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Liverpool came from two goals down to defeat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield and make it three wins from three in this season’s Champions League. Two goals from Alexis Mac Allister and one apiece from Ronald Araujo and Florian Wirtz completed the turnaround, with Rio Ngumoha superb. All of it came after Virgil van Dijk's poor header allowed Georges Mikautadze to score in the fourth minute. It was the earliest that Liverpool had fallen behind at Anfield in a major European tie for a quarter of a century but worse was to come when Sergi Cardona raced through to finish off a slick move for the Spanish side's second, a deserved lead at that stage. But Mac Allister's header from Kostas Tsimikas' corner pulled one back and the lively Ngumoha then fashioned an equaliser when Araujo ghosted in at the far post with Cardona sleeping. It was hardly deserved but Liverpool were rampant after the break. The introduction of Wirtz undoubtedly helped but it was Ngumoha whose dancing feet opened up the Villarreal defence to set up Mac Allister for his second. Wirtz then made it four himself with a left-footed finish beyond Peter Gulacsi. His relief was palpable. Andoni Iraola will likely feel the same after Tani Oluwaseyi set up a nervous finish. Liverpool have conceded three goals in each of their last two Champions League games but won them both. It has not been entirely convincing but it is a third victory in a row. They played Rio by Duran Duran upon the final whistle at Anfield, so obvious was it that the winger had been the best player on the pitch. Mac Allister scored two, Wirtz had his big moment but for all the expensive signings on show, Rio Ngumoha was the standout. Ngumoha finished with two assists and seven successful dribbles. There were times when three Villarreal players were trying to stop him but it never deterred him and you always sensed that the teenager had the trickery and the talent to find a way through. It was a privilege to watch him play and impossible not to imagine what is ahead for him. "On the ball, this kid has so much quality," said Daniel Sturridge on Amazon Prime . "It is stuff you can't teach. What he does with the ball at his feet, it is God-given ability." There is more to learn, of course. He was partially culpable for Villarreal's second goal, failing to track a runner. But that was hardly a story on a night when Ngumoha lit up Anfield. Others are under scrutiny at Liverpool. He is just having the time of his life. 4 - GOAL! Mikautadze seized on Van Dijk's poor header to score 29 - GOAL! Cardona raced through to finish slick Villarreal move 36 - GOAL! Mac Allister nodded in Tsimikas' right-wing corner 45+2 - GOAL! Araujo ghosted in behind Cardona to level it up 65 - GOAL! Mac Allister finished brilliant Ngumoha wing play 68 - GOAL! Wirtz's low left-footed finish quickly made it four 87 - GOAL! Oluwaseyi scored to set up a nervous Anfield finish Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola speaking in the press conference: "I think he was coming from a very good game the other day, he had a good second half against Brentford. Today he didn't have an easy game also because they were demanding him defensively and their left-back was attacking a lot. "There was a moment offensively where he was very difficult to stop. If we can put Rio in situations one against one, he makes plays, he produces things, today the assist for Alexis is a lovely play. He could go down for a penalty but he decides to continue which is a great decision. "Also endurance wise he is able to play more and more minutes. We were pushing him a little bit. He was tired but I think he has done a good effort and I'm very happy for him. "I am happy with his attitude because he is eager to improve things that we think he needs to improve. He is eager to add more things to his game. "He has been on the right lately, he is feeling more comfortable now, shooting on his left, he can add this to his game. He is only 18, still not the full package and it is not always going to be like this, there will be ups and downs in the process." Villarreal head coach Inigo Perez speaking in the press conference: "The key moment was when they equalised to make it 2-2 just before half-time. We had a fantastic first half. But the mentality and emotion drops, theirs grows and it affects you, particularly at Anfield. But we still managed to stay in the game until the end. "Rio Ngumoha had a great game but many other players played well. There were emotions, there were goals. When you play at Anfield these things can happen. When a goal is scored here, you can feel the reaction. "But I don't think we were close to being hammered. I believe if we are able to correct simple details - but elite details - we would be able to win on these big stages."

