Latest from FourFourTwo in Feature

How to watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham for FREE: Live stream details for Carabao Cup 1st round tie

James Roberts — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham for free as the Red Dragons travel to the Riverside in the first round of the Carabao Cup, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Middlesbrough vs Wrexham: key information

Date: Friday, 7 August
Kick-off time: 8:00pm BST / 3:00pm ET / 5:00am AEST (Sat)
Watch for FREE: ITVX (UK)
Live Streams: Sky Sports (UK) / Paramount+ (US) / beIN SPORTS (Australia)
Watch from anywhere: Get 75% off with NordVPN

Both teams' sole aim for the season will be promotion to the Premier League, so this cup clash should provide a useful barometer of how they stack up against another side likely to challenge towards the top of the Championship.

While the focus will be on their respective league openers next weekend, this Friday-night clash presents both Middlesbrough and Wrexham with a great chance to hit the ground running.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham for free?

Yes! In the UK, free-to-air broadcaster ITV is showing at least one game per round in this season's Carabao Cup - and Middlesbrough vs Wrexham is their chosen first-round match.

You can watch live on ITV1 or on the ITVX free streaming service at no cost (pre-registration is required). Kick-off is at 8pm BST.

Not in the UK? Use NordVPN to unlock your ITVX stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Middlesbrough vs Wrexham. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

Get 75% off NordVPN + 3 months extra free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
✅ Unblocks ITVX
📺 Stream Middlesbrough vs Wrexham from anywhereView Deal

How to watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham in the UK

Middlesbrough vs Wrexham is being shown live on Sky Sports in the UK, as well as on ITV.

The clash at the Riverside is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.

Fans in the UK can watch every single Carabao Cup game on Sky Sports during the 2026/27 season, so you won't miss a minute. Plans start from £35 a month, or £22 a month for new Sky TV customers.

Abroad? Use NordVPN to access your usual stream.

Watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham on Sky Sports

Sky Sports is the main rights-holder for the 2026/2027 Carabao Cup in the UK, with every game live on Sky Sports' channels or the Sky+ bonus streaming offering. Plans start from £35 a month on a long-term TV contract, while new customers on a 24-month Sky TV contract can add Sky Sports for £22 a month. You can also stream short-term for a similar cost via Now TV. View Deal

How to watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham in the US

Middlesbrough vs Wrexham is available to watch on Paramount+ in the US, with kick-off at 3pm ET.

Paramount+ plans start at $8.99 a month and include live coverage of select Carabao Cup and EFL matches, plus every single Champions League game and much more.

Outside of the US? Watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham on Paramount+ with NordVPN.

Watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham on Paramount+

The Paramount+ Essential package costs just $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year, which also gets you every single Champions League game live as well as select Carabao Cup and EFL fixtures. Bargain!View Deal

How to watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch every Carabao Cup match live on beIN SPORTS this season, including Middlesbrough vs Wrexham.

The game kicks-off at 5am AEST (Sat) and will be live on beIN SPORTS 3, as well as on the beIN Sports Connect streaming platform.

Plans start from $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, and you can also take advantage of a one-week free trial.

Away from Australia? Get NordVPN to access your usual beIN SPORTS stream.

Watch Middlesbrough vs Wrexham on beIN Sports

Watch every Carabao Cup 2026/27 game live on beIN Sports for $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, which includes a 7-day free trial. beIN Sports will also have live coverage of several matches in the Championship, League One and League Two, including the play-offs.View Deal

Middlesbrough vs Wrexham: Preview

Middlesbrough fans will hope 2026/27 proves a cathartic season after experiencing heartbreak several times in the closing weeks of last term.

Kim Hellberg's side fell short of automatic promotion despite sitting in the top two of the Championship for 35 of the 46 matchdays, before losing in the play-off semi-finals to Southampton - only to receive a lifeline after their opponents were kicked out over the 'Spygate' saga. Boro supporters who thought that was a sign it would be their year then saw their dreams crushed in brutal fashion at Wembley, as Oli McBurnie's 95th-minute winner snatched promotion for Hull City in the play-off final.

Middlesbrough have since lost talismanic midfielder Hayden Hackney to Everton but they have strengthened elsewhere, most notably with the signing of Tottenham Hotspur striker Will Lankshear for an initial £10m that could rise to £20m with add-ons. The 21-year-old is highly-rated and scored 12 goals in all competitions for Oxford United last season, despite their relegation from the Championship.

Lankshear will be itching to open his account for his new club as Boro aim to lay down a marker ahead of their league opener at home to Lincoln City next Saturday.

SEE ALSO Carabao Cup TV Guide

Facing Middlesbrough may conjour thoughts of 'What if?' for Wrexham, whose 2-2 draw with Boro in North Wales on the final day of last season saw them miss out on a play-off place (they would have finished sixth, ahead of Hull, if they'd won).

That being said, it was a strong first campaign back in the second tier for Phil Parkinson's men, who have since embarked on a globe-trotting pre-season tour which included wins over Manchester United in Helsinki and Leeds United in Tampa, Florida.

Wrexham's final friendly in the US was only last Sunday, against Sunderland, so it will be a quick turnaround for this Carabao Cup clash, especially with a squad that is largely unchanged from 2025/26 - despite boasting the Hollywood millions of co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Parkinson is still looking to strengthen so his starting XI could look very different by the end of the transfer window, but this is a chance for his existing players to cement their place for the trip to Welsh counterparts Cardiff City in the opening Championship game of the season on August 17.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Middlesbrough 2-1 Wrexham

Boro might just have the edge here, with Lankshear a good bet to get on the scoresheet.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Why Arsenal move for Chelsea's Josh Acheampong makes sense, following Xabi Alonso comments

Mark White — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:19:47 +0000

Arsenal and Chelsea doing business with one another used to be on just one condition: “only if we have to”.

The London rivals didn't actually negotiate a deal until 2006, and the highly contentious cross-capital switch of Ashley Cole from north to west – with William Gallas thrown into the deal for good measure.

Even in 2015, there was an extreme reluctance from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to accept Arsenal's move for Petr Cech – but it had been promised by owner Roman Abramovich.

Times have changed: Arsenal and Chelsea could do business yet again this summer

Jorginho is one of several Chelsea players to head to Arsenal in recent years (Image credit: Getty)

By 2018, the Gunners were struggling to qualify for the Champions League and Chelsea were faring a lot better – meaning that Olivier Giroud left N5 for SW6 with a fraction of the bad blood that came with Cesc Fabregas' move, via Barcelona, of course.

David Luiz in the opposite direction wasn't seen as strengthening a rival either, followed by Willian on a free from the Blues to the Gunners – while in recent seasons, it's been Chelsea rebuilding and Arsenal taking their used parts, with manager Mikel Arteta making a signing in every year of BlueCo's ownership.

Arsenal's annual Chelsea raid
Year	Player/s
2022	Jorginho
2023	Kai Havertz
2024	Raheem Sterling (loan)
2025	Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke

Often it makes sense for Arsenal to shop in West London: Chelsea have a recent history of stockpiling talent, developing them in the Premier League and are willing to listen to offers for players of a certain level that would be way more expensive elsewhere.

That was certainly the case for Kai Havertz, a player who was nowhere near his prime but had already scored in a Champions League final and who certainly strengthened Arsenal in a problem position – and Noni Madueke, who had shown plenty of promise and was available for a good price and good wages, especially when compared to others on the market at the time.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jorginho and Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, were market opportunities – and while it's debatable how successful each has been, they did all at least provide experience and cover for very little expense.

Simply put, Arsenal would have been quoted at least £80 million for a starting target man from most clubs, but got Havertz for around £60m: Madueke went for a similar fee to Anthony Elanga, and Chelsea spent nine figures replacing Jorginho with Enzo Fernandez.

So given that, yet again, Chelsea are looking at trimming a 41-man squad, it makes sense for Arsenal to do their rivals another favour.

There are contenders – but Josh Acheampong could be Arsenal's best bet to buy from Chelsea

Arteta needs defensive cover (Image credit: Getty Images)

This is Chelsea, and only a handful of their squad – not even including all their new signings, hilariously – are untouchable.

Arsenal need a left-winger (as is well broadcast) and cover on the right side of defence, while they would likely be open to opportunities across the pitch: it wouldn't exactly be a shock for Arteta to rekindle a desire to revive Mykhailo Mudryk's career, there was historic interest in Jamie Gittens, while Nicolas Jackson feels like a very Arsenal signing all over.

Really though, the opportunities lie at the back, following new manager Xabi Alonso's comments that his collection of nine centre-backs needs reducing to “four or five”.

Nine is a lot of centre-backs, Xabi (Image credit: Getty Images)

In terms of those who can replace either William Saliba or Jurrien Timber, Malo Gusto is valued at £75m amid interest from Manchester City; Wesley Fofana has had his injury problems; Trevoh Chalobah looks to be leaving for Como; and either the jury is still out or we haven't seen enough of Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino; Reece James, meanwhile, is as unsellable as you get.

Which leaves Josh Acheampong, who is still just 20, able to cover both right-back and centre-back, and would fit the bill technically and tactically of what Arteta demands from a player in that area of the pitch.

The BBC noted in June that the defender really is viewed within the “untouchable” bracket at the club, and that Arsenal were among a throng of English clubs interested in the England youth international – but with the transfer window approaching the endgame, the move makes a lot of sense for all involved.

Josh Acheampong has admirers across the Premier League (Image credit: Getty Images)

Chelsea need to offload before the window ends, having spent big again, and though pure profit sales perhaps aren't as golden as they once were for the Blues, they could collect a good fee for a player who doesn't have a clear future – and who reportedly wants to leave the club to develop elsewhere.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have a very clear hierarchy with Timber and Saliba as the established first-choice options in their respective positions, but it makes sense to bring in someone who could potentially challenge either within three years, while adding quality in depth now.

FourFourTwo understands that rather like Gusto, Tino Livramento is valued at around £75m, too: so could spending slightly less on Acheampong could be looked back upon as sensible business in five years' time with inflation?

Friday Football Quiz, episode 127: Can you get 20 correct answers?

Mark White — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Here we go, folks.

LAST WEEK'S

(Image credit: Future)

FRIDAY FOOTBALL QUIZ Episode 126

It's the Friday Football Quiz, and that means one thing: 20 questions, no time limit and a deep dive into football past and present, as we stretch the limits of your ball knowledge with the hardest quiz you'll find all week.

So let's test you on Mohamed Salah's new team-mates, the birthplaces of Ballon d'Or finalists, Luton Town and the Italian managerial merry-go-round. As ever, drop your score below and thank you very much in advance for playing.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Smashing through the Friday Football Quiz is the ultimate warm-up for the weekend, but true football intellect requires keeping that momentum going well beyond that. Can you handle a shift to domestic goalscoring royalty and golden awards heritage? Let's find out, with more quizzes courtesy of Kwizly.

First, we want you to test your macro-vision of the English game by naming every team to have won one of English football's top four tiers, a comprehensive audit spanning top-flight champions to historic League Two and Fourth Division title winners. Once you’ve mapped out the pyramid's trophy-winners, pivot to individual stardom and see if you can name every Premier League player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000, honouring the icons who represented the English top flight on football's most prestigious stage.

If your expertise leans more toward footballing landmarks and locker-room literature, we have two unique challenges waiting in the tunnel. Put your geographical and visual memory to work by trying to locate these famous football statues, identifying the bronze tributes erected to celebrate game-changing legends across the globe. Following that, trade the turnstiles for the library and test your bookish credentials by naming the authors of these footballer autobiographies, proving you know the minds behind the game's most famous tell-all memoirs.

To lower your pulse after that culture-heavy workout, settle into a quiet spot in the dugout for FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 64, with clues on Silvers, Silvas and Sylvas. To ensure you stay top of the table every single day, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily briefing of hand-picked trivia and deep-dive analysis. To complete your transfer to terrace legend status, join The Club, our free membership hub where you can unlock secret hints for our toughest quizzes, climb global leaderboards, and debate the latest topics directly in the comments section.

"If my name had been O’Malley, no-one would have questioned me playing for Ireland" Tony Cascarino hits back at tabloid scandal that became pub folklore

Steven Chicken — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

It's one of the most oft-repeated pub claims: that Tony Cascarino was 'not really Irish', despite having made 88 appearances for the country over a 14-year international career.

Amusing though that nugget may be, it is based on a rather peculiar set of bygone attitudes.

The former Gillingham, Millwall and Marseille striker appeared at three major tournaments for the Republic of Ireland: Euro 88, plus the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.

Tony Cascarino clears up Irish eligibility controversy

At the time there was a lot of nonsense peddled by English fans and media about 'plastic' Irish players who had grown up in Britain but qualified through their ancestry.

And an extra wrinkle in London-born Cascarino's route to the international scene made the reaction to a 'revelation' in his autobiography that much harsher in 2000.

Tony Cascarino says he was proud to represent Ireland (Image credit: Getty Images)

Newspapers had a field day at Cascarino revealing that his mother had been adopted by Irish parents, as if that makes any material difference to anything whatsoever.

More to the point, Cascarino himself didn't even know his mother was adopted until 1996, eight years in to his international career; and she had been registered in Ireland some years before his debut, too.

Nonetheless, the fact she was not Irish by blood led Cascarino to briefly question his identity, saying his initial reaction was: "I didn't qualify for Ireland. I was a fraud. A fake Irishman."

The FAI subsequently confirmed Cascarino's eligibility still would have stood because yeah, obviously it would.

Cascarino now feels rather less mixed about the matter, though, as he revealed to FourFourTwo.

Tony Cascarino scored 19 goals for Ireland (Image credit: Getty Images)

He said: "My name’s Cascarino, so everybody always assumed I was Italian [in heritage].

"My mum is Teresa O’Malley – her [adopted] family are from Mayo, in Ireland.

"If my name had been O’Malley, not one person on the planet would have questioned me playing for Ireland - but because of my surname, everyone just assumed

.My grandfather was Michael O’Malley. He lived with us, but he never saw me play for Ireland.

"He’d have been really proud because he loved the country. I never had a second thought about it. When I got the chance to play for Ireland, I didn’t hesitate. I loved it."

Quickfire Quiz 175: Can you answer 10 questions in 90 seconds?

Chris Nee — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

We've got yet another FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz waiting for your trivia attentions! Can you bag all 10 of these football questions in just 90 seconds?

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

PLAY MORE

(Image credit: Future)

QUICKFIRE QUIZ Play more Quickfire Quizzes

FourFourTwo has loads more football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. First up, we want you to name all 95 clubs to have won any one of the top four tiers of English football.

If you know your famous football figures, why not have a crack at this quiz that asks you to identify 10 iconic football statues or name all of these footballer autobiographies from their titles alone. We also want to know whether you can name every Premier League player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000.

This expert-level quiz asks you to guess these team line-ups based on the nationalities of their players alone. If that's too much, try naming the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League instead.

FourFourTwo's Big World Cup 2026 quiz will put your through your paces on the latest major summer football tournament. Let's find out how much you can remember about the competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

If you're on the hunt for a real test of your mettle, why not try to name 100 players from the clubs where they've played football in our latest career path quiz?

We have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for your Sunday, and don't forget to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits!

Quiz! Can you name every club in the Football League right now?

Chris Nee — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:30:16 +0000

It's time for another big quiz from FourFourTwo and this one's all about the professional game outside the Premier League.

PLAY ALL QUIZZES

(Image credit: Future)

PLAY NOW You can play all FourFourTwo quizzes right HERE

Now known officially as the EFL, the Football League is a true original. Since 1992, it has been formed of the second, third and fourth tiers of the professional game, propping up the Premier League and supplying much of the cultural richness of the English game.

The EFL is made up of 72 teams and you have 15 minutes to name each and every one of them. Let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a big ol' vault filled to bursting with football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. There are some real toughies to tackle, including these challenges to identify the authors of these football autobiographies based on their titles and name the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

How about a football trivia classic? We've put together this enormous career paths quiz. Can you name all 100 players based on the clubs they represented in their careers?

Specialists in football's crossover with geography will be all over this quiz that asks you to identify these team line-ups from the nationalities of the players alone. If it's history that floats your boat, perhaps you'll be able to name every member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad.

We also have some great stuff for puzzlers, including FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64. There are clues on Champions League finals, Olympic medallists, and name-dropping rappers. Remember to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

"KSI said, ‘We’re going to get to the Premier League, but It might take 20 years’ - it's not my job to tell him that's not possible” Dagenham & Redbridge chief exec outlines club's ambitious plans

Steven Chicken — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:13:12 +0000

KSI's ambitions for Dagenham & Redbridge would amount to one of the most ridiculous ascents English football has ever seen if he is able to pull it off - but the club's chief executive believes there is nothing to be gained from refusing to dream big.

The YouTuber bought a stake in Dagenham & Redbridge in March, which chief exec John Grabowski described as 'transformative' for the club.

