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Spain midfielder wants to move to England Sevilla’s asking price too high for Chelsea Chelsea are closing in on the loan signing of Atlético Madrid’s Saúl Ñíguez, but they are facing disappointment in their attempts to buy Jules Koundé from Sevilla. The European champions want to add extra cover in central midfield and have been frantically trying to reach an agreement with Atlético over Saúl before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday night. Sources close to the deal claimed it was dead on Tuesday morning, but Chelsea have since gone to great lengths to revive it and there is increasing confidence the transfer will go through before the deadline. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/chelsea-close-in-on-deal-for-atleticos-saul-but-face-kounde-disappointment

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives criticise the central bank chief's record on climate change.

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! The Fiver was entirely unsurprised by the self-congratulation emanating from Old Trafford on Tuesday, its smugness even more intense than usual. “Ronaldo is coming home,” tooted Manchester United’s website, handily ignoring the fact that the player in question spent the final year of his first spell at the club in a flounce, whinging that the privilege of donning the famous red shirt made him feel like a “slave” , before binning the Reds to spend the peak of his career in white at Real Madrid. United then did the honourable thing, honouring his legacy by replacing Ronnie with Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan and Michael Owen, before largely pocketing the rest of the Portuguese’s world record transfer fee. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/cristiano-ronaldo-manchester-united-the-fiver-announcement-football

Becton Dickinson has announced it will deliver 9 million blood test tubes to the NHS this week.

From Michy Batshuayi dressing up as a the Dark Knight to Buffon digging up a treasure chest at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, the 2020 summer transfer window certainly wasn't short on great announcement videos. Meanwhile, Real Betis and Slovan Liberec showed some real creativity with respective Grand Theft Auto and Fresh Prince of Bel Air themed efforts Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/aug/31/best-football-transfer-announcements-summer-2021-batman-gta-home-alone-video

Twitch says it wishes the American, 34, "nothing but the best in everything that comes next".

Our resident cartoonist on the thrill of transfer deadline day, PSG (the absolute LADS) and Michy Batshuayi in a cape Like what we do? Consider supporting our journalism Get your copy of one of David’s cartoons in our print store Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2021/aug/31/david-squires-cristiano-ronaldo-loyalty-daniel-levy-and-transfer-silly-season-football

Everton have invested heavily in the close season, bringing in Toni Duggan and paid a record transfer fee for Sweden international Hanna Bennison No one at Everton is remotely shy about spelling out this season’s ambition. Champions League qualification remains the overriding aim and if this summer’s friendlies are anything to go by they have a very strong chance of fulfilling it. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/womens-super-league-2021-22-previews-no-6-everton

All eyes were on Messi as he made his debut this weekend. Meanwhile, PSG’s most important player scored two goals By Eric Devin for Get French Football News The adulation and anticipation that had bubbled away since PSG announced the signing of Lionel Messi finally came to a head on Sunday evening when he came on for the last 25 minutes of PSG’s 2-0 win over Reims . As is to be expected for a player who is still getting to know new teammates in a new league after a long summer in which he won the Copa América with Argentina, he was quietly impressive but did not have a huge impact on the game. Mauricio Pochettino, though, was quick to outline the difference his countryman made to the team, saying: “I felt it as soon as he came on, across his first touches. He brought a sense of calm to the team. He is happy and is blending in well with the team.” Messi replaced Neymar – another player who had a busy summer – and played on the left of a front three, with Kylian Mbappé through the mi...

Japan international can play at centre-back or right-back Reiss Nelson to sign new deal before Feyenoord loan Arsenal have agreed an initial €20m (£17.2m) deal to buy the defender Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna. The Japan international, who can play at right-back or centre-back, could cost a further €3m in add-ons. The 22-year-old Tomiyasu has been with Bologna since joining from the Belgian club Sint-Truiden in 2019 and has 23 caps. Personal terms have been agreed and the move is subject to a medical. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/arsenal-agree-17m-deal-to-sign-bologna-defender-takehiro-tomiyasu

Ronaldo ‘overwhelmed’ by the messages he has received Juventus say fee is initial €15m, with up to €8m in add-ons Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move to Manchester United on Tuesday and said he had been overwhelmed by the messages he has received since a deal was secured for his return to Old Trafford from Juventus. United said Ronaldo had rejoined on a two-year contract with the option for a further year, subject to international clearance. Juventus announced the fee was an initial €15m (£12.86m), plus €8m in potential add-ons. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/cristiano-ronaldo-delight-at-manchester-united-return-special-place-in-my-heart

The budget carrier forecasts that its capacity should return to pre-pandemic levels in the autumn.

Film maker Paramount alleges insurance payout for the latest Tom Cruise installment does not cover losses.

Today’s deadline day punts are undertaken by events It’s here, it’s here – it’s finally here. The day that shows the Rumour Mill to be run by one hack rolling a 20-or-more-sided dice and another throwing darts at a pinboard covered with Polaroids. But will the Mill shirk from the knowledge that much of the following 575 words will be shown up to be absolute nonsense in approx 14 hours’ time? Pfft. Challenge very much accepted … Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/football-transfer-rumours-adama-traore-to-spurs-hector-bellerin-to-barcelona-deadline-day

Croatia No 10 joins on five-year contract Move follows £29.8m arrival of Kurt Zouma West Ham have completed the signing of Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow for an initial €30m (£25.7m), with up to €9m to follow in add-ons. The Premier League club announced the Croatia international, who plays as a No 10, had joined on a five-year contract. “The player has been extensively scouted and the creative attacker will add top-class quality and experience to David Moyes’ squad,” West Ham said in a statement. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/west-ham-seal-nikola-vlasic-signing-for-25m-from-cska-moscow

All the latest news and reaction as the transfer window slams shut Men’s transfer window summer 2021 interactive – all the moves Any comments? You can email Daniel | tweet Daniel 9.43am BST Here’s today’s The Rumour Mill. Related: Football transfer rumours: Adama Traoré to Spurs? Bellerín to Barça? 9.42am BST For anyone interested, these are my detailed thoughts on Ronaldo to United, and also on the non-footballing issues that mean many fans – of the team and of football – are conflicted. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/aug/31/transfer-deadline--window-day-west-ham-manchester-united-live

Kean moves on two-year loan with €28m deal in place to follow Édouard due in London after agreeing Palace move from Celtic The Everton striker Moise Kean has returned to Juventus on a two-year loan that will become a permanent deal subject to certain conditions being met. Juventus said they were paying a €7m (£6m) loan fee and that a €28m permanent deal had been agreed to take effect after the 2022-23 season, with a possible €3m in add-ons to follow. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/deadline-day-transfers-moise-kean-to-juventus-edouard-set-for-crystal-palace

The South East Asian country faces opposing pressures over the large number of workers from overseas.

