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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.

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England Women boss Sarina Wiegman will lead the Lionesses through to the end of Euro 2029 after signing a new two-year contract extension. The 56-year-old's previous deal was set to expire at the end of the 2027 World Cup. The new deal gives Wiegman the chance to guide England to a third straight European Championship title after earning the Lionesses' first major trophy with Euro 2022 victory, followed by a successful defence three years later. Under Wiegman, England also finished as World Cup runners-up in 2023 after a final defeat by Spain. The new contract extension is set to see Wiegman's time in charge as England Women boss reach eight years after her first game in 2021. Wiegman, who also won the 2017 Euros with her native Netherlands, said: "I am so happy to be able to carry on with this squad and cannot think of a better job in football. Working for a world-class organisation like The FA, and alongside so many people dedicated to winning England teams and the growth of our game, excites me every day. "I am grateful to Mark Bullingham, Debbie Hewitt and the FA Board for the incredible way they have backed me, my coaches and support team and, of course, the players. "I am honoured by their trust, which I never take for granted and want to keep this great partnership going. I have such a strong desire to see what more we can achieve together with our amazing fans. "I also want to keep supporting the wonderful collaborative work being led by The FA across the women's game, particularly in developing young players and coaches. "Of course, anyone who knows me will understand that my main concern right now is absolutely the World Cup, and helping this squad realise their potential in the years to come. We have an important job to do to confirm our place in Brazil, and hopefully we can do that and give the country another special summer to remember next year." Wiegman will aim to guide the Lionesses to the 2027 World Cup as England take on Ukraine over two legs in the final play-off round in December, with the winners of the tie progressing to the tournament in Brazil. Last year, Wiegman, who has also won two Arnold Clark Cups and the first Women's Finalissima against Brazil, was voted as the Best FIFA Women's Coach for a record-extending fifth time. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: "Sarina is an incredible coach, with an unparalleled record in major tournaments and I am so happy to continue to work with her for the next EURO cycle. "While we will all remember the trophies and thrilling moments she has given us, I know she is only looking forward. There is no one better to lead the Lionesses into the next two tournaments. "Sarina's impact on English football has been immense, and she continues to inspire so many throughout the game. We have so much more to do in the women's game and she will be instrumental in helping us to achieve that." Wiegman's new deal will also encompass the 2027 Nations League, which serves as a qualifying tournament for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. FA Chief Football Officer Dan Ashworth added: "We have been aware for a long time now that this is a golden age for women's football in this country, and Sarina has played a significant part. "In Sarina, we have an elite coach who has won consistently while operating at the highest tactical level, embracing innovation and never standing still. Her record is remarkable. "While Sarina is fuelled by a determination to keep on winning and to support the growth of the game, her humility also shines through. It is never about her but always about a desire to maximise the potential within players to be the best they can be." "England have reached the final of every tournament under her charge, her record close to flawless. "But the Dutchwoman has had to field more scrutiny over the past 12 months, much of it surrounding what many believe to be a stagnation of England's development. The bar for the Lionesses is extremely high. They are the two-time European champions and must be judged against the world's best. "So when they fell 4-0 to Spain recently and failed to qualify automatically for Brazil 2027, it drew criticism. But it was also a necessary reality check, and an opportunity for Wiegman to embrace the change she had resisted within her squad of champions. "There are some young, exciting talents coming through England's ranks. That much was demonstrated by 20-year-old Lexi Potter during the most recent international window. "Wiegman must see the potential in the next generation. And there is perhaps no better coach on the international scene to help them realise that potential. Now she can focus fully on how England might go about winning their first women's World Cup - and what can be achieved beyond."