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Referees' chief Howard Webb believes there was nothing "clearly wrong" with the decision not to send off Newcastle defender Sven Botman for his tackle on Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson. "If VAR can't see that's a red, we're in trouble," said Sky Sports ' Jamie Redknapp. "It is so dangerous. How he's not broken his leg there... I like to see aggression. I want to see 50/50 tackles, but you can't do that anymore." After the game, Jackson told Sky Sports: "The referee said it was a yellow card but it was so high. Hopefully next time it is a red card. I nearly broke my leg, but it's fine. It's part of football." Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said on Ref Watch : "I think it's a red card. It's got everything for a red card tackle - it's got speed, intensity, he scissors him." However, Webb believes the incident reflects this season's approach of VAR not re-refereeing on-field decisions. On Match Officials Mic'd Up , he said: "We've seen quite a lot of robust tackling in the Premier League. This weekend we saw quite a few examples of strong tackles going in; it's part of the English game, the Premier League and what people like. We want to embrace that but we also have a responsibility to ensure players' safety. "Many of those situations that we've seen with those types of tackles are subjective - the referee's having to make a determination in the moment on how much force is used and the nature of the tackle. "We've really tried to encourage referees this season to make decisive on-field decisions, and in this situation we see the referee make a judgement on Joelinton's tackle by playing advantage and then Botman comes in. "The referee in the moment, on the ground, sees it as a reckless challenge - no doubt a high-end reckless challenge - as Botman comes in and gets a touch on the ball. "There's obviously some speed he comes in with. The VAR looks at that decision and tries to identify whether that was clearly wrong. "We don't want the referee's decision to be re-refereed by the VAR; we want the referee to have ownership of the decision and the VAR to only step in when there's an element that's clearly wrong. "So if the VAR had seen strong stud contact from Botman's extended leg into the ankle or shin of Jackson, or there had been a closing of the scissor, I think we'd have probably come out with a different outcome after the VAR had looked at it. "But he doesn't see that. He realises it's subjective, and he allows it to stay on the field with the referee's call standing. "Equally, if that had been a red card, for sure it would've been check complete by the VAR as well. "So, it's a good example really of how the referee's call is working in the Premier League this season. A lighter-touch approach: let the referees referee the decision and the VAR step in when there's something clearly really wrong." VAR - Stuart Attwell: "I don't like that. Right, so he hits the ball; he goes over the top of the ball. He doesn't go studs into the leg, but he goes round it with a scissor challenge." Attwell watches multiple replays and asks the AVAR: "What are you thinking?" Assistant VAR - Craig Taylor: " I think he plays the ball and there's limited contact with the player's leg." VAR: "It's not with the studs, is it? It goes round him." AVAR: "It's not with the studs. It's not a clear point of contact." VAR: "There's no secondary scissor action." VAR: "Jarred, confirming yellow card for Sven Botman and confirming yellow card for Joelinton. Two reckless tackles." Morgan Rogers escaped a red card in a similar incident during Chelsea's 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday before his team-mate Cole Palmer avoided a second yellow card for a late challenge. Webb did not address the tackles in Tuesday's edition of Match Officials Mic'd Up. Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on Soccer Saturday that Rogers deserved at least a yellow card, which would have sent him off after he was booked earlier. On Ref Watch , Bothroyd and Tim Sherwood both agreed it should have been a straight red card. Webb said Rodrigo Bentancur's red card and Luke Shaw's yellow card after the pair clashed in Tottenham's 1-1 draw at Manchester United were "absolutely the right outcome". Bentancur was sent off for headbutting Shaw after retaliating for being pushed over by the United left-back at Old Trafford in October. "When players make contact with their head, they're running a really high risk. It's seen as a violent act," said Webb. "When we apply the laws of the game, we differentiate between the neck, face and head compared to contacts into the chest. For us not to send off for contact into the face or head, it has to be deemed negligible and in this case it's not. "It's a fairly forceful act by Bentancur. You could argue the push by Shaw is also forceful but it's in the chest. You don't often see players sent off for pushes to the chest. "A yellow card for Luke Shaw, but it has to be a red card for Bentancur reacting in the way he does with his head."

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For Eirik Bjorno, Viking's chief executive, it was the first goal against Bayern Munich. "That was the moment," he tells Sky Sports . "You are preparing for wave after wave, maybe having a counter-attack or two, and then you score from the first corner." Erik Nevland, the Norwegian club's sporting director, preferred the second. "You can always score early," he explains. "But that was something that we had never dreamed of. It was crazy. More than we could expect. It was just a night for the history books." The third goal guaranteed that. Bayern had turned the game around with three goals of their own but Michael Olise was sent off and Viking seized the moment - their moment - to claim a draw on the night that Champions League football came to Stavanger. "It was the biggest game in our club's history," says Bjorno. "The most important learning is that we can actually compete. We can actually cope with the tempo." Viking certainly did that, managing to upset the Bundesliga champions in more ways than one. Max Eberl of the Bayern board was so ruffled by Zlatko Tripic's part in Michael Olise's red card that the executive made headlines by describing the Viking captain as a "scumbag" afterwards. "But he is our scumbag," says Nevland, laughing. "We love him." To understand just why the 48-year-old Nevland is enjoying this moment so much, some context is needed. The former Norway international left Viking to join Manchester United as a teenager and played for the club in the Premier League, later featuring for Fulham.

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Erik ten Hag has kept his counsel on Manchester United for two years since his sacking in October 2024, but the affection he built up for the club while winning two trophies still shines through when he speaks. "I enjoyed every minute in Manchester United; I have such wonderful memories," says the former United manager. "It feels like I'm connected; I'm a fan. It's an amazing fanbase; they were always respectful to me. "I really want United to win. I want them to be successful again. I want the club to be back where it once was."