They are now set to kick off their season in the sixth-tier National League South away to Dorking Wanderers, and are approaching this campaign with high hopes of beginning a climb up through the English football league.

Dagenham & Redbridge are starting the new season with huge ambitions

KSI is a co-owner alongside former England striker Andy Carroll (Image credit: Getty Images)

KSI's ambitions for a sixth-tier club with a ground holding just over 6,000 fans were met with no shortage of cynicism - but Grabowski believes it's not so unthinkable.

After all, we've already seen Wrexham launch themselves from the National League to the Championship, where they finished just one place outside the play-offs last season and will be looking to go again and reach the top flight in the coming campaign.

KSI has enjoyed himself as Dagenham & Redbridge co-owner (Image credit: Getty Images)

Grabowski told FourFourTwo: “Everyone wants to know, ‘Cool, what’s the plan?’”

"It’s naive to think we have too grand a long-term plan, but it would also be foolish not to think long-term given the opportunity.

"We all know that in KSI’s announcement, he said, ‘We’re going to get to the Premier League.’

"The first time I heard that, I sort of went ‘Uhh!’ and did a little gut check, but it’s not my job to tell him that’s not possible.

"He followed it up quite quickly, saying, ‘It might take time, it might take 20 years’, and I think in that context, it is absolutely possible – why not us?

KSI in right in the thick of things at Victoria Road (Image credit: Getty Images)

“Phase one is to get out of the National League and back into the Football League, then once we’re in the Football League again, we’ll regroup.

"We’ve got other plans, but I think talking about those other plans before achieving phase one risks us getting out a little over our skis."

KSI is an owner of Dagenham & Redbridge – you can watch Race To The Top on the KSI Originals YouTube Channel

I've done a complete U-turn on Roberto De Zerbi, here's why Tottenham Hotspur can launch a title challenge under him

Jakob Barnes — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

The last two seasons as a Tottenham Hotspur fan have been pretty miserable – aside from that glorious Europa League triumph – but I have a feeling the club has turned a corner ahead of the new campaign, and it’s largely thanks to Roberto De Zerbi.

In all honesty, though, I was dubious as to whether his appointment back in March would be the right move for Spurs long-term. I was pretty confident that he would drag the club to Premier League survival, and that he did, but would his fiery temperament be at odds with the powers that be at Tottenham?

There’s still plenty of time for that to happen, of course, but we are witnessing what appears to be a real change in the whole mindset of the club this summer, and it could even lead to a surprise title challenge.

Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment at Tottenham Hotspur had me worried

I don’t think I was alone in having doubts over De Zerbi. Tottenham had reportedly tried to hire the Italian before they recruited Igor Tudor for his ill-fated tenure in N17, but to no avail. The fact he changed his mind a month or so later didn’t sit right with me.

Add to that the fact that this is a manager who doesn’t stick around at clubs for too long (his average time at a club is just over a year), plus the way he left Brighton, and I feared we would be a quick gig with no real consideration of the future.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi celebrates with Joao Palhinha after the Premier League win over Aston Villa (Image credit: Getty Images)

Even De Zerbi’s track record should raise a few eyebrows.

Aside from a Ukrainian Super Cup during his brief spell with Shakhtar Donetsk, his greatest achievements are steering Marseille to second in Ligue 1, and helping Brighton to a top six finish.

They’re not results to be sniffed at, but they also don’t get me dreaming of glory, either. More than anything, though, it was De Zerbi’s personality that just didn’t seem like it would fit at Spurs.

Much like Antonio Conte before him, this is a man who will say exactly what’s on his mind without fear of upsetting anyone, and as we’ve seen in the past, the Tottenham Hotspur board don’t really like that approach.

I do believe that no-nonsense style was exactly what the squad needed at the backend of last season, though, and it’s no coincidence that those seven matches in the run-in were the best Spurs had looked all year.

Tottenham Hotspur look more disciplined and confident under De Zerbi

De Zerbi got Spurs playing just at the right time (Image credit: Getty Images)

Under both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, the Tottenham players looked bereft of confidence, lacked any kind of fight, and played turgid football. Since day one under De Zerbi, there has been clear passion and a real togetherness on the pitch, and that delivered the results Spurs needed to stay in the top flight.

After survival was secured, De Zerbi himself even claimed it was the “biggest achievement in my time”, before adding, “We are Tottenham, and we can't suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up.” You just get the feeling that De Zerbi is raising the standards at the club and will absolutely not tolerate anything like what we saw last season.

For me, no player exemplifies the shift in attitude at the club more than Micky van de Ven. Under Frank, the flying Dutchman appeared to mentally check out and became a liability. As soon as De Zerbi took over, Van de Ven turned into a leader once more, and looked back to his best.

Speaking to The Standard recently, Van de Ven said: “You can see [De Zerbi] has brought a lot of passion into our group, a lot in terms of mentality and passion on the pitch. It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down.

“He brings a lot of good energy and, from pre-season, we have really had the time to bring his football into the team. That's really enjoyable.”

He’s right, too. This summer’s pre-season activity for Tottenham has been refreshing, with positive results (including a rare win over bitter rivals Chelsea), a mix of experienced and youth players having important roles, and most importantly, the levels in terms of intensity and quality have not dropped despite these games being friendlies.

Another key case study is the comeback story of Antonin Kinsky. The Czech goalkeeper hit rock bottom in the Champions League last season when he was substituted in the first half against Atletico Madrid after a couple of errors. Now, he looks world-class and is Tottenham’s undisputed number one, and it’s all because De Zerbi put faith in him.

The mentality at Tottenham Hotspur has shifted greatly in such a short space of time, and now feels far more aligned with the spirit Ange Postecoglou brought to the club. While Postecoglou’s tactics were questionable, his man management was outstanding. What’s really exciting is that De Zerbi appears to be capable of both.

Tottenham Hotspur are not messing around this summer

Spurs have made some big-name signings (Image credit: Getty Images)

Whether it’s due to De Zerbi’s influence or merely a reaction to back-to-back 17th place finishes, the Tottenham hierarchy are finally showing ambition and loosening the pursestrings this summer.

The £85m signing of Mateus Fernandes was a lavish surprise. The £100m capture of Sandro Tonali was, frankly, mindblowing. The club immediately recognised the fact that things needed to change, and put their money where their mouth is to fix it. The same can be said about the defence, too, with the £52m signing of Jan Paul van Hecke and free transfers of Marco Senesi and Andy Robertson adding real depth to an already strong backline.

I’ve also been really intrigued by the manner in which Spurs have sold off some of their younger players this summer. While the departures of the likes of Luka Vuskovic, Alfie Devine, and Will Lankshear were disappointing, Tottenham received good fees for players who were not likely to make an impact on the first-team this season. In years to come, we may regret not having them around, but that’s a problem for another day. What matters now is immediate improvement and success.

Now, if Spurs can follow through with their pursuit of Savinho (or another top winger) and, most crucially, find a high-level striker to lead the line, I see no reason why the Lilywhites can’t be considered genuine dark horses to challenge for the title. The squad is good enough, the manager is determined to make his mark, and the club as a whole demands and deserves better than what we’ve seen over the last two seasons.

The idea of Spurs pushing for the title, especially after the dismal showing in 2025/26, may be a naive pipedream to some. But, I’ll leave you with this… In the 2014/15 season, Leicester City ended up with 41 points and a -9 goal difference. The following season, they performed a miracle and won the Premier League title.

If the Foxes can do it with relatively meagre resources, I see no reason why a free-spending and revitalised Tottenham Hotspur can’t do the unthinkable and rise to the top.

How Manchester United finally fixed their transfer strategy

matthew.frohlich@futurenet.com (Matt Frohlich) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0000

For over a decade, Manchester United treated the transfer window like a global billboard, spending over a billion pounds on individual fame, while the actual football team fell apart.

They bought the clout instead of the profiles, paid the ‘United tax’ without question, and trapped themselves in a toxic cycle of bloated wages and broken dressing rooms. But today, that era is dead.

From walking away from extortionate fees to signing Premier League-proven quality, here is why Manchester United can finally be trusted in the transfer window again.

Manchester United chased the biggest names on Earth – with fees to match

Paul Pogba was a costly mistake for United (Image credit: Alamy)

Following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Man United stopped operating as a football club and started operating honestly as what felt like at times a click farm. The commercial department discovered a lucrative cheat code: sign the biggest names in the world, dominate the digital news cycle, and watch the shirt sales and sponsorship deals soar so that you can then afford the biggest and best players.

And the cycle continues. Di Maria, Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, and the emotional homecoming of Cristiano Ronaldo weren't always tactical additions – they were also brand activations.

In the boardroom, these transfers were triumphs. Pogba's announcement broke the internet (#Pogback). Sanchez playing the piano gathered millions of impressions. But on the pitch, the evidence was damning.

Across 10 years and five permanent managers, United consistently ranked among the highest spenders in Europe with a staggering 1.5 billion paid out on new players post-Fergie, while producing little to shout about on the pitch aside from a couple of trophies, none of which will be standing front and centre alongside the others in the club's illustrious trophy cabinet.

The structural conflict was unavoidable. Managers were handed expensive collections of individuals rather than compatible profiles. Louis van Gaal wanted functional system players; he was given superstars. Jose Mourinho wanted defensive steel; he was given commercial assets and untameable egos. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer built a fluid counterattacking side only to have it disrupted by the arrival of an ageing Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo's second spell at Manchester United was a disaster (Image credit: Alamy)

United was zigging when they should have been zagging. The ultimate lesson was painfully obvious: clout produces instant social media numbers, but without a unified tactical blueprint, it guarantees long-term sporting decay.

And nowhere was this more damaging than when they were getting out the chequebook. Because every club in Europe knew United lacked a modern scouting strategy, knew they had the money to spend due to the size and revenue of the club, and knew there was an air of desperation to get back to the top and sign the latest shiny toy, they applied a surcharge on every deal. It was the classic “they saw you coming” you give to your mate when he's paid 19 quid for two pints. The problem was they didn't learn their lesson and stamped up the cash every single time. This was the birth of what was known as the ‘United tax.’

When Ajax demanded £86 million for Antony, a winger who was valued at half of that just a few months earlier, United paid it. When Leicester held out for £80m for Harry Maguire, a fee deemed way too much by Man City, United folded.

United's wage structure was a mess

David De Gea was on extortionate wages

Worse than the transfer fees, however, was the wage structure. To convince world-class names to join a Europa League-level project, United handed out astronomical long-term contracts.

Alexis Sanchez was on nearly £500,000 a week, and David De Gea became the highest-paid goalkeeper in history. Despite constant rumours of a departure for the Spaniard, this created the sort of financial paralysis that crippled the club for a decade. When a player underperformed, United couldn't sell them. No club in Europe – only pretty much Saudi Arabia – was willing to match the wages of United's benchwarmers. Players like Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, and Eric Bailly sat on high salaries for years, eroding their market value to zero while soaking up big chunks of the wage budget.

Internally, too, it was a nightmare because when a long-standing player or new signing sees a teammate earning £300,000 a week, wage demands across the entire squad skyrocket. It destroyed the dressing room hierarchy and left the club unable to maneuver in the transfer market without risky moves or suffering big losses.

United's greatest weakness was a total absence of, let's call it, “walking away power.” By overpaying for everything, they built a cage that kept bad players in and modern success out.

And perhaps the most damning of all signings was Jadon Sancho: £73m to sign him, five years of inconsistency coupled with a few loan spells away from the club, hundreds of thousands of pounds per week in wages, and then released on a free at the end of it all.

So, how have INEOS turned things around in the past couple of years since taking over? And why does it feel like an image rebrand as well as a footballing one?

United never lacked a posterboy: they just lacked everything else

Bruno Fernandes has been hugely reliable for United (Image credit: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

In years gone by, it's always seemed like Manchester United's success was defined by an enigmatic posterboy of a leader – a star individual or two backed up by the ones willing to do the dirty work. Cantona, Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney. They won more titles than we care to recall for United. But that success doesn't happen without Neville, O'Shea, Carrick, Park. That was then though, and this is now.

Bruno Fernandes has been one of the best players in the Premier League for years. But without the squad around him, that isn't reflected in United's team success. Statistically, Bruno's output since arriving in 2020 is staggering. Nobody has created more chances in Europe's top five leagues. But relying on one man to be the primary creator, presser, and emotional anchor created an unhealthy dependency. When Bruno had an off day, Manchester United had an off day.

The strategy during those post-Fergie crisis years didn't change with the times, though. They still bought headliners and prayed they could hide the cracks in the ceiling. Enter Varane, Zlatan, Pogba, Rashford's new contract – Casemiro to an extent, although he did make a better go of it towards the end of his stint at Old Trafford. This hero complex crippled the development of a modern team structure.

Elite sides like Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City don't rely on ‘heroball’. They rely on raising the floor of their squad so that everyone is capable of producing a certain level of quality regularly, whether in the starting XI or on the bench. Every player knows where to stand, where to pass, and where to press when the ball is lost.

Is this mechanical football the best to watch? No. Would we rather watch players enjoy themselves and play with this indescribable joy that can't be taught? Yes. But modern football is modern football, and it's been working for a while now.

Needing a hero also stifles youth integration. Young academy players coming through weren't entering a functional, well-oiled machine that protected them; they were being thrown in at the deep end. That sort of thing has worked in the past. To be fair, nothing typified this more than when Marcus Rashford played out every club's dream scenario: the big club giving the opportunity to a young star, and he hits the ground running and never looks back. What a story. You don't, however, need me to explain why that isn't the greatest of strategies because you just can't rely upon it.

But now the story is different, and the most recent transfer windows are the proof. United are doing three things that have elevated their recruitment strategy and earned plenty of trust back from the supporters.

The critical change in United's fortunes

First, they are targeting Premier League-proven players that make sense from a value-for-money and squad-improving perspective. The additions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha represent a complete pivot in strategy. Let's face it, going from shopping at Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund to Wolves and Brentford is quite the switch. They aren't vanity signings designed to sell shirts around the world, but high-intensity, ready-made, proven profiles bought to win matches in the Premier League.

Secondly, they've got rid of an astronomical wage bill in favour of something more structured. Gone are the De Gea, Casemiro, Varane, and Sancho days. Now, salaries are reportedly all kept under 200 grand per week. That probably explains why Sandro Tonali wasn't of interest with his 270,000 per week deal that would have blown the bloody doors off that structure immediately. It's also evident in the wages of Mbeumo, Sesko, Cunha, and Tielemans, all between £150 to 180k per week.

And lastly, United have rediscovered the most powerful tool in negotiation: that walking away power we mentioned earlier. When faced with crazy, ransom-style demands for targets like Fernandez from West Ham, United didn't panic or overpay, but calmly walked away. Instead, they secured Youri Tielemans for an incredible £35m release – a move driven by his suitability to United's starting XI and financial sanity behind it all.

You could say that the quiet, pragmatic move lacks the thrill of a 100 million pound marquee signing that a club like Manchester United needs to be seen making to draw in show-stopping talent. But why would they continue to bang their head against the wall if it doesn't work? Tielemans provides immediate control and experience in the midfield, and he also does it without blocking the development runway for the talented Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo remains the long-term heartbeat of the midfield. The throne is still his for the taking eventually, but for now, he's supported by experienced heads rather than overshadowed or competing with someone the same age who could literally block him for his entire career.

For the first time in over a decade, United aren't buying to solve a PR crisis or win a transfer window. They're buying to assemble a sustainable, modern football team – one that can compete not only at the top of the Premier League, but in European and domestic competitions, too. PSG have proven that ditching the superstars can reap rewards. And whilst they are in a completely different domestic situation to Manchester United, it's not a terrible model to follow. As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Who is Caleb Yirenkyi? Coventry City sign World Cup star with underdog potential

joe.donnohue@futurenet.com (Joe Donnohue) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The Sky Blues are expected to complete the signing of 20-year-old Ghanaian international Caleb Yirenkyi, bringing in a player whom talent spotters across Europe view as a future top-flight star.

Yirenkyi’s development follows a proven blueprint. Developed at Ghana’s famed Right to Dream Academy, he made the well-trodden transition to its European partner club, FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.

That exact pipeline previously launched international talents like Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana into top-five European leagues.

All you need to know about Caleb Yirenkyi

Caleb Yirenkyi (Image credit: Getty Images)

In the Danish Superliga, Yirenkyi rapidly developed into an elite performer, combining tactile composure with excellent physical capacity - in short, he is the epitome of box-to-box.

At his core, Yirenkyi is a complete, dynamic engine in the middle of the park. Scouts who have monitored his progression have told FourFourTwo all about his well-rounded skillset.

Yirenkyi in action against England at the World Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)

Yirenkyi disrupts opposition build-up with his defensive work-rate, winning loose balls, tackling hard, and hassling ball-carriers. Meanwhile, in possession he displays press-resistance under pressure, distributes cleanly, and drives forward into open space.

While nominally a central midfielder, which is where he is likely to feature for the Sky Blues, Yirenkyi's athleticism and discipline mean he has regularly been trusted to operate as a right-back for his national team.

