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Celtic cruised to victory against title rivals Hearts to move four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Hearts returned to Parkhead for the first time since their trophy heartbreak in May, hoping to exact some revenge, only for Celtic to pile on the misery. The Hoops raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes, with both goals coming from Mika Baur corners. Kieran Tierney headed home the opener before Benjamin Nygren's deflected volley doubled Celtic's advantage. Callum Osmand, who secured Celtic's title five months ago, marked his first start for the club with a quickfire double. He capitalised on a terrible pass from Sabri Guendouz to slot home before heading in the rebound after Camilo Duran was denied. Laurent Mendy pulled a goal back for Hearts, but their hopes of a comeback took another hit before the break when Stephen Kingsley and Jamie McCart combined to turn the ball into their own net. After missing a glorious chance, Duran made amends by curling home Celtic's sixth shortly after the restart, before Nygren added a seventh late on to cap a miserable afternoon for Hearts. It was a statement win for Martin O'Neill's side, who reminded Hearts - winless away from Edinburgh since January - of what it takes to claim the Premiership title. Got Sky? Watch the Scottish Prem on your phone 7: GOAL! Celtic take an early lead! Liam Scales gets on the end of Mika Baur's corner and he heads it to Kieran Tierney to nod into the net. 10: GOAL! Celtic's second corner, Celtic's second goal. Baur sends it in with Dane Murray flicking it on to Benjamin Nygren and his deflected volley hits the back of the net. 18: OFF THE POST! Haissem Hassan easily beats Stephen Kingsley and gets a shot away, but it smacks the upright. 36: GOAL! Callum Osmand celebrates his first start by taking advantage of Sabri Guendouz's terrible pass to slot home. 38: GOAL! Camilo Duran's first effort is saved by Reus. He pounces on the rebound and sends the ball to Osmand to head his second of the game. 41: GOAL! The visitors pull one back before the break as Laurent Mendy curls a powerful drive into the net from around 16 yards. 44: CLOSE! Duran is through on goal but sends it wide. That should be five. 45+1: GOAL! Baur cuts through the defence and flicks over Reus, and Kingsley knocks it over his own line off fellow defender McCart. 49: GOAL CELTIC! Tierney slips the ball through for Duran and he curls it into the net. 83: GOAL CELTIC! Kasper Hogh spins away from the Hearts defence and plays it out to Nygren and he slots the ball into the corner.

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Manchester City held off a spirited fightback from Brighton to close out a 3-2 win and maintain their perfect start in the Women’s Super League. Andree Jeglertz's side raced to a 3-0 lead within 18 minutes, with an early double from Khadjia Shaw and a first goal for summer signing Niamh Charles. Brighton, though, rallied before the break with goals from Olivia Garcia and Caitlin Hayes. City remain two points ahead of Chelsea , who thrashed Tottenham 6-2. Lauren James starred for Sonia Bompastor's side with two goals, which was matched by her team-mate Ellie Carpenter. Spurs were level at the break thanks to Matilda Vinberg, but three goals in nine blistering second-half minutes swung the game Chelsea's way. London City Lionesses made it a full house for the top three, beating Everton 2-1. First-half goals from Delphine Cascarino and England winger Freya Godfrey had seemingly put the Lionesses in control. Everton, though, set up a tense finish after substitute Holly McNamara headed in with 20 minutes left. Manchester United are up to fifth in the table after a third successive league win, seeing off bottom side Charlton 3-1. Three goals in the opening 13 minutes saw Ella Toone and Andrea Medina put United two up before Leah Davidson pulled one back. Julia Zigioitti Olme completed the scoring just after the half-hour mark. Aston Villa stunned faltering Liverpool , coming from behind to secure a 2-1 win for their first league success of the season. Natalia Ramos scored a spectacular early opener but Villa improved after half-time, with Chasity Grant firing in an equaliser before a Grace Fisk own goal. Kelly Gago scored the only goal in the first half as West Ham defeated Crystal Palace 1-0.

