Rangers needed a stoppage-time goal to break the deadlock in Wednesday’s rearranged Scottish Premiership fixture against St Mirren at Ibrox.

Bojan Miovski’s goal in the first minute of time added on earned Rangers a fourth league win in a row, just as a win by the same scoreline against the same opponents kicked off a four-match winning run to end last season.

It’s been all change in the west of Glasgow since then. Danny Rohl’s management kept the Gers in the title race for longer than they might otherwise have been involved but was tempted away to Red Bull Salzburg and succeeded by Derek McInnes.

Shankland injury will test the ex-Hearts revolution at Ibrox

The new Rangers manager pushed Celtic even further in 2025/26, when he was in charge of Heart of Midlothian and took them to the cusp of a fifth league title to earn his dream job.

McInnes was able to take international striker Lawrence Shankland – his talismanic Hearts captain and another Rangers man at heart – across the central belt to Glasgow. That’s just how Scottish football works; Rangers have won the title 55 times.

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This season is only six matches old and Hearts have a game in hand on their old gaffer, but Celtic are first and Rangers are second. Four wins on the bounce have reinforced McInnes’ credentials at the helm of a team comparatively short of raw quality.

More than a few of their points can be credited to character over straightforward ability. Just as they started to feel a little more convincing, McInnes lost his general.

His team beat St Mirren without Shankland, who was substituted eight minutes of last weekend’s win over Motherwell before a hamstring injury forced him off.

“It's a 2C tear and similar to the one he did previously at Hearts in January,” McInnes told reporters before Rangers played the Buddies.

“He's actually in London now, he's getting an ultrasound scan, a follow-up scan, which is just to determine whether, with the specialist, he has surgery or whether he'll just let it heal naturally like he did the last time.

“My little knowledge I have of it is that if he has the surgery then he might be an extra three or four weeks.

“I think best-case scenario, three months, probably worst-case scenario in terms of time about four months.”

Rangers’ captain was starting to suit the armband before his setback

It’s a brutal blow, not only for the 31-year-old Glaswegian but for a manager who must now hold steady without a player he knows well and had been starting to show his worth in the Rangers shirt he’d wanted for a lifetime. Their four-match winning run started with a 1-0 win against Aberdeen and a 2-1 victory at Falkirk in the space of four days.

Shankland, suddenly puffing out his chest in a shirt that finally seemed to fit, scored all three goals. He’d only scored once in the Europa League qualifiers, Conference League qualifiers, Premier Sports Cup tie and two Premiership matches that preceded them.

Indeed, it’s what came before those wins that points to the extent of the challenge now facing McInnes. If first impressions matter, his did little to reassure Rangers fans that McInnes – by no means an unfamiliar figure to anyone involved in Scottish football – has what it takes to achieve the one thing that really matters in Glasgow.

The Gers were knocked out of Europe before it started. Twice. Their Europa League campaign began and ended against Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland in the third qualifying round.

They dropped into the play-off round of the Conference League. Shankland, Miovski and Thelo Aasgaard scored their first three penalties, but Czech side Jablonec ended up on the right end of the shoot-out.

All that’s left, on three fronts, is to attempt to better Celtic. They’ll get their chance on Sunday in the first Old Firm derby of the season, a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie at Ibrox that Shankland will have to watch from the sidelines.

Rangers’ recent burst was a big step forward in the early part of McInnes’ return as manager, but Shankland was the man putting the ball in the net.

They made a positive start without him, beating Motherwell and St Mirren in 1-0 matches that couldn’t have been much more different in terms of their comfort levels for the Ibrox club.

23-year-old Ryan Naderi, who joined Rangers in February, came off the bench to replace Shankland against the Steelmen and scored through sheer tenacity within four minutes.

His smart flick-on set up Miovski’s looping winner against St Mirren too but they really had to work for it against the determined defence and pointed threat of a team led by August’s Manager of the Month.

But Rangers are already operating with fine margins game-by-game and Shankland is a born difference-maker. The question for McInnes and Rangers is where they can find that difference on consistent basis over the next 16 weeks and more.

In 2013, Tottenham Hotspur were targeting the joint-purchase of Croatian duo Alen Halilovic and Tin Jedvaj, negotiating with then-Dinamo Zagreb director Zdravko Mamic.

Daniel Levy and Mamic shared history — in 2008, they ironed out a joint-club record deal for eventual Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric — and their latest negotiations were set to cost Spurs €25 million.

Levy’s financial ruthlessness had previously emerged in negotiations for Modric, but Mamic confessed in a 2019 interview, exclusively with FourFourTwo, that their boardroom exchange was far testier for Halilovic and Jedvaj.

‘I told them go f*** yourself’

At the time, a teenage Halilovic was touted as the next Modric, while Jedvaj was believed to be a defensive game-changer.

The latter sealed a move to Roma in 2013, while Halilovic attracted Barcelona — although, after their transfers,neither enjoyed top-level careers in Europe — and Mamic confirmed how close Spurs came to bagging the duo.

The ex-Zagreb director revealed: "I negotiated with [Levy] over the transfers of Alen Halilovic and Tin Jedvaj to Tottenham. My son was their agent and translator, and I represented the interests of Dinamo.

Mamic then revealed how Spurs’ lowball offer provoked fury: “We sat in Levy’s office with the sporting director, Franco Baldini, and Levy offered us around €10m as his secretary served us tea. After hearing their offer, I told my son to thank Levy,” Mamic continued.

"[I also told him] to ask if ‘I should drink my tea, or just go straight home?’ My son did not want to translate that!

"Levy and Baldini realised that I had become a little more aggressive, then I told them ‘Idite vi svi u picku materinu’ [the Croatian equivalent of ‘go f*** yourself’].

"They stood up and asked me to stay, because €10m was not their final offer for the players. After that we continued the negotiations and agreed a fee of €25m,” Mamic told FFT.

On why the deal later collapsed, the ex-Zagreb director revealed that demands from one player’s side of the table scuppered the agreement.

“Unfortunately, the deal eventually fell through, partly because of crazy new demands from Halilovic’s side,” claimed Mamic. The midfielder would eventually play in England nearly a decade later — for Birmingham City, then Reading, in the Championship.

Jedvaj, whose top-flight career played out predominantly with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, is currently at Al-Shabab, while Halilovic, just 30-years-old, is club-less after leaving Fortuna Sittard.

Still, it appears that Mamic nearly manufactured the perfect heist in shipping them to Spurs, even with Levy’s testy boardroom antics… and he would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for that meddlin’ Halilovic.

If Gameweek 3 was the week of the Wildcard, Gameweek 4 is the natural follow up window for those who held off.

The transfer window is firmly shut, minutes are becoming clearer by the week and the fixture picture is sharp enough to build a squad with genuine long term conviction.

Without further ado, here is the team worth constructing right now.

GOALKEEPER

In goal, Bart Verbruggen is the standout budget option. He's reliable, consistent for save points and probably the best of the cheaper goalkeeper options available this season.

The backup slot can honestly be filled by any £4.0m goalkeeper from a team you are unlikely to triple up on, as there are no truly nailed-on options at that price point right now.

DEFENCE

The defensive unit leans into three teams with strong fixture runs and players who bring more than just clean sheet potential.

Riccardo Calafiori and Ezri Konsa give double Arsenal coverage in the best defensive unit in the league, with Konsa remaining an absolute steal following the Mosquera injury situation.

Tarik Muharemovic has been a defensive contributions machine for Leeds United, brings aerial threat from set pieces and represents reasonable value for his price.

Luka Vuskovic is probably the most secure Brighton defender for the long term, offering similar set piece threat and a solid record for defensive returns.

Finally, Jan Paul van Hecke rotates really well with the rest of the defence, is particularly strong in home fixtures and carries good aerial ability from dead ball situations.

MIDFIELD

The midfield is where this squad truly shines. Bukayo Saka looks sharp, his minutes appear very secure and with penalty duties and a run of strong fixtures ahead, he is the standout Arsenal attacking option to own right now.

Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers give strong Chelsea representation from a side that has looked genuinely dangerous under Xabi Alonso, with neither carrying any European fixture concerns to threaten their minutes.

Palmer at home to Hull this week is the optimal captaincy choice on paper, particularly in a gameweek where Manchester United host Manchester City. Dominik Szoboszlai is the set-and-forget Liverpool hold, confirmed on penalties and guaranteed minutes for the foreseeable future. Regan Slater rounds out the midfield as a budget filler who enables the rest of the squad through his low price point and will rarely if ever need to come off the bench.

ATTACK

Up front, Erling Haaland is essential cover for the captaincy in Gameweeks 5 and 7, where he looks comfortably the best armband option on paper.

Joao Pedro has been in the top three FPL point scorers among forwards across the opening three gameweeks, carries no European football and looks like one of the most stable and consistent picks in the game right now. Thierno Barry is the interesting differential of the forward line at just £5.5m. With Ndiaye gone, he looks set to inherit penalty duties at Everton, and the budget he frees up across the rest of the squad makes him a very attractive inclusion at a price that enables genuine quality elsewhere.

The beauty of this squad is the balance it strikes between premium quality at the top end and serious value throughout the supporting cast. The front three is locked in, the midfield offers multiple captaincy options over the coming weeks and the defensive setup is built for long term accumulation rather than short term speculation. If you are Wildcarding this week, this is the blueprint worth following.

The Homes Under the Hammer presenter, who since hanging up his boots has transitioned from Premier League goalscoring to real estate expertise and punditry, is using his industry knowledge to help fellow players secure their financial futures.

Speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo, Dublin disclosed how older players regularly approach him with substantial sums, relying on his team to locate and manage brick-and-mortar investments.

"Where there’s some bad, there’s also good too, but come and speak to Dion! I’ll hook you up," Dublin said.

Dion Dublin will 'hook you up' with a new-build in the Wrexham area, apparently

"I’m already doing it for some of the older players, without mentioning any names. They come straight to me and my estate agent. 'Dion, I’ve got a couple of hundred grand, can you do something for me?'"

Dublin has focused much of his property enterprise in North Wales, specifically around the Wrexham area, where attention surrounding the now-Championship level football club has fuelled a market boom.

"I’ve got a few of them houses in Wrexham now, which is a bit of a hot spot with all the attention around the football club. What we then do is manage and maintain the properties and [the players] get a bit of passive income."

Having spent years in the game, Dublin is familiar with traditional footballer enclaves like Knutsford, Wilmslow, and Alderley Edge, noting they are 'all beautiful areas to live in but very expensive.' However, he advises buyers to look at adjacent locations for better value.

"Cheshire can be expensive but if you look at places on the outskirts like Congleton and other places just off the M6 they can be incredible as well, so you don’t have to go for the top end."

Dublin's regular travels across the country to carry out television duties takes him to locations like Stoke, Walsall, Lincoln, and Grimsby, but all that has done is reinforced his belief that hidden gems exist everywhere.

"My advice is to try and find those places but most importantly find the place that works for you.

"I think if you're investing in property then you need to look anywhere north of London and Watford and you might have a chance to get a bit of value for your money.

"That said, if you've got a load of money, then you could afford to do it down in London. It's just very expensive. The south's very expensive. We know that. The further north you go, the more bargains you're going to get, but you won’t be living in London."

Dublin was speaking to FourFourTwo on behalf of Reviant.

Happy Friday, one and all.

Do you know who replaced Antonio Conte as Chelsea manager, who won the Best Goalkeeper gong at the 2002 World Cup, what West Ham United removed from their badge 10 years ago and where Osasuna are based?

Course you do: and now's your time to prove it with another Friday Football Quiz, back for a 132nd edition with 20 questions ready whenever you are. Let's dig in, shall we?

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Moving from Friday teasers to big-money transfers, opening-day history, and international immortality, we've got a fresh line-up of Kwizly-powered quizzes to carry on with, if you'd like?

We’re launching straight into big-money Anfield blockbusters and opening-weekend folklore. First, test your knowledge of Merseyside transfer strategy by naming Liverpool's 50 most expensive signings ever, tracing the record-breaking fees that brought world-class talent to Anfield across the modern era. Once you've audited Liverpool's spending history, travel back through over three decades of kickoff drama to name the first goalscorer of every Premier League season since 1992-93, a ruthless trial of opening-day trivia that separates casual observers from deep-cut archival scholars.

Next, name every England player with over 50 caps, honouring the half-century mainstays who anchored the national team across generations. After celebrating those Three Lions icons, scale the ultimate heights of the global game to identify every Ballon d'Or winner to have won the World Cup, celebrating the exclusive pantheon of legends who achieved both individual perfection and ultimate international glory.

Finally, we've got another crossword, as FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 69 takes on the theme of boxers, badges and Barclaysmen, as we stretch you from club emblems to cult 2000s top-flight heroes. To ensure you stay top of the table every single day, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily briefing of hand-picked trivia and tactical analysis. To complete your transfer to terrace legend status, lock in your spot in The Club, our free membership hub where you can claim secret hints for our hardest quizzes, climb global leaderboards, and debate the latest football topics directly in the comments section.

The Championship is often branded as the most competitive and unpredictable league in world football. Except that’s not always the case.

Parachute payments have skewed the odds in favour of the clubs relegated from the Premier League - in each of the past six seasons, at least one of the automatic promotion places have been filled by a team who spent the previous campaign in the top flight.

That trend could continue this term but it doesn’t feel like a foregone conclusion, while the play-off and relegation pictures are equally exciting. Ladies and gentlemen, this could be the most on-brand Championship season for some time.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Goals, shocks and wild scorelines: This could be a Championship season for the ages

Last season’s Championship was a tough act to follow. Coventry City lifted the title to return to the Premier League after 25 years away, Hull City won the play-offs despite starting the campaign as one of the favourites to go down, and Leicester City suffered a shock second relegation in a row.

Furthermore, the teams who came down from the Premier League were not as dominant as in previous years. Ipswich Town were the only member of that trio to gain promotion, finishing second behind Coventry, and their total of 84 points ended a run of five seasons where one of the three relegated clubs reached 90 points or more in their first campaign back in the Championship.

Meanwhile, the three teams promoted from League One - Birmingham City, Wrexham and Charlton Athletic - all stayed up, the third year in a row in which that has happened. Despite all of that, this season is shaping up to be even better.

If it’s goals you want, there have already been lots of them. The league average of 2.89 goals per game ahead of Wednesday night’s fixtures is higher than the average across a 46-match campaign in any of the past 20 years, on account of there being several teams who are great at scoring goals but not so good at keeping them out. More on that later.

Meanwhile, the old adage that anyone can beat anyone in the Championship appears truer than ever. Some teams’ results have fluctuated wildly, including Charlton winning at West Ham United but losing 4-0 at Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers stunning Middlesbrough only to fall to defeat at previously pointless Preston North End, and Millwall beating Bristol City, Norwich City and Bolton Wanderers by a combined score of 9-0, but losing to Southampton and Wrexham 8-1 on aggregate.

The league is unpredictable wherever you look. Starting from the top, none of the front-runners have stood out above the rest in the first four weeks of the campaign.

That includes the trio who were relegated from the Premier League last season. West Ham and Wolves will surely compete for automatic promotion, but they don’t yet look like they will run away with the title in the way that Coventry did last term.

The Hammers failed to win any of their first three games before scoring 10 goals in successive victories over Wolves, Derby County and Bolton, but they had to fight back from 2-1 down to beat one of the supposed weaker sides in the division in the latter fixture. Wolves’ first five matches featured 23 goals, 10 of them going in at the wrong end.

Then there is Burnley. The Clarets reached 100 points in their previous two campaigns at this level but sit second-bottom of the table after failing to win any of their first six matches. They will surely improve, and the signing of Jamie Vardy adds intrigue, but they are currently way off the level required to win promotion.

That has opened the door to other teams. Of the three clubs who lost in the play-offs last term, Middlesbrough look best-placed to challenge. After letting so many points slip through their grasp last season due to poor finishing, they have found a goalscorer in Will Lankshear, while their strong underlying numbers had them top of the Expected Points table (calculated by measuring Expected Goals for and against) after five games. If xG/xPTS isn’t your thing, they were also second in the real table.

Last term’s play-off semi-finalists, Millwall and Southampton, have also made strong starts and should compete for promotion again, despite the Lions’ chaotic set of scorelines.

Several dark horses are also emerging. Swansea City topped the table after five matches, and it was no fluke: since head coach Vitor Matos arrived last November, they have picked up 1.61 points per game - play-off form over a 46-match season.

Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion and Charlton are among the other early pace-setters and it is the ideal time for an outsider to mount a promotion bid, thanks to one of the most controversial talking points of the Championship in 2026/27.

This season, the play-offs have been expanded from four to six teams, which means the club finishing eighth will qualify for the end-of-term shoot-out. The change has not been universally popular, but it means more teams will have a chance of reaching the play-offs in the final weeks of the campaign, reducing the number of dead rubbers.

With the way the Championship table often concertinas as the season goes on, it is possible that the team in 15th with five games remaining could realistically still go up or down. That brings us to the battle at the bottom.

Lincoln City were widely tipped to go straight back down after their shock League One title triumph but have adapted well to the level, taking five points from their past three games and running Middlesbrough close on the opening day.

There is arguably greater concern about the teams they came up with, Cardiff City and Bolton, but while all three are likely to be in a relegation battle, they have shown enough so far to suggest they won’t be cut adrift.

Of course, everything can change, but if the season continues in this vein we’ll be treated to a proper title race, surprise promotion candidates, a congested play-off battle and a nail-biting survival fight.

If that all comes to pass, it really will be one of the greatest Championship seasons of all time.

It's FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz number 200. Imagine! Two whole thousands of football trivia questions, and we're not stopping here either. Help us blow out the candles by answering today's questions!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a vast vault of football quizzes and they're all courtesy of Kwizly. First up, can you name the three most expensive Premier League signings of every summer since 1992 and every team in the top two tiers of women's football in England?

While you're in transfer mode, we also want you to show off your knowledge of the 50 most expensive signings ever made by Barcelona or Real Madrid.

We have some questions about the Premier League's most celebrated one-season wonders, the players who came and went in the blink of an eye but made a big impression while they were in the spotlight.

There are a couple of quizzes that ask you to put some groups of four into the correct order – one about players and their Premier League appearances, the other about teams and their titles.

Can you name every team in the Football League right now? There's only one way to find out. Lastly, if you're a players expert rather than a teams nut, our latest career paths quiz is for you. How many of those 100 career paths can you identify?

We have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for your Sunday, and remember to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits!

Fifteen-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel arrived on the continental stage with a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah FK U19, who were beaten 5-0 at Leigh Sports Village.

The forward delivered a three-goal performance to spearhead Manchester United’s youth side to victory, underlining yet again why he is considered one of the brightest talents in Carrington's academy.

Gabriel’s ascent has fuelled speculation over whether he can feature for Manchester United’s senior squad in the Premier League this season.

JJ Gabriel hits Euro hat-trick for Manchester United

Top-flight regulations dictate that a player must turn 15 on or before August 31 of a given season to be eligible for league selection.

Having met the league's academic year age requirement prior to the start of the 2026/27 campaign, Gabriel is legally eligible to make his Premier League debut this term, which was not the case last season.

Should manager Michael Carrick hand him a senior bow before he turns 16 in October, Gabriel would become Manchester United’s youngest-ever first-team player.

Carrick has been keeping a close eye on the teenager, regularly drafting him into first-team training sessions. Addressing Gabriel’s trajectory, the Red Devils boss commented last season: "JJ is a big talent, it's pretty obvious to know that and he's had a really good season for the Under-18s.

"We obviously think an awful lot of him, but patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and working with him in development as we do with all the different younger players and picking the right moment to step up."

Gabriel’s latest goalscoring heroics build on exceptional numbers at youth level. The attacker bagged 28 goals across 35 appearances for Man United’s U18 side last season.

Moving up to the U21s in Premier League 2 this term, Gabriel hit the ground running with two goals and two assists in his first two outings before taking his goalscoring form into Europe.

When Como beat Hellas Verona in May to clinch a top-four finish ahead of illustrious Serie A rivals AC Milan and Juventus, the clock was already ticking on a summer project that had more to do with what's around the pitch than what happens on it.

Como have added the likes of Moise Kean, Trevoh Chalobah, Robert Sanchez and former loanee Alvaro Morata to their playing ranks but UEFA stadium requirements meant that a lightning renovations turnaround would be required to ensure that their Champions League home matches could be played at home.

Manager Cesc Fabregas will lead Como out for their first-ever match in Europe's premier club competition on Thursday. Thanks to an impressive effort off the pitch, he will do so at Stadio Sinigaglia.

Como's Champions League matches would have been moved to Sassuolo

Como get their league phase campaign underway against RB Leipzig and will also face Manchester United, AEK Athens and back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain at home.

At the end of last season, their ground was not compliant with Champions League requirements and extensive work has been carried out over the last three months. Without the upgrades, Como would have played those four matches 200km away at the home of Sassuolo.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

"To meet UEFA requirements, renovation work on the stadium has been completed, including the construction of a new stand and the enhancement of infrastructure, security systems and operational facilities," Como said in a statement in advance of Leipzig's visit and the start of the league phase.

"Sinigaglia has been the home of Como 1907 for almost a century. Its role in the city and in the life of the club makes the opportunity to play these matches here particularly special.

"Como 1907 would like to thank everyone who helped make this possible, as well as our fans for their patience and constant support throughout the entire process."

Como's stadium has achieved UEFA Category 4 status as a result of the work. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the renovations included a near-miraculous rebuild of the Curva Ovest, upgraded floodlights, improvements to the media facilities, better toilets and enhanced security systems.

"The pitch was also completely relaid, widened by an additional two metres, and re-turfed with a new-generation hybrid grass, a specific request from Fabregas to facilitate ball possession," reports Giulio Saetta.

Como have been on a tear under the ownership of the Indonesian tobacco giants Djarum Group, which took over in 2019.

The Lariani, recently promoted back to the third tier, spent two seasons in Serie C and three in Serie B before securing promotion to the top tier in 2023/24.

Djarum appointed Fabregas, a former player and interim head coach at the club, to take them into Serie A. They've finished tenth and fourth in the last two seasons and are showing few signs of slowing down.

Sabah manager Valdas Dambrauskas has an unusual curriculum vitae.

Manchester United's first opponents after securing a return to the Champions League are one of four teams playing in the competition for the first time, and Dambrauskas will go head-to-head with United boss Michael Carrick at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Sabah are first-time champions of Azerbaijan and the route Dambrauskas took to get them there was circuitous to say the least. The Lithuanian, 49, even counts Man United themselves among his former employers.

'To come from Lithuania and be given that opportunity was a huge step for me'

Dambrauskas and his girlfriend, later his wife, moved to England after he won the equivalent of £725 on a Lithuanian television game show based on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

He enrolled on a sports science and coaching course at London Metropolitan University and soon found he needed to top up the funds if his coaching education was to continue. He secured an interview for a job with Man United's soccer schools programme.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

"After we’d paid for our flights and accommodation, we had money left to cover our expenses for just one month, so I needed to get a part-time job urgently," Dambrauskas told FourFourTwo.

"At the time I still couldn’t speak English properly, but they liked me because of my personality and I got the job. To come from Lithuania and be given that opportunity was a huge step for me."

Dambrauskas went on to work with Brentford's Centre of Excellence and as the manager of Kingsbury London Tigers, now London Tigers, who were then competing in the Spartan South Midlands League.

"That was a fantastic experience – all of my jobs were part of a great learning process, up to 2014 when I got my first chance as a head coach back in Lithuania," he said.

It was the doomed Ekranas who gave him that opportunity. They went bust the next year, only reforming in 2020. Dambrauskas has since managed in Latvia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary and Croatia. He's a league champion in three countries.

True to form, Dambrauskas' Sabah needed to take the long way round in the Champions League.

Starting in July, with the World Cup still rumbling on, the Azeri champions beat Welsh side The New Saints in the first qualifying round before seeing off KuPS and AGF to set up a play-off against Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva. They scored three goals in extra time at the end of the second leg.

After their Champions League trip to Old Trafford, Sabah will face league phase fixtures against Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund, Viking, Barcelona, Villarreal, Napoli and Arsenal.

Dreaming a Premier League dream is a noble aim for players succeeding in the academies of its clubs, but simply carving out a career in the game is difficult enough in its own right.

In that context, taking a step back to line up a step forward is standard procedure in the actuality of a good football career.

Developing players capable of standing out in the Championship and pushing towards the top division is just another way for Premier League-level academies to prove their mettle. Whether or not there’s any prospect of players reaching the first team, managing their progress is part of the academy job.

Six goal contributions in six Championship appearances

In June, West Bromwich Albion signed 20-year-old attacking midfielder Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Chelsea.

Born in the ‘P’ part of the sprawling BCP conurbation that comprises Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Morgan joined Chelsea at the age of eight but spent six years in the middle of his junior football back on the south coast at Southampton before returning to Surrey.

As Chelsea plotted his future away from Stamford Bridge, he was loaned to Gillingham in League Two in January 2025 and again to League One side Peterborough United for the majority of last season.

He scored at a rate better than once every three matches in the third tier. He’s been even more dangerous in his first month or so in the second, where he is in the early weeks of a four-year contract with the West Midlands club.

Morgan was fortunate to be on the pitch on the night Albion went top of the Championship with a remarkable 1-0 win at Derby County. The young forward kicked out at Watford’s Albert Eames in the previous match but was on hand do a different side of his job after his team went down to 10 men in the first half at Pride Park.

He’s out-scoring his xG and making chances for his teammates, and Morgan’s early-season numbers make for encouraging reading. After six second-tier games, he has three goals and three assists. He’s Albion’s leader on both measures.

It’s easy to see where the productivity comes from. Morgan focuses on doing the right things and being in the right places when he can’t be directly involved. If he sees a run, he runs it. He’s not shy about demanding the ball either.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Albion’s goal at Pride Park came out of nowhere. Callum Styles carried the ball outside the left flank of the Derby box and was fouled.

It was in the back of the net in the blink of an eye, and it was Morgan who took up the baton to fire a pass in for Aune Heggebo to prod home.

But with Albion a man down and Heggebo withdrawn at the break, Morgan had to show the effects of the toughening up provided by the bottom two tiers over the past 18 months.

The England Under-20 international played up front on his own in the second half, a thankless task at the best of times.

In his first interview with West Brom’s media team, Morgan acknowledged that his time at Gillingham and Peterborough had taught him how to be robust and relentless, characteristics that overtook goals and assists when debutant Brayann Pereira was sent off after 34 minutes.

‘Just keep using your body, be stronger’

Morgan’s performance might have gone unheralded at the front of a rearguard action but the three free kicks he won while protecting the ball earned him the adulation of the travelling Baggies in the corner.

While the former Chelsea player’s ability to lead the line in difficult circumstances is surely a product of his practised robustness, Morgan’s manager is keen that his more recent work is recognised too.

“I think it’s the work he’s done in pre-season as well, and the confidence he’s getting from his performances,” Albion boss James Morrison tells FourFourTwo.

“We said at half time, he’s going to have to try to buy fouls by really using his body. We said, ‘Just keep using your body. Be stronger.’

“I felt like with [Morgan] up there, with his trickery, we might get ourselves up the pitch.”

The new signing certainly made his presence felt. In the first six games with his new club, Morgan is not only making Albion’s recruitment look good, but Chelsea’s decisions about his development too.

At 20, he has both a strong academy background and progress through the divisions already under his belt. That he’s taken the Championship in stride bodes well.

Yes, you're reading that correctly.

Footballers are known for rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of the celebrity world, but these connections usually come about after they've made it big on the pitch.

In Dion Dublin's case, the former Aston Villa marksman has a Hollywood claim to fame from back when when he was merely a teenager and youth team player.

Dion Dublin reveals historic Jason Statham friendship

The 'Homes Under The Hammer' star tells FourFourTwo: "Jason Statham was best friends with my brother, who was a DJ in Great Yarmouth when I was a young player at Norwich City, so I lived with him. Jason played the drums. My brother played bass, too, so they played in a band together.

"I was a 17-year-old boy who would go and watch their band then I’d go watch my brother’s DJ sets with Jason, then me and J would go out after. It was good fun. Very chilled out."

Statham is, of course, known for his roles in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The Transporter and Mean Machine and has developed a reputation as an on-screen hard-man over the past 25 years.

But, Dublin says that wasn't always his old flatmate's persona.

"I’ve not spoken to him for years but the Jason I knew back then was a very nice, very fun guy. He used to be a high board diver for Great Britain, too, and there was a big leisure complex on the sea front at Great Yarmouth so J used to go down sometimes and do his practice on the high board in the pool down there.

"His dad was a singer too. His brother Lee used to work on the markets as well. Jason used to work on the markets with him too so he’s done everything. I think he's deserved everything he’s achieved."

While Dublin, two years Statham's junior, saw his career take him to Cambridge United in 1988 and then the Premier League with Manchester United a few years later, it was another 10 years before Statham's acting really took off, eventually taking him Stateside.

"Would I fancy moving to Hollywood to follow in Jason Statham’s footsteps?" Dublin says. "The property is too expensive!

"I’d love to go out there and give it a go though. Imagine that. Dion Dublin, action hero! I suppose I’ve tried everything else, haven't I? I’d throw my hat in the ring for that if they’d give us a job."

Dublin was speaking to FourFourTwo on behalf of Reviant.

Watch Manchester United vs Sabah for free as the Red Devils return to the Champions League after two seasons away with this league phase opener against the Azerbaijani minnows. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Michael Carrick led United back into Europe's elite club competition with a brilliant end to last term, but they have endured a mixed start to the 2026/27 campaign.

Sabah are the great unknowns of this season's Champions League and will play at Old Trafford just nine years and two days after they were founded, marking a historic night in the Azerbaijani outfit's history.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Manchester United vs Sabah in the Champions League online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Manchester United vs Sabah for free?

Manchester United vs Sabah is free to watch in Ireland on RTE Player with linear coverage available on RTE2.

Not in Ireland? You need a VPN to access your free Manchester United vs Sabah stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Manchester United vs Sabah from anywhere

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How to watch Manchester United vs Sabah in the UK

Manchester United vs Sabah will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK.

The game will be shown on TNT Sports 1, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

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How to watch Manchester United vs Sabah in the US

US viewers can watch Manchester United vs Sabah on Paramount+, with kick-off at 3pm ET.

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Manchester United vs Sabah: Preview

Manchester United fans will savour the moment when the iconic Champions League music rings out at Old Trafford before their league phase opener against Sabah.

It will be the first time in nearly three years that the Red Devils have played in the competition, but they are not the continental force they once were.

That has been evident in the opening few weeks of the Premier League season, in which United have lost 2-0 at promoted Hull City and drawn 2-2 against Everton, putting manager Michael Carrick under a hint of pressure despite his sensational impact after arriving midway through last term.

The Red Devils will be expected to beat Sabah comfortably, but it's the sort of night where even a convincing win is seen as par for the course - and anything less raises serious questions.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

Sabah didn't even exist when United last won a European trophy - and that was only nine years ago.

The Red Devils' Europa League triumph in May 2017 arrived four months before the Azerbaijani club were formed, so their journey over the past decade has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Sabah won their country's top flight for the first time last season, as well as lifting the Azerbaijan Cup for the second campaign in a row, before fighting through four rounds of qualifiers to reach the league phase of the Champions League.

Their fixtures also include games against Arsenal, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund in what will be a fairy-tale for the club and their Lithuanian manager, Valdas Dambrauskas, who took his first steps in coaching at Manchester United's Soccer Schools. Tonight, he will coach against the Red Devils as their equal.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Manchester United 3-0 Sabah

This should be about as straightforward as it gets for United on their return to Europe's top table.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola started for the first time in the Reds' 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Barcola was on the pitch for all three goals as Liverpool came back from a goal down to win their opening match in the league phase of this season's Champions League.

After an hour, the France international received treatment and had to be substituted. He was replaced by fellow new signing Victor Munoz as part of a double change, and Andoni Iraola's men went on to bank the three points.

Is Bradley Barcola available to play against Fulham?

Liverpool return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon, when former Reds man Alvaro Arbeloa takes his Fulham team to Anfield in search of their first points of the season.

Asked about Barcola's status after the comeback victory over Atleti on Wednesday, Iraola shared the prognosis with reporters.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

"It is just cramp, there is no injury," confirmed the new Reds boss.

"With Bradley, it's about building his physical condition. We don't really know - or we didn't know until now, probably - how much he can play because he hasn't had any minutes in pre-season for PSG.

"He played 30 the other day [and] today we had some question marks, how many minutes he can give us and probably now we know."

Left-back Milos Kerkez was also substituted at the end of the Champions League opener. Iraola revealed that he was also suffering from cramp.

"I think I always want to do subs because of this, because you've given everything, you don't have any more, perfect," he said.

Liverpool now have a better understanding of Barcola's levels of match fitness but both he and Kerkez are expected to be available to play a part in Saturday's Premier League fixture against Fulham.

The Merseyside team are one of eight yet to be beaten in the Premier League in the first three games of the season. They beat Ipswich Town at Portman Road in their last league outing after back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

Fulham have lost all three, including a pair of 3-2 losses against Chelsea and Crystal Palace. They led twice in their last match against the Eagles.

The league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League started on Tuesday, September 8 with wins for AEK Athens and Aston Villa in the early time slot.

Villa qualified for European football's premier club competition twice over, backing up a top-four finish in the Premier League with victory in the Europa League final in May.

But with a staggered schedule now customary in the league phase era of the three big continental tournaments, when do this season's Europa League and Conference League matches begin?

When does the Europa League start?

The league phase of the Europa League will kick off on Tuesday, September 16 and concludes with 18 fixtures at once on Monday, January 28 – a Bank Holiday in the UK.

Sunderland will be the first English team to play in the Europa League proper this season. Their league phase campaign begins with the visit of AZ on opening night.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Bournemouth get started the next day, when they face Real Sociedad in San Sebastian, and it's also a Wednesday start for Crystal Palace at home against Lech Poznan.

