Tottenham stun Chelsea for second league win in a week as Cole Palmer is sent off

The Guardian

There are days when Tottenham go into these big games and find ways to beat themselves. This time, though, they held their nerve at a ground where they have mostly only known doom. Spurs played with control, stayed patient and won at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2018 after waiting for Chelsea to press the self-destruct button during a calamitous and comical ending to a cagey game.

Chelsea were meant to have grown. Xabi Alonso had even praised his side’s emotional control and ability to manage awkward spells during the buildup, but perhaps that was asking for trouble. Chelsea, short of poise on and off the pitch, deserved to be beaten at home for the first time this season and there was plenty of blame to go around after Alonso got his tactics wrong, Mike Penders scored a ridiculous own-goal and Cole Palmer saw red after a lunge on Conor Gallagher when he was already on a booking.

October 24th 2026, 4:30 pm

Valkyries hold off Dream comeback to win Game 4 and level WNBA finals at 2-2

The Guardian

• Gabby Williams leads Golden State with 17 points

• Valkyries survive late rally after leading by 16

• Angel Reese held to eight points as series heads west

Gabby Williams scored 17 points and Golden State played stellar defense to beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 on Saturday and even the WNBA finals at 2-2.

The best-of-seven series moves back to California on Monday for Game 5.

October 24th 2026, 4:30 pm

NFL shutters Paris fan experience as protests overshadow first France game

The Guardian

• NFL House and city-center shop closed on Saturday

• Paris braces for protests amid heavy police presence

• Live: Thousands march in Paris and other French cities

The NFL closed its “NFL House” in Paris on Saturday as the city braced for street protests with a heavy police presence and storefronts boarded up.

The league announced the closure to fans on Saturday morning through its “OnePass” app, a day after saying its pop-up NFL shop would also be shut on Saturday – in both cases citing “potential accessibility issues”.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

Molly Picklum claims lead in WSL title race with ‘dream’ win in Portugal

The Guardian

• Australian defeats Cailtin Simmers in World Surf League women’s final

• Griffin Colapinto scores near-perfect barrel to beat ⁠Gabriel Medina

Australia’s reigning world champion Molly Picklum won the Portugal Pro in thumping tubes on Friday, claiming her first victory of the year and ⁠jumping to the top of the rankings with just two events of surfing’s world tour remaining.

California’s Griffin Colapinto scored a near-perfect barrel to come from behind and ⁠claim the win over Brazil’s ⁠Gabriel Medina in ​the men’s final, notching up his third victory at the powerful Portuguese beach break of Supertubos.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

‘A different kid’: from karting to F1 champion-elect, Antonelli’s ability has always stood out

The Guardian

With first drivers’ title all but secure, a friendlier champion would be hard to find, but Italian’s eight wins this season speak to his focus

Even as Kimi Antonelli may be world champion-elect, it is sometimes hard to equate the young man who has driven with such exceptional skill and no little verve to touching distance of an historic first Formula One title with the smiling, wide-eyed kid with tousled hair who still almost looks out of place in the F1 paddock. Yet what has become clear in this extraordinary season is that Antonelli’s talent and his personable, endearing character are inextricably entwined.

Whether the Italian seals his place as F1’s youngest world champion, at 20 years old, at this Sunday’s US Grand Prix in Austin or the next round in Mexico or even beyond that is moot – that he will do so is all but assured and for all that he is still in only his second season in the sport, a more rounded, well-liked champion than the Mercedes driver would be hard to find.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

Rising US star Fred Richard wins first world gymnastics title as Skye Blakely adds two more medals

The Guardian

• American, 22, edges Britain’s Jake Jarman by 0.033

• Blakely takes vault and bars bronze after all-around gold

• Simone Biles watches as Americans shine in Rotterdam

American Frederick Richard won the floor exercise title at the world gymnastics championships in Rotterdam on Saturday, finishing ahead of Britain’s Jake Jarman and Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat.

With US gymnastics great Simone Biles looking on as a spectator in the Netherlands, the 22-year-old Richard secured his first world title, edging out Jarman by just 0.033 points after scoring 14.633. Jarman, the defending world champion, was among a field that included the last two Olympic gold medallists.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

‘It feels like a fairy tale’: American Paula Moltzan wins first World Cup race by 0.01sec

The Guardian

• American, 32, wins season-opening giant slalom

• Moltzan edges Albania’s Lara Colturi by 0.01sec

• Mikaela Shiffrin drops from first to seventh place

American Paula Moltzan became the oldest woman to claim her first Alpine skiing World Cup victory on Saturday, pipping Albania’s Lara Colturi by just one-hundredth of a second in a thrilling season-opening giant slalom at Sölden, Austria.

Moltzan, who was fifth after the opening run, produced a superb second descent to finish with a combined time of 2min 14.82sec, narrowly denying her Italian-born Albanian rival, who finished in 2min 14.83sec. Germany’s Emma Aicher completed the podium, 0.52sec behind the Minnesota native.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

Connor Hellebuyck traded to New Jersey as Winnipeg Jets end bitter standoff with US Olympic hero

The Guardian

• Three-time Vezina winner leaves Winnipeg after 11 years

• Devils send four players and two draft picks to Jets

• Olympic gold medalist joins US teammate Jack Hughes

Connor Hellebuyck finally has a new home after the Winnipeg Jets granted the three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender’s trade request in a deal that sent him to the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

The Devils sent center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder to Winnipeg for Hellebuyck.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

Clinical Arsenal earn precious win against Everton thanks to Konsa and Gabriel

The Guardian

The wait goes on for David Moyes. The 63-year-old Scot must have been hoping that on his 14th visit to this stadium as Everton’s manager, his luck would change. Yet from the moment Ezri Konsa slammed home his first goal for Arsenal as the Premier League champions rediscovered their knack of scoring from set pieces, the writing was on the wall.

While it took until midway through the second half for Gabriel Magalhães to make sure of the victory, Arsenal were never going to let slip the chance of moving level on points at the top with Manchester City after their defeat to Aston Villa earlier in the day.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

The World Series of the have-nots is here. But baseball’s money problem isn’t going away | Tom Dart

The Guardian

Baseball’s two best regular-season teams are also among its lowest spenders. But their unlikely World Series comes with a warning about the sport’s future

The best pitcher in baseball led the best team to victory over the second-best team? Weird.

A World Series that makes the logical feel novel began on Friday as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1. Of course the Brewers, with their MLB-topping 103 regular-season victories, should be facing the 98-win Rays on the grandest stage. But of course, since these are two of the smallest and lowest-budget franchises in the sport, they shouldn’t.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

Chelsea v Tottenham: Premier League – live

The Guardian

⚽ Premier League updates from the 5.30pm BST kick-off
⚽ Aston Villa 2-1 Man City | Live scores | Table | Mail Scott

The teams take to the pitch. Chelsea in blue, Spurs in white, and it won’t be long before every shirt is soaking wet. Has the signature work of the Harry J All Stars ever been so apposite? We’ll be off in a couple of minutes.

Roberto De Zerbi also speaks to Sky. “James Maddison is a very important player … he brings personality, qualities, experience … a different position on the pitch … he’s a different player to Conor Gallagher or [Omar] Marmoush as a number ten … we have to find him in the right moment in the best position … [Dominic Solanke] felt fatigue after Coventry … I am lucky to have a big squad with many different solutions … so I took the decision [to rest him] but the game is 90 minutes.”

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

Australia crush England in women’s Rugby League World Cup statement win

The Guardian

• Pool A: Jillaroos 78-0 England

• Australia run in 15 tries

The Jillaroos sent a reminder to English rugby league that it is losing touch with the best in the world with a 78-0 hammering in Perth. The 15-tries-to-none victory confirmed the gulf in athleticism and skill between the two hemispheres and reminded fans the rugby league universe now orbits the Pacific.

The one-sided result showed last year’s 90-4 embarrassment in Las Vegas was no outlier and England’s women’s team must urgently refocus in time for next week’s showdown with Samoa if they are to reach the semi-finals.

October 24th 2026, 2:16 pm

Why are two college football teams playing at Wembley on Saturday?