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Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson both struck in a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man Sunderland as Bournemouth picked up their first Premier League win of the season. The hosts took a deserved early lead when Kevin Danso and Omar Alderete failed to deal with a routine long ball, allowing Evanilson to nip in and dink across for Tavernier to head in from close range. Sunderland's problems soon worsened when Danso was shown a straight red card after failing to deal with a bouncing ball and hauling down Evanilson as the Brazilian striker went through on goal. The away side managed to keep Bournemouth's lead down to just one goal in the first half, but went further behind within minutes of the restart. Evanilson capitalised on a loose back pass from Alderete and rounded Robin Roefs, before rolling the ball into the empty net. Evanilson and compatriot Rayan both had chances to extend Bournmouth's lead further, but Roefs made a number of good saves to help keep the scoreline in check. Bournemouth jump up to 15th with a much-needed three points, but it's a fourth straight loss for Sunderland, who are now 19th and next in action against Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday. 6: GOAL! Evanilson gets free and the Brazilian unselfishly sets up a goal on a plate for the unmarked Tavernier to head in from close range. 17: RED CARD! Danso is shown a straight red card for hauling down Evanilson when through on goal. 22: SHOT! All Bournemouth as now Hill, with all the time in the world, flashes a drive past the left-hand post. 31: MISS! Rayan's shot is saved and the unmarked Smith blazes over on the rebound with the goal gaping 45: SAVE! Rayan lashes a shot at goal from 25 yards out, which is kept out by Roefs at his near post. 48: GOAL! Evanilson capitalises on another horrible mistake at the back by Alderete to double Bournemouth's lead. 60: CHANCE! It should be a third for the hosts after Rayan's initial effort is blocked but Evanilson cannot get the better of Roefs. 69: CLOSE! Rayan's ball in is hooked goalwards by Evanilson, but his effort floats wide of the near post. 90+2: CLOSE! Kluivert latches on to a poor clearance and flashes a strike inches past the far post with Roefs rooted to his line.

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Brighton dismantled rivals Crystal Palace 5-0 as Diego Gomez scored from the halfway line in a very one-sided M23 derby. For Palace, it was a case of gone in 600 seconds as Brighton stormed into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes, combining incredible intensity with jaw-dropping quality. The opener was a nightmare for Jaydee Canvot, whose own goal set the tone for a miserable afternoon for the visitors following a Pascal Gross delivery from the left. Palace needed to steady themselves. Instead, they completely lost their bearings. What followed was simply outrageous. Gomez spotted an opportunity from the halfway line and produced a moment of audacious brilliance, catching Palace off guard with a strike that could be replayed for years to come Before Palace could even catch their breath, Yasin Ayari made it 3-0 inside 10 minutes. Three goals, barely any time to process them and a derby that had threatened to be a contest being completely dominated by this brilliant Brighton side. Palace needed a reaction after the break, but Brighton had other ideas. The hosts struck again just three minutes into the second half to make it 4-0, with Charalampos Kostoulas getting the goal his performance deserved. A VAR check for handball threatened to spoil the moment, but the goal stood after yet more intelligent work down the flank from Gross. Jean Philippe-Mateta hit the bar for lacklustre Palace who conceded one final goal before the day was out when substitute Jack Hinshelwood bundled home a late fifth. Brighton have now taken 16 points from the first seven matches this season and this victory caps a big turnaround for boss Fabian Hurzeler, who was booed off in this fixture last season after Palace won 1-0.

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Manchester United delivered a more committed performance in a changed formation but were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds as pressure on Michael Carrick continues to grow. In a week that included defeat to Atletico Madrid and an explosive interview from Lisandro Martinez - who started at Elland Road - the noise was calmed somewhat by a display that showed character, if not enough quality to claim a second league win of the season. United played without a recognised striker for the majority, allowing Youri Tielemans a more offensive role and he combined with Bryan Mbeumo to open the scoring in the first half. But Carrick's side faded badly as the game went on, another fixture in which they were outrun, eventually pegged back by an instinctive Dominic Calvert-Lewin strike from a poorly defended corner. Leeds away was pitched as the worst game to end a fractious week. In reality, it forced United to scrap and that at least appeared to show appetite for the fight. "In isolation, going to Leeds and performing how they did was a decent result," reflected Jamie Carragher. They were helped by the fact that Daniel Farke's side were not at their battling best. Man Utd have won just one of their seven Premier League matches this season (D4 L2), their fewest number of victories at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1986-87. There was, however, far more intent shown than in last week's drab draw with Spurs at Old Trafford, where disgruntled fans booed the team off, albeit results will read one Premier League win from seven - and none since August. Carrick will know that return is not good enough to dispel unwanted talk of pressure on his position. 27: CHANCE! Mbeumo connects with Tielemans' cross but heads off target unmarked. 35: GOAL! Mbeumo makes no mistake with his second chance from the boot of Tielemans, guiding a low finish past James Trafford. 45: SUB! Martinez is replaced at half-time by Noussair Mazraoui but Carrick sticks with back three formation. 51: GOAL! Calvert-Lewin latches onto Tarik Muharemovic's knockdown from a corner and beats Senne Lammens from close range.