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers... Arsenal and Tottenham are both interested in signing Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi , with the Gunners leading the race for the 22-year-old - Tuttosport Newcastle have been tracking Valencia winger David Otorbi , 19, as they look to strengthen their attacking options - Marca Barcelona are considering a sensational move for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in the summer of 2027 - El Nacional Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has asked the club to appoint former Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio . The Italian also wants to strengthen his attack in January, with Real Madrid youngster Endrick emerging as a potential transfer target - Mundo Deportivo Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia , 29, is close to agreeing a new contract after positive progress in talks - Daily Mail Paper Talk is a review of the sports headlines from the national newspapers, every Monday to Friday, live on Sky Sports News from 10.30pm. Missed the show? Catch up on the latest news with the Paper Talk podcast. Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha has distanced himself from a possible move to Arsenal , saying talks over a contract extension at Anfield are "going well" - Metro Manchester United could face competition from Juventus to appoint 57-year-old Italian Antonio Conte should they sack head coach Michael Carrick - talkSPORT Arsenal held serious talks with Mauricio Pochettino over replacing Unai Emery in 2019, just weeks after the Argentine was sacked by Tottenham - The Telegraph Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle has held a meeting with the club's senior players to seek feedback on his "vertical football" style and ensure they feel comfortable with the demands placed on a young squad - i Manchester United players were reportedly banned from speaking to the press after Sunday's draw at Leeds United , following Lisandro Martinez's outburst at the board - Daily Star Referees' chief Howard Webb has admitted reaching out to Manchester United twice to acknowledge a major mistake during derby defeat to Manchester City - Daily Star French police unions have called for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Barcelona to be postponed amid fears of further violent riots in Paris - Reuters

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James Maddison says he has "so much more to give" Tottenham after he marked his first start in nearly 18 months with a stunning goal that helped Spurs to their first Premier League win of the season. The playmaker was influential in the 3-1 victory over Coventry in north London, opening the scoring with a curling strike from range to set Roberto De Zerbi's side on their way to a much-needed win which moves them off the foot of the table. The 29-year-old, who has two years to run on his Spurs contract, first came back toward the end of last season after recovering from his ACL injury but has faced numerous setbacks that have delayed his full return until now. "I have so much more to give for this club," Maddison told Sky Sports. "I'm 29 and I still have plenty of years left. I have self-belief and plenty of qualities that can help us in this league." Spurs spent £334m on new signings in the summer after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League but they have struggled to have the desired impact. Maddison wanted to show that he was the missing piece of the puzzle when given his chance. Asked if he thought he could make this type of impact, Maddison added: "I hoped. I spoke to the gaffer [Roberto De Zerbi] about this week and feeling like it was the right moment for me to go back into the starting XI after a stop-start start to the season. "I just wanted to play well and to show my qualities and what the team has missed in the last 18 months since my last start. The gaffer asked me to play and wanted to enjoy watching me from the side, so hopefully I did that. A goal like that is always nice." "I think he is seen as that type of player," said Carragher. "He's naturally one of those people in the game who is always laughing and joking, trying to lift people around the dressing room. I think he will have a big impact. He's captained the club in the past. "Even though they've brought in a lot of attacking talent, he will still think no one's better than him because he's that type of character. He has that football arrogance that I like in players. "It will be interesting to see where he fits in eventually because there are a lot of players at Tottenham in the attacking positions, especially with Kulusevski back." Maddison found the top corner with a precise, curling effort that was teed up by Mohammed Kudus after just 14 minutes to give Spurs the start they needed after a dreadful start to the season on a tense night in north London. "It was a joy to see [his goal]," said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football. "He is one of the real characters in the game and you want him around Premier League football. "That was just a great moment. When you're a player with an injury like that, there will be a fear: will you ever come back or will you be the same player? There is still a long way to go, but he still has a bit of magic in his boots!" Maddison's last competitive start before the win over Coventry came in May 2025 when Ange Postecoglou was still in charge of Spurs, who have suffered desperately in the midfielder's absence, narrowly missing out on relegation last season. Speaking about his goal, Maddison said: "They are the ones you dream of. Those dark days recovering from the ACL you dream of those moments and those goals. That is always the light at the end of the tunnel." Maddison was not the only feel-good story for Spurs on Monday night. Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench to feature in a competitive game for the first time after 526 days out injured in what was an emotional return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. "I felt really emotional and proud of Dejan Kulusevski today because I knew exactly that feeling he had stepping back onto the pitch after that amount of time out," said Maddison. "Those moments and those goals they make it all worth it." "James Maddison was the star of the show and a big reason Spurs were able to secure the much-needed win. His goal speaks for itself. "But the rest of his play also stood out, in a slightly more understated manner. "He was dropping deep, finding pockets of space, threading passes for the runs of Dominic Solanke and threatening from the half spaces with his crossing ability. "Spurs, after all their investment in the summer, looked disjointed and uninspiring across the opening six games. "Maddison looks like the piece that could link the £300m pieces of this Spurs puzzle together. Whether that is through his own finishing or the ability to bring other players into the game. "Keeping him fit and firing is now essential to the club building on this game."