Yirenkyi is no hidden secret on the international scene, having announced himself to a global audience with Ghana at the 2026 World Cup. The youngster featured prominently throughout the Black Stars' tournament run, highlighting his big-stage composure by scoring on his World Cup debut against Panama, whilst competing admirably in high-stakes fixtures against England and Colombia.

With Coventry beginning the 2026/27 campaign as newly promoted underdogs, most casual observers won't expect the Midlands club to make waves or do much else than stay up, meaning signings like Yirenkyi could initially fly under the radar.

That lack of fanfare gives the Ghanaian huge underdog potential. If he adapts quickly to the tempo of English football, of which there is no guarantee, Yirenkyi has every chance of outperforming expectations and emerging as one of the most underrated transfers of the entire Premier League season.

Tottenham Hotspur battled relegation last season, but a busy summer transfer window could see the London club back in competitive form under Roberto De Zerbi - Tottenham Hotspur 2026-27 season preview

matthew.frohlich@futurenet.com (Matt Frohlich) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Fighting relegation could not have been further away from Spurs' aspirations this time last year, after winning the Europa League and hiring Thomas Frank.

The harsh reality was that it took victory on the final day to retain their Premier League status, on the back of a torrid 12 months. While the inquest into who is to blame will continue for some time yet, one thing is certain: in 2026-27, there can be no mention of the ‘R' word again.

The feeling among fans is that it surely can't get any worse than finishing 17th twice in succession (Mick McCarthy meme notwithstanding), so there are reasons for optimism.

Surely it is only up from here for Spurs?

Everything went wrong for Spurs last year. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Fortunately, Spurs' finances were still in good shape having avoided the drop, and they moved quickly to add players to their squad. Marcos Senesi is among the top flight's best centre-backs and Jan Paul van Hecke a reliable partner for him, while Andy Robertson will maintain standards.

Midfielder Mateus Fernandes then arrived from West Ham for £85m, a club record fee quickly eclipsed when a deal was agreed to bring in Sandro Tonali for £100m. Roberto De Zerbi can now shape a new squad. The miracles that the Italian boss worked in turning around Spurs' season cannot be underestimated, and the time he'll get on the training pitch should set up Spurs to climb into the top half, at least – ideally before a very spicy May schedule.

The Coach

If Roberto De Zerbi's first few months are anything to go by, this season could be far more entertaining for Spurs fans (in a good way). Galvanising an underperforming team was an impressive opening act, and even his combustible nature is preferable to drab pragmatism.

Roberto De Zerbi is the man in charge. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key Player

Before injury ended his season in January, Mohammed Kudus was providing the sort of game-changing moments his side needed, and subsequently missed. Was he consistent? No, but the Ghanaian is brilliant in 1v1 situations and can benefit from De Zerbi's style of play.

Mohammed Kudus is vital to this Spurs side. (Image credit: CameraSport via Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 17th

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Fourth Round

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Last 16

Tottenham Hotspur 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Top Scorer

Richarlison bagged 12 goals in all competitions for his Spurs side last season.

Richarlison was a bright spark last year. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lessons From Last Year

Build a squad big enough to deal with injuries and a busy schedule. Not having European football this season is arguably no bad thing for Spurs, who have faced an injury crisis like no other over the past two years. But with that comes the expectation of a deep cup run, where midweek changes cannot reduce the overall quality of the XI.

It can't get worse for Spurs next season, can it? (Image credit: Getty Images)

Most Likely To...

Continue their tradition of taking points from Manchester City while struggling to get anything from the North London Derby. They've picked up just one point from their last eight Premier League matches against Arsenal – they must do better, if only to make their rivals' title charge a bit more difficult.

Tottenham Hotspur are Manchester City's bogey team. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Consistently sell out their stadium. The relationship between the club and the fans has been damaged – a few signings won't fix that. The away support is fantastic, but convincing fans to buy the league's second-most expensive season ticket – after three wins there – is a big ask. At least tourists love it…

Spurs were abysmal at home last year. (Image credit: Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: TOM HAYWARD

Last season was utterly embarrassing, pathetic, cowardly – take your pick.

This season will be different because Roberto De Zerbi has earned the right to a very strong summer, by saving us from financial and reputational ruin with a mid-table Championship squad to pick from. Can he now build on what he cultivated in two months?

James Maddison will be back this season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Our key player will be James Maddison. I hope he can return to his best level. We badly missed his quality and character.

Look out for young striker Will Lankshear. He had a decent season on loan in the Championship, and there's an opening for a homegrown hitman to make a hero of himself…

The opposition player I'd love here is Morgan Rogers – absolute class.

I won't be happy unless we sign three or four attackers. The quality and availability of last term's forward options might have been our worst in the Premier League era.

Fans think our owners are incompetent, at best.

Morgan Rogers is a Premier League fan favourite. (Image credit: Getty Images)

A social media account to follow is Change For Tottenham (CFT), AKA @ChangeForSpurs, which is a fan group dedicated to holding owners ENIC to account for the first time.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is the Emirates. No league wins there in 16 years is unacceptable.

Our biggest grudge match will be against anyone and everyone who wanted us to go down last season – so they're all on our list.

We'll finish 8th.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Brentford (A)

29 Newcastle (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Nott'm Forest (A)

12 Everton (H)

19 Aston Villa (H)

OCTOBER

10 Man United (A)

17 Coventry (H)

24 Chelsea (A)

31 Crystal Palace (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Leeds (A)

21 Ipswich (H)

28 Sunderland (A)

DECEMBER

2 Fulham (H)

5 Arsenal (H)

12 Hull City (A)

19 Liverpool (A)

26 Bournemouth (H)

30 Brighton (H)

JANUARY

2 Man City (A)

6 Fulham (A)

16 Leeds (H)

23 Crystal Palace (A)

30 Sunderland (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Ipswich (A)

10 Man City (H)

20 Brighton (A)

27 Liverpool (H)

MARCH

3 Bournemouth (A)

13 Nott'm Forest (H)

20 Everton (A)

APRIL

10 Brentford (H)

17 Newcastle (A)

24 Hull City (H)

MAY

1 Arsenal (A)

8 Chelsea (H)

15 Coventry (A)

23 Man United (H)

30 Aston Villa (A)

Title Odds

Tottenham Hotspur to win the Premier League title odds: 50/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Tottenham Hotspur to finish 8th.

The improvement in performances following De Zerbi's late arrival was remarkable, so imagine what he can do with a pre-season and better, fitter players at his disposal. That's the theory, anyway…

De Zerbi will vastly improve this team's general performances. (Image credit: Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

How to watch Carabao Cup 2026/27: TV Guide, Free Streams & Fixtures — Round 1

James Roberts — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The Carabao Cup is back for 2026/27 as clubs across the top four divisions of English football battle it out to reach the final at Wembley on March 21. FourFourTwo is here with all the broadcast information you need to watch every game live.

Carabao Cup broadcasters

► Free Stream: ITV (UK) / CBS Sports Golazo Network (US)
► UK: Sky Sports
► US: Paramount+
► Australia: beIN Sports
► Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk free

The Carabao Cup – also known as the English Football League Cup, or EFL Cup – was established in 1960 and is English football's secondary cup competition. Unlike the FA Cup, which includes clubs from all the way down the football pyramid, the EFL Cup features only teams from the Premier League down to League Two.

This year, the first round is taking place across the weekend of August 6-10, with 35 fixtures involving clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two. Premier League teams who aren't playing in Europe in 2026/27 join the competition in round two, before the sides participating in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League enter in the third round. Manchester City are the EFL Cup holders after beating Arsenal 2-0 in last season's final to lift the trophy for the ninth time.

In this guide, we'll show you how to watch Carabao Cup live streams in the UK, US, and around the world, and how you can use a VPN to tune in while you're abroad.

Read More: Bromley vs Leicester and 10 more things to look forward to in the EFL this season

Can you watch the Carabao Cup for free?

The Carabao Cup will have at least one game per round available free-to-air in the UK on ITV and the free ITVX streaming service.

In the US, a limited number of games will also be available to watch for free via the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

The games expected to be free this week are:

Bristol City vs Walsall — CBS Sports Golazo Network
Wolves vs Port Vale — CBS Sports Golazo Network
Wrexham vs Middlesbrough — ITV

Abroad for a round of the Carabao Cup? You need a VPN to unlock your stream — find out more below.

How to watch the Carabao Cup from abroad

Chances are you'll find yourself overseas when some Carabao Cup games are taking place, but does that mean you have to miss the action? No, it doesn't... a VPN will ensure you get your coverage from anywhere.

Carabao Cup live streams are geo-restricted on all streaming services, but a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a neat way around this, unpicking the geo-locks by altering your device's digital location. It's great for accessing your usual streaming services while on the move, and it does wonders for your internet security, too.

NordVPN is the best, so say our good friends across the office at TechRadar.

NordVPN Mega Deal: Get 75% Off + 3 Months Free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
💰 3 months extra free
📺 Stream Carabao Cup 2026/27View Deal

How to watch the Carabao Cup in the UK?

Every Carabao Cup game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with select matches on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Every other fixture will be available on Sky Sports+.

As mentioned above, ITV will have live coverage of at least one game per round, including the final. Matches shown on ITV and ITVX will be completely free.

Watch every Carabao Cup game on Sky Sports

Watch Carabao Cup games for free on ITV

In order to give the competition more exposure, Sky Sports is sharing at least one Carabao Cup fixture per round with public broadcaster ITV, including the final. These games are live on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming platform, which is free to use with a registration.

How to watch the Carabao Cup in the US

Paramount+ is the home of the Carabao Cup in the USA, with select games available to stream live.

Some matches will also be shown live for free on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Watch the Carabao Cup on Paramount+

Select Carabao Cup fixtures are shown live on the Paramount+ Essential package for $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year, which also gets you every single Champions League and Europa League game live. Bargain!View Deal

How to watch the Carabao Cup in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch every Carabao Cup match live on beIN Sports, with all games available on the beIN Sports Connect streaming platform.

Plans start from $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, and you can also take advantage of a one-week free trial.

Watch the Carabao Cup on beIN Sports

Other Carabao Cup live streams around the world

English football is popular all over the world so it's no surprise you can watch Carabao Cup live streams in dozens of countries. Here are a few providers in select locations:

Click to find out more 👇

Africa

Carabao Cup coverage in Africa is mostly shared between BeIN Sports and SuperSport.

BeIN Sports have the rights in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.

SuperSport have the rights in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, St Helena and Ascension, Sudan, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Canada

DAZN has the rights to Carabao Cup live streams in Canada.

Hong Kong

Viewers in Hong Kong can tune into Carabao Cup action on TVB.

New Zealand

beIN Sports is your destination to watch the Carabao Cup 2026/27 in New Zealand.

South Africa

Carabao Cup fans in South Africa can watch all the action via subscription service SuperSport.

Carabao Cup — Round 1 Fixtures

All times BST

Thursday 6 August

7:45pm — Bristol City vs Walsall

Friday 7 August

7:45pm — Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Port Vale

7:45pm — Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage

8:00pm — Middlesbrough vs Wrexham

Saturday 8 August

1:00pm — Cambridge United vs Barnet

2:00pm — Queens Park Rangers vs Millwall

3:00pm — AFC Wimbledon vs Newport County

3:00pm — Barnsley vs Wigan Athletic

3:00pm — Bradford City vs Rochdale

3:00pm — Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United

3:00pm — Bromley vs Reading

3:00pm — Burnley vs Notts County

3:00pm — Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers

3:00pm — Cardiff City vs Swindon Town

3:00pm — Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley

3:00pm — Derby County vs Lincoln City

3:00pm — Fleetwood Town vs Chesterfield

3:00pm — Gillingham vs Luton Town

3:00pm — Grimsby Town vs Blackpool

3:00pm — Leicester City vs Northampton Town

3:00pm — Leyton Orient vs Oxford United

3:00pm — Norwich City vs MK Dons

3:00pm — Preston North End vs Huddersfield Town

3:00pm — Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town

3:00pm — Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers

3:00pm — Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers

3:00pm — Stoke City vs Oldham Athletic

3:00pm — Swansea City vs Birmingham City

3:00pm — Watford vs Crawley Town

3:00pm — West Ham United vs Portsmouth

5:30pm — Cheltenham Town vs Charlton Athletic

5:30pm — Colchester United vs Southampton

5:30pm — Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion

Sunday 9 August

4:00pm — Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United

Monday 10 August

8:00pm — Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City

What are the Carabao Cup 2026/27 round dates?

Round One: 6-10 August 2026
Round Two: w/c 24 August 2026
Round Three: w/c 7 September and w/c 14 September 2026
Round Four: w/c 26 October 2026
Quarter Finals: w/c 14 December 2026
Semi-Final First Leg: w/c 11 January 2027
Semi-Final Second Leg: w/c 1 February 2027
Final: Sunday 21 March 2027

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Sunderland went from Championship to Europa League football in the space of a year, but just how much can Regis Le Bris' men achieve in their second season? Sunderland 2026-27 season preview

Ed McCambridge — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Given the extraordinary feats of Regis Le Bris' plucky side over the past year, Sunderland's outlook going into this season is wildly different to last.

Ahead of 2025-26, everyone expected an inexperienced Black Cats side to be battling for survival after their Championship play-off triumph.

Instead, they produced one of the stories of the season, finishing seventh and immediately qualifying for the Europa League.

Can Regis Le Bris' men shock the world once more?

Sunderland made Europe. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Le Bris blended the core that took Sunderland up with a series of ambitious signings, including Nordi Mukiele from PSG and Brian Brobbey from Ajax.

Granit Xhaka was arguably the Premier League's signing of the season, rocking up 12 months after a near-flawless campaign at Bayer Leverkusen to bring leadership and composure to the newly promoted side. Two more core additions, Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete, were less heralded but no less impressive.

The Stadium of Light was a fortress last season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Stadium of Light quickly became one of the league's most difficult away trips. Sunderland's own travels brought them wins over Chelsea, Everton and, most satisfyingly, neighbours Newcastle. Now comes the even trickier part. Sunderland are a surprise package no more.

The squad must balance domestic commitments with Thursday nights in Europe. We've seen how that schedule can cause growing clubs to crumble. Fans will rightly love every trip, but the club must keep its feet on the ground.

The Coach

Sunderland's appointment of Regis Le Bris in June 2024 appeared strange, given that he'd just been relegated from Ligue 1 with Lorient. It was a masterstroke: the ex-defender trusted youth to take the Black Cats back to the promised land, then to even greater heights.

Head coach Regis Le Bris is a genius. (Image credit: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)

Key Player

Enzo Le Fee's arrival in January 2025 caught the attention – six months after joining Roma for around £20m, he was moving on loan to the Championship. The midfielder quickly helped Sunderland to win promotion, then signed permanently and impressed again in the top tier.

Enzo Le Fee is the main man. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 7th

FA CUP: Fifth Round

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Sunderland 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Top Scorer

Brian Brobbey bagged seven goals in all competitions last season for Sunderland.

All seven came in the Premier League, and he added an assist to that haul in 31 appearances.

Brian Brobbey was a standout last season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lessons From Last Year

The kids are all right. Sunderland had the youngest average starting XI in their promotion campaign, then the second youngest (after Chelsea) in the Premier League.

That couldn't stop them dazzling, and Le Bris deserves huge credit for giving youngsters opportunities to play. Robin Roefs, Chemsdine Talbi, Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra and Eliezer Mayenda all found regular game time while under the age of 23. They rarely looked out of place.

Granit Xhaka often leads a team of youngsters in the Premier League. (Image credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Most Likely To...

Come out on top in the Tyne-Wear derby. For all of last term's heroics, beating Newcastle home and away was the sweetest achievement of all. Brobbey's late St James' Park winner to complete the double in March is a moment that travelling supporters will never forget – nor let their rivals forget.

Newcastle will get revenge next season. (Image credit: Newcastle United via Getty Image)

Least Likely To...

Pay attention to the doubters. Few neutrals expected Sunderland to survive, let alone finish in the top seven. They became only the fifth newly promoted club to qualify for Europe through league position.

Le Bris is ice cold. (Image credit: Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: MICHAEL POTTS @MichaelPotts_

Last season was a fairy tale. We were meant to go down without a trace, not end up in Europe for the first time in 53 years. There's a buzz around the place – the city is on a high and you can feel it.

This season will be different because last season was almost a free hit – now we've set the bar ridiculously high.

Could this be Sunderland next season? (Image credit: Ozan KOSE / AFP via Getty Images)

The big talking point is if we're prepared for the Thursday-Sunday routine. A reminder: we “weren't prepared for the Premier League” 12 months ago.

Our key player will be Enzo Le Fee. With goals, assists and graft, too, he's probably the most gifted footballer I've ever seen play in red and white. I'm enjoying him while I can.

Look out for 21-year-old midfielder Noah Sadiki, who joined us last year. The reason we're going back to the Moon is to find some ground he hasn't covered yet.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Joelinton. He's the softest hard man you'll ever see on a football pitch.