A visually impaired athlete from Japan's judo team was hit by one of the e-Palette pods on Thursday.

The former boss of blood testing company Theranos is accused of fraud and could face years in jail.

Defending champions have strengthened once again and own the league’s best manager. But the challenges only get tougher Emma Hayes has a degree in European studies and a deep knowledge of the continent’s politics, eclipsed only by her grasp of tactical nuance. If few were surprised when Chelsea’s manager led her richly talented team into last season’s Champions League final there was a degree of shock as to just how comprehensively they were beaten by Barcelona in Gothenburg. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/31/womens-super-league-2021-22-previews-no-5-chelsea

Britons are spending more on home delivered meals than before the pandemic struck.

Lloyds survey finds North West England leads level of confidence despite caution over inflation.

The sports shoe giant is giving US head office staff this week off after a "traumatic" year.

Former Watford captain scored 140 goals during 11-year spell Deeney agrees two-year deal to join boyhood club The former Watford captain Troy Deeney has spoken of his sadness and pride after confirmation that his 11-year spell at the club has come to an end. The 33-year-old striker, whose contract was due to expire at the end of the season, departs as a free agent, with a two-year deal at his boyhood club Birmingham announced. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/troy-deeney-speaks-of-sadness-and-pride-at-watford-exit-after-11-years-at-club-birmingham

Transfer culture is a basic part of fandom and sustaining concerted opposition to owners is almost impossible Oh! pleasant exercise of hope and joy! For mighty were the auxiliars which then stood upon our side, we who were strong in love. Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive. But to be on Fulham Road, wreathed in canisters of blue smoke, holding a home-made banner reading FANS NOT CUSTOMERS, was very heaven. Yes: who can forget the famous European Super League protests of April 2021? They were a vibe, weren’t they? Peace and love and Florentino Pérez memes. Prince William ferrying cups of tea and bottled water out to the picket line. Gary Neville, hair wreathed in daisy chains, serenading the masses with a rendition of Big Yellow Taxi. Rival fans linking arms and bonding over the German 50+1 model. How strong we were. How right we were. How we showed them. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/aug/30/cristiano-ronaldo-rom...

Right-back to provide competition for Doherty and Tanganga Emerson has spent the past two seasons on loan at Betis Tottenham have agreed a fee of €30m (£25.7) to sign Emerson Royal from Barcelona as Nuno Espírito Santo attempts to bolster his defensive options. Arsenal also reportedly showed an interest in signing Emerson, who joined Barcelona in 2019 from Atlético Mineiro, but Spurs have acted quickly to negotiate a deal for the 22-year-old. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/tottenham-reach-agreement-with-barcelona-to-sign-emerson-royal-for-30m

WSL side go to Spain for Champions League qualifier first leg Lucy Bronze and Ellen White injured but Vicky Losada is ready Manchester City travel to Real Madrid Femenino on Tuesday night without Lucy Bronze and Ellen White but it would still be a major shock were Gareth Taylor’s side to lose the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie in Spain. Given that Real Madrid were formally established in 2020 and are competing in Europe for the first time, the absence of Bronze and White, following knee surgery and an unspecified medical procedure respectively, should not make too much difference to the outcome at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/manchester-city-confident-of-defeating-real-madrid-femenino-despite-absences

Bayern swoop for RB Leipzig midfielder in €16m move Bakayoko departs Chelsea in two-year loan with options to buy Bayern Munich have completed the signing of midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on a four-year contract from RB Leipzig, the Bundesliga clubs said on Monday. Bayern paid a fee in the region of €16m (£13.7m) for the Austria international. Related: Embarrassment for Arsenal as Maitland-Niles asks to leave on Instagram Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/european-transfers-bayern-sign-sabitzer-and-milan-seal-bakayoko-deal

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Jonathan Wilson and Ed Aarons after another weekend of Premier League action Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Audioboom , Mixcloud , Acast and Stitcher , and join the conversation on Facebook , Twitter and email . Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Jonathan Wilson and Ed Aarons after another weekend of Premier League action. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2021/aug/30/tottenham-arsenal-liverpool-chelsea-football-weekly

The Villarreal manager had to watch as his goalkeeper went walkabouts and his defender headed into his own net in the 95th minute Oh Mandi. All that and it ended like this, everything falling apart on the stroke of midnight. Sunday became Monday and Atlético Madrid had just taken their 16th corner, their last chance gone, when it happened. Villarreal had not taken any and they had only two shots, compared to Atlético’s 23, but both had gone in and so here they were about to beat the league champions. After 14 attempts, Unai Emery was actually going to defeat Diego Simeone. And then a ridiculous 95th-minute own goal changed everything, leaving those who weren’t falling down falling about. Villarreal led 2-1 and there were 23 seconds left on the final game of week three. Although no one inside the Metropolitano knew that, screens stopping on 90.00 because that most basic piece of information is clearly too sensitive for football fans to handle, they knew it was over. Five minutes had g...