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Tottenham claimed their first Premier League win of the season by beating Coventry 3-1 as Dejan Kulusevski made his long-awaited return after 526 days out injured. Spurs were winless across their opening six games heading into this fixture but a week in the Marbella sunshine and a well-needed performance on home turf have helped address the doom and gloom, with brighter skies in N17 possibly on the horizon. James Maddison, making his first competitive start for Spurs since May 2025, announced his return to the starting line-up in emphatic style, curling his opener into the top corner against the club where his professional career began. The playmaker was influential throughout, seamlessly linking the £300m pieces of Roberto De Zerbi's squad that had previously looked disjointed and awkward, but Jack Rudoni's equaliser just four minutes into the second half punctured the positivity brewing inside the stadium. No side has dropped more points than Spurs from winning positions at home in the Premier League since the start of the 2024/25 season (30), but Omar Marmoush's first goal for the club, arrowing a fine strike into the far corner, put them on track to ensure they would not suffer the same fate on this occasion. The feelgood factor that comes with a win skyrocketed in the 85th minute when fan-favourite Kulusevski made his comeback off the bench, bringing an end to his lengthy spell on the sidelines. Ben Davies' surprise effort with the outside of the boot rounded off the victory, on what could prove to be the evening that kickstarted the 2026/27 season for Spurs. They move level on six points with Coventry and above their opponents on goal difference into 16th, having previously come into the fixture rock bottom of the table, and will now be tasked with building on their victory against London rivals Chelsea when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge, live on Saturday Night Football. 14: GOAL! Maddison curls stunning opener into the top corner on his return to the starting line-up. 18: NO GOA L! Dominic Solanke taps home Andy Robertson's cross but the offside flag had already gone up. 49: EQUALISER! Rudoni powers his way into the Tottenham penalty area to force an equaliser home after half-time. 58: GOAL! Marmoush restores Tottenham's lead with his first goal for the club as his fine strike nestles into the far corner. 86: KULU RETURNS! Spurs winger Kulusevski makes his long-awaited return to the pitch after 526 days out injured with a knee setback. 90+6: GAME OVER! Davies scores a surprise goal off the bench to guarantee Spurs' first league win of the season.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for 30 days and fined £215 over his walkout from the Portugal national team. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner unexpectedly left a training camp in Copenhagen last month on the eve of a Nations League fixture against Denmark after being left as an unused substitute in the game prior. Ronaldo had fallen out with Portugal's new head coach Jorge Jesus, who he later accused of breaking his word about the captain's role in the team. Jesus denied making any such agreement. The 41-year-old had asked to be punished by the Portuguese FA when he posted a lengthy letter detailing the circumstances which led to his departure from the national team. Ronaldo said he wanted to be spared any leniency. Ronaldo is the world's highest-paid player, reportedly earning £488,000-per-day at Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. Portugal's next match is against Denmark in the Nations League on November 14. The statement from the disciplinary council of the Portuguese FA does not specify when Ronaldo's ban begins. If the ban is retrospective, it would make Ronaldo available to play in Portugal's next matches against Denmark and Wales. That would mean it is up to Jesus to decide if Ronaldo should be called up. Ronaldo's last appearance for Portgual was in the 1-0 win over Wales in Lisbon in September.