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Welcome to The Euro Debrief , the Sky Sports column in which Adam Bate rounds up some of the key stories from the latest matches across the continent. This week: "When you see the first goal he scored, unbelievable," said Hansi Flick of Lamine Yamal. "This is, for me, at the moment, the best player in the world." It was an outrageous opener in his side's 5-2 win away to Real Betis as Barca made it nine wins from nine in LaLiga. There is certainly nothing outrageous about Flick's claim. The teenager's manipulation of the ball at speed is unparalleled. Betis competed - Giovani Lo Celso unfortunate to have a sensational strike of his own ruled out - but Barca's firepower is something else. They have scored 39 goals in their nine games so far, the best scoring start to a season in LaLiga by any team in 86 years and the longest run of victories to begin a campaign in 58 years. They will take some stopping and it is Real Madrid who will be next to try. Having been lucky enough to be there to see the first Clasico of last season, in which Lamine Yamal failed to back up his comments, released pre-match, accusing their great rivals of "stealing and complaining", it will be fascinating to see how this one plays out. The winger was relatively becalmed that day. One year on, and just one day before the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, momentum seems to be with him this time. A chance for this 10-out-of-10 player to make it 10 wins out of 10 for this thrilling Barcelona side. In truth, Real Madrid were just as impressive in their 4-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday. Arda Guler set the tone with an ambitious angled finish in the Bernabeu before Kylian Mbappe danced through for the first of his two goals as he warmed up for El Clasico too. All eyes will be on that showdown but the two great rivals are still separated in the league table by the presence of Atletico Madrid in second spot. That is because Alex Baena came off the bench to produce a fine finish into the side-netting to beat Espanyol late on. LaLiga results: Deportivo A Coruna 1-1 Levante, Espanyol 0-1 Atletico Madrid, Villarreal 0-0 Elche, Real Betis 2-5 Barcelona, Valencia 0-0 Athletic Club, Osasuna 2-0 Racing Santander, Celta Vigo 2-1 Alaves, Malaga 2-5 Real Sociedad, Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla. Harry Kane has not given up on grabbing the Ballon d'Or for himself at next week's ceremony and he offered more evidence for his compelling case as Bayern Munich went one better than Barcelona and racked up six goals in their dismantling of RB Leipzig. The England captain marked his 100th Bundesliga appearance by scoring one and setting up two more in what was a demolition at the Allianz Arena and something of a return to form for Bayern back in Bavaria after two consecutive draws away from home. Luis Diaz scored three goals and the slip-ups elsewhere in Germany saw normal service resume in the Bundesliga with Bayern claiming top spot. Borussia Dortmund do remain unbeaten themselves but they could only muster a disappointing draw away to Union Berlin. It means Dortmund go into their game against Eintracht Frankfurt next week, live on Sky Sports , still one point shy of the tally that seemed in the bag when two up to Werder Bremen last week. Niclas Fullkrug changed that and the striker pulled off another rescue act on Saturday, scoring twice to salvage a point against Paderborn. Freiburg, meanwhile, went into the weekend top of the table but suffered a 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen despite opening the scoring. That man Patrik Schick netted the winner, having now scored in all six of Leverkusen's Bundesliga games so far this season. How Borussia Monchengladbach could do with any kind of winner, from anyone. Our weekly check-in on the five-time champions of Germany reveals that they remain pointless after the latest 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim. New coach but the same old problems. Eintracht Frankfurt have parted ways with their sporting director Markus Krosche but the feel-good story in Germany goes on with newcomers Elversberg beating Augsburg 4-3 at home. Few fancied them to win many games but this was their second 4-3 win alone. Inter came from behind to win at Bologna and they remain top of the table in Italy but they are certainly not the biggest story in Serie A. That accolade belongs to Lazio after their remarkable 3-0 win over Juventus in Turin continued their astonishing run of form. It was already their best ever Serie A start but this was the most emphatic win yet, underlining their unexpected improvement under Gennaro Gattuso. The club had sold a tiny number of season tickets going into the campaign with fans at odds with the owner-president. But the team have been a revelation with so many players raising their level. Oliver Provstgaard opened the scoring against Juve with a glancing header, only the second top-division goal of his career, the previous having come for Velje in his native Denmark. His compatriot Gustav Isaksen scored too. Mattia Zaccagni has been magnificent. Nuno Taveres is in the form of his life. But it is true of so many. Davide Frattesi did not get a goal for Inter last season but