The Guardian

Kansas are taking on Arizona in the Union Jack Classic, with 60,000 young and noisy fans expected at Wembley

By No Helmets Required

Follow No Helmets Required on Facebook

September 16th 2026, 10:27 am

Maresca says Manchester City still waiting for apology after incorrect 2023 derby goal

The Guardian

• United won game after controversial Fernandes equaliser

• City to blood youngsters for Carabao Cup game against Norwich

Enzo Maresca says Manchester United cannot complain about the controversial derby winner on Sunday because Manchester City are still awaiting an apology from the referees’ chief, Howard Webb, for a match-defining decision in the same fixture three years ago. City lost at Old Trafford in 2023 after Bruno Fernandes equalised despite Marcus Rashford being in an offside position.

Marseca was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the time and had to witness Rashford’s winner minutes later. “The goal was not a regular goal, if you remember,” Maresca said. “And to be honest, no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that goal. Sometimes it happens for you, sometimes it happens against you. It’s football.”

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

‘It’s payback time’: the WNBA-leading Lynx are on the hunt for title redemption

The Guardian

Ten seasons ago, Minnesota entered the playoffs with a chip on their shoulders and won a championship. Can they channel the same energy this year?

Williams Arena (now known as The Barn) in Minneapolis was packed to capacity on 4 October 2017, when Cheryl Reeve sent Sylvia Fowles into Game 5 of the WNBA finals and watched her take off. Reeve, chasing her fourth championship after losing out in 2016, had learned her lesson the previous year, when she put Fowles back into a finals game too late.

Fowles answered the call. She racked up 17 points and broke her own WNBA rebounds record with 20. Her effort was matched by that of Maya Moore, with 18 points and 10 rebounds; Lindsay Whalen, who had 17 points and eight assists; and Seimone Augustus, who added another 14 points, six assists and six rebounds. The Lynx showed out, clinching the franchise’s fourth title, with Fowles named finals MVP.

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Arch Manning apologizes for ‘insensitive’ joke about AI video of ESPN’s Holly Rowe

The Guardian

• Texas star called clip of coach slapping reporter ‘hilarious’

• Manning: ‘Nothing funny about it … I need to do better’

• Rowe posts that she accepts apology, will move forward

Texas’s star quarterback, Arch Manning, has apologized after joking about an AI-generated video that depicted Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN college football reporter Holly Rowe after last Saturday’s game.

Manning had been asked at a press conference on Monday about the social media reaction to the Longhorns’ 24-23 upset win over No 1 Ohio State. Rowe had attempted to ask Sarkisian a question for the standard postgame interview, but the coach interrupted her and yelled a pair of Texas slogans before walking off.

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Louisville’s Savannah DeMelo sues team doctors after cardiac arrest during game

The Guardian

• Midfielder suffered cardiac arrest mid-game last year

• Louisville will drop UofL Health as medical partner

Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo has filed a lawsuit against UofL Health and two named physicians for negligence after they allegedly failed to properly diagnose a heart condition before she suffered cardiac arrest in the first half of an NWSL game on 14 September 2025.

According to an screenshot of the complaint, the filing claims that UofL Health “failed to act as a reasonably prudent and competent medical practice … and such negligence was a substantial factor in causing [DeMelo] to suffer severe physical injuries, including, but not limited to, her cardiac arrest.”

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Top golfers to get no favours for PGA Tour return after LIV bankruptcy

The Guardian

• PGA commissioner: ‘The Tour is built on meritocracy’

• Rahm and Hatton likely to start back on DP World Tour

The head of the PGA Tour has insisted there will be no favours offered to golfers looking to return to the ­platform after LIV’s bankruptcy filing last week.

The increasing likelihood is players such as Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Tyrrell Hatton will have to play their way back on to the PGA Tour through performances in Europe in 2027 in what would represent a boost to the DP World Tour.

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Watching Cavan Sullivan, excitement is tempered by memories of hypetrains past

The Guardian

The 16-year-old Union star isn’t the first wunderkind to be feted by the American soccersphere

The trouble with trying not to hype up Cavan Sullivan is that he keeps on doing cool stuff. Like this past weekend, when he scampers along on a Philadelphia Union breakaway, loses his man by stopping so suddenly it’s as if he’s pulled a ripcord, back-heels the cutback behind his standing leg, watches it slowly kiss off the far post and in, and celebrated the goal by bowing and doffing an imaginary top hat to the crowd.

Like when he doubles the score by setting up an attack and finishing it himself with a left-footed lash through the goalkeeper’s legs form an acute angle. Like when he fashions yet another goal by holding up the play and then suddenly springs a teammate up the right flank.

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Mets fans celebrate home run against own team as returning hero Alonso goes yard

The Guardian

• Slugger ties game in ninth with 414ft shot

• Reaction irks Mets pitcher Sean Manaea

• Alonso’s departure annoyed many Mets fans

Pete Alonso launched his 300th career home run Tuesday night, a tying shot in the ninth inning against his former team, and Coby Mayo’s inside-the-park homer in the 11th sent the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-5 victory at Citi Field.

“There’s a lot of history here with me,” Alonso said after receiving a beer shower from his Baltimore teammates. “It doesn’t matter where and when, I just want to help the team win. I’m just really, really happy for us to come back the way we did.”

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Why Coventry, Tottenham and Aston Villa should not panic about their slow starts

The Guardian

Coventry have no points, Spurs have no goals and Villa have dipped again. But what does a bad start really mean?

By Opta Analyst

That optimism we feel at the start of a new season can be intoxicating. Whatever happened last season, there has been a whole summer to correct things. New signings, possibly a new manager, and new possibilities. What could go wrong? Oh, everything. Terrific. We’re only in mid-September, but that early optimism has melted away and been replaced by anxiety for some fans.

Coventry had every reason to look forward to the season, their first in the Premier League since 2001. They were coming off the back of a title-winning campaign in the Championship and were riding the crest of a wave. Now, though, they have fallen off their surfboard and are frantically trying to keep their heads above water as the ferocity of the top flight becomes increasingly apparent.

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Glory at 11,000ft: Cusco’s Cienciano aim to bring Peru continental success once again

The Guardian

Cusco is known for tourism. But the city’s biggest football team is chasing a repeat of a South American title that caused shockwaves more than 20 years ago

It was one of those nights when Cusco shifted the spotlight from its tourism engine to football. At a stadium named after Garcilaso de la Vega – celebrated for his chronicles about the Inca empire – around 30,000 people gathered to witness something far more immediate than nearby Machu Picchu, arguably the best-known archaeological site in the Americas.

Cusco’s biggest team, Cienciano, were set to play in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-final, 23 years after they became the first Peruvian club to lift an international trophy.

September 16th 2026, 10:16 am

Manchester United shocked as talented youngster JJ Gabriel asks to leave

The Guardian

• 15-year-old wants his registration to be cancelled

• He was to be in squad to face Brighton on Wednesday

Manchester United have been left confused and shocked by the news that the talented 15-year-old player JJ Gabriel has asked to leave the club, a day before he was to be included in the first-team squad to face Brighton.

Gabriel could have become United’s youngest player in the Carabao Cup third-round tie at Old Trafford on Wednesday. But the Guardian understands he has asked for his registration to be cancelled.

September 15th 2026, 1:17 pm

‘I loved my time in the FBI but nothing can compare to the NFL’: Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman on his unl

The Guardian

The player who invented the Peanut Punch talks about his nomadic childhood, love of Chicago and time as a cop

By No Helmets Required

Defensive back Charles Tillman played 168 games for his hometown team Chicago Bears across 13 NFL seasons. Nicknamed “Peanut” as a child by his mother, he became renowned for the Peanut Punch, where he would whack the ball out of the hands of unsuspecting receivers. After retiring from playing, he spent eight years in the FBI before quitting over the Trump administration’s ICE policies and tactics. Now 45, he spent some of his summer in England, teaching flag football to kids in Liverpool.

You went to a dozen schools around the world as a child. Do you share your own experiences when you coach kids now? “Absolutely. I share a great deal because it helped shape me into the person I am today. My dad being in the military and us moving around so much helped my personality. I’m very outgoing and a lot of that stems from my childhood, always being the new kid in school and having to make new friends. So, I talk about those experiences with the kids when it feels appropriate.”

September 15th 2026, 1:17 pm

Sophie Cunningham says she spoke to Adam Silver about next WNBA commissioner

The Guardian

• Cathy Engelbert is leaving her post at end of year

• NBA commissioner often speaks to players about issues

• Sign up for the free WNBA 30 weekly newsletter

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has discussed the soon-to-be vacant WNBA commissioner’s job with Adam Silver after the NBA commissioner reached out to her.