Fans think our owner is the best thing to happen to our club in decades.

Michael does not like Joelinton. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The one change I'd make at our club is to expand the Stadium of Light. We sell it out every week – people can't get season tickets – so it's time to go above 50,000.

I won't be happy unless we reach the Europa League knockouts. I'd accept a weaker league campaign to make the most of our shot.

We'll finish 12th, after a run to the Europa League final. Dare to dream, eh?

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Ipswich (A)

29 Fulham (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Brentford (A)

12 Arsenal (H)

19 Man City (A)

OCTOBER

10 Brighton (H)

17 Bournemouth (A)

24 Leeds (H)

31 Coventry (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Chelsea (H)

21 Aston Villa (A)

28 Tottenham (H)

DECEMBER

2 Liverpool (A)

5 Newcastle (A)

12 Nott'm Forest (H)

19 Crystal Palace (H)

26 Everton (A)

30 Man United (A)

JANUARY

2 Hull City (H)

6 Liverpool (H)

16 Chelsea (A)

23 Coventry (H)

30 Tottenham (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Aston Villa (H)

10 Hull City (A)

20 Everton (H)

27 Crystal Palace (A)

MARCH

3 Man United (H)

13 Brentford (H)

20 Arsenal (A)

APRIL

10 Ipswich (H)

17 Fulham (A)

24 Nott'm Forest (A)

MAY

1 Newcastle (H)

8 Brighton (A)

15 Bournemouth (H)

23 Leeds (A)

30 Man City (H)

Title Odds

Sunderland to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Sunderland to finish 17th.

A leap from 12th to 7th in the final two games was a reward for bold transfers, even if xG tables (sorry) had them 18th. Pfft! Enjoy Europe and trust that the squad has the strength – if not depth – to survive.

It's all about Europe next season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Nottingham Forest were a semi-final away from what felt like Europa League glory last season, now, Oliver Glasner must stop an unravelling that seems to already be in effect - Nottingham Forest 2026-27 season preview

Ed McCambridge — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:26:57 +0000

Nottingham Forest went into the 2025-26 season on a high, having finished seventh the year before and qualified for Europe for the first time in 29 years. It didn't take long for things to unravel.

Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked just three games into the season, and what followed was a comedy of errors.

Another two permanent managers came and went (Ange Postecoglou lasted eight matches, Sean Dyche 25 matches) as Forest battled relegation. Survival was eventually sealed by gaffer number four, Vitor Pereira, courtesy of an impressive fightback in the spring.

Oliver Glasner must steady the Nottingham Forest ship and get the club back into Europe and trophy contention

Morgan Gibbs-White was a standout last season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The recipe for success under the (second) former Wolves manager was based around unshackling Morgan Gibbs-White. Forest's talisman bagged nine goals in 10 league games under Pereira and deserved as much credit as anyone for the club's strong finish. Far more admirable was Forest's European form, as Brian Clough's old club rolled back the years.

Beating the likes of Porto (twice) and Fenerbahce, they reached the Europa League semi-finals, where they ultimately lost to Aston Villa. The sparkling form of Igor Jesus was crucial to that progress. Supporting Evangelos Marinakis' Forest is never dull, though, with Pereira sacked this summer, and replaced by Oliver Glasner. Most fans would settle for managerial continuity and a mid-table finish in 2026-27. It's hard to feel certain of either of those outcomes.

The Coach

Oliver Glasner held talks with Milan this summer after opting to call time on two-and-a-half years with Crystal Palace, so his decision to join Forest, who finished one place below the Eagles, was a surprise. How things go could depend on his relationship with the owner.

Oliver Glasner is the man at the helm. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key Player (and Top Scorer)

Morgan Gibbs-White, 26, is so central to Forest – creative, relentless in the press and increasingly deadly, scoring 15 league goals – that his World Cup squad omission bordered on a shock.

The Englishman bagged 18 goals in all competitions for his side, the most from any individual at the club. Forest supporters will be praying he avoids more horrific facial injuries this term.

Morgan Gibbs-White is a phenomenal talent. (Image credit: UEFA via Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 16th

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Third Round

EUROPA LEAGUE: Semi-final

Nottingham Forest 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Lessons From Last Year

Consistency is key. For the second year running, and despite having several different managers, Forest largely used the same back five in the Premier League as long as they were available: keeper Matz Sels behind Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams.

That quintet, screened by Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare, were crucial to the Tricky Trees conceding fewer goals than Liverpool and Bournemouth, and just one more than third-placed Manchester United.

While it was a season to forget in front of goal, Forest had the joint eighth-best defence and that's ultimately what kept them in the division.

Forest must be more consistent this year. (Image credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Most Likely To...

Rotate elsewhere. Only relegated West Ham (32) used more players than Forest (31) last term.

Forest make the most of their squad. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Bask in mid-table serenity. In the club's four seasons back in the top flight, they've finished 16th, 17th, 7th and 16th. So, expect Forest to either push for Europe or be mired in a battle for survival.

The club will look to push for Europe again. (Image credit: Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: LEE CLARKE @redsidetrentpod

Last season was certainly memorable. The first club to have four managers in a Premier League season also reached the Europa League semi-finals, while finishing 16th. Turbulent.

The big talking point is whether we can actually keep one manager for the whole season.

Will Glasner last the entire season? (Image credit: Getty Images)

Our key player will be Morgan Gibbs-White. We have to keep him. He got 18 goals and seven assists in the league and Europe last year. We can't replace him and Elliot Anderson in the same summer.

The active player I'd love to have back is Anthony Elanga.

The opposition player I'd love here is Jarrod Bowen. It's unrealistic, due to his elite quality, but he'd be an amazing fit for our system.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Bruno Fernandes. The bloke is like a petulant kid who has been told he can't have the last Rolo!

Fans think our owner is determined, passionate and a little crazy – but his heart is in the right place.

Anthony Elanga is missed. (Image credit: Alamy)

The pantomime villain will be Sean Dyche, if any top flight side is mental enough to take him on. If not, it'll be Frank Lampard due to his Derby links.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is The Nav. It's a brilliant boozer with top-notch beer, a football quiz and a barbecue on site.

A social media account to follow is @wt_analysis – he recently got himself a job in football, based on his brilliant data on all things Nottingham Forest.

We'll finish in the top 10.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Leeds (H)

29 Liverpool (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Tottenham (H)

12 Aston Villa (A)

19 Coventry (H)

OCTOBER

10 Crystal Palace (A)

17 Arsenal (H)

24 Ipswich (A)

31 Brentford (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Man City (H)

21 Bournemouth (A)

28 Chelsea (H)

DECEMBER

2 Hull City (A)

5 Brighton (H)

12 Sunderland (A)

19 Everton (H)

26 Man United (A)

30 Newcastle (A)

JANUARY

2 Fulham (H)

6 Hull City (H)

16 Man City (A)

23 Bournemouth (H)

30 Chelsea (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Brentford (H)

10 Fulham (A)

20 Man United (H)

27 Everton (A)

MARCH

3 Newcastle (H)

13 Tottenham (A)

20 Aston Villa (H)

APRIL

10 Leeds (A)

17 Liverpool (H)

24 Sunderland (H)

MAY

1 Brighton (A)

8 Crystal Palace (H)

15 Arsenal (A)

23 Ipswich (H)

30 Coventry (A)

Title Odds

Nottingham Forest to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Nottingham Forest to finish 18th.

It could be the latter, particularly after the departure of Anderson. Glasner's arrival does give them more hope, though – if Pereira had started the season, we feared for a repeat of Wolves' slide.

Unfortunately, Forest are going down. (Image credit: Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Quiz! Can you name every team to have won one of English football's top four tiers?

Chris Nee — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:10:43 +0000

FourFourTwo has another bumper quiz for you and this one's for experts in English football history.

PLAY ALL QUIZZES

(Image credit: Future)

PLAY NOW You can play all FourFourTwo quizzes right HERE

Now formed of the Premier League and the EFL, the top four divisions of men's football in England have been the basis of the professional game for generations. In nearly 140 years of history, a massive 95 teams have won at least one of the top four divisions.

There are some forgotten names in here so we've given you 15 minutes to crack through the lot. Let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has an unmatched collection of football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Let's see what you've got, starting with a very tricky career paths quiz that asks you to identify no fewer than 100 players just by the clubs they represented.

We also want to know whether you can tell us who wrote these football autobiographies based on their titles – you can't – and identify the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

If you're a passionate Three Lions historian you'll be able to show us that can name every member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and there's a good chance you'll be the kind of brain who can also identify these team line-ups from the nationalities of the players.

Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard. While you're at it, we recommend FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64. There are clues on Champions League finals, Olympic medallists, and name-dropping rappers.

How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus: Free streams and TV details as Xabi Alonso's men face Italian giants in Hong Kong

James Roberts — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Watch Chelsea vs Juventus for free as Xabi Alonso's men begin the Asian leg of their pre-season tour with a friendly against the Italian giants in Hong Kong. FourFourTwo brings you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Chelsea vs Juventus: key information

Date: Wednesday, 5 August
Kick-off time: 12:30pm BST / 7:30am ET / 9:30pm AEST
Free Stream: TVNZ+ (New Zealand) / CBS Sports Golazo Network (US)
Watch from anywhere: Get 75% off with NordVPN

Alonso has had a lively opening two games of his tenure as Blues manager, with a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers followed by a last-gasp 2-1 defeat by 10-man Tottenham Hotspur.

Both of those friendlies took place in Sydney, but Chelsea's players and staff have since relocated to Asia where they will play the next three matches of pre-season. First up is this clash in Hong Kong with Italian giants Juventus, who kept clean sheets in each of their first three games of the summer.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Chelsea vs Juventus online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Chelsea vs Juventus for free?

Yes, TVNZ+ in New Zealand is broadcasting the match between Chelsea and Juventus for free.

CBS Sports Golazo Network will also show the game at no cost in the US.

You just need an account and you'll be able to watch without paying a penny.

Team News

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Palestra, Tosin, Fofana, Hato, Nicoll-Jazuli, Caicedo, Quenda, Joao Pedro, Gittens, Welbeck.

Subs: Penders, Sharman-Lowe, Curd, Slonina, Acheampong, Subuloye, Sarr, Diakite, Anselmino, Lavia, Essugo, Watson, Walsh, Kellyman, Mudryk, Estevao Willian, Kavuma-McQueen, Neto, Satpayev, Jackson, Delap

Juventus XI: Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly, Cambiaso, Douglas Luiz, Locatelli, Miretti, Boga, Milik, Celik.

Subs: Perrin, Pinsoglio, Nava, Bremmer, Rugani, Koopmeiners, Arthur Melo, Cabal, Owusu, Gil Puche, Oboavwoduo, Licina, Durmisi, Yildiz, Zhegrova, David

Not in New Zealand or the US? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Chelsea vs Juventus from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Chelsea vs Juventus. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

Get 75% off NordVPN + 3 months extra free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
✅ Unblocks TVNZ+
📺 Stream Chelsea vs Juventus from anywhereView Deal

How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus in the UK

In the UK, you will need CFC+ to stream Chelsea vs Juventus.

CFC+ is Chelsea's in-house streaming platform and is showing every Blues pre-season game. A match pass costs £9.99, or you can pay £14.99 a year to unlock all of Chelsea's remaining summer friendlies, including Chelsea vs Juventus.

Abroad? Use NordVPN to access your usual stream.

How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus in the US

Chelsea vs Juventus is available to watch on Paramount+ and the free CBS Sports Golazo Network in the US.

Paramount+ plans start at $8.99 a month and also give you access to every single Champions League game, as well as select matches in the Carabao Cup and EFL, plus much more.

Outside of the US? Watch Chelsea vs Juventus on Paramount+ with NordVPN.

How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus in Australia

Paramount+ will be showing Chelsea vs Juventus in Australia.

Plans start at AU$7.99 per month or AU$70.99 per year.

Away from Australia? Get NordVPN to access your usual Paramount+ stream.

Chelsea vs Juventus: Preview

After starting the Xabi Alonso era Down Under, Chelsea continue their breathless pre-season tour with the first of three matches in Asia as they face Juventus in Hong Kong.

While it was only a friendly, the Blues never like to lose to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur so their last-gasp defeat in Sydney last Saturday will have stung more than it should at this time of year.

Alonso's men have the chance to put that right against Juventus in the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium, where the travelling party will be joined by some notable reinforcements.

New signing Danny Welbeck and forgotten man Mykhailo Mudryk - who could play for the first time since November 2024 after his doping case was resolved - have arrived in Asia to link up with the squad, as have £40m winger Geovany Quenda and goalkeeper Mike Penders. All four players could feature against Juventus as Alonso continues to fine-tune his side ahead of the new season.

This fixture is a meeting of two teams who missed out on Champions League qualification last season, although Juventus did at least book their place in one European competition for 2026/27.

The Italian giants will play in the Europa League next term after finishing sixth in Serie A, which was only the second time since 2011 that they have ended the campaign outside the top four.

The Old Lady have shown their age in the past few seasons and fallen behind Europe's elite, although they did finish last term in relatively good form with only one defeat in their final 12 Serie A matches.

Luciano Spalletti's men arrive in Hong Kong having won two and drawn one of their first three pre-season friendlies, beating Nice and Standard Liege after drawing with Basel, all without conceding a goal.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Juventus

This should be an interesting test for Chelsea, even if Juventus aren't quite the draw they once were.

Quickfire Quiz 174: Can you answer 10 questions in 90 seconds?

Chris Nee — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

It's time for the latest FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz! Can you answer 10 football trivia questions in just 90 seconds?

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

PLAY MORE

(Image credit: Future)

QUICKFIRE QUIZ Play more Quickfire Quizzes

FourFourTwo has many more football quizzes courtesy of Kwizly. First up, we have this colossal challenge to name 100 players from the clubs where they've played football in our latest career path quiz.

Our Big World Cup 2026 quiz will test your detailed knowledge of the latest major summer football tournament. Let's find out how much you can remember about the competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

We also want to know whether you can name all of these footballer autobiographies from their titles alone and every Premier League player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000.

If you know your numbers, you'll have no problem naming the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

Last but not least, we want you to guess these team line-ups based on the nationalities of their players alone. Make no mistake; this is expert-level stuff.

Liverpool as we knew them under Jurgen Klopp have seemingly vanished, but can Andoni Iraola restore the culture that was eroded after the German's departure? Liverpool 2026-27 season preview

Matt Ladson — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:28:24 +0000

A new era is underway at Anfield again. After Arne Slot's two-year reign was ended following a miserable campaign with 19 defeats in all competitions, Andoni Iraola has been charged with reinstalling the attacking identity demanded by Reds fans.

Iraola's Bournemouth certainly displayed that quality. The Basque manager delivered an aggressive, progressive style, utilising quick, direct wingers, a high defensive line and pressing in attack.

Did somebody say “Jurgen Klopp”? Kopites are hoping for Klopp-like football, having grown frustrated by Slot's slow build-up and passive play. Iraola's message to Liverpool fans upon arrival was upbeat, capturing the imagination: “I can only say I want to become one of you; to earn the right to belong.” That's been enough to restore optimism after a difficult year.

It's the dawn of a new era at Liverpool, and Andoni Iraola must restore a lost hope

It's a new era at Liverpool. (Image credit: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

However, they will be a different proposition with the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate – a key trio not just on the pitch, but around the club.

New leaders need to step up, because nine players from the title-winning squad of a little over a year ago have already left.

The loss of Mohamed Salah could be catastrophic. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Nobody expects a title challenge in Iraola's maiden season, but a return to more attractive football and clear signs of an identity will be needed, and fast.

The lack of a trophy on his managerial CV, or experience coaching in European competition, are both concerns.

The Coach

Andoni Iraola is only the 22nd Liverpool manager in 134 years, which shows that it was no easy decision to part ways with Slot so soon. But Iraola offers the exciting football that fans missed, while his Basque roots mean he can understand the city's outsider mentality.

Andoni Iraola is the man to lead Liverpool forward. (Image credit: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Key Player

Virgil van Dijk is 35 now, yet he played every league minute in 2025-26, then went to the World Cup. With Giovanni Leoni (19) and inexperienced new signing Jeremy Jacquet (21) alongside him, and Ibrahima Konate gone, the Dutchman's experience will be vital.

Virgil van Dijk is the team's key player. (Image credit: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 5th

FA CUP: Quarter-final

LEAGUE CUP: Fourth Round

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Quarter-final

Liverpool's 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Top Scorer

Hugo Ekitike was Liverpool's top goalscorer last year, with 17 strikes in all competitions.

That figure is a stark drop-off from the 30-40 goal campaigns produced by Salah from 2017-2024.

Ekitike is sidelined with injury until likely 2027, and whoever the Reds' top scorer is this year will surely have to produce a haul that exceeds that of the Frenchman in 2025-26.