Scottish champions Celtic welcome Ferencvaros to Glasgow for their first league phase fixture on Wednesday, September 17.

The Europa League will have eight rounds of league phase fixtures. The first six will be played before Christmas, while matchdays seven and eight will again be played in the last two weeks of January.

A play-off round will add eight teams to the top eight from the league phase, populating a round of 16 to be played in March.

The final will be played in Frankfurt on Wednesday, May 26.

When does the Conference League start?

The 36 teams competing in this season's Conference League must wait another month before their first matchday.

All 18 matchday one fixtures will be played on Thursday, October 15 – the same night as the second round of Europa League matches after a full slate in the Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Brighton & Hove Albion will play at home against Kauno Zalgiris of Lithuania in their first match, while Hearts host Denmark's Nordsjaelland.

Conference League participants only play six league phase matches, the last of which will take place on Thursday, December 17. The finalists will meet in Istanbul in early June.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi gathered the few points needed to keep the team in the Premier League after he was appointed near the end of last season, but 2026/27 has got off to a miserable start.

Spurs are winless and goalless after their first three Premier League matches. Losses against Brentford and Newcastle United preceded a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

After spending a reported £313 million on new signings in the summer transfer window, albeit offset by some big sales, it's been an alarming return to the kind of results that put Spurs in relegation trouble last season.

Mykhailo Mudryk's training ground injury gives Spurs a problem

The North London club made a number of eye-catching acquisitions over the summer but one of the most surprising moves of all was a season-long loan deal for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk.

De Zerbi has long been an advocate of the Ukraine international, a player he tipped for a Ballon d'Or-worthy future when they were together at Shakhtar Donetsk. He certainly saw the best of Mudryk, who was genuinely exciting in the Champions League group stage in 2021/22.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

The 25-year-old signed for Chelsea in January 2023 but struggled to live up to the expectations set by the previous season, and there was worse to come.

Mudryk was provisionally banned in December 2024 after failing a drugs test. Eventually, he was formally issued with a four-year ban that would have seen him out of action until the end of 2028. He appealed, and the charge was dropped in July.

The Forest match was Mudryk's first competitive appearance for nearly two years. Clearly, there's an element of risk that comes with that – De Zerbi and Spurs absorbed that risk from Chelsea and now find themselves paying an injured player.

Mudryk could miss the next two months after sustaining an ankle injury in training this week.

"The 25-year-old is understood to have sustained the injury on Monday and is currently believed to be in protective boot," reports BBC Sport.

"The injury coincides with a three-week international break and a return in October is considered a realistic prospect."

Mudryk's injury leaves Spurs paying for a player who is missing not only for a couple of months but at a time when he needed to be working his way back to match fitness and getting up to speed with De Zerbi's methods as he aims to turn Spurs around.

It's one of the most important seasons of Mudryk's career, too. His injury is a bitter blow at a crucial juncture.

As recently as 2019, the lakeside club were playing in Serie D. Tonight, they make their debut in Europe's leading club competition at home to RB Leipzig.

Led by Cesc Fabregas, Como were underdogs when they entered Serie A in 2024 – Dennis Wise had been CEO, but left that summer.

With a population of 84,000, the city is home to the rich and famous, its picturesque location beside Lake Como drawing people from further afield. The football club was bought by Indonesia's Hartono family (net worth: more than £30bn) seven years ago.

A who's who

Thierry Henry invested in 2022, before Fabregas did the same, as he ended his playing days with the club in Serie B. The Spaniard stepped up as gaffer, guiding them into the top tier and to 10th in their first campaign, before a remarkable fourth-place finish last season.

Pepe Reina and Raphael Varane joined after promotion, with Alvaro Morata following last summer, but progress has been less about established stars and more about smart recruitment, such as young Argentine playmaker Nico Paz from Real Madrid, and Greek top scorer Anastasios Douvikas from Celta Vigo.

After such a fine job in his first stint as a manager, Fabregas has inevitably been linked with jobs elsewhere, but turned down Inter a year ago.

Como overtook Milan on the final day of last season to claim a top-four spot, making this the first time since the Champions League's rebrand that the competition will contain neither the Rossoneri nor Juventus.

There were doubts whether the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia would met UEFA requirements, and Como might have needed to play in Sassuolo (120 miles away) or Udine (200 miles). However, the club pulled off a 90-day construction miracle to achieve Category 4 approval following a rapid redevelopment.

Shakhtar Donetsk, who also entered the league stage, won't play at home for obvious reasons. They held talks about using Brentford's ground, with a fallback option in Germany, but have opted to play at Stamford Bridge.

Several shock champions started the summer in qualifying – Mjallby, from a fishing village of just 800 people, won their inaugural Swedish title, while FC Thun became Swiss kings for the first time. Levski Sofia ended the 14-year Bulgarian winning streak of Ludogorets, whose name is an anagram of ‘good result' – no longer quite so fitting. They fell short of the world record of 15 titles in a row, held by Vanuatu club Tafea.

None of the clubs mentioned above made the league phase proper, but Como are there.

Liam Gallagher had a good 2025. At the end of it, he rewarded himself with a big purchase – a 12,000 sq ft country house near Cirencester.

Eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, five reception rooms, a tennis court, a swimming pool and a detached two-bedroom cottage (in case any siblings wish to stay), all set in approximately 5.39 acres of stunning Cotswold countryside.

It also has a famous former owner. Tony Adams bought it in 2002, reportedly for half the 2025 sale price.

"Liam's lovely, and Debbie's great"

The thought of Adams, 66 caps for England, 672 appearances for Arsenal, four top-flight league winners’ medals, three FA Cup Final wins, two League Cup Final wins, showing off his seven bathrooms to a British rock icon is a curious one.

"Liam’s lovely”, explained Adams to FourFourTwo “and Debbie’s great," referring to the singer's partner, Debbie Gwyther. "She’s an Arsenal fan. Stevenage girl. Her sister Katie as well. They’re great Arsenal fans."

It made for a handy ice-breaker when Adams proudly showed them some exterior decor he had installed at the property near the front door. A pair of cannons, mirroring the ones stationed outside the Emirates Stadium.

Unfortunately, it sparked a disagreement between his prospective buyers. "Liam went, ‘They’ve got to go,’" Adams grins. "But Debbie said, ‘No, they’re staying here.’" There was only one problem: "I said, ‘They’re not staying,’" Adams continues. "They were coming with me!"

Adams' reason for selling the property was so he and his wife could move back to London, where his wife is returning to university to study for a Master's in early modern history.

Oasis summer 2025 reunion tour meant the Gallagher brothers' every move was shared in the media, and Liam’s relocation to the countryside was no exception. The tiny village where the property is situated has a population of roughly 500, but Liam took to his X account to reassure any neighbours who might’ve been nervous that a former hell-raising rock star was moving into their quiet part of the world.

"To all the BEAUTIFUL people from the Cotswolds, I come in peace. You won’t even know I’m there. I’m not like all those divvy celebrities who like to show off. I’m LOFI" he tweeted.

This summer he tweeted again, saying that his new neighbours were "absolutely incredible" and that "they have not stopped baking me cakes and scones."

The high-profile sale led to an amusing encounter for Adams at a recent event. "I was at a do recently," he smiles. "We’d been talking for an hour and 10 minutes about Arsenal and addiction, and all this serious stuff. Then this 12-year-old lad comes up to me and says, ‘Oh… you sold your house to Liam Gallagher,’ and I thought, ‘Is that what I’m known for now?!’” He laughs at the idea that, for one young fan, that property deal is his defining achievement.

Ironically, Adams greatest achievement probably isn’t his medals and England caps, or doubling his money in a property deal with the frontman of Britain's biggest rock and roll band.

This year marks 30 years since he quit alcohol. He wrote a best-selling book called ‘Addiction’ about overcoming his struggles and used proceeds to set up the charity Sporting Chance in 2000 to support current and former athletes battling mental health and addiction issues.

More than a quarter of a century later, the charity continues to provide specialist treatment for sportsmen and women. What began as one footballer’s recovery has become a support network for thousands of others.

Read our in-depth interview with Tony Adams in issue 396 of FourFourTwo magazine, on sale September 24th. Adams’ new book ‘1996: Reflections on the Year that Changed My Life’ is available now

Watch Napoli vs Arsenal for free as the Gunners begin their latest quest to win Europe's top club competition for the first time, in their opening game of the Champions League 2026/27. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Mikel Arteta's men were a penalty shoot-out away from lifting the trophy for the first time last season, only for Paris Saint-Germain to triumph on spot-kicks in Budapest.

They have been handed a tough opening fixture of the league phase this term, with Napoli's Stadio Diego Armando Maradona expected to be as hostile as ever.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Napoli vs Arsenal in the Champions League online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Napoli vs Arsenal for free?

Yes. Napoli vs Arsenal will be shown live on free-to-air Virgin Media Two in Ireland, complete with English commentary, with live streaming available via Virgin Media Play.

Abroad? You need a VPN to access your free Napoli vs Arsenal stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Napoli vs Arsenal from anywhere

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How to watch Napoli vs Arsenal in the UK

Napoli vs Arsenal will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK.

The game will be shown on TNT Sports 2, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

Outside of the UK? Watch Napoli vs Arsenal on TNT Sports with NordVPN.

How to watch Napoli vs Arsenal in the US

Fans in the US can watch Napoli vs Arsenal on Paramount+, with kick-off at 3pm ET.

Travelling outside of the US? Use NordVPN to access your usual Paramount+ stream.

How to watch Napoli vs Arsenal in Australia

Australian viewers can watch Napoli vs Arsenal on Stan Sport.

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Napoli vs Arsenal: Preview

Despite boasting one of the great cathedrals of European football in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli's Champions League record is decidedly average.

The Partenopei have only once progressed as far as the quarter-finals, so will feel they are due a run to the latter stages of the competition.

The chances of that happening this season appear unlikely after an underwhelming start to the Serie A campaign in which Max Allegri's side have claimed just three points from three matches, including losing 3-2 to Inter Milan on Saturday despite going 2-0 up.

Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay is sidelined for this league phase opener while he undergoes a minor heart operation, but Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne - who has enjoyed plenty of success against Arsenal down the years - is likely to feature.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

The Gunners arrive in Naples as one of the favourites to win the competition, having reached the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final in successive seasons under Mikel Arteta.

The Arsenal manager has built a squad capable of challenging both domestically and abroad, so there is no reason why they cannot repeat last term's run to the final - and even go one better.

Arteta's men have started the Premier League season in ominous form and fought back from 1-0 down to beat Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday, extending their perfect start to the campaign.

Ezri Konsa made his full debut against the Blues and the England international is likely to continue at centre back here, particularly if Cristhian Mosquera remains sidelined by the muscle issue that saw him miss the game at the weekend.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Napoli 0-2 Arsenal

The Gunners are a well-oiled machine right now, with a miserly defence and the attacking quality to hurt Napoli.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Lionel Messi is set to expand his football ownership portfolio, with the 39-year-old having agreed to buy Spanish second-division side Eldense.

The Argentine also acquired fifth-division club UE Cornella shortly before the 2026 World Cup. Now, Messi is set to purchase a 100% stake in Eldense - which will see him clash with Cristiano Ronaldo.

There is not expected to be a conflict of interest between both Messi's teams, with Eldense and LaLiga2 separated from Cornella by three divisions. However, Eldense will face off against a Ronaldo-owned club.

Messi and Ronaldo-owned clubs to battle in LaLiga2

Messi’s Portuguese rival recently acquired a 25% stake in fellow Spanish second-division side Almeria - a Saudi-owned club that Ronaldo was able to partially opt into.

In early August, the 41-year-old watched as Almeria beat his current team Al-Nassr 2-0 in a pre-season friendly. Soon, he’ll watch them take on Eldense.

With the announcement of Almeria’s new ownership, Ronaldo said: "It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch.

"UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth,” he concluded. His side are currently placed 12th in the LaLiga2 table.

Eldense are in the drop zone, having taken just two points from their opening four matches. To begin the Spanish second-division season, Messi’s new club travelled to Almeria, and lost 3-0.

Should the Argentine successfully purchase Eldense, his side will face off against Ronaldo’s club in match-week 37 of the LaLiga2 season, on May 2, 2027.

That game will be played on Eldense’s turf, and could mark the first official face-off between Messi and Ronaldo-owned clubs.

The Argentine’s portfolio extends beyond Europe, having formed Deportivo LSM with former Barcelona and current Inter Milan team-mate Luis Suarez.

The club competes in Uruguay’s fourth-tier, and is currently third in the Serie B 2026 table, with 18 points from nine matches.

Should Ronaldo hang up his boots in 2027, his rivalry with Messi could still continue for many years.

Watch Chelsea vs Leeds United in the Carabao Cup third round as former Bundesliga bosses meet in England for the first time. FourFourTwo bring you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Chelsea dropped points for the first time this season when they lost at Arsenal on Sunday. After Xabi Alonso's first defeat, the Blues will be eager to ensure safe passage to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Premier League rivals Leeds United head for Stamford Bridge knowing that a continuation of their unbeaten start would take them into the round of 16 of a competition they haven't won since 1968.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Chelsea vs Leeds United in the Carabao Cup third round online and from anywhere.

Watch Chelsea vs Leeds United from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Chelsea vs Leeds United.

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How to watch Chelsea vs Leeds United in the UK

Chelsea vs Leeds United will be live on Sky Sports, with coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.

How to watch Chelsea vs Leeds United in the US

Chelsea vs Leeds United will be broadcast on Paramount+ in the US. Kick-off is at 3:00pm ET.

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How to watch Chelsea vs Leeds United in Australia

beIN SPORTS is the home of the Carabao Cup in Australia and will broadcast Chelsea vs Leeds United.

The third-round clash will be live on beIN SPORTS 3 and the beIN SPORTS Connect streaming platform. Kick-off is at 5:00am AEST on Thursday.

SEE ALSO How to watch Carabao Cup 2026/27: TV Guide, Free Streams & Fixtures — Round 3

Match Preview

Leeds cruised into the third round courtesy of a second round win at Nottingham Forest, with both Dan James and James Justin still ending the night with fewer goals than first names.

Chelsea were handed a home tie against League One side Luton Town and they too won 2-0. Danny Welbeck grabbed his first Chelsea goal in the process to help set up an enticing encounter with the West Yorkshire side.

Leeds have won once and drawn twice in the Premier League this season. After playing three of their four matches across two competitions away from home, manager Daniel Farke can take encouragement that they can be a robust proposition on the road.

The last time they won at Stamford Bridge was in December 1999, when a Stephen McPhail double either side of Frank Leboeuf's red card bolstered their interests at the top of the Premier League table.

League Cup history is weighted very much in favour of Chelsea. They won at Elland Road in 2001 and 2012, and drew there before winning a replay in 1969-70. They met again in the FA Cup final that season.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Leeds United

Chelsea couldn't overcome the Premier League champions but their depth should give them an advantage in the EFL Cup.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid for free as the Reds begin their Champions League 2026/27 campaign against the Spanish giants for the second successive season. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

UEFA's supercomputer pitted these clubs against each other in gameweek one this time last year, with the Reds edging out Atleti 3-2 courtesy of Virgil van Dijk's stoppage-time winner.

There is a new man in the home dugout at Anfield this time, though, with Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola set to take charge of his first game in this competition.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in the Champions League online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid for free?

Yes. Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid will be broadcast live on free-to-air RTÉ 2 and on RTÉ Player in Ireland, with English commentary.

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Watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid from anywhere

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How to watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in the UK

Fans in the UK can watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

Outside of the UK? Watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid on TNT Sports with NordVPN.

How to watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in the US

US viewers can watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid on Paramount+, with kick-off at 3pm ET.

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How to watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid on Stan Sport.

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Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid: Preview

Liverpool fans could be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu ahead of their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid, but few will be complaining if this season's instalment is as thrilling as the previous edition.

That night, the Reds raced into a 2-0 lead inside six minutes before Marcos Llorente's double looked to have snatched a draw for Atleti, only for Virgil van Dijk to head home a stoppage-time winner.

It was also the evening in which Alexander Isak made his Liverpool debut and the striker will be raring to go here, having scored both goals in last Friday's 2-0 win at Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

This summer's mega-money signing was Bradley Barcola, who could be in line for his first start after making his Reds bow off the bench at Portman Road. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will be extra keen to make a winning start in the league phase, as he manages in a Champions League game for the first time.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League football

One big-money move that didn't happen this summer involved Atletico forward Julian Alvarez, who was heavily linked with both Arsenal and Barcelona during the transfer window but remains in the Spanish capital.

The former Manchester City star came off the bench in Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Athletic Bilbao in La Liga - the club's first game since the window closed - and manager Diego Simeone may be considering handing him a start at Anfield.

Other familiar faces in the Atleti squad include former Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero, who could make his full debut, and veteran skipper Koke. The 34-year-old will become the 28th player to reach 150 appearances in UEFA club competitions if he features against Liverpool.

The loss in Bilbao ended a strong start to the campaign for Simeone's men, who took seven points from their first three games and are aiming to better last season's run to the Champions League semi-finals.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Liverpool 2-2 Atletico Madrid

Both teams have been good at scoring goals but not so good at keeping them out so far this season, which could make for an entertaining contest.

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“He’s the reason”, Tottenham Hotspur fans once sang about Rodrigo Bentancur. In the 2021/22 season, particularly once Antonio Conte took over from Nuno Espirito Santo, the Uruguayan was instrumental in the middle of the park.

He forged a fine partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and looked a world beater in north London. There was even an argument to be made that he was their most important player. Spurs wouldn’t have secured a Champions League finish without Bentancur in the side.

Disaster, though, struck in February 2023. Bentancur suffered an ACL injury at Leicester City. In the years since, Bentancur wasn’t the same player. A succession of spells on the sidelines owing to knee, ankle and hamstring issues hardly helped the Uruguay international.

Too safe

Nor did the Thomas Frank Reign of Pain. At one stage last season, the Dane’s favoured midfield pairing was Bentancur and Joao Palhinha at the base in the 4-2-3-1 formation. The axis of evil was resoundingly criticised, particularly at home when the north London side were accused of being too safe.

So, when Spurs spent £185m to bring Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Newcastle United and West Ham United, respectively, many felt Bentancur would be deemed surplus to requirements. At that point, the idea was that both Tonali and Fernandes would forge the deep-lying pairing in Roberto De Zerbi’s preferred 4-2-3-1 setup.

Yet, three games into the new Premier League season, Bentancur has started twice. He replaced Lucas Bergvall at the break in last month’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford, the Swede having struggled in the opening 45 minutes. He ranks fifth for total league minutes (225) at Spurs.

Admittedly, results haven’t gone in the club’s favour. They have collected just one point from meetings with the Bees, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and are one of three teams yet to score a league goal in England’s top tier this season.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Forest, though, was a step in the right direction. Spurs looked more threatening going forward, and could have gone ahead in the first half had Omar Marmoush hit the target when one-on-one with Matz Sels.

What caught the eye, however, was Bentancur’s standout performance. The former Juventus midfielder was arguably Spurs’ best player at the City Ground, putting in the necessary nitty-gritty display that helped Spurs claim a first point of the season. They were far tougher to break down than they were in back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Newcastle.

Indeed, Bentancur made nine clearances, two interceptions and one tackle in the Midlands. He managed five ball recoveries, won six duels and four aerial duels. While Spurs splashed the cash to improve the squad in the off-season following their relegation scrap, it’s the 2022 £18m addition that continues to shine in a key area.

Conte identified Bentancur as a vital player when he took charge back in 2021, and De Zerbi has done similar following his appointment back in April. In time, De Zerbi may plump for a pairing of Tonali and Fernandes to help take Spurs forward. For the foreseeable future, however, Bentancur needs to be a starter at the base of the midfield.

Forget the £185m pairing, it’s Bentancur who De Zerbi should be building his midfield around. There’s a reason, after all, that Spurs were happy to - briefly - entertain bids for Lucas Bergvall and willing to sanction Pape Sarr’s Juventus switch. When it came to Bentancur, however, there was no chance he’d be shown the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium exit.

And with the welcome of a battling Everton side looming, De Zerbi needs to continue with Bentancur in a key position. The Toffees thrive in midfield duels and winning second balls, meaning Spurs have a battle on their hands against David Moyes’ men this weekend.

Saturday’s Forest stalemate proved that Bentancur is more than up for the challenge. It also showed just why De Zerbi will look to the experienced figurehead in the middle of the park in his first full campaign in the capital. Spurs are a far more cohesive unit when Bentancur starts. Despite the shiney new toys, he’ll start in midfield, and deservedly so.

A great manager can make a player. A team of great players can make a manager. Relationships are key in football and pairing the right player and manager is a powerful way to succeed. This FourFourTwo quiz will put you through your paces to find out how much you know about who managed who.

More importantly, we want to know who didn't manage who. It's a simple set-up. We'll name a player. You tell us which of the four listed managers never had the pleasure of their presence in the dressing room.

There are 10 players in all and we're giving you a punchy time limit of 4 minutes to pick the odd one out from the names associated, or not, with those players.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a massive vault of football quizzes and they're all courtesy of Kwizly. If, and only if, you're looking for a serious challenge and have half an hour to spare, you can try to name every player ever to have scored a Premier League hat-trick.

We also want to know whether you can remember and name the first goalscorer of every Premier League season from the first in 1992-93 all the way up to the current 2026-27 campaign.

Lastly, can you name every team in the top two divisions of women's football in England and every top flight team in men's football in England since 1945?

FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 67 features clues on shirt sponsors, EFL counties, and relegations. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

Today's FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz will find out whether you have elite football trivia chops and quick fingers. 10 questions. 90 seconds. Let's go.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has loads more football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Warm up those quizzy muscles by answering these questions about the great one-club men of world football.

Transfer aficionado? Take the edge off the end of the all-important summer window by taking on this challenge to name Arsenal's 50 most expensive signings ever. The list might take you back further than you think.

We want to know whether you can answer 15 questions about the 2016-17 season in the Premier League and name every player to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League.

Let's expand our horizons. We also have this quiz that simply asks you to put some groups of clubs into the correct order based on the number of league titles they've won, from most to least.

If you happen to be off work for the next week or two, here's a mammoth quiz for you. Can you name every team to have ever played in the group stage, league phase or first round of the Champions League?

We have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for your Sunday, and remember to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits!

Sadio Mane was a great player. The phrasing here is deliberate — a world in which the Senegalese winger, little more than the Robin to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Batman in the Saudi Pro League, makes it to the Ballon d'Or 30-man shortlist… is not a serious world.

Sure, Mane won the Africa Cup of Nations in January of this year. Well, he did, until Senegal’s trophy was seized and re-distributed to Morocco in a court ruling, months after the fact. Regardless, is that enough?

Does the Ballon d'Or really expect us to believe that an underwhelming World Cup, a 10-goal Saudi Pro League season, and a phantom AFCON victory, is enough for fans to accept his place, in 2026 no less, among the world’s top 30 players?

Ballon d'Or, how is Sadio Mane in your 30-player shortlist?!

Sure, Mane won AFCON's Player of the Tournament — that wasn’t taken from him. Well, he did, with two pea-roller assists in a Round of 16 clash versus Sudan (gifted to him by glorious efforts from Papa Gueye and Ibrahim Mbaye) and one brilliant strike against Egypt in the semi-final.

His claim to making the Ballon d’Or’s 30-man shortlist begins and ends there. The 34-year-old was named Player of the Tournament not because his play was undeniable, but because he is Sadio Mane.

It must be stressed, there are other players present in the Ballon D’or 30-player shortlist whose places are near equally undeserved. For example, Julian Quinones and Dayot Upemecano stand out as two such individuals that should be nowhere near France Football’s award.

But there’s something in Mane’s inclusion that feels particularly egregious: it speaks directly to the nonsensical criteria that is used to determine which players are nominated for, or even win, the award. For starters, what is the Ballon d’Or’s obsession with international trophies?

Why is it that international tournament winners— in this case, Mane with AFCON — are automatically more deserving of a place on the 30-man shortlist, or a higher finish in France Football’s rankings, than players who excelled at club level?

That was made clear in 2018, when Lionel Messi, with 48 goal involvements, and Mohamed Salah, with 60 contributions, finished fifth and sixth in France Football’s list respectively.

That was the year that Luka Modric somehow left with the Ballon d'Or in his clutches… because he’d received the Golden Ball in a World Cup tournament. Oh, and Antoine Griezmann managed to bag third.

‘Trophy logic’ is wildly inconsistent — as some of Messi’s staunchest critics have pointed out, he won the 2019 Ballon d’Or with nothing but a LaLiga title to his name, yet his solitary World Cup trophy, and a Ligue 1 title that PSG nearly always win, was enough to supersede a treble-winning Erling Haaland’s claim in 2023.

The same pattern reared its ugly head when Rodri took home the 2024 award, propelled, very clearly, by Spain’s European Championship victory — denying a treble-winning Vinicius Junior.

A year later? Winning the treble was now enough for PSG’s Ousmane Dembele. He departed with the award, despite Salah and Raphinha clearly having stronger individual seasons, and winning their respective leagues, in tougher conditions.

Salah broke the Premier League record for goal involvements, and won the most-competitive top-flight title in Europe, without a single team-mate of his making France Football’s 30-man shortlist.

Raphinha racked up a staggering 21 Champions League goal contributions in just 14 games, and contributed to three goals versus Inter Milan, while his team shipped seven goals in a 7-6 aggregate defeat.

Elsewhere, Dembele played merely 1,736 Ligue 1 minutes — the equivalent of just 19 games.

For a so-called individual award, it seems that a player’s individual season is actually accounted for last, club-level trophies in second, and international silverware in first. That is farcical.

Mane is the latest beneficiary of such silly criteria. A mediocre club-level season with Al-Nassr, bagging just 10 goals en-route to Saudi Pro League victory, an average World Cup in which Senegal embarrassingly fell to an historic Belgium comeback, all superseded by an AFCON trophy... that was later taken away from him.

And hey, at least he stood on the pitch against Morocco and begged his Senegalese team-mates to return after they stormed off. That gave him ‘fair play’ points, right, France Football?

The 45-year-old revealed on Rio Ferdinand Presents: The Debrief that he was recommended to watch Kylian Mbappe at youth level. Despite Giggs being impressed, Manchester United’s scouting team were reportedly not sold on the Frenchman.

The former Wales international told Ferdinand he was in the south of France in 2015, when a man named ‘Lionel’ approached him to discuss Mbappe.

Giggs explained that the man had been following him, but listened to his suggestion for Manchester United to keep tabs on the Frenchman.

Giggs reveals how Manchester United were alerted to Mbappe and why they rejected him

Giggs explained that ‘Lionel’ asked for his email address, to send additional details regarding Mbappe after his initial recommendation for the then-Monaco youth team player.

He claimed that while initially hesitant, ‘Lionel’ followed through on his promise, and sent the Welshman an email with information on Mbappe.

“We got to go to a few youth games [where he played] with Monaco. We saw him and went ‘Wow’ - he looked exceptional, obviously,” revealed the ex-Manchester United man.

Giggs, who was coaching at Manchester United in 2015, then advised the scouting team to watch Mbappe in action.

“We told the scouting team, [so] someone went to watch him in Paris,” explained the Welshman. “It was actually Monaco versus PSG.

“Later, the guy [who went] told me, ‘Yeah, they weren’t too sure about him.’” Giggs said. The 45-year-old then revealed additional recommendations from ‘Lionel’ in the years since.

“The same guy, in 2018, I went through my phone and he’s telling me about a player, U-14s but he’s playing with the Under-17s: Rayan Cherki,” the Welshman said, leaving Ferdinand stunned.

“Next message: ‘There’s a player at Saint-Etienne, [William] Saliba, I think he’d be a good player at Manchester United,” continued Giggs.

The 45-year-old clarified that suggestions from ‘Lionel’ weren’t always “superstars” and that he had recommended other players below the calibre of Mbappe, Cherki and Saliba.

Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel now to watch the full interview.

Some things immediately transport you back to childhood. Football in the garden. Old replica shirts, parents licking a tissue and rubbing your face, and now for Gen Z: the rip of a foil Match Attax packet.

First launched in 2006, Match Attax quickly became part of football culture for kids across the UK. Cards were swapped in playgrounds, showed off on the bus home and, inevitably, traded for something that seemed like a brilliant deal at the time.

Two decades later, Match Attax is still bringing that same feeling to a new generation of fans.

Got, Got, NEED!

For lifelong collectors, the appeal is about more than completing a checklist. The cards become snapshots of football moments, favourite players and childhood memories. For Jack Whyte, known online as GBW, one of Match Attax’s best-known collectors, it started at home.

“I remember coming home from school and seeing packs of Match Attax waiting for me on the dining room table. I’d get so excited ripping into them with my mum and dad, and chasing the OG 101 Steven Gerrard card.”

“As a QPR fan, one card that’s always stuck with me is the Charlie Austin Hat-Trick Hero from the 2014/15 Extra collection. That’s what makes Match Attax so special for me, there are cards that bring you straight back to a particular moment or memory.”

Another collector, Dan, remembers trying to collect Frank Lampard cards each season. “I’m a Chelsea fan so I was always swapping to get Chelsea cards in general, but Frank was and probably still is my favourite player. I’d always be on the lookout for his cards - it’s just got that extra special emotion attached when it’s your favourite player. I’ve still got plenty packed away in my old Match Attax binder, they might be worth a few quid now!”

This week sees the launch of the new 20th Anniversary Edition Match Attax collection, packed full of the best players from Europe’s top leagues. “Looking at this season’s new collection, I’d be chasing the rare ‘Whoosh Messi’ FC Barcelona card, says GBW. “It looks unbelievable, and he’s the greatest of all time, so that’s definitely the one I’d want to pull.”

While the nostalgia remains, Match Attax 2026/27 is designed to give a new generation plenty of reasons to start collecting. It introduces a new rarity system for the first time, with cards ranging from Rare and Super Rare through to Mega Rare, Ultra Rare, Hyper Rare and the ultimate “Mystical” cards.

The collection also brings back the iconic “100 Club” - something of a collector favourite - but this time with a twist, as previous 100 Club players were put to a vote, giving collectors the chance to choose which legends they wanted to see return for the 20th anniversary collection, marking the All-Time 100 Club. Names include Maldini, Messi, Ronaldo, Henry and more.

Twenty years on, the playground may look a little different. But the ritual remains remarkably familiar: get a packet, rip it open, see what you’ve got and, perhaps, wonder: “What can I trade this for?”

Somewhere out there, there’s probably another kid opening a packet and finding a card they’ll still remember 20 years from now.

The Den is a magnificent place to watch football. I imagine it’s a great venue to play at, too.

It’s a Guy Ritchie-directed, late ‘90s, flat-roof pub football club, soundtracked by Ocean Colour Scene’s ‘The Riverboat Song’.

Nowhere else in English football are you likely to hear, “Lino, you’re a c***” sung in unison during the first half…from the ‘Family Stand’.

Millwall is one of the last truly great places to watch proper football

At very few grounds in English football do you walk through the crowds before kick-off and wonder, “Is everyone here in the same WhatsApp group called ‘What we’re wearing to the game’?”

The chant of ‘MILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL’, if you can call it a chant or better still, a rebel yell, is an assault on the eardrums, despite there being less than 20,000 in the building.

There’s an old-style, decommissioned London bus painted royal blue that stands outside. It serves Spitfire ale. They have a centre-half of six feet six who plays exactly as you’d imagine. Even the commercial partners are proper working man’s sponsors: Selhurst Timber and Builder’s Merchants, Masons Scaffolding - corrr, I've got splinters just thinking about them. Canary Wharf is visible above the Dockers Stand, and they f***ing love a tackle.

I’m not at The Den every week, but I’ll bet the bloke who sits adjacent to the press box and shouts, “They are f***ing pony”, with the same frequency as the London Bridge to South Bermondsey service, is a regular, and local.

Plenty of teams - Leeds, Everton and Newcastle among them - might claim they run Millwall close in their Millwall-ness, but it’s exactly what the Premier League is missing, to its detriment.

I know what you’re thinking, 'Surely the EFL Family Club of the Year 2017 is a touch more welcoming than it was back in the old days?' Of course, that would be the correct assumption. Nothing is like the old days, but unlike other grounds, and some of Millwall’s closest rivals, ahem, they at least retain some of the horribleness.

In an age where football has become increasingly polished and corporate-ified, it’s redeeming to visit a stadium where it all feels authentic. Going in a box at The Den would feel wrong, and a waste of money. Paying more to miss out on the full experience? No, thanks.

Even the press room, with its low ceiling, a discarded mannequin torso and worn Wetherspoons-like carpet, stippled with 'MFC' worked into the fabric, is like something out of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s ‘The Office’.

The Lions came close to promotion last season, defeated in the Championship play-offs by eventual winners Hull City. They’ve lost star man Femi Azeez and were soundly beaten 5-1 by Southampton earlier this season, so this term might not go as well as last.

However, with six teams now making up the play-offs, and Millwall giving a near full-strength Newcastle side a good go in the Carabao Cup, there’s every chance.

Can you rattle your way through 10 football trivia questions in just 90 seconds? Prove it. Here's the latest FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has many more football quizzes courtesy of Kwizly. Let's kick off with a big one that will really test your memory. Can you name every player ever to have scored a Premier League hat-trick?

Got into the hundreds on that one? You'll breeze through these three. We have 15 questions each on the Premier League in the 2016-17 season, the 2006-07 season and the 1996-97 season.

Staying in England's top flight, we want to know whether you can name the first goalscorer in every single Premier League season and whether you can arrange these players in order of their Premier League appearances from most to least.

If you're a women's football expert, this will be a tap-in for you. Can you list out every team currently competing in the WSL or WSL2, the top two divisions of the women's game in England?