24-year-old says he wants to be at a club where he is ‘wanted’ Everton hoping to sign England international on loan Arsenal have suffered further embarrassment after Ainsley Maitland-Niles pleaded to be allowed to leave in an extraordinary outburst on social media as he attempts to force through a move to Everton. The England international, who could become the latest academy product to depart the Emirates before the transfer window closes on Tuesday night, made his feelings clear in a post on Instagram as Arsenal deliberated an offer from Rafa Benítez’s side to take him on loan for the rest of the season. “All I want to do is go where I’m wanted & where I’m going to play @Arsenal,” he wrote. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/embarrassment-for-arsenal-as-maitland-niles-asks-to-leave-on-instagram

Max Allegri can rebuild his team with Cristiano Ronaldo gone, but Saturday’s loss showed the scale of his task Cristiano Ronaldo disappeared from Turin as suddenly as he had arrived. On Wednesday, he took part in a public training session with Juventus, around 100 fans getting the chance to see their club’s record signing up close for the final time. By Friday lunchtime he was boarding a private jet, preparing for his move to Manchester United and leaving those same supporters to ponder whether it had all been worthwhile. The story they were sold in 2018 was that Ronaldo had come to help their team conquer Europe. Instead, Juventus slipped from a run of two Champions League finals in four seasons to a single quarter-final appearance in three attempts with him. Even the club’s run of nine consecutive Serie A titles was ended by Inter this spring. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/juventus-cristiano-ronaldo-empoli-max-a...

Elland Road side nearly signed Wales forward on loan in 2019 Manchester United likely to demand fee of around £20m Leeds are in advanced talks over a move for Daniel James from Manchester United on a permanent deal more than two years after they almost signed him on loan. Despite starting the victory over Wolves on Sunday, the Wales forward has been used sparingly at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and the impending arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus means the 23-year-old will be even further down the pecking order after United also signed Jadon Sancho for £73m from Borussia Dortmund. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/leeds-close-to-signing-manchester-uniteds-dan-james-on-permanent-deal

Former Liverpool loanee set for medical with Carrow Road club Leicester interested in Lookman after Torino agree Praet loan Norwich have agreed a deal to sign Ozan Kabak on loan for the rest of the season from Schalke, with the Turkey defender expected to complete his move after completing a medical on Monday. The 21-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Liverpool, will provide much-needed defensive reinforcements to Daniel Farke’s squad after they conceded 10 goals in their first three matches since returning to the Premier League. It is understood the deal for Kabak includes an option to make the deal permanent for around £16m next season. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/transfer-roundup-ozan-kabak-norwich-schalke-leicester-ademola-lookman

Defender extends contract to 2027, one year after joining club Dias: ‘The club wants to be in the top three in the world’ Rúben Dias believes that signing a new long-term Manchester City contract just one year after joining the club “speaks for itself” as a statement of joint intent. The Portuguese defender has committed his future to the champions until summer 2027 after a hugely successful first season in England. City signed Dias for a £62m fee from Benfica last September and the 25-year-old helped to propel Pep Guardiola’s side to the 2020-2021 title. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/ruben-dias-signs-new-manchester-city-contract-2027

Hope Powell’s side have added firepower in an attempt to close the gap to the top four in the WSL Hope Powell’s Brighton surprised most people in their third Women’s Super League season with a sixth-place finish last season. The 15-point gap between the top four and the rest was large, but the south-coast side would be right to be eyeing the best-of-the-rest spot that they were only five points away from last term. The team’s standing was a marked improvement on the preceding two seasons. In both of those they finished ninth, with 16 points in 2018-19 and 13 points in 2019-20, though there were 12 points still to play for when the latter campaign came to a premature end because of Covid. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/womens-super-league-2021-22-previews-no-4-brighton

After surviving the relegation play-off last year, Effzeh appear to be on the up under their new head coach Steffen Baumgart “If you want to avoid relegation,” suggested Anthony Modeste, “then you have to beat these opponents.” The Köln striker might have missed Bochum’s impressive, dogged opening performances back in the Bundesliga but his perspective is one you understand from someone who knows this fascinating, drama-heavy club so well. Safety first, second and third after the experience of recent seasons. The circumspection of FC Köln’s players is never going to be matched by the fans in the home of Karneval, though. Cologne, as a city, never needs much encouragement to be swept up in a wave of optimism but there are reasons for observers beyond the faithful to believe in Effzeh this season. Failing to beat Bochum, as Modeste suggested, might have taken a bit of air out of the Köln balloon. Yet a 2-1 win over the plucky promoted team was only the tip of the iceberg in what shoul...

Regulators are restricting game-playing for under 18s to an hour on Fridays, weekends and holidays

Today’s tittle-tattle is limitless While transfer deadline day ends at 11.30pm on Tuesday, Real Madrid prefer to march to the beat of their own drum and haver decided that Paris Saint-Germain have until close of play today to accept their baffling £163m offer for Kylian Mbappé or the deal is off. The Rumour Mill is going to go out on a limb and guess that if the French side, for whom Mbappé scored twice in their win over Reims on Sunday night, fail to respond to Real Madrid’s “threat”, then the deadline might just be extended by another 24 hours. Tottenham are reported to have ended any interest they might have had in the Sampdoria and Denmark winger Mikkel Damsgaard , but Liverpool, Aston Villa and Leeds are admiring him from afar. Villa are are also reported to be interested in securing the services of Curtis Jones from Liverpool and are preparing a bid of £15m. The 20-year-old midfielder has been pushed down the pecking order at Anfield by the emergence of Harvey Elliott and has...

Demarai Gray looks like a bargain for Everton, while Steve Bruce is already under plenty of pressure from Newcastle fans Wolves felt undermined by the officials following a third straight league defeat but another electric performance should raise a few questions about their direction of travel under Bruno Lage. Unsurprisingly, Adama Traoré was at the centre of their front-foot display, repeatedly making a mockery of the price tags attached to the Manchester United defence and setting up a couple of golden openings. Wolves are in the relegation zone after three matches but it is hard to see them staying there. Traoré, Trincão and Raúl Jiménez caused no end of problems, before Daniel Podence arrived off the bench to provide further ammunition. Traoré is wanted by Tottenham before Tuesday’s transfer deadline but Lage was bullish when asked whether the winger would be staying put. “Adama’s future is not a question for me,” said the Wolves manager. “I see a player every day happy and work...

Wholesale coffee prices have risen by 50% this year as supplies have been hit around the world.

People arriving from Canada and Denmark are among those who will not need to isolate for 10 days.

The appointment of manager Scott Booth and a new home at St Andrew’s bodes well after a season of upheaval A wholesale changing of the guard in the West Midlands has seen Birmingham spend the summer acquiring a new manager, a new coaching staff, a new home and, virtually, a new team. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/30/womens-super-league-preview-birmingham-city

Parents are concerned that a law to make school uniforms cheaper will not be in place for September.