“I have talked to Adam Silver a couple times, and I think he’s a great guy,” Cunningham said on Monday. “He was very knowledgeable and full of wisdom and so getting to talk to him and hear his perspective of how he approaches the NBA is huge, who he’s kind of looking for. I think if you want to know the real answers, you go to him.

September 15th 2026, 1:17 pm

Raheem Sterling could face prison for reckless driving while using nitrous oxide

The Guardian

Ex-England footballer pleads guilty and admits to failing to provide a specimen as he appears in court

Raheem Sterling pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and could be sent to prison after driving his Lamborghini for more than an hour on motorways during rush hour while inhaling nitrous oxide.

The former Chelsea and Manchester City forward stood in the dock to accept three charges before Basingstoke magistrates court heard how he embarked on a prolonged period of reckless driving on the M25 and M3, inhaling nitrous oxide balloons, before crashing his £270,000 car. Sterling was disqualified from driving and bailed until 25 November, when his sentence will either be determined or referred to the crown court.

September 15th 2026, 1:17 pm

USMNT roster prediction: a big chance for Cavan Sullivan and other young prospects

The Guardian

The United States’ next World Cup cycle gets underway with this week’s squad selection – here’s who we think will make the cut

Pablo: Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Diego Kochen (Lyngby)

September 15th 2026, 1:17 pm

How Promise David emerged from Maltese shadows into the Premier League

The Guardian

Former teammates and coaches rave about Brighton’s summer signing, who impressed with Canada at the World Cup

Promise David had a five‑year plan. He would score bags of goals, earn a transfer to a top European league and play for Canada at the 2026 World Cup. There was just one problem: apart from his parents, teammates and coaches, no one in soccer seemed to know his name.

It was 2023, and the striker was scrapping for minutes in Estonia’s Meistriliiga – a league small enough that streaming services didn’t bother with its matches. He was 22 and already a football nomad. He had been cut from his hometown club’s academy. Passed over by NCAA college programs. Relegated to the reserve squad of almost every club for which he played.

September 15th 2026, 1:17 pm

Are Manchester United as poor as the early Premier League table suggests?

The Guardian

Michael Carrick’s side are 13th in the table after four games but, City mitigation aside, several areas need attention

Manchester United are 13th in the Premier League, having taken four points from their first four games: a 2-0 defeat at Hull, 5-2 win against Ipswich, 2-2 draw at Everton and the 1-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday. Mitigation regarding the City reverse can be found in the derby coming three days after the Champions League win against Sabah on Thursday, with Enzo Maresca’s side having 48 hours more rest after winning at Porto. So are United, who host Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before visiting Fulham in the league on Sunday, as poor as the table suggests?

September 15th 2026, 3:12 am

Haaland goal should not have stood but VAR made the right call with Sunderland penalty | Chris Foy

The Guardian

Matt Donohue is only human and made a mistake, but, in general, referees have started well this season

There was a disappointing outcome on a big decision in the Manchester derby and no one will feel it more than the video assistant referee, Matt Donohue. On Sunday night, Pro Ref confirmed that Donohue had made a mistake in allowing Erling Haaland’s goal in City’s 1-0 victory to stand when Enzo Fernández had been in an offside position.

When a VAR considers a decision such as this they start from the point at which the goal is scored and work backwards. Here, when Haaland scores, the flag is raised by the assistant referee for offside. The VAR automatically checked that on-field decision and used a semi‑automated system to show Haaland was onside. The decision was then made to overturn the call and award the goal.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

Calvert-Lewin shows the way as Leeds thrash limp Newcastle and rise to third

The Guardian

At what stage does a good start become something more significant? Perhaps we are not quite there yet; maybe we are. But as the goals flew in on a chaotic night at Elland Road, it was difficult not to think the boundaries of expectation for Leeds were potentially being redrawn.

Ask those close to the action over the summer at Leeds and the feeling was that there was a possibility of something special materialising this season. Having found their feet in the Premier League in the last campaign, the platform had been set and a very good summer transfer window seemed like the catalyst for even brighter days to return to West Yorkshire.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

From influencers to brutal finishes, US Open 2026 was worst grand slam in recent memory | Tumaini Ca

The Guardian

Despite the drama on the court, the poor condition of Arthur Ashe Stadium was just one problem among many

At the end of another comically late night and early morning in Flushing Meadows, when the remaining spectators were departing, a familiar scene was unfolding on the US Open tournament grounds. A handful of workers had congregated directly beneath a hole in the ceiling inside one of the tournament shops as they tried to stop water from flowing out of a broken pipe and ruining thousands of pounds worth of merchandise below.

This was not a surprising sight. Upon entering Arthur Ashe Stadium this year, fans were greeted by some ominous signs: “Pardon our appearance while we write the next chapter of Arthur Ashe Stadium.” The tournament’s appearance, it must be said, was hideous. Inside the corridors and rooms at one of the biggest sporting events in the world, it felt like its main building was falling apart.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

Spanish GP plans to change Madring after fierce criticism from F1 drivers

The Guardian

• New track for Spanish GP frustrated drivers and fans

• McLaren’s Stella: ‘It’s impossible to attempt overtaking’

Discussions are already under way to change the layout of Formula One’s newest circuit after driver condemnation of the Madring during its inaugural grand prix. The race in Madrid was won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, but it was notable for being a procession with overtakes failing to reach double digits over 57 laps. Drivers were left frustrated and disappointed at an opportunity that had been lost, resulting in a chorus of criticism.

“I don’t know how someone looks at this design and goes ‘mint’,” said the defending world champion, Lando Norris, who finished third. “There’s a lot of opportunity. They can make it into a track that’s good for racing and I’m excited to come back here next year if they can make these changes.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

NHL star Alex Ovechkin appears in campaign ad for pro-Putin United Russia party

The Guardian

• Capitals star is long-time supporter of Russian leader

• Ovechkin is NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, has appeared in a campaign ad for the United Russia party, which supports Vladimir Putin, as he prepares for the new hockey season.

The Russian business newspaper Vedomosti published images of the Washington Capitals star alongside pro-Putin figures such as Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, the leading parliamentary candidate on United Russia’s list, and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the propaganda network RT.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

VARs who wrongly confirmed Haaland’s goal at Manchester United are stood down

The Guardian

• Matt Donohue and his assistant not used this weekend

• Pro Ref said allowing winner was ‘error of judgment’

The video assistant referee officials who allowed Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the Manchester derby on Sunday have been stood down. Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus, have been told by Pro Ref they have not received appointments for this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures.

Howard Webb, the chief ­refereeing officer, took the decision with his management team after a review of the weekend’s action. Their availa­bility will be reconsidered after the international break.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

Patrick Mahomes triumphant on NFL return as Chiefs beat up misfiring Broncos

The Guardian

• Denver Broncos 10–31 Kansas City Chiefs

• Chiefs QB throws two TDs on return from torn ACL

• Kenneth Walker III rushes for 173 yards on debut

Kenneth Walker III ran for 173 yards and scored two touchdowns on his Chiefs debut, stealing some of the spotlight from Patrick Mahomes as Kansas City defeated the Denver Broncos 31-10 on Monday night.

The big question, even after Mahomes participated in the entire offseason program and every practice of training camp, was how his surgically repaired left knee would hold up nine months to the day since he tore his ACL. He erased many of those doubts when he capped the Chiefs’ opening drive with a 15-yard touchdown run.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

Hyrox changes rules and apologises for allowing Australian athlete who soiled herself to continue

The Guardian

• Australian Joanna Wietrzyk went on to win fitness race in Beijing

• Hyrox admits making mistake by ‘not reacting immediately’

Organisers of the global indoor fitness competition Hyrox have apologised and pledged immediate rule changes after an Australian athlete was allowed to finish and win an event in Beijing despite soiling herself mid-race.

Footage of world record holder Joanna Wietrzyk competing on Saturday showed her continuing through demanding exercises and using communal equipment, with faecal matter visibly running down her legs. The incident went viral on social media and triggered debate about Hyrox’s health and safety standards, and athlete responsibility.

September 15th 2026, 3:00 am

The Josh Allen rollercoaster is up and running again for the new NFL season

The Guardian

The Bills quarterback produced his usual thrills: a galloping touchdown run, a near game-ending mistake and a brilliant throw. Buffalo fans better hold on

Having Josh Allen as your quarterback is a bit like owning a high-performance sports car with an odd mechanical flaw that can’t be repaired. Most of the results are amazing – perhaps unprecedented – but there are also times when you wonder if a safer ride would get you farther.