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The Premier League’s second-lowest scorers have, unsurprisingly, been working on their finishing in training this week. But when it came to giving advice on scoring goals, head coach Oliver Glasner knew when to hand over to an expert. Nottingham Forest have had the third-most shots in the top flight but rank 19th in conversion rate, netting five fewer than their expected goals. Glasner can only tell his squad so much about scoring. "I was explaining to the team what we were going to do," Glasner told Sky Sports . "Chris Wood was standing next to me and I passed the words to him because he has scored almost 200 goals in English football, 92 in the Premier League. "Who can talk more about scoring goals than Chris Wood can? Because I didn't score any goals in the Premier League. I scored 20 in my entire career." Wood, 34, took on a coaching role for a moment. "He spoke to the team and I loved his message," said Glasner. "It was, 'Never lose your confidence in your ability' and I like it. "He said there is always another [chance] around the corner and that's exactly it. You wait for the next one and then you have the next opportunity to get your goal." Forest have an identical league record to this time last season, when Nuno Espirito Santo had already lost his job before Ange Postecoglou became the club's second managerial casualty in their opening eight games. Glasner is in the spotlight after winning just one of his first seven in all competitions, though he knows he doesn't have to provide every solution himself. "I would be completely stupid if I didn't use the experience and the quality we have in our team," he said. "We all want the same, we all want to be successful and we are together. It doesn't always mean that the manager has the answers to everything. "That's how a team works. You support each other with advice, with experience and with a kick into the a**. Then you have the manager and the coaching staff that guide you and tell everyone which path you want to go." Forest's defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend, in which they had 24 shots, was their most frustrating yet, not least because of the recent history between the two clubs and Glasner's connection with the south London side. He described it as their best attacking performance. "We were high-pressing with low transitions, we had open play chances, we were really a big threat in set-pieces, but the final bit we were missing," he said. "If you miss a few chances, we all know, if this gets into your head, then you have a problem. That's why we don't make a problem out of it. It's part of the game. "In this situation, it's important to stay calm. I would have concerns if we don't create chances, if the opposition gets so many chances, but it's more the opposite." Their problems do extend beyond finishing. They have won only once at the City Ground in the league since Christmas and haven't scored there this season. Sunday's home fixture against champions Arsenal offers little respite. "They were outrunning the opposition every single game this season," he said. "You are the champions, very often they have 60 or 70 per cent possession, but they are outrunning [opponents], because the effort of every single player is so high. This is the biggest compliment for Mikel Arteta. "But on the other side, I am very confident that we will create two, three, four good chances. Then it is about being efficient, taking the chances."

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday's newspapers... Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly keen to leave Arsenal due to a lack of first-team opportunities - Sunday Mirror Arsenal are hellbent on revamping whatever they can to capitalise on a first Premier League title in 22 years and cement their place in Europe's elite. Next in their sights is their London Colney training base - Mail on Sunday Peter Schmeichel has described his CBS Sports post-match interview with Lisandro Martinez as "clumsy" and said he did not know the full context of the Manchester United defender's comments - The Athletic Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani could be handed a fresh chance to enter the world of football ownership almost three years on from being pipped by Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the race to buy Manchester United. The Qatari's father Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani is reportedly spearheading a move for Italian heavyweights Inter Milan via investment firm Al Mirqab, where Sheikh Jassim holds a prominent role - Sunday Mirror Former England striker Fraizer Campbell has revealed he became addicted to snus, the controversial tobacco product which has become rife in English football - The Athletic 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. Chris Woakes has accused the ECB of 'bottling' the chance to project England's historic World Cup win with an open top bus parade - Mail on Sunday South African rugby player Hyron Andrews was found in cardiac arrest in a shower cubicle locked from the inside, as French police investigate the circumstances surrounding his death at the age of 31 - Mail on Sunday Anthony Yarde can retire a wealthy man even without winning a world title, with millions already in the bank - The Sun on Sunday Dan Evans believes that British tennis player Emma Raducanu will win Wimbledon one day - Sunday Telegraph