Hugo Ekitike might not touch grass until 2027. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lessons From Last Year

There are many: using the squad better, getting the most of Florian Wirtz in a settled role, fewer ready excuses such as an inability to defend long throws and set pieces.

Arguably, the biggest lesson Iraola can take from Slot's reign is using the power of Anfield. Liverpool made slow starts too often under the Dutchman, reflected in their conceding first in 14 league games last season.

They lacked attacking impetus, which sapped the energy of the crowd, and the two couldn't thrive off each other. “For me,” says Iraola, “football is about emotions – about passion.” Those inside Anfield would agree.

Florian Wirtz must come good this year. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Most Likely To...

Be involved in a 5-4 thriller. Think Klopp's first campaign, when the German's glasses were lost in the celebrations at Norwich. Iraola's first year could be as entertaining.

Will the Reds go back to the high-scoring, thriller games under early Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool? (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Shut up shop defending set pieces. Liverpool (20) and Bournemouth (18) had the worst record for goals against from dead-ball situations in the Premier League last season.

Liverpool's defensive woes will continue this season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: JACK LUSBY @LusbyJack

Last season was deeply overshadowed by an unbelievable tragedy. Diogo Jota's death had a lasting impact on not only his team-mates, but the coach and his staff.

The big talking point is the decision to sack Arne Slot. Even with the serious mitigating factors, it was necessary – his decline had begun with the side's shocking display in the 2025 Carabao Cup Final.

Farewell, Arne. (Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

This season will be different because Andoni Iraola has breathed new life into the support.

I won't be happy unless proper, attacking football returns to Anfield. You'd be surprised how many struggled to sit through Liverpool games last year.

Our key player will be Virgil van Dijk. World class. Look out for 19-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni. After nine months out, it's easy to forget his immense talent. He tore his ACL on debut and was still man of the match.

Fans think our owners are OK. FSG get plenty wrong but they usually rectify it eventually.

The departing player I'm saddest about is Andy Robertson or Mo Salah. Both should still be at the club – and would be, had things changed sooner.

Salah should have never left Liverpool, nor Andy Robertson. (Image credit: Getty Images)

A social media account to follow is the academy (@LFCAcademyX). There's a wealth of talent coming through or being signed.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Arsenal. They're the most unlikeable champions in a long, long time. Those games will be attacking football vs anti-football.

We'll finish 3rd.

Fixtures

AUGUST

23 Newcastle (A)

29 Nott'm Forest (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Ipswich (A)

12 Fulham (H)

19 Bournemouth (A)

OCTOBER

10 Man City (H)

17 Brentford (A)

24 Brighton (H)

31 Arsenal (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Crystal Palace (A)

21 Man United (H)

28 Everton (A)

DECEMBER

2 Sunderland (H)

5 Chelsea (A)

12 Leeds (H)

19 Tottenham (H)

26 Hull City (A)

30 Aston Villa (A)

JANUARY

2 Coventry (H)

6 Sunderland (A)

16 Crystal Palace (H)

23 Man United (A)

30 Everton (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Arsenal (A)

10 Coventry (A)

20 Hull City (H)

27 Tottenham (A)

MARCH

3 Aston Villa (H)

13 Ipswich (H)

20 Fulham (A)

APRIL

10 Newcastle (H)

17 Nott'm Forest (A)

24 Leeds (A)

MAY

1 Chelsea (H)

8 Man City (A)

15 Brentford (H)

23 Brighton (A)

30 Bournemouth (H)

Title Odds

Liverpool to win the Premier League title odds: 11/2

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Liverpool to finish 3rd.

Life without Salah could benefit the collective, if handled correctly. Iraola's methods suit most of the Reds' squad, fitness depending, although bungeeing back to the title is likely too much to ask.

Liverpool's attacking depth is sorely lacking, but they will finish 3rd through sheer grit. (Image credit: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Andoni Iraola must change habit of a lifetime to succeed at Liverpool

Steven Chicken — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Across his spells at Larnaca, Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, streakiness has always been a hallmark of Andoni Iraola’s sides – but most of them will tell Liverpool fans that if he gets off to a bad start, he can still prove to be well worth the wait.

In Cyprus, Iraola had Larnaca in fine form in the Europa League qualifying rounds and started the league campaign well, only to hit a run of just one win in nine games in all competitions that cost him his job.

At Mirandes in the Spanish second tier, it was the other way around: Iraola’s side won just one of their first ten games, but then lost just five of their next 33 games.

Streaky clean

Andoni Iraola will lead Liverpool into the 2026/27 season (Image credit: Getty Images)

That included going on an impressive run to the semi-finals of Copa del Rey, claiming three top-flight scalps from Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal along the way – but the return to action after the covid-enforced stoppage to the season saw Mirandes finish the season with a run of two wins in nine games and fall out of play-off contention.

Iraola stayed in the Spanish equivalent of the Championship the following season, this time with Rayo Vallecano, and the streakiness continued: three wins from the first four was followed by just two wins in the next eight before they rallied and achieved promotion via the play-offs.

Andoni Iraola took second-tier Rayo Vallecano to a cup semi-final and promotion (Image credit: Getty Images)

His most extreme start of all came at Bournemouth in 2023. With Iraola installed as Gary O’Neil’s successor, the Cherries didn’t win any of their first nine Premier League games under Iraola, with a 3-0 defeat to a troubled Everton side who had scarcely started the season a particular lowlight.

Much of the criticism was aimed not at Iraola, but at Bournemouth, who were heavily criticised for having made the change in the first place. The Telegraph tipped them for the drop, accusing the club’s decision to replace O’Neil as an act of ‘self-mutilation’ after he had led them away from relegation the previous season.

And who inflicted the defeat in that ninth league game of Iraola’s tenure? O’Neil’s Wolves, of course. The pressure was now on.

But tellingly, the Bournemouth board kept the faith – and despite their awful results, Iraola’s style was already starting to draw a ‘well, actually’ reaction from analysts.

They pointed out that Bournemouth had been handed the toughest opening fixtures of any side in the division – they also faced Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Brighton and Arsenal in the run – and yet ranked in the top half on their pressing stats and were consistently getting touches in the opposition box. The implication was that this was a side still adapting to a difficult but potentially rewarding style of play.

Andoni Iraola's appointment at Bournemouth came under a cloud (Image credit: Getty Images)

Bournemouth fans were generally still on board, too, citing the trickiness of that run, a spate of injuries, late arrivals in the transfer market, and some genuinely excellent passage of play at Anfield and against Tottenham as reasons to stay behind Iraola.

That faith proved to be well-placed. Bournemouth won eight of their next ten Premier League games, with Manchester City the only side to beat them. Not only that, but Bournemouth claimed those wins in style, scoring three against Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and away to Manchester United.

Then came a seven-game winless run, followed by a run of four wins in five games that essentially confirmed a mid-table finish was on the cards.

That first season set a pattern for Iraola’s Bournemouth, who continued to veer back and forth between long unbeaten runs and much more underwhelming periods.

Just consider last season: second in the table after losing just one of their first nine – and they deserved to get something out of that opening-day defeat to Liverpool, in truth.

Andoni Iraola had a frustrating start at Bournemouth (Image credit: Getty Images)

Bournemouth didn’t win at all in November or December, and lost star man Antoine Semenyo to City in the January transfer window – only to finish the season with an 18-game unbeaten streak that included just slightly too many draws for them to pip Liverpool to Champions League qualification.

Those who watched Bournemouth closely will tell you they often played scintillating stuff.

The Cherries were, for this writer, the most entertaining side in the division for much of the past two seasons, and those poor spells very much felt like the inevitable result of Iraola playing an ultra-intense modern gegenpressing style without having the squad depth required to sustain it at its best over an entire season.

Liverpool should be able to provide that, but whether they actually will or not is another question.

It is clear that the squad needs work, particularly in defence; and for as much as the players who served under Jurgen Klopp are likely to embrace Iraola’s similar style, Liverpool still look from the outside like a club going through a belated transitional period.

The expectation on Iraola will be much higher than it was on the Dorset coast, and yet more winless runs like the ones they suffered through under Arne Slot last season would not go down at all well.

There is real potential for Iraola to end up being made into the fall guy for several years of weird transfer business at Liverpool – but if his prior track record is anything to go by, a bit of patience could go a long way.

Leeds United survived the drop last season, and now work is being done to cement the Whites as a Premier League outfit: Leeds 2026-27 season preview

joe.donnohue@futurenet.com (Joe Donnohue) — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:37:50 +0000

Leeds are in a good place. That isn't something you could have written in many FourFourTwo Season Previews over the course of this century.

Elland Road's redevelopment is at the shovels-in-ground stage. The team consolidated their place in the top flight. And, this summer, the club tied 25-year-old captain and talisman Ethan Ampadu to a new, long-term contract.

As with every recently promoted side in the modern Premier League era, the objective is the same in season two: stay up. In a ruthless division, second-season syndrome can kill teams who start to have ideas above their station.

Will Leeds suffer second-season syndrome, or secure continued Premier League football once more?

Leeds cannot get too carried away, but an improved performance will be needed to survive the drop this season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The last time Leeds were in this build on the success of their first season back in the big time, which set in motion a slide back into the Championship. It can't be allowed to happen again. Minority partners then, 49ers Enterprises are now in full control, with deep pockets that are deepened further still by commercial partnerships with the likes of Red Bull.

Transfer market savvy remains key, however. Noah Okafor, Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in particular, were all resounding successes in last summer's squad reshape, with an emphasis placed on physicality. In order to maintain the momentum built in the second half of 2025-26, Leeds will need to execute their squad-building goals efficiently once again.

Leeds returned to the Premier League in 2025. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Coach

Plenty feared that Daniel Farke couldn't keep a team in the Premier League, having twice failed to do so with Norwich, but – helped by a fuller budget and a defiant Elland Road – he proved his doubters wrong. He has now challenged the club to match his ambition to push on.

Daniel Farke is the man at the helm. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key Player

The most important cog in the Leeds machine is 63-cap Wales international Ethan Ampadu. Leading by example and ready to fly into a tackle at any time, he is just what Leeds fans want in a captain, not least for his cone-headed promotion party antics. He's one of them.

Ethan Ampadu is this team's key player. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 14th

FA CUP: Semi-final

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Leeds 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Top Scorer

Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a respectable 15 goals in all competitions for the Whites last season.

At one stage, the (very narrow) possibility of him breaking Jamie Vardy's consecutive games-with-a-goal streak was even being discussed.

DCL can be a menace, on his day. (Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Lessons From Last Year

If it's not working, change it up. With Leeds losing 2-0 at half-time at Manchester City in November, Farke shifted to a back three – a system he hadn't used in his first two seasons at the club.

They got back to 2-2 before conceding in injury time but, more importantly, this heralded a tactical setup that made Leeds harder to beat.

Across the 30 matches in all competitions that followed Farke's epiphany, Leeds lost only six times. They pulled away from relegation, and the manager's willingness to change tack won over doubters. Keeping key players fit was vital as other teams' form forced Leeds to finish strongly. And so they did.

When they travelled to West Ham on the final day, clear of relegation, Farke's charges were unbeaten in eight. His pragmatism had paid off.

Farke's willingness to change things up must continue. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Most Likely To...

Have the best-smelling manager in the Premier League.

This man surely smells great, right?

Least Likely To...

Shoot from range: Calvert-Lewin, who took 13 of his 14 goals from between the posts, inside the box.

DCL isn't a long distance shooter. (Image credit: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: JOE MEWIS @joemewis

Last season was defined by the half-time switch at Manchester City, when Daniel Farke was staring down the barrel. A superb second half of the season was his reward for leaving behind what had been a rigid tactical approach.

This season will be different because the top half is our goal now.

New boy Harry Wilson could be a huge addition in the push for top half. (Image credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Our key player will be Ethan Ampadu, for his tenacity and leadership.

The active player I'd love to have back is Raphinha, now that James Milner has finally called it a day.

The opposition player I'd love here is James Trafford. One of England's best goalkeepers has been wasted sat on the bench at Man City.

Look out for additional scrutiny on the academy pipeline. For the first time, Leeds didn't award Young Player of the Year due to a lack of candidates. The hierarchy were vindicated in signing experienced players, but reigniting the historically superb youth setup, producing players ready for the first team, needs to happen.

The one change I'd make at our club would be our dire modern-day record at Wembley. Even a goal would be nice.

Joe wishes his club had a better Wembley record - could that change this season? (Image credit: PA Images)

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is the Emirates. Arsenal were the only side to truly have our number last season.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is at an all-time high. A win at Old Trafford and first FA Cup semi-final in a generation were the icing on the cake of a stress-free climax.

We'll finish 11th.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Nott'm Forest (A)

29 Brentford (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Brighton (A)

12 Newcastle (H)

19 Crystal Palace (H)

OCTOBER

10 Arsenal (A)

17 Man United (H)

24 Sunderland (A)

31 Bournemouth (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Tottenham (H)

21 Chelsea (A)

28 Coventry (H)

DECEMBER

2 Man City (A)

5 Ipswich (H)

12 Liverpool (A)

19 Fulham (H)

26 Aston Villa (A)

30 Hull City (A)

JANUARY

2 Everton (H)

6 Man City (H)

16 Tottenham (A)

23 Chelsea (H)

30 Coventry (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Bournemouth (H)

10 Everton (A)

20 Aston Villa (H)

27 Fulham (A)

MARCH

3 Hull City (H)

13 Brighton (H)

20 Newcastle (A)

APRIL

10 Nott'm Forest (H)

17 Brentford (A)

24 Liverpool (H)

MAY

1 Ipswich (A)

8 Arsenal (H)

15 Man United (A)

23 Sunderland (H)

30 Crystal Palace (A)

Title Odds

Leeds United to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Leeds to finish 14th.

Leeds' top-seven form following Farke's tactical switch-up hints that they can look up rather than down. New boy Harry Wilson could add goals – they've also needed to address the goalkeeping situation.

This man will help keep them up. (Image credit: Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Quiz! Can you locate these famous football statues?

Chris Nee — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The latest football quiz from FourFourTwo is one for fans who like to get out and about to explore the landmarks of the beautiful game.

PLAY ALL QUIZZES

(Image credit: Future)

PLAY NOW You can play all FourFourTwo quizzes right HERE

Football clubs are nothing without their histories and communities. The two come together whenever a statue or a bust is placed lovingly at a stadium, a fitting tribute to the players and managers that changed everything. We've picked out 10 famous football statues and we simply want to know where they are.

You've got 3 minutes to find them all. Let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a huge collection of football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Let's try some of them on for size. If you're more into literature than sculpture, you can tell us who wrote these football autobiographies.

We also want to know whether you can name every member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

We also have a very tricky career paths quiz that asks you to identify a whopping 100 players by the clubs they played for, and a challenge to identify these team line-ups from the nationalities of the players alone.

If puzzles are more your speed, test yourself with FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64. There are clues on Champions League finals, Olympic medallists, and name-dropping rappers. Remember to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

Quickfire Quiz 173: Can you answer 10 questions in 90 seconds?

Chris Nee — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Can you answer 10 football trivia questions in just 90 seconds? Here's your chance to prove it. It's the latest FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

PLAY MORE

(Image credit: Future)

QUICKFIRE QUIZ Play more Quickfire Quizzes

FourFourTwo has lots more football quizzes courtesy of Kwizly. Here are just a few of them that we know you're going to love. First up, how much can you remember about the latest summer tournament? Find out by trying our Big World Cup 2026 quiz.

We also want to know whether you can name all 13 players who have won both the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or.

If you're an expert in the modern era of England's top division, you'll be able to name the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League and every Premier League player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000.

We've set a seriously tricky challenge for our latest career path quiz: We want you to name no fewer than 100 players from the clubs where they've played football professionally.

Finally, we've picked out a bunch of club line-ups and we want you to guess them based on the nationalities of their players alone. It's tougher than you might think!

If that's not enough for you, we have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for your Sunday, and remember to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits!

Fulham are a side edging closer to domestic success and European qualification, but can new boss Alvaro Arbeloa get them over the line? Fulham 2026-27 season preview

James Andrew — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Last term's Premier League table shows Fulham in the bottom half. Yet with one more goal against an already-relegated Wolves in their penultimate match, the Cottagers would have qualified for the Europa League in seventh, so you'd think they are in a good position to push on.

Instead, Marco Silva has left for Benfica.

Alvaro Arbeloa agreed to replace him in late June, subject to a work permit, after a debut managerial spell in which his side defeated Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League. There is the question, however, of whether coaching Real Madrid Castilla, and then their first team for just four months, can prepare him for a season of struggle in England.

Is this the season that the Cottagers achieve European football, or even cup success? Fulham 2026-27 season preview

Fulham feel as though they're on the brink of a major trophy victory. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Yes: struggle. Potentially. Fulham can't let Silva's years of mid-table security make them complacent, because Arbeloa inherits a squad that needs work. Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez scored or assisted 57 per cent of Fulham's goals last term; both have left the club. Josh King, 19, and Oscar Bobb, 23, look primed for big seasons, at least. Any new manager comes with risks, of course, as Fulham know from previous hires.