In Buffalo’s 36-31 Sunday win over the Houston Texans, Bills fans saw all sides of the Allenmobile. The quarterback completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 130.5. He also ran the ball six times for 23 yards and two more touchdowns, the first a typical romp through the opposing defense.

September 14th 2026, 6:47 am

Ludek Miklosko, former West Ham and QPR goalkeeper, dies aged 64

The Guardian

• Miklosko played 373 times for West Ham from 1990

• He won 42 international caps from 1982

The former West Ham and QPR goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64. Miklosko, who won caps for Czechoslovakia and Czechia, had cancer.

Miklosko joined West Ham from Baník Ostrava in 1990 for £300,000 after a trial and helped the club win promotion to the top division in his first season. He left in 1998 having made 373 appearances, joining QPR, initially on loan. Miklosko ended his career there in 2001 and returned to West Ham, where he worked as a goalkeeping coach until 2010.

September 14th 2026, 6:47 am

Sydney Sweeney under fire for ‘sexualising women’s sport’ in sports prediction ad

The Guardian

• Actor appears naked in ad while mock playing various sports

• ‘A kick in the face,’ says Olympic champion swimmer Ariarne Titmus

Olympic athletes have come out in force to condemn a sports betting advert featuring actor Sydney Sweeney in various states of undress, while showcasing the real skill, strength and beauty of women’s sport.

The campaign, for US sports prediction market company Novig, depicts Sweeney in minimal to no clothing while she pretends to play several different sports.

September 14th 2026, 6:47 am

Enric Mas reigns supreme at last in Vuelta a España to delight Spanish fans

The Guardian

• Mas wins title after three second-place finishes

• Tobias Johannessen takes final stage in Granada

Spain’s Enric Mas secured his first Vuelta a España title on Sunday as Tobias Johannessen won the 21st and final stage in Granada, bringing the three-week Grand Tour to a close.

The 31-year-old, who took the red jersey after Tadej Pogacar abandoned the race after a crash on stage eight, held off the four-time champion Primoz Roglic to become the first Spaniard to win the Vuelta since Alberto Contador in 2014.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

NFL roundup: Bears and Panthers set scoring record; Bills beat Texans in thriller

The Guardian

• Carolina and Chicago combine for 96 points

• Buffalo beat Houston thanks to late rally

Caleb Williams threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 65 yards and two more scores as the Chicago Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers in the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history. Chicago and Carolina scored eight more points than the previous record of 88 set in Tampa Bay’s 48-40 win over New Orleans in 2018. Coach Ben Johnson’s prolific Bears also broke a franchise record for points in an opener, a mark that had stood since 1948, when Chicago hung 45 points on Green Bay at Wrigley Field. The 59 points were the most allowed by the Panthers in team history. D’Andre Swift, who received a $33.75m contract extension earlier this week, ran for 124 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns, while Kyle Monangai had 100 yards rushing, including a 61-yard touchdown burst.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

Arteta embraces perfect storm to play the victim in game of his own making | Barney Ronay

The Guardian

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.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

Alexander Zverev claims first US Open after four-set battle with Ben Shelton

The Guardian

• No 1 seed wins 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2

• American’s hopes dashed in tense final

For a passing moment at the end of a rugged third set, hope sprung anew for Ben Shelton. He had been outserved and outplayed for nearly three hours, but at 6-5 in the third set, one game from defeat, the American finally broke through. He burst into the return game finally pounding his forehand freely and he willed himself into an unexpected fourth set.

After he had finished pumping his fist, cupping his ear to the crowd and admirably trying to initiate a drastic momentum shift, the next sequence was most revealing. Shelton opened the fourth set with a shaky game, immediately losing his serve at the start of the set. He worked hard until the end, but he was beaten by Zverev, the top seed, who closed out a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 victory to lift his second grand slam title of the year.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

USA defend Fiba Women’s World Cup title after early scare against France

The Guardian

• USA overcame a 14-point France lead in first half

• Breanna Stewart scores 22 points; Caitlin Clark gets 12

Defending champions USA fell behind early but stormed back past ⁠France 97-79 on Sunday to win the Women’s World Cup.

In a rematch of the 2024 ⁠Olympic final, ⁠the ​American women came out on top once more, earning their fifth consecutive World Cup title ⁠and stretching their impressive unbeaten run at Olympics or World Cups to 20 years.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

Kimi Antonelli holds off Max Verstappen during Madring debut to win F1 Spanish GP

The Guardian

• McLaren’s Norris in third and Ferrari’s Leclerc fourth

• Track design questioned owing to lack of overtaking

Kimi Antonelli’s seemingly inexorable march to his first Formula One world championship advanced at double time as the young Italian proved to have good fortune on his side too with his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.

His execution was perfect as he became the first driver to win at F1’s newest circuit, the Madring, in beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen into second and McLaren’s Lando Norris into third. But Antonelli’s win came at a cost to Norris who, while having led until lap 14 and was impressively quick, was just unlucky and try as he might was left tilting at windmills in Madrid.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

JJ Watt proves to be a solid replacement for Tony Romo as CBS’s No 1 analyst

The Guardian

With the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback on leave after his arrest in July, CBS brought a dependable presence into the booth with Jim Nantz

If you were looking for insight from the CBS team broadcasting Minnesota’s 39-22 comeback win over Green Bay on Sunday afternoon, you were rewarded even before the first snap.

Asked by his play-by-play partner, Jim Nantz, what he was focusing on with new Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray, JJ Watt told viewers that Murray was playing against his former head coach Jonathan Gannon. The now-Green Bay defensive coordinator was dismissed from the head coaching job in Arizona at the end of last season.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

‘An error of judgement’: Pro Ref admits mistake in awarding Haaland’s derby winner

The Guardian

• Officiating body announces it will review the incident

• Unhappy Carrick says error was ‘as obvious as it gets’

Pro Ref admitted Erling Haaland’s winner in Sunday’s Manchester derby should not have been allowed after the video assistant referee ruled Enzo Fernández was not interfering with play in the build-up. The elite officiating body will review the decision and has contacted Manchester United.

Haaland’s 60th minute goal for Manchester City at Old Trafford was initially ruled offside before the VAR’s intervention. It came after Josko Gvardiol’s cross hit Patrick Dorgu’s boot, passed Fernández and the United defender Lisandro Martínez, and was finished by the City No 9. VAR decided Fernández was not interfering despite Martínez marking the midfielder.

September 13th 2026, 11:01 pm

Lewis Dunk’s showstopper helps five-star Brighton to rout 10-man Coventry

The Guardian

The bare statistic is bleak: Coventry City are only the second team in Premier League history to lose their first four games of the season without scoring in any of them. “And yet …” will be the enduring message from Frank Lampard.

And yet they have caused problems for opposition teams – even at points when down to 10 men here against Brighton. And yet they have already faced three of the top flight’s European contingent. And yet they are not playing that badly. But they simply cannot find the point, or even the goal, that would give their confidence a much-needed boost. And it does not take long for a promoted club’s relegation fears to turn realistic.

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

Arch Manning leads Texas back from 20 points down in fourth quarter to shock No 1 Ohio State

The Guardian

• Ohio State Buckeyes 23-24 Texas Longhorns

• Longhorns QB shows maturity in huge comeback

Arch Manning delivered a moment, and it was a big one for Texas and himself. The Longhorns quarterback led No 4 Texas back from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat No 1 Ohio State 24-23 on Saturday night.

Using his legs to keep drives going and his right arm to start the rally with a touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo, Manning delivered the kind of primetime performance that could redefine his career and propel the program’s national championship hopes.

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

FastPasses, Mega Honey Deuces and $55 chopped cheese: welcome to the US Open in 2041 | Bryan Armen G

The Guardian

Craig Tiley says the US Open is going to become the ‘Disneyland of tennis’, and he means it aspirationally. Here’s what that might look like 15 years from now

The year is 2041 and you’ve successfully made it through security and onto the grounds of the USTA Liquid Death National Tennis Center. Myla Rose and Leo Federer are hitting on Practice Court 23 ahead of their first-round match in the US Open Mixed Doubles sponsored by Botoxxify, the tournament’s official neuromodulator partner. Jake Paul, the 50th president of the United States, is a few hours from attending opening night with first lady Jutta Leerdam-Paul and labor secretary Dana White. Venus Williams has just accepted a wildcard into the women’s singles draw. You’re thisclose to paying off last year’s Honey Deuces on Klarna.