recently scored in three games in a row. Dare Lazio dream of glory? Their neighbours Roma might have something to say about that. They remain unbeaten themselves and will be encouraged to have won comfortably enough against Genoa without the services of Donyell Malen, Roma's star striker still serving a suspension. Ruben Amorim's Milan, as they must now be known, are also yet to be beaten despite a wobble against Atalanta - holding on for a 3-2 victory. But it was not such good news for Napoli, who were defeated at Venezia - Kevin De Bruyne having a tame penalty saved. PSG briefly clambered their way to the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday as Luis Enrique continued his policy of patiently waiting to introduce his most devastating players from the bench. Strasbourg were one goal up on Saturday until Ousmane Dembele came on. Dembele proceeded to squander the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot but then provided the assist to level it up and go on to score what proved to be the winner. Fellow substitute Desire Doue added gloss to the scoreline in stoppage-time. Such depth. Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud, now 40, did score from the spot to earn a point for Lille and there was a 5-2 win for a resurgent Marseille at Angers. But both Monaco and Rennes missed the chance to go top, losing their away games to Lorient and Paris FC respectively. Liam Rosenior's Paris team were 4-3 winners, staying level on points with their illustrious neighbours from the capital. He is enjoying a superb start there. But it is Lyon who are top of the table now, hanging on with 10 men for a 2-1 win at home to Nice. There was a defeat for reigning champions PSV in the Netherlands, beaten in stoppage-time by Den Haag. Meanwhile, the Portuguese league took a break but over in Turkey credit is due to Youssoufa Moukoko who scored a late winner for his new side Corum. His smart finish was the Germany international's first goal since joining on loan as he attempts to rebuild a career that has lost momentum since his Dortmund days when Erling Haaland was describing him as the brightest young talent anywhere in the world.

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Monday's newspapers... Manchester United are weighing up a stunning move for ex-Tottenham forward Troy Parrott, with the club said to have 'sent officials' to Spain to watch him in action for Real Betis - Daily Mirror Pierre Sage is under growing pressure at Crystal Palace and could become the first Premier League manager sacked this season after an embarrassing 5-0 defeat against rivals Brighton - Daily Mail Manchester United fans were stunned when they noticed Sir Alex Ferguson sitting alongside iconic kitman Albert Morgan for the crunch match with Leeds - The Sun Nottingham Forest are the subject of fan discontent after banning a 'misogynistic' chant and warning their supporters of consequences if they continue to sing it - 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. Manchester United's players and staff have attributed part of the blame for their miserable start to the season to the cameras filming a behind-the-scenes documentary at the club - Daily Star Exiled Tottenham star Richarlison has shared a pointed social media post where he backed criticism of Roberto De Zerbi - Daily Mail 'A goal Brighton fans will never forget!' | Diego Gomez goal from ALL ANGLES Man City maintain perfect record as Chelsea, Man Utd and London City Lionesses all win - Women's Super League round-up Hilarious moment referee does ball-drop test on SWAMPED pitch Brighton 5-0 Crystal Palace: Fabian Hurzeler's side hit five in emphatic derby win as Gomez nets wondergoal Roy Keane and Ian Wright have their say on how Diego Gomez's 'goal of the season contender' compares Former Arsenal and England star Jack Wilshere has described former Celtic captain Scott Brown as the player in football he hated playing against the most - Scottish Sun Frank Warren wants Daniel Dubois to face the winner of Tyson Fury's blockbuster showdown with Anthony Joshua in a world heavyweight title unification - The Sun Derek Chisora reckons Fabio Wardley's boxing career is over following his brutal rematch loss to Daniel Dubois - The Sun

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Michael Carrick called Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leeds a "fresh start" on Sunday. No doubt that encapsulated the sense of relief the manager felt after watching his side battle and duel better than they had all season, showing the commitment that had been missing from most performances so far. He will be pleased Bryan Mbeumo's form is a continuation of what went before, though - about the only player who has shown a shade of consistency during this difficult start. Three of Mbeumo's four Premier League goals have put United 1-0 ahead this term. His strike against Leeds marked an important momentum shift in a game that could have otherwise got away from them. Fortunately for Carrick, Mbeumo has been a reliant source since his switch from Brentford, his 15 goals more than any other United player since his debut - including Bruno Fernandes. Just two victories from 10 games in all competitions means Carrick is not off the hook. But while Mbeumo keeps scoring, he's