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The letter, which has been seen by Sky Sports News , was written on Monday by UEFA secretary general Theodore Theodoridis and sent to his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom. Theodoridis gives FIFA two weeks to respond to UEFA's long list of concerns which were raised by European football leaders at the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich last Thursday. He begins by noting that Infantino acknowledged during the meeting that mistakes had been made but the explanations provided "have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions". "These questions require answers now," Theodoridis writes. "They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the FIFA Council - nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them." The 42 questions are split into 12 sections: 1. FIFA Forward Enterprise - the World Cup sell-off proposal. Why did Infantino negotiate to sell off a stake in FIFA tournaments in secret? "Could FIFA explain why an agreement granting exclusivity to Thrive Capital was signed without prior consultation of the FIFA Council? Who authorised FIFA to enter into this agreement, and on what basis? "Why was the FIFA Council not consulted before exclusivity was granted, irrespective of any approval that may have been envisaged at a later stage? "Could FIFA also confirm who the members of the Management Board Bureau were at the time of the decision and how each of them voted, specifying who voted in favour, who voted against and who abstained? "When was it intended that the FFE proposal and supporting documentation would be submitted to the FIFA Council?" 2. Will investigation into FIFA governance be independent and why is FIFA blocking release of documents? "How does FIFA intend to establish what actually happened in relation to FFE, the Balogun case and the other matters raised by members of the Council, and to ensure appropriate accountability for any shortcomings identified?" 3. Review of funding of FIFA's member associations. On what basis did FIFA propose to sell off a stake in World Cups at a valuation of $20bn when this summer's tournament generated revenues of $15bn? "Please explain the investment and exit assumptions underlying Thrive Capital's proposed participation". 4. Development funding and use of FIFA's financial resources. Why were member associations going to receive development funding to accept the sell-off proposal when FIFA already has $6bn cash reserves? "The FIFA president has repeatedly stated that FIFA's money belongs to its MAs. Why, then, was substantially increased funding for MAs presented in connection with FFE and external investment, rather than being financed directly from FIFA's own resources? "What exactly were MAs being asked to approve as part of the FFE proposal in order to access these additional funds? Following the withdrawal of FFE, FIFA has now proposed increasing funding to $25m per MA using its own reserves. Why was such an approach not considered before FFE was proposed?" 5. Remuneration and financial transparency. Why did Infantino receive a £1.3m payment in 2024 on top of his £4m FIFA salary? "Recent media reports, referring to filings by FIFA's US World Cup organising entity (FWC2026 US), indicate that the FIFA president received substantial additional remuneration which was not disclosed in FIFA's annual report. "Could FIFA clarify the nature, amount and basis of these payments, why they were not disclosed in FIFA's annual report, and whether they were reviewed and approved by the competent FIFA bodies? "Could FIFA also confirm whether the additional remuneration was treated as taxable income and whether the corresponding income tax was paid?" 6. Review of disciplinary procedures and the Balogun case. Why was Balogun allowed to play when he was suspended? "President Trump publicly acknowledged having called the FIFA president to request a review of the Balogun disciplinary case. What exactly did he ask him to do, and what was his response? Would the case have been reviewed in the absence of his intervention? "Following that conversation, did the FIFA president or the FIFA secretary general communicate with anyone within FIFA, including members of the administration or the chair of the disciplinary committee, concerning the Balogun case? If so, could FIFA specify with whom, when and the nature of those communications?" 7. Compliance with the Laws of the Game. Why was there a 27-minute World Cup final half-time show? "The half-time interval during the World Cup final lasted 27 minutes, without any prior request to the IFAB and consultation with the FIFA Council. "Similarly, the introduction of mandatory so called hydration breaks at all World Cup matches, in deviation from the existing rule was not preceded, to our knowledge, by consultation or a request for authorisation from the IFAB." 8. Electoral integrity and independence of FIFA's judicial bodies. UEFA doubts about whether FIFA presidential election will be fair. "The official electoral campaign period began on 30 April 2026, the date of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Which body, in addition to the FIFA Electoral Committee, is responsible for overseeing the electoral process, and what procedures and safeguards have been established to prevent the misuse of FIFA resources and ensure a fair and impartial presidential election? "We have concerns regarding the independence and impartiality of the chair of the FIFA Electoral Committee, Mr Chiomento, given the committee's crucial role in overseeing the presidential election." 9. Presidential expenditure and financial oversight. Infantino's private jet provided by Qatar Airways. "Numerous media reports in recent years have raised questions concerning the FIFA president's use of private aircraft and the costs of his accommodation, notably in Qatar and the United States. "Could FIFA provide a detailed account of the relevant expenditure, including its amounts, purposes, authorisation procedures and compliance with FIFA's applicable financial and travel policies?" 10. World Cup hospitality and allocation of privileges. "We request access to the complete list of guests seated in the VIP and VVIP sections during the World Cup final, including their names, positions and the reasons for their invitations. "Could FIFA also explain the criteria and decision-making process governing the allocation of these places, particularly in circumstances where numerous guests were apparently given priority over presidents of MAs and secretaries general of confederations?" "In the absence of any prior involvement of the FIFA Council, who decided to establish the FIFA Peace Prize, for what purpose, and who decided that the President of the United States should receive it? "What role did the FIFA president personally play in the creation of the award and the selection of its recipient? Were any independent selection procedures or objective criteria established and applied? If so, could FIFA provide the relevant documentation?" "A series of decisions, transactions and interventions involving the FIFA president, the President of the United States and individuals associated with him raise serious questions concerning potential conflicts of interest, transparency and institutional accountability." Arsene Wenger would be a popular choice to take on Infantino but FIFA's global football development chief has made no comment about a potential challenge.