The trades union body says having just eight public holidays in England and Wales is "stingy" .

• Reims 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain • Messi comes on as substitute, Mbappé scores twice Lionel Messi took his first steps as a Paris Saint-Germain player on Sunday, entering as a 63rd minute substitute as his new team won at Reims thanks to two goals by Kylian Mbappé. Whether that pair will play together again is an open question, with Real Madrid still keen to prise the Frenchman away this week. Even Messi’s pulling power is not unlimited. But it is mighty, all the same, as his Ligue 1 debut confirmed. This was a fitting venue for Messi to make his bow. Where better for such a high-class recruit to begin than in the capital of the Champagne region? And let us not forget that for over 1,000 years Reims was the city where France consecrated its kings, from Louis the Pious in 816 to Charles X in 1825. In 2021, behold Lionel the Goat. Messi the One and Only. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/reims-paris-saint-germain-ligue-...

Former United striker believes manager must deliver trophies ‘He still wants to be the best, he will want to have a big influence’ Wayne Rooney has said Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational return to Manchester United will increase the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjær to lead the club to major titles and warned his former teammates that they will have to work harder to accommodate the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Rooney played with Ronaldo across five trophy-laden years at Old Trafford, during which they won the Premier League and Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson, and said such a high-profile signing will heighten expectations. United have agreed to pay an initial €15m to Juventus for the 36-year-old, plus a further €8m in potential add-ons, taking the club’s summer spending north of £130m following the arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/ronaldos-return-to-manchester-u...

‘He will make us better, bring something completely different’ Ronaldo poised to make his second United debut in two weeks Ole Gunnar Solskjær believes Cristiano Ronaldo will relish the challenge of proving age is just a number on his return to the Premier League and says Manchester United were always going to pounce when such a “special player” became available. United beat Manchester City to sign the five-time Ballon d’Or winner from Juventus, with the 36-year-old striker set to make his second debut for the club against Newcastle United after the international break. Solskjær said United have not signed Ronaldo to warm the bench and was adamant the Portugal forward will improve his team after watching them extend their unbeaten away run to a record 28 league matches following Mason Greenwood’s late winner at Wolves . Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/a-great-player-a-great-human-being-solskjr-excited-about-ronal...

Premier League agreed not to let players to go red list countries Nuno Espírito Santo said two Spurs players will also travel The Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and midfielder Emi Buendía have travelled to join the Argentina squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers, the club have confirmed. Related: Premier League clubs will not release players for matches on UK’s red list Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/aston-villa-martinez-buendia-argentina-world-cup-qualifiers-covid-19

Even after Mason Greenwood snatched victory 10 minutes from time, there was only one name on the lips of the baying Manchester United supporters: Cristiano Ronaldo. Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side were dreadful in the first half and remained disjointed in the second but after withstanding swells of Wolves pressure, Greenwood rattled in his third goal of the season to extend United’s unbeaten start to the season. Somehow, Wolves are pointless and goalless after three matches and this slender defeat was a particular travesty. For Bruno Lage, it has been a mightily cruel induction to the Premier League, with his side overpowering and outwitting opponents, not for the first time this season, only to leave empty-handed. Wolves stretched the United defence time and again, while David de Gea made a preposterous double save to stop Romain Saïss from opening the scoring late on. But then Greenwood drifted down the right flank and drove in, his shot squirming under José Sá. Continue reading... fr...

Minute-by-minute updates as Lionel Messi takes his bow Transfers: Dortmund seek loan deal for Hudson-Odoi Any comments? You can email Alex | tweet Alex 7.49pm BST 4 mins: Reims have started confidently, Lopy asserting authority in midfield and Foket a constant outlet down the right. 7.48pm BST 2 mins: Reims attack down the right though some Kebbal and Foket. They link smartly but come a cropper when Foket, er, messes it up, playing the ball to an offside teammate. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/aug/29/reims-paris-saint-germain-psg-lionel-messi-ligue-1-live

A dedicated crew of people helped the women’s national football team and others flee the Taliban over two remarkable weeks “We have been working like fingers on one hand, with different roles, and we came together as a big strong punch,” says the former captain and one of the founders of the Afghanistan women’s national football team, Khalida Popal. She is talking about the small team that pulled off the mission to evacuate 100-200 Afghan athletes and a number of individuals connected to them from the Hamid Karzai international airport in Kabul. Across a two-week period those fingers worked tirelessly around the clock and across numerous time zones, tracking the real-time movements of the Taliban and military personnel on the ground to pull off what seemed completely impossible: to get a group of female football players, many teenagers, and a host of others, including family members, into the airport and on to planes. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.th...

The arrival of manager Carla Ward from local rivals Birmingham may transform Villa’s fortunes this season The recruitment of manager Carla Ward from their city rivals Birmingham was an astute move by Aston Villa. Ward worked miracles with the Blues after joining the club two weeks before last season began and with just eight senior players. She kept them up, despite two points deductions, while the club came under fire for not adequately backing the side. They finished just one point behind their better-off local rivals. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/womens-super-league-previews-2021-22-no-2-aston-villa

Palace willing to pay £12m for England Under-21 forward Édouard also wanted by two other Premier League clubs Crystal Palace are considering making formal approaches for Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah and Odsonne Édouard of Celtic as they step up their attempts to reinforce Patrick Vieira’s squad before Tuesday’s transfer deadline. Vieira is keen to add another striker to his squad, with Palace having finally got off the mark under the Frenchman on Saturday thanks to two goals from Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher. They have narrowed down their shortlist to England Under-21 forward Nketiah and Édouard – who played in Celtic’s 1-0 defeat to Rangers on Sunday. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/crystal-palace-target-arsenals-eddie-nketiah-or-odsonne-edouard-of-celtic

Nine points; three clean sheets; Harry Kane staying put; top of the table. Had you offered that a fortnight ago to the 60,000 supporters streaming through the turnstiles on Sunday, they would have snapped your hand off. Related: Patrick Bamford rescues late point for Leeds to frustrate Burnley Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/tottenham-watford-premier-league-match-report