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Callum Jones scored a second-half equaliser as Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw by Dundee and missed the chance to go top of the Scottish Premiership. Dundee opened the scoring when Rangers failed to deal with a routine long ball, with Bradley Fink capitalising to round the goalkeeper and slide home. The lead did not last long, though, as Badredine Bouanani cut inside and curled in a stunning equaliser to open his account for Rangers. Nico Raskin scored the goal of the game when his shot from outside the area went in off the underside of the crossbar. But Jones then caught Dan Neil dwelling on the ball and nicked it off the Rangers captain to slot home the Dundee equaliser. Rangers remain second and move one point behind Celtic, who host Hearts live on Sky Sports on Sunday from 2.30pm. Got Sky? Watch the Scottish Prem on your phone "Dundee are a good team. They're not there [in the table] by fluke or luck. "They've got a style of play, Steven Pressley has got a group of players willing to run themselves into the ground for him and that's hard to get. "They put in a shift and even when they're asked to dig in and suffer like they did for the first 20/25 minutes of that second half. "They then got a second wind and came back at Rangers and asked questions of them. "A draw was a fair result. It took wonder strikes to get Rangers two goals. "There was a lack of creativity at the top end of the pitch and it's something they're going to have to improve."

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Johan Manzambi came back to haunt Newcastle as his first-half goal was enough for Aston Villa to win 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday Night Football. The midfielder had agreed a deal to join the Magpies in the summer before a late bid saw him move to the Midlands instead, and he has impressed since making his debut. He scored in the Champions League against Fernerbahce in midweek - on his 21st birthday - and continued his hot streak when he nodded home the only goal of the game in the 36th minute. In conceding, Newcastle set a new club record of 16 successive games in all competitions in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet. It came shortly after a controversial moment when Sven Botman should have been sent off. He was initially shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Nicolas Jackson, but VAR reviewed it for serious foul play. However, they decided not to upgrade the booking and Botman remained on the pitch. "If VAR can't see that's a red, we're in trouble," Sky Sports ' Jamie Redknapp said at half-time. "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." #NEWAVL – 17’The referee’s call of yellow card to Botman for the challenge on Jackson was checked and confirmed by VAR.REF: “I think it's reckless. Even though you get a touch on the ball, it's still reckless”. However, Newcastle ultimately ended the first half with no shots on target. There were some better openings in the second half for the Magpies - including a wonderful save from Zion Suzuki to deny Botman - but that proved to be their only shot on target in a game where they lacked the final touch. Newcastle were loudly booed at both half-time and the final whistle as the team's stuttering start under Matthias Jaissle continued. Aston Villa were also guilty of not finishing their chances but looked far more like the team Unai Emery wants. The three points sends them level on eight points with Newcastle and just a place behind. 9: CHANCE! Jackson is through on goal but his shot goes straight at Lukas Hornicek. 18: YELLOWS! Joelinton and Botman are both booked for hefty challenges, with a VAR review for Botman's foul on Jackson. 20: NO RED! VAR do not see a clear and obvious error and Botman does not receive a red card. 29: CHANCE! Jackson has another chance to score, but his effort comes off Botman's backside. 35: GOAL! Manzambi rises high to nod home Gomes' cross for Villa's opener. 39: OFF THE POST! Emi Buendia almost makes it two for Aston Villa, but hits the post. 49: HUGE SAVE! Botman's thunderous strike is pushed away by Suzuki's fingertips. 73: SAVE! From Hornicek this time as he pushes Ross Barkley's shot away.