Welcome to the Disneyland of tennis.

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

Spanish Grand Prix: Antonelli holds off Verstappen to stretch F1 championship lead – live

The Guardian

Lights out at 2pm (all times BST)
Ecclestone questioned after shotgun found on private jet
Share your thoughts with John via email

The formation lap is away. It’s a hot day in Madrid, 31 degrees, no shade at all. The track temperature is 54 degrees.

The 57 laps are soon to start, a voyage into the unknown, with the preliminary races throwing up a few questions of what the track will dish out to the drivers.

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

Manchester United v Manchester City: Premier League – live

The Guardian

⚽️ Manchester derby updates from 4.30pm BST
⚽️ Dunk showstopper helps Brighton rout Coventry
⚽️ Today’s scores | Drop Rob an email

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?

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

‘I want Teófimo’: Ryan Garcia calls out rivals after two-round destruction of Conor Benn

The Guardian

• Garcia stops Benn 1min 25sec into second round

• Champion floors challenger with concussive right

• López, Haney, Stevenson among possible fights

Ryan Garcia needed less than four minutes to blow away Conor Benn before turning his sights on the rest of the welterweight division.

The 28-year-old American demolished Benn inside two rounds on Saturday night to retain his World Boxing Council championship at 147lb, dropping the British challenger with a concussive right hand before the referee stepped in moments later at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The sensational finish ignited the mostly pro-Garcia crowd of 18,855 on Mexican Independence Day weekend. Then, with Teófimo López taunting him from ringside and threatening to storm the ring, Garcia made it clear he was ready to take on all comers.

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

Solheim Cup golf 2026: final day – Europe seal glory after dominant singles victory over USA

The Guardian

⛳️ Solheim Cup updates from Bernardus Golf
⛳️ Live scoring | Ewan Murray’s day two report | Email Scott

Charley Hull lets go of her club – a wet grip? – while sending her second at the par-five 2nd into a fairway bunker. She whips into the green and makes par, but Megan Khang set up a six-foot birdie chance to level the match. However she repeats the error of the 1st hole, leaving a dribbler short, failing to take into account the slowness of the wet greens. A let-off for Hull.

1UP Hull v Khang (2)
Henseleit A/S Al. Lee (1)
Grant v Yin

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

Cristiano Ronaldo calls for lifetime bans in Saudi Pro League after Diogo Jota chants

The Guardian

• Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves subjected to chants at Al-Taawoun

• Neves was close friend of Jota and pallbearer at funeral

Cristiano Ronaldo said that fans who appeared to ⁠make chants referencing his former teammate Diogo Jota at Rúben Neves during a Saudi ⁠Pro League ⁠match ​should be banned for life from football stadiums.

The chants occurred on Saturday during ⁠a fixture between Al-Taawoun and Neves’s side, Al-Hilal, in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.

September 13th 2026, 11:44 am

Guimarães and Saka fire Arsenal to win at Sunderland after Raya spot-kick save

The Guardian

As the final whistle blew Bruno Guimarães wore a mischievous smile, Enzo Le Fée was a study in dejection and Arsenal’s immaculate start to the season remained unblemished.

Two minutes after David Raya had rather majestically saved Le Fée’s second-half penalty, Guimarães delighted his new north London public and plenty of old friends in Newcastle by sending a shot curving past Robin Roefs from the edge of the area.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

Lando Norris shocks himself by pipping Kimi Antonelli to F1 Spanish GP pole

The Guardian

• Briton beats Antonelli by one hundredth of a second

• Verstappen qualifies third on tough Madring track

Proving that timing is all, not least in making a statement, Lando Norris kept his very best to last for a moment that must be considered close to Formula One perfection. His pole position at the sport’s newest circuit, the Madring, for the Spanish Grand Prix was so immense it left him shocked. Not least in that he had not threatened the top of the timesheets at any point over the weekend until the final lap of the final session, and then he was masterly.

On a circuit that has proved punishingly unforgiving with some major crashes, keeping it clean was vital, but for the top spot, absolute commitment and inch-perfect execution was the differentiator in threading the needle inside the looming walls of this high-speed challenge.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

Ryan Garcia v Conor Benn: WBC welterweight championship – live updates

The Guardian

Garcia defends WBC welterweight title against Benn
Rivals collide at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Send Bryan an email with your thoughts on the fight

Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s his lookahead to tonight’s main event.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

Solheim Cup: Hull and Woad flop for Europe as Kupcho pulls USA level

The Guardian

• Scores level at 8-8 after dramatic day two

• Anna Nordqvist pairing of star duo fails to pay off

It has been the great anomaly of this Solheim Cup. Europe keeping perfect pace with the United States is an impressive achievement even without factoring in the meagre points contribution from Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. European hopes of reclaiming the trophy lost to the United States two years ago surely depend heavily on their star turns finding singles form.

The heroics of Jennifer Kupcho in fading light dashed Europe’s ambitions of taking a lead. It is 8-8 as things stand. A 12-match shootout remains.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

De Zerbi says Spurs have ‘mental block’ after wait for league win continues

The Guardian

• ‘No wins, no goals scored … it is tough for the players’

• Spurs in 17th place after 0-0 draw against Everton

Roberto De Zerbi says his Tottenham players continue to lack physical fitness and must “unblock” themselves in psychological terms after they drew their latest Premier League blank in a home 0-0 with Everton. It is now four games in the competition since the start of the season without a goal for Spurs; they sit 17th in the table with two points and were booed off by frustrated fans.

De Zerbi gave a number of explanations for Spurs’ slow start, chief among them the injuries that a clutch of players sustained on the long-haul pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia. He lamented the impact of the World Cup on the return dates of certain players and mentioned how Sávio and Omar Marmoush had signed late in the transfer window.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

Missouri coach blasts Kansas over slavery references after Border War win

The Guardian

• Tigers beat Kansas 38-21 in historic Border War

• Rivalry has roots in pre-Civil War slavery conflict

• Drinkwitz says buildup left him ‘embarrassed’

The latest edition of the Border War between Missouri and Kansas turned out to be a mere skirmish for a half.

Robert Woodyard Jr produced back-to-back turnovers soon after the break, and Austin Simmons and the potent Tigers offense turned them into touchdowns, helping No 23 Missouri break open a tie game and roll to a 38-21 victory Friday night.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

Hull stun Chelsea with Mohamed Belloumi double before João Pedro rescues a point

The Guardian

The chants from the away end about winning the league were sung in jest, but Hull continue to show they are here to stay. Sergej Jakirovic’s dogged, intelligent side are third in the Premier League after extending their unbeaten start to four games and can even count themselves unfortunate not to have beaten another of the Big Six after pushing Chelsea to the limit in an absorbing battle at a frustrated Stamford Bridge.

Hull were 2-1 up at half-time and they had the chances to snatch the points during the second half. It took two big saves from Emiliano Martínez to prevent an upset, but this was not a good day for the Chelsea goalkeeper or his new teammates. He was one of several at fault when Hull, having dusted themselves down after conceding from Morgan Rogers early on, went ahead through Mohamed Belloumi’s quickfire double. The ease with which Chelsea’s advantage was handed over left the normally calm and considered Xabi Alonso accusing his side of being “soft” without the ball.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to seal dramatic US Open title triumph

The Guardian

• Rybakina wins 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 despite first-serve problems

• Overcomes top seed and two-time defending champion

Even when long established as a grand slam champion and a conqueror of all surfaces, Elena Rybakina was always considered lesser than the most successful players of her era. She was one of the most devastating shotmakers in the world, a threat to everybody everywhere, but there were always a couple of more consistent and mentally tougher players above her.

She leaves New York, finally, as the undisputed best tennis player on the planet, the new standard bearer of women’s tennis, after following up her snatching of the No 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka by succeeding her as the US Open champion. As she has done throughout this unforgettable week, the Kazakhstani showed her toughness in another spectacular tussle with her great rival, closing out her time at Flushing Meadows with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Sabalenka, the top seed and two-time defending champion.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

USA survive Spain scare to set up Olympic final rematch with France at Fiba World Cup

The Guardian

• Four-time defending champions beat Spain 76-66

• Stewart scores 16 as USA pull away in fourth

• Americans to face France in rematch of Paris final

The United States advanced to the Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup final for the fifth consecutive time, pulling away in the fourth quarter to beat Spain 76-66 on Saturday in Berlin.

