Key events
That’s all from us. Be sure to join Billy Munday now for updates from across the leagues in our Clockwatch.
FULL-TIME – early games
Championship:
Portsmouth 0-1 Stoke City
Coventry City 3-1 Watford
Ipswich Town 1-0 West Brom
League One:
League Two:
Newcastle v Fulham team news
Newcastle starting line-up: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Miley Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Schar, Tonali, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, Willock, Ramsey
Fulham starting line-up: Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Lukic, Adama, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Raul
Substitutes: Lecomte, Castagne, Amissah, Cuenca, Reed, Cairney, King, Kevin, Kusi-Asare
Chelsea v Sunderland team news
Chelsea starting line-up: Sanchez, James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Pedro, Garnacho, Guiu
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Fofana, Hato, Lavia, Santos, Estevao, Gittens, George
Sunderland starting line-up: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Reinildo, Geertrudia, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Traore, Isidor
Substitutes: Patterson, Neil, O’Nein, Talbi, Rigg, Brobbery, Mayenda, Jones, Masuaku
Championship: We finally have a goal in the game between Ipswich and West Brom, with the hosts taking the lead at Portman Road through Jack Clarke.
Philip Langeskov has added to the earlier conversation about Norwich:
“If Liam Manning is under immense pressure, so is our sporting director, Ben Knapper. After all, he sacked David Wagner after sneaking us into the play-offs. Most fans were on board, because the football was pragmatic to the point of invisibility. He then brought in Johannes Hoff Thorup, hailing him one of most exciting young coaches in Europe. A squad overhaul supported the young Dane, only for him to be sacked before the season was out. Liam Manning was identified as the solution, despite being more Wagner than Thorup. Cue another squad overhaul. Since then, we’ve been appalling. If Knapper sacks Manning, decency surely requires him to then sack himself. Either way, it’s an unholy mess. The more time passes, the more we come to regret the dismissal of that extremely loveable footballing philosopher, Daniel Farke.”
Championship: Watford have got a goal back! Imran Louza strikes from the penalty spot.
Rick Harris has given his thoughts and predictions for today’s Premier League games:
“I think Chelsea may struggle to beat Sunderland, especially after playing in Europe midweek. More like a 0-0 or 1-1. Newcastle also played in the Champions League and Fulham are one of those ‘don’t know what you are going to get’ teams so this also may be a score draw or even an away win.
“Brighton are United’s bogey team with wins at Old Trafford three seasons running, but Bruno is playing his 300th game and they finally got the successive PL wins money off their back with victory at Liverpool. Is this another false dawn? Signs are that United are getting their Mojo back so I think they will win this 2-0.
“Massive game this evening to see if Liverpool can stop the PL rot. I doubt Brentford will be as accommodating as Eintracht Frankfurt were in Germany and Liverpool tend not to play that well after a European game. Brentford to win for me, Jeff.”
League One: Wigan have equalised against Mansfield thanks to a 59th-minute strike from Oli Cooper.
League Two: Meanwhile, in the league below, Ryan Graydon has made it 1-1 between Fleetwood and Accrington Stanley.
Alonso sidesteps Lamine Yamal ‘cheating’ comment before Clasico
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso declined to comment on Saturday after Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal suggested the capital club “cheat” and “complain” in a televised interview on Friday.
Instead, Alonso directed his focus to Sunday’s El Clasico at the Bernabeu, emphasising the importance of the match for his LaLiga leaders who have 24 points, two ahead of Barca in second.
Alonso faced repeated questions from reporters regarding Yamal’s remarks, made during an appearance on a Kings League programme alongside former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
The 18-year-old Barca forward compared Real to Porcinos, a Kings League team, stating: “Of course! Yes, they cheat, they complain …” The comments, which Pique supported, stirred debate in the build-up to one of soccer’s most iconic fixtures.
When asked about Yamal’s statements, Alonso dismissed the topic. “It’s an important match … important enough,” he said.
“It has many ingredients for us to play well, for us to enjoy it. And that’s what excites us the most, the biggest incentive for tomorrow.”