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Crystal Palace have no immediate plans to change their manager - but Pierre Sage is under increasing pressure following their 5-0 thrashing at Brighton on Sunday. Palace find themselves 14th with seven points from seven games and Sage was unable to give assurances he had the club's full support after such a bitter defeat to their rivals. Chairman Steve Parish recently stated the club was on "high alert" during the transitionary process from the era of Oliver Glasner into the new one under Sage, which includes a number of new players and a first Europa League campaign. Asked after the defeat whether he would be given time to turn things around, Sage said: "I don't know. "I just want to apologise to the fans because it's not normal to show this face for this club against this other club, and we are not at the level we expected. "I am really sorry for that because I know how important it is for them. "We didn't show that today it was really important for us too. We didn't understand in which context this game was played." Sage has come under fire for his attacking approach at Palace, who have the worst defence in the Premier League after conceding 17 goals in seven matches. Palace's defensive unit took a hit over the summer with the sales of Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix, both of whom were big figures in the club's success under Glasner. Palace signed central-defenders Axel Disasi and 18-year-old Honest Ahanor on loan in the summer to replace Lacroix and Marc Guehi, who left to join Manchester City in January of this year. Anan Khalaili was brought in from Union Saint-Gilloise initially to compete with minutes for Munoz but his arrival ended up paving the way for the Colombian to leave.

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Celtic winger Jota says he has found extra gratitude and strength after wrestling with his "demons" during an 18-month lay-off. The Portuguese player took another major step in his comeback when he returned to Celtic Park action as a half-time substitute in Sunday's 7-1 demolition of Hearts. The 27-year-old suffered a serious knee injury as Celtic clinched the title at Tannadice in April 2025, just as he was rediscovering his form after a difficult time in between spells at Parkhead. He had joined Saudi club Al Ittihad and soon found himself unable to play when the club went over their foreign players quota, before a frustrating stint at Rennes. The recovery from injury was far from smooth, but he is determined to make the most of his fitness. "In the end, it's part of everyone's life," he said. "Everyone struggles, but certainly other people have worse problems. "So I'm just grateful and privileged to be in such a wonderful sport and to have all of these experiences. "I've met some demons and I've had some good talks with them. I think we developed a good relationship and we are all on the same table nowadays and we can laugh about everything that happened. "If you don't grow from a situation like this, it's because you didn't learn anything. "I could step away, see different things from other perspectives and value some stuff that maybe I wasn't valuing before. "And now it's good because I have a clear idea of what I want, what I am. I might have it before as well, but now it's a bit clearer. "The happiest thing in life for me is to play football. I couldn't in the last year or so. So right now, every time I step on a training pitch or a football pitch, for me it's everything. That's why I'm enjoying so much and valuing this so much." The former Benfica player, who is not in Celtic's Europa League squad, revealed his "passion for football" was his motivation. "My love for football is immense," he added. "Maybe someone else wouldn't want to come back because of the struggle or some guys just don't have that in themselves. That was my fuel to keep on working every day, to be healthy and fit, even if things weren't going that way. "This is my dream. It's my passion. So there's moments where you reflect, there's moments where you're down and you cannot see any light, but that doesn't mean that you stop believing. You just need to find another way. "But in the end, my aim was always to come back fit, whatever time I need to take, because I still have a long career in front of me and I'm still young. "So there's no rush, let's do everything correctly and just trust the process." When asked if he felt he was making up for lost time, Jota said: "There's no lost time because I grew a lot. It had to be what it had to be and I didn't lose. I actually gained because I'm way stronger nowadays."

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Michael Carrick called Sunday's draw at Leeds a 'fresh start'. Gary Neville described it as a 'stepping stone'. Most unattached observers came to another conclusion entirely. That is Manchester United in this moment. A confusing mix of juxtapositions. A club obsessed with taking one step forward and two steps back. Only ever one result away from complete disaster. Carrick's position remains precariously poised given United have only won two of 10 games in all competitions so far this season. To speak of fresh starts as early as October surely evokes more worry than it arrests. The sentiment is understandable. But why is it necessary? The sense of calm that Carrick has overseen at Old Trafford since succeeding Ruben Amorim's melodrama in January is close to shattering, despite what he perceived to be improvement at Elland Road. And that is the point, isn't it? That a 1-1 draw at Leeds is actually presented as success. That another lead blown is an acceptable balance of probability in Carrick's favour because United did not completely buckle after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's equaliser. In truth, United only competed in fits and starts. Another performance made up of individual parts. The momentum chart below shows two periods of the game where the visitors exerted control, once in the first half, when Bryan Mbeumo scored, and for 15 minutes in the second half. Daniel Farke believed his side were the only team to show any inclination towards winning the game. Of course the source must be considered, but most would politely agree with the German's reading. The stats corroborate Farke's version of events. Leeds had 61 per cent of the ball, a greater xG value, more touches in the opposition box, ran further, sprinted faster and finished with 73 final-third entries to United's 59. Carrick's side, playing without a recognised striker to match Leeds' structure, struggled for sustained rhythm despite taking the lead, with Diogo Dalot as their main source of chance creation. Not Bruno Fernandes. Not Bryan Mbeumo or Amad. Dalot. How can that be possible?