And being less busy than the nine English teams in Europe – where Fulham want to be – will help Arbeloa. He could target a cup run, for fans of a club who've visited Wembley only for play-off finals in the past 50 years. But beware: the water may be rising on the banks of the Thames.

The Coach

Alvaro Arbeloa is a gamble, but an exciting one. Having cut his coaching teeth with Real Madrid's Under-14s, U19s and Castilla before a short stint with the senior team, he prefers a possession-based game with high pressing, intensity and the desire to dominate matches.

Alvaro Arbeloa is the man at the helm. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key Player

Ryan Sessegnon has shown glimpses since his return to Fulham in 2024, but – at 26 – he has the potential for much more. He can play further forward and have more of an impact if Antonee Robinson's fitness allows the American to play regularly at left-back.

Ryan Sessegnon is Fulham's key player. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 11th

FA CUP: Fifth Round

LEAGUE CUP: Quarter-finals

Fulham's 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Top Scorer

Harry Wilson bagged 11 goals in all competitions for Fulham last season, and is one of the Premier League's cleanest ball-strikers.

The Welshman was even spoken of as being in contention for PFA Players' Player of the Year, heading into the season's later stages.

Unfortunately, both him and veteran bagsman Jimenez left the club this summer.

Harry Wilson is electric. (Image credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Lessons From Last Year

Turn up on the road. Only four teams won more home games than Fulham (11), but only Leeds, Burnley and Wolves recorded fewer away wins than their four.

We get it: Craven Cottage is nice, especially under the lights. But just two extra points would have taken Fulham into the Europa League with fond memories of 2009-10's epic run to the final, so making life harder for hosts must be a priority.

Fulham must be better away from home this year. (Image credit: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Most Likely To...

Lose his shorts during the game: Calvin Bassey. Fulham's all-white kit exposed how low the defender wears his shorts – at times, there were fears he might lose them completely. Adidas sent him some footwear with the note, “Eyes on the boots, not the glutes.” Cheeky.

Keep your shorts on this season, Calvin Bassey!

Least Likely To...

Score a goal: Sander Berge. The Norwegian midfielder's last goal came at Craven Cottage in 2023 – when he was playing for Burnley. Although 15 shots last season was a dozen more than in 2024-25, he rarely threatens even from set pieces, despite being 6ft 4in.

Sander Berge has not yet made his mark at Fulham. (Image credit: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: JACK STROUDLEY @J_Strudders

Last season was a feeling of what could have been, despite being poor for large parts of the season.

The big talking point is Arbeloa coming in. Did he struggle at Real Madrid due to it being a poisoned chalice, or will this be an appointment to forget?

Is Arbeloa up to the task? (Image credit: Getty Images)

I won't be happy unless we qualify for Europe or have a trip to Wembley. Things feel a bit stagnant.

Our key player will be Oscar Bobb. He joined us in January and I think this is the season he kicks on for us on the right wing.

Look out for Kevin. The big-money signing found his feet late last season.

The opposition player I'd love here is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, for some creativity in midfield.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is the Etihad. Fulham haven't won any of the last 26 meetings against Manchester City, losing the last 20, and it's beyond boring now.

Will this be Oscar Bobb's breakout season? (Image credit: Getty Images)

A social media account to follow is @jackellyffc, a brilliant independent Fulham journalist.

The departing player I'm saddest about is Harry Wilson, a magnificent servant to the club, who has left us on a free transfer to Leeds right at the peak of his powers.

Fans think our owner is sleepwalking. The Khans' inability to plan long-term is making fans restless.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is the country's best walk to a football stadium: through Bishops Park to the Cottage.

We'll finish 10th… with a day out at Wembley.

Fixtures

AUGUST

24 Chelsea (H)

29 Sunderland (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Crystal Palace (H)

12 Liverpool (A)

19 Man United (H)

OCTOBER

10 Ipswich (A)

17 Hull City (H)

24 Coventry (A)

31 Aston Villa (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Newcastle (H)

21 Man City (A)

28 Bournemouth (H)

DECEMBER

2 Tottenham (A)

5 Everton (A)

12 Brentford (H)

19 Leeds (A)

26 Brighton (H)

30 Arsenal (H)

JANUARY

2 Nott'm Forest (A)

6 Tottenham (H)

16 Newcastle (A)

23 Aston Villa (H)

30 Bournemouth (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Man City (H)

10 Nott'm Forest (H)

20 Arsenal (A)

27 Leeds (H)

MARCH

3 Brighton (A)

13 Crystal Palace (A)

20 Liverpool (H)

APRIL

10 Chelsea (A)

17 Sunderland (H)

24 Brentford (A)

MAY

1 Everton (H)

8 Ipswich (H)

15 Hull City (A)

23 Coventry (H)

30 Man United (A)

Title Odds

Fulham to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Fulham to finish 15th.

There's a chance Marco Silva's fine work will be appreciated only now, because Fulham's squad requires upgrades in midfield and attack. A hard pre-internationals schedule won't help his replacement, either.

Fulham will regress, and Marco Silva's work will be even more appreciated. (Image credit: Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Bespoke, not boutique: How New Balance is breaking sportswear's oligopoly

joe.donnohue@futurenet.com (Joe Donnohue) — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:08:27 +0000

This summer, FourFourTwo spent time at the Boston headquarters of American footwear and sporting apparel giant New Balance.

When you think of New Balance, your mind likely conjures an image of stylish trainers - a sight becoming increasingly ubiquitous across the United Kingdom. But as FFT discovered, the brand is about so much more than snazzy footwear.

The company is at the forefront of sports product design, manufacturing all manner of apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories alongside an ever-growing list of elite club partnerships. This season, New Balance manufactures kits for a host of top European sides, including, but not limited to, FC Porto, Lille OSC, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atalanta.

Bespoke, not boutique: The New Balance way

A detail view of a New Balance logo (Image credit: Getty Images)

Upon visiting New Balance HQ in Boston, Massachusetts, FFT was given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the company's state-of-the-art facilities.

The New Balance campus houses official training facilities for both the Boston Bruins (NHL) and the Boston Celtics (NBA), as well as the TRACK - a multi-purpose athletic and events complex of which the brand is understandably proud.

High-Fashion Performance

The facility features a 200-metre, hydraulically banked indoor track engineered for high-speed track-and-field competitions. It is backed by a massive athlete warm-up area that can be rolled away and replaced with a series of small-sided 3G football pitches - because, of course, it can.

Accommodating nearly 5,000 spectators, the venue sits below the New Balance Sports Research Lab, where high-tech innovation and rigorous product testing take place daily. And that is only scratching the surface.

Turning back to fashion for a moment, you may have noticed new Stone Island x New Balance gear doing the rounds this summer. Blending ’90s football culture with textile innovation and Boston’s high-performance sports science, the drop is part of an ongoing collaboration described as "incredibly complementary" by Rob Sheldon, New Balance's director of global football product.

"We bring innovation, the shoe-making technology and knowhow, specificity around the athletes and the athlete needs," Sheldon tells FFT. "[Stone Island] bring this wealth of expertise around materialisation, around colour and dye application.

"Equally, the cultural currency that is inherent within Stone Island means we just had this really complementary element where we can lean on the strengths of both brands and go 'this is something where we can offer a very unique perspective.'"

The TRACK at new balance in Boston, MA (Image credit: Getty Images)

The New Balance x Stone Island collaboration pieces do not come cheap, but for good reason: they are exceptionally high quality. What brand wouldn't want its best-in-class products perceived as such? And with marquee athletes Bukayo Saka and Endrick fronting the campaign, exclusivity is guaranteed.

Endrick's family was reportedly so overwhelmed by the lengths to which New Balance went in welcoming him to the brand that they burst into tears during a presentation showcasing their boy. Endrick's mother subsequently handed out sweets to those in attendance.

The New Balance x Stone Island capsule features the new Furon Elite v9 speed boot, worn by Endrick and Saka at the 2026 World Cup. FFT had the pleasure of testing out the boots - complete with heat-reactive artwork that changes colour based on body heat and temperature shifts as you sprint - an innovation years in the making.

New Balance Furon Elite V9 x Stone Island (Image credit: New Balance)

"If you take the Furon v9, we began that cycle back in 2022. So, that's really where we're identifying the aspects of the Furon v8 that the athlete really responded well to.

"Things that you're going to retain, you try to augment, we develop it in terms of what are the aspects or attributes that we're trying to characterise for the Furon v9 [through] a lens of player performance. What is going to enhance and yield the best outcome from a player?

"We then bring Stone Island through that process - it's that same consideration at the centre: this absolutely has to answer the needs of the athletes," Sheldon adds.

Inside The Lab

We were also given the elite athlete treatment inside the Sports Research Lab, touring all the bells and whistles a state-of-the-art facility could possibly offer. If we are being completely honest, much of the advanced science went over our heads - our school science lessons were usually spent doodling starting XIs in the back of an exercise book.

Rest assured, even for a self-proclaimed Luddite, it was deeply impressive. The facility features a machine nicknamed "The Beast," which can simulate the force of an NFL defensive lineman. To put that into context: the average NFL defensive lineman stands 6'3" tall and weighs 140 kilograms. "The Beast" feels entirely appropriate.

Additionally, there is a 3D body scanner that takes 150 measurements in an instant, alongside an environmental chamber housing "Andy" - a mannequin that actually sweats to test how the human body responds to specific fabrics.

Andy the Mannequin at New Balance's Sports Research Lab (Image credit: Getty Images)

All this technology just to kit out an East London DJ two-stepping behind the decks in a pair of New Balance trainers might feel like overkill, but that is precisely the point: New Balance wants the everyday consumer to enjoy the exact same quality experience as an elite athlete.

"Making something fit for purpose, and that insight-driven creation, but quality and craftsmanship is something that's been central to the to the brand ethos since its inception.

"We want to continue to augment that and make sure that, irrespective of whether you're buying a lifestyle product, a running shoe, everybody knows that New Balance stands for for craft and quality," Michael Mills, senior category manager at New Balance, tells FFT.

New Balance already have a strong cohort of footballers signed to the brand (Image credit: New Balance)

Challenging Legacy Giants

New Balance is a bespoke sporting apparel brand, but by no means a boutique one. Compared to its competitors, the brand maintains a more selective group of club kit partnerships, allowing it to offer a tailored service with the genuine personal touch Endrick's family experienced.

"There's a deep appreciation [for New Balance], and we get a great degree of new consumers, but equally existing consumers coming back to the brand as well, and that's incremental in a space that is mature.

"It's generational brands that we're amongst as well. So, being able to get to a place where we're very recognised on the field of play in all forms of the game across the globe really speaks to the progress that we've made over the last 10 years."

The company's Warrior subsidiary established an initial beachhead in English football through a landmark kit deal with Liverpool in 2012, before signing fellow Premier League side Stoke City two years later.

The brand was subsequently catapulted into the wider footballing consciousness during Liverpool's late-2010s, early-2020s domestic and European triumphs, with those iconic kits sporting the highly recognisable "NB" logo. On the player front, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Raheem Sterling, and Harvey Elliott have all joined the New Balance stable in recent years.

Brick by brick, club by club, boot by boot, New Balance is chipping away at the dominance of legacy sportswear giants. If not already, they will soon be making their competitors sweat - just like Andy the mannequin.

Crystal Palace have raised their own standards with major trophy wins in back-to-back seasons, so how will the Eagles fare this time without the man who guided them there? Crystal Palace 2026-27 season preview

Greg Lea — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Is it time to wake up yet? Winning three cups in 12 months was beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic Crystal Palace fan, but the Eagles have developed a taste for trophies and their appetite isn't satiated yet – despite Oliver Glasner's exit.

The mastermind behind those FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League triumphs has left the club after a glorious two and a half years.

His replacement, Pierre Sage, has a lot to live up to. Collecting yet more silverware won't be easy, but fans want the club to throw everything at the Europa League. English sides have won the past two editions of Europe's secondary competition. Why not Crystal Palace this time?

Can Crystal Palace live up to their recent major trophy-winning standards? 2026-27 season preview

Crystal Palace celebrated with the UEFA Conference League Trophy last season. (Photo by Thomas Eisenhuth - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) (Image credit: UEFA via Getty Images)

Ideally, that wouldn't come at the expense of a top-half Premier League finish, which Palace have achieved just twice since their 2013 promotion.

If so, Sage will need more depth and rotation options across the pitch. They sat fifth in December before their workload caught up with them.

They also won the FA Cup the year prior. (Image credit: The FA via Getty Images)

Quantity has a quality of its own. Recruitment is the key. Palace have unearthed numerous gems in recent years, turning Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton from Championship prospects into established internationals.

But the jury is out on Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen, signed for a combined £78m in January. A club with Palace's budget can't afford to be wasteful.

The Coach

Palace swiftly turned to Pierre Sage after Andoni Iraola chose Liverpool (strange).

In 2025-26, he led Lens to second in Ligue 1 and Coupe de France glory with a Glasner-like 3-4-3. PSG's Luis Enrique said, “It's the first time since I've been here that a side has given us so much trouble.”

Pierre Sage is the man to lead the Eagles forward. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key Player (and Top Scorer)

Ismaila Sarr's 21 goals in all competitions made him the first Palace player to hit 20 at the highest level since Andy Johnson in 2004-05.

At age 28, Sarr is at the peak of his powers: intelligent, versatile and deadly, with a knack for finding space in dangerous positions.

Ismaila Sarr is often a nightmare to play against. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

CONFERENCE LEAGUE: Winners (1-0 vs Rayo Vallecano)

PREMIER LEAGUE: 15th

FA Cup: Third Round (2-1 loss vs Macclesfield)

League Cup: Quarter-finals (1-1, 8-7 Penalties loss vs Arsenal)

Crystal Palace 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Lessons From Last Year

Take your chances. Only Burnley and Wolves scored fewer than Palace's 41 goals in 2025-26. Yet the Eagles ranked ninth for shots inside the box and eighth for xG, above top-eight finishers Brighton, Sunderland and Aston Villa.

Palace underperformed their expected goals more than any other team. An improved record at Selhurst Park would be welcome, too.

With only four wins there, Palace picked up fewer points at home than they did on the road. Sage must make Selhurst Park a fortress again.

Selhurt Park must become a fortress again. (Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Most Likely To...

Double-check their emails. After being kicked out of last season's Europa League for missing a vital UEFA memo about multi-club ownership, Palace will have their eyes peeled on their inbox.

Crystal Palace have turned Gmail notifications on this season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Meet a deadline. The Eagles announced plans for an enlarged Main Stand in 2017 and targeted completion within three years, but spades have only just entered the ground. Palace are in danger of making HS2 look like a rush job.

Crystal Palace are improving their stadium well behind deadline. (Image credit: Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: JACK PIERCE @FYPFanzine

Last season was all about the Conference League. Our league form took a back seat as focus turned to winning another trophy. It has become a habit.

The big talking point is how we'll move on from the most successful manager in our history. Glasner changed the club culture completely. But Sage brought success to Lens last season, too.

Oliver Glasner is gone, but the culture he introduced will remain. (Image credit: Getty Images)

I won't be happy unless I see Palace at San Siro. Is it more surprising Crystal Palace are in the Europa League, or that Milan are?

Our key player will be Jorgen Strand Larsen, if Sage can get a tune out of him. Our record signing has shown glimpses since he arrived in January.

Look out for our French central defender Jaydee Canvot. The teenager had a superb first campaign and will go to the highest stage in years to come.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Jordan Henderson, for the incessant whining and for nicking Adam Wharton's seat on the flight to the World Cup. It's a scandal.

The opposition player I'd love here is Hayden Hackney. The best player in the Championship last season could and should have followed the road trodden by Eze, Olise and Wharton.

Crystal Palace's former player list is becoming more and more iconic by the season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is seeing how many away fans love the Wilfried Zaha mural.

We'll finish away from danger, but I'm concerned that we'll struggle to find the right balance between our Premier League and European form again.

Fixtures

AUGUST

22 Everton (A)

29 Man City (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Fulham (A)

12 Ipswich (H)

19 Leeds (A)

OCTOBER

10 Nott'm Forest (H)

17 Brighton (A)

24 Newcastle (H)

31 Tottenham (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Liverpool (H)

21 Coventry (A)

28 Hull City (H)

DECEMBER

2 Chelsea (A)

5 Aston Villa (A)

12 Man United (H)

19 Sunderland (A)

26 Arsenal (H)

30 Bournemouth (H)

JANUARY

2 Brentford (A)

6 Chelsea (H)

16 Liverpool (A)

23 Tottenham (H)

30 Hull City (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Coventry (H)

10 Brentford (H)

20 Bournemouth (A)

27 Sunderland (H)

MARCH

3 Arsenal (A)

13 Fulham (H)

20 Ipswich (A)

APRIL

10 Everton (H)

17 Man City (A)

24 Man United (A)

MAY

1 Aston Villa (H)

8 Nott'm Forest (A)

15 Brighton (H)

23 Newcastle (A)

30 Leeds (H)

Title Odds

Crystal Palace to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Crystal Palace to finish 13th.