Breanna Stewart scored 16 points and Kahleah Copper added 13 for the four-time defending champions, who were tied at 58 entering the fourth quarter before finally taking control. Jackie Young added 12 points.

September 12th 2026, 9:45 pm

What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff

The Guardian

The World Cup and its aftermath made clear that Fifa needs independent oversight by governments and NGOs dedicated to preserving the people’s game

The 2026 World Cup was a whirling swirl of scintillating soccer that prompted much-needed conversations about the vitality of diaspora, the fortitude of the underdog, the power of sport. In a world fractured along myriad cultural axes floating in an entertainment system dominated by on-demand content, the tournament provided a moment, perhaps unlike any other event, that brought together people from different backgrounds to simultaneously experience something meaningful.

After the tournament concluded, Fifa president Gianni Infantino dropped a political pipebomb into the after-party, proposing to privatize the World Cup by injecting $20bn in private capital, with an assist from JP Morgan and Thrive Capital, the investment vehicle orchestrated by Joshua Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

September 12th 2026, 11:17 am

London City’s superstars brought down to earth in WSL defeat at West Ham

The Guardian

West Ham claimed their first Women’s Super League win of the season with a 2-1 home victory over London City Lionesses.

Kelly Gago put the Hammers ahead after 21 minutes, racing between the centre-backs Mapi León and Isa Kardinaal to latch on to Seraina Piubel’s pass from nearly halfway and rounding Elene Lete in the London City goal. Lete, who signed from Real Sociedad in 2025, remains Eder Maestre’s first choice in goal despite the arrival of the former England goalkeeper Mary Earps this summer.

September 12th 2026, 11:17 am

Formula One 2026: Norris pips Antonelli to Spanish Grand Prix pole by 0.011sec – live

The Guardian

F1 qualifying to begin at 3pm BST in Madrid (4pm local)
Welcome to the Madring | And follow us over on TikTok

But Bearman’s picture could have been left out. New chassis needed, no can drive.

Portentous countdown time.

September 12th 2026, 11:17 am

Liverpool v Fulham, Chelsea v Hull City, and more: football clockwatch – live

The Guardian

⚽️ News and updates from all of Saturday’s football action
⚽️ Live scores | Tables | Top scorers | And email Barry

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.

September 12th 2026, 11:17 am

Shelton tips Tiafoe at US Open to move one win from ending 23-year drought

The Guardian

• 23-year-old defeats Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5

• Shelton is first black US men’s finalist since Ashe

• American will face top seed Zverev for title

For 23 years they have come and gone. Andy Roddick tried again. Andre Agassi made one final run. James Blake, Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey, John Isner, Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz all carried the hopes of American men’s tennis deep into the second week of major championships, only to thrash against the ceiling of the sport’s European hegemony time and again.

Now Ben Shelton gets his chance. The fearless 23-year-old from Atlanta surged into his first career grand slam final on a feverish Friday night at the US Open, completing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 fightback over Frances Tiafoe in a pulsating all-American semi-final beneath the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result leaves him one victory from becoming the first man from the United States to win one of the sport’s four bedrock tournaments since Roddick triumphed here in 2003.

September 12th 2026, 4:29 am

All change for Maresca: the data behind Manchester City’s rapid player turnover

The Guardian

Squad was a model of stability under Guardiola but many of the group the new coach oversees are recent recruits

Manchester City have experienced a level of player turnover unthinkable in the Pep Guardiola era. Where Arne Slot benefited in his first Liverpool season by retaining the squad Jürgen Klopp bequeathed, Enzo Maresca must oversee the evolution of City while winning every week. Relying on relatively new players has not cost them Premier League points yet, but there could be reasons for concern before their derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Most people assumed City would demolish Coventry. Fantasy Premier League players set a record last weekend for the number who used their one-off option of triple-captaining a player to multiply his points by three. More than 91% used this bonus on Erling Haaland, expecting goals galore. He scored, but that was the only goal of the game. The match was closer than anyone anticipated.

September 12th 2026, 4:29 am

This week’s soccer questions: were we wrong about Man City and does the Ballon d’Or ignore Americans

The Guardian

We look at Enzo Maresca’s takeover in Guardiola’s shadow, shifting dynamics in women’s soccer and Raphinha’s incredible form at Barcelona

Squint hard enough and Manchester City still look like Manchester City. They’re still playing the same possession-hungry soccer. Erling Haaland is still scoring goals. They even have a new manager with vaguely the same appearance and oeuvre as their old manager. An AI Pep Guardiola in the dugout.

September 12th 2026, 4:29 am

‘We are really different’: Matthew Brennan on ‘next Cavendish’ hype and his five-star Vuelta debut

The Guardian

Visma-Lease A Bike rider reflects on his stunning Grand Tour debut that has proved ‘the work had all been worth it’

When Matthew Brennan sat down with his team before the race to study this year’s Vuelta a España route, the young Briton had limited expectations for his Grand Tour debut. Fast forward a few weeks and the 21-year-old from Darlington is the youngest rider ever to win five stages in a single Grand Tour.

He is also the youngest to win back-to-back stages. His fifth win was the seventh for his Visma‑Lease A Bike team in this Vuelta, the highest number they have ever achieved at this level, surpassing the tallies of six set at the 2022 Tour de France and this year’s Giro d’Italia.

September 12th 2026, 4:29 am

Spurs and Villa hunt first league wins, Arsenal face Sunderland test – matchday live

The Guardian

⚽️ Buildup, news and discussion before Saturday’s games
⚽️ This weekend’s fixtures | Tables | Mail us your thoughts

Saturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Referee Darren England This season G2 Y7 R0 3.50 cards/game

September 12th 2026, 4:29 am

Solheim Cup golf 2026: Europe v USA, day two foursomes – live

The Guardian

⛳️ Solheim Cup updates from 6.40am BST at Bernardus Golf
⛳️ Official live scoring | Day one report | And email Scott

Nelly Korda chops an awful tee shot wide right of the par-three 4th green. Team USA’s ball in deep heather. A big problem for Allisen Corpuz, who decides to punch out and hope the back-stop will bring her ball back towards the flag. But she knifes it through the green, and the ball stops inches short of a bunker on the other side. It might have been better going in. Korda can’t get close with her chip, and Europe will have two putts for the hole. Meanwhile the anchor match halves the 1st.

Jennifer Kupcho goes close with her approach at 2; Esther Henseleit goes even closer. That’s a gimme for Europe, so Rose Zhang does well to hold her nerve and make the putt from six feet to secure the half. Meanwhile Allisen Corpuz sinks a ten-footer on 3 to level the lead match, while Charley Hull and Alison Lee get the anchor game underway by trading fairway finders. It’s all happening now.

September 12th 2026, 4:29 am

Football lends voice to message worth relaying: men should talk about their pain | Barney Ronay

The Guardian

Premier League’s link-up with the Together in Suicide campaign is dispersing simple, blunt and essential messaging

If you watched US television adverts during the World Cup for any length of time one thing just kept leaping out. I’ve mentioned this before here, but it still seems both jarring and significant. Every third or fourth rotation in that endless daytime scroll, in between the Chicken Megadeth Hyper-Box Family Meal Deal, either side of David Beckham expertly consuming a light beer, is an advert for antidepressants.

The format for these is always the same kind of thing: contented, wholesome people throwing frisbees, or strolling through a small-town antiques fair, while a warm, honeyed, reassuring voiceover talks about how horrifying their lives are, with the suggestion that only a lengthy course of Smileothorium can solve this.

September 12th 2026, 4:29 am

Ballon d’Or shortlist shows up Premier League’s attacking failings – but tide could be turning

The Guardian

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.

September 11th 2026, 10:45 pm

US Open tennis 2026 men’s semi-final: Frances Tiafoe v Ben Shelton – live

The Guardian

Updates from the second men’s semi-final in New York
Zverev takes out Khachanov in straight sets to make final
Townsend’s road comes full circle with US Open triumph
Andrew Lawrence: in praise of five-set tennis | Mail Bryan

First set: *Tiafoe 1-2 Shelton (*denotes next server)

Shortly after crunching his first ace of the night, 123mph down the middle, Shelton faces his first pressure point of the night at 30-all. He then makes an unforced error off the backhand for 30-40 and will face his first break point, but he rattles off three quick points from there to escape with the hold.