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The defeat to Brighton has scared Arsenal. After winning the league, they came out and played some entertaining football, but then that result happened and they’ve gone back to being an efficient machine. It frightened them and they've reverted to type. And the type is that they won't let in any goals, and they'll make an opportunity to score a goal, and that's exactly what they did at Nottingham Forest. I don't think I've ever seen a game where a team has that much possession and still doesn't look like scoring a goal in a month of Sundays. It was as bad as it gets. It's unbelievable how you can have that much of the ball and not look like scoring. I used to watch Arsene Wenger's teams and they would have 30 shots from that amount of play. Forest just sat there and waited to get beat and Arsenal couldn't beat them. Other teams have seen the blueprint to play against Arsenal: sit back and defend. It's not hard. It's not like they're going to make 20, 30 chances. The wingers don't go past anybody. No one runs beyond the ball. The ball isn't being held up. There's no real movement. I was blown away watching their performance against Forest. I know they won by not playing well, and that's a great sign, but at the same time I thought the shackles would be off this season and they would really start playing. Bruno Guimaraes has got to play in every game. He's the one who can pass the ball. I just can't see how they beat Bayern Munich this week. If I was Bayern, I'd just open the game up and just say you have a shot, we have a shot because there'll only be one winner. Can Arsenal outscore teams? This is a massive football match. This gives you a marker for where you are in the Champions League, because you just don't know how strong these leagues are. I like Kai Havertz. He's a good footballer. But when the Bayern Munich centre-halves go to bed, is he giving them a sleepless night? Are they awake worrying that they're playing against Havertz? X factor is what wins a Champions League and I don't see that at Arsenal. I don't see Havertz or Viktor Gyokeres as the difference-maker. It's fine when you're playing against lesser teams, but it's different when you're playing against Europe's big boys. I still see Arsenal winning the league because I just think they just need one goal. I feel Manchester City need two goals every football game to win. Arsenal just need one and they'll win. I've played for big teams and I've played for teams that weren't big - it's a different game. Eberechi Eze is a prime example. It's so, so different. He was substituted at half-time against Forest, but if he played like that for Crystal Palace, he would still be on the pitch. You've got to perform at Arsenal. You've got to play in a shape. You can't just play your own game. You can't be a free spirit at big clubs anymore. At Palace, the team talk is 'give the ball to Eze, everything goes through him and then we'll work from there'. You go to Arsenal, there are four of them. Give the ball to Bruno. Give the ball to Bukayo Saka. Give the ball to Martin Odegaard. Give the ball to Declan Rice. At Arsenal, he gets on the ball, and he's got to make things happen in the 25, 30 times he's touched the ball instead of the 100 times he touches the ball at Palace. I've seen him try to nutmeg people on the edge of his own box at Crystal Palace and lose the ball, but it's alright. That's no disrespect to Palace, but it's just different playing for a big team. The pressure is on week in, week out at Arsenal. They can win at Forest and they'll still get criticised by people like me. That's the difference. I remember Aston Villa away last year. Eze falls asleep at the far post, Matty Cash scores and he gets subbed at half-time. He started only one league game in the next two months. The lad can play. He's a lovely player, but I don't know if he'll be lovely for Arsenal. I don't know if he'll get the chance because as soon as he doesn't do well, he's off. Arsenal have too many players on the bench, so it's easy to take him off. That's the problem.

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Celtic turned on the style to humiliate Hearts after Rangers failed to take the chance to move to the top of the Scottish Premiership. Back-to-back defeats for new Hibernian boss Marink Reedijk means they are now bottom, while Motherwell and St Mirren could be in trouble after five straight defeats. Celtic's lead at the top is now four points, the same as the gap between seventh and 12th. We take a look at some of the talking points from another dramatic weekend of Premiership action... Celtic had no wins in five, but went on an unbelievable scoring spree against last season's runners-up Hearts to extend their lead at the top. Encouraged by their second-half showing in Thursday's 4-1 Europa League defeat to Benfica, the manager started with the front three that finished that game in Lisbon. And all three - Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran - scored in the 7-1 demolition of their title rivals. There was no place in the squad for Sebastien Tounekti after a dismal showing in Lisbon and Sunday's performance suggested O'Neill does have better options. Celtic were outstanding at times but Hearts, who had lost just one of their last 14 games in all competitions, played a part in their own humiliation. A failure to defend corner kicks was their undoing, losing two goals from Celtic's first three set-pieces. The game was effectively over after 10 minutes, but by half-time the hosts had scored five. Boyd saw signs of Celtic under Ange Postecoglou, but can they hit the same levels for the rest of the season? It is back to the Europa League and Benfica again for the Hoops on Thursday night, while Hearts are away to Trabzonspor in the Conference League. Rangers went to Dundee knowing an eighth straight win would see them return to the top of the Premiership, at least until Celtic played. But a poor first half and a late mistake from Dan Neil saw them leave Dens Park with a 2-2 draw. They did work hard to undo a struggling start to take the lead, but one lapse in concentration from Neil