Last but not least, we've got just the perfect quiz for football history buffs. Can you name every club to have played in England's top flight, either the First Division or the Premier League, since 1945?

We have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for your Sunday, and remember to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits!

The furore over FIFA's attempt to sell off the World Cup had only just died down when VAR controversies reared their ugly head in the opening weeks of the Premier League season. The demise of PSR appeared to offer temporary relief, yet those minded to celebrate its sudden obsolescence should be wary, EPL executives included. Its replacement abbreviation, SCR, threatens to gravely damage what made England's top tier so successful in the first place.

Some explanations are in order. Last November, Premier League clubs voted to change the financial rules that govern their transfer dealings. Out went Profit and Sustainability, which allowed adjusted losses of a maximum of £105m over a three-year period. In came Squad Cost Ratio, which permits clubs to spend up to 85% of their football-related revenue on squad costs, namely transfers, wages and agent fees.

There is something faintly depressing about the extent to which modern-day football fans have to be clued up on accountancy terms to make sense of their club’s ins and outs, but at least we now all know the definition of amortisation. Besides, football cannot be a free-for-all. Competitive sport relies on, if not a level playing field, then at least a semblance of parity. Allowing clubs to spend whatever they like would be a recipe for disaster, especially in the era of state ownership.

'A fudge so considerable it would have delighted Willy Wonka'

PSR was far from perfect. The bigger clubs were already able to splash more cash than the smaller ones because of their larger established revenues. This frustrated many, particularly ambitious outfits striving to break the glass ceiling like Aston Villa and Newcastle.

The regulations incentivised the sale of academy products, whose departures could go down in the books as pure profit. A loophole that allowed clubs to count non-football income in their earnings was cynically and predictably exploited. Most egregious was Chelsea’s sale of two hotels to a sister company controlled by their owners, a fudge so considerable it would have delighted Willy Wonka.

Yet SCR is a step in the wrong direction. That aforementioned loophole has been closed, but the issue of youth-team graduates remains unresolved. More worryingly, middle-ranking sides face a tighter financial squeeze.

PSR’s fixed £105m figure at least acted as a form of equalisation, imposing the same loss ceiling on all established Premier League clubs regardless of revenue. Under SCR, financial headroom is tied only to revenue, giving the elite clubs greater scope to splash the cash. The closed shop has had a padlock bolted on for good measure.

That is not all. SCR operates on a seasonal basis, as opposed to PSR’s three-year assessment period. This means that a Brighton or a Crystal Palace has less scope to keep a team together for a couple of campaigns before selling off assets in the third season to bring its cumulative losses under the £105m limit. Ambition is circumscribed before it has had the chance to bear fruit.

True, the 85% ratio is not a hard-and-fast limit. The Premier League terms it a ‘green threshold’, in contrast to a ‘red threshold’ that comprises the 85% plus a multi-year rolling allowance of 30%. A points penalty is reserved only for those who exceed the red threshold; breaching the green one is punishable by a fine. But that additional allowance is available to the richest teams too, so it only serves to strengthen their relative advantage.

The SCR problem is particularly acute for clubs that have qualified for Europe, who must simultaneously meet UEFA’s stricter ratio of 70%. Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Brighton, who will soon begin their continental campaigns, face greater constraints than those who missed out on the Europa League or Conference League.

It is telling that three of that quartet voted against SCR, along with Brentford, Fulham and Leeds. These upstarts realised the new regulations would be detrimental to their prospects going forward. The Premier League’s marketing department might soon need to rethink its “anyone can beat anyone” mantra.

Even under PSR, we would not have seen a repeat of Leicester’s 2015/16 title triumph, an achievement that did not merely upset the apple cart but sent it hurtling down the hill. Yet the likes of Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth have shown in recent years that through smart recruitment, astute management and a long-term vision, it is possible to not only survive but to thrive in the Premier League, sometimes outperforming the established powers in the process.

The advent of SCR makes that harder. For a league that has long prided itself on its competitiveness, it is a dangerous development.

One of the great joys of going to the football is the very buildings where the matches take place. These cathedrals of sport are rich in history and often beautiful in their own right, but how much do you know about them? This FourFourTwo quiz will find out.

We're keeping it (mostly...) in England for this one, so it's all about the stadiums of the present and past in the Premier League, Football League and maybe even a little bit lower.

There are 20 questions in total and we're giving you 8 minutes to answer them. Remember to let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a vast collection of football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Let's begin by asking you to name the first goalscorer in every Premier League season from 1992-93 to 2026-27 and every player to have scored one or more of the Premier League's 405 hat-tricks.

Keeping it in the Premier League era, how about tackling 15 questions each about the Premier League in 2016-17, in 2006-07, and 1996-97?

We also want you to arrange these players in order based on their total numbers of appearances in the Premier League and sort these club teams by the numbers of domestic league titles they've won.

FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 67 features clues on shirt sponsors, EFL counties, and relegations. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

The 60-year-old offered his verdict on Manchester United’s £70 million man, surmising that Baleba will require a lengthy adjustment period under Michael Carrick.

Sheringham stated that the Cameroonian will have to reckon with a newfound pressure at Manchester United, having never played previously for a club of the Red Devils’ stature.

The 22-year-old arrived from Brighton as a replacement for the club’s recently departed veteran midfielder Casemiro, and is anticipated to make his Manchester United debut in the coming weeks.

‘I’m not sold on Carlos Baleba, we’ve not seen him play at a club with the pressure of Manchester United’

Carrick revealed last week that Baleba’s debut is anticipated within 10-14 days — making his first match for the Red Devils likely to be either a Premier League or Carabao Cup fixture.

His last competitive game came against Manchester United in matchweek 38 of the Premier League season, in which Brighton lost 3-0. Last term, he made 31 top-flight appearances for the Seagulls.

Sheringham expects Baleba’s settling-in period to be the inverse of that experienced by another midfield signing for the Red Devils — Youri Tielemans.

The ex-Aston Villa man has started all three of Manchester United’s fixtures to open the season, with his stand-out performance arriving versus Ipswich in the club’s 5-2 home win.

Sheringham confessed: “I’m not sold on Carlos Baleba — we’ve not seen him play at a club with the pressure of Man Utd yet, so it’ll take six months or so before we can get a real idea.

“When you bring in two or three signings, they’re expected to be playing. With someone like Tielemans, everyone talks highly of him and you expect him to go straight into the side, which has been the case.”

Sheringham introduced England international Kobbie Mainoo into the discussion, as a possible foil for the Cameroonian.

Despite the former Brighton man’s considerable price tag, Sheringham believes that he could “have to bide his time” until an opportunity arrives, with Mainoo likely to serve as a roadblock in Baleba’s attempts to break into the side.

“Someone like Baleba, with Kobbie Mainoo playing, [he] might have to bide his time. When that chance does come, they’ve got to grab it with both hands,” he said.

Sheringham also discussed the ‘huge’ pressure faced by former player, now permanent manager, Carrick in the coming seasons at Manchester United.

The Red Devils return to Premier League action — after their Thursday showdown in the Champions League versus Sabah FK — in the Manchester derby on Sunday, at Old Trafford.

This interview was conducted by BetVictor Online Casino.

How much credit does the new head coach deserve? Some, that much is clear, but Newcastle have rode their luck at times on this admittedly brief unbeaten run.

The Toon Army are by no means the finished article under their newly-installed German head coach, but are at least playing with personality in fits and starts, and getting results, both of which had eluded them long before the 2025/26 season came to a crescendo.

Perhaps it is this summer’s injection of young blood that has fans eyeing an extension of that undefeated streak next Monday. Or, perhaps it is the absence of key figures who once set the standard but had, for want of a better phrase, checked out towards the end of last season no longer poisoning the well.

Newcastle progress to Fourth Round of Carabao Cup with Millwall victory

Whatever the reason, Newcastle - and Jaissle - have benefited. With matches against newly-promoted duo Hull City and Coventry City in their next three, only after a difficult trip to face Leeds United at Elland Road, supporters could be forgiven for pondering when this side might next taste defeat.

It must be said, Newcastle have not steamrollered teams since the 2026/27 campaign began only three weeks ago. Liverpool arrived at St. James’ Park on the opening weekend, and despite looking a shadow of their usual selves, left with a point. AFC Bournemouth also made their way out of Tyneside with a share of the spoils, albeit having led 2-0.

The Newcastle rearguard is anything but watertight, conceding twice against the Reds, Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion in the previous round of the Carabao Cup.

In a move that reflected an encouraging start to the season and possibly his growing importance in the dressing room, Yoane Wissa was handed the captain’s armband at The Den as Newcastle met Millwall in the Third Round.

Jaissle boldly selected the DR Congo striker as the man to lead his team ahead of veterans Fabian Schar and Jacob Murphy, who have been with the club eight and nine years, respectively. A small decision, given the relative importance of the match, but a significant one indicative of the club’s transitional period all the same.

Eight minutes into the game, it was the skipper sprinting back as Millwall smelled a counter-attacking opportunity, with Wissa eventually winning a free-kick and possession of the ball. It is an altogether different version of the £55 million player Newcastle signed merely 372 days ago, alert, engaged and dialled in, but he was largely ineffectual and spared further exertion with his substitution on 62 minutes.

Joe Willock could’ve departed late in the window, much like £70m Nick Woltemade, but now finds himself playing in a front two of sorts, alongside Wissa, in lieu of the German forward. While it's difficult ascertaining anything of note about new-look Newcastle at this early stage, Jaissle at least knows how he wants to play and the personnel it requires.

In each of Newcastle’s three league matches so far this term, the Magpies have created fewer chances and shooting opportunities than their opponents. Only against Championship side West Brom, whom they conceded 1.46 to in Expected Goals (xG) and two actual goals, did Newcastle have the lion’s share of the game.

It was a similar story to the previous round at The Den with the Magpies deserved winners, but their second tier hosts were not roundly beaten.

Much like Newcastle’s summer business, there’s still plenty to come out in the wash.

Teams in transition usually don’t play with the consistency of a settled side and despite Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the season, they are functioning exactly like that. Swaggering one minute, unconvincing the next. Maybe this is all symptomatic of a team searching for an identity, and leaders, and star quality, all of which departed over the summer.

Deep into the second half, Newcastle had goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek’s upright to thank, after Tairyk Arconte came within a whisker of opening the scoring, and then Willock. The Londoner swept in Lewis Hall's cross for his second of the season following what was Newcastle’s only well-worked move since the break down the left.

With a goal cushion, Jaissle’s men played with confidence again, almost as if they had rediscovered it instantaneously, finding an energy reserve of pure adrenaline within them.

Newcastle made it out of the Lions’ Den without too many scrapes. They were not put through the ringer or kicked from pillar to post. They will go to Leeds and face a sterner test next Monday but remain five unbeaten, which they could not say at any stage last season.

Only after 87 minutes did Jaissle’s terrace chant to the tune of Baccara’s ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ receive its first airing of the night. It rang out until the referee’s whistle seven minutes later. And then some more.

If nothing else of real substance could be gleaned from this game, nowhere in English football this week, or perhaps this season, will the contrast in dugout dress code be as juxtaposed as Jaissle and his opposite number Alex Neil.

This new version of Newcastle United is everything and nothing all at once, but you can’t argue with an unbeaten start. Carrying that momentum for as long as they can will be crucial, for as long as they’re finding out who and what they are.

This season's League Cup Third Round fixtures are taking place a week apart due to English clubs' participation in European competition.

This means the likes of Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Newcastle and Bradford have all already progressed to the competition’s Fourth Round.

The draw for the Fourth Round will take place shortly after the final Third Round fixture scheduled to be played next week.

Carabao Cup draw: Fourth Round details

Manchester United will face off against Brighton on September 16 at 8pm BST, with the draw then expected to take place at around 10:20pm BST.

It remains possible that this clash will see Carlos Baleba make his Red Devils debut. If the Cameroonian is absent, he would be expected to appear in the club’s next Premier League match, versus Fulham.

Everton host Wolves in a rescheduled showdown that was initially set to take place on Wednesday, September 9, meanwhile Sheffield United travel to Fleetwood, and newly-promoted Coventry City are hosts to fellow top-flight side Aston Villa.

The draw will be made live to watch on Sky Sports, with ex-Liverpool and Everton men Jamie Redknapp and Ashley Young picking the teams out.

A day prior to the draw, on September 15, a further five Carabao Cup matches will be played, including Liverpool versus Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, with Andrew Robertson likely to appear back on Merseyside.

West Ham supporters will witness the return of what was recently a Premier League derby, as they welcome Fulham at the London Stadium.

Arsenal, who were defeated in last year’s Carabao Cup Final by Manchester City, will visit Ipswich Town, and Peterborough United will host Barnsley.

Lastly, Reading will host Brentford, meaning that all but two Carabao Cup Third Round clashes will have been decided by 10pm BST next Wednesday evening, with Coventry-Villa and Man United-Brighton scheduled to kick-off at 8pm with the possibility of penalties to follow.

Fourth Round matches are scheduled to take place in the week commencing October 26, then w/c December 14 for Fifth Round clashes.

Nineteen-year-old Kendry Paez is back in London after a loan period with River Plate, which the Argentinian club terminated.

Now, Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Paez will not play a role in Chelsea’s first-team plans this season, after the Blues failed to secure another loan in England for the Ecuadorian.

Paez played just 469 minutes for River Plate in 2026, recording two goal contributions. He last featured for the club in late May, in what was a 13-minute cameo.

Alonso on plans for Paez at Chelsea

When questioned whether Paez would play a role in Chelsea’s first-team before January, the Spaniard quickly rejected the idea.

Alonso said: “No, no. He is not part of the plans. At the moment, he is not part of the first team squad,” according to a report from The Athletic.

The 19-year-old was expected to depart on loan again for the 2026/27 season, but Chelsea were unable to finalise a deal prior to the British transfer window closing.

Judging by Alonso’s comments, it appears that Paez will be prioritised for a loan move, but one that sees him remain in England, in January.

The Ecuadorian has not played for the club since the Blues signed him in July 2025, in a deal worth over £17 million.

Since then, he has played for both River Plate and Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan. With the latter club, he appeared 20 times, for a combined 711 minutes, scoring one goal.

Recently, the 19-year-old received minutes in Ecuador’s Round of 32 loss versus Mexico at the 2026 World Cup. He did not feature during all three group stage matches.

Alonso’s intention to keep Paez separate from the Blues’ first-team has arrived at a time when both Moises Caicedo and Premier League veteran Jordan Henderson are out injured.

The Spaniard refuses to rush Paez’s fellow Ecuadorian back into action, despite having resumed training with Chelsea, while Henderson remains sidelined with an injury he sustained in North America.

Alonso’s men return to action in the Carabao Cup, as they take on Leeds United this evening at 8pm BST.

Watch Porto vs Manchester City for free as Enzo Maresca's men visit the Portuguese champions in their opening league phase game of the Champions League 2026/27. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

City will aim to replicate their domestic form on the European stage after winning their opening three Premier League matches under Maresca.

Porto also have a flawless record in the league, taking 15 points from their first five games, but this should be the toughest test of the season to date for Francesco Farioli's side.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Porto vs Manchester City online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Porto vs Manchester City for free?

There is a way for UK-based fans to watch Porto vs Manchester City for free. The Champions League fixture is being broadcast live on Prime Video which has a 30-day free trial for new customers, allowing them to stream the game at no cost.

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As mentioned above, Porto vs Manchester City is live on Amazon Prime Video in the UK. Kick-off is at 8:00pm BST.

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How to watch Porto vs Manchester City in the US

US viewers can watch Porto vs Manchester City on Paramount+, with kick-off at 3pm ET.

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How to watch Porto vs Manchester City in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch Porto vs Manchester City on Stan Sport.

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Porto vs Manchester City: Preview

Porto are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2023/24 after storming to the Portuguese title last season, winning 28 of their 34 games.

The two-time European champions proved unstoppable in their first campaign under former Ajax manager Francesco Farioli and they have started 2026/27 in the same vein, scoring 11 goals and conceding just once in five league matches.

Porto's last game in this competition was a penalty shoot-out defeat by Arsenal in the last 16 in March 2024, while their run in last season's Europa League was ended by Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals, so they may not be thrilled to face Premier League opponents first up in the league phase.

Farioli's squad includes several players who will be familiar to fans of English football, including former Southampton and Aston Villa centre back Jan Bednarek, ex-Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior and former Norwich City forward Borja Sainz. Meanwhile, midfielder Seko Fofana could face his former club having spent time at Manchester City as a youngster, although he did not make a competitive first-team appearance.

SEE ALSO Should I use a VPN to watch football?

The bad news for Porto is that Erling Haaland appears to have hit form just in time for City's trip to Portugal, with the Norway striker scoring the only goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over Coventry City to take his tally to three in the last two games.

The former Borussia Dortmund man has played every minute in the Premier League so far this season so it will be interesting to see if that continues in Europe, particularly as manager Enzo Maresca will surely have one eye on Sunday's derby against Manchester United.

There are also doubts over the fitness of Nico O'Reilly, who pulled out of the warm-up before the clash with Coventry after sustaining a back injury. Enzo Fernandez was drafted in and the £125m signing from Chelsea impressed on debut, as did fellow new boy Iliman Ndiaye.

Fernandez's display means that Ayyoub Bouaddi may have to wait a little longer for his first City start, after making two appearances as a substitute following his £86m move from Lille.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Porto 1-3 Manchester City

Porto are rightly full of confidence, but City should be too strong.

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The Champions League kicks off this evening, in an exclusive match-week that will also see games played on Thursday.

Players making their debut appearance in the competition, including substitutes, will wear a one-off patch given to them by UEFA.

The ‘debut patch’ is valid only for each player’s first-ever Champions League appearance. As to where the patches go post-game, it appears that football has been taking notes from the NBA.

‘Debut patches’ in the Champions League to be turned into trading cards

After each patch-wearing player’s debut, it will be retrieved and turned into a unique trading card. These items are anticipated to sell for staggering sums of money.

The move is akin to NBA debut patches and rookie trading cards being sold for exorbitant fees, in the event of players becoming sporting legends.

Cooper Flagg, who delivered a Rookie of the Year-worthy NBA season in his breakout campaign for the Dallas Mavericks, recently saw his debut patch go to auction. It is anticipated to sell for over $1 million.

One of LeBron James’ rookie trading cards, signed by the NBA legend, is believed to be worth around $10 million, with the now-Philadelphia 76er becoming, arguably, the sport’s all-time greatest.

In the Champions League, plenty of high-profile players are expected to make their competition debuts, and will wear the tournament’s debut patches.

At Manchester United, both Bryan Mbeumo, expected to appear in the Red Devils’ opening match versus Sabah FK on Thursday, and Carlos Baleba will make their Champions League debuts.

For the latter, Michael Carrick revealed last week that his debut is set to arrive in 10-14 days. He is due to appear initially in either a Premier League or Carabao Cup clash, then a Champions League game later in the league phase.

The move also follows patches being introduced at the 2026 World Cup, as part of a licensing deal with trading card and stickers company Fanatics.

Global stars such as Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal (and Dan Burn) wore debut patches that were later turned into high-value collectables.

Previous edition Golden Boot, Glove and Ball winners were also given special patches in North America.

Manchester United appear keen to boast the country's best youth talent once again, with the Red Devils on the brink of completing a triple signing from their two biggest rivals.

The club is reportedly putting the finishing touches on an agreement for Liverpool's 16-year-old attacker Isaac Konde, in addition to signing Manchester City pair David Eze and Karim Cassim, according to the BBC.

Konde, 16, made six appearances for Liverpool’s Under-18 squad last term and is said to be known for his speed and ball control. It is expected he will be integrated into Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 setup upon arrival.

Man United poach three players from Liverpool and Manchester City

Across town, Man United's pursuit of City duo Eze and Cassim is reportedly close to reaching a conclusion.

Both 16-year-olds are nominally central midfielders and have been on their soon-to-be employer's radar for some time, as per the BBC's Simon Stone.

The club are clearly making a concerted effort to steal away top-rated talent from Premier League rivals having previously secured striker Chido Obi and defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.

In both cases, the ex-Gunners quickly made their first-team debuts with Heaven now considered a senior option under Michael Carrick.

Man United have historically been regarded as a club with rich academy history and a consistent pathway to first-team opportunities.

The revered 'Class of 92' are the preeminent example of this with several members of that FA Youth Cup-winning side going on to play central roles under Sir Alex Ferguson in the decades that followed.

Manchester United retain one of the most remarkable records in world sport, having had at least one homegrown academy graduate included in every single first-team matchday squad for over 88 years.

On Thursday night, six Champions League matches will be played, on an evening traditionally known for hosting Europa League action.

On their return to Europe, Manchester United welcome Sabah FK — the champions of Azerbaijan, making their Champions League debut — this Thursday.

The Red Devils, accustomed in recent years to hearing the Europa League anthem on Thursday, will instead hear the Champions League composition, but why?

Why are Champions League sides playing on a Thursday?

The tournament is not hosting matches on Thursday to accommodate scheduling issues for league phases teams. Simply, the Champions League has been given its own week to shine.

With the Europa and Conference League tournaments yet to commence, the Champions League has been cleared to set up showdowns on Thursday.

This is a one-off, exclusive week - going forward, the Champions League will only schedule games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

These exclusive weeks, in which one of the European competitions is freed from the shackles of its tournament peers’ scheduling, have been implemented since 2024/25.

Each year since, the Champions, Europa and Conference League competitions have received a single week that allows their tournament to take centre stage.

Last term, it was also staged for the Champions League during the tournament’s opening match-week. Dates for the Europa and Conference League competitions’ exclusive weeks have not yet been revealed.

Outside of Old Trafford, five additional games will be played this Thursday. Last year's semi-finalists Bayern Munich host Bodo/Glimt, while Como welcome RB Leipzig.

Eredivisie champions PSV take on Shakhtar Donetsk, Slavia Prague face Lens, and Super Lig contenders Fenerbahce - who knocked out Lyon during qualification, and caused a chain of events leading to Malick Fofana’s Premier League transfer - play Roma.

League phase teams stand to benefit from a lengthy list of incentives that increases the higher they finish in the Champions League table, with the tournament getting underway this Tuesday evening.

The Champions League returns this week, with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa all playing in their opening tournament fixtures on Tuesday evening.

Across each team’s next eight matches in the tournament, they will fight for a position in the Top 8, and Top 24, of the league phase table; 12 teams of the 36 are guaranteed to exit the competition.

Positions one to eight are guaranteed progression to the Champions League Round of 16, while positions nine to 24 enter the play-off round, but what additional incentives are there?

Why should Champions League sides play for higher league phase finishes, not just knock-out qualification?

Teams finishing in the Top 8 will enjoy two fewer games of football than sides in positions nine to 24 — guaranteed Round of 16 qualification bypasses the play-off round, rewarding the league phase’s strongest-performing clubs with an additional period of rest.

All 36 clubs will earn a guaranteed participation fee of around €18.5 million: this is the lowest sum of money that any Champions League club present in the league phase can earn.

That total is subject to rise dramatically, depending on the results achieved by those competing. Every win in the league phase earns clubs an estimated €2 million, while a draw gives back €750,000.

Therefore, a league phase team that takes eight wins from eight in the Champions League will receive an additional €16 million, bringing their total, before bonuses, up to €34.5 million.

As the first of two bonuses, clubs positioned between first and eighth will receive a further €2 million for their league phase finish, while teams placed ninth to 16th will earn €1 million.

There is also a ranking bonus pool of around €183 million, which is split into 666 shares. The highest-placed league phase club receives 36 shares, which totals nearly €10 million.

These shares decrease by one for each descending position: the side in second receives 35 shares, the team in third, 34, etc.

Should a side manage to take eight victories from eight in the league phase, and finish first in the table, they would stand to earn an estimated €46.5 million.

Additionally, those figures were collected using financial data from the 2025-26 Champions League tournament — rewards stand to rise, as they have done every season, this time out.

Each club’s position in the table also determines the ‘quality’ of their knock-out opposition, and gives the highest-ranked teams home advantage in later rounds.

In places nine to 24, each side faces the table’s inversely-positioned club. Ninth will face 24th in the play-off round, 10th will face 23rd, 11th will face 22nd, etc.

The Champions League’s finest, those placed first to fourth, are rewarded with slightly easier knock-out routes, by carrying home advantages.

Teams in first and second will play their home leg first in every knock-out round until the final, while teams in third and fourth will receive home advantage for their Round of 16 and quarter-final ties.

Clubs competing in this season’s Champions League, which gets underway tonight, stand to benefit from all of the above benefits, should they rank highest among their international peers.

No European fixtures beyond those played in the Champions League are scheduled for this match-week, and games will feature a minute’s silence prior to kick-off.

As relayed by Henry Winter, the silence, in remembrance of the lives lost after a series of devastating flash floods in Nepal will be accompanied by banners reading: "You are not alone, Nepal."

On September 7, Nepal held a national day of mourning for those who had died in the floods. It is estimated that at least 1355 people were killed, with more than 5000 still missing.

Champions League to feature minute’s silence for Nepal

Candlelit vigils were held on Monday evening, as rescue teams continued in their efforts to locate survivors.

The floods are believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse. It has now been two weeks since the disaster, with Monday marking the final day of the traditional 13-day Hindu mourning period.

The news arrives after Premier League and EFL fixtures this weekend were confirmed to not feature a minute’s silence for the victims of 9/11.

67 British people died as a result of the terror attacks on the United States of America, back on September 11, 2001.

Conversely, the Champions League matches this week will commemorate those that lost their lives across the Nepal-Tibet border region.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed: "The entire European football family will stand together before this week's matches to express our deepest condolences and our support to the people of Nepal.

“We wish them strength and resilience as they continue to recover from this tragedy and its aftermath,” he concluded.

The minute’s silences and raised banners are intended to help sustain international awareness for Nepal, aiding in the location of missing flood survivors.

Last Saturday, a 64-year-old Nepali woman was recovered alive by rescuers from her buried house in the Nuwakot district, more than 10 days after it had been submerged.

In Nepal, at least 5000 missing are people, while over 500 are unaccounted for in Tibet. All 36 teams, in 18 Champions League matches, will play this week, with a minute’s silence observed in each clash.

Lost in the noise that buzzes around Chelsea and Xabi Alonso is an obstacle that, to surmount, will require a radical rewriting of the Premier League tactical playbook. Alonso wants to challenge for honours using that so gauche, so ungodly formation: the dreaded three at the back.

If you want to know what English football thinks of a 3-4-3 just ask Ruben Amorim’s ghost, which still haunts the Premier League and looms much larger than Antonio Conte and the back three that won Chelsea the title in 2016/17.

Alonso must know this, which is why we ought to look upon his maverick moment on Sunday – a central midfield of right-backs – and see it as classic misdirection, drawing our attention towards personnel and away from the kind of systems scrutiny that killed Amorim dead.

3-4-3 = five-on-two

The 3-4-3’s fatal flaw is a two-man midfield. In theory, this is offset by having two attacking midfielders in front (making a box: a four-on-three against the opponent’s midfield) and/or having a centre-back step up to join the midfielders. The reality, as Arsenal showed on Sunday, is often quite different.

Mikel Arteta worked the formation from two angles. Riccardo Calafiori drifted into the middle from left-back and Kai Havertz dropped off the front, giving Arsenal an overwhelming five-on-two advantage in the middle that cut through Chelsea many times before eventually leading directly to the winning goal

It happened a lot, in both the first and second, and there was nothing Chelsea could do to close the spaces, as we see here ahead of Arsenal’s first goal, following a period of dominant possession in central areas:

The good news is that Chelsea were competitive and won’t face a game as tough as that again. The bad news is that Arsenal’s template – drop bodies into the middle; surround the misplaced right-backs – is there for everyone else to copy, which hints at a fundamental problem beginning to take hold.

It is intimately connected to the very nature of the 3-4-3 that Chelsea sit 19th in the Premier League table for possession, their scarcely believable 36.3% almost half that of league-leaders Manchester City (71.9%).

Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen averaged 62.1% in their 2023/24 peak, so whatever game-state caveats you put forward, Chelsea’s numbers are not intentional. They are instead reflective of an emerging problem that sleight-of-hand tricks will only cover up for so long.

Of course, better midfield options would help. Conte had N’Golo Kante – essentially two players in one – to cover up the two-man problem. Losing Enzo Fernandez and failing to replace him is a blow; there is no denying that.

But Conte also won the league at a very different time. Back in 2017, just before Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp reinvigorated English football, the Premier League was a tactical desert. Players wafted about in 4-4-2s. Emphasis was placed on winning 50-50s and dominating your individual battles. Systemic pressing, orchestrated transitions, positional play: these were completely alien concepts.

There is currently no evidence that in the modern tactical landscape a 3-4-3 formation can succeed at the top of the Premier League. That is the mountain facing Alonso. If Gusto and James is the dynamic duo upon which he must depend, he will be climbing it with one hand behind his back.

Isak embodies the best (and worst) of Iraola’s chaos-ball

Andoni Iraola’s football is fine-tuned to a fault, so intricate that even a microscopic flaw triggers a meltdown like a grain of sand in a microchip. It produces chaotic heavy-metal football, slow starts while players learn the methods, and, unfortunately for you, painfully-detailed tactical analysis threads like this one.

But the devil really is in the detail, and so we must.

First, the positives. Liverpool’s best chances in their 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town - including both goals - resulted from a combination of Iraola’s high press and his vertical football, which is a significant departure from last season:

The opener came from a high turnover following a classic Iraola man-to-man press, then the second saw Alexander Isak make a darting run, throw his arms up in disgust when he wasn’t hit early, then make a second run found by Cody Gakpo.

Direct runners, getting the ball forward as quickly as possible, and rushing up to press: it’s great when it works. Carnage when it doesn’t.

Isak had been restless from the off, and the first time we saw him throw his arms up was when a press went wrong:

Incredibly, within 10 seconds of the screen grab above, Liverpool have a three-on-three in the Ipswich half. That’s what comes of chaotic football and a not-yet-polished press: a wide-open game that springs from one end to the other in no time at all.

Isak was brilliant in the final third, yet his performance showed the best and the worst of Iraola’s tactics. A more assured side than Ipswich would have punished Liverpool’s press.

Tielemans is the totem of a growing Carrick problem

Youri Tielemans is the unwitting yet inevitable symbol of Manchester United, the totem at whose feet the Man U industrial complex will throw all charges.

He is tailor-made for it: loosely Casemiro-shaped, plonked into the sinkhole that is the Manchester United midfield, and possessing lopsided traits (elegance on the ball, leggy off it) that were hidden by Unai Emery’s coaching but re-revealed by the absence of grand ideas at Old Trafford.

It wasn’t Tielemans’ fault that Everton players kept getting space on the edge of the box to shoot, a pattern that eventually told when Ainsley Maitland-Niles picked his spot in injury time, presumably having practised the shot in his head while sat on the bench watching teammates fluff their lines.

No, it’s Michael Carrick’s deep-lying 4-4-2 - and the improvisational nature of the United press - that was at fault. Nor was Tielemans to blame for failing to find line-splitting passes, instead dallying in possession, unsure of where the next pass ought to go.

Again, that’s on the coaching; on Carrick’s inability to create the choreographed possession patterns that characterise the world’s best coaches, from Emery to Arteta. At Villa, Tielemans knew exactly where his teammates would be, taking the decision-making out of the equation, whereas at Manchester United he must waste time thinking and analysing in the moment, as in this example, when he spent a remarkable 13 seconds on the ball, hesitating endlessly in search of an option.

The shape in that third image (bearing in mind Manchester United have had the ball for well over 30 seconds) is wildly disordered, the spaces vast.

When paired with Carrick’s low block and lack of pressing (United fall into a safe 4-4-2 very quickly), it creates slow football defined by individual moments. Whether that offers enough complexity for the modern Premier League, particularly when combined with exhausting midweek Champions League football, is the big question hovering over their season.

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Turkish Airlines that will see the travel company become principal sponsor of the Reds' iconic shirts for the next five seasons.

Turkish Airlines will be emblazoned across the Anfield club's men's and women's shirts between June 2027 and June 2032 as part of a £300 million sponsorship agreement.

It has been described as the most lucrative in Premier League history and sees Liverpool surge to the top of the Premier League's front-of-shirt sponsorship earnings table. How does this new deal compare to Liverpool's Premier League peers, though?

Liverpool's new shirt sponsorship deal is worth £60m per season

At £60m per season, Liverpool's new partnership brings them alongside Manchester United’s league-topping agreement with Snapdragon. The extra £10m per year over their current £50m arrangement with Standard Chartered represents a 20% revenue jump alone.

While Manchester City (Etihad) and Arsenal (Emirates) record overall commercial packages in similar or higher ranges, those figures bundle stadium naming rights and training facility branding into their totals. Liverpool’s £60m Turkish Airlines annual income is exclusively from matchday kit exposure, keeping things like Anfield’s naming rights untouched and available for separate monetisation, if the club so wish to explore that as a potential avenue.

The financial scale becomes clear when comparing the upgrade to mid-table Premier League figures.

The £10m increase per season that Liverpool have secured in this single negotiation matches the entire front-of-shirt sponsorship income of established Premier League clubs such as Fulham and Everton who, according to reports, were bringing in £10m each from their betting partner shirt sponsors last season.

Such deals only serve to underscore the widening economic divide within English football as mid-table sides like Crystal Palace (£6.5m) and Brighton (£6m) earn roughly a tenth of Liverpool’s incoming fee, whereas clubs like Ipswich Town (£3.5m–£4m) would require up to 15 years of kit sponsorship to match what the Reds will earn in a single season.

Premier League clubs are no longer permitted to advertise gambling companies on the front of their shirts after collectively voting to ban such sponsorships to mitigate growing concerns over gambling harm and public health. The league has taken measures to reduce exposure to impressionable audiences, particularly children and young supporters.