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Liverpool spent close to £400m on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola. Against Brentford, there was evidence that expensively-assembled attack might finally be clicking. Isak was on the fringes of the game for long periods, limited to only 16 touches by the dogged hosts. But his brilliantly-taken goal, controlled and rifled home with dizzying speed in the second half, was a reminder of just how deadly he can be at his best. It took him to five goals for the season. Only Erling Haaland has scored more in the Premier League. He is putting a difficult first season behind him and Andoni Iraola will be encouraged that it was Barcola who provided the assist. The France international came into the game off the back of scoring a hat-trick against LASK in midweek and while he couldn't find the net against Brentford, missing a golden opportunity in the first half and hitting the bar in the second, Iraola liked what he saw. "I love that he's having so many chances and being in those situations," said the Liverpool boss. Then there was Wirtz, who provided the assist for Victor Munoz with a perfectly-weighted through-ball. It was one of nine chances created - the joint-most by any Liverpool player in a single game since Opta started taking records in 2003/04. Nick Wright Chelsea have the best front three in the Premier League but attack being the best form of defence for Xabi Alonso was never going to be sustainable. No team had conceded more goals than Chelsea's 13 after six Premier League matches. But, in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Everton, they showed a different side to their game. Remarkably, this was not only Alonso's first clean sheet in the league since his appointment but also Chelsea's first clean sheet in the league for nine months. Defensively, Chelsea have been a liability for some time. Alonso must fix that if his team are to take the leap and challenge again. The win at Everton was a step in the right direction. In the manager's words, Chelsea produced a "serious" and "mature" performance. These are the characteristics that will differentiate Chelsea from most of the chasing pack in a Premier League season where seriousness is sorely lacking among some of the so-called 'Big Six'. Alonso, clearly, is a serious manager. Zinny Boswell An ominous stat was provided by Opta during the build-up to Brentford's clash with Liverpool at the Gtech. "Since their promotion to the top flight in 2021, the Bees have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the Premier League (102)." A surprise, perhaps, given the Bees have taken to the top flight so well and finished in the top half in three of their first five seasons. And one that poses the question: what could have been? For Brentford fans, that will not bear thinking about. But that figure increased to 105 on Saturday, as they took the lead against the Reds before falling to a 2-1 defeat in a game they ended with nine men on the pitch. Without the first of those reds - shown to Yehor Yarmoliuk before half-time, it might have been different. The reality? It's 11 points dropped for the season now, more than any other team in the division. It has become a horrible habit - and one that needs kicking in to touch by Keith Andrews' men if those European ambitions are to materialise. Dan Long Could this be the turning point in Alvaro Arbeloa's Fulham reign? It is certainly a start. With reports suggesting the Spaniard had two games to save his job, he needed a response and his players delivered one. Fulham played with an intensity and attacking fluency that had been missing during their winless start to the Premier League season. They registered 10 first-half shots, moved the ball quickly and repeatedly exposed a Hull side who struggled to impose themselves. Alex Iwobi's goal was deserved, but the hosts could easily have won by a greater margin. There were encouraging signs of an identity taking shape, with the performance even prompting thoughts of 'Arbeloa-ball' at Craven Cottage. Yet one result cannot erase the concerns of the opening weeks, and Fulham made the closing stages unnecessarily nervy before Ryan Sessegnon's stoppage-time red card. The win lifts them out of the relegation zone and gives Arbeloa breathing space. Whether it proves a turning point depends on what follows. For now, he has bought himself time and shown what his Fulham side can be. William Bitibiri

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Our top tipster Lewis Jones, aka Jones Knows, provides his analysis and betting insight for a busy weekend of Premier League action. Bournemouth and Sunderland have managed just one win between them across their six matches this season. That sort of start can change the psychology of a football match. Confidence becomes fragile and avoiding defeat can feel more important than chasing victory. That makes under 2.5 goals at Evens an interesting proposition with Sky Bet. Bournemouth's historical goal numbers might tempt you towards another open, entertaining contest. Across their last 50 matches, the average total has been 3.1 goals per game. But I would be wary of leaning too heavily on that data in this spot. After shipping five goals in a single game at Chelsea, it is only natural for a team to take stock. Defensive security can become the priority. That is where the draw becomes an interesting possibility which rows alongside a low-scoring game. Neither side has done enough so far to inspire complete confidence and a cagey contest