saw them drop two points. Derek McInnes said pre-match that it was too early to put pressure on their title challengers with a win, then claimed Dundee's second goal was like "a balloon popping." There is no doubt it was an opportunity missed for the Ibrox side, and the manager will be keen for an immediate response when they host newly promoted St Johnstone on Saturday. Reedijk can have no doubts about the size of job he has inherited at Hibernian after his home debut ended with them dropping to the foot of the table. It is now six league games without a win for the Easter Road side, who are in great need of a goalscorer. They can attack, but lack that final touch in front of goal. Combine that with too many needless errors and it is clear to see why the Hibees are looking up at the rest of the league after nine games. The fans are demanding an immediate improvement, but next up is the daunting challenge of Celtic on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. They also have a massive League Cup semi-final clash against Edinburgh rivals Hearts on November 1. Can the new boss turn things around before that trip to Hampden Park? It looked like Alfred Johansson had picked up where Jens Berthel Askou left off at Motherwell, but five straight defeats means the Fir Park side are just one point from the foot of the table. They are now on their longest losing run since February 2025, as the side who were brief title contenders last season find themselves in early trouble. There were some positives and glimpses of the Steelmen of last season. Tawanda Maswanhise hit the crossbar, but they were sloppy and struggled to dominate against a side that had won just once going into the game. Johansson needs to find some form and quickly. Their next challenge is a home clash against a hurting Hearts side who will also be desperate for a response. St Mirren have also lost their last five Premiership games, but sit two points above Motherwell in eighth. They started brightly against Aberdeen, but failure to take advantage of their first-half dominance cost them all three points. Buddies boss Craig McLeish can take some positives from the first half at Pittodrie, but knows he has to halt their dismal run to avoid the possibility of dropping bottom of the table.

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A gulf is appearing at the top of the Women's Super League. By most observers estimations that is not surprising. Manchester City remain perfect so far, their momentum too compelling to resist as title favourites. Chelsea look formidable too. What intrigues me is how far London City Lionesses have come in such a short space of time to join them as front-runners. I don't believe they have enough to upstage Man City or Chelsea, but perhaps there is merit in Michele Kang's Champions League wish after all. Many thought this season was too soon. I still have one foot in that camp. And yet, London City are third. Five points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham, who they humbled 6-1 a fortnight ago. My stance on their staying power based on that evidence is beginning to soften. Only Chelsea have scored more times from open play. Alexia Putellas is now wielding more influence on games, albeit she started from the bench at the weekend. The consistency of their many final-third creators, even when Putellas does not play, makes for a persuasive argument. Opta's big chances created metric is probably the best judge of creativity flow in a team and London City rank top. There is a stylistic maturity to their game. The way they sweep forward with numbers and intensity can open up just about any defensive block, the forward line all combining for a wonderfully-worked opener against Everton at the weekend. Danielle van de Donk's instinctive flick to unlock the zone from which Delphine Cascarino scored showed skill and, more impressive still, connectivity. The relentlessness of their press created a second opportunity for Freya Godfrey not long after, which she buried emphatically. A squad that boasts so many attacking talents should be scoring these types of goals. There should be tactical variety and imagination. But the way Maestre has knitted all those pieces together to create a cohesive unit with clear patterns of play deserves attention. A true measure of their stamina arrives at the beginning of next month when they host league leaders Man City. There is no greater test. No doubt they will approach it with the confidence of a side that is showing rapid development and an identifiable desire to mix it with the best in the division. Of course one of the giants had to fall for London City to assume a place in the top three. That giant is Arsenal. Their latest flop against newly promoted Birmingham City perfectly encapsulated the mood around north London. They are this season's big losers. The Gunners are currently on their longest winless run in the side's history. Boos could be heard from the stands at the weekend. Renee Slegers is running out of hiding places. Her side is no longer one that plays on instinct and impulse. All their top creators appear inhibited, unable to summon the strength to break through opposition teams who choose to block rather than play. Of course that is their prerogative. Birmingham were excellent at it on Saturday. And so Arsenal lose more ground. Confidence takes another hit. 19-year-old Lisa Baum is the only player to score more than once in the league this term - as a new signing. Leadership looks lost. They are already well out of the running for the title with a 12-point gap to Man City at the top. Before long, they will be out of European contention, too. Ella Toone has long been Manchester United's poster girl. A lifelong fan, who grew up supporting the club in Tyldesley, about 11 miles north of Old Trafford. It's only right she has a place in its history books, scoring the opener in victory over Charlton at the weekend to take her level with Leah Galton as the club's leading scorer of WSL goals. Man Utd made it three wins on the spin in the process as Eva Olid's stamp continues to become more recognisable. Toone has played a big part in that transition.