The self-imposed ban, which has taken full effect for the 2026/27 season, aims to break the strong association between football kit identity and betting culture. Although, gambling brands are still permitted on shirt sleeves, advertising hoardings and on screen by broadcast partners.

The Como president has decided to relinquish the board of directors' VIP seating area and hand the tickets over to the club's oldest and most devoted supporters for the fixture.

When the Italian side welcome their German opponents to the newly redeveloped Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Thursday evening, the executive box will not be occupied by corporate dignitaries or billionaire owners.

Instead, Suwarso and key board members have surrendered their seats to lifelong fans born in 1950 or earlier, honouring those who stood by the club through its lowest ebb and non-league football long before their fairytale rise to Europe's elite.

Como president announces new seating plan for Champions League opener

Since 2019, Como have been owned by the Indonesian conglomerate Djarum Group.

Recognised as the wealthiest owners in Italian football, the family appointed Suwarso as president to oversee operations, building a corporate structure that has been supremely successful in recent years.

Suwarso posted a message on his official social media channels which read: "The stadium is completely sold out. With reduced capacity and a limited number of tickets available, unfortunately, we cannot accommodate everyone who would have liked to be there.

"However, several club directors and I have decided to give up our seats for this match. We want them to be allocated to the fans who have waited the longest: supporters born in 1950 or earlier, who have followed Como through every division and every era.

"If you know a long-time Como fan born in 1950 or earlier who deserves to be at the stadium on Thursday, write to us at Community@comofootball.com.

"We will be honoured to give them our seat."

Former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas is head coach and holds a minority stake alongside high-profile investors which reportedly includes Thierry Henry and former defender Raphael Varane, who sits on the board.

Reborn in Serie D following bankruptcy in 2017, Como steadily climbed the Italian league pyramid after their 2019 takeover, earning promotion back to Serie A in 2024 following a 21-year absence.

Under Fabregas, Como punched above their weight in Italian football last term by finishing in the top four to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League.

Thursday's match represents uncharted territory for the club. Prior to this campaign, Como had never competed in a major UEFA tournament, with their sole international experience dating back to the 1980/81 Mitropa Cup.

Now, fans who endured fourth-tier obscurity will watch from the finest seats in the house as Como do battle at Europe's top table.

Everton were in turmoil before Ainsley Maitland-Niles' 96th-minute equaliser against Manchester United last weekend. And to some extent, they still are - but all is not lost.

The Toffees are unbeaten in their opening three matches of the new Premier League season, with five points on the board, so the players are holding up their side of the bargain. At board level, though, it has been well-documented over the past couple of weeks that all is not well. Defeat at home to Man United would've seen a return of the phenomenon widely regarded as the 'Goodison boo' upon the final whistle.

A week prior, supporters had protested against the potential sale of academy graduate Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest which prompted a £40 million U-turn by the club's decision-makers. Then, fans could only watch as Everton jettisoned £100m worth of attacking talent on transfer deadline day, replacing them with nothing.

Silver lining to Everton's disastrous deadline day

It's understandable, then, that Evertonians are keen to hang their hats on Armstrong and his potential. And while many may assume he is the young player with the highest ceiling at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this season, FourFourTwo beg to differ.

Everton's signing of Chelsea academy star Tyrique George could prove to be some of the best business the club have done in recent years, because the 20-year-old has hit the ground running this season, despite the external noise surrounding the club's failings off the pitch.

The left-sided winger impressed against Man United, finding the net with a great effort to level the scoreline late in the game. It was his first Premier League goal for the club.

But it is not George's goalscoring that will, in our opinion, make him a dark horse for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Courtesy of Gradient Sports data, George is the Premier League's best ball-carrier so far this season. Admittedly, the campaign is merely three weeks old but the signs are promising.

George is performing well above average in various areas, including passing, shooting and winning duels, but it is his ball-carrying which really lights up the database.

So far this season, George has completed seven of his nine attempted dribbles, beating his man with regularity during the early knockings of the campaign. This aspect of his game is especially reminiscent of an Everton teammate's breakthrough at Aston Villa: Jack Grealish.

Grealish was - and to some extent, still is - an elite level ball-carrier. Both are capable of transporting play upfield, tens of yards at a time with the ball at their feet. For clubs who are likely to find themselves in mid-table and below, alleviating opposition pressure by taking the ball far away from their own goal is a useful skill to have, not to mention leveraging it to good effect in an attacking sense in the final third.

George is going to be tasked with doing the former an awful lot this season, not least because Everton's first-team squad only has 18 senior members. Opportunities are going to be forthcoming for the ex-Chelsea youngster and on early season evidence, he's ready to grasp them with both hands.

Everton have left themselves with one recognised striker in David Moyes' group, Thierno Barry, who is the type of striker who requires service from out wide, and runners. As he has shown in recent weeks, George can offer the latter from the left-hand side, and Brennan Johnson is more than capable of doing that on the opposite flank. It relies on all three remaining fit, but gives things a decidedly rosier outlook than when the window slammed shut last week.

Chances for George to break through at Chelsea were always going to be few and far between, despite the cameo role he played at Stamford Bridge before joining the Toffees. The Blues will be looking to challenge for the Premier League title this season, albeit as an outside bet, and the £116m signing of Morgan Rogers guarantees Chelsea a greater likelihood of success than if they were to give George equal importance in the squad.

If George can add tangible end product as well, as he demonstrated against Man United, then there is every chance due to the level of exposure, working alongside Grealish and the style Everton are likely to play, that George will be someone we're all talking about very highly come the end of the season.

The 60-year-old has revealed that he anticipates Manchester United fans to be unhappy with anything less than major silverware success under Carrick.

The Red Devils made impressive strides last term under their former player, now permanent manager, ascending from 15th-position in 2024/25, to third in the Premier League standings.

That finish enabled Manchester United’s return to the Champions League — they will play Sabah FK on Thursday evening — but Sheringham believes that expectations will not be tempered this term.

‘It’ll be interesting to see how long his hair stays nice, dark and flowing’ — Sheringham on pressure faced by Carrick

The Red Devils are currently positioned 11th in the Premier League table, having taken a loss, draw and win from their opening three matches.

Their campaign began with a 2-0 defeat on the road at Hull, which they followed up with a 5-2 Old Trafford victory against Ipswich Town. Last weekend, they fell to an Everton equaliser in added time.

Sheringham, who once won the treble with Manchester United, believes that Carrick will soon be under significant pressure by the Red Devils faithful, with expectations of major silverware.

“The pressure is huge at Manchester United,” he confessed. “The expectation may not be there right this minute, but within the football club and among the supporters over the years, they won't be happy with fourth, third, or second.

“Within the club and around it, the pressure is huge, [even] without outside interest playing the part of saying Manchester United are not good enough.

“Anyone within Manchester United who has been involved with Manchester United knows the pressure of what it's like to play for Manchester United. Everywhere you go, people want to beat you. And Michael knows that, he's been a player,” he continued.

Sheringham expressed optimism for the club’s future under Carrick, but admitted that he anticipates the pressure will take a significant toll on the 45-year-old.

“It'll be interesting how long his hair stays nice and dark and flowing on the touch line. That pressure brings the grey hairs or the baldness at some stage for these managers,” said Sheringham.

“And all of sudden you look and go, blimey. He's got old, and that's what that pressure does. [That’s] being involved in football in general, but Man United even more so.

“But Michael knows that. I love his character. I wish him well and I think he will come good,” concluded the 60-year-old.

This interview was conducted by BetVictor Online Casino.

Watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan for free as two of Europe's biggest clubs meet at the Bernabeu in their opening league phase fixture in the Champions League 2026/27. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Both teams have a rich history in the continent's premier club competition, with Los Blancos lifting the trophy 15 times and the Nerazzurri boasting three titles, most recently under current Madrid boss Jose Mourinho in 2010.

One of these two clubs has reached the final in four of the past five seasons and both will expect to reach the latter stages of the competition once again.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan in the Champions League online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan for free?

Yes. Real Madrid vs Inter Milan will be broadcast live on free-to-air Virgin Media Two in Ireland, complete with English commentary, with live streaming available via Virgin Media Play.

Abroad? You need a VPN to access your free Real Madrid vs Inter Milan stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Real Madrid vs Inter Milan. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

How to watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan in the UK

Fans in the UK can watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 5, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

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How to watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan in the US

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Fans in Australia can watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan on Stan Sport.

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SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

FourFourTwo's prediction

Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan

This is set up to be a fascinating contest and home advantage may just swing it in Madrid's favour.

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The latest FourFourTwo quiz is all about the players who stayed put. Football fans love a one-club man. It's a tremendous way for a player to become a legend, especially as remaining at a single club has become increasingly unusual.

All of these players represented just one club in their entire playing careers. None rocked up anywhere else, even on loan, so we're talking about bona fide club icons without exception.

There are 20 questions in total and we're giving you a time limit of 10 minutes to answer them all. Let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has many more football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. First up, let's see how you fare against our 15 questions about the Premier League in 2016-17, in 2006-07, and 1996-97.

Staying in the top flight of English football, can you name the first goalscorer in every Premier League season right up to 2026-27 and every player responsible for one of the Premier League's 405 hat-tricks?

We also want you to sort these club teams by the numbers of domestic league titles they've won and arrange these players in order based on their total numbers of appearances in the Premier League.

FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 67 features clues on shirt sponsors, EFL counties, and relegations. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

Just 45 days after lining up together for England in the World Cup 2026 third-place play-off, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney were sharing a pitch again - but in very different surroundings.

This time, the two strikers were on opposing teams and had swapped the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami for Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, as Watkins marked his Al Hilal debut with a goal in a 3-0 win over Toney’s Al-Ahli on Tuesday.

The former Aston Villa star’s move to the Saudi Pro League means that none of the three centre forwards in England’s World Cup 2026 squad are playing in the Premier League - and it should mark a significant moment in the evolution of the Three Lions’ strike-force.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Why Thomas Tuchel must be brave and refresh England’s forward line

While the merits of leaving the Premier League for Saudi Arabia are a matter of opinion, one thing’s for certain: England’s strikers are not getting any younger.

Watkins and Toney are both 30 years old, while Harry Kane turned 33 in July. The latter remains one of the best centre forwards in the world, scoring a frankly ridiculous 73 goals in 65 games for Bayern Munich and England last season, and will surely still be his country’s captain when Euro 2028 rolls around.

Whether Watkins and Toney will be at that tournament is up for debate. The pair will both be 32 when the Euros begins and are likely to spend the next two seasons playing in the Saudi Pro League.

That in itself is not necessarily a barrier to getting a call-up, as head coach Thomas Tuchel showed by picking Toney for the June 2025 international window and then recalling him for the World Cup. However, the German already uses both players sparsely and playing in Saudi Arabia is unlikely to change that.

Watkins has won just six caps under Tuchel, playing a total of 177 minutes, with his only starts coming in friendlies against Wales and New Zealand. He featured just twice at the World Cup - once against Panama, when England were 2-0 up, and as a half-time substitute in the third-place play-off against France, with the Three Lions leading 4-0. Toney has played just 122 minutes across four games since Tuchel arrived, although he did start the third-place play-off.

It was notable that neither player was called upon when England needed a goal in the 0-0 group-stage draw with Ghana, or when the games against Panama or DR Congo were in the balance. Toney was brought on with seconds left of the semi-final defeat by Argentina.

That suggests Tuchel isn’t sold on Watkins or Toney, so with both strikers in their 30s and playing in a division that is - with all due respect - a step down from the Premier League, surely it’s time to look elsewhere?

The obvious response to that is, well, who else is there? The dearth of English centre forwards has been a hot topic for several years, with Kane the only truly world-class player in that position and limited options in reserve.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dominic Solanke appear to be next in line, having been selected for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March. Solanke featured in both games, starting against the South Americans before being replaced by Calvert-Lewin in the 56th minute for the latter’s one runout. However, neither player seized their chance and missed out on the World Cup squad.

Solanke and Calvert-Lewin will be aged 30 and 31 respectively at Euro 2028, but with just 17 senior caps combined, they are hardly proven international strikers. Additionally, while Calvert-Lewin enjoyed a good season at Leeds United last term, Solanke currently can’t get into Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League starting XI.

It is why this is the perfect time for a phased changing of the guard when it comes to England’s strikeforce. None of the players mentioned above are long-term options, so Tuchel should start integrating those who could be part of the squad for a decade or more.

This autumn’s Nations League games may come too early, but then come the Euro 2028 qualifiers, which start next March and hold even less jeopardy than usual for Tuchel’s men. Two places at the tournament will be reserved for the best-ranked co-hosts who fail to qualify, so even if England slip up, they just need to outperform two of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It gives Tuchel plenty of time to look at different players, as well as being an opportunity for the next generation of strikers to force their way into his plans.

Liam Delap leads that group, having already starred in the Premier League when he scored 12 goals for relegated Ipswich Town in 2024/25. The 23-year-old endured a difficult season at Chelsea last term but should be Nottingham Forest’s main man after they spent a club-record £50m to sign him last month. If he hits the ground running, an England call-up in November is not out of the question.

Further down the list is Will Lankshear, who left Tottenham for Championship promotion contenders Middlesbrough this summer for a fee that could rise to £20m. The 21-year-old scored 12 goals on loan at Oxford United during their relegation from the second tier last term and has struck seven times in his first seven games for Boro.

If Lankshear continues to score regularly he will surely be a Premier League player this time next year, whether with Middlesbrough or someone else, increasing his chances of a call-up.

Another one to watch is Villa’s Brian Madjo, who capped an eye-catching performance with a goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup last month. The striker does not turn 18 until January and is currently injured, but should get plenty of minutes when he returns to fitness.

If he impresses in the Premier League, he could be a viable option for Tuchel’s Euros squad.

Of course, the likes of Delap, Lankshear and Madjo must hold up their side of the bargain, but Tuchel also has to be brave enough to select them over safer, more experienced options that he is clearly unconvinced by. He may well thank himself for it when Euro 2028 comes around.

Birmingham City owners have wanted to move the club to a new stadium since before any of their current team, unbeaten after five league matches this season, were born.

Tom Wagner is the latest, and the closest yet to putting concrete plans in place. Birmingham’s American owner suffered a stroke in February and Sunday’s Championship match against Wolverhampton Wanderers was the first he’s watched in person since.

Warmly welcomed back, Wagner saw something he already knew: Birmingham might need a new home to fulfil their long-term ambitions but they’re going to lose a lot when they finally say goodbye to the old one.

Birmingham have drawn their first three home fixtures

The Blues finished in the top 10 last season, a good way off promotion in the end, but eighth would be enough for a play-off place for the first time this season and then it’s anyone’s game. Sometimes it really isn’t about the journey.

It took Birmingham 10 matches to reach a third home draw last season and they won six of the others in their first year back in the Championship under Chris Davies. This season, they’ve drawn three out of three at St Andrew’s.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

In 2025-26, Birmingham were in the best four teams at home in the Championship and in the bottom four away. For a club with goals, the obvious objective is to keep the home form strong and capitalise on away improvements to climb the table.

One can be the differentiator, but only if the other remains the foundation.

Davies will still expect both of those outcomes to happen – football seasons don’t develop overnight – but the first home win of 2026-27 is yet to materialise.

Consecutive draws with Southampton and Wolves suggest a deeper truth. Birmingham couldn’t translate them into wins but they put in two positive performances to bag a couple of points against teams who’d back themselves to finish above Blues in April.

This West Midlands derby was every inch the Championship slobberknocker, brimming with chaotic end-to-end football that somehow culminated in Birmingham centre-back Phil Neumann stomping upfield late in the day to create a chance his manager felt should have been turned into a winner.

Davies praised Wolves’ attacking midfielder Fer Lopez after the game. The Spaniard knocked in the first goal of a pulsating 2-2 draw after Tomoki Iwata’s header went astray in the middle of the pitch.

Wolves were almost aggressively confident in possession after they got their noses in front but Birmingham earned their foothold, raised the tempo and dragged the visitors into a derby.

Jay Stansfield controlled a perfect pass from Patrick Roberts – Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto said with his arm, Stansfield insisted not – and thrashed in a tremendous equaliser.

Blues’ home wait goes on – it won’t go on for long

What followed was a Ladislav Krejci header from a corner that put Wolves back in front and one of the great own goals to make it 2-2.

Peixoto defended Jackson Tchatchoua to the hilt after the fact and did the same for Adam Armstrong, whose late miss would in another era have been guaranteed the next spot in a Danny Baker Christmas VHS.

Birmingham had their chances too, notably a header wide from captain Christoph Klarer, and both bosses were left to count the cost of what they considered two points dropped.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, Davies won’t have to wait much longer to revel in three points at St Andrew’s.

Birmingham have the same fire at home as last season. The stadium feels the same when the Blues have their tails up and visiting teams still know they’re in for a game. It hasn’t yielded a win yet but it’ll come.

Replicating home wins away will go a long way in the short-term. Maintaining the formidable aura of St Andrew’s once it’s gone will be much more fruitful.

If the main reason is that Odegaard is free of the injuries that saw him miss 30 games last season for Arsenal and Norway, there can be no doubt that the No. 8 has a more determined mindset now. He seizes games more now.

At 27, Odegaard has come of age as a heavyweight footballer. He arrived at the top of the table with Arsenal in May and now at the top table with the world’s elite players.

For lovers of historical echoes there are reminders of the blossoming of Dennis Bergkamp’s talent in 1998. Arsenal had just narrowly won an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Middlesbrough in the January. Bergkamp was already on the coach outside the Riverside when Tony Adams strode down the aisle. Arsenal’s forthright captain stared at this supreme technician who adorned games but never imposed himself fully.

Martin Odegaard is having his Dennis Bergkamp moment at Arsenal

Adams challenged Bergkamp. “You’ve been two and a half years, Dennis,” he said. “Isn’t it time you won something? It would be a shame not to with your ability.” Suitably challenged, Bergkamp responded. He helped Arsenal to the Double, himself to Footballer of the Year honours and the Dutch to the semi-finals of the World Cup with that sumptuous strike against Argentina in Marseille.

There was no similar lightning strike of realisation in Odegaard’s career, no decisive home truths from a team-mate. But the change is still seismic. It’s a transformation that Odegaard has undergone under his own direction. Escaping the inhibiting clutches of knee and shoulder injuries has helped. The main change is psychological. He’s toughened up.

Odegaard is hurting opponents more now. When Ezri Konsa overwhelmed Morgan Rogers in a robust challenge, Odegaard responded quickest to the loose ball. He’s more decisive now, more progressive. Rather than circulating the ball, Odegaard went for the jugular, launching the move that climaxed with his well-timed run into the box, and emphatic finish.

So far this season, Odegaard has now beaten Chelsea’s Emi Martinez and Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who share the last three Yashin Trophies as world’s best keeper in Ballon d’Or voting. (Odegaard has also scored past Coventry City’s highly-regarded Carl Rushworth).

That goal against Martinez showed the level of understanding in Arsenal’s attack. Their new left-winger, Christos Tzolis, has quickly learned Odegaard’s movement and now twice picked him out for goals. Odegaard also benefits from Kai Havertz’s vision, notably in that dummy to ensure Tzolis’ cross reached him. The Norwegian’s connection on the right with Bukayo Saka (and Ben White) is well-established.

Odegaard’s influence is now felt all over. He’s taking more risks in his possession. Playing safe less. He found Havertz, Saka and Martin Zubimendi in quick succession during one period of particular control in the second half.

He’s pressing more assiduously, again helped by that superior fitness. He’s more robust physically and mentally, shrugging off a foul from Reece James.

As Gary Neville pointed out during Sky Sports' coverage, Odegaard needs more goals and assists. He has 37 of each in 179 Premier League appearances. Odegaard was legitimately criticised last season. Arsenal were more reliant on Declan Rice to drive them to the title in May. Odegaard still contributed, making six assists but scoring only once in 24 games. He’s graced seasons before, delivering impressive numbers, notably 15 goals and seven assists in 37 appearances in 2022/23. But never threatened being Footballer of the Year. He must surely look at Bruno Fernandes, see the numbers he generates, and realise the levels.

Being captain of the champions has changed many people’s view of him. It must have changed his view of himself. Nobody can say he’s not elite now. The summer helped, too. Odegaard’s performances against Ivory Coast and Brazil were immense, dragging Norway through some difficult moments in those knockout games (before losing to England).

There are elements to improve. He didn’t challenge Jorrel Hato strongly enough in the lead-up to Rogers’ goal. But his transformation is undeniable. Odegaard’s contract expires in two years and there will inevitably now be talk of an extension. On this form, he’s worth it.

Kane's comments follow what was an intense summer at the 2026 World Cup with England, where the Three Lions were knocked out in the semi-final by Argentina.

The Bayern Munich striker believes his dedication to recovery and physical conditioning will allow him to emulate the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luka Modric by extending his career at the highest level deep into his late 30s.

Having spent the summer leading the line in North America, Kane has reflected on how his personal perspective towards longevity has transformed as his career has progressed.

Harry Kane: 'I still want to be at the top level in my late 30s'

The 33-year-old says he feels more energised than ever to maintain his standing among Europe's elite goalscorers, using modern footballing legends as inspiration.

"I’ve said before that [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo they were just still getting better into their 30s and into their mid 30s," Kane explained during an interview with ex-Bayern midfielder and TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves. "I think I'm at that peak right now. I feel physically in a great place, mentally."

The England talisman stresses that entering his 30s has brought a newfound perspective on the finite nature of his professional career, prompting him to savour each and every milestone while paying closer attention to his body.

"I think at this stage you just try and cherish these moments," Kane added. "The moment I'm in right now, I feel so good - I'll say how can I just sustain this and just make sure that this lasts forever. As we know it, it won't - but when I see players like Messi and Ronaldo and Luka Modric and these players playing until late 30s or Ronaldo's in his 40s now, Luka is in his 40s, it gives me the motivation to be able to do that."

Central to Kane’s durability and goalscoring output is his commitment to off-pitch preparation. Far from relying strictly on natural talent, the Bayern frontman has detailed the work required behind closed doors to ensure he is fit for selection week in week out.

"I do a lot of work behind the scenes on recovery, on being fit, on making sure I'm available every game and I think that's a big aspect of scoring this amount of goals," Kane said, having bagged 73 times across all competitions last season. "I'll probably say the last six, seven years have been a big part of my career - I think as you get to kind of late 20s, you start to realise this career isn’t going to last forever."

Kane maintains that constant physical readiness is one of his main duties for both club and country, allowing him to stay sharp in front of goal and execute the roles asked of him on the pitch.

"I think availability is a really important thing for any team, any coach, and I try to make sure I'm there for my team and that allows me then to perform to the level where I do and score the goals that I score."

Bayern Munich are gunning for Champions League glory this season, and hope to be fired to victory by Kane's goals.

'The Breakdown: Harry Kane' premieres on TNT Sports 2 from 17:15 BST on Tuesday, September 8 and will be available on-demand via HBO Max

Arsenal conceded a goal on Sunday. Yes, you read that correctly.

After keeping out Coventry City and Aston Villa, the Premier League champions were breached by Chelsea in the second minute of their London derby.

The location of Morgan Rogers' volley was as significant as the fact that it beat Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

Arsenal's stifling defensive excellence is the stuff of champions

Rogers was inside the 'D' when the ball dropped to him after the Gunners failed to clear the ball from a set piece, the only shot from a sensible distance that Chelsea managed from within the width of the six-yard box.

It's not easy to score against a goalkeeper of Raya's quality from wider angles. Pedro Neto found some space on the right but hit the post with his shot. Estevao's shot produced the best save of the match. There was very little wrong with either beyond the degree of difficulty they had in the first place.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Arsenal limited the Blues to a total xG of 0.39, five shots on target and zero big chances. Villa's shot map was similar; Mikel Arteta's team are smothering opponents and already reaping the rewards.

Their defensive sturdiness is a compelling cause for optimism at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal are on the hunt for their first back-to-back titles since the 1930s.

Coventry and Villa were straightforward enough early-season opponents for various reasons but Chelsea, and indeed Community Shield quarry Manchester City, are regarded as potential title challengers.

The champions conceded just 27 goals in the Premier League in 2025/26, the fewest in the division. They gave up 89 shots on target; nobody else averaged less than three per game.

The lowest percentage of shots against that hit the target last term? Arsenal. That's a matter of chance quality and Raya is the best failsafe in the league.

They're at it again in 2026/27. Arsenal's opponents have mustered two shots on target per match and the Gunners are already benefiting from a willingness to force low-percentage efforts and trust Raya to tidy them up.

Ezri Konsa has joined Gabriel in standing guard in the middle, with William Saliba to return from injury at a later date. Their core mission is to anchor Arsenal's central defences, to keep down the quality of the shots faced by their goalkeeper.

Declan Rice's role out of possession shouldn't be overlooked either, not least because Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori – Arsenal's first scorer in Sunday's win over Chelsea – continue to combine their own defensive duties with the attacking burden of inverted full-backs.

In FourFourTwo's opinion, Arsenal are giving themselves a strong foundation from which to mount a title defence.

If they can maintain anything like last season's consistency in limiting big chances, there will be every chance they can still call themselves the Premier League champions this time next year.

Burnley signed Jamie Vardy on Sunday, taking the former Leicester City striker off the free agent market after his spell in Italy with Cremonese.

The Clarets need Vardy to give them a lift. Months after relegation from the Premier League, Burnley are bottom of the Championship and winless after five matches. It's not going much better for Leicester in the division below.

Vardy and Leicester reached the heights together, winning the Premier League in 2015/16. The Foxes were in the Premier League as recently as 2024/25 and their precipitous slide shows no sign of slowing down.

What's happening at Leicester?

Last August, FourFourTwo visited the King Power Stadium to watch Leicester's first game back in the Championship and their first since Vardy's departure. His shadow was everywhere.

Leicester's opponents that day were Sheffield Wednesday, at the time the very definition of a crisis club. The away supporters took to the concourse early in the game by way of a protest against the club's owner.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Leicester going down to League One with them wasn't in the script. Wednesday are top of the third tier now. Leicester have won one game and sit in 17th in the embryonic league table.

This is a football club touched by tragedy. The losses of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Kaveporn Punpare, Nusara Suknamai, Eric Swaffer and Izabela Lechowicz nine years ago have unavoidably affected the one-time Premier League winners. In Vichai's case, the direct impact over time has to be acknowledged.

Leicester have spent questionably in terms of quantity and quality in the subsequent years. Last season, with the Foxes heading for the drop for a second consecutive season, chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha blamed himself.

Long-term, a lack of sustainability and dalliances with the fringes of financial regulations tend to catch up with clubs. Those that stay at it on the pitch can weather it. Those that mirror their off-field decisions with footballing calamity are likely to find themselves in more than a spot of bother.

The buck for Leicester's decline stops in the boardroom but it's the more mundane, more immediate decisions that transform theory into application on a Saturday afternoon.

So numerous are Leicester's failings in recent years that it's necessary to draw one's own conclusions about where this path, the path that led them to the bottom of League One's middle, began.

Leicester were promoted to the Premier League in 2023/24 after they won the Championship. Enzo Maresca was their manager. Vardy scored 20 goals in all competitions.

Maresca left for Chelsea that June and Leicester have had five permanent managers since: Steve Cooper, a hero at rivals Nottingham Forest; Ruud van Nistelrooy, snubbed by Coventry City; Marti Cifuentes, who lasted six months in the Championship; Gary Rowett, who didn't even get that far and also managed relegated Oxford United; and Russell Martin, an extraordinary risk given his recent record.

Martin is the man tasked with getting Leicester back on the straight and narrow, at least on the pitch, but the same old story is playing out.

Leicester have won once this season. Martin's last league win before that was with Rangers. The last before that was with Southampton. Meanwhile, Leicester have the most possession by miles in League One and only two teams take more shots per goal scorer.

In Saturday's 4-0 loss at home against Oxford United, Leicester had 63 percent of the ball and fewer shots on target than the opposition. Their xG barely scraped above one goal.

The Foxes are at yet another pivotal point. Without getting things right on the pitch, the bigger problems will start to bite harder than ever. The decisions that are made above the manager carry more weight when the manager and players aren't capable of making their own merry way regardless.

According to reports this weekend, there are two familiar decisions for Srivaddhanaprabha to make. The first now seems unavoidable. The second could make or break a football club.

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has opened up on his summer departure to Juventus, as well as admitting the dressing room was 'not aligned' last season.

The 29-year-old Italian spent three seasons in North London after making the switch from Empoli in 2023. During his spell with the club, Vicario established himself as Tottenham's No. 1, making 81 appearances across all competitions.

However, his general level of consistency could not shield the team from a dismal 2025/26 campaign. Tottenham endured one of the most damaging seasons in their recent history, finishing 17th in the Premier League and narrowly escaping relegation to the Championship.

Vicario: 'Spurs dressing room was not aligned last season'

As part of an extensive summer overhaul aimed at resetting the culture, Vicario was allowed to return to Serie A by head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who had chosen not to field the goalkeeper during the final stretch of the 2025/26 campaign.

Speaking to Sky Italia, the goalkeeper has expressed his gratitude towards De Zerbi, revealing that the manager acted with transparency when the opportunity to join Juventus materialised.

“I thank him, I did it personally the day I signed with Juventus,” Vicario said. “With me he was a real person, direct and above all a man of his word. He gave me the opportunity to take this step that I had in mind, he supported me and I will always be grateful to him.”

While Vicario held no grudges against De Zerbi, his comments regarding the wider team environment shed light on the deeper issues that undermined Tottenham’s league campaign.

Whispers of squad divisions, cliques, and conflicting agendas had lingered throughout their fight for survival, and the goalkeeper's reflection effectively confirms that key figures inside the building were pulling in opposite directions.

Acknowledging the dysfunction without going into detail, Vicario admitted: “There have been some dynamics that have not aligned, probably for several reasons that make no sense to mention now.”

Vicario’s departure was symbolic of a broader summer clear-out under De Zerbi, who actively dismantled a squad that proved unfit for purpose last term. As Vicario embarks on a fresh chapter in Turin, Tottenham face a significant rebuilding task, particularly after their start to the new league season, sitting third from bottom in the Premier League after three matches.

Newcastle United found themselves in a hole against Bournemouth when they met in the Premier League last weekend.

Marcus Tavernier's early strike and a bizarre own goal from Malick Thiaw put the Cherries 2-0 up at St James' Park but Newcastle responded immediately with a Harvey Barnes pearler. Eventually, Jacob Ramsey added a second to salvage a point.

Anecdotally, it was one of those days when it feels as if the supporters deserve a slice of the credit. Noise and colour, colour and noise. The twelfth man might not show up in the numbers but every football fan knows its potential.

Will the Lions' roar be diminished this season?

It's a feeling, really. Most of us have to imagine it but it's hard to believe that the ferocious encouragement of thousands wouldn't have an effect. How could it not?

Even in the precise and professional world of Premier League football, atmosphere matters. Players might not be unduly intimidated even by the great cauldrons of the game nowadays, but the sense of uplift for the other side must be intoxicating.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

It's difficult to say what might theoretically happen when it's taken away or drastically reduced, but elsewhere in the Premier League there is a practical example about to get underway.

Aston Villa have already played in front of the building site that was the North Stand just weeks ago, but losing 1-0 at home to Arsenal doesn't tell anyone anything about anything.

On Saturday, Villa welcome Nottingham Forest to a three-sided Villa Park. The North Stand is being redeveloped without getting pulled down in its entirety. It will be closed for the duration of 2026/27 as Villa increase the ground's capacity ahead of the European Championship in 2028.

After another poor start, Villa need the backing of their diminished crowd. The visit of Forest will serve as a very unfair comparison with the second leg of last season's Europa League, when eventual winners Villa were swept to a second-leg win on a wave of roars.

The situation is different, certainly, but there was little expectation that Villa would get anything from the visit of Arsenal and that is not the case when Forest return.

Without the North Stand, Villa will need to get to grips with a strange environment that can only truly materialise when a football crowd feel like they're needed.

Villa's fans will get behind Emery's team against Forest and the Holte End will play its part as much as ever.

Not having a stand full of Villa supporters at the other end, bouncing back the noise and exchanging pleasantries with the away supporters who also used to occupy the very same seats before they were shunted around the corner flag into the Witton Lane Stand, will look and sound and feel unusual.

Over the coming months, the fans who make up Villa's limited capacity will have their work cut out for them. Every now and again, teams need the boost Newcastle got from their supporters against Bournemouth.

That one big nudge over the line can count for a lot. It can be worth a point where there were none. It can be worth three points where there was one.

As the songs of the Holte End echo back from the hollow around which the new-look and expanded North Stand shell is being built, overcoming the sheer weirdness of it all might well prove to be to Villa's tangible detriment.

Reports in Germany indicate Michael Olise is set to sign a massive new contract at Bayern Munich that will completely price Liverpool out of a move.

After breaking through the youth ranks and making his professional debut at Reading in the Championship, Olise earned himself a move to Crystal Palace. At Selhurst Park, his performances and creative output in the Premier League caught the attention of Europe’s elite.

Since arriving in Germany, Olise has taken his game to another level, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous attackers in world football, reportedly drawing the gaze of Liverpool's recruitment department.

Liverpool to look elsewhere after Michael Olise development

However, a return to English football now looks increasingly unlikely.

According to recent reports, Bayern are preparing to hand Olise a lucrative contract extension, one that includes an eye-watering release clause designed to deter potential suitors.

Historically, the Bavarian giants prided themselves on a refusal to include release clauses in player contracts, ensuring they held all the cards over any potential departures.

However, the shifting landscape of modern football has forced a change at boardroom level. Much like the agreement recently struck for Jamal Musiala, buyout clauses are becoming the new normal in Munich.

For Olise, Bayern are reportedly planning to insert an exit clause ranging anywhere from €150 million to €250 million (£126m–£211m), according to journalist Christian Falk.