in which both teams are reluctant to play too risky would hardly be a surprise. Pascal Gross has been one of the Premier League's outstanding performers this season. He is the player who makes Brighton tick. But he carries a serious goal threat, too. Four goals already this season underlines that point. Add the fact he is on penalties and there are multiple routes to a goal. The market appears to be anticipating a comfortable win for Brighton with their expected goal output approaching three. That creates an interesting opportunity in the player goalscorer markets. If Brighton are expected to score freely, why are we being offered 7/2 with Sky Bet about one of their most influential players finding the net? That feels large. Gross has the technical quality to arrive in dangerous positions, the composure to finish chances and the added advantage of penalty-taking duties. In a fixture where Brighton are expected to create plenty, those qualities make him an appealing candidate to get on the scoresheet. It doesn't exactly take a Tony Bloom-like figure to work out that Leeds are a bet at these prices with 13/10 being offered by Sky Bet. Sometimes the noise surrounding Manchester United can become so deafening that it distorts the betting market but the chaos at Old Trafford right now makes the odds-against price about a Leeds victory particularly appealing. This is a nightmare fixture for a United side who look fragile, disjointed and incapable of dealing with opponents who bring relentless intensity. Leeds will make this an uncomfortable afternoon where turning the atmosphere at Elland Road makes home advantage key. United have shown this season that they struggle when opponents take the game to them physically and emotionally. Leeds have collected 45 points from 31 Premier League games since the start of December 2025 - a tally bettered by only five teams. Their home form is even more persuasive. Leeds have taken 29 points on their own patch over the same period. Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have collected more. In what is the same old story, the market appears to be giving Manchester United too much credit for their name and not enough weight to their current shortcomings. Back Leeds to bring the intensity and take the points. Arsenal remain one of the Premier League's elite defensive sides but there are signs that the absence of William Saliba is having a marginal impact on their ability to shut teams out. It is a subtle shift rather than a dramatic decline, yet subtle shifts matter when the market continues to price a defence as though it is operating at its absolute best. With Gabriel and Saliba paired together, Arsenal have averaged just 0.65 expected goals against per game. This season, that figure has risen to 0.9. It is hardly a collapse in defensive standards but it is a meaningful increase. Arsenal have conceded five goals across their last four Premier League games, too. It does suggest there may be more opportunities for opponents to find a breakthrough than the market assumes. Nottingham Forest are an interesting opponent in that regard. Their recent attacking performances have deserved more reward with Forest averaging 1.88 expected goals per 90 minutes. That is a healthy level of chance creation and it suggests their goal threat is stronger than their actual returns might indicate. At 10/11 with Sky Bet, both teams to score is the play. Arsenal remain formidable but their defensive numbers have edged in the wrong direction while Forest are creating enough chances to suggest a goal is coming. There is a disciplinary angle worth following with Roberto De Zerbi's attacking approach creating the conditions for opponents to find themselves making fouls and being shown cards. Since De Zerbi took charge, opposition teams have averaged 2.3 cards per 90 minutes against Spurs. That is an interesting trend particularly when you consider the type of wide players Tottenham have. Savio and Mohamed Kudus are dangerous one-vs-one operators who thrive on committing defenders. Savio has drawn a card every 154 minutes of Premier League action in his career while Kudus won 21 bookings off the opposition in his final season at West Ham, ranking third for cards drawn per game that campaign of all Premier League players to have played more than 1,000 minutes. Coventry full-back Milan van Ewijk is in the firing line then. Van Ewijk has already been booked twice this season, giving us some evidence that he is not immune to getting stuck in. At 7/2 with Sky Bet, the price offers an appealing return for a player who could be under sustained pressure.

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Brentford head coach Keith Andrews felt Jeremy Jacquet was "cute and clever" for his role in Yehor Yarmoliuk's red card in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. Ukraine international Yarmoliuk was sent off in the eighth minute of first-half stoppage time at the Gtech Community Stadium for catching Jacquet with what referee John Brooks called - after going to the VAR monitor - "a headbutting action". The Reds defender went to ground in the box - but Andoni Iraola's men were not awarded a penalty as a corner on the left-hand side had not yet been delivered. "We need to look at ourselves first, which we always do. We don't really tend to look at what part they played within the incident," said Andrews in his post-match press conference. "I do think they were cute, clever - but Yarmo needs to do better, so I can understand why it was a red." Asked what he meant, Andrews