Pressed further, Alonso reiterated his stance. “No, I’m not going to get into that. There have been a lot of statements from people in Barcelona and I can’t comment on them all. For us, the important thing is the pitch, what happens on the pitch. Where we’ve come from and what lies ahead. That’s what concerns me most and what we’ve been working on.”
Visibly irritated when the question came up a third time, Alonso, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real in June, added: “Are we going back to that? What I have in my head is that it’s going to be an intense and competitive match.
“We have to be prepared because there will be moments for everything. The players have to have the necessary adrenaline. I’m not thinking about other consequences.”
Alonso is determined to use the first Clasico of the season as a chance for Real Madrid to reclaim their dominance in big matches, a quality that has been questioned following heavy defeats by Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals and Atletico Madrid in LaLiga earlier in the campaign.
Last season, Barcelona inflicted further damage on their arch-rivals, beating Real four consecutive times across three competitions, including a 4-0 thrashing at the Bernabeu and a 5-2 victory in the Super Cup final.
“The match has a special flavour and is the most important one right now,” Alonso said when asked about the pressure to perform. “There will be similar situations, but it is completely different (from last season). We want to maximise our strengths.
“An El Clasico is special. The first one in this project. We need the stadium to have the energy of big matches, to push us forward. Looking ahead to tomorrow, we believe we are in good shape, both mentally and in terms of our football.”
Jeremy Boyce says:
“Sorry if Mac Millings and Mary Waltz aren’t enjoying the match today. Of course, Watford have their very own chaos ‘Marinakis’ owner in Gino Pozzo, who’s overseen one of the longest hiring/firing periods in footie with predictably chaotic results, none more so than today. They should count themselves lucky that they’re in the second tier and therefore it’s all happening under the radar for now. Who might they turn to next? I hear Ange Postecoglou is looking for work and might appreciate an opportunity for some low-profile rehabilitation employment.”
Barcelona will face LaLiga leaders Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu without their Brazil forward Raphinha, assistant coach Marcus Sorg confirmed on Saturday, as the Catalan side grapple with an extensive injury list.
The 28-year-old Raphinha, who has not recovered from a leg muscle injury, joins a host of high-profile absentees, including Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and goalkeepers Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
With 10 players sidelined since August, Barca’s injury crisis has left their squad severely depleted ahead of one of the most crucial fixtures of the season.
Despite Raphinha’s setback, the Spanish champions remain optimistic that they can count on key players Ferran Torres, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie De Jong, who all took part in Saturday’s team practice.
“Any team would miss Raphinha, but the situation is what it is. He is injured,” Sorg told a press conference.
“We’ll see if Ferran (Torres) starts, we’ll decide tomorrow. Jules Kounde also trained this morning and may play. I still have no idea about the starting eleven.” Torres left Spain’s camp early with leg muscle fatigue, while De Jong missed three training sessions this week due to illness and Kounde was forced out of the 6-1 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League in midweek after a blow to the leg.
The injuries further complicate the Catalans’ selection headaches for the crucial encounter against Real Madrid, who sit two points ahead of second-placed Barca after eight games.
Mary Waltz has messaged in from California to say:
“Pitch dark greetings from California. What a strange game for Watford. Multiple lovely scoring chances for the Hornets all for naught. Down 3 goals and now a red card.”
HALF-TIME – early games
Championship:
Portsmouth 0-0 Stoke City
Coventry City 3-0 Watford
Ipswich Town 0-0 West Brom
League One:
League Two:
Championship: When it rains, it pours. Watford are down to 10 men. James Abankwah sees red for a last-man challenge on Haji Wright.
Championship: And it’s 3-0 to Coventry thanks to a low-driven strike from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. Is there any way back for Watford now?
Dan Christmas has messaged in to say:
“Re. Liam Manning under pressure – I’m a ‘flown’ canary so I may not have all the inside knowledge, but as I understand it Ben Knapper would have a big say in sacking the manager, and that would reflect badly on him having hired Manning in the first place. I mean, if he survived losing to crisis club Derby then a big defeat by Swansea will hardly touch the sides. Incidentally, I think Will Hardly is the next trendy thing lined up to take over…”
League Two: Accrington Stanley have a 1-0 lead over Fleetwood Town thanks to an 11th-minute strike from Alex Henderson.