Such an astronomical figure represents an insurmountable hurdle, even for a team like Liverpool. Under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club operates with a strict financial model.

While they are certainly capable of making statement signings - evidenced by their recent captures of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola, all for in excees of £100m - obliterating their transfer record for Olise doesn't align with their financial reality.

Liverpool’s financial situation in the wake of recent arrivals dictates that they must be efficient with their remaining budget, finding value in the market rather than triggering world-record release clauses.

For many fans, the ex-Palace man would have been the dream acquisition but with Barcola now in the building, the requirement for a player of Olise's calibre has somewhat lessened.

Furthermore, the numbers required to pry him away from Germany are no longer viable given the Frenchman looks set to commit his prime years to Bayern, too.

Tricky question time.

Which is the odd one out of Joe Hart, Harry Maguire, Kevin Keegan and Marc Guehi?

We'll reveal the answer this time next week in the next edition of The Pre-Match Poser – stay tuned for that – but for now, here's the answer to last week's conundrum…

Q. Give us a player that would follow next in the sequence: Bruno Fernandes, Alan Shearer, Dion Dublin, Ronaldinho, Dennis Bergkamp, Wayne Rooney, Vincent Kompany, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi Hernandez…

A. You could have had any number of players – but first, let’s crack the sequence. Bruno Fernandes has never won a league title in any country he’s played in: Shearer has one (1994/95’s Premier League with Blackburn Rovers) and Dublin has two (1992/93’s Premier League with Manchester United, and 2005/06’s Scottish Premiership with Celtic). Ronaldinho won just three league titles (two La Liga trophies with Barcelona and a Scudetto at Milan); Bergkamp won four titles (three Premier League titles at Arsenal and one Eredivisie at Ajax); and Rooney won five (all at Manchester United). Jumping up to six now, Kompany lifted four Premier League titles at Manchester City and two Belgian Pro League titles with Anderlecht, while Modric won three Prva HNL titles with Dinamo Zagreb and four La Ligas with Real Madrid. Ronaldo has lifted eight league titles across his career (three Premier League titles at Manchester United, two La Ligas at Real Madrid, two Scudetti at Juventus and a Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr); and finally, Xavi won nine league titles (eight La Ligas with Barcelona, one Qatari Stars League with Al-Sadd).

So players you could have had with 10 league titles include Andres Iniesta (nine La Ligas with Barcelona, one J-League with Vissel Kobe), David Beckham (six Premier Leagues at Manchester United, two MLS Cups/Supporters Shields at LA Galaxy, a La Liga with Real Madrid and Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain), Gary Neville (10 Premier Leagues with Manchester United), Joshua Kimmich (10 Bundesligas with Bayern Munich) or Peter Schmeichel (four Danish Superligas with Brondby, five Premier Leagues with Manchester United and a Primeira Liga with Sporting).

More football quizzes we know you'll love

How was that one? Well if it's lit a fire in you to take on more teasers, we have some Kwizly-powered quizzes on big signings, one-hit wonders and those cast in bronze across the grounds of the world – so let's get started.

We start off at Stamford Bridge, as we ask you to name Chelsea's 50 most expensive signings ever – and believe us when we say that there's plenty of money in that list, all right. We then move onto something totally separate from some of those Blues buys (wink, wink) as we ask how much do you know about the Premier League's fleeting stars, in our Big Quiz of One-Season Wonders.

Next, did these players ever make a Champions League appearance? A list of players and just two options for each: yes or no. And then, let's locate these famous football statues, as we look at players and managers legendary enough to be immortalised outside grounds.

Finally, strap in for FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 69, with clues on boxers, badges and Barclaysmen – and to ensure you stay top of the table every single day, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily briefing of hand-picked trivia and tactical analysis. To complete your transfer to terrace legend status, join The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for our hardest quizzes, climb global leaderboards, and debate the latest topics directly in the comments section.

Watch Everton vs Man Utd this weekend in the Premier League, as David Moyes faces his old employers at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Read on for streaming details, TV info and a match preview for Sunday's clash on Merseyside.

Everton welcomed back Jack Grealish in a huge boost to their hopes this season, but lost star man Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City.

Manchester United meanwhile chose to stand down as Carlos Baleba remained their final piece of summer business, despite the cry for a left-back to arrive at Old Trafford in the final few hours.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Everton vs Manchester United online from anywhere on the third weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Watch Everton vs Man Utd from anywhere

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How to watch Everton vs Man Utd in the UK

Fans in the UK can watch Everton vs Man Utd on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports Main Event will have live coverage of the Premier League clash, with kick-off at 2:00pm BST.

Outside the UK? Watch Everton vs Man Utd on Sky Sports via NordVPN.

How to watch Everton vs Man Utd in the US

USA Network is the place to watch Everton vs Man Utd for viewers in the US.

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How to watch Everton vs Man Utd in Australia

In Australia, Everton vs Man Utd is live on Stan Sport.

Travelling outside Australia? NordVPN is your ticket to watch the Premier League on Stan Sport.

Tickets

Everton vs Man Utd: Preview

Moyes' side have amassed four points from two games so far this season, which will please the experienced Scot in the dugout.

The big news this week was Ndiaye's departure to fellow Premier League side Manchester City, as the Senegal international made the switch for just £65m.

Grealish has headed back to Merseyside on a separate deal, on loan again for the remainder of the 2026/27 campaign.

In terms of injuries, Christian Norgaard (unspecified) is a doubt, but new signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles could play for the Toffees.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

Manchester United strutted their stuff with a 5-2 hammering of new boys Ipswich Town at Old Trafford last weekend.

Last year's PFA Player of the Season, Bruno Fernandes, grabbed a hat-trick to please most FPL players who selected him, with Baleba also presented to the crowd before kick-off in M16.

Baleba is one of three guaranteed absentees for the visitors alongside Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Amad Diallo (ankle), while Matthijs de Ligt (back) is likely to miss out. but Luke Shaw (hamstring), Mason Mount (knock) and Tom Heaton (knock) will all require late fitness tests.

Manager Michael Carrick chose to go with centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire again for the visit of the Tractor Boys, and is unlikely to change what ain't broke against Everton.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Everton 1-3 Man Utd

The Red Devils looked solid for most of the game against Gary O'Neil's side and we expect them to emerge victorious on Sunday afternoon.

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When Manchester City pulled the trigger on a £35million move for a 23-year-old Sergio Aguero in the summer of 2011, they were signing one of the most promising young strikers on the planet.

Aguero arrived at the Etihad five years after making the move to Europe as a teenager, when Atletico Madrid spent €20million to bring him over the Atlantic from Independiente.

His time in the Spanish capital saw some of Europe’s brightest and best linked with the Argentine.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Aguero on turning down Juventus for Man City

Juventus were among the gaggle of clubs chasing Aguero that summer, as the Italian giants braced themselves for the end of club legend Alessandro Del Piero’s career in Turin.

But for Aguero, another challenge appealed more to him than the responsibility of succeeding a club icon in Del Piero.

“The day I found out that Manchester City wanted to sign me, I was at the 2011 Copa America with Argentina,” Aguero recalls to FourFourTwo.

“I’d been with Atletico Madrid for five years, and my agent Hernan Reguera called me to say that City were very interested.”

And while this was an offer that quickly appealed to the young Aguero, he was well aware of his other suitors.

“Juventus were also very interested and were close to finalising a deal – at that time, they were preparing to part ways with Alessandro Del Piero.”

At this time, City were growing in stature as Sheikh Mansour’s petrodollars continued to be poured into the club, but it was not just the appeal of joining a side on the cusp of becoming a Premier League powerhouse that appealed to Aguero.

“But the truth is that when Manchester City approached me, my decision was made, because I’d always liked the English league,” he continues, before revealing his appreciation for one of the Premier League’s most famous strikers.

“Michael Owen was an idol of mine, I looked up to him, and I had a dream to play in the Premier League.”

Aguero would soon complete his move to Manchester City and over the course of the next decade this decision would be vindicated, as he would go on to become the club’s all-time leading scorer and help the club win five Premier League titles.

Sergio Aguero was an ambassador for FIFA Hospitality at this summer’s World Cup

When Soccer Saturday first hit the airwaves, few would have dared to predict just how deeply it would embed itself in the fabric of British football culture.

The long-running Sky Sports show would go on to revolutionise how supporters consumed the sport, as a panel of pundits watching television screens quickly became essential Saturday afternoon viewing.

But when one of the show’s most iconic presenters was pitched the concept, he struggled to believe it would go on to carve out its place in football history.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Chris Kamara’s Soccer Saturday doubts

Chris Kamara didn’t take long to establish himself as one of the programme’s most beloved characters, with the chemistry between and Jeff Stelling the beating heart of the show.

But that only came after initial scepticism from the former Brentford and Leeds United midfielder.

“It didn’t sound like an idea that had legs, I must admit!” Kamara tells FourFourTwo. “I said, ‘Are you sure about this?’

“But they were right. It soon turned into a hit,” admits, acknowledging just how important the show soon became for generations of football fans.

Kamara’s cameos from the sidelines quickly saw him become a viewer’s favourite, although his famous catchphrase somewhat snuck up on him.

“One Christmas, I turned on TV bloopers show,” he recalls. “It was a montage from Soccer Saturday and it was just of me, over and over, shouting, ‘Unbelievable Jeff!’ at different games.

“I honestly had no idea I’d been saying it, let alone so often. It hadn’t even occurred to me.”

Kamara also soon realised that it wasn’t just fans watching from their sofas when he heard that a group of students had devised their own drinking game based on the programme.

“I remember one day, we got a letter to the studio from some students saying they’d been playing a Soccer Saturday drinking game. They'd all meet up in the students’ union and would have to drink every time something specific happened.

“They’d drink when Jeff went on one of his rants or when one of the other pundits got a footballer’s name wrong. Whenever I said ‘Unbelieveable Jeff!’ they’d have to all down their whole pints.”

This man is hot. Not content with being the reigning African Footballer of the Year and the first Ballon d’Or winner hailing from outside Europe, George Weah was also recently named by FIFA as the best player on the planet.

No sooner had he received the prize, he beckoned his mentor Arsene Wenger to join him on stage and handed it over. For Weah, brilliance on the field and generosity off it come in equal measure.

After all, how many players would shoulder the financial burden for their own country’s impoverished football federation? Weah is a riverside lad from Monrovia who would have been resigned to a career as a telephone technician, if not for the fame and fortune that football offered him instead.

The Lone Stars, as the Liberian national team are nicknamed, are his baby. He pays the air fares of his European-based team-mates to attend crucial matches, buys their kit and even dishes out the win bonuses. Weah effectively enabled Liberia to qualify for a first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

He is perhaps football’s best bargain buy of the past 10 years. Remarkably, the £6 million striking pearl – the price Milan paid Paris Saint-Germain in the summer already looks like exceptional value – once cost a paltry £12,000, when Monaco bought him from Cameroonian club Tonnerre Yaounde in 1988.

But Weah’s transformation into a world-acclaimed goal-hunter who sat at the top of last season’s Champions League scoring charts, even though PSG didn’t make it to the final, has been no joyride. He’s had to plot his success while coping with the haunting thought that his parents, caught up in the thick of Liberia’s civil war, could easily have been butchered like so many others.

Under Wenger’s tutelage at Monaco, Weah was able to develop his game. If his deftness of touch and natural sense of awareness doesn’t scare the life out of the opposition, his powerful physique makes him almost unmarkable.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi had no qualms in recruiting the forward – he even thrust his team of lawyers into a no-holds-barred, spare-no-expense battle all the way to the European Court in Strasbourg to potentially pronounce that Weah was a French citizen, so as not to upset the Italian quota of two non-EU players per club. The Rossoneri already had Zvonimir Boban and Dejan Savicevic on their books, but boss Fabio Capello needed a player worthy of filling the hole that was left behind by Marco van Basten’s retirement. Roberto Baggio was also signed from Juventus.

It’s been a remarkable European odyssey for Weah – here, the striker reminisces about that journey…

After helping Liberia qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, what do you tell those that label you a one-man team?

It’s not true. Maybe they say so because I single-handedly sponsor the team without receiving assistance from the government or any other person. I’ve committed my personal funds because I want Liberia’s global image, which has been badly dented by the civil war, to be repaired through football.

How do you spend your own money on your national team?

I buy all the playing gear and return international air fares for some of the country’s European-based players, to enable them to report for Liberia’s various matches in different countries. I also pay match bonuses to my less financially endowed team-mates to make them happy and motivate them into giving the country their very best.

Have you kept track of how much you’ve spent on the Lone Stars?

Lots of money! It’s not appropriate for me to disclose the amount I’ve spent so far. When you spend money on your country willingly, as I do, the amount involved is irrelevant. But I will say this – it’s been a big responsibility that has run into tens of thousands of dollars.

Just a few days ago, Liberia’s sports minister visited you in Milan, looking for further financial assistance. Does having to spend so much bother you?

No, because I believe that I’m doing something to improve the lives of my younger team-mates still in Liberia, and I want to use the exposure gained by playing in high-level tournaments, like the Africa Cup of Nations, to get them professional contracts in Europe.

How was it when you first moved to Europe to play for Monaco?

It wasn’t so easy. I had to readjust to the cold European weather and the business-like attitude to football, which is absent in Africa. I was very lucky to have met Arsene Wenger. His coaching contributed to what I’ve become today. He treated me as if l was his own son.

Has it been lonely living in France and Italy, thousands of miles away from your friends and family in Liberia?

Yes, because there’s no place like home. While any European colleagues can call their families at a reasonable rate or easily fly out to see them, I cannot go to Monrovia at the drop of a hat to see my family because of the distance and time involved. So the alternative is to phone them regularly. By the time I’ve spoken to my parents and members of my extended family, my monthly phone bill is in the region of $5,000 to $6,000. Fortunately, I have my very supportive wife and children by my side and that helps me to think less of home, so I can concentrate on playing well.

The brutal Liberian Civil War was raging on while you were playing for Monaco and PSG. Did knowing what was happening at home affect you?

It had a very adverse effect on me. I didn’t know whether my parents were dead or alive, as it was impossible to call Liberia at the time. Unfortunately, people found it difficult to understand the torment that I was going through here – Europeans find it very difficult to appreciate what we Africans go through when we think about home. As far as they are concerned, we’ve been paid to do a job and we just have to do it. But if they were in my shoes, they would have been in a worse mental state than me.

How have you managed to settle into living and playing in Italy so far?

As far as football with Milan has been concerned, everything has gone very well. It’s of the utmost priority that my wife and children like Milan because if they don’t, I’d have to send them back to live in either New York [Weah has two houses in the United States] or Liberia, which would make it very lonely for me, living by myself here in Italy.

You’ve met Marco van Basten, whom you were bought to replace after he retired due to injury. What do you have to say about him?

Through our regular chats at the Milan dining table, I’ve come to discover that he’s a very nice guy. It’s unfortunate that he had to quit the game, as I’d always dreamed of playing with him.

What is it like to be playing upfront next to Roberto Baggio?

It’s very rewarding. He’s an intelligent player with virtually no technical faults. When we play together, we have a good working relationship. I’m trying to learn new tricks from him as well.

Learning a new language can be difficult. How has it been for you?

[Smiles] Quite good. I took on a tutor who visits my home on Mondays and Fridays. I’m very eager to learn, so that I can communicate with my team and understand all of the instructions from Mr Capello. Even though football has its universal language, it’s important that I have a working knowledge of Italian as well. But at the moment things aren’t too bad, because a lot of my new mates here can speak English or French.

What has been your most sour experience with coaches since you began playing in Europe?

It would be with Paris Saint-Germain’s Portuguese coach, Artur Jorge. He used to confine me to the bench even when I was playing well, which I found very frustrating. I never bothered to ask him why he did that because, as far as I was concerned, I was doing well enough in training to be a regular in the first team and was convinced things would sort themselves out, which they did.

An interview in the Nigerian magazine Complete Football International quotes you as saying, “Artur Jorge is a racist – he doesn’t say it, but it’s glaring that he is.” Is that quote accurate?

Well I cannot recall saying that, but I know that he made things very difficult for me when he was PSG’s trainer.

Are you affected by any temptations from the much-hyped glitzy lifestyle in Italy – the fast cars, trendy clothes and gorgeous women?

I’m not into any of those mundane things. Business is business – I’m in Milan to play football. [Pauses] Well, I must confess that I like good clothes and pick out the occasional good pair of shoes, but that’s it. The job comes first and any other thing is secondary.

Are there any other footballers that you particularly admire?

All black players, but if you want specific ones, I’ll go for lan Wright of Arsenal, Tony Yeboah of Leeds, Jay-Jay Okocha of Eintracht Frankfurt, Rashidi Yekini of Sporting Gijon and Abedi Pele of Torino. When I see other Africans doing well, I feel proud. Players from countries such as Nigeria and Ghana opened the way. Their hard work has given African players a good image and encouraged European clubs to have faith in our ability.

Italian ‘calcio’ is still new for African players. Do you see yourself as the man who will open the way for other Africans to move to Serie A?

No. It was Roger Mendy [the Senegalese international who played for Pescara] and Abedi Pele that opened Italy up for African players. When Milan saw their exceptional performance, they decided to move for Marcel Desailly [a French international who was born in Ghana] and he didn’t disappoint them, which I think encouraged them to go for me.

Has Liberia’s inability to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations affected you?

A whole lot! It was very frustrating because we’ve had the talent to have qualified before, but poor preparations have always been our undoing, up until now. It’s only recently that I’ve been in a position to give the team financial support. Liberian players possess the kind of talent that can hold its own with Nigeria and Ghana in African football, but our mentality towards preparing for competitions has always been a major problem. However, with the exposure that several Liberian players have now had in Europe, which has shown us how football teams should be managed, I’m convinced that things can change for the better for the national team.

Do you ever wish you’d been born in another country, which would have made your passage in football easier?

That’s a very difficult question, but I believe that for whichever nation God decides to place you in, it’s done with a purpose. Despite all the problems that have engulfed Liberia, I’m proud to be Liberian. I can never be ashamed of my country because of the problems we’ve been facing. What’s most important now is to see how we can start to put things right so that we can become a peaceful nation once again.

How did you feel when you were named 1995 African Footballer of the Year, having lost out to Nigeria’s Emmanuel Amunike in 1994?

Very happy. I wasn’t expecting it, but I guess that my performance with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last season and my current form with Milan must have contributed towards them giving me the award.

You’re the most famous Liberian in the world! Do you feel a lot of pressure on you under that spotlight?

Being the centre of attention does put pressure on me because I’m seen as my country’s ambassador, on and off the pitch. But when I see the appreciation the Liberian people have showered on me for the little work that I’ve done, it spurs me on to do even more for my country, which I love so much.

Four Liberian postage stamps were recently released in tribute to you. What’s it like to be the first Liberian sportsman, and perhaps only African football player, to be so honoured?

It was overwhelming. I never knew that people held me in such high esteem. To think I would be honoured in that way actually feels beyond belief.

You finance Junior Professional FC, who recently won the Liberian First Division. Tell us about them?

I’ve been bankrolling the team since October 1993. They won the Second Division championship last season and went ahead to win this season’s First Division at their first attempt. That was a big shock in Liberia, because when I started to sponsor the team many people laughed at me, saying I would never be able to match Mighty Barrolle and my former club Invincible Eleven, who were the top clubs in Liberia. When the Liberian Football Association took the title away from them on spurious grounds, it made me angry. My players were depressed after the title was so unfairly taken away from them, but I told them not to worry as I’m very pleased with the way they performed. I sponsored the team because I wanted to show my countrymen that the youth are the future of Liberia.

Do you have the widely rumoured ambition to become the president of Liberia when you leave football, considering you’re the country’s most popular personality?

No, it’s not my wish to become the president of Liberia. My mission is simply to use football to make Liberia known in a good light all over the world. I know what it means to carry such a responsibility. But I do hope that true democracy comes to Africa, so that its citizens can speak freely about what they do or don’t like about their various governments. I really admire the way that politics is played in Europe and I hope African politicians will take a leaf out of their book in the future.

Have the leaders of the various warring factions in Liberia tried to get you to support their point of view on the way to bring peace?

Not exactly. The leaders of the various factions involved in the conflict are my friends, but they’re politicians and I’m a sportsman. They should do their best to find a lasting resolution to the crisis in Liberia and bring the much-needed peace to ordinary Liberians, while I and my Lone Star team-mates do what we can to promote the international image of the country through football.

What life do you see for yourself after you quit football?

I could be a coach or I’d like to help the Liberian Football Association in some way. Whatever happens when I retire, I think it would definitely have to be something that helps to boost the profile of sports within Liberia.

There’s no doubt that your time in Europe has made you a very wealthy man. Many believe you must be a millionaire in any currency to be able to sponsor both your national team and a Liberian football league club…

[Laughs] A millionaire? I wish I was a millionaire! A large part of what I earn goes to people who are in need. As long as hunger is far away from my door, I’m happy. I would estimate that I’ve spent close to 20 per cent of my earnings in European football on my extended family, my friends and fellow Liberians that I don’t even know. Perhaps if I was a mean and selfish man who keeps all of his money to himself, then I may be a millionaire by now! [Laughs]

This feature first appeared in the March 1996 issue of FourFourTwo

There are few strikes in Premier League history as iconic of Sergio Aguero’s goal against QPR in 2012.

The Argentine struck deep into stoppage time on the final day of the season, as Manchester City remarkably came back from the brink at the Etihad Stadium to land their first league title of the Premier League era.

Fourteen Premier League seasons have passed since that moment, with Aguero having retired from the game five years ago - but the goal continues to live vividly in his memory.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Aguero on his goal that changed Manchester City forever

City went into their final game of the season that year knowing a win over QPR would seal the title, after they defeated Manchester United a week earlier. But what followed was not as straightforward as City fans would have hoped.

“After we beat Manchester United, we went into the last game of the season knowing that if we won at home to QPR, we would win the league,” Aguero recalls to FourFourTwo.

“During the second half though, we went 2-1 down. You’re not thinking about anything at that moment. You’re thinking that we’re going to lose the league. But hey, we kept trying until the end. When Edin Dzeko scored the goal to make it 2-2 in the 92nd minute though, I thought ‘Well, maybe I can score another’.”

What happened next was one of English football’s most unforgettable moments.

“I made the decision to drop back to receive the pass from Nigel de Jong, then I tried to play a one-two with Mario Balotelli,” Aguero continues. “That had been in my head already – I’d been planning that, to see if I could get a goal.

“Beforehand, I’d told Mario that I was going to look for him, that I was going to give it to him so that he could give me a one-two and an assist. Luckily, the plan I had with him worked out – it ended up being the perfect play. I did the one-two with Mario, I scored and we won the title.

“Moments like that stay with you forever – it’s a memory I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. Now that I’m not playing any more and I understand how that title is valued much more, it brings back very nice memories whenever I talk about it.”

For Aguero, the significance of that moment has only grown, and it is something he recognises every year.

“It’s really nice that the fans still follow me, that they still love me in the same way that they did when I was playing. I think they were happy with my performance over those 10 years, with all of the title wins, and of course the QPR goal, which was important to the club’s history.

“Now that I’m not playing any more, as the years go by, every year on May 13, the day of that goal against QPR, I relive the moment. Lovely memories – for me, it will always be that way.”

Sergio Aguero was an ambassador for FIFA Hospitality at this summer’s World Cup

Watch Arsenal vs Chelsea for free this weekend as both sides put their unbeaten records on the line at the Emirates Stadium.

FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Arsenal are two for two and looking strong as they bid to retain their Premier League title this season. Wins over Coventry and Aston Villa have also seen the Gunners keep two clean sheets to this point.

Chelsea have swept aside Fulham and Brighton, with last weekend's win against the Seagulls resulting in a seven-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge, as Cole Palmer shone again.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea online and from anywhere, including for free, on the third weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Watch Arsenal vs Chelsea for FREE

Arsenal vs Chelsea isn't technically available to watch for free, but there is a way that viewers in the US can stream the game at no cost.

Live coverage in the States is on USA Network, which is available on YouTube TV that currently comes with a 21-day free trial.

Outside the US? Use a VPN to access your free Arsenal vs Chelsea stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Arsenal vs Chelsea from anywhere

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How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea in the UK

Viewers in the UK can watch Arsenal vs Chelsea live on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League will have live coverage of the Premier League clash, with kick-off at 4:30pm BST.

How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea in the US

As mentioned above, USA Network is showing Arsenal vs Chelsea in the US. Kick-off is at 11:30am ET.

How to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream Arsenal vs Chelsea on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 1:30am AEST on Monday.

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Arsenal vs Chelsea: Preview

Arsenal are continuing from where they left off in the Premier League, posting two from two so far and are yet to concede a solitary goal this season.

Last weekend's hard-fought 1-0 win against Aston Villa saw Christos Tzolis hauled off at half-time after picking up a booking and looking visibly frustrated with Matty Cash.

Whether or not the Greek international will start again remains to be seen, with Arteta not boasting as many options as he previously had following the departure of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli this summer.

Viktor Gyokeres has had to settle for a place on the bench with Kai Havertz getting the nod so far in attack. The German has looked good after a lengthy lay-off with injury in 2025/26.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

Chelsea’s transfer window came to a close with Enzo Fernandez leaving for Manchester City, while their late pursuits of Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara and Roma’s Manu Kone ultimately ended empty-handed.

It’s the front three of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro who have everyone talking, with the trio combining impressively in the Blues’ opening two games.

Xabi Alonso appears set to stick with his three-at-the-back system for now and will hope his side can keep Arsenal’s wealth of attacking talent at bay in Sunday’s kick-off.

Jordan Henderson (wrist) and Marco Palestra (unspecified) remain out of contention with individual injury problems.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea

The Gunners have looked solid as a rock, but Chelsea's attack will have to be carefully dealt with. We see a draw.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The 1995/96 Premier League title race remains one of the most iconic in English football history, one where on-pitch drama was met with psychological warfare off it.

At the heart of the battle were two titans of the game, as Kevin Keegan took his thrilling Newcastle United side up against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United team, who had were looking to reclaim the title following Blackburn Rovers’ 1995 success.

Perhaps the defining moment of that title race was the ‘I would love it’ rant, delivered by Keegan, a moment that perfectly captured the Magpies chief’s passion and the pressure he was under.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Keegan on his relationship with Ferguson

The immediate aftermath of that interview and the title race, which saw Manchester United complete a turnaround after being 12 points behind Newcastle in January, had left a palpable tension between the pair,

“For a day or two I really disliked him,” Keegan recalled to FourFourTwo in 2007, more than a decade after the height of the pair’s rivalry.

Time would prove to be a healer for Keegan, who admitted that their fierce rivalry was softened by mutual respect and shared experiences.

“I wouldn’t say we’re close now, but we have talked a lot,” Keegan explained. "I’ve sold players to him, he’s sold players to me, I’ve done charity things for him, he’s done them for me.”

Keegan also showed some of that trademark wit which was remembered in the countless tributes paid to him following his passing last July.

“But if you’re asking me, do I love him… [Laughs] I totally respect him. He’s managed a huge club for 20 years.”

Keegan would also point to his personal record against Ferguson with pride.

“I’ve got a terrific record against Alex Ferguson compared with most people, too,” he continued. “It probably isn’t level, but I’ve managed teams that have beaten his 5-0, 4-1, 3-1. Two Manchester derbies.

“So I’d say I’ve come out relatively well against him.”

Watch Hull City vs Aston Villa as the Tigers look to continue their unbeaten return to the Premier League.

FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Hull City have begun life back in England's top flight with a bang, recording wins over Manchester United and then Coventry City to make it two from two so far.

Aston Villa are quite the opposite, losing against both Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal, with Unai Emery's side 19th heading into Gameweek 3.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Hull City vs Aston Villa online and from anywhere, including for free, on the third weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Watch Hull City vs Aston Villa from anywhere

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How to watch Hull City vs Aston Villa in the UK

Viewers in the UK can watch Hull City vs Aston Villa live on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League will have live coverage of the Premier League clash, with kick-off at 5:30pm BST.

How to watch Hull City vs Aston Villa in the US

Peacock is showing Hull City vs Aston Villa in the US with linear viewing available via NBC.

Kick-off is at 12:30am ET live from the MKM Stadium in Yorkshire.

How to watch Hull City vs Aston Villa in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream Hull City vs Aston Villa on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 2:30am AEST on Monday.

Hull City vs Aston Villa: Preview

Hull City went crazy late in the transfer window, as the Tigers fully backed their manager Sergej Jakirović to keep them in the division.

Most had already written the Tigers off before a ball had been kicked, but a win at home against Aston Villa really would continue to put a cat amongst the pigeons.

The biggest surprise was Liam Miller moving to Birmingham City on loan till the end of the season, just days after scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win over Coventry City.

Ilyas Ansah, Robinio Vaz, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Tim Iroegbunam, Sorba Thomas and Christos Mouzakitis all arrived on deadline day, and it remains to be seen how many will start against Emery's men on Saturday night.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

Europa League holders Villa have had a poor start to the new season, but will want to get up and running with a win against City.

Ollie Watkins' move to Saudi Arabia was completed, with Nicolas Jackson signing from Chelsea. Ibrahim Mbaye arrived from Paris Saint-Germain and English centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis joined from Southampton.

It is in midfield where the woes continue for the Villans, with teenager George Hemmings thrown in against Arsenal last weekend. Whether he continues alongside Boubacar Kamara remains to be seen.

Joao Gomes is still suspended after his opening weekend red card, with Amadou Onana and Johan Manzambi both out with knee problems.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Hull City 1-1 Aston Villa

Hull are looking good with their business and Villa have started slowly. We think a draw on Saturday night in 'ull.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Watch Brighton vs Leeds United as Daniel Farke's side aim to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season on the south coast, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Seagulls fans certainly got their money's worth in their first two league games, as a 4-0 home hammering of Aston Villa was followed by a 4-3 defeat at Chelsea.

Leeds' results have been a little more orthodox but no less impressive, drawing 1-1 at home to Brentford last Sunday after winning 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Brighton vs Leeds United online and from anywhere in the world in the Premier League 2026/27 season.

Is Brighton vs Leeds United on TV in the UK?

Brighton vs Leeds United is not being televised in the UK. The game kicks-off on Saturday at 3pm, a time when football matches cannot legally be broadcast in the UK. This is known as the '3pm blackout'.

You can access the game in multiple countries including the likes of the US and Australia where you will find great deals for watching EPL football.

If you're visiting the UK, you can use NordVPN to access your usual coverage.

Watch Brighton vs Leeds United from anywhere

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How to watch Brighton vs Leeds United in the US

Viewers in the US can watch Brighton vs Leeds United on Peacock. Kick-off is at 10:00am ET.

Peacock is NBC's streaming platform, which not only hosts a live stream of the NBC games but also exclusively shows a number of other Premier League matches each week.

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How to watch Brighton vs Leeds United in Australia

Brighton vs Leeds United is live on Stan Sport in Australia. Kick-off is at 12:00am AEST (midnight) on Sunday morning.

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Brighton vs Leeds United: Preview

Brighton fans heading to the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon will expect to see goals, after their first two Premier League fixtures produced 11 combined.

Seagulls supporters would also be advised to be in their seats in time for kick-off, with much of the action coming in the first half. Against Aston Villa, Albion scored all four goals of their 4-0 win inside the first 31 minutes, while in the 4-3 defeat at Chelsea last Sunday, they were 3-0 down after 32.

Manager Fabian Hurzeler looks set to hand summer signing Costinha his first start at right back after impressing off the bench, while fellow new recruit Chema Andres could also be part of the squad.

Former Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari may also be available, but deadline-day signing Femi Azeez misses out through injury.

SEE ALSO Football fixture calendar for the 2026/27 season

The Whites were also busy on deadline day, with forward Jean-Matteo Bahoya joining on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt and defender Melvin Bard loaned from Nice.

It remains to be seen if they feature against Brighton, but one player who definitely won't be available is key defender Joe Rodon, who could be out for up to 10 weeks with a serious hamstring injury.

Otherwise, it has been a positive first fortnight of the season at Elland Road, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring a late equaliser at home to Brentford last Sunday to preserve Leeds' unbeaten start.

This trip to Brighton is arguably their biggest test so far - if they return to Yorkshire with three points, Whites fans really will be looking up.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Brighton 2-2 Leeds United

It is hard to predict which way this one will go, but there are normally goals when the Seagulls are involved.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

In 2004, second-tier Millwall reached the FA Cup final for the first time in the club’s history.

And while player-manager Dennis Wise was unable to orchestrate a cup final upset when they went up against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the club’s consolation prize was a spot in the following season’s UEFA Cup.

Millwall would be drawn against Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the first round and what should have been a memorable occasion turned into something far more darker for travelling fans and club officials.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Theo Paphitis on Millwall’s European nightmare

The two clubs played out a 1-1 draw at The Den, with Wise netting for the hosts, leaving Millwall just one result away from the lucrative group stage, where the likes of Sporting, Lazio and Sevilla awaited.

“Millwall have scored two goals in Europe and guess who scored them both? Dennis Wise,” former Lions chairman Theo Paphitis recalls to FourFourTwo. “We drew 1-1 at our ground in the first leg, then went out there.”

The return leg would prove to be a completely different experience, however.

“They were in an old stadium – it’s not often I’m scared, but I was scared for my kids,” Paphitis admits. “We were sitting with officials near to what I can only describe as right-wing fans, proper neo-Nazi types.

“They were making cut-throat gestures. It was vile – spitting, you name it. I had to ask the UEFA representative for some security. It was quite frightening.

“We sadly lost the game, but that wasn’t the tragedy. The tragedy was for our fans, who’d behaved impeccably at the FA Cup final, and also at our place in the first leg of the Ferencvaros game.