clarified: "If you look at where Jacquet is walking, he's not looking at the ball, is he? He's walking in to Yarmo." A further follow-up asked if he felt Jacquet made the most of the contact. "We focus on us and our actions within that and you can make up your own mind," he added. "Yarmo is an amazing young man. I think we need to remember he is young, very young, and he is someone who we love working with and trying to develop. He will learn from it." Goals from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak turned the game in Liverpool's favour and Andrews conceded Yarmoliuk's sending off "changes the dynamics of the game". To add insult to injury, his side ended the game with nine men after Vitaly Janelt was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Rio Ngumoha on the edge of the penalty area. "I've seen both of Vitaly's yellows back and where I'm at overall is that I like our players playing with emotion. I think it's a big part of the way we play," he said. "I like us to play on the edge and, when you do that and you feel like some decisions aren't fair, that can be very, very difficult for our players. I feel it and it can become very, very frustrating. Our players aren't robots. "I'm more alluding to his first one. I think the second one is about his honesty to get back and chase back towards his own goal, which we have in abundance. "We have a spirit within this team that I think is really, really special. Most midfielders wouldn't have been able to get back in to even challenge it. "Could there have been a bit more common sense with the second yellow? I think so." Iraola, meanwhile, felt the officials were wrong to overturn the Liverpool penalty award before Lewis-Potter's Brentford opener. Iraola agreed that Dango Ouattara touched the ball while challenging Alexis Mac Allister but insisted VAR should not have intervened, as was the case for Nottingham Forest's penalty against his side in their 2-2 draw at the City Ground in August. Alisson was controversially penalised for fouling Neco Williams in that game but the key match incidents panel unanimously agreed that it did not reach the threshold for a VAR check and Iraola feels the same logic should have applied to Saturday's incident. He said: "I think Dango touches the ball. I don't think it's a penalty. But also I don't think the VAR should intervene in that situation because there is clear contact after. "I remember in the Nottingham Forest penalty against us this season, where they tell us it's not a penalty, VAR is not going to intervene because there is contact. "So I think it's a very similar situation. I wouldn't call it a penalty, live. "I think after watching the replay Dango arrives to touch the ball a little bit. But the way they explained to me the situation against Forest is exactly that one. "I don't think the VAR should intervene."

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West Ham ended Swansea's four-match winning streak with a 1-0 away success that reduced the gap at the top of the Sky Bet Championship to a single point. Divine Mukasa's calm first-half finish proved the difference on an afternoon when a new attendance record of 20,973 was set at the Swansea.com Stadium. After West Ham's 6-0 thumping of Lincoln in midweek, this was a far more tactical affair but the importance of the win will not be lost on boss Nuno Espirito Santo. The Hammers climb to second, above Middlesbrough on goal difference, and to within a point of Swansea, who lost at home for the first time since April. Swansea had made their best start since 1923 by winning seven and drawing two of their opening 10 games. The Welsh outfit also boasted the tightest defence in the Championship, while West Ham's 29 league goals at a rate of almost three per game was the highest in England's top four divisions. There was a cup-tie feel to the occasion as the two teams battled for midfield supremacy, but openings were difficult to find. The first shot of any description took 34 minutes to arrive - but the Hammers made it count. Marko Stamenic was caught in possession and Pablo released Mohamadou Kante as Swansea defenders waited in vain for an offside flag. Kante showed good composure on the by-line to pick out the unmarked Mukasa, who slotted home his third goal of the season. It was only the third goal Swansea had conceded at home and the setback sparked the hosts in to action. Adam Idah and Ronaldo had shots deflected wide in the space of a minute before Ben Cabango shook the underside of the crossbar. Jay Fulton flighted a free-kick to the far post that was headed into Cabango's path by Moussa Yeo. Cabango swivelled in a congested penalty area to strike the frame of the Hammers' goal, and Swansea were unable to force the ball home in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. England international Jarrod Bowen had a quiet first half, but the Hammers skipper burst into life four minutes after the break to force a full-length stop from Lawrence Vigouroux. It was the Hammers who were starting to look like league leaders as Vigouroux produced two excellent saves to deny Pablo and Bowen. Idah fired just wide as Swansea rallied and Cabango made a hash of a bouncing ball in the penalty area as West Ham failed to clear Yeo's centre. Substitute Stephen Eustaquio was off target and Idah headed over as Swansea began to ask serious questions of the Hammers' back line. Bowen's mazy run deserved more than the careless finish from Manor Solomon that followed, but Ronald wasted a great chance to equalise in stoppage time.