It's no guarantee that Sage can repeat Lens' tremendous 2025-26 season in England. Palace do have a fine squad and continue to sign well, however, with the possible exception of January 2026.

Crystal Palace will finish 13th. (Image credit: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Coventry City fought valiantly to make it back to the Premier League, but will surviving the drop prove to be an even greater task? - Coventry City 2026-27 season preview

Chris Nee — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Championship title winners with room to spare, Coventry City are back in the Premier League after a quarter of a century away.

Frank Lampard's leadership attracted the spotlight, as the former England midfielder steered his team through an immediate response to defeat in the 2024-25 play-offs.

While his first full season at the helm wasn't always plain sailing, the good ship Cov was never in choppy waters for long. Coventry are a club on a high, with a full stadium that feels like home – because it finally is.

Coventry City are back, but will they survive the drop? Coventry 2026-27 season preview

Coventry City have a long, arduous season ahead. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Even so, they will have to be a different outfit this season. The team that took them into the top flight didn't have the depth of quality needed to keep them there.

Loath as many City fans would be to acknowledge it, Sunderland showed the way to a world beyond a relegation battle, but there's no debate over Lampard's first target in 2026-27.

Coventry enjoyed their celebrations last season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

That isn't the same as a dearth of long-term ambition. It's been a long 25 years for the supporters, who experienced exile (when Coventry had to play their home games in Northampton and Birmingham) and were watching the club in League Two less than a decade ago.

A lot of credit goes to Lampard's predecessor, Mark Robins, for a revival that's been a long road for those who walked it. The Sky Blues have work to do. But after everything they've been through, they'll attack it with the grit and humour that rebuilt a city.

The Coach

Replacing Robins with Frank Lampard in November 2024 stunned Cov fans and outsiders alike, but chairman Doug King never wavered. By knuckling down and ultimately winning promotion, Lampard has forged an unlikely but formidable bond with the Sky Blues support.

Frank Lampard is the man at the helm. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key Player

At 25, Jack Rudoni has the star quality and age profile to grow into the Premier League, even if he wasn't at the forefront of last term's team effort, which had several top performers. The Lampard-esque attacking midfielder has the ability, focus and drive to shine at this level.

Jack Rudoni will be vital for Coventry this season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

CHAMPIONSHIP: Winners

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Coventry's 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Top Scorer

Haji Wright bagged 18 in all competitions for Coventry City last season, en-route to their Championship victory.

Will Haji Wright's talent translate into Premier League goals? (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lessons From Last Year

Remember that form is temporary, class is permanent. Coventry were dominant champions in the end but wobbled in the middle of the season.

Just as they dropped off the top of the Championship table, though, they hauled themselves up and clear again.

That resilient inner confidence could be the difference between getting a handle on the Premier League and struggling to get to grips with it.

Coventry need to play with confidence this season. (Image credit: Unknown)

Most Likely To...

Have their manager linked with every vacant position. This will be Lampard's fourth spell managing in the Premier League, but the way he confidently took the Sky Blues into it has made clubs take note. Don't be surprised if he decides to stay put this time.

Frank Lampard will be linked with every vacant managerial position after leading Coventry back to the top-flight of English football. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Lose their identity. Over a number of years, Coventry fought their way into the Premier League with the help of a steely unity, on and off the pitch. The day they give that up is the day there isn't a blast of The Enemy's We'll Live and Die in These Towns before a home match.

This team and its fans will not lose their identity. (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

View From The Stands

Words by: LAURENCE KILPATRICK @Thelonelyseason

Last season was pretty weird. The way we took apart the league up until November was mesmeric. Without overhauling the squad, Frank Lampard finished the work Mark Robins started, but with an insouciant swagger.

This season will be different because every crumb of non-defeat must be savoured. Will the fans who abruptly rediscovered their interest in the club still show up when we've got eight points in January and Sean Dyche is in charge?

When survival is in doubt, bring in Dychey. (Image credit: PA Images)

Our key player will be Jack Rudoni. He's worked his way up the leagues and could now be the difference between 18th and 17th. Glamorous.

The active player I'd love to have back is Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer. He's a throwback of a maverick, who piles on the pounds until the real business returns. I would welcome him back with open arms, if they could reach that far around him.

Fans think our owner is at the end of his redemption arc.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Aston Villa. We haven't played them since they sent us down in 2001. We hate them; they probably don't remember us.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is one of the silly tiny ones, like Ipswich or Bournemouth, where it's impossible to get a ticket.

The Vitality Stadium isn't popular among travelling fans. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is that he's a great PR man – and, crucially, not a stubborn ideologue.

We'll finish 7th. If a pub side like Sunderland can…

Fixtures

AUGUST

21 Arsenal (A)

29 Hull City (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Man City (A)

12 Brighton (H)

19 Nott'm Forest (A)

OCTOBER

10 Newcastle (H)

17 Tottenham (A)

24 Fulham (H)

31 Sunderland (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Everton (A)

21 Crystal Palace (H)

28 Leeds (A)

DECEMBER

2 Ipswich (H)

5 Man United (A)

12 Aston Villa (H)

19 Bournemouth (A)

26 Chelsea (H)

30 Brentford (H)

JANUARY

2 Liverpool (A)

6 Ipswich (A)

16 Everton (H)

23 Sunderland (A)

30 Leeds (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Crystal Palace (A)

10 Liverpool (H)

20 Brentford (A)

27 Bournemouth (H)

MARCH

3 Chelsea (A)

13 Man City (H)

20 Brighton (A)

APRIL

10 Arsenal (H)

17 Hull City (A)

24 Aston Villa (A)

MAY

1 Man United (H)

8 Newcastle (A)

15 Tottenham (H)

23 Fulham (A)

30 Nott'm Forest (H)

Title Odds

Coventry City to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Coventry City to finish 16th.

Tactically flexible and able to score in myriad ways, from set pieces to five players hitting double figures last term, Cov are well equipped to stay up – or better, if they can sign or replace loan ace Carl Rushworth.

Coventry will survive the drop. (Image credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Why Arsenal's move for Vinicius Jr is closer than anyone realises - and why it's still a huge risk

Mark White — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:06:14 +0000

Arsenal are no strangers to seismic transfer targets. They're not even strangers to the idea of landing a huge players from Real Madrid.

Mesut Ozil proved that when he became the Gunners' record signing from Los Blancos in 2013 for a whopping £42.5 million: but he was of an age when Arsenal were regularly linked with Karim Benzema and Sami Khedira. The Gunners were credited with more than a passing interest in Kylian Mbappe when he exploded onto the scene; Luis Suarez's release clause was even triggered.

To see Vinicius Jr at the Emirates Stadium would be groundbreaking. To see him linked with the move is not, if you consider the last 15 years. But to see Mikel Arteta's side so deep into a saga with such a huge talent? That's very telling.

Arsenal control their own narratives now: they wouldn't have let the Vinicius Jr saga get out unless they have confidence

Vinicius Jr with a Thierry Henry-esque celebration (Image credit: Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger had a few cliches, and chief among them was the hindsight that Arsenal could well have signed just about every elite talent under the sun.

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the radar before Manchester United gazumped them; Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a trial; Lionel Messi was among the Barcelona throng that Wenger scouted when he eventually signed Cesc Fabregas. It used to grate on Gooners that the club missed out on quite so many superstars – and that their manager was so keen to admit it.

Arsene Wenger used to openly admit players Arsenal were close to signing (Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

But while Arsenal very famously failed to land the likes of Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante, Gonzalo Higuain and others, things are different these days. Manager Mikel Arteta had a few setbacks in trying to sign the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Lisandro Martinez – but since the Gunners returned to the Champions League, they haven't been involved in these big-name transfer sagas unless things are genuinely close.

Arsenal's name rarely appears in bidding wars these days. They were nowhere to be seen when Jude Bellingham was leaving Borussia Dortmund, when Alexander Isak moved to Liverpool or when Bernardo Silva went to Real Madrid this summer – despite noted interest over the years in all three players.

Instead, the players Arsenal tend to be heavily linked with have only been when a lot of groundwork has been laid. Mykhailo Mudryk was said to be “singularly focused” on Arsenal before pivoting Chelsea. Moises Caicedo posted a farewell to Brighton fans on social media, after Arsenal bids. An agreement with Benjamin Sesko, meanwhile, was no issue: Arsenal only moved onto Viktor Gyokeres when it became clear RB Leipzig wouldn't budge enough in their valuation. It was a similar story for both Jeremy Monga and Morgan Rogers this summer.

Let's be clear: Arsenal haven't suddenly started landing every player they set their eyes on, with those aforementioned five as proof. What it does prove, however, is that Arteta only wants those who want Arsenal.

This isn't a situation like Raphinha in 2022, where Arsenal will submit a bid to Real Madrid for Vinicius Jr and hope for the best. They're not getting strung along here. Even if Vini decides to remain at Real, his entourage have given strong indication to Arsenal that he is considering their move – otherwise, it simply wouldn't have gotten this far.

Is Vinicius Jr really unsellable from Real Madrid's perspective?

Would Jose Mourinho happily let Vinicius Jr go? (Image credit: Octavio Passos - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Vinicius Jr is one of the best players on Earth right now. The perspective from fans is that Real Madrid are not in the business of letting players like that leave.

Except, they are – and they have been for a while now. Real were happy to let Cristiano Ronaldo join Juventus for a monster transfer fee, in one of the most shocking transfers of any player over 30 in the last decade. They signed off on Ozil to Arsenal. They let Angel Di Maria leave for Manchester United.

They received an offer too good to refuse when United came in for Casemiro. The same has to be said of Raphael Varane. Karim Benzema may have stayed another year or two – Sergio Ramos, too – if not for interest elsewhere. President Florentino Perez knows that sentimentality is a defect found on the losing side.

Granted, Vinicius Jr is still in his prime – perhaps even approaching it – and Real are on the back foot for a few reasons. They risk losing the Brazilian for free next summer if they hang onto him without him committing to a new contract. They aren't used to players in their prime considering jumping ship to the Premier League. Regardless of their usual stance, there will be reluctance in letting go of a player who has scored two Champions League final goals after two trophyless seasons.

Jose Mourinho will likely want to keep hold of his no.7 – but there is almost certainly a recognition from the 15-time European champions that having two passengers in a high press (the other being Kylian Mbappe) has held Real back in the last couple of seasons. The Bernabeu is home to two world-class left-sided attackers – and if you're going to let go of one of them, it won't be Mbappe.

Vinicius Jr to Arsenal is a gamble – because it risks everything Arteta's built

Arsenal are the best team without the ball on Earth – thanks to Arteta (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal won the Premier League without a killer in attack. They reached the Champions League final conceding a mere handful of goals in open play. They're by no means the best team in Europe overall – but they are the best by a mile defensively.

And that extends beyond the partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba. It's more than just having Declan Rice screening the backline and having full-backs who are natural defenders: Arteta demands donkey work from the attackers.

Arsenal don't have an Erling Haaland. Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz instead are hard runners who will press, keep up the intensity and look to run themselves into the ground for the cause. Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke, similarly, are hardly prolific – but they put in the work ethic. Even Martin Odegaard is a far cry from a luxury no.10, with his importance to Arteta not measured by his chance creation but how he leads the team out of possession.

As much as Arsenal are in desperate need of a superstar left-winger to give them balance, create something from nothing and to give them a spark against a Paris Saint-Germain, it comes with a risk. This is a well-oiled machine that attacks and defends as one, with plenty of chances coming from turnovers in the final third and a humility among the group meaning that goals are shared and big injuries to key players don't result in too much of a drop-off from the overall performance.

Vinicius Jr threatens that. He is not a typical Arteta player off the ball. Arsenal would have to adapt to his game as he would to his new club: that's something that everyone knows, though to what extent, none of us are sure. It is a calculated gamble to bring in a star of Vini's quality – but Arteta would be looking to succeed where a similar coach in Xabi Alonso failed to.

Yet Arteta has worked superstars into his team before. People sometimes overlook that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave him hard work out of possession, before the pair's fallout. Even Ebere Eze and Gyokeres have had to come on leaps and bounds in their work off the ball.

Don't be surprised if this deal is close. Don't be surprised if Vinicius has bought into Arsenal – both as a move, and tactically. This is a different kind of Arsenal to the one that signed Mesut Ozil all those years ago, after all.

How to watch Celtic vs Dundee FC for FREE: Live stream details and TV channels for Scottish Premiership

Jacob Jones — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Watch Celtic vs Dundee FC for free from anywhere in the world as Martin O'Neill's side begin their Scottish Premiership 2026/27 campaign against the Dee. Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the live stream details and TV channels wherever you are in the world.

Celtic vs Dundee FC: key information

Kick-Off Time: 7:30 pm BST / 2:30 pm ET / 4:30 am AEST
Free Stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network (US)
TV Channels: Sky Sports (UK) / Paramount+ (US) / beIN Sports (AUS)
Watch from anywhere: Get 75% off NordVPN

Celtic clinched the title on the final day of last season with a 3-1 victory over Hearts, securing a fifth consecutive league title.

O'Neill will be aiming to guide them to a sixth straight title in 2026/27, with their campaign beginning against a Dundee side that finished mid-table last year.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Celtic vs Dundee FC online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Celtic vs Dundee FC for free?

Yes, Celtic vs Dundee FC is free to watch in the US with CBS Sports Golazo Network showing the game at no cost.

You don't even require a subscription or account — just click the link above and stream.

Abroad for the game? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Celtic vs Dundee FC: Team News

Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney, McGregor, Engels, Nygren, Yang, Hogh, Duran.

Substitutes: Doohan, McCowan, Tounekti, Osmand, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Donovan.

Dundee: Goodman, Wright, Astley, O Bevan, Odutayo, Hamilton, Finnigan, Reilly, J Bevan, Westley, Murray.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Halliday, Robertson, Hay, A Forrest, Besir, Oosenbrugh, Crombie, Bland.

Watch Celtic vs Dundee FC from anywhere

Away from home for this SPFL opener? That doesn't mean you have to miss out on watching Celtic vs Dundee FC. All you need is a VPN, a handy piece of software that makes your devices appear to be in a different location.

FourFourTwo’s colleagues at TechRadar have tested hundreds of VPNs, and they say NordVPN is the best VPN you can get.

NordVPN Mega Deal: Get 75% Off + 3 Months Free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
💰 3 months extra free
📺 Stream Celtic vs Dundee FCView Deal

Watch Celtic vs Dundee FC in the UK

Celtic vs Dundee FC will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. It's a 7:30pm kick-off and will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.

Watch Celtic vs Dundee FC on Sky Sports

You can either get a traditional satellite TV set-up, or a more modern streaming package without the need for a dish. You can add it to an existing Sky package for £22/month with Now Sports offering a cord-cutting option.View Deal

Watch Celtic vs Dundee FC in the US

As alluded to previously, CBS Sports Golazo Network will be streaming Celtic vs Dundee FC for free. You can also watch it on Paramount+.

Watch Celtic vs Dundee FC on Paramount+

Prices start at $8.99/month for Paramount+ with 2026/27 coverage including the Scottish Premiership, Champions League, Europa League and Carabao Cup.View Deal

How to watch Celtic vs Dundee FC in Australia

In Australia, you can watch Celtic vs Dundee FC on beIN Sports.

This game will go out on the beIN Sports 3 channel.

Watch the Scottish Premiership on beIN Sports

Scottish Premiership games are shown on beIN Sports Connect in Australia. Prices start at AU$15.99/month after a 7-day free trial for new users.View Deal

Celtic vs Dundee FC: Scottish Premiership 2026/27 preview

Celtic begin their 2026/27 season against Dundee FC and will be delighted with the outcome of the opening weekend.

Bitter rivals Rangers could only manage a draw against Dundee United, with Thelo Aasgaard cancelling out Lachlan Rose's opener, while 2025/26 title challengers Hearts suffered an agonising late defeat to Aberdeen.

In all honesty, the Bhoys are once again huge favourites to win the title. Despite their inconsistencies last season, they still secured a fifth consecutive league crown and will be aiming to make it six come May.

New signings Kasper Høgh from Bodø/Glimt and Camilo Duran have arrived to bolster the frontline, while Daizen Maeda (Ipswich) and Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor) have departed.

Dundee's aim this season will be to secure a place in the Championship Group, but opening away to the Hoops is about as difficult as it gets. To make matters worse, the Dark Blues haven't won at Celtic Park since 2001 and haven't even picked up a point there since 2018 – a daunting task for Steven Pressley's men.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Celtic 5-0 Dundee FC

Celtic will get into their groove from the first whistle.

Manchester United report: Ismaila Sarr to leave Crystal Palace within 'next few hours', in Red Devils blow

Mark White — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Manchester United target and Crystal Palace attacker Ismaila Sarr looks to be leaving the Premier League.