“Unfortunately a group of our fans going around the stadium before the game, and some after the game too, were set upon by these masked paramilitary supporters. I didn’t realise how serious it was.”

Following the match, as Paphitis and his family attempted to return home, the true scale of the situation became apparent.

“After the game we got to the airport, but we had to delay the flight. A couple of fans had been stabbed, one was on life support. We had to go with the British consul in Budapest to try to identify who they were. That meant going through a bag of blood-stained clothes and a mobile phone to find ‘mum’ or ‘home’.

“It was horrendous. So, so sad. One of them was poorly for a long time afterwards. We got everybody home eventually and flew them back, but that was a sad occasion. It was my last season, my swansong. I handed over the reins at the end of that campaign.”

Jurgen Klopp’s so-called ‘heavy-metal’ football was an era-defining style of play.

The German’s gegenpressing philosophy would become synonymous with relentless attacking play, first with Borussia Dortmund and then with Liverpool, but only after another Bundesliga side blazed an earlier trail.

Hoffenheim had only just been promoted to Germany’s top flight in 2008, but their rapid progress under Ralf Rangnick had seen them become one of the most exciting sides in the country, one that caught the eye of Klopp.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

The Hoffenheim performance that inspired Klopp

Newly promoted Hoffenheim welcomed Dortmund early in the 2008/09 Bundesliga season, with the establishment already beginning to sit up and take notice.

Future Chelsea striker Demba Ba was at the heart of that side and recalls a match that left a lasting impression on Klopp and helped to sculpt the future Liverpool boss’ footballing philosophy.

“It was the fifth matchday of the league,” Ba tells FourFourTwo. “Hoffenheim had just been promoted to the Bundesliga.

“Our style of play was a breath of fresh air in Germany. The team played attacking football, giving everything from the start, no matter the opponent. Our lack of experience in the top tier hardly showed because we made up for it with hard work and boldness.”

This was immediately evident when the top-flight newbies faced Klopp’s side.

“That day, within just half an hour, we were already leading Borussia Dortmund 2-0. I remember that we played with great intensity.

“I was completely exhausted afterwards because I gave absolutely everything on the pitch. It was incredible.”

The significance of that game would only become apparent to Ba years later, when he caught up with his old boss.

“Years later, talking with Ralf Rangnick, he shared an interesting anecdote with me,” he continues. “After that heavy defeat, Klopp admitted to him that from that moment on, he wanted all his teams to play that way.

“He implemented it at Dortmund and later at Liverpool. In a way, we were pioneers of Jürgen’s gegenpressing.”

Watch Ajax vs PSV as the two Eredivisie giants battle it out at the Johan Cruyff Arena, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Ajax have had a solid start to the season, winning two and drawing one of their three matches. Having not won the Eredivisie title since 2022, Michel's men are desperate to finish top this term.

PSV have also got out of the blocks quickly, winning three and drawing one of their first four encounters. They are hot on the heels of early leaders AZ, who have still have a 100% record after four games.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Ajax vs PSV online from anywhere on matchday five of the 2026/27 Eredivisie season.

Ajax vs PSV team news

Ajax XI: Ter Stegen; Gaaei, Bouwman, Baas, Henrique; Klaassen, Mokio, Brandt; Berghuis, Arokodare, Gloukh.

PSV XI: Kovar; Dest, Geertruida, Obispo, Junior; Fernandez, Sano; Perisic, Til, Van Bommel; Pepi.

Watch Ajax vs PSV from anywhere

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Can I watch Ajax vs PSV in the UK?

Unfortunately, fans in the UK will not be able to watch Ajax vs PSV.

Visiting the UK from overseas? Watch Ajax vs PSV on your usual platform via NordVPN.

How to watch Ajax vs PSV in the US

ESPN is the place to watch Ajax vs PSV for viewers in the US.

Not in the US right now? Use NordVPN to watch Ajax vs PSV on ESPN+.

Can I watch Ajax vs PSV in Australia?

Unfortunately, just like the UK Ajax vs PSV is not available to watch in Australia this weekend.

Travelling in Australia from abroad? Use NordVPN to watch your subscription from back home.

Tickets

Ajax vs PSV: Preview

A four-year Eredivisie title drought is an age for a club of Ajax's stature, but there is belief in the capital that the Netherlands' most successful side are on their way back to the top.

A fifth-place finish last term was a huge disappointment, as Ajax cycled through three different managers including caretakers. The appointment of Michel over the summer has raised hopes for 2026/27, and taking seven points from the first nine available represents a strong start for the Amsterdammers.

This is undoubtedly Ajax's biggest test yet, though. They will have Rayane Bounida, Daley Blind and Viktor Tsygankov, with new signings Simon Adingra and Thilo Kehrer potentially available following their recent moves.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

PSV have played one more game than Ajax and they too are unbeaten, with 10 points from the first 12 available. Peter Bosz's boys have dominated the division in recent years and are the favourites to claim what would be a fourth title on the bounce.

Unsurprisingly, PSV have not deviated from an ultra-attacking style that has brought them so much success of late. Despite being the away team, they will take the game to Ajax this weekend.

However, the Boeren will be unable to call upon the services of Alassane Plea, Kiliann Sildillia, Sami Ouaissa, Jerdy Schouten and Dennis Man for the trip to the Johan Cruyff Arena.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Ajax 2-2 PSV

Both sides are full of confidence after strong starts to the Eredivisie season, but they each may have to settle for a share of the spoils in an entertaining draw.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham today as both teams look to record a first win of the new Premier League season, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Tottenham have spent £334 million this summer under new boss Roberto De Zerbi and yet have no points so far to show for it.

Nottingham Forest haven't spent as much, but still find themselves in a similar boat, with just one point on the board.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham in the UK?

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham is not being televised in the UK. The game is being played on Saturday at 3pm, a time when football matches cannot legally be broadcast in the UK. This is known as the '3pm blackout'.

Those outside the UK are more fortunate, with almost every other country broadcasting Bournemouth vs Everton. If you're visiting the UK, you can use NordVPN to access your usual coverage.

Watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham from anywhere

A good VPN is your ticket to the game, even when you’re abroad.

Streaming platforms often block access outside your home country. A VPN changes your IP address, making your device appear to be elsewhere, so you can access your usual streams while abroad.

The tech experts at Tom's Guide review a lot of VPNs and right now they reckon NordVPN is the best VPN you can buy. And the good news is that NordVPN are currently offering an amazing deal on the service...

Watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham in the US

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham will be shown live in the United States on Peacock and NBCSN.

NBCSN is available via a cord-cutting service such as YouTube TV.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham in Australia

Premier League fans in Australia can watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham through Stan Sport.

Tickets

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham: Preview

Oliver Glasner will be somewhat pleased after his side showed spirit in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool in last weekend's early kick-off.

The Tricky Trees are still learning under the Austrian, with Morgan Gibbs-White remaining a key cog in his 3-4-2-1 system.

There was a first goal in nearly a year for Dan Ndoye at Anfield, with Gibbs-White also on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.

Daniel Muñoz has joined from Crystal Palace and it remains to be seen whether he goes straight in against Spurs on Saturday afternoon.

See also ► Premier League TV guide

Spurs added two more new faces on deadline day as Chelsea duo Mykhailo Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo both switched allegiances.

Tottenham's new-look side is still adapting to the demands of De Zerbi, with Richarlison the latest player to hit out at the Italian.

It was no wonder Omar Marmoush started in attack against Newcastle, with Dominic Solanke coming off the bench to feature late on.

Conor Gallagher sat out as Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Rodrigo Bentancur all played in midfield, as Spurs try and piece their new-look team together.

See also ► These are the cheapest ways to watch the Premier League this season

FourFourTwo's prediction

Nottingham Forest 1-3 Spurs

Tottenham's team is far too talented to not get going soon enough and we are predicitng a steady away win at the City Ground.

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Watch Brentford vs Sunderland as the Bees aim to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League season, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Keith Andrews' men have claimed four points from their first two league games and will aim to replicate the performance that saw them beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in West London on the opening weekend.

Sunderland got off the mark for the campaign with a 1-0 win over Fulham at the Stadium of Light last Sunday.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Brentford vs Sunderland online and from anywhere in the world as the Premier League 2026/27 season continues.

Is Brentford vs Sunderland on TV in the UK?

Brentford vs Sunderland is not being televised in the UK. The game is being played on Saturday at 3pm, a time when football matches cannot legally be broadcast in the UK. This is known as the '3pm blackout'.

You can access the game in multiple countries including the likes of the US and Australia where you will find great deals for watching Premier League and Champions League football.

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How to watch Brentford vs Sunderland in the US

Viewers in the US can watch Brentford vs Sunderland on Peacock. Kick-off is at 10:00am ET.

How to watch Brentford vs Sunderland in Australia

Brentford vs Sunderland is live on Stan Sport in Australia. Kick-off is at 12:00am AEST (midnight) on Sunday morning.

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Stability appears to be paying off at Brentford after a quiet transfer window, with the Bees claiming four points from their first two Premier League games and thrashing Birmingham City 6-1 in the Carabao Cup to start the season.

Kevin Schade became the ninth player to score for the club already this term with his delicious flick in last Sunday's 1-1 draw at Leeds United. It saw the forward shortlisted for the Premier League Goal of the Month award along with team-mate Keane Lewis-Potter, who was on target in the 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

He is one of several in-form players at manager Keith Andrews' disposal, with club-record signing Mamadou Sangare nominated for the league's Player of the Month prize after an excellent start to life in West London.

Brentford breezed past Sunderland 3-0 in this fixture last term and they will be confident of claiming another three points here.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

The Black Cats would have been relieved to get off the mark for the campaign against Fulham last Sunday, when Wilson Isidor scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes from time.

Since then, however, they have suffered a setback in the form of an injury to midfielder Habib Diarra, who is set to miss up to two months after sustaining a hamstring issue against the Cottagers.

It is a blow for manager Regis Le Bris, who will need a deep squad to fight on four fronts this season, but the Sunderland boss was able to sign Lyon forward Malick Fofana, defender Kevin Danso from Tottenham Hotspur and highly-rated Ecuador teenager Juan Riquelme Angulo Caicedo late in the window.

Those signings will boost the Black Cats ahead of their trip to the capital, where a result is extra important with games against Arsenal and Manchester City next up.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Brentford 3-1 Sunderland

The Bees are playing with confidence and scoring plenty of goals. Expect that to continue here.

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Watch Fulham vs Crystal Palace in a clash between two teams who are yet to pick up a point in the Premier League this season, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Both clubs appointed new managers in the summer and will be desperate for a confidence-boosting point or three at Craven Cottage.

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa has overseen narrow losses by Chelsea and Sunderland, while Pierre Sage was unable to prevent Palace falling to defeat against Everton and Manchester City.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Fulham vs Crystal Palace online and from anywhere in the world as the Premier League 2026/27 season continues.

Is Fulham vs Crystal Palace on TV in the UK?

Fulham vs Crystal Palace is not being televised in the UK. The game kicks-off on Saturday at 3pm, a time when football matches cannot legally be broadcast in the UK. This is known as the '3pm blackout'.

Outside the UK the game is available in virtually every country across the globe. If you're visiting the UK, you can use NordVPN to access your usual coverage.

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How to watch Fulham vs Crystal Palace in the US

Viewers in the US can watch Fulham vs Crystal Palace on Peacock. Kick-off is at 10:00am ET.

Peacock is NBC's streaming platform, which not only hosts a live stream of the NBC games but also exclusively shows a number of other Premier League matches each week.

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How to watch Fulham vs Crystal Palace in Australia

In Australia, Fulham vs Crystal Palace is live on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 12:00am AEST (midnight) on Sunday morning.

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While it is a little early in the season to call any fixture a 'must win', Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa and his Crystal Palace counterpart Pierre Sage could really do with a result at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers showed some good signs in their first two league games under former Real Madrid boss Arbeloa, as well as easing past League One AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup, but ultimately are yet to get off the mark in the Premier League.

A summer of change at Fulham was rounded off with the deadline-day signings of midfielder Hugo Larsson on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, centre back David Affengruber from Elche and midfielder Manuel Angel, who became the third player to swap the Bernabeu for the Cottage this summer.

All three players could be in the squad against Palace, while right back Kenny Tete could feature despite nearly joining Everton late in the transfer window.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

Palace are seriously short of firepower for their trip across London, with Ismaila Sarr unavailable following the collapse of his proposed move to Liverpool and fellow forward Jean-Philippe Mateta also sidelined.

The Eagles swooped for four signings on deadline day, with defender Honest Ahanor arriving on loan from Atalanta, left back Ben Chilwell returning to Selhurst Park from Strasbourg, midfielder Quinten Timber joining from Marseille and winger Dario Osorio moving on loan from Midtjylland.

That should improve Sage's mood after an underwhelming start to his Palace tenure, which has seen them score just once and concede six goals in defeats against Everton and Manchester City.

The South London club must start picking up results soon, or the Frenchman's job will come under scrutiny.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Fulham 2-1 Crystal Palace

The Cottagers have shown enough in their first two games to suggest they can get off the mark against Palace.

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Watch Manchester City vs Coventry City in one of five 3pm Saturday Premier League games, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Manchester City are slowly building something under new manager Enzo Maresca, after brushing aside Crystal Palace last weekend.

Coventry City can't currently say the same and it could be a long afternoon in Manchester for Frank Lampard's side, should the Blues get going.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Manchester City vs Coventry City in the Premier League.

Is Manchester City vs Coventry City on TV in the UK?

Manchester City vs Coventry City is not being televised in the UK. The game is being played on Saturday at 3pm, a time when football matches cannot legally be broadcast in the UK. This is known as the '3pm blackout'.

The irony is that you can watch the game in pretty much every country other than the one in which it's being played. For example the game is being broadcast on USA Network in the US which is available for free via YouTube TV's 21-day trial.

If you're visiting the UK, you can use NordVPN to access your usual coverage.

Watch Manchester City vs Coventry City from anywhere

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How to watch Manchester City vs Coventry City in the US

As mentioned above, USA Network is showing Manchester City vs Coventry City.

Fans in the States can access USA Network on OTT streaming platforms including YouTube TV (21-day free trial), DirecTV Stream (5-day free trial), Hulu+Live TV (3-day free trial) and Sling Blue.

How to watch Manchester City vs Coventry City in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream Manchester City vs Coventry City on Stan Sport.

Travelling outside Australia? NordVPN is your ticket to watch Coventry City vs Hull City on Stan Sport.

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Manchester City were one of the busier sides late in the window, as they spent big on Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye from Chelsea and Everton, respectively.

That was after Elliot Anderson's move from Nottingham Forest, with City practically rebuilding their midfield following Rodri, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva's exits.

A big win at Selhurst Park saw star showings from Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, who look to be clicking for Enzo Maresca.

Jeremy Doku remains sidelined with a calf injury, while Matheus Nunes is also a doubt with a muscle issue, which could see Abdukodir Khusanov continue at right-back.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

With Hull City and Ipswich Town both making bright starts, the pressure is starting to mount a little on Lampard's side.

A 3-0 defeat against Arsenal on opening weekend was followed by a 1-0 loss against Hull last weekend, in a tight affair between the two recently promoted sides.

Amazingly, Coventry are unbeaten across their last eight top-flight meetings with Man City (W4 D4) since the inaugural 1992-93 campaign when the Citizens won both home and away.

Haji Wright (thigh) remains a long-term absentee, while Frank Onyeka (hip) and Sidiki Cherif (fitness) both missed the defeat against the Tigers and will be assessed ahead of Saturday.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Manchester City 6-0 Coventry City

We really can't see anything other than a cricket score if City score early. Haaland may even get three or four.

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Watch Newcastle United vs Bournemouth for free as the Magpies look to secure back-to-back wins in the Premier League. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Matthias Jaissle has made a promising start to life as Newcastle manager and picked up his first league victory last Saturday, when his side triumphed 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Fellow German Marco Rose has claimed a single point from his first two Premier League games in charge of Bournemouth, although that total would have been higher if the Cherries hadn't conceded late goals against both Manchester City and Everton.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Newcastle United vs Bournemouth online and from anywhere, including for free, as the 2026/27 Premier League season continues.

Watch Newcastle United vs Bournemouth for FREE

You can stream Newcastle vs Bournemouth for free in the US thanks to YouTube TV's 21-day free trial which carries USA Network.

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How to watch Newcastle United vs Bournemouth in the UK

Newcastle United vs Bournemouth is live on TNT Sports in the UK.

Live coverage is on TNT Sports 1 and its streaming platform HBO Max, with kick-off at 12:30pm BST.

Outside the UK? Watch Newcastle United vs Bournemouth on Sky Sports via NordVPN.

How to watch Newcastle United vs Bournemouth in the US

As mentioned above, USA Network has live coverage of Newcastle United vs Bournemouth in the US. Kick-off is at 7:30am ET.

Remember: Use NordVPN to unlock your Newcastle United vs Bournemouth on USA Network.

How to watch Newcastle United vs Bournemouth in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream Newcastle United vs Bournemouth on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 9:30pm AEST.

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Gloom has quickly been replaced by optimism at Newcastle United, after a transformative summer that initially had fans fearing the worst.

The departures of long-serving manager Eddie Howe and key players Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes threatened to derail the Magpies' season before it had begun, but suddenly things are looking up.

New boss Matthias Jaissle has made a promising start and would have a 100 per cent record in all competitions if Newcastle hadn't conceded a last-minute penalty against Liverpool, while forwards Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa have shone.

The Magpies' new signings also appear to have bedded in well and Jaissle could hand a debut to deadline-day arrival Matias Fernandez-Pardo, with the 21-year-old Belgium striker available to face Bournemouth after his move from Lille.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

Jaissle's career shares some parallels with Bournemouth counterpart Marco Rose, a fellow German who also managed RB Salzburg. The Cherries boss knows how it feels to let a lead slip late on, too.

Bournemouth could be sat on six points if they hadn't conceded twice in the closing stages to lose 2-1 at Manchester City in their opening game, or allowed Everton to equalise in stoppage time in last weekend's 1-1 draw. Instead, Rose is still waiting for his first victory in charge.

At least he no longer has to worry about losing key players in the transfer window, with the Cherries able to keep hold of Alex Scott, Rayan and Eli Junior Kroupi despite heavy interest throughout the summer.

That will have given Bournemouth fans a much-needed boost ahead of the 700-mile round trip to St James' Park for this Saturday lunchtime kick-off, in another triumph of Premier League fixture scheduling.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Newcastle United 1-1 Bournemouth

The Magpies will expect to win this one after their strong start, but Rose's men are better than their points total suggests.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

June 29, 1950. A player with a broad grin on his face is being carried shoulder-high by a group of excited local fans in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. His name is Larry ‘Joe’ Gaetjens and his team, the United States of America, have just beaten England 1-0 in the group stage of the fourth edition of the World Cup. Gaetjens scored the goal, and although it was a header, it soon became known as ‘the shot heard round the world’.

Gaetjens wasn’t even a US citizen at the time. He arrived in New York from Haiti in 1947, having won a scholarship to study accountancy at the prestigious Columbia University. To help make ends meet, he took a job washing dishes in a German restaurant.

Back in Haiti, he’d played football for Etoile Haitienne, and even earned caps for the Haiti national team. Eager to continue playing in the US, he asked his boss if he could fix him up with a team. “I hope you play soccer better than you wash dishes,” he was told, before going on trial with local side Brookhattan, who were playing in the semi-professional American Soccer League.

Gaetjens may not have been the most gifted of kitchen hands, but he could certainly play football. An intelligent and energetic centre-forward, he was the second highest scorer in the ASL for the 1947-48 season and topped the charts two years later, despite the fact that in the World Cup year, Brookhattan ended up bottom of the league.

It was still something of a surprise, however, when he was picked in the US squad at their third World Cup finals – they’d lost 7-1 to Italy in 1934, but had actually reached the semis in 1930.

It wasn’t Gaetjens lack of citizenship that caused shock over his selection – in those years a statement of intent to become a citizen in future was enough – but because he hadn’t represented the country before.

He hadn’t been picked for the USA’s ill-fated 1948 Olympics squad, when they lost their only game 9-0 to Italy. Neither had he played in the World Cup qualifiers in 1949, when they lost 6-0and 6-2 against Mexico but managed a win and a draw against Cuba to reach the finals. He also hadn’t featured in the warm-up game shortly before the World Cup, when the USA lost 5-0 to Besiktas.

But Gaetjens had impressed in a trial game played in St Louis to finalise the squad, and was picked for the unofficial match the USA played against a touring FA XI, which included Nat Lofthouse and Stanley Matthews, the week before the team left for Brazil. He must have been delighted to get into the squad, because the USA had a mouth-watering group featuring Spain, Chile and England.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

For Gaetjens, facing World Cup favourites England was the stuff of dreams – the Three Lions squad featured an array of stars such as Wilf Mannion, Tom Finney, Stan Mortensen, Billy Wright and Jackie Milburn, with future legendary managers Bill Nicholson and Alf Ramsey also on Walter Winterbottom’s roster.

England had never entered the World Cup before – a strained relationship with FIFA had resulted in them leaving the organisation altogether between 1928 and 1946 – but they were highly fancied to win the trophy.

During the most recent British Home Championship, which doubled up as qualifying for the World Cup, they had beaten Wales 4-1 in Cardiff, thrashed Ireland 9-2 at Maine Road, then beat Scotland 1-0 in front of 138,000 people at Hampden Park. The top two earned spots at the World Cup, although the second-placed Scots opted not to take up their place, having said they’d only travel to Brazil if they won the Home Championship. Despite protests from some of their players, they instead went on a tour of North America.

Soccer in the USA was a ramshackle affair in the late 1940s and early 1950s. There was no national league, with the game only played seriously on the east coast, as well as immigrant-heavy cities like Chicago and St Louis. Players were semi-pro, working 40-hour weeks.

Midfielder Walter Bahr remembered making $550 a week as a PE teacher, but just $25 for a match at the weekend. Striker Gino Pariani recalled practising twice a week in the local park. “When it was dark, we’d train using the lights from the cars we’d come up in,” he said.

“The pitches were pretty terrible,” Bahr explained. “They were mostly cinder or dirt fields, or real cabbage patches.”

Once assembled, it took the squad three days to reach Rio de Janeiro, after which they had three days to acclimatise before their opening game with Spain. While England began the tournament as 3-1 favourites with the bookmakers, the Americans were 500-1 outsiders.

Their coach Bill Jeffrey, a Scot who’d been highly successful coaching Penn State University, had the job of choosing the team to face the Spanish. “He knew that a lot of the players weren’t used to playing together, but made sure that each knew someone in their part of the field,” explained Bahr.

Jeffrey took the core of his team from the same Italian district of St Louis, an area known as ‘The Hill’. Keeper Frank Borghi was a funeral director who had been decorated for treating a wounded German soldier during D-Day. Charlie Colombo, the centre-half, was known as ‘Gloves’ for his habit of playing in a pair whatever the weather. Pariani was a talented inside right who had been forced to bring his wedding forward by a week to play in the tournament.

Left winger Frank ‘Pee Wee’ Wallace had spent 15 months of the Second World War in a German prisoner of war camp. The only non-Italian among the St Louis players was Harry Keough, who was married to a girl from Guadalajara and spoke Spanish – a strong enough reason for Jeffrey to award him the captaincy in the opening game.

Alongside Bahr in midfield sat Eddie McIlvenny, a Scotsman from Greenock who’d turned out for Wrexham in Third Division North before emigrating. Playing at left-back was Joseph Maca, a Belgian who moved to the US after fighting in the resistance during the war.

When the USA faced Spain in Curitiba, a heavy defeat was expected. Against the run of play though, Pariani put them ahead, and they still led with 10 minutes to play. “But we weren’t in shape,” Bahr admitted. “We all had full-time jobs – we couldn’t keep up with their pros for the full 90 minutes.” Spain scored three late goals to turn the game on its head.

The same day, England had laboured to a 2-0 win over unfancied Chile in their opener with goals from Mortensen and Mannion. A hatful was expected against the USA in their second match, ahead of a showdown with Spain to determine the one team to go through, with goal difference potentially a deciding factor.

Their preparations for the USA game smacked of complacency. They hadn’t bothered scouting their opponents, or even inspected the pitch. Matthews was flown in from the FA’s tour of North America especially for the USA game, only for it to be decided that he wasn’t needed on the field.

England changed at a tennis club outside Belo Horizonte and travelled in, but were dismayed to see the condition of the playing surface when they ran out to warm up. “A lot was made of the state of the pitch,” Bahr later said. “But I don’t remember it being particularly bad. I guess we were used to a lot worse in the States.” The Americans’ relaxed approach was summed up by the fact that some of the team stayed up late partying the night before the game.

The 10,151 fans inside the stadium included a few American soldiers and workers from a British-run mine nearby, but the vast majority were Brazilians. “We could tell they wanted us to win,” said Borghi. “They wanted England out of the tournament so Brazil would have a better chance of winning it.”

England fashioned six good chances in the first 12 minutes, hitting the post twice, with Borghi in inspired form. The Three Lions poured forward again and again, until the moment that took the stadium by surprise, six minutes before the half-time interval.

McIlvenny found Bahr, who stepped forward and fired in a shot from outside the area. “It was maybe 25 yards out, a decent shot,” recalled Pariani. “The England keeper moved right to cover it, but suddenly Joe Gaetjens jumped in and deflected it in the opposite direction. Before the goalkeeper realised what had happened, it was in the back of the net.”

Gaetjens himself didn’t see the ball go in – as it hit the back of the net, he was lying face down in the mud. “Joe didn’t celebrate madly, you never did in those days,” Bahr said. “We just shook his hand and he jogged back to the halfway line with a big grin on his face.”

The Americans’ goal took the wind out of England’s sails, and their attacks grew less persistent during the second half. The USA could even have got a second when Wallace went through on goal.

Late on England rallied, knowing their opponents were tiring again. Mortensen ran through the USA defence and was shaping up to shoot when Colombo brought him down from behind with a rugby tackle. “Charlie should have been thrown out of the match – nobody on our side would have complained,” Bahr later admitted. “The English wanted a penalty, but the Italian referee gave them a free-kick outside the box.”

From the kick, Jimmy Mullen’s header appeared to loop beyond Borghi and into the goal, but the keeper dived at full-length to somehow scoop the ball around the post. England appealed that it had crossed the line. “It definitely wasn’t a goal,” Bahr insisted. “It could have been on the line, but it definitely wasn’t over it.”

Come the final whistle, hundreds of excited Brazilian fans invaded the pitch, picking up two American players and carrying them toward the clubhouse. One was Borghi. “I didn’t know what was going on,” he laughed. “They just picked me up and carried me off.” The other was the match-winner, Gaetjens, who had carved his name forever into World Cup folklore.

News of the game hardly registered in the USA – only one American reporter was in attendance. Three days later, they lost 5-2 to Chile in the heat of Recife and were eliminated, finishing bottom of the group on goal difference. England had to beat Spain 3-0 in their final game to qualify, but lost 1-0.

On their return home, the Three Lions team were criticised by the press, but not to the same extent as they might face for a similar elimination nowadays. More coverage was given to the West Indies cricket team’s first ever Lord’s victory over England, which happened on the same day as the defeat to the USA. “It was just one of those games,” Tom Finney later told FFT of the USA loss. “We could have played for nine hours and still wouldn’t have scored.”

Gaetjens never would become a US citizen. In fact, he never played another game for the USA after that World Cup, moving to France and playing for Racing Club de Paris, and later heading home to Haiti. He lined up again for the Haitian national team in a qualifier for the 1954 World Cup – they lost 4-0 to Mexico.

In 1964, after retiring from football to run a dry-cleaning business, he was arrested by Haiti’s secret police, acting on behalf of president Francois Duvalier, who’d risen to power seven years earlier.

“Joe didn’t have a political bone in his body,” his former USA team-mate Bahr insisted. His family did, however, and their support for opponents of Duvalier’s brutal dictatorship was enough to seal his fate with the regime.

Gaetjens was last seen alive two days later in Haiti’s notorious Fort Dimanche prison, where thousands were murdered. His body was never found.

This article first appeared in the April 2006 edition of FourFourTwo magazine

The only place to start this week is to reflect on the summer transfer window. It was a crazy deadline day, and the stand-out deal was undoubtedly Enzo Fernandez’s £125 million move from Chelsea to Manchester City.

No matter what you want to say about Fernandez, he's still a good footballer, and Chelsea would be devastated to lose him. He's not a Rodri replacement, because he's not a number six — I think he's a number eight, or someone who can play higher up that can get forward and get you goals.

Clinton was speaking courtesy of Free Bets, home of the best betting sites in the UK.

'Deadline day disappointment but a good window on the whole for Chelsea'

They’ve also brought in Ayyoub Bouaddi, who’s a fantastic young player. And we all know Elliot Anderson’s qualities in the centre of midfield.

It leaves Man City with a very strong squad, especially when you consider that they’ll have either Rayan Cherki or Phil Foden in the number ten role. There’s lots of competition for places, and it’ll be fascinating to see how Enzo Maresca fits them all into his team.

Meanwhile, it was a disappointing deadline day for Chelsea, but they’ve had a very good window overall.

They’ll be gutted not to have got in a replacement for Fernandez, as I know they were trying to sign Manu Kone from Roma and their manager didn’t want to let him go.

And then you look at Lamine Camara, who's a good player from Monaco. It seemed like they only wanted to sell one of Folarin Balogun or Camara, and both of them have ended up staying at the club.

Chelsea have still got Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson who play in that position, but I feel like they've left themselves one player short in that position.

A player like Camara would have added the energy that they need in midfield. These are all good footballers, but he gives you that energy going from box-to-box.

Looking elsewhere, and the situation surrounding Malick Fofana was crazy. I know Sunderland’s owner went out to Lyon to convince the player to join. In that situation, I wouldn’t say he was forced to choose Sunderland over Crystal Palace, but I think it was inevitable that he would make that decision in those circumstances.

But I do think that if Palace wanted him, why didn't they just go in earlier? Why are you waiting until the last minute? That's what annoys me with clubs. If you want someone and you think that's your number one target, go and get them earlier in the window. It's crazy how clubs just wait until the end of the window.

Fofana is someone I’ve seen play a lot for Lyon. He’s an exciting player and is a good signing for Sunderland. It is what it is - it was a crazy situation watching it unravel.

If I’m looking at who I think has been the best signing of the summer in the Premier League overall, I’d have to pick Bruno Guimaraes’ move to Arsenal for £75 million. I think he'll be a fantastic signing. That’s closely followed by Youri Tielemans move to Manchester United for £35 million, which seems like the cost of a cup of tea in transfer terms these days!

But I still Man United have left themselves short after this window, and they ultimately failed to bring in a left-back. Crystal Palace brought in Ben Chilwell, and that would’ve been a great option. But he’s only a couple of years younger than Luke Shaw, and they probably wanted a young and hungry left-back.

The one they really wanted was Lewis Hall at Newcastle United and were desperate to get him, so that was a big disappointment for Man United.

I still feel they need to make improvements right along that backline with a new right-back, left-back, and probably a new centre-half too.

In previous windows, they've focused on attackers first and looked at their midfield in this window. I think their focus in the next window has to be in the defensive positions.

Those defensive weaknesses are probably why they won't challenge to win the Premier League at this moment in time.

But the transfer window will soon become a distant memory, as we turn our attention back to the games on the pitch.

The stand-out Premier League game this weekend has to be between Arsenal and Chelsea, which will be the first big test for Mikel Arteta’s side this season.

It will be a massive game, because Chelsea's front three will cause Arsenal's defenders a lot of problems, but Arsenal's attackers will cause Chelsea's defenders problems. So it's an interesting game.

I'm not working, I'll be sat in front of the TV, chilling and relaxing, watching the game. I think it'll be a fantastic match.

We will see where Chelsea really are against the champions, and see whether they are ready to make a title challenge this season.

There are many things for which Newcastle United supporters have Kevin Keegan to thank: escaping relegation to the third tier in 1992 and then promotion to the Premier League; Andy Cole; Albert’s chip; Faustino Asprilla; Champions League football; a 12-point lead over Manchester United; and a defiant blast against the dark arts of Alex Ferguson.

But supporters of other clubs perhaps owe him something too. That magnificent away weekend you once had in Newcastle? The train into Central Station, St James’ Park looming like the acropolis above the city, several pints before kick-off, several more afterwards, then a confused and groggy awakening in a budget hotel somewhere near the Bigg Market?

You may, indirectly, have Kevin Keegan to thank for that as well.

Keegan arrived and the lights went on

Because something extraordinary happened to Newcastle in the 1990s. At almost exactly the moment Keegan transformed Newcastle United from a decaying Second Division club into the most glamorous team in English football, Newcastle itself was undergoing a remarkably similar reinvention.

When Keegan returned to St James’ Park in February 1992, Newcastle was still struggling with the psychological aftermath of the 1980s. The industries which had made Tyneside famous — shipbuilding, coal, heavy engineering — were disappearing, while the football club seemed to be following the same trajectory. United were fighting relegation to the Third Division and St James’ Park was shabby, half-empty and unloved. Then Keegan arrived, and somebody switched the lights on.

Within 18 months, Newcastle were in the Premier League. Within two years they were playing in Europe. By 1996 they were trying to win the title with a team playing football so gloriously irresponsible that they became known simply as the Entertainers.

Keegan's philosophy was wonderfully uncomplicated. In his own words, going to the match “was like people down south going to the theatre.” People had worked hard all week, and on Saturday they deserved a show. Newcastle attacked because attacking was exciting. If the opposition scored three, Newcastle would try to score four.

It was less a tactical system than a civic philosophy, and outside St James’ Park, Newcastle was doing much the same thing.

