Santo a warning. Justin Kluivert scored a hat-trick, his second of the season, at St James’ Park as Andoni Iraola’s flexible front four excelled. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo might feel more confident against a natural No 9 but Forest’s centre-back pairing will relish the challenge. Will Unwin

Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm (all times GMT)

Brighton v Everton, Saturday 3pm

Liverpool v Ipswich, Saturday 3pm

Southampton v Newcastle, Saturday 3pm