Burnley and Leeds’ winless starts to the new Premier League season continued after Chris Wood and Patrick Bamford both scored against their former clubs in a feisty trans-Pennine derby. Related: Son Heung-min downs Watford and maintains Tottenham’s perfect start Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/burnley-leeds-premier-league-match-report

Minute-by-updates on the action at Turf Moor, kick-off 2pm Solskjær has a title-winning squad – the time for excuses is over Any comments? You can email John | tweet @johnbrewin_ 3.44pm BST 85 min: Raphina attempts to cut in from the goal line, only for Charlie Taylor to slide in. The momentum keeps up, only for Tyler Roberts to overhit the ball. Sean Dyche growls at his players from the sidelines. He really really really wants this first win of the season. 3.42pm BST 83 min: Nick Pope, the Burnley goalkeeper, launches the ball long after a backpass from Mee, and does so with some comfort. The famed Leeds press has malfunctioned. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/aug/29/burnley-v-leeds-united-premier-league-live

Live updates from the 4.30pm (BST) match at Molineux Solskjær has a title-winning squad – and no excuses Any comments? You can email Daniel | tweet Daniel 3.44pm BST The team news for Wolves is simple: Lage was so satisfied with what he saw against Spurs that he keeps the same side. 3.41pm BST We’ll look at those teams properly in a second, but before that, Burnley lead Leeds 1-0 – John Brewin has the latst 10 of that – while Nuno’s Spurs lead Watford 1-0 thanks to another Son goal. If they can hang on, they’ll retain the division’s only 100% record. Related: Burnley v Leeds United: Premier League – live! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/aug/29/wolves-v-manchester-united-premier-league-live

There is no such thing as a meaningless victory in an Old Firm fixture. Given the troubled backdrop, this success for Rangers just felt more significant than most. Related: Celtic banking on new hero Kyogo Furuhashi to bring Rangers to heel | Ewan Murray Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/filip-helander-heads-winner-for-covid-19-depleted-rangers-against-celtic

The retailer no longer sells men's suits at more than half of its large stores as tastes turn casual.

Croatian is set to follow Kurt Zouma in joining Hammers Vlasic seen as better value signing than £25m Jesse Lingard West Ham are close to strengthening their attack by signing CSKA Moscow’s Nikola Vlasic for €30m (£25.7m). David Moyes is keen to increase the size of his squad before his side begin their Europa League campaign and West Ham intend to back their manager before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday. The club improved their defence by signing centre-back Kurt Zouma from Chelsea for £29.8m on Saturday night and their spending is not finished yet. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/west-ham-close-on-cska-moscow-nikola-vlasic

The first goal scored in Spain's newly-formed third tier was certainly memorable, although Dani Sotres will want to forget it. The Cultural Leonesa keeper was caught off his line by an overhit back pass, air kicked his first attempted clearance and then saw his second effort ricochet off Rayo Majadahonda forward Rubén Sánchez.  Majadahonda went on to win the game 2-0. Both sides are in Group 1, the northern half of the two-division Primera División RFEF, which also features former La Liga title winners Deportivo La Coruña. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/aug/29/first-goal-in-spains-new-third-tier-cultural-leonesa-rayo-majadahonda

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea team can keep dangerous opponents at arm’s length, an unusual asset in the modern era Step back from football and amid various ups and downs, backs and forths, check-backs and dead-ends, the first 100 years of its development after the modern laws were first drawn up in 1863 can be seen as comprising roughly linear development. We started with seven forwards and one defender and we slowly moved players back until we had four defenders and two forwards. We went from a chaotic charging game, through man-marking to zonal marking. By the mid-60s, football was mature. The changes since have been incremental. There is far less sense of forward momentum. A style of play or shape becomes modish and enjoys success, and then a system arises to combat it. At elite level in particular, tactical development can seem cyclical, although our knowledge of what has gone before means there is still forward momentum: football’s tactical evolution is perhaps best imagined as resem...

Minute-by-minute updates on the season’s first Old Firm derby Celtic banking on Furuhashi to bring Rangers to heel Any comments? You can email Daniel | tweet Daniel 11.45am BST “Having watched Ange Postecoglu rebuild and transform Brisbane Roar,” emails Phil Withall, “turning the club from a farce into the finest side in Australia, I will say this about him: he has a style of play he wants to see and there is absolutely nothing that will make him deviate from that plan. It matters little who his side are playing, he will demand that his players stick with the template he has set. The man is an obsessive, he wants to see football played as he knows it and will except nothing else. There is a genius in his ideals and his man management but his approach is open to being embarrassed at times, especially early in his tenure. Whatever the result today, Celtic have a fine man in charge one that with time, patience and support, will transform the club. It’ll be one hell of a ride.” He...

New manager, new players, new outlook: Jonas Eidevall has replaced Joe Montemurro at a club targeting the top Joe Montemurro’s Arsenal painted themselves into a corner by racking up four defeats and two draws by mid-February last season. A single loss in a league of just 12 teams will prove costly, and that took the Gunners out of the title race. An unbeaten run from February through to the end of the season salvaged Champions League football, the team eventually finishing one point ahead of fourth-placed Manchester United to snatch the new, extra qualifying spot. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/womens-super-league-previews-2021-22-no-1-arsenal

This season will be a test of whether he is up to the United job, but the draw at Southampton exposed the same old failings All teams have off days. No side, no matter how great or how much money has been spent on it, plays to its maximum every week. A draw at Southampton is no disaster, but what must concern Manchester United was the manner of the points dropped last Sunday. It all felt very familiar. They should beat Wolves on Sunday afternoon. United have better players and that is often enough. But already there is doubt and pressure: champions rarely drop more than 20 points over a season these days and already United have squandered one-tenth of that. Drop more at Molineux and the thought of a realistic title bid would seem fanciful. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/aug/29/ole-gunnar-solskjr-has-a-title-winning-squad-the-time-for-excuses-is-over

The winger is yet to play in the Premier League this season Manager Thomas Tuchel said he plans to keep 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund want to sign Callum Hudson-Odoi on loan and have not been put off by Thomas Tuchel’s insistence that Chelsea intend to keep the winger this summer. Hudson-Odoi is yet to feature for Chelsea in the Premier League this season and is open to joining Dortmund on loan before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday. The 20-year-old wants more opportunities to showcase his talent and is waiting to see whether the Bundesliga club firm up their interest. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/29/borussia-dortmund-seek-loan-deal-for-chelseas-callum-hudson-odoi

Consumer group Which? says one retailer raised the price of a shed by 155% during the past two years.