League One: Over at Field Mill, Will Evans has given Mansfield a 1-0 advantage over Wigan as we edge closer to half-time.
On that note, Watford fan Mac Millings messaged in just a few moments into the early kick-offs. He wrote:
“I believe my beloved Hornets have conceded the first goal 7 (SEVEN) games in a row. If they do that against a rampant Coventry side, it could be a long morning for me here in the U.S. Which, of course, means it’s time for my All-Time Breakfast foods XI:
Then, after the disastrous opening 10 minutes for the Hornets, he added:
“You look away for 5 minutes…”
I think it will certainly be a long morning – or afternoon – for any Watford fan…
Championship: Coventry have taken an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Brandon Thomas-Asante and Jamie Allen in the third and seventh minutes.
A nightmare start for Watford.
And with, I’m handing over to Emillia Hawkins who will steer you through the afternoon updates.
KICK OFF – early games
The games at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Portman Road, Fratton Park, Ewood Park, the Toughsheet Community Stadium, Field Mill*, Whaddon Road* and Highbury Stadium are all under way.
*Field Mill is technically called the One Call Stadium and Whaddon Road the EV Charger Points Stadium, alas.
There are a lot of ‘trendy’ managers in the Championship. Kieran McKenna was once linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, Will Still has a big reputation based on his work in France, Ryan Mason has come from Tottenham and Martí Cifuentes was much vaunted at QPR. Yet it’s Frank Lampard – often derided in his spells as a Premier League head coach – who sits top of the tree. Funny old game.
I guess this article could be three words long: “with great difficulty”.
Another email that wades into the ‘dinner party’ debate I didn’t even know existed.
“Good morning from Geneva,” writes Peter Greenwood. “Having been born and bred in Bury and now living here in Switzerland, I am comfortable with the dualism of ‘dinner’. I thought it was a nice touch to mention it – made matchday live more human somehow. Yet Carbonara is my least favourite Italian sauce.”
Last time I helmed the matchday live blog, I provided my predictions for the day’s coming Premier League games. Looking back, I got none of the scorelines correct, but let’s have another go today:
Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland
Newcastle 2-1 Fulham
Man Utd 1-1 Brighton
Brentford 2-3 Liverpool
Mockery incoming.
Norwich fans: is Liam Manning under immense pressure? The Canaries are languishing down in 22nd and defeat at Swansea today could spell big trouble.
A win against Swansea is a must, because a relegation battle, is not what I envisaged or expected after all the money we spent in the Summer. If there is no win, we need to get rid of Manning immediately.
It seems in the Championship nowadays, judging from those teamsheets, every team must have a Scandinavian goalkeeper, a centre-back called Phillips and at least one player with ‘Thomas’ in their name.
Championship team news
Coventry v Watford
Coventry: Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching; Mason-Clark, Grimes, Allen, Dasilva; Thomas-Asante, Wright, Sakamoto.
Watford: Selvik; Ngakia, Abankwah, Keben, Bola; Kayembe, Louza, Sissoko, Vata; Baah, Doumbia.
Ipswich v West Brom
Ipswich: Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipré, Davis; Matusiwa, J.Taylor, Walle Egeli, Szmodics, Philogene; Hirst.
West Brom: Griffiths; Campbell, Phillips, Mepham, C.Taylor; Diakité, Mowatt; Iling-Junior, Price, Johnston; Heggebø.
Portsmouth v Stoke
Portsmouth: Bursik; Williams, Matthews, Poole, Ogilvie; Yang, Dozzell, Pack, Chaplin; Kirk, Bishop.
Stoke: Johansson; Talvoierov, Phillips, Wilmot; Thomas, Pearson, Baker, Cresswell; Manhoef, Bae, Mubama.
Some emails!
Charles Antaki is delighted to see Danny Welbeck in form: “It warms the cockles to see Welbeck having a moment in the public eye. He’s one of a select few to leave Arsenal for whom the fans still feel affection; there was something instantly likeable about him as a character, and it was understood that he was probably a better player than injuries had allowed him to show. That he can be talked of for a possible England call up six years later is testament to his talent. So it’ll be Arsenal fans who’ll be especially pleased if he scores the winning goal at the World Cup – especially if he’s come on to replace that other guy.”