Pioneered by property tycoons like Sir John Hall — who, after making millions as the developer of Europe’s biggest shopping mall on top of an old slag heap in Gateshead, became Newcastle United chairman — the ancient city was rapidly reinventing itself around a leisure economy centred on shopping, culture and nightlife. The Quayside filled with new bars and restaurants. The Riverside became one of Britain's great music venues. Thousands more students arrived.

The Toon’s drinking circuits acquired almost mythological status, and then, wonderfully, in 1995 an American travel company reportedly placed Newcastle alongside the likes of Rio and Las Vegas among the world's great party cities. By 1997, Times Higher Education was reporting that Newcastle's new reputation as “the party city” was actually helping its universities recruit students.

This was not entirely Keegan's doing, obviously. But football captured the zeitgeist and provided an extraordinarily powerful advertisement for the city's transformation.

Every Sunday morning, Premier League highlights transmitted a new version of Newcastle around Britain: 36,000 people roaring inside a rebuilt stadium; Newcastle Brown Ale across those famous black-and-white shirts; Keegan bouncing around the touchline; Ginola flying down the wing; young men in replica shirts going ballistic. Newcastle suddenly looked like somewhere you wanted to be.

And Keegan understood instinctively that football was about more than winning. It was spectacle, pleasure and escape. That fitted the emerging city perfectly – and actually tapped into the city’s ancient Rabelaisian traditions as “the drunkest town in England”. The old Newcastle had churned out guns, ships and coal; the new Newcastle was increasingly selling an experience.

So was Newcastle United.

There was another important ingredient: geography. In most English cities, the football ground sits some distance from the centre. St James’ Park doesn't. It erupts out of Newcastle itself. You can arrive by train, drink in the city centre, walk to the match and be back in a pub minutes after the final whistle — a ready-made urban ‘fan zone’ decades before the idea was even thought of. Suddenly the visiting supporter wasn't merely travelling to an away match. He was entering an ecosystem remarkably efficient at separating him from his disposable income.

Newcastle upon Tyne had accidentally invented the football city-break, and Keegan's Entertainers supplied the mythology. Even losing at Newcastle could be enjoyable. You might watch Beardsley play a pass nobody else had seen, Ginola humiliate your right-back or Asprilla do a samba-shimmy past your centre-half. Keegan's Newcastle offered the visiting supporter the same implicit promise as Newcastle's nightlife: something might happen.

That matters because cities, like football clubs, acquire reputations through stories. People went home talking about Newcastle. About the atmosphere. About the stadium in the middle of town. About the people they'd met. About what happened after the match — frequently with significant gaps in the chronology.

Thirty years later, Newcastle remains one of English football's great away trips. The Quayside has changed. The Bigg Market isn't quite the grisly Bacchanal of legend. The football club has travelled through several historical cycles of hope and despair.

But the basic proposition survives: come to Newcastle and make a weekend of it.

Keegan didn't create Newcastle nightlife, of course. Nor did he build the bars or recruit the students. But between 1992 and 1997 he helped change the story Britain told itself about Newcastle. The football club and the city suddenly projected the same qualities: exuberant, slightly excessive, hospitable, ambitious, emotional and determined to have a good time.

For a few extraordinary years, Newcastle wasn't merely the home of the Entertainers. Newcastle was the entertainment.

So next time an Arsenal, Chelsea or Spurs supporter wakes up on Sunday morning in a Newcastle hotel room with a traffic cone, half a kebab down his shirt and absolutely no recollection of getting back there, perhaps he should observe a moment of gratitude.

King Kev made this possible.

Howay the Lads! A People’s History of Newcastle United by Dan Jackson is published by Abacus and out now (RRP £25). Get your copy HERE

Watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa for free as Sonia Bompastor's side begin their quest to regain the Women's Super League title on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

The 2025/26 campaign was a failure by Chelsea's standards, as their run of six successive WSL titles was ended by Manchester City and they finished with only the League Cup to show for their efforts.

Villa would love those sorts of problems after finishing ninth last term and losing forward Kirsty Hanson to Tottenham Hotspur, and this trip to the Bridge could be the start of another season of struggle.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa online and from anywhere, including for free, on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Women's Super League season.

Watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa for FREE

Women's Super League fans in both the UK and the US can watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa for free.

In the UK, the game will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with this fixture the first of 19 WSL matches shown by the free-to-air broadcaster across the 2026/27 season.

Meanwhile, US viewers can watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa at no cost on CBS Sports Golazo Network, which will show selected WSL fixtures throughout the campaign.

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How to watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa in the UK

As mentioned above, Chelsea vs Aston Villa is live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. You just need a TV licence and a BBC iPlayer registration to watch online, with kick-off at 12:30pm BST.

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The pressure is on Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor this season, after last term's third-place finish - the first time they have failed to win the Women's Super League title since 2019 - was put down to it being a 'transition' campaign.

The Blues have already been in competitive action, beating Real Sociedad 6-2 on aggregate in their Champions League third-round qualifier to reach the league phase.

That tie provided the first glimpse of Bompastor's new-look Chelsea, which includes summer signings Katie McCabe from Arsenal, Melvine Malard from Manchester United and former Barcelona midfielder Giulia Dragoni.

They will be expected to win this season opener comfortably at Stamford Bridge, with this the first campaign that they play all their WSL home games in the same stadium as the men's team.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

Aston Villa finished ninth last season, winning just five games, and they are tipped to struggle again this term.

The Villans have lost influential forward Kirsty Hanson, among other key players, with manager Natalia Arroyo dealt a tough hand for the 2026/27 campaign.

The fixture list has also done Villa no favours, with this trip to Stamford Bridge followed by a home game against champions Manchester City, then trips to Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur.

It may be a case of just getting through the next few weeks without too much damage, although if they do pick up a shock result in that time, it would be a welcome lift.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa

The Blues should win this one comfortably.

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We're back and we're ready to do it all over again.

If you've never had the pleasure of playing a FourFourTwo Weekend Crossword, firstly, where have you been!? We forgive you: just to fill you in, though, it's exactly like a regular crossword, with 25 clues all about football and absolutely no timer breathing down your neck.

The more you solve, the more you learn for the next clue: so let's get started, shall we?

Love football crosswords? Here are some handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Hope you enjoyed that one as much as we enjoyed coming up with it. You know the drill: this section of the page is encouraging you to try more quizzes – powered, as ever, by Kwizly – so let's see if we can tempt you.

We’re launching straight into elite European pedigree and classic Barclays nostalgia. First, put your European scouting knowledge to the test by seeing if you can answer did these players ever make a Champions League appearance?, separating genuine continental veterans from domestic mainstays who never heard the famous anthem on the pitch. Once you’ve audited those European dossiers, travel back three decades to tackle 15 questions on the Premier League in 1996-97, an iconic campaign defined by unforgettable strikes, retro kits, and high-stakes drama.

If your memory shines brightest when auditing penalty-box feats or ranking global silverware, we have a formidable double-header waiting in the tunnel. Put your goalscoring recall to the ultimate test by attempting to name every player ever to have scored a Premier League hat-trick, celebrating every clinical finisher to take home a match ball since 1992. After honouring those three-goal heroes, scale up your historical perspective and see if you can sort these teams by their league titles, ranking domestic powerhouses by their historic silverware haul.

To test your overall match-fitness and sharpen your mind before kickoff, take on Friday Football Quiz, episode 131 for a shot at a flawless 20/20, before tackling the elite-level logic of Pre-Match Poser no.42. To ensure you stay top of the table every single day, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily briefing of hand-picked trivia and tactical analysis. To complete your transfer to terrace legend status, lock in your spot in The Club, our free membership hub where you can unlock secret hints for our hardest quizzes, climb global leaderboards, and debate the latest topics directly in the comments.

Carlos Baleba's Manchester United debut date has been revealed by Michael Carrick, ahead of his side's trip to Everton this weekend.

Manchester United have won one, and lost one in their two opening Premier League games this term, defeating Ipswich Town 5-2 last Sunday.

Prior to that, another newly-promoted side in Hull City served the Red Devils a 2-0 opening day defeat at the MKM Stadium

Michael Carrick reveals Carlos Baleba's Manchester United debut date

Manchester United signed Baleba in late August, in a deal worth £70 million, from their Premier League peer Brighton.

The Red Devils lost veteran midfielder Casemiro in the summer, and shelled out an initial £65 million, with a further five in add-ons, to secure the services of the Cameroonian as a replacement.

Baleba made 31 English top-flight appearances last season, playing almost 1700 minutes.

He recovered the ball just over three times per game, while winning an average of six duels; Baleba also made one interception and one tackle per match for the Seagulls.

Before revealing the his likely debut date, Carrick provided updates on the injury status of Mason Mount and Luke Shaw.

The former seems to have had a positive week on the training pitches, as relayed by Ben Dinnery, while the latter was pictured alongside club captain Bruno Fernandes in training on Thursday.

Baleba is now 10-14 days out from making his debut appearance for the Red Devils, as Carrick's men prepare to play Champions League football in the coming weeks.

In relation to Manchester United's schedule, the Cameroonian will likely make his first appearance in red versus Fulham at Craven Cottage.

That match will be played in the Premier League on September 20, however, if Baleba becomes available at the mid point of the range provided, he could face off against his former team in the Carabao Cup, on September 16.

If that is to be the case, bizarrely, Baleba's previous and last game would be against Manchester United, then Brighton respectively.

The 22-year-old last featured in a football match versus the Red Devils during a 3-0 loss with Brighton, in the final game of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Ex-Chelsea and West Ham manager Graham Potter has branded an unnamed former club of his "dysfunctional" in the comments of an Instagram post.

The current head coach of the Sweden national team is rebuilding his managerial career after disappointing spells at both Chelsea and West Ham United.

Potter posted an image of himself doing pilates to Instagram yesterday, and dug out one of his former clubs in reply to a fan.

Graham Potter digs out 'dysfunctional' club in Instagram post

The Englishman made a name for himself as boss at Brighton, where he lasted three years in the job and led the Seagulls to their highest-ever top-flight finish in 2022.

He made the move to Chelsea, where, after losing 11 games in his 31 at the helm, he was sacked inside eight months.

After almost two years away from management, Potter returned to the Premier League to coach West Ham.

In London once more, he lasted even less time, managing the Hammers from January to September of 2025.

The Englishman's side finished 14th in the 2024/25 Premier League standings, but was sacked after leading the club to a 19th-placed position after the next term's first five games.

Now manager of the Sweden national team, Potter led his side out of the groups in North America this summer, before exiting in a 3-0 defeat to previous tournament edition finalists France.

The 51-year-old posted an image of him in a pilates pose to Instagram on Thursday afternoon, which prompted one fan to jokingly respond: "Hopefully you are better at Pilates then you were a football manager."

Potter replied: "I'll try not to do Pilates in a dysfunctional place and I will be ok," with a flexed bicep emoji.

It is unclear which club the Englishman was referring to, however, the Hammers were relegated in the same season that Potter left them, while the Blues finished just 13 points clear of the drop zone in 10th last term.

Since Potter joined, Chelsea have now resorted to their eighth manager in three years, with Xabi Alonso at the helm.

Another fan commented in response: "Didn't mind the money though, did you?" to which Potter replied "absolutely not."

And when a West Ham fan wrote: "You got us relegated, you mug," the Englishman replied with two laughing emojis.

Watch Ipswich Town vs Liverpool for free in the Premier League as Bradley Barcola stands by to make his Reds debut, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

France winger Barcola finally sealed his £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week and is available to face the Tractor Boys, as Andoni Iraola hunts a first competitive win in charge of the Reds.

Ipswich also splashed the cash during the transfer window and are looking to extend their 100 per cent record at Portman Road, where they have claimed victories in both the league and the Carabao Cup this season.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Ipswich Town vs Liverpool online and from anywhere, including for free, as the 2026/27 Premier League season continues.

Watch Ipswich Town vs Liverpool for FREE

You can watch Ipswich Town vs Liverpool at no cost on USA Network, thanks to free trials for new customers available on cord-cutters including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV.

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How to watch Ipswich Town vs Liverpool in the UK

Ipswich Town vs Liverpool is live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League will have live coverage of the clash at Portman Road, with kick-off at 8:00pm BST.

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Ipswich Town are leaving nothing to chance as they aim to establish themselves in the Premier League, spending £186m in the transfer window - more than both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

They sealed their 14th and final signing of the summer on deadline day as forward Zian Flemming arrived from Burnley, and the Dutchman could make his Tractor Boys debut against Liverpool.

Manager Gary O'Neil has also been boosted by the news that Emersonn, another new recruit, sustained no lasting damage from a nasty fall in the 5-2 defeat at Manchester United last Sunday.

The striker will be aiming to score for the second home game in a row after finding the net in Ipswich's 2-1 opening-day win over Sunderland, with the Tractor Boys two out of two at Portman Road, having also beaten Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

There could be another notable debut in Suffolk, with Bradley Barcola set to be part of the Liverpool squad after completing his mega-money move from Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the week.

The winger, who turned 24 on Wednesday, may not feature from the start having not played since the World Cup, but he offers another exciting option out wide to add to the likes of Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will hope Barcola can hit the ground running after a shaky start to his Anfield tenure, with the Reds beginning the Premier League season with consecutive 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

However, the Spaniard failed to win any of his first nine matches as Bournemouth head coach and left as one of the club's greatest managers, so he is unlikely to be panicking just yet.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Ipswich Town 1-2 Liverpool

The Tractor Boys can certainly hurt Iraola's men, but Liverpool should have enough quality to take three points.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

As Everton fans prepared to bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, David Moyes offered up a rare dose of positivity and an even scarcer message of hope.

The Scot’s reputation for downplaying expectations had earned a nickname of ‘Dithering Dave’ which long preceded his return to the hot seat in January 2025. But Moyes managed to strike the right note after the final Everton men’s first team match at their spiritual home with a genuine mission statement.

“This club felt like, to me, one which was a big family but looked broken, felt broken – and it doesn’t feel like that anymore,” he began. “I hope the owners are recognising what they’re seeing today as well, because this is to be built up, brought back and get us back to where we belong - and where we believe we should be. There are 100 players here today who played in some great games here and have been in some great teams. We have to now try to make that happen again.”

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Everton owners’ greed is destroying the club

Barely 15 months since that rousing on-field address, life in the blue half of Merseyside has again become fractured following a summer transfer window underpinned by worryingly familiar traits of deception and dismay for royal-blue devotees.

When owners the Friedkin Group (TFG) pitched up, just six months before the Toffees made the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium, they arrived with the usual promises of a brighter tomorrow. Head honcho Dan Friedkin pledged to ‘contribute positively’ to the club’s history and strong local identity while executive chairman Marc Watts vowed the Americans would ‘usher Everton into a new era, one that is marked by ambition and professionalism’. This summer made a total mockery of those boastful soundbites.

A fortnight after Angus Kinnear publicly assured hand-picked fan media that the club was finally back on a firm financial footing, TFG well and truly shattered that illusion.

The CEO's previous claims of a 'two-summer window plan' have also fallen by the wayside as surreptitious attempts to sell homegrown star Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest, only scrapped after fan backlash at Bournemouth, marked the start of a chaotic countdown to the end of the market.

Attempts to pin the entire saga on the owners affords them far too much credit on knowing the value players within the current squad could fetch, especially with Armstrong still only a peripheral figure despite the growing fanfare around his clear potential.

An established light-touch approach to life at Hill Dickinson Stadium precluded them from making such calls without a helping hand from the likes of Kinnear and recruitment chief Nick Cox.

Moyes’s squad is now alarmingly paper-thin until January with just 18 established outfield players at his disposal, including Thierno Barry as their sole recognised striker.

They ranked 18th for net spend in the Premier League, at a time when eye-watering amounts were sloshing about, while holding an equally dubious honour of the lowest squad value from all the top flight's 17 non-promoted teams.

Unlike his many predecessors, the likes of whom only broke their silences on transfer frustrations after leaving the job with the gift of hindsight and often creative licence, the manager remained forthright about Everton’s market shortcomings throughout a summer in when he took a rare step of not conducting media interviews until the last possible moment.

A late pursuit of Folarin Balogun ended in farcical fashion with the Monaco marksman walking away from formalities at Finch Farm in the final hours of deadline day. Prior to the United States international’s U-turn, Everton took a scattergun approach to alternatives; exploring a loan deal for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee as well as Tammy Abraham at Aston Villa which failed to find favour with either party.

Iliman Ndiaye’s departure, joining Manchester City after a brief flirtation with Tottenham, was widely expected but his upfront £60m sale left a sour taste. Initial plans to offload the Senegal international to north London for an identical fee were offset by the prospect of Richarlison returning to his former club in a £35m deal - the exact figure he had cost eight years prior, without the added tax of injuries or advancing age. Another loan spell for Jack Grealish, returning from the Etihad Stadium for a second summer, did little to soften the blow of losing Everton’s most potent attacking source in recent times.

More than £100m was recouped in player sales on the final day of the window, almost double what Everton spent throughout the entire summer. It was asset stripping on an industrial scale and comparable with the January 2023 window that marked the beginning of the end for Farhad Moshiri's ruinous premiership.

Suspicions that Friedkin and his son Ryan saw a financially troubled yet consistently top flight club with an impressive new stadium on the horizon and sensed an opportunity to sweat the asset are becoming increasingly inescapable for many supporters. Instead of offering accountability for a botched recruitment strategy, the hierarchy has doubled down on a collective vow of silence while the absentee owners have already embarked on sounding out potential investors to dilute their near-total shareholding.

The approach is in stark contrast to their continued handling of AS Roma, where they remain far from beloved. Fans in the Eternal City have told them to ‘go home’ during routine periods of tumult, yet that abrasive relationship appears to only have strengthened their resolve to address concerns head-on and often in person. Every cough and sneeze emanating from Trigoria prompts swift intervention, especially in the season when the Giallorossi endured a three-manager turnover during 2024/25.

Successive point deductions for breaching the Premier League’s now defunct Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) forearmed Evertonians from falling into the trap of believing that spending would be endless under the group who succeeded the perennially aloof Moshiri. But even those realistic expectations have not been met by an ownership whose priorities clearly lie away from the banks of the Mersey, with plans to launch an NHL franchise in their native Texas to sit within an already skewed sporting portfolio.

American owners are, by nature, ruthless operators but the Friedkins have taken that vulture capitalism to new levels. Kinnear’s declaration that his superiors are ‘winners’ lack credible evidence in their handling of a club with sizeable potential and an equally fervent fanbase, as they will have seen at the Vitality Stadium last weekend. Travelling supporters warned on the South Coast that their transatlantic overlords would have ‘a riot’ on their hands if Armstrong was sold from under their noses but the threat of uproar is not going away anytime soon.

Atmosphere group The 1878s have already confirmed pre-match displays for home matches will be 'stood down' for the foreseeable future in light of the recent transfer shambles while others are threatening to make a small dent in Hill Dickinson Stadium's profit margins by refusing to spend a penny inside, starting with Sunday afternoon's visit of Manchester United.

Healing the current division lies squarely at the feet of the Friedkins as well as those they have delegated to run Everton, very poorly it must be said, in their absence. This week’s events suggest that neither have the stomach to fix the mess that they created.

An injury-stricken Aston Villa have received a triple boost ahead of the club's clash with Hull City on Saturday, with updates being heard in a pre-match press conference regarding four injured players.

Unai Emery's side have lost both of their two Premier League matches so far this term, with Brighton serving his men a 4-0 defeat in their opening match.

That was followed up by a 1-0 loss at Villa Park to reigning champions Arsenal; now, they'll head on the road to face newly-promoted Hull with three fresh players in tow, set to make appearances.

Aston Villa receive triple boost

Emery provided updates on four injured players in a pre-match press conference ahead of the club's clash with Hull.

On Johan Manzambi, the Villa boss revealed: "He's training with the group, and he's progressively getting better.

"But he will need some more days for Tuesday in the Champions League, or for our next match against Nottingham Forest.

Elsewhere, Joao Gomes misses the trip through suspension, and Brian Madjo will remain sidelined for another couple of weeks, as relayed by Ben Dinnery.

Amadou Onana is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, and will not appear for the Villans any time soon.

However, the club does expect to see three of its new signings make appearances on Saturday, or at least travel for the trip, in a needed triple boost.

Those players are Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Leon Goretza and Ibrahim Mbaye, all of whom are expected to make the trip.

Emery revealed: "I think the players are ready, and some players after we signed in the last week.

"They are going to be progressively better and better, understanding better our way to play.

"Tomorrow, hopefully we can do one step forward," concluded the Villa boss.

His side face Hull City tomorrow, which kicks off at 5:30pm BST and will be broadcast on Sky Sports - the presenters, pundits and commentators for that clash can be found here.

Watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United for free as the capital club host the Red Devils in the opening game of the Women's Super League 2026/27 season, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

The ambitious Lionesses have made plenty of eye-catching signings over the summer, not least two-time Ballon d'Or Feminin winner Alexia Putellas and ex-England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who faces her former club.

The biggest change at United has been the arrival of Eva Olid to replace long-serving manager Marc Skinner, with the former Hearts boss set to take charge of her first competitive game.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United online and from anywhere, including for free, in the opening game of the 2026/27 Women's Super League season.

Watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United for FREE

US viewers can watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network, which will show selected Women's Super League matches at no cost throughout the 2026/27 season.

You don't require any account for this, just click the above link and stream live.

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How to watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United in the UK

London City Lionesses vs Manchester United is live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football will have live coverage of the clash at the CopperJax Community Stadium in Bromley, London, with kick-off at 7:00pm BST.

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How to watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United in the US

As mentioned above, Women's Super League fans in the US can watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Kick-off is at 2:00pm ET.

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How to watch London City Lionesses vs Manchester United in Australia

Viewers in Australia can stream London City Lionesses vs Manchester United on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 4:00am AEST on Saturday.

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London City Lionesses vs Manchester United: Preview

London City Lionesses will once again attempt to disrupt the established order of the Women's Super League this season — and they are certainly giving it a right good go.

The capital club turned heads this summer with a host of high-profile signings, most notably two-time Ballon d'Or Feminin winner Alexia Putellas and ex-England goalkeeper Mary Earps. Putellas was the most eye-catching addition of the lot, with the former Spain and Barcelona midfielder choosing south London over several other suitors worldwide.

It means Lionesses manager Eder Maestre is likely to pick a star-studded lineup for this season opener, as the club bid to follow up some statement signings with a statement result on the pitch.

Their maiden season in the WSL last term brought a sixth-place finish, two places below tonight's opponents, so this fixture should be a good barometer of their level.

SEE ALSO How to watch WSL 2026/27: Free Streams & TV Guide

United's summer was rather less enjoyable thanks to an underwhelming transfer window, the failure to win any pre-season games and the exit of long-serving manager Marc Skinner.

The former boss had been at the club for five years before leaving by mutual consent last month, with a lack of investment reportedly one of the contributing factors in his decision.

That was backed up by United's quiet window in which they signed just four players, leaving new manager Eva Olid with a relatively thin squad.

Whereas tonight's opponents have brought in big-name additions, the Red Devils are focusing on youth this season so it could be a bumpy start to the campaign.

FourFourTwo's prediction

London City Lionesses 2-0 Manchester United

There is a very different feeling around the two clubs, so the Lionesses are surely favourites here.

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When Hull City won the play-off final and reached the Premier League 18 years ago, Dean Windass was the hero.

Windass struck a sensational volley for his local club to down Bristol City at Wembley, then was part of the squad that went into the top flight for the 2008-09 campaign.

Hull were tipped for instant relegation, but shocked everyone by winning six of their first nine games – following up an opening day win over Fulham with triumphs at Newcastle, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Hull City: fast starters

History has been repeating itself in the opening weeks of the current campaign – after victory over Middlesbrough in May’s play-off final, the Tigers beat Manchester United in their first game back in the Premier League, then won at Coventry City to make it six points out of six, ahead of this Saturday’s home match with Aston Villa.

“The best thing you can do is play a top team at home in the first game,” Windass tells FFT. “Everyone has a clean slate, but nobody expected Hull City to win.

“The pressure was on Man U, who didn’t know what Hull City were like. I was at the game and Man U were very poor – you could tell that they were trying to gel together with Youri Tielemans and their new signings.

“To have a great start like that was fantastic. I knew that Coventry would be a harder game, but they came through it and won 1-0.

“But my advice to Hull City fans and all my mates when they go to the gym is it’s a long season. Villa will be a tough test – every game is a tough test in the Premier League.

“When I went up with Bradford, I remember Paul Jewell saying to us ‘If we finish fourth from bottom in the Premier League this year, it’s a massive achievement, anything above that is a bonus, and we’ve got to win the majority of our home games’.

“I know Lewie Coyle, Oli McBurnie and Matt Crooks there now, and I’ve heard on the outside as a supporter that they’ve got a good changing room.

A famous teamtalk

“They’ve brought a lot of players in, but it doesn’t matter about the price tag, they’re not proven Premier League players, so they’re going to find it hard.

“But Stuart McCall at Bradford used to say ‘We’ve got a good changing room, we’ve got a good chance of staying up’.”

Bradford did indeed stay up in their first year in the Premier League, as did Hull in 2008-09, prompting Phil Brown to grab a microphone and sing to the fans on the pitch.

Windass went out on loan to Oldham in the second half of that campaign – 39 by then, his game time proved limited in the Premier League – but he saw enough to know that the Tigers’ unity played a big part in their survival that season.

That was tested by a poor run of form, then a 5-1 defeat at Manchester City on Boxing Day – Hull were 4-0 down at half-time and Brown responded by keeping the players on the pitch at the interval, giving them a dressing down in front of the away supporters.

If there was perhaps a perception that the manager lost the dressing room by doing that, Windass doesn’t think that was the case. He was subbed at half-time and it would turn out to be his last appearance for the club, but the players stuck together and the club ultimately stayed up.

“He kept us out on the pitch, and that was his choice,” says Windass, speaking in association with betTOM. “He’d given Christmas Day off because it was a Boxing Day game, and we were fifth in the table, something like that, I can’t remember.

“You’re playing Man City, Robinho was playing for them, Vincent Kompany, they had a decent team. You put your hands up, you’re getting beat by a quality team, and what Phil did was his choice.

“It didn’t dampen the changing room. The lads stuck together. I was coming to the end of my career anyway, I knew that I wouldn’t be playing, they’d bring me on every now and then.

“Phil got the last laugh, by singing on the pitch and staying up, and we had a good changing room.

“We had George Boateng, Paul McShane, Ian Ashbee, Nick Barmby, good pros. No matter what division you’re in, if you’ve got a good changing room, you’ve got a great chance of success.”

For once there were no excuses, even though there was an excuse. There was no ranting about the ref, no bemoaning bad luck, no recriminations over the foreigner rule that forcibly left Peter Schmeichel on the bench.

November 2, 1994, and Manchester United had been sliced apart by Barcelona in a performance of such brutal beauty, such wonder, that there was no point complaining. There was just acceptance. The best team had won, and won brilliantly. “We have been well and truly slaughtered,” admitted Alex Ferguson. “In the end, it was a humbling experience for us.”

So humbling, in fact, that Paul Parker still refuses to set foot inside the Camp Nou. He continues to have nightmares about the 4-0 hammering his side suffered. Parker’s United teammate Gary Pallister remembers it as “the one time in my career when I came off the pitch and just had to accept that I hadn’t been able to get anywhere near my opponent. I was completely shell-shocked afterwards.”

The best partnership the Camp Nou had ever seen

Barcelona’s performance had been awe-inspiring, La Vanguardia describing it as a “recital.” “Barcelona humiliate United,” added The Times. At the heart of that world were the most dashingly impressive strikers on the planet, the outstanding performers from that summer’s World Cup – Romario and Hristo Stoichkov. Romario was Brazil’s best player, Stoichkov USA 94’s top scorer as Bulgaria incredibly reached the semi-final.

A month after the United game, Stoichkov was named European Footballer of the Year. Together, they were arguably the best partnership the Camp Nou had ever seen. They were certainly the most excitable, as swift with their tongues - and sometimes even their fists - as they were with their feet.

That night, the Brazilian scored one and the Bulgarian two – the second, his 100th for the club. “We just couldn’t handle the speed of Stoichkov and Romario,” Ferguson recognised. “The suddenness with which they attacked was a new experience.”

“United had no answer to the skill, speed and imagination of Stoichkov and Romario, at times moving through their defence with an ease as impudent as it was embarrassing,” wrote David Lacey. “Pallister and Bruce were both auditioning for the role of Juliet: Romario, Romario, wherefore art thou Romario? And nobody had a clue about Stoichkov’s whereabouts.”

“When Barcelona are on their game, their superiority is insulting; they leave the opposition looking utterly ridiculous,” said the former Barcelona player Lobo Carrasco. “Tonight, Barcelona took revenge for what happened to them in Athens.”

What had happened in Athens six months earlier was that Barcelona had unexpectedly lost the European Cup final to Milan. Not just lost it, been defeated 4-0. Now, they had learned. Now, the four-time Spanish league champions and European Cup runners-up, the greatest side in the club’s history, were ready to go one better, led by this incomparably brilliant pairing. Humbling United was a warning; a glimpse of a future in which Stoichkov and Romario, Romario and Stoichkov, would rule the world.

The Last Dance

Only, it wasn’t. Instead, it was the last waltz; a brilliant final performance from a once great side. Two months later, Romario had gone. Six months after that, so had Stoichkov. And Andoni Zubizarreta. And Michael Laudrup. Soon, coach Johan Cruyff would go. The trophies went too – it was three years before Barcelona won anything again. Athens would prove a watershed, not a lesson. The dream partnership had presided over the death of the Dream Team.

It had all been so desperately short-lived. Romario partnered Stoichkov for the 1993/94 season, plus the opening months of 1994/95, demolition of United included, and that was it. They had barely been together for a year.

But what a year. A kidnapping. Punch-ups. Fallings-out. Tears and tantrums. A proud father. An even prouder Godfather. A Scandal. A mistress. Or five. Paparazzi. Betrayal. Red cards. A league title, won in the final minute of the final day. A historic thrashing of the eternal enemy. A European Cup final. And goals. Loads; more than 50 between them, Romario finishing the 93/94 league season with 30 in 33 games, having scored a stunning five hat-tricks (one on the opening day, another, against Atletico Madrid, despite having two goals disallowed), and finishing his Barcelona career with 53 in 82 games.

Ask fans to name the best 10 Blaugranas in history, and virtually all of them will include Stoichkov and Romario. So important was their impact, so intense the reverence with which they are remembered, that the inescapable fact they only played together for a year seems somehow perverse. Surely, it must have been longer. And yet it wasn’t. They’d packed a hell of a lot in a year and then fallen out, each going their own way, never to speak again. Together, Romario and Stoichkov did it all. They became legends.

Bad milk

In March 1995, Stoichkov went on Spanish radio and declared: “It’s Cruyff or me.” The tensions that simmered below the surface were laid bare; in a phrase, Stoichkov had revealed that he was preparing to leave.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper Paco Buyo was quick to try to capitalise. “If it’s true that Cruyff doesn’t want him, and I can’t for the life of me believe it can be, then I will talk to whoever I have to make him join us. I’ll do whatever it takes.” “Stoichkov,” insisted Jorge Valdano, former general director at Real Madrid, “is a predator – a beast who is only satiated by the flesh of his victims.”

“He is the best forward in the world,” added Carrasco. “He can do everything. He has talent and class, he can run like Carl Lewis, play passes like Ronald Koeman, and finish every bit as well as, or better than, Gary Lineker – and on top of it all, he’s got mala leche.” Mala leche literally means bad milk; it is edge, a fearsome temper, aggression, competitiveness… and a touch of madness.

It is also exactly the point: Cruyff had focused on Stoichkov as much for his temperament as his talent. “I could talk about Stoichkov forever. He came to Barcelona because we needed him,” Cruyff recalled. “He had speed, finishing and character. We had too many nice guys, we needed someone with mala leche.”

Stoichkov had it in urn-loads. During his first ever game against Real Madrid, he was sent off for stamping on the ref, an act that earned him a six-month ban, later reduced to two. Another red card came for two yellow cards – just six minutes into a game. During a pre-season friendly, another ref approached the Barcelona bench to warn Cruyff: “Either calm that bull down or I’ll send him back to the corral.” Cruyff replied: “What am I supposed to do?”

He was, recalls the man who received the infamous stamp, “an angel off the pitch but the devil himself on it”. “If he’d been an actor, Stoichkov could have been Mel Gibson in Mad Max, Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven or Harrison Ford in Blade Runner,” noted one Catalan columnist – and the fans loved him for it.

It was his character that made him such a hit; the ability to embrace barcelonismo; the fact that he lived every match so intensely, that he boasted a hatred of Real Madrid so visceral, so public, that he kicked a seven-year-old boy out of training once when in charge of the Bulgarian national team because he turned up in a Madrid shirt. “Every game against Madrid was life and death for me,” he says, “the injustices of the past [against Barcelona] became mine, too.”

La Vanguardia hit the nail on the head when it declared: “We’re all Stoichkov; his story could be the story of the millions of Barcelona fans who are transformed when they come to the Camp Nou.”

Covered in Vaseline

Romario’s charms were different. With his wide hips, big, low-slung backside and powerful thighs, he was unique; electric, precise, utterly unpredictable. No one had ever seen a player like him. Technically impeccable, in small spaces he was unstoppable. He did things that appeared barely plausible and had never been seen before - from back-heels, to flicks, to incredibly delicate lobs known in Spain as vaselinas. Valdano famously described him as a “cartoon footballer”. “He is a juggler, a magician, a penalty area artist, a virtuoso,” cheered the Catalan daily Sport. “He does what others can’t – and does it with alarming ease.”

“I always regretted not wearing a hat so that I could take it off to him after he left the Osasuna goalkeeper covered in vaseline and solitude,” wrote the intellectual Manuel Vazquez Montalban. “He has feet as sensitive and soft as Dalí’s clocks. His finishing should provoke ridicule and hatred in goalkeepers but Romario inspires a kind of religious feeling instead. It would not surprise me if goalkeepers carried a notebook and pen around with them so that they could ask him for an autograph after every goal. He bends space and time. We have been lucky enough to see him out on the turf and unlucky enough not to have a poet like William Wordsworth around to describe him.”