Marco Silva said there is more to come from Fulham after sweeping aside Stoke to maintain their unbeaten start to the Championship season. A comfortable 3-0 victory, with goals from Harry Wilson, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Aleksandar Mitrovic, left the manager believing the margin of victory should have been even greater. Related: Brennan Johnson late show earns Nottingham Forest draw at Derby Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/championship-roundup-fulham-dominate-stoke-qpr-rise-to-second

Mikel Arteta blames himself for Arsenal’s dismal start Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang calls on teammates to show pride Mikel Arteta said he will question his own decision-making after Arsenal made their worst start to a season since 1954. Midfielder Granit Xhaka was sent off for a dangerous tackle as Arsenal were thrashed 5-0 by Manchester City to make it three defeats from their opening three Premier League games. Related: Wretched 10-man Arsenal left in tatters by strikerless Manchester City Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/i-question-myself-and-i-have-to-look-at-every-decision-i-make

Norwich were denied a first point of the new Premier League season after Marc Albrighton’s deflected 76th-minute strike earned Leicester a 2-1 victory at Carrow Road after VAR ruled out a late equaliser. After Jamie Vardy and Teemu Pukki had ended their respective goal droughts in the first half, a frantic second period produced more drama in Norfolk. Related: Wretched 10-man Arsenal left in tatters by strikerless Manchester City Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/norwich-leicester-premier-league-match-report

Following Arsenal's latest defeat against Manchester City on Saturday, Mikel Arteta admitted it was "time to reflect and look in the mirror". A 5-0 collapse left Arsenal meant Arsenal have lost all three games this season.  When asked if he could get still results from this group of Arsenal players, Arteta replied: "Yes I do. If not, I wouldn't be sitting here" Wretched 10-man Arsenal left in tatters by strikerless Manchester City Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/aug/28/mikel-arteta-believes-in-arsenal-players-despite-5-0-loss-at-man-city-video

This was a reality check for West Ham. Their brief spell at the top of the Premier League is over, brought to an end by a fine comeback from Crystal Palace. It was a frayed performance from West Ham and although they did enough to earn a point, it was hard not to feel that David Moyes’s slim squad would benefit from a couple of additions before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday. The same applies to Palace, who remain short of options in attack, but there is no doubt that Patrick Vieira was the happier manager at full-time. Palace were impressive after a lacklustre first half, their revival after the interval given substance by Conor Gallagher’s brio in midfield. Gallagher was outstanding, scoring his first goals after joining on loan from Chelsea, and West Ham could have no complaints about their 100% record coming to an end. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/west-ham-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report

Just as Allan Saint-Maximin’s 90th minute goal seemed to have won it for Newcastle, James Ward-Prowse’s stoppage-time penalty retrieved a point for Southampton on a distinctly awkward afternoon for the home manager. The first chants of “We want Bruce out” permeated the Tyneside air at the 25 minute mark as Southampton prepared to take a corner at the Gallowgate End. When shortly afterwards, Newcastle’s manager bent down to retrieve a loose ball from the technical area, he was booed. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/newcastle-southampton-premier-league-match-report

It was the kind of away victory that had Rafa Benítez purring. The Spaniard is a footballing grand master and will have secretly relished his battle with relative upstart Graham Potter. In the end, the senior man took the spoils courtesy of meticulous preparation, patience and the occasional flash of quality. With Richarlison’s future only “99.9%” certain, Demarai Gray’s is fixed. And it was the latter who grabbed his second away strike in a week to put his side on their way. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cool as you like penalty sealed the points with an hour gone. The one down side of the afternoon was the England striker hobbling off a little later. The sensible thing would be to excuse him from upcoming international duty. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/brighton-everton-premier-league-match-report

Brentford continued their solid start to their first top-flight campaign for 74 years, a well-earned point at Villa Park leaving them unbeaten after three matches. Ivan Toney got off the mark too, the accomplished finisher claiming his first goal of the season with a powerful strike in the seventh minute. Emi Buendía equalised with a suave shot from the edge of the area but Dean Smith’s depleted team could not muster enough ingenuity to overcome obdurate visitors. Related: Wretched 10-man Arsenal left in tatters by strikerless Manchester City Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/aston-villa-brentford-premier-league-match-report

Live updates from the 5.30pm BST kick-off Klopp appreciates Chelsea’s ‘smart business’ before Anfield appointment Get in touch! Email Will or tweet @Will_Unwin 4.39pm BST Chelsea have been doing smart business, according to Jurgen Klopp. Related: Klopp appreciates Chelsea’s ‘smart business’ before Anfield appointment 4.34pm BST Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott, Salah, Firmino, Mané. Subs: Kelleher, Konate, Thiago, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Jota, Tsimikas Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/aug/28/liverpool-v-chelsea-premier-league-live

For Arsenal, ignominy is following indignity, misery stemming from the wrong sort of history. Their worst start to a season for 67 years leaves them pointless and goalless, hapless and rudderless, rooted in the relegation zone and seemingly stumbling into crisis. Europe’s biggest spenders this summer were eviscerated by a team who proved unable to pay any of their millions for Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo and needed neither. Related: Manchester City 5-0 Arsenal: Premier League – reaction! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/manchester-city-arsenal-premier-league-match-report

For 82 minutes, it appeared Chris Hughton’s job was in grave danger, as Nottingham Forest trailed to Tom Lawrence’s fine opener. But with one wallop of the right foot, the talented Brennan Johnson volleyed in an equaliser to get Forest’s season up and running at bitter rivals Derby to earn their first point of the campaign. “He’s one of our own,” the Forest supporters proudly boomed as the Forest players headed over to them at the final whistle. The Forest supporters housed in a pocket of this ground were not quite so happy as the players headed down the tunnel at the break. Forest struggled to live with Derby’s tempo and while it was an early Philip Zinckernagel shot that drew the first gasps among a boisterous crowd, it was one-way traffic after Lawrence rifled a brilliant shot into the corner with 11 minutes gone. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/derby-nottingham-forest-championship-match-report