And Mark Hooper steps in to defend me: “Regardless of regional bias, it’s not as if ‘dinner party’ is an unusual concept. There’s even a quite good rock band named after it”
Women’s Nations League: A 2-0 defeat to Iceland in Ballymena last night left Northern Ireland with a mountain to climb in their two-legged promotion/relegation playoff. The second leg takes place in Reykjavik on Tuesday.
There was a better result for the Republic of Ireland, who beat Belgium 4-2 in their promotion/relegation play-off in Dublin, boosting their hopes of reaching League A. The return leg is on Tuesday, in Leuven.
In the Nations League semi-finals, a Klara Bühl strike gave Germany a 1-0 win over France while Alexia Putellas and Clàudia Pina bagged two apiece as Spain hammered Sweden 4-0. Again, the second legs are on Tuesday.
Spare a thought for fans of Truro City. They today are making the longest journey for a league match in English football history – a 914-mile round trip to Gateshead away today.
“I’ve been at Truro for 10 years now and we’re very, very used to travelling,” club captain Connor Riley-Lowe told the BBC. The players made a 12-hour bus journey to the north east yesterday, which included a stop for a training session at Derby County.
Sheffield Wednesday were placed into administration on Friday and given an automatic 12-point deduction by the EFL, which leaves them on minus six points. What a grim season it’s been for the club.
However, it seems Dejphon Chansiri’s time as (a very unpopular) owner is now at an end with administrators seeking a new ownership, amid talk of a supporter-led model.
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has ended its boycott of home matches and, ahead of today’s game against Oxford, tweeted:
Today’s about backing the lads on the pitch and the people who keep our club going off it. If you’re heading to Hillsborough, please spend what you can inside the ground and at the club shop, it all helps support the staff and the team now. Let’s make some noise and show what Sheffield Wednesday really is – its fans, its players, and its people.
Manager Henrik Pedersen said:
We have to be Sheffield Wednesday. We have to be a new Sheffield Wednesday with an old heart. We have to keep this understanding because we have a fantastic club, but this fantastic club deserves to grow.
Superb comment. Say no more.
Here’s another plug for that superb piece on Fishlock’s incredible journey.
Jess Fishlock has done so much for women’s sport in Wales. There’s almost nothing more to add.
As a footballer, she has consistently come across as the model professional, driving high standards, never accepting anything mediocrity. She’s pushed for better facilities and resources, and she’s been an enormous part of the improvements seen in the Welsh women’s team over the last decade.
And as a person, she’s come across brilliantly. She seems approachable, humble, she’s engaged with fans. There are so many stories of times where she’s gone above and beyond, meeting fans, giving away shirts, helping build enthusiasm for the next generation.
Fantastic footballer, fantastic person, she’ll be missed.
Are United ‘back’ then? I would advise caution when using that word. There have been false dawns in the past decade or so – many of them.
Today’s game versus Brighton represents a different kind of test for Ruben Amorim’s side after the high of their Anfield win. We’ve seen United’s 3-4-3 succeed in a low to mid block against the ‘bigger sides’, with United happy to sit deep and spring forward on the counterattack. Brighton will press, for sure, but they’ll also ask United to play through midfield, with Fabian Hürzeler setting traps to outfox Amorim’s players.
Albion have gained a reputation as United’s bogey team in recent years, winning six of their past seven meetings, including convincing 3-1 wins on their past two visits to Old Trafford.
Fernandes set for Manchester United landmark
Bruno Fernandes will make his 300th appearance for Manchester United when he leads them out against Brighton this evening. Is he the club’s best post-Fergie signing? Almost certainly.
Fernandes has been chatting to the media this week about his United future, amid those Saudi Pro League links and why the recent signings at Old Trafford are having an impact.
The 31-year-old’s family are settled in Manchester and he said “I feel good here. I want to achieve my dreams still.”
“At this club we need to sign big characters,” said Fernandes on the summer additions. “Being a good player is sometimes not enough because of the pressure and attention we get. We brought in players that are aware of the dimensions of the club.
“Matheus Cunha has that arrogance to say ‘give me the ball, I want to play, I want to make things’.
Have you tried On the ball, the Guardian’s new football game?