got something positive to hook performances on. Especially while Fernandes continues to look off-colour. Laura Hunter Eberechi Eze has spent a year at Arsenal since leaving Crystal Palace, but questions remain over whether he is ready to become one of the club's leading figures as their ambitions continue to grow. His talent is undeniable. The real concern is whether he can influence games consistently, and the trip to Nottingham Forest presented another opportunity to silence his doubters. With Arsenal struggling to break down Forest, Eze had the chance to make a difference. Instead, he was substituted at half-time, watching from the sidelines as Noni Madueke replaced him and went on to score the 80th-minute winner. Roy Keane's assessment on Sky Sports was telling, suggesting his concerns extended beyond a single performance. "We're still waiting for him, the talent is there," Keane said. "We just want him to be at Arsenal and be able to take responsibility and try to be the main man at a big club." That is the challenge facing Eze. At Crystal Palace, he was the focal point, the player expected to create chances and turn games in his team's favour. At Arsenal, however, talent alone will not earn him that status. He must deliver consistently, particularly in tight contests when his team need inspiration. Ian Wright offered some important context, describing Eze as a "moments player" who benefits from having players around him and can become isolated on the left. There is merit to that argument. Eze offers a different threat to Madueke, whose pace, directness and willingness to take on defenders gave Arsenal a fresh dimension in the second half. Yet that only underlines the challenge facing the former Palace man. While Madueke seized his opportunity and made an immediate impact, Eze failed to leave his mark on the contest. Competition for places is healthy at a club with Arsenal's ambitions. For Eze, though, the task is no longer simply to showcase his ability in flashes. He must demonstrate that he can influence games regularly, take responsibility when his team need him and establish himself as a first-choice player. The talent is there. Now, Eze must prove he can turn that potential into consistent performances and become one of Arsenal's main men. William Bitibiri There was only so long Nottingham Forest could rely on defensive resilience before their lack of goals caught up with them. Now they are in the relegation zone. Oliver Glasner's side have failed to score in every Premier League home game this season, and their defeat to Arsenal highlighted why they are in trouble. Forest competed and created opportunities but lacked the quality in the final third to make their efforts count. Liam Delap struggled to make an impact against Arsenal's defence, summing up a frustrating afternoon. Forest needed someone to take responsibility but their attacking play lacked conviction. That is the worry for Glasner. Defensive organisation can only take a team so far; they still need goals to win matches. Forest are now in the relegation zone with just five points. Their performances offer some encouragement, but until they find a reliable source of goals at the City Ground, it is difficult to see their situation improving. William Bitibiri There was a time when Hurzeler could barely win over his own supporters. Now he has Brighton dreaming again. Back in February, Hurzeler was booed off at the Amex after a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace. The frustration was palpable. Questions were being asked, patience was wearing thin. Fast forward to this 5-0 demolition of their fiercest rivals and the transformation is remarkable. This is what happens when a club refuses to panic. Brighton could have pulled the trigger when the noise around Hurzeler was at its loudest. Instead, they trusted their process and back their man. Brighton have always prided themselves on smart decision-making, from recruitment to managerial appointments. Hurzeler is the latest example of that philosophy working. And what better way to underline that progress than by dismantling Palace? The boos of February feel a long way away. Brighton are going places. Lewis Jones Crystal Palace won three trophies in the previous two seasons. On this evidence, they look a million miles away from those glories. This was Pierre Sage's worst day as Palace boss by some distance. There have been defeats this season where you could at least point to some decent football, a positive spell or an individual performance worth celebrating. At the Amex, there was nothing. No resistance, no response. Brighton ripped them apart in a 5-0 humiliation that exposed just how far Palace have fallen. The defensive holes were glaring. Replacing Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix was never going to be straightforward but the scale of the problem is becoming impossible to ignore. Palace look vulnerable every time opponents turn up the pressure. Last weekend, Nottingham Forest missed seven big chances in their defeat to Palace. That was a warning sign, perhaps one that was easy to dismiss with three points in the bag. Brighton offered no such charity. They punished Palace's mistakes ruthlessly. Sage must find answers quickly. If Palace continue to concede chances