Updates from the 3pm games in Premier League and EFL Live scoreboard: all Saturday’s goals as they go in Get in touch! Email Rob with your thoughts 2.27pm BST Championship The other lunchtime kick-off has finished Cardiff 1-2 Bristol City . Andreas Weimann scored both goals for Bristol City, who have won at Cardiff for the third season in a row. 2.25pm BST The kind of result that saves a manager from the sacked. Brennan Johnson’s late equaliser for Nottingham Forest in an intense, emotional derby may have saved Chris Hughton’s job. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/aug/28/premier-league-clockwatch-west-ham-crystal-palace-norwich-leicester-live

Live updates from the 12.30pm BST kick-off Missing out on Kane and Ronaldo leaves Manchester City short up front Get in touch! Email Will or tweet @Will_Unwin 1.40pm BST 51 mins: Leno sticks out his arm to repel a Bernardo Silva shot from about eight yards out. Something for the scrapbook. “I’m not a tactical genius,” Mike MacKenzie admits, “but maybe Arsenal should switch to a 7-2-0 formation to limit the damage?” 1.38pm BST 49 mins: Cancelo pings another cross above the six-yard line but no one can get a head on it, mainly as Bernardo Silva is a little too short. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2021/aug/28/manchester-city-v-arsenal-premier-league-live

Returning superstar will certainly score goals, but his chief use to Old Trafford will be that most modern of roles: a celebrity content provider Welcome to Unitedland! With an array of nostalgic installations and familiar faces, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Gawp at the scorer of the winning goal from the 1999 Champions League in his very own technical area! Gaze on the goalscorer from the 2008 Champions League final grazing just outside the penalty area! Even the roof has that retro feel! Season tickets start at just £532. There was a time when clubs found jobs for former players gladhanding in corporate hospitality. Manchester United have gone much further. With Ole Gunnar Solskjær installed as manager and Cristiano Ronaldo up front, you wonder which other former greats can be brought back to the Old Trafford theme park. Martin Edwards in the boardroom? Gary Bailey back in nets? The toothpick-chewing ghost of Billy Meredith on the wing? A labyrinthodon who once roamed N...

First Old Firm derby of the season gives Ange Postecoglou the chance to test his side’s Japanese-inspired progress Every revolution has its icon. What helps Ange Postecoglou is that the pin-up boy during Celtic’s steep rise was plucked from the Japanese market which is fundamentally understood by their manager. All the data analysts and scouting algorithms in the world are irrelevant when a manager knows the specifics of a player who should fit his regime. Related: Postecoglou will need to work Celtic miracle to deny Rangers another title | Ewan Murray Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/aug/28/celtic-banking-on-new-hero-kyogo-furuhashi-to-bring-rangers-to-heel

Roma forward Eldor Shomurodov says it is ‘hard to explain the happiness’ he felt when his transfer announcement led to a Polish girl being found The Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov has said it is “hard to explain the happiness” he felt after a missing Polish girl was found just days after her picture was included in his transfer announcement video. In 2019, Roma started using their transfer announcement videos on social media to highlight missing children across the globe. The Serie A club’s campaign has now helped find 12 missing children since it began. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/romas-transfer-video-campaign-has-helped-to-find-12-missing-children

Sunday 2pm Venue Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/tottenham-watford-match-preview-premier-league

Sunday 2pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Turf Moor Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/burnley-leeds-match-preview-premier-league

For his 100th league game as Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær could deploy a style that has served him well so far. Counter-attacking has been one of the keys to United’s impressive away form during his reign and Wolves, who have become ultra-offensive under Bruno Lage, may play into their hands, a little like Leeds did on the opening day. On the flip side, Wolves intensity and audacity could stress United’s midfield and defence. If Wolves’ finishing is better than it was in their first two games, then this could be a landmark day for Lage, too, and Wolves’ first win of the season. Paul Doyle Sunday 4.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/wolves-manchester-united-match-preview-premier-league

The Portuguese has been Manchester United’s catalyst once before and his manager is banking on him repeating the trick Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Manchester United can feel a one-man nostalgia project. Short of supplanting Solskjær himself to bring Sir Alex Ferguson back to the dugout, there are few better ways of taking United back to yesteryear than by re-signing the last of their great No 7s. Without returning the Premier League or the Champions League trophies to Old Trafford, Solskjær could at least allow it to echo to the sound of “Viva Ronaldo”, a chorus that was a celebration of superiority, again. Whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo represents the recruit United need, he has an irresistible appeal to Solskjær, United’s happy romantic. “He is a legend of this club, he’s the greatest player of all time,” he said. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/28/solskjr-cannot-resist-the-romance-of-cristiano-ronaldos-old-trafford-ret...

The business secretary rejects calls to relax immigration rules as companies struggle to fill vacancies.

Jude Bellingham on target as Dortmund beat Hoffenheim 3-2 Joaquín Correa scores debut double as Inter win 3-1 at Verona Erling Braut Haaland fired a stoppage-time winner for Borussia Dortmund as they earned a thrilling 3-2 win over Hoffenheim , who thought they had earned a point through Munas Dabbur’s 90th-minute goal. Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric hit the woodwork with a third-minute shot before goalkeeper Oliver Baumann pulled off a great save to deny Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna. The US teenager did open the scoring with a bouncing shot to Baumann’s left, only for Christoph Baumgartner to level from Dennis Geiger’s fine through ball. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/european-roundup-dortmund-hoffenheim-verona-inter-erling-haaland

Shein said it did not fund nor approve adverts that suggested some ethnic minorities need not apply.