Give it a go on the ‘Puzzles’ tab of the Guardian app, with a handy guide right here.
Real Madrid v Barcelona. Jude Bellingham v Marcus Rashford. First v second in La Liga.
Small matter etc etc.
Can Liverpool resurrect their league form?
Liverpool’s 5-1 midweek shellacking of Eintracht Frankfurt at least put a halt to their run of four straight defeats in all competitions. It was the confidence boost Arne Slot and his players badly needed, but can they now turn around their Premier League form as well?
Slot went on the attack in his press conference previewing tonight’s trip to Brentford, standing up for the under-fire and off-colour senior duo of Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah.
He dubbed Van Dijk “the most influential captain I’ve had since I have been a manager” and backed Salah – who has not scored in the league since a penalty at Burnley a more than month ago – to “get into those [goalscoring] positions once more.
Alexander Isak is a doubt after suffering a groin injury against Frankfurt and Jeremie Frimpong and Alisson are absent.
I’m getting some stick in the comments for: a) mentioning my dinner party, and b) using the word ‘meagre’ to describe today’s Premier League fixture list. Four games out of 10 is quite meagre.
Fantasy Football Corner: The first thing to say is that you’ve missed the deadline, what with Leeds v West Ham last night. Those pesky Friday night games often catch me out, but alas not this week as I sorted my team amid a spell of Thursday morning boredom.
Who will bag points this weekend? You can never bet against Brighton getting among the goals at Old Trafford – Danny Welbeck perhaps? – while Chelsea’s forwards should thrive at home to Sunderland… emphasis there on should. A prominent ‘FPL expert’ was urging everyone to sell João Pedro this week. It’s a trap! It’s a trap!
My pick of the week: Marcos Senesi, playing at home to struggling Nottingham Forest.
What happened in Europe last night, I hear you ask?
Real Sociedad picked up a rare La Liga win, beating Sevilla 2-1; Werder Bremen edged Union Berlin in a mid-table Bundesliga contest; and AC Milan salvaged a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Pisa thanks to Zachary Athekame’s 93rd minute equaliser.
Today’s continental offering is far more meaty with Bayern Munich going to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the pick of the German games, plus four La Liga matches including Valencia v Villarreal. The small matter* of El Clásico is tomorrow.
Oh and Napoli lock horns with Inter at 5pm (BST) in a game that may prove illuminating re this season’s Serie A title race.
*It’s not a small matter, it’s a bloody big football match.
For me, dinner can either be lunch or tea. But that’s just me, Manchester-born, Stockport-bred.
Last night I made bruschetta and carbonara and called it a dinner party. *Shrugs*
I’m familiar with the concept of ‘dinner’. Of course I am. It’s the meal you eat at round half past midday or one o’clock. But a dinner party? What fresh madness is this?!
This is a really revealing interview with Brentford’s Sepp van den Berg who prepares to face his old side Liverpool tonight and looks back on his difficult time at the Merseyside club:
It was definitely dark days. As a 17-year-old boy coming in from a different country, you’re not the priority.
I was going home crying at some points and then not speaking to anyone. Do you call this depressed? I think it’s a bit too heavy a word. But I wasn’t feeling well. I wasn’t in the head space you are supposed to be in.
I had no confidence and that really affected me as a footballer. I was just constantly doubting myself, like I was not good enough. I didn’t want to go to training, which is not me. Then, you know you are really down low.
The Premier League offering may be rather meagre today but there’s some meaty clashes in the EFL – especially in the Championship.
Top of the table Coventry can continue their stellar form under Frank Lampard at home to Watford in one of the early games; Ipswich v West Brom is a battle of two underperforming sides who have ambitions to push higher in the table, while Wrexham go to second-placed Middlesbrough looking to inflict just a second defeat of the season on Rob Edwards’ side.
In League One, the clash between Stevenage and Bradford is an unlikely second v third scrap – both teams have defied the odds to sit in the promotion race at this stage, although Cardiff can stay top if they win at playoff-chasing Bolton in the early game.
I’m picking out Gillingham v Salford as the standout game in League Two. Both teams have been heavily tipped for promotion this season but currently lie in the playoff places after recent dips in form. Who can resurrect their fortunes this afternoon?