at this rate, the pressure on their manager will grow with every passing week. Their recent trophy haul feels a long way away. Lewis Jones Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose must have grown tired of constantly explaining how well his side had played in defeat this season, a recurring theme for the Cherries as they looked for a first Premier League win of the season under their new head coach, but no more after Sunday's much-needed, but hugely deserved victory over fellow strugglers Sunderland. Sure, the hosts were helped on their way to the the three points by some calamitous defending from the Black Cats, but it was more that they forced their opponents into those mistakes, including for both their goals, as well as Kevin Danso's 17th-minute red card. In fact, such was Bournemouth's dominance from start to finish at the Vitality that their final xG of 4.46 was their highest on record in the Premier League, with the German even joking after the game that he might now treat himself to a non-alcoholic beer. It may have taken Bournemouth seven league matches to get off the mark but anyone who has watched them this season knows that first victory was just around the corner. They must now build on it, especially at home, where they have lost one of their last 15 top-flight contests. Maintaining the Vitality as a fortress will go a long way to ensuring another fine campaign. Rich Morgan

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Hearts returned to Celtic Park looking for revenge but were taught a lesson by the side who snatched the Scottish Premiership title from their grasp. After last season's final-day showdown, the Hoops reminded Wouter Vrancken's team what it takes to win the league trophy with a "devastating" performance. It is a result that moves Martin O'Neill's men four points clear at the top of the table with Hearts left in third, a further four points behind Rangers. Encouraged by their second-half showing in Thursday's 3-1 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. Celtic were outstanding at times but Hearts played a part in their own humiliation. "That first half was devastating. Hearts, I cannot for the life of me work out what they were trying to do there," said Kris Boyd. "To come here and show the lack of respect to Celtic that Hearts have done today would be a wake-up call for me. "You look at last year, Derek McInnes [then Hearts boss] got criticised for it from a lot of people in terms of just grinding out results. It may be an ugly watch but they were still there. "I don't see any of that Hearts team that's going in the Celtic team. I don't see any of it, so what would make you think you're better than them?" "That there was an annihilation. I mean, I have never seen anything like it in my life." Hearts had only conceded eight goals in the Premiership this season, before shipping seven in 90 minutes at Celtic Park. "I couldn't work out if Hearts were really poor or Celtic were really good. It's probably a combination of the two of them," said former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan. "The amount of times that Hearts gave the ball away in really dangerous areas for Celtic, and there would only be two passes and it was a goal, and they continually did it throughout the whole game. "There is levels to football. Hearts obviously last season went close and this season they want to challenge it and be up there. But you also have to understand the game. "They're 5-1 down at half-time and then whatever the manager said to them went completely out of their ears because then they conceded another goal four minutes into the second half. "It was a really poor performance from Hearts, which you haven't said that often in the last 12 months. At the same time, you've got to give Celtic a lot of credit." It was all too easy for Celtic on Sunday but that did not mean Martin O'Neill was ruling Hearts out of this season's title race after just nine games. "It's easy to be magnanimous after the game but they're still big challengers," the 74-year-old told Sky Sports . "Everything clicked for us today. We might have had two more chances but everything that we hit went into the net. "It was nice to win today because I was concerned after Thursday night, wondering how we feel, can we get ourselves together for it? "You ask any manager or any team, any player, they would say the same thing. Once you've put a couple of goals in front, then confidence just is so strong. "The team played with a lot of confidence but you have to gain that confidence in the first place. And that's what we did today." While Celtic welcome Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday night, Hearts are away to Trabzonspor in the Conference League. "When you're not on top level in the top games, then it's really difficult to get a result," Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken told Sky Sports . "It's good to analyse it, also the good things. Knowing where we come from and not losing the grip and confidence in what you're doing. We just have to do things better than today. "It was not good enough because of the individual mistakes and the two set plays which killed us at the beginning of the game. "We made mistakes that we wouldn't normally make. That's it. I'm sorry."