Not that Stoichkov was overly impressed. When Barcelona signed Romario from PSV, the Bulgarian made his feelings perfectly clear in the media; league rules meant that only three foreigners could play at any one time and Barça already had Stoichkov, Koeman and Laudrup. “Signing a fourth foreigner is plain stupid,” Stoichkov snapped, “but if the board think it is absolutely necessary and they asked for my opinion, I would tell them to sign [Bulgarian Lubo] Penev. How much does Romario cost? 600m Pesetas? I’d take 200m from my own pocket and sign Penev.”

It was classic Stoichkov; blustering, outspoken, emotional. It also threatened to cause problems - especially with Romario, a man who came with a reputation that he didn’t hide. “If saying things to people’s faces and saying what I think without holding my tongue, if having a strong character and not accepting impositions is controversial,” Romario told the Spanish media, “then yes I am controversial.”

It appeared set for a disaster. Romario and Stoichkov were contrasting personalities but, in Cruyff’s words, had the “same problem”: they both thought that the team was there to serve them, not the other way round. “They constantly battled to see who would get more goals,” remembers the former Barcelona director Josep María Minguella, who represented both players.

Neither could take being left out. “When Stoichkov was on the bench,” one teammate recalls, “he could start a fight with his own shadow. And when Hristo’s angry, he’s dangerous.” “Hristo was peculiar,” says Minguella. Another team-mate describes him simply as “a bit dense”.

“I remember one time that Romario was left out and I couldn’t even talk to him; he was in such a funk,” remembers Stoichkov. The problem was that being left out was inevitable. With four foreigners in his squad – and four brilliant foreigners too – Cruyff adopted a rotation policy that satisfied no one, the front two least of all.

Unlikely friends

It appeared a recipe for disaster. And yet, oddly, Romario and Stoichkov became the best of friends. “Romario basically never spoke to anyone in the squad,” one team-mate recalls, “he did his own thing on his own terms all the time.” The one person he did speak to was Stoichkov. “It seems bizarre and I ask myself even now how it was possible,” Stoichkov says. “He was introverted and I was the reverse. He likes to sleep, I like to live. We were night and day. But we became good friends right from the start. We were inseparable.”

Their kids attended the same school, their wives, Monica and Mariana, became best friends. They protected each other; when Romario got a red card for punching Diego Simeone, Stoichkov admiringly remarked: “It was worthy of Mike Tyson.”

And Stoichkov knew a thing or two about punching people. He even did so in defence of Romario’s honour. The Brazilian was in Rio on international duty when his wife gave birth to a baby boy imaginatively named Romarinho. He was determined not to catch a first glimpse of his son through the media and appealed for journalists not to get too near. Stoichkov played Romarinho’s bouncer to make sure of it - and one photographer at the hospital got a Bulgarian right hook for his trouble.

When Romario arrived – “two flights late, which was typical Romi”, as Stoichkov recalls – it was the Bulgarian who collected him from the airport and took him to the hospital. When Romario found out his father had been kidnapped, it was Stoichkov he was with and who offered support. When he found out that his father had been liberated, it was Stoichkov he smothered in relieved kisses. And when it came to choosing a Godfather for his son, it was Stoichkov who was the obvious choice.

Together, they were a devastating partnership on the pitch too: “Hristo enjoyed that year with Romario more than any other,” says Minguella. The goals are a testament to that. So too the league title and some of the most glorious nights in Barcelona’s history, none more so than a 5-0 win over Real Madrid in which Romario scored a hat-trick and produced a play that, Stoichkov insisted afterwards, “would go down in history”.

He was right. Turning almost a full circle, Romario dragged the ball with him, his foot never losing contact with the leather, pulling it across the floor, gliding like a bowling ball on a varnished lane, before finishing. No one had ever seen it before; it became known as the cola de vaca – the cow’s tail, forever associated with the Brazilian.

“I have never known a player able to do the things in the area that he did,” Stoichkov recalls. From that day on, Barcelona were unstoppable. They collected 28 of their final 30 points to win the league after Miroslav Djukic missed a last-minute penalty for challengers Deportivo de La Coruna on the final day. Barcelona’s cracks had done it again. “We silenced those who said the Dream Team was dead,” Stoichkov declared.

Not so fast

In fact, the critics were right. Other cracks were appearing – both for the club and their dynamic duo. Defeat in Athens was humiliating and unexpected but it was not an accident.

Cruyff’s rotation policy had angered men as mild-mannered as Michael Laudrup and Ronald Koeman, even if the results were often spectacular. Stoichkov missed four Champions League games and was subbed in 15 of his 30 league games. The fact that it is Stoichkov himself who points that out says it all. Laudrup missed the European Cup final.

Worse were Cruyff’s public attacks on them. “When we win it’s down to Cruyff, when we lose it’s the players’ fault,” Stoichkov snapped. Goalkeeper Zubizarreta was told he wouldn’t continue; Laudrup decided he couldn’t continue.

Meanwhile, Stoichkov was growing increasingly concerned by Romario’s lifestyle and the company he kept. “People came between us, and I tried to warn him,” Stoichkov says. Romario resented the intrusion. He had ignored Stoichkov’s advice and decided to stay in a suite on the 17th floor of the Hotel Reina Sofia rather than move into a house next door. Later, he moved to a hotel in Sitges but kept his room at the Princesa Sofia (for, said the gossips, his mistresses). The wives remained close friends, but the footballers drifted apart; Stoichkov sided with Mrs Romario more than Mr.

“Romario’s lifestyle, his constant coming and going, caused problems with his wife,” Stoichkov recalls, rather euphemistically. The Brazilian was teetotal but had other vices. A teammate puts it bluntly: “Romario was only interested in two things: football and fucking.” A few years later, Romario insisted: “If I don’t go out at night, I don’t score goals.”

Increasingly, he appeared not to be that interested in the football. One former Barcelona player recalls training sessions when the Brazilian “could hardly move” and was “practically falling asleep” after the previous night’s exertions. Cruyff sent him home from one session and had another confrontation with the Brazilian after he overslept and arrived an hour late to a team meeting. Cruyff had warned that Romario’s attitude in Holland used to be one of “If I don’t want to train, I won’t train”.

Used to be? Still was. “He lacked discipline,” a resigned Cruyff later admitted. Romario didn’t care. “It’s not the first time I’ve had an argument with Cruyff, and it won’t be the last: I say what I think and no one will ever change me,” he said.

One night Romario was caught with a girl. A week later she was on the front cover of the magazine Interviu. A charitable soul pushed a copy under his hotel room door. The first person to see it was Romario’s wife. “Romario’s skill on the pitch was in lying with his body,” Valdano says, “in the end it was his undoing off it too: he lied to his president to go off with two blondes.” For Stoichkov the magazine under the door summed it up: “Someone had,” the Bulgarian insists, “taken advantage of their ‘friendship’ with Romi and sold him out.”

So long

The last straw came after the World Cup, dominated by the Barcelona forwards. Romario failed to return to the Catalan capital. In the Camp Nou dressing room, the rest of the squad took it out on Stoichkov, sniping: “Some friend you’ve got!”

By then, though, the friendship had almost died; saddened, desperate, the Bulgarian had tried ringing the Brazilian to plead with him to return to Catalonia. But the calls went unanswered, the messages ignored. This time it was Romario who felt aggrieved. Stoichkov and his family were supposed to be travelling to Brazil after the tournament for Romarinho’s baptism, before heading off on holiday together. Hotels and flights were booked. But the Bulgaria squad was called to a reception with the president Jelei Jelev and Stoichkov didn’t make it to Brazil.

When eventually, two weeks late, Romario appeared in Barcelona, everything had changed. “He trained alone, and we hardly spoke,” says Stoichkov. “Then we had another argument because I didn’t like his friends at all. I tried to split him from them, but I failed. It was never the same again.”

The United match apart, the Bulgarian was right: that following season Romario scored just four before departing. Stoichkov got only nine. Barcelona finished fourth. “Romario never came back after the World Cup. His body was there, but his mind was still in Rio,” Stoichkov says. “Some joked that the man in Barcelona was a lookalike; his performances were so bad.”

It had been good – very, very good – while it lasted, but it was all over. There was just time for one last dance for old times’ sake; a moment’s glory that, beneath the perfect veneer, was a sad lament for what could have been. A virtuoso display, just like the good old days. A display so good that even Alex Ferguson couldn’t complain.

This feature originally appeared in the February 2010 issue of FourFourTwo.

Just two games in, Premier League referees are already facing an uphill battle this season.

Controversial incidents in the English top flight remained minimal during the new campaign’s opening fortnight, but officials find themselves back under the spotlight of scrutiny through no real fault of their own after Mike Dean’s supposed revelations.

In a series of outlandish claims on Jamie Vardy’s ‘Having A Party’ podcast, Dean declared he would ‘joke about’ on refereeing duties in the Premier League’s pre-VAR era. He purportedly played a series of ‘secret games’ that included refusing to blow his whistle until the 20th minute and standing in the centre circle for as long as possible.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

Mike Dean's claims put referees under fresh suspicion

Professional Game Referees were quick to cast doubt on the 58-year-old’s boastful claims, making it known that no credible evidence exists to suggest he engaged in such antics before the Premier League introduced VAR from the 2019/20 season.

But Dean’s version of events about what he did ‘as a laugh’ while in charge of English football’s flagship fixtures has now pointed a fresh finger of suspicion towards those continuing to carry out officiating duties since he hung up his whistle in May 2022.

Dean knows all too well how damaging misperceptions can be. He received death threats in 2021 over red cards awarded in successive games to West Ham’s Tomas Soucek and Jan Bednarek of Southampton that were overturned on appeal. On a less severe note, the latter years of his career were dogged by claims of favouritism towards Liverpool due to having two fictitious sons who were Anfield season ticket holders.

At best, his soundbites are Walter Mitty-esque; entirely devoid of factual evidence and vindicate Arsene Wenger’s December 2017 retort that he is ‘not honest’ – which earned the legendary Arsenal manager both a three-match ban and £40,000 fine for his troubles. Taken at face value, however, he has opened a tinderbox of potential untold damage on his former colleagues and the regulatory body led by Howard Webb.

This is hardly Dean’s first rodeo, either. In 2023, mere months after standing down from VAR duties, he confessed to refusing to flag Cristian Romero’s hair pull on Marc Cucurella to his ‘mate’ Anthony Taylor in Chelsea and Tottenham’s fiery 2-2 draw in order to spare the referee ‘more grief’. He also isn’t the first former official who allowed his mouth to run away with itself while sat in the comfort of a podcast studio. Mark Clattenburg infamously revealed how he allowed Spurs to ‘self-destruct’ while overseeing 'The Battle of Stamford Bridge’ in 2016 that saw Leicester City crowned unlikely champions.

To hear these alleged tales of yore gives the impression that those still entrusted to uphold the laws of the game are part of a morally bankrupt boys' club, not too dissimilar to the one depicted in the referees' episode of the sitcom 'Inside Number 9'.

Football fans already hold an increasingly dim view of the men in the middle, as the instant chants decrying the Premier League as 'corrupt' after every contentious decision attest. Accusations of club-specific biases by some of the current household names continue to run rampant in both the stands and social media echo chambers.

Webb's attempts to soften the dissent by pulling back the curtain on in-game discussions between appointed officials in monthly video segments analysing controversial calls has provided a new perspective on thought processes. On occasion, the Pro Ref chief has even acknowledged times when his own men got things wrong.

However Dean's remarks, whether true or not, have immediately undermined those efforts to provide transparency and convince supporters that impartiality still guides those tasked with ensuring matches run according to the letter of the law.

Every call, no matter how minor, will now automatically be viewed from a position of mistrust all thanks to Dean's latest attempt to grab another 15 seconds of fame.

If it wasn't enough for Manchester City to break the British transfer record on ex-Chelsea man Enzo Fernandez, willingly handing him Kevin De Bruyne's shirt number rather than retiring it, even just temporarily, tells you everything you need to know.

Premier League fans have had it easy when it comes to making that claim, yet the Cityzens keep giving them ammunition.

If being the defining figure across six English top-flight title wins isn't enough for a statue, a temporarily-retired shirt number, or a dedicated wing at the training ground, what is?

Enzo taking De Bruyne's shirt number so soon is wrong

There will be a section of angry Man City fans that will argue De Bruyne's legacy is not being tarred, and that he will forever be respected, regardless of whether his shirt number is in another player's possession.

But it's the principle: if you secure two PFA Players' Player of the Year awards, six Premier League titles, four Playmaker Awards, all as the cornerstone of City's golden era, that number belongs to you.

Whether De Bruyne himself minds or not, it's a show of respect that any serious clubs should offer to the legends that define them.

And before the question is raised: yes, Manchester City are different to other clubs that didn't retire the shirt numbers of other defining legends, such as Wayne Rooney's '10', or Steven Gerrard's '8'.

That is because, in the grand scheme of history, De Bruyne is more akin to icons at Liverpool and Manchester United in the 20th Century. Besides, '17' is far easier to retire as a number than the aforementioned pair.

The club does not possess the same history as its closest rivals, and it is De Bruyne who will go down as one of the first-ever Manchester City legends that raised the club to its ever-growing present.

But to give his number away within two years, to the first player that asked for it? Not even a buffer period, or to a player who has earned the right to 'stand where he stood'?

Nobody is asking for the Belgian's '17' to be withheld indefinitely — although, it's not the worst idea — but to give it to Enzo?

The same Enzo disciplined for singing homophobic and racist chants with his national team, who wielded an anti-Falklands banner in the summer after beating England, and got himself sent off by turning Pau Cubarsi into Simone Biles in the World Cup final?

The same Enzo who practically begged for a Real Madrid move while at Chelsea, and was removed from the squad ahead of an FA Cup quarter-final?

What has always held Manchester City back from being taken as seriously as their Premier League peers, is the idea that players who arrive there do so for money, not for the badge.

It's the idea that Manchester City, more so than their rivals, pay to see success, rather than breed it by creating a culture and environment that superstars would virtually pay to join.

And it's why the Manchester club time and time again are branded by opposition fans as soulless.

But one thing is for certain, the Cityzens have failed to honour one of the few players that nobody doubts adored their club.

If the Belgian's statue is being constructed behind the scenes, they better start carving the stone quicker.

The year is 2008 and Spurs are on the road to challenging for Champions League places alongside the Premier League's big boys.

As the 2007/08 season drew to a close, Tottenham struck what was then a mega-money deal for Croatian international midfielder Luka Modric, who became the club's joint-most expensive signing alongside Darren Bent.

Amid interest from Manchester City and Newcastle United, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy even flew to Zagreb to close out negotiations and finalise a deal, such was the club's desire to sign the midfielder.

'That was unbelievable to me'

On the other side of the transaction was Dinamo Zagreb executive Zdravko Mamic, who recalled his encounter with Levy in a FourFourTwo interview from October 2019.

"One funny story, but at the same time a story that shows how he protects the interests of his club, is that after we agreed the transfer of Luka [Modric] to Tottenham, I politely asked for five of Luka’s jerseys.

"Levy gave them to me, but the invoice for the transfer, €23m (£16.5m), was minus the value of the jerseys."

Mamic was the executive director of Dinamo between 2003 and 2016 and has seen his fair share of transfer completions, but in particular remembers his dealings with Levy.

"That was quite unbelievable to me. It showed me how to appreciate every penny a club spends."

Mamic is a colourful character who has had several run-ins with the law and was found guilty of tax fraud in 2018. To avoid a custodial sentence in Croatia, Mamic allegedly fled to neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina where he also holds citizenship.

There was also an assassination attempt against Mamic in 2017 and the former Dinamo chairman was arrested following a radio interview tirade against Croatian sports minister Zeljko Jovanovic in 2013.

Levy, on the other hand, officially stepped down from his role as chairman of Tottenham on September 4, 2025, bringing an end to his nearly 25-year tenure at the helm.

Levy remains involved solely as a non-executive investor via his family's equity stake in majority shareholder ENIC.

Last term, Liverpool endured a torrid season under now-sacked boss Arne Slot, but were still able to secure Champions League football with one of the lowest points tallies ever to do so in the Premier League era.

Liverpool will move forward in the competition, led by new manager Andoni Iraola, with their first group phase match versus Atletico Madrid next Wednesday at home.

It appears that the Reds may have solved their right-back issues going forward in the competition, amid intense scrutiny from within the fanbase towards an underperforming Jeremie Frimpong.

Liverpool solve their right-back issues, submit squad list, ahead of upcoming Champions League campaign

Frimpong has been subject to intense scrutiny since joining Liverpool, with the Dutchman's performances being branded too lacklustre, should the Reds wish to compete for major silverware.

In his opening two Premier League matches, both draws, Frimpong has won just six of sixteen duel or tackle attempts, with Liverpool conceding four goals in that period.

Ahead of Champions League nights returning to Anfield, the club has released its squad list for the competition, and given potential insight into attitudes internally regarding Frimpong.

Among those absent are Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo, with their positions being taken by a currently-injured duo in Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni.

Chiesa recently picked up a muscle injury, while Leoni and Ekitike have been sidelined since the 2025-26 season - the latter getting injured in his debut Liverpool start last September.

Andoni Iraola also opted to include another injured defender in Conor Bradley, who left the pitch versus Arsenal with a severe knee injury in January. The Irishman is expected to return to action shortly after Leoni, who is set to return to training with the Reds during the international break.

Bradley would be a natural choice to displace Frimpong in Liverpool's line-up on European nights, should the right-back's recovery encounter no additional hitches, and continue steadily.

His inclusion in Iraola's squad list speaks to two things: Liverpool's lack of options at right-back, and an internal expectation that he will soon return to health.

It also raises questions about attitudes regarding Frimpong internally, with a possibility being that Bradley's recovery is now an even more immediate priority, given the current issues in the position.

The Irishman will play a role in Champions League proceedings later down the line, but fans struggling to bear the weight of Frimpong's performances can take solace in the knowledge that the Reds are including his replacement in their squad list for European nights.

Richarlison has been dumped by Tottenham Hotspur, failing to appear in their submitted 25-man Premier League squad list.

The news arrives days after Richarlison was reportedly asking the club to allow him to leave, with Super Lig side Trabzonspor entering the equation and gunning for his signature.

The Brazilian was also close to an Everton homecoming, however, he ultimately turned the Toffees down after unsuccessful negotiations.

Richarlison dumped by Tottenham Hotspur

Richarlison was a foundational player in Spurs' relegation survival last term, bagging 11 goals, and recording four assists, in 32 Premier League appearances.

His sole appearance so far this campaign came from the start versus Brentford, where he played 61 minutes in a 3-0 loss.

Last Saturday, before Spurs were beaten for a second successive game, losing 2-0 at home to Newcastle United, De Zerbi was brief and blunt in his assessment of the Brazilian's future.

"Richarlison has said too many times that he wants to leave," the Italian revealed.

"I love these players, and these are great guys - but if they want to leave, they have to bring the economic solution to the club.

"Then they can go, and we'll find other players [to replace them]," concluded De Zerbi.

Days later, Richarlison's name was omitted from Spurs' 25-man squad list, amid rumours of the Brazilian making the move to the Super Lig.

The 29-year-old was linked by two Turkish transfer experts to the current club of Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah: Trabzonspor.

That news arrived days after Richarlison took to Instagram to reveal a breakdown in negotiations between himself and former club Everton.

“My intention was to go back to the place where I was very happy, yes," wrote the 29-year-old. "“But the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted.

"It will no longer be like that. I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club’s disposal," he concluded, before links to the Turkish top-flight emerged.

Richarlison's future at Tottenham Hotspur is hanging in the balance, as the 29-year-old's transfer to Super Lig side Trabzonspor edges nearer.

The Brazilian previously rejected an Everton homecoming earlier this week, taking to social media to reveal that negotiations had broken down with the Toffees.

Now, Richarlison could join forces with Liverpool royalty in Mohamed Salah, as time ticks down on Super Lig deadline day.

Richarlison on verge of move to Trabzonspor, reveals Turkish transfer expert

The Brazilian was recently axed from Spurs's 25-man squad list, with boss Roberto De Zerbi confirming Richarlison had "said too many times that he wants to leave."

Earlier this week, it was reported by Turkish transfer expert Yagiz Sabuncuoglu that Richarlison had verbally agreed to move to Trabzonspor, and the deal has since progressed further.

September 4 is the Super Lig's deadline day, with hours remaining for the Turkish top-flight side to secure the Brazilian's services.

Sabuncuoglu provided an update via X (formerly Twitter) yesterday evening that clarified how close Trabzonspor are to pulling off the move.

"Trabzonspor will finalise the Richarlison transfer if they can send one foreign player from their squad before the transfer window closes," he wrote.

"Otherwise, the transfer will be cancelled," Sabuncuoglu concluded. The Super Lig's deadline day ends this evening at 11:59pm BST.

Trabzonspor recently signed another striker in their efforts to prevent Galatasaray from securing an unprecedented fifth-consecutive Turkish top-flight title.

That player is Franculino Dju, who moved from Danish Superliga club Midtjylland in a deal worth almost £15 million.

Trabzonspor appear to quietly be assembling a solid attack, led by Liverpool legend Salah who has scored three-in-three for the club domestically this term.

According to ESPN Brazil, the Egyptian even called Richarlison to convince him to join the Turkish top-flight side.

In that report, it is stated that Spurs have rejected a €20 million offer for their Brazilian forward, meaning that it is possible a fee has not been agreed upon, as of yet.

Richarlison, who is currently training with Tottenham Hotspur's Under-21s side, is pushing hard for the move.

The Athletic reported yesterday that Spurs had rejected a bid from Trabzonspor, claiming there was no guarantee that the Turkish club would try their luck again.

According to Sabuncuoglu, it appears that the deal has progressed since, as the hours tick down on Super Lig deadline day.

Liverpool target Yankuba Minteh could make the move to Anfield in January, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has revealed.

The Reds saw deadline day to its conclusion without securing the replacement for recently-departed Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah.

Andoni Iraola's men saw Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola join in the attack; however, neither are natural right-wingers. Now, the Brighton manager has revealed that Minteh may secure his move in the next transfer window, should he and the team be successful.

"Maybe he can fulfil his dream in the next transfer window," reveals Hurzeler

Liverpool were also in the market for Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, however, that deal never materialised either, leaving him requiring time to recover emotionally.

Veteran attacker Cody Gakpo was linked closely to Manchester City in the window's final days, but the Reds opted to keep the winger to provide additional right flank coverage.

In a pre-match match press conference ahead of Brighton's clash this weekend versus Leeds United, Hurzeler revealed that Minteh may get his move in January.

"[Minteh] wears the Brighton colours, he wears the Brighton badge - he's been here for two years now," the German told reporters.

"We've achieved great things together. Therefore, it's also about him now to commit.

"In the end, we always say we want to be successful as a club, but then you can [also] shine as individuals. If we achieve things together, then attention will come to those players.

"This will be the case this season; if the whole team is successful, then Yankuba will maybe fulfil his dream in the next transfer window," Hurzeler concluded.

Replacing Salah was always going to be a tall order for Liverpool, but Minteh's Premier League-proven ability was clearly appealing to Iraola's side this window.

The Brighton attacker bagged seven goal involvements in 34 English top-flight games last season, and 10 in 32 the season prior.

Mary Earps is ‘very happy to be home’ after returning to the Women’s Super League, following two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain.

The opening fixture of the Women’s Super League season sees Earps and London City face Manchester United, the club with which she spent five years before moving to France.

Earps missed her home comforts in her two years away, especially Percy Pigs, so is excited to be back in the WSL and especially excited to face her former side on the opening match.

‘Distance makes the heart grow fonder’

Earps spent two years at PSG after leaving Manchester United, with the move giving her the opportunity to experience life away from the spotlight that had followed her in England.

While she admits it was “nice to be away” and experience “the Parisian way of life,” her conversations with London City helped her decide it was time to return to England.

“I’m very, very happy to be home,” Earps said. “I missed the English comforts, my friends and family and a Percy Pig or two!

“From a football point of view, I missed the English football culture - the way you feel when you walk into a stadium, the electricity of the crowd, the feeling around women's football in this country.

"I knew I was probably going to miss that going away, but that's why I'm so excited to be back. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

“I went away to push myself out of my comfort zone and get a different football and life experience. I'll carry that with me forever.”

Earps ‘like a moth to a flame’ with Manchester United

Earps’ reunion with United on the opening day of the season marks another exciting encounter with her former side.

Just last season, PSG were drawn against Manchester United in the Champions League, with Earps receiving a warm reception on her return to Old Trafford, something she said meant a “great deal” to her in that moment - it had been a turbulent time following the release of her autobiography detailing why she retired from international football.

With her first competitive appearance for London City potentially coming against United, Earps joked that the fixture felt almost inevitable: “Yeah, like a moth to a flame.”

"The club has changed a lot since I left but although some people have moved on as football and life does, there will still be a few friendly faces that I know and the fans don't change - they're still hardcore as ever.”

‘London City will go on to do great things for a long time’

While Earps says she doesn’t yet know whether she will be the starting goalkeeper for London City, she says the competition for her place is something that excites her.

“I want to continue to play at the highest level, to win at the highest level for as long as possible and to be a part of something special,” Earps added. “I really do believe that London City will go on to do great things for a long time.

“The way Michele [Kang] wants to do things, they want to be the best in class and world leading. So for me, it's a great place to be, for me to max out on whatever potential I have left and hopefully there's some fantastic days around the corner.

“London City being owned by a woman, being an independent football club, being able to go about their business in a non-traditional sense, really attack whatever they want to go for and become a success in their own right - I think that's an incredibly exciting thing to be a part of.

"Every time I spoke to them, I wanted to hear more, so it felt like the right place to be.

“We've been crying out for investment for such a long time and this is new and it's different and no one likes change. It is very unique and it’s not connected [to a men’s club] so you don’t have that tribalism of a men's club in that typical sense.

“Maybe I'm biased, but I think there will be a lot of people rooting for London City taking a different path, but there's a long way to go.

“I think it’ll be fun. It’s a fun, new thing and I know that people might be a bit unsure of it to start with, but hopefully we'll win over the hearts and minds of the nation.”

Fancy showing off your football trivia skills by answering 10 questions in just 90 seconds? The latest FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz is for you!

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Got to get down on Friday.

If you've been here before, you'll know how we do things by now here at FFT HQ: the end of the week means 20 questions stretching the length and breadth of the beautiful game, this week honing in on Schalke, The Derby des Olympiques, Golden Goals and Scandinavian national flags.

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First, name Arsenal's 50 most expensive signings ever, tracing the record-breaking fees that brought global superstars to North London across the modern era. Once you’ve sorted Arsenal’s blockbuster arrivals, expand your macro-vision across the entire domestic structure: can you name every team to have won one of English football's top four tiers? From top-flight powerhouses to historic Fourth Division champions, it’s a comprehensive examination of professional silverware.

If your scouting network is built on legendary goalscoring charts or player-written literature, we have a relentless double-header waiting in the tunnel. You can test your recall of top-flight firepower by attempting to name the top 100 scorers in Premier League history, celebrating the evergreen marksmen who defined generations of English football. After auditing the goal charts, trade the turnstiles for the bookshelf and test your literary credentials by naming the authors of these footballer autobiographies.

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The Premier League is king. It's where players want to play and it's what broadcasters want to show. You'll find some, not all, fans of lower league clubs who claim to support Liverpool or Manchester United, too, or Scottish football supporters who also 'have a Premier League team'.

And with the ever-increasing sums of money changing hands, moving from one top flight team's accounts to another, the division is the closest thing to football's own private members' club.

So, why are we still pretending that the feared 'Super League' hasn't already arrived in a different guise? Here, we've compiled 15 examples, just from this summer's transfer window, that prove a 'Super League' already exists.

Hull City signed 18 players, eight were over the £10m mark

The Tigers were not good in the Championship last season, but my word did they get the job done when it mattered, crawling - or mauling - their way over the line in the play-off final.

In order to compete in 2026/27, the choice was an obvious one: buy an entirely new team or suffer the consequences. They've done exactly that, bringing in 18 new faces, many of whom for significant fees.

Prior to this summer, Hull had paid £10 million or more for just two players in their entire history: Ryan Mason and Abel Hernandez. This year, they've done it eight times, backed by the revenue they will make simply for participating in the richest league in the world.

£3.5bn was spent

Three-and-a-half billion big ones. Billions. Yes, most of it will have been funded by private equity, sovereign states and borrowing - not the kind you get at your high street bank, either - but it's £3.5 billion all the same.

Per club, it works out at an average spend of £175m, which is obviously a ridiculous amount of money to spend on blokes kicking a bag of air around.

In Italy, Serie A clubs spent £940m, the 18 German Bundesliga teams collectively paid £673m on new signings, Spain's LaLiga contingent forked out £650m and France's Ligue 1 lot splurged £523m. That means the Premier League spent £720m more than the other four top five leagues combined.

Four players moved for over £100m

Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson, Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers were the four players who cost in excess of £100m this summer.

That's the same number of transfers exceeding £100m as there has been in the past Premier League three seasons.

33 of the 50 most expensive summer transfers were signings made by Premier League clubs

While there were five in Serie A, four in LaLiga, three in the Saudi Pro League and three in Ligue 1, the Premier League dominated the list of the most expensive transfers this summer.

Two-thirds of the top 50 big money movers were signed by Premier League clubs.

Bournemouth to Benfica...actually, the other way round

Bournemouth signed one of Portuguese football's best up-and-coming defenders from Benfica when they landed Antonio Silva. And they managed to get him relatively cheaply as well, for around £20m.

In years gone by, the only way a Benfica player would have joined Bournemouth would have been if it were on Championship Manager. This is no slight towards the Cherries, who are well-run, upwardly mobile, have earned their place in the top flight and been through dark times, but nowadays playing for a mid-table Premier League club with a comparably minuscule fanbase is more lucrative than for a team of Benfica's history and heritage.

Coventry City broke their transfer record three times in the space of a month

Loum Tchaouna became the Sky Blues' record signing on July 11, then Carl Rushworth on August 4. Three days later, Caleb Yirenkyi trumped them both.

To compete in this league, teams must pay the price, do financially uncomfortable things and, in Coventry's case, enter uncharted territory.

Fulham signed three Real Madrid players

Alvaro Arbeloa's managerial CV reads: Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid, Fulham. Is it any wonder, then, that he's snapped up a bunch of Madrid graduates to puppeteer in the Premier League? Probably not.

Still, the sight of one-time Galacticos at Craven Cottage is the stuff of Championship Manager again. Let's hope for Arbeloa's sake, they're signings that hit the ground running, because they didn't do a great deal else in the window.

Hull signed players from Rayo Vallecano (Madrid), Sporting CP (Lisbon), Olympiacos x2 (Athens), Genoa, Nice and Union Berlin

Humberside, the East Yorkshire Riviera, or the UK City of Culture 2017, whichever you'd like to call it. It must have been some brochure Acun Ilicali and Hull City pitched to their transfer targets this summer.

More cynical observers might assume the club's golden handshakes were the primary motivation for their new recruits. Not me, though. Have you been to The Deep? Glorious.

Ipswich Town spent £189m - and still might be relegated

It's a tough gig when you spend almost £200m and are still bookmakers' second-favourite to go down.

In no other league in the world would that be the case. Go on, find one. You can't.

The fifth-most expensive goalkeeper in history joined a team that finished 14th last season

James Trafford to Leeds for £40m is, by Premier League standards, actually a really good deal. He solves a problem position for the club and gets regular first-team football which he was lacking at Manchester City.

In Premier League terms, £40m isn't that significant of an outlay on a single transfer these days, either.

It's a transfer that also makes him the fifth-most expensive goalkeeper in history. Read that again.

Liverpool spent £28m on an 18-year-old goalkeeper with 15 senior career appearances - then loaned him out

Lucca Brughmans, ever heard of him? Didn't think so. Well, he's Liverpool's new goalkeeper from Genk in Belgium.

And they've sent him back to Genk for the season. How many teams outside the Premier League would drop £28m on a goalkeeper and not use him? They've already got five, too. Although, you'd imagine Brughmans will supersede Freddie Woodman, Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies when he returns to Anfield.

Manchester City have spent £236m on one position

Three players, three great signings, £236m spent. Man City's midfield is stacked following the signings of Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez.

This has been a summer of transition for the club, and when teams go through such periods, the received wisdom is that it takes a few transfer windows to iron out the creases in the squad. Nope, not when you're at the top of the Premier League food chain.

Newcastle spent £30m on a player with 12 career starts

And they convinced a player in Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who would have had a Champions League platform with Lille this season, to join them despite the fact European football might not return to Tyneside for some time.

As for the player with 12 career starts, that's former Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba. He must be good, but the sample size is sparse.

Nottingham Forest broke their transfer record for a striker who scored three goals in 49 apps last season

Disclaimer: With the right support around him, adequate starts and minutes, Liam Delap could hit 20 goals a season. The problem is, he didn't get that at Chelsea because very few strikers do, given the wealth of attacking options and culture of impatience.

Still, smashing your transfer record for a striker with 13 career Premier League goals, only one of which came last season, is symptomatic of a league that has more money than sense, as the saying goes.

Spurs spent £85m on a midfielder with five international minutes, relegated in each of the past two seasons

There's no denying Mateus Fernandes is a very good footballer, but is he worth £85m? Various clubs were in for him but West Ham had been relegated, their negotiating position weakened, and from the outside looking in, it appeared as though Spurs simply paid the Hammers' asking price...at the first time of asking.

The ability to spend £85m with the stroke of a pen is reserved almost exclusively for Premier League teams.