Aaaaand I’ve probably missed some big games in that short roundup/preview. Comment below or email me with your suggestions …
Here’s Sophie Downey writing on the incomparable Fishlock, by the way.
Scottish Premiership: Dundee United v St Mirren, Falkirk v Dundee and Livingston v Motherwell are the only three games in the top tier north of the border this afternoon – all 3pm kickoffs – but the story of the season so far (aside from Rangers’ struggles) has been about table-topping Hearts.
Here Ewan Murray takes a dive into the surprise success of the Gorgie Boys, who host Celtic on Sunday (midday KO) in the biggest test yet of their title credentials.
Welsh legend Jess Fishlock prepares to call time on a glittering international career this afternoon, as they take on Australia in a friendly at her home ground of Cardiff City Stadium.
It should be an emotional occasion for the icon of 165 caps, whose Wales career has spanned nearly two decades, with Fishlock telling the BBC she “owes everything to Wales”.
“My biggest success so far is having kids say: ‘I can do that’. It was never about me playing. All I want to do is play one more time in front of my family. It’s been the biggest honour to represent Wales.”
Whoever thought organising two games to kick off concurrently in Manchester’s two biggest grounds, one at Old Trafford and one at the Etihad, should give their head an almighty wobble.
It’s never been known for Manchester United and City to kick off at the same time, so why set that same arrangement for United and England’s Women? A baffling decision, the effects of which will be noticed by anyone and everyone travelling around Manchester today, on trains, tram or road.
Rant over.
Let’s have a gander at today’s football schedule, then, at least in terms of the big games:
12.30pm – Three Championship games, including Coventry v Watford
3pm – Chelsea v Sunderland & Newcastle v Fulham in the Premier League
3pm – Full EFL and Scottish schedule
5.30pm – Manchester United v Brighton
5.30pm – England Women v Brazil
8pm – Brentford v Liverpool
(All times BST – but don’t forget those clocks go back overnight!)
Here’s some corking Saturday morning reading for you.
Sir Kenny Dalglish talks to Donald McRae about the new film directed by Asif Kapadia which centres on the Scot’s remarkable career in football and his connection with Liverpool.
Watching the highlights of Leeds v West Ham (I was conducting a dinner party so missed the full shebang, sorry), I was struck by the ability of Noah Okafor on the wing. He seemed to be involved in everything good Daniel Farke’s side did and looks a cracking signing
Farke himself lauded a “win of passion and desire, togetherness and spirit”, while accepting Leeds could have been more dominant on the night.
The three points lift the Whites to 13th, with 11 points from their nine games so far, which is a decent launchpad for a realistic tilt at survival. Leeds fans, are you staying up this year? Get in touch!
Nuno not hiding after West Ham’s Leeds loss
It’s fair to say Nuno has gone from the Nottingham Forest frying pan to a furnace at West Ham.
If the Hammers weren’t in trouble before last night’s clash at Leeds, they most certainly are now after a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road left them 19th with just one win this season – which came against Nuno’s Forest when he was still at the City Ground. Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon scored early with Mateus Fernandes’s goal coming too late to spark a comeback.
“There are many problems in our club unfortunately,” said the Portuguese coach last night. “It is not up to us to hide ourselves behind the problems. Everyone has to be alive and to do much more and be in the right position.
“We were not dealing with our defensive situations and I felt like we needed a striker to hold the ball, so maybe that’s not the greatest from me. These kind of mistakes are unacceptable in the Premier League
“We don’t expect things to change by themselves. Realising we have time can be a mistake if we don’t change things around quickly.”
Preamble
Good morning and a very happy weekend to you all. Saturday mornings mean our matchday live is up and running and I’ll be steering it until around lunchtime. We’ll have reaction from last night’s games and plenty of buildup to a big weekend in the Premier League, EFL and beyond, with England’s Women taking on Brazil in a big international friendly at the Etihad Stadium later, too.
As always with matchday live, we encourage you to drop your comments in below the line, or send us an email with your thoughts and predictions for the weekend to come.
I’ll start by plugging our usual ‘10 things to look out for’ before we turn to last night’s Premier League action and some problems already for Nuno Espírito Santo and West Ham United.