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United have just seven points from seven league matches, winning just one of those, which is their fewest number of victories at this stage of a top-flight season for 40 years. Despite extending their winless run in all competitions to six games with the draw at Elland Road, the performance was much improved, with Carrick's tactical tweaks making his side more compact and defensively solid. Neville agreed with the United head coach's assessment that Sunday's performance at Elland Road was a step in the right direction. Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast , the Sky Sports pundit said: "[There's] a depressed standard and a low expectation right now. "But it'll feel like a stepping stone for Michael Carrick, and it'll feel like the first step on the ladder in the Premier League. "They may take some confidence from that, and there might be a blueprint there. Maybe we have to bring Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford and others off the bench, and we might just have to have a go at being more solid." United's paltry points return has them sitting 13th in the Premier League after seven games, already five points adrift of fifth place, which was enough for Champions League qualification last season. Neville says there is no need for panic just yet but feels United have to show signs of improvement over the next few weeks otherwise Carrick could find himself in hot water come the new year. "I would say fourth would be a birdie, fifth would be par, and sixth would be a bogey," said Neville of his former club's targets for the season. "But they can't finish outside the top five, because then you're missing out on Champions League and it becomes a vicious circle. "Then you can't get those players because they want to play in the Champions League and you can't get the money from it and you've lost the £60m-£70m and you're in the Europa League on Thursday nights. "Fifth is a must for Michael Carrick to continue to grow and Manchester United continue to grow with investment. "If they're 13th in January, he's got a problem because then you are what you are. Whereas I think it's still early enough, seven points from seven games, to say, 'okay, still early in the season'. You can't say that after 15 games. "It has to change in the next few weeks: Bournemouth is really important and Chelsea away. And how he manages the games in between that. "You've got to say fifth. You know that anything less than fifth is going to be a disappointment and a dropping standard from the start of the season where everybody expected them to finish. "And at the moment, they're well short of that because you look at Brighton, Liverpool, Aston Villa - they look like they're picking up a little bit. It's difficult." Neville has seen encouraging signs from Carlos Baleba's start to life as a Manchester United player and feels the midfielder staying fit is crucial for Carrick this season. Signed from Brighton for £70m at the end of the summer window, the 21-year-old arrived with an ankle injury that has kept him from featuring until he came on in the second half of last Saturday's 1-1 draw against 10-man Tottenham. Baleba has started the last two games, at Atletico Madrid and Leeds, and brought an added steel to United's midfield alongside fellow summer-signing Andrey Santos. "I know he had a difficult season last year at Brighton, but you watch him in his first couple of games or so for United, and he's got something," said Neville. "He's got a bit of strength about him, he's got a presence. "Him staying fit is gonna be absolutely critical, I can understand why Michael Carrick took him off with 20 minutes to go [at Leeds], because he's played [nearly] three games in a week. "Maybe he doesn't play him against Como on Wednesday. We're not throwing the Champions League away, but Manchester United have to beat Bournemouth next weekend. "I just wonder whether that Santos-Baleba partnership is going to stay there for a bit, and let a couple of [the attacking players] float around in front, and be a lot more solid, make sure we're not giving as much space away. "I'm sick of Manchester United's team being easy to play against, and Michael Carrick will be sick of it." Como (A) - Champions League - Wednesday October 21 Bournemouth (H) - Premier League - Sunday October 25, live on Sky Sports Chelsea (A) - Premier League - Saturday October 31 Roma (H) - Champions League - Tuesday November 3 Aston Villa (H) - Premier League - Sunday November 8, live on Sky Sports Liverpool (A) - Premier League - Sunday November 22, live on Sky Sports