September 11th 2026, 10:45 pm

‘This is my moment’: Taylor Townsend’s road comes full circle with US Open triumph

The Guardian

The 30-year-old once denied USTA funding returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium to complete her career doubles grand slam alongside Kateřina Siniaková

The cheers swelled from Arthur Ashe Stadium as Taylor Townsend approached the microphone on court. “Y’all know this is my moment,” she started, “and I’m about to take it.”

A day after being denied an American rooting interest in the women’s singles final and rushing for the exits in response, the Ashe crowd had reason to stick around and drink in the moment: the Chicago native and her partner, Kateřina Siniaková of the Czech Republic, had just defeated the all-American team of Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 in Friday’s women’s doubles final. With the victory, Siniaková became a two-time career doubles slam champion while Townsend joined the club for the first time.

September 11th 2026, 10:45 pm

Kobbie Mainoo moves from outsider to main man after summer of hurt

The Guardian

England reached World Cup semis yet midfielder did not play a minute. But he is key to Manchester United in derby

It was a sight the England press pack became increasingly used to seeing after the team’s World Cup matches over the summer. Kobbie Mainoo was invariably the first to leave the dressing room, walk through the mixed zone – eyes dead ahead, features impassive – and board the bus.

It was as if he could not get out of the stadiums quick enough and the further England progressed the more pronounced it started to feel. There was a real gap between Mainoo and the next England player to depart the stadium in the knockout rounds. The Manchester United midfielder is inscrutable, even in the heat of battle. It is part of his enviably unflappable temperament. It was no great leap to imagine what lay behind the mask – tremendous frustration as Thomas Tuchel kept on leaving him out.

September 11th 2026, 4:45 pm

Solheim Cup: USA fightback sparks hope of away win after Europe’s fast start

The Guardian

• Scores level at 4-4 after day one

• Europe fail to make advantage pay in fourballs

The rain poured and the United States roared. Hope had cascaded through the European contingent at this ­Solheim Cup during Friday afternoon until the sort of fightback that endorsed the sense that, come Sunday evening, the US will have won this trophy in a ­foreign land for the first time since 2015. This compelling day concluded with the scores level at 4-4. For Europe, it had ­promised to be so much better.

After a morning session that closed all square at 2-2, Europe surged ahead in three fourball matches. This felt like validation for Anna Nordqvist, the home captain. She had opted not to deploy any of the four players who returned two foursomes points – Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit – after lunch.

September 11th 2026, 2:45 pm

Leading athletes still waiting on large sums owed by ill-fated Grand Slam Track

The Guardian

• GST founder Michael Johnson said he ‘got the athletes paid’

• Money stuck in escrow account after bankruptcy filing

Grand Slam Track athletes have still only received 50% of their earnings nearly 15 months on from the collapse of Michael Johnson’s ill-fated venture.

Many of the Grand Slam stars are at the Ultimate Championships here in Budapest, where they will compete for a $10m prize fund, the richest in the sport’s history, with first prizes of $150,000 for individual events.

September 11th 2026, 2:45 pm

US Open tennis 2026 men’s semi-final: Alexander Zverev v Karen Khachanov – live

The Guardian

Updates from first men’s semi-final at 8pm BST, 3pm EST
Andrew Lawrence: in praise of five-set tennis | Mail Billy

Karen Khachanov is in his first grand slam semi-final for three and a half years. The Russian started this year with a record of 16-18 but his form over the past couple of weeks will lift him higher than his current world ranking of No 50. Alexander Blockx, who retired injured during the third set of their quarter-final on Thursday, was the third seed Khachanov has knocked out so far.

Run to 2026 semis

First round: Beat Román Andrés Burruchaga 6-3 6-0 6-1

Second round: Beat Felix Auger-Aliassime (3rd seed) 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-2 6-2

Third round: Beat Benjamin Bonzi 6-3 6-2 6-4

Fourth round: Beat Learner Tien (14) 7-5 4-6 6-7(6) 6-1 6-4

Quarter-final: Beat Alexander Blockx (28) 6-2 7-5 3-2 ret

I will have to come up with the best form. I will have to have patience, to take control in the middle, to dictate, but not to rush. You know, to build the point in the right way, and then whenever I see and I feel the chance … At some point you have to make the difference. And obviously serve, return. He has a big, big first serve, great return. So I have to be focused on that as well.

First round: Beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-5 6-4

Second round: Beat Quentin Halys 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3

Third round: Beat Alejandro Tobillo (25th seed) 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2

Fourth round: Beat Luciano Darderi (21) 6-2 6-2 7-6(3)

Quarter-final: Beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2 7-5 6-1

September 11th 2026, 2:45 pm

Sabalenka and Rybakina resume epic rivalry at US Open after switch at No 1

The Guardian

Rybakina will top rankings after tournament as pair continue to meet one another in grand slam finals

A typically understated Elena Rybakina stepped up to the microphone for her speech after her triumph at Indian Wells in 2023, her long-awaited first WTA 1000 title, and one of her first objectives was to recognise the efforts of her opponent. Rybakina congratulated Aryna Sabalenka on a strong fortnight and noted that it was the first time she had beaten the Belarusian. Sabalenka’s mouth instantly curled into a mischievous grin and, as ever, she could not halt her impulsive thoughts: “I will make sure it is the last time,” Sabalenka said, laughing. Rybakina, herself also smiling, responded instantly: “No. No, no, no. We’ll see next time.”

There has since been a next time, another next time and several next times after that and as Sabalenka and Rybakina, the top two players in the world, face off at the US Open, this latest encounter proves beyond doubt they have established themselves as one of the best recent rivalries in women’s tennis.

September 11th 2026, 2:00 pm

Mas closes on first Vuelta after Dunbar reels in Buitrago to win stage 19 summit finish

The Guardian

• Pinarello Q36.5 rider Dunbar wins stage by 14 seconds

• Mas maintains his 1min 37sec cushion in red jersey race

Irishman Eddie Dunbar secured a stunning last-ditch victory on stage 19 of the Vuelta a España as Spaniard Enric Mas maintained his overall lead with only one mountain stage remaining before Sunday’s finale.

The 30-year-old caught and passed Colombian Santiago Buitrago with just 300 metres left of the mountainous 210km slog from Vélez-Málaga to Peñas Blancas.

September 11th 2026, 2:00 pm

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: ‘I’ve seen all of the meltdowns and it annoyed me’

The Guardian

Midfielder on rising above the negativity after Everton’s struggles in the transfer window, becoming a leader in the dressing room and a possible England call-up

Transfer deadline day may be “exciting for everyone”, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall puts it, but his experience of that transfer deadline day at Everton hauled him through the same gamut of emotions as every Evertonian. Excitement turned to bewilderment before the conclusion of the window left the midfielder exasperated, but for entirely different reasons to a fanbase left questioning the club’s direction under The Friedkin Group.

How, now, is the mood in the squad? It is the obvious place to start after a deadline day that left David Moyes with fewer players than he had at the beginning, one striker and no cover for either full-back position. It also featured the US international striker Folarin Balogun walking out on a £40m transfer minutes after submitting a deal sheet. “Really good to be honest,” Dewsbury-Hall insists. “Definitely not the same mood as what I’ve seen on the outside. There’s a good mentality this year of: ‘We’ll show everyone.’” Everton’s performances so far this season support that view.

September 11th 2026, 1:14 pm

Welcome to the Madring, a new, brutal and unforgiving F1 challenge for Spanish Grand Prix

The Guardian

New hybrid street circuit has fast corners, virtually no margin for error – but limited overtaking opportunities

In Madrid’s Puerta del Sol this week, Formula One fans were not shy in calling on the gods to look kindly on their favoured drivers on a newly built circuit that appears punishingly unforgiving.

Legend has it that rubbing the paws or backside of the bear in the famous El Oso y el Madroño statue at the square’s heart confers good luck. The drivers may well need it. Day one of action at the Madring track began with F2’s Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak careening into the barriers and his car catching fire, leaving the onlooking George Russell shocked before the F1 drivers took to the wheel.