Guardiola will take a break after he leaves the club ‘I can leave in three months or I can leave in five years’ Pep Guardiola has given Manchester City hope that he could still be their manager in 2026 after declaring that he is not definitely leaving in 2023. The Spaniard remains adamant that he will take a break from management after his spell at the Etihad Stadium ends but has moved to clarify comments he made in a Zoom call to Brazil when he suggested he would depart when his contract finishes at the end of next season. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/pep-guardiola-insists-he-has-not-decided-to-leave-manchester-city-in-2023

One of the early 100% starts to the season must fall at Anfield where the tactical battle between Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, the personal duel between Virgil van Dijk and Romelu Lukaku and the outcome for two of the title favourites makes for a compelling occasion. Liverpool have won two of their past 11 home games in all competitions against Chelsea, who were among those to capitalise on the mid-season malaise at Anfield earlier this year, but have started in clinical, resolute style. Neither team have conceded a goal in the Premier League this season. Andy Hunter Saturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/liverpool-chelsea-match-preview-premier-league

Saturday 3pm Venue Amex Stadium Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/brighton-everton-match-preview-premier-league

A big day beckons for Adam Armstrong. Born and bred in Newcastle and part of his hometown club’s academy from the age of nine, the Southampton striker was devastated to be told he was not good enough to make the grade at St James’ Park. That was three years ago when Armstrong was sold to Blackburn in a transfer that would prove the making of him and preface this summer’s £15m switch to Southampton. Now he can show his former employer – and Steve Bruce’s side are not only winless so far this season but have scored just two goals in 270 minutes – precisely what they are missing. Louise Taylor Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/newcastle-southampton-match-preview-premier-league

Another London derby for Crystal Palace, who are still waiting for their first league win under Patrick Vieira. It has been an underwhelming start for Vieira, desperately seeking attacking reinforcements before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday. Palace are yet to score a league goal this season and they have taken one point from two games before visiting West Ham, who are close to signing Kurt Zouma from Chelsea. Jacob Steinberg Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/west-ham-crystal-palace-match-preview-premier-league

Dean Smith can take satisfaction from the fact that this is a Premier League match, since he played a role in the rise of both clubs. He did well during three seasons in charge of Brentford, during which he hired Thomas Frank as his assistant. Now Smith hopes Villa become the first team to score a league goal against Frank’s side this season. With Danny Ings having netted twice in two games so far, the hosts’ hopes will be high, even more so if Ollie Watkins is fit enough to make his first appearance of the season. Paul Doyle Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/aston-villa-brentford-match-preview-premier-league

The central bank's chairman says it could slow asset purchases this year but is in no rush to raise rates.

Manchester City defender will spend at least weekend behind bars after bail application refused The Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with four counts of rape and a sexual assault. The French international defender is accused of offences against a 17-year-old girl and two other complainants, a court heard on Friday. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/27/benjamin-mendy-footballer-remanded-in-custody-on-charges

Manager returns to the scene of past glories but faces stiff competition from Durham, Sheffield United and Sunderland So how did it come to this? Seven years after guiding Liverpool to a second successive Women’s Super League title, Matt Beard is back on Merseyside on a mission to extract his old club from the Championship. “It’s not going to be easy,” says a manager who left north-west England for the east coast of America only for his new employer, Boston Breakers, to fold. He returns – via subsequent stints at West Ham and Bristol City – to a club in reduced circumstances and facing intense competition from, among others, Durham and Sheffield United to escape an increasingly professionalised second tier. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/liverpool-and-matt-beard-target-wsl-but-face-toughest-championship-ever

The UK's pig farmers are warning of a backlog of as many as 70,000 pigs that should have been slaughtered.

• Ronaldo ‘no longer has any intention to play for Juventus’ • City expected to make formal bid for 36-year-old Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo has told Juventus he wants to leave, with Manchester City still in talks over a fee for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. City have yet to table a formal bid for the 36-year-old but the Juventus coach’s comments ahead of their trip to face Empoli in Serie A on Saturday gave an indication that there is an expectation the deal will now be done. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/manchester-city-cristiano-ronaldo-wants-to-leave-juventus-allegri

The Entertainer toy chain warns a lack of warehouse staff will hit the firm ahead of its key season.

Foxes also face Spartak Moscow, West Ham play Dinamo Zagreb Rangers draw Lyon and Sparta Prague, Celtic get Leverkusen Leicester will face Napoli in the Europa League group phase after being paired with the Italians in Friday’s draw. Related: Europa League draw: Leicester and Rangers both get tough group – live reaction! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/europa-league-leicester-draw-napoli-west-ham-land-in-favourable-group

All the latest as we count down to the weekend’s action Europa League and Conference League draws from 11am BST Man City set to bid for Ronaldo after Mendes contract talks Drop Luke an email | Tweet @LukeMcLaughlin 10.45am BST From the horse’s mouth, uefa.com, below are some details on how the imminent Europa League draw works : • The 32 clubs have been seeded into four groups of eight in accordance with the club coefficient rankings. 10.40am BST The Newcastle midfielder Matty Longstaff is close to joining Scottish Premiership outfit Aberdeen on loan, head coach Steve Bruce has confirmed. The 21-year-old found his chances at St James’ Park limited last season during which a contract wrangle and injuries hampered his progress. Speaking on Friday morning, Bruce said: “It’s happened very, very quickly over the last couple of days. We’ve said now for a good couple of weeks it’s important for young Matty to go and play some football. He had a difficult year through one thing and...

Ljungberg discusses his time at Arsenal, his teammates, his coaching career and what he learned from Arsène Wenger By The Coaches’ Voice for the Guardian Sport Network I never, ever get nervous. But the day I made my debut for Arsenal, I remember standing on the side of the pitch ready to come on – and I felt nervous. I’d only been in England for maybe five days. I had managed to play in a reserve game in that time, but I was a young player making a big move to a big city – and my first game was against Manchester United . I was on the bench, and after about 25 minutes the fans started singing my name. I came on for the last 10 minutes or so, replacing Nicolas Anelka, and I managed to score just a few minutes later. It was an amazing feeling – any anxiety I had felt before I came on the pitch just disappeared. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/freddie-ljungberg-arsenal-trophy-loved-it-arsene-wenger-coaching

This fluff is England’s newest hitmaker While the mooted move of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester City is certainly the biggest story in town, it is far from the only one as various clubs the length and breadth of Europe embark on last-ditch rounds of haggling, horse-trading and wheeler-dealing before the transfer window shuts next Tuesday night. Related: Kurt Zouma close to £25m West Ham move as Chelsea pursue Jules Koundé Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/football-transfer-rumours-richarlison-replacing-mbappe-at-psg

The airline tells staff the ending of the government scheme will be "bad news" for its costs.