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Oliver Arblaster's early strike and a strong defensive display saw Sheffield United take all three points from a 1-0 Championship victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate. The visitors took a fifth-minute lead when a headed clearance fell to Arblaster, who connected with a sweet right-footed volley from just outside the box which gave City goalkeeper Sam Tickle no chance. It proved enough to settle a contest high on endeavour but low on entertainment from which the Blades emerged worthy winners. For the Robins it meant a second home defeat in the space of four days without scoring a goal and their fans were quick to signal their frustration after nine minutes of stoppage time. City midfielder Luke McNally made his first start in a home game since February 2025 when he sustained a serious knee ligament injury. Yu Hirakawa and Rio Cardines also came in, while Blades manager Chris Wilder made five changes, bringing in Arblaster, Mark McGuinness, Harrison Burrows, Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Ayew. The first half might have been a different story had Hirakawa capitalised on a golden opportunity to put City in front after four minutes. The winger broke clear, but with the goal gaping miscued his shot straight at United goalkeeper Michael Cooper. Wrexham 4-1 Preston: Ben Whiteman scores as Red Dragons thump four Southampton 0-0 Bolton: Saint held at home by Trotters Norwich 0-1 Portsmouth: Marko Milovanovic scores penalty in Pompey win West Brom 3-2 Blackburn: Baggies hit back to win in five-goal thriller Derby 0-1 Stoke: Luke Graham nets winner for Potters Swansea 0-1 West Ham: Divine Mukasa nets winner as Hammers sink Championship leaders The miss was made to look more costly when Arblaster fired United in front a minute later and they went on to look the better side in the opening period, winning most of the physical battles and easily nullifying City's predictable attacks. Hirakawa did break away again in the 13th minute, this time going down under challenge inside the box but referee Ben Speedie waved away his penalty appeals. Tom Cannon volleyed wide for United and Liam Kitching was unlucky to see a 27th-minute effort blocked for a corner as the Blades looked the more threatening outfit. The half-time whistle brought loud booing from City supporters. Home boss Michael Skubala made two attacking changes at the start of the second half, sending on Elijah Adebayo and Jed Wallace for Scott Twine and George Tanner, but still his team failed to create much until two chances in quick succession in the 65th minute. A Wallace shot was blocked by Burrows and from the resulting corner Dom Ballard headed over at the near post. Soon United were pressing at the other end and Tickle did well to smother a Japhet Tanganga header on his line. It was the visitors who looked more likely to score in the closing stages, Cannon having a shot blocked into the path of substitute Ryan One, who fired over from the rebound and also sent a late header wide. City remained toothless and could have no complaints over the result.

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Wrexham eased the pressure on Phil Parkinson with a 4-1 Sky Bet Championship win over rock-bottom Preston. Joe Worrall scored his first goal in more than two years and, after Alfie Devine briefly brought Preston level, former Lilywhites midfielder Ben Whiteman struck next to score his first goal in Wrexham colours. Sam Smith gave the hosts breathing space just before the hour and Kieffer Moore killed it off moments later. In a week that had seen former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard linked with the manager's job, Wrexham's third league win of the season was a vital one as they moved up to 14th. But Preston remain stuck on four points from 11 games, with Graham Alexander having lost his first three games in charge. Parkinson got a big show of support from the home fans before kick-off but his side started on the back foot, with Worrall heading Odel Offiah's lobbed effort off the line before Andrew Hughes headed narrowly wide. Parkinson had made four changes, bringing in Smith to add more firepower, but it took some time for them to start to put any pressure on struggling Preston. Callum O'Hare's stabbed effort was pushed around the post by Daniel Iversen and Smith had a low shot saved before the breakthrough came from an unlikely source. Worrall, a summer signing from Burnley, had not scored since a late winner for Besiktas against Rizespor in May 2024, but the big defender rose highest to head in Danny Imray's curled cross on his home debut. That was a little bit of unwanted history for Preston, who equalled a club record set in 1969-70 for the longest run of league matches without a clean sheet at 26. But Wrexham have been struggling at the back themselves this term, with their only clean sheet coming in a goalless draw with Swansea, and five minutes later the visitors were level. Moore lost possession in midfield and Preston quickly worked it wide to Johnny Kenny. His angled shot was deflected but the ball fell for Devine who made no mistake for his first goal since March - and Preston's first since Alexander took over last month. Wrexham's second was a painful one for the visitors. Imray's cross was only half-cleared and fell for former Preston man Whiteman to hit a low shot which left Iversen wrong-footed and the midfielder almost apologetically celebrating. O'Hare might have killed it in first-half stoppage time as he burst into the box but his close-range shot was blocked. Preston had chances to get back into it early in the second half but Brad Potts, just on as a substitute, missed the target at the end of a sweeping counter. That quickly proved costly as Smith headed in Whiteman's corner moments later, with Moore then ending the contest as he flicked in Callum Doyle's low free-kick.