September 11th 2026, 1:14 pm

Champions League opening data shows English dominance and too few shocks

The Guardian

The numbers from the first round of the league phase point to Italian teams struggling even if Inter impressed in defeat at Real Madrid

The 2026-27 Champions League is under way. There are still 126 matches to play until we know which 24 teams will feature in the knockout phase but that doesn’t mean we haven’t learned anything yet. Here are the key data talking points from week one.

September 11th 2026, 11:31 am

Springboks v All Blacks a US World Cup preview in Baltimore as thrilling series goes down to the wir

The Guardian

‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ will culminate on US soil on Saturday, a staging post on the road to America hosting the World Cup in 2031

When New Zealand and South Africa kick off at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, there will be more at stake than victory in “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry”, the four-Test series the Springboks lead 2-1. For World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, the game is a key staging post on the road to the 2031 World Cup, which the US will host – a journey that could include Six Nations games on American soil.

“We’ve been in a long process with venues and cities, over the last two years,” Gilpin said, of the build to World Cup kick-off. “We’ve still got 25-plus cities involved in that process, which is fantastic in terms of engagement and enthusiasm.

September 11th 2026, 11:31 am

Champions League review: Irish heroics, rejected resignations and Mourinho’s return

The Guardian

The league phase has begun. From Olise’s brilliance to Sabah’s pub cleaner turned quiz contestant turned manager, there was plenty to talk about

The league phase has been previewed as Barcelona’s first step toward reclaiming a crown last lifted in 2015, with disappointments aplenty since. Lionel Messi claiming just one Champions League title in the last decade of his time at Camp Nou is the starkest statistic. The player anointed as Messi’s successor, Lamine Yamal, is already a European and world champion for Spain, so this is the next frontier. A soggy Wednesday evening at Camp Nou saw Hansi Flick’s team show their attacking chops remain of the highest quality in a 5-1 defeat of Feyenoord. The club presidential regime of Joan Laporta continues to pull levers to confound financial experts, with Gabriel Jesus, one of the summer’s arrivals, scoring his first Barca goal. Yamal got on the scoresheet via a scruffy free-kick after Raphinha had reminded there are further dimensions to that all-star attack, his first goal of his pair two sending Feyenoord defenders skidding.

September 11th 2026, 11:31 am

Pochettino’s ‘different’ vow to the US invites unwelcome speculation

The Guardian

The US manager’s relationship with the international job has changed with a full World Cup cycle beginning

I hope, in this lifetime, you find someone who loves you the way Mauricio Pochettino loves Tottenham Hotspur. The grip Spurs have on his heart seems the stuff of a literary classic: his imperfect partner who called things off at the first sign of trouble must merely check in on him occasionally to rekindle hopes of a reunion.

Perhaps a bit extreme, but this week’s revelation – that he’d return to Tottenham even if they were relegated and chalking his absence up to imperfect timing, not the part about handing the club a decade-old title – has implicity laid out the terms of his return as United States manager. Others may always have interest in his services, and a certain North London suitor will never get the door slammed in their face outright.

September 11th 2026, 11:31 am

Benn and Garcia turn past scandals into a $30m Las Vegas world title payday

The Guardian

Fight offers revealing snapshot of boxers once facing uncertain futures after positive drug tests now vying for a welterweight world championship

Four years ago Conor Benn’s career was thrown into limbo after two positive drug tests scuppered his blockbuster fight with Chris Eubank Jr. Two years ago Ryan Garcia was serving a one-year suspension after testing positive for ostarine at the time of his greatest victory.

On Saturday night they will each be rewarded with an eight-figure payday when they meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for Garcia’s WBC welterweight championship. The purses have not been disclosed, although reports have put the combined pot at around $30m with each fighter expected to haul in roughly $15m (£11m).

September 11th 2026, 11:31 am

‘Delay the meals’: Mikel Arteta reveals latest maverick Arsenal methods

The Guardian

• Manager wants players to cope with things going wrong

• Other tactics include making dressing room even hotter

Mikel Arteta has revealed that he likes to set players challenges, such as delaying their meals before matches and making the dressing room hotter, to ensure they are fully prepared for any eventuality.

Arsenal’s flight to Italy for their Champions League opener against Napoli this week was delayed for more than five hours, with Arteta forced to cancel his pre-match press conference after the squad arrived in Naples just before 10pm local time. The disruption proved no handicap as they made it 13 successive league-stage victories in Europe, thanks to Martin Ødegaard’s second-half winner.

September 11th 2026, 11:31 am

Lewis Hall agrees long-term Newcastle deal, Chelsea buy-out close: football news – live

The Guardian

⚽️ News and updates before the weekend’s football action
⚽️ Premier League: 10 things to watch out for | Mail Tom

Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

Reports suggest the left-back, 22, has agreed a two-year extension to his original deal that would take his contract up to 2031.

September 11th 2026, 4:46 am

Sports quiz of the week: Monza drama, US Open heroics and unusual side hustles

The Guardian

Test your knowledge of the big stories in football, tennis, cricket, rugby union, F1 and more

September 11th 2026, 4:46 am

Five-set tennis is under attack. Killing it would be a colossal unforced error | Andrew Lawrence

The Guardian

Five-set matches are physically punishing, occasionally absurd and increasingly under threat. They also produce much of what makes grand slam tennis great

Tuesday night’s quarter-final match between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz had everything a US Open spectacle could ask for: huge stakes, knife-edge drama, top-shelf competition and an American hero who comes through in the end. The only fault to find was really the matter of time. The first ball wasn’t struck until 11.05 in the evening, and Shelton’s clinching ace didn’t come until 3.33 in the morning – marking, after a total of 4hr 28min on court, the latest-ending US Open match by a whopping 43 minutes.

Somewhat predictably, the discourse among media and fans following the late-night match has swiftly moved on from the USTA’s misadventures in scheduling to a referendum on the five-set match and whether it should be put out to pasture. For the record: that would be a colossal unforced error.

September 11th 2026, 4:46 am

Solheim Cup golf 2026: Europe v USA, day one – live

The Guardian

⛳️ Solheim Cup updates from 6.40am BST at Bernardus Golf
⛳️ Live scores | And send any thoughts to Scott via via email

Europe do indeed escape from their travails on 1 with a half. Alison Lee leaves her birdie putt short, and Nanna Koertz Madsen tidies up. But the USA strike back on 2, Nelly Korda wedging close with her approach on the par five, and Lottie Woad can’t save the day with her 15-foot right-to-left putt. All square in the opening two matches.

Corpuz/Korda A/S Hull/Woad (2)
Koerstz Madsen/Boutier A/S Coughlin/Al. Lee (1)

September 11th 2026, 4:46 am

Crowd of 100,000 laps up relentless sensory experience as NFL woos Melbourne | Jack Snape

The Guardian

The morning kick-off provided ‘incredible’ vibes for a sell-out crowd clearly different to that which attends AFL and cricket games at the venue

At 9am on a Friday, Melbourne’s tongues would usually be tinged with toothpaste. Beer, however, was the flavour craved by this throng of bros brought together by the visit of one of the United States’ great institutions.

Dressed in San Francisco 49ers red, LA Rams blue and every other colour of the 32-team NFL rainbow, the 100,021 fans had come to the competition’s first regular season match in Australia. They were there in droves, and 90 minutes from kick-off their thirst had already forced the closure of the pop-up pub adjacent to the MCG.

September 11th 2026, 3:30 am

Champions League: Bayern break down Bodø/Glimt, Como put four past Leipzig

The Guardian

• Bayern Munich 5-0 Bodø/Glimt, Como 4-1 Leipzig

• Lens win 3-2 at Slavia Prague with last-gasp double

Bayern Munich opened their Champions League campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Norway’s Bodo/Glimt.

The six-times winners were frustrated before half-time by Bodo/Glimt but cruised once Jamal Musiala smashed in the opener two minutes into the second period and the floodgates opened.

September 11th 2026, 12:29 am

49ers rout Rams behind Purdy’s three TDs as NFL draws 100,000 to Melbourne

The Guardian

• Purdy throws three TDs in dominant 27-7 victory

• Crowd of 100,021 packs Melbourne Cricket Ground

• Stafford held to 155 yards as Rams offense sputters

Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel caught touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, and the San Francisco 49ers routed the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 Friday in the first NFL regular-season game in Australia.

Purdy passed for 205 yards against the Rams’ ineffective defense at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 100,021 fans, the seventh-largest regular season crowd in NFL history.

September 11th 2026, 12:29 am