In two years at Selhurst Park, the Senegalese forward has made a huge impact, helping the club to their first three pieces of silverware in the FA Cup, Community Shield and Europa League.

Now, it's being reported by Tuttomercatoweb that the star is “very close” to leaving Crystal Palace – and it looks as if Manchester United could be left disappointed, too.

Manchester United to miss out on Ismaila Sarr, following Crystal Palace exit

Michael Carrick wanted Ismaila Sarr, according to reports (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to the report, Fenerbahce are advancing to sign Sarr within the “next few hours”, as they look to reach an agreement with Palace.

According to Foot Mercato, United enquired about Sarr earlier on in the transfer window, with FourFourTwo understanding that the interest has failed to materialise into a formal bid.

Ismaila Sarr was a target for Manchester United (Image credit: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

Foot Mercato even quoted Senegalese social media account Joueurs SN, which relayed a quote in July from Sarr in July that “there's only one” dream club of his, adding that the winger said, “I love Manchester United with all my heart, and I'm a huge fan” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

While that would certainly explain how often he's scored against Liverpool in his career, a more sober quote was relayed by APS in Senegal, with Sarr saying, “I have a three-year contract with Crystal Palace; it’s up to them to decide” on his future.

Sarr has been a big hit since moving to back to the Premier League, replacing Michael Olise for the Eagles.

Palace are yet to spend any money this summer, but new manager Pierre Sage may well have to make big moves after losing Marc Guehi in January – and with the long-term futures of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton still far from certain.

United, meanwhile, are still expected to land an attacker before deadline – with FourFourTwo even referencing Sarr as the dream option for Carrick recently.

Manchester United have been quiet in the transfer window so far (Image credit: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Sarr appears to be the back-up option following the collapse of Rafael Leao's move to Turkiye.

The Milan forward rejected a move to Fener, who made a formal offer to bring the Portuguese to the Super Lig.

Sarr is valued at €45 million by Transfermarkt. United travel to Hull City on August 22 to kick off their Premier League campaign.

Brighton staggered to the Conference League qualification finish line last season, but will they enjoy the fruits of their labour? Brighton 2026-27 season preview

Tom Wiggins — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Brighton have European fixtures on their schedule for only the second time in their history – so why does it feel anticlimactic?

The Seagulls will be considered among the favourites to win the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League, such is the mammoth financial advantage enjoyed by Premier League sides in that competition. Some fans are already making plans for the final in Istanbul next June, despite not knowing until August 3's draw who their team will face in the qualifying play-off.

The truth, though, is that Fabian Hurzeler's side stumbled over the line. Losing their final two games left them needing other results to decide whether they would be in the Europa League, the Conference League, or neither.

Will the Seagulls see Conference League glory? Brighton 2026-27 season preview

Brighton cut it close last season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Still, for Albion's size, four Premier League top-half finishes in five years is impressive. Brighton know from 2023-24 how extra Thursday night games can impact domestic form.

Results last season often suffered as well when first-choice players in key roles weren't available. It exposed a lack of squad depth, especially in wide attacking areas.

Whether Brighton can cope will hinge on recruitment, particularly with three old heads – Solly March, Adam Webster and James Milner – moving on. Right-back Costinha will be ready to go, as will central defensive duo Luka Vuskovic and Pascal Struijk, but young AIK wing ace Zadok Yohanna is straight out of the Tony Bloom playbook.

The Coach

Fabian Hurzeler's comments about Arsenal's style of play may not have impressed Mikel Arteta, but they went down well with the Brighton faithful, who had struggled to bond with the 33-year-old coach up until then. He looks increasingly at home in the Premier League.

Fabian Hurzeler is the man at the helm. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Key Player

The average age of Brighton's squad will fall significantly this summer, so leadership in the dressing room matters. Pascal Gross, 35, had no pace to lose in the first place but he still has excellent technical ability and tactical nous in midfield – vital in a long and gruelling season.

Pascal Gross is a born leader. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 8th

FA CUP: Fourth Round

LEAGUE CUP: Fourth Round

Brighton 2025-26 record. (Image credit: Unknown)

Top Scorer

Danny Welbeck was the Seagulls' most prolific scorer last season, bagging 14 in all competitions.

The striker may not be present in Brighton for this campaign, however, with a move to Chelsea on the cards.

Danny Welbeck bagged 14 in all competitions last season. (Image credit: Alamy)

Lessons From Last Year

Don't panic! On Valentine's Day, having been knocked out of the FA Cup and on a run of one win in 13 league games, the Seagulls resembled relegation candidates.

A small but vocal contingent of fans wanted Hurzeler sacked. But Bloom stuck by his man, and seven wins from their next 10 gave Brighton a chance of Champions League qualification on the final day.

In the end, they had to settle for the Conference League, but the owner's level-headed loyalty was rewarded.

As rivals Crystal Palace showed that even teams who fare poorly in the Premier League can win Europe's third-tier competition, Albion fans will expect this second trip to the continent to be more than just a holiday romance.

Don't panic, Brighton fans! (Image credit: Unknown)

Most Likely To...

Attract golfers. Nike's shirt for the club's 125th anniversary will be worn for just one fixture, but it'll look right at home on the greens.

Will Brighton unlock a new market of fans next season? (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Bring in Sean Dyche as director of football and label data-based scouting as “woke nonsense”.

Classic Dychey. (Image credit: Unknown)

View From The Stands

Words by: OWEN WILKINSON @Wilka1983

Last season was a real rollercoaster, with a huge mid-season slump that turned dreams of Europe into nightmares of trips to Swansea, Cardiff and Lincoln. The turnaround after that was miraculous.

This season will be different because the Conference League will place more demands on the squad. But our young players are also another year more experienced.

Conference League football will be demanding. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Our key player will be Danny Welbeck, for his leadership and work rate as well as his goal threat.

Look out for 19-year-old frontman Charalampos ‘Babis' Kostoulas, who's had little spells of game time to help him adapt. An overhead kick against Bournemouth hinted at what a talent he may be.

The opposition player I'd love here is Igor Thiago, who might enjoy a bit of European football. He'd fit our system well.

I won't be happy unless we stop the rot against Palace. Our performances in those games haven't been good enough since Fabian Hurzeler arrived.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is not as good as you'd imagine, despite two 8th-place finishes. Roberto De Zerbi was a tough act to follow. But it felt like the tide changed when our form picked up.

Will Welbeck still be in Brighton come the season's opening round? (Image credit: Getty Images)

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is Selhurst Park, a ramshackle shed that provides dreadful views and prehistoric facilities.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Chelsea. No doubt they'll be restocking from us.

We'll finish 8th again.

Owen Wilkinson doesn't like Selhurt Park. (Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Fixtures

AUGUST

23 Aston Villa (H)

29 Chelsea (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Leeds (H)

12 Coventry (A)

19 Arsenal (H)

OCTOBER

10 Sunderland (A)

17 Crystal Palace (H)

24 Liverpool (A)

31 Man City (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Brentford (H)

21 Hull City (A)

28 Newcastle (H)

DECEMBER

2 Bournemouth (A)

5 Nott'm Forest (A)

12 Everton (H)

19 Ipswich (H)

26 Fulham (A)

30 Tottenham (A)

JANUARY

2 Man United (H)

6 Bournemouth (H)

16 Brentford (A)

23 Man City (H)

30 Newcastle (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Hull City (H)

10 Man United (A)

20 Tottenham (H)

27 Ipswich (A)

MARCH

3 Fulham (H)

13 Leeds (A)

20 Coventry (H)

APRIL

10 Aston Villa (A)

17 Chelsea (H)

24 Everton (A)

MAY

1 Nott'm Forest (H)

8 Sunderland (H)

15 Crystal Palace (A)

23 Liverpool (H)

30 Arsenal (A)

Title Odds

Brighton to win the 2026/27 Premier League title odds: 175/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Brighton to finish 9th.

Much could depend on how new Croatian club-record buy Vuskovic (coming in from Spurs for £46m, but still only 19) steps in for fellow central defender Jan Paul van Hecke (sold to Spurs for £52m).

How will the team fare without Jan Paul van Hecke? (Image credit: Getty Images)

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Why Eddie Howe is in an elite club with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp... and Kevin Keegan

Mark White — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Last week, Eddie Howe called time on his Newcastle United tenure – a luxury that not many managers get these days.

Even the best among them face the sack: since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the top of the game with a Premier League title, five championship-winning bosses have been sacked, including Claudio Ranieri (who achieved the impossible by winning the league) and Arne Slot (who was employed by a club that famously gives a long leash to their managers).

Even the likes of Sir Bobby Robson, Jose Mourinho and Marcelo Bielsa have been utterly adored in English football by fans of Newcastle United, Chelsea and Leeds United respectively, with each of them forced out of their roles.

The elite club of managers to have NEVER been sacked

Pep Guardiola left at the top (Image credit: Getty Images)

When you're the best, you often get to leave on your terms – and there's no finer example than Pep Guardiola, who stepped aside from Manchester City of his own accord earlier this summer.

Of course, the Catalan did the same thing at Bayern Munich to take the City job, and was a rare case of a Barcelona manager choosing to leave himself, after four years of winning everything in the game at Camp Nou.

Jurgen Klopp left four jobs in a row (Image credit: Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, has technically left his last four jobs: recently swapping his advisory role at Red Bull for the German national team, just a couple of years on from amicably splitting from Anfield.

Despite a tricky final season at Borussia Dortmund, he had enough credit in the bank to choose to go himself, while in 2008, a 40-year-old Klopp resigned from Mainz 05, after failing to secure promotion.

Howe's career shows something similar, with his Newcastle departure mirroring his Bournemouth exit of 2020, after the Cherries failed to secure survival on the final day of the season in lockdown.

Remarkably though, Howe has never been sacked: in 2012, he explained the “personal reasons” that had led him to resign at Burnley and return to Dean Court, less than two years after the Clarets had agreed compensation to hire Howe at Turf Moor.

It's fitting to remember the recently passed Kevin Keegan, too, while talking about those never sacked.

Kevin Keegan was never sacked (Image credit: Getty Images)

In 1997, Keegan took the bold step of stating he had taken Newcastle as far as he possibly could, before taking the Fulham job later that year.

Keegan would be in charge in West London for two years, eventually stepping aside when the England job became available in 1999 – but despite the disaster of Euro 2000, he actually quit himself, infamously resigning in the tunnel months later, following a 1-0 loss to Germany.

He would retire from management in 2005 at Man City, and in 2008, he resigned from a second stint at St. James' Park over disagreements with his employers. Truly, an anomaly in the modern game.

Can you think of any other elite managers who were never sacked? Let us know in the comments…

Bournemouth have waved goodbye to Andoni Iraola, but will they continue to build upon the fine work he laid down? - Bournemouth 2026-27 season preview

Tom Prentki — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:51:38 +0000

Bournemouth face a challenge that few would have imagined a decade ago: balancing the demands of the Premier League with a first European campaign. It's another landmark in their remarkable rise, but sustaining this progress will be even harder.

That's especially true as Andoni Iraola has left, marking the end of the club's most successful chapter yet. Bournemouth, however, are accustomed to managing change.

The appointment of Marco Rose reflects a club that plans ahead, and there is confidence that the foundations built in recent years can withstand another transition.

Bournemouth prepare for their busiest season yet, without the guidance of the man who took them there - 2026-27 season preview

Bournemouth have a tough season ahead. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The biggest question concerns depth. Thursday-night football will place fresh demands on a squad that has already lost key players, making recruitment and rotation crucial decisions.

Bournemouth's first-choice XI has shown that it can compete with anyone; how this squad manages to cope with the additional workload could define their campaign.

Andoni Iraola has moved on to manage Liverpool. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ambitions continue to grow on and off the pitch, including plans to expand the Vitality Stadium and increase capacity beyond its current 12,000.

Bournemouth are still one of the Premier League's smallest clubs by most traditional measures, yet the mood around Dorset is one of optimism.

The target is no longer to merely establish themselves in the top flight, but to prove they belong among its most progressive clubs.

The Coach

Iraola is a tough act to follow, but Marco Rose arrives with Champions League pedigree from Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, plus a reputation for developing elite young talent. He's a good tactical fit, too. Can he preserve the Cherries' upward trajectory?

Marco Rose is the man in charge. (Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Key Player

Alex Scott, 22, has long been viewed as a future England international, and interest from elsewhere has been growing in recent months. If he stays and Rose can unlock his potential in the final third, the midfielder will have all of the tools to be Bournemouth's driving force.

Alex Scott is a joy to watch. (Image credit: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 6th

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Second Round

Top Scorer

Eli Junior Kroupi bagged 13 goals in all competitions for Bournemouth last season.

The Cherries will be without their star bagsman for three to four months, after suffering a foot injury in pre-season.

Kroupi was electric last season. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lessons From Last Year

Fast finishes can't always erase slow starts. Once Iraola's pressing game clicked, Bournemouth could trouble anyone, but their early inconsistency left them chasing – though that was hardly surprising, given the turnover of players last summer.

If the Cherries can begin 2026-27 with the same intensity and clarity shown in the spring, European qualification becomes a more realistic target. Rose's early appointment should help.

Bournemouth's 2025-26 season. (Image credit: Unknown)

Most Likely To...

Turn your corner into their counter. Bournemouth are one of the most aggressive transition teams in the league, able to transform a routine interception into a clear chance in seconds. That won't change under Rose, who has spent most of his coaching career in the high-press, high-energy Red Bull setup – first in Salzburg, later at Leipzig.

Bournemouth are a counter-attacking juggernaut. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Panic when someone leaves for a bigger club. Losing key figures has become part of life for the Cherries, and they have set the benchmark in succession planning.

Iraola may be gone, but Bournemouth aren't panicking. (Image credit: Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: SAM DAVIS - @afcbpodcast

Last season was bizarre but brilliant – a pulsating start, a dreadful run, then half a season unbeaten.

The big talking point is our managerial switch. Andoni Iraola deciding to leave is a big loss, but his replacement, Marco Rose, has good pedigree.

Marco Rose has big shoes to fill.

Our key player will be Alex Scott. The Guernsey Grealish has it all.

The active player I'd love to have back is Antoine Semenyo – although we haven't actually lost a league game since he left for Man City in January.

Look out for James Hill. For a £1m signing from Fleetwood Town, the boy has bags of potential.

The departing player I'm saddest about is Marcos Senesi. He was superb.

Fans think our owner is delivering in every single department: new training ground, ongoing stadium redevelopment, and now Europe within four years after promising it in five.

Life is good for Bournemouth fans. (Image credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The one change I'd make at our club would be a tangible matchday ticket. You can't stick a QR code in your scrapbook.

A social media account to follow is Alexander Smith (@AlexSmithEcho). I've never seen a sports writer work so hard.

The pantomime villain will be Richard Keys. Not so long ago, he said, “There is no ‘next level' for Bournemouth – this is it.” We'll reminisce on that soundbite over a beer in some European square.

We'll finish 13th, as we manage Europe. Playing more, increasingly intense games, against better opponents, the squad will be tested more than ever.

Fixtures

AUGUST

23 Man City (A)

29 Everton (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Newcastle (A)

12 Brentford (H)

19 Liverpool (H)

OCTOBER

10 Chelsea (A)

17 Sunderland (H)

24 Man United (A)

31 Leeds (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Ipswich (A)

21 Nott'm Forest (H)

28 Fulham (A)

DECEMBER

2 Brighton (H)

5 Hull City (H)

12 Arsenal (A)

19 Coventry (H)

26 Tottenham (A)

30 Crystal Palace (A)

JANUARY

2 Aston Villa (H)

6 Brighton (A)

16 Ipswich (H)

23 Nott'm Forest (A)

30 Fulham (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Leeds (A)

10 Aston Villa (A)

20 Crystal Palace (H)

27 Coventry (A)

MARCH

3 Tottenham (H)

13 Newcastle (H)

20 Brentford (A)

APRIL

10 Man City (H)

17 Everton (A)

24 Arsenal (H)

MAY

1 Hull City (A)

8 Man United (H)

15 Sunderland (A)

23 Chelsea (H)

30 Liverpool (A)

Title Odds

Bournemouth to win the 2026/27 Premier League title odds: 300/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Bournemouth to finish 11th.

For two years, Bournemouth have performed like a top-six side while losing great players. Can they do it after losing a great manager? Rose should slot in well, but the Europa League will limit his training time.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Unai Emery's Europa League champions are the most likely non-Big 6 side to disturb the Premier League title race - Aston Villa 2026-27 season preview

Mat Kendrick — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:47:04 +0000

Rule 1: Unai Emery is always right. Rule 2: If Unai Emery is wrong, see Rule 1.

It's a football fan's prerogative to have trust issues when things go awry. So, when Aston Villa failed to win any of their first five league games last term, some asked if the wheels had fallen off Emery's bandwagon.

The answer was a resounding no, in the form of the Europa League trophy garnished with a top-four finish.

Unai Emery's men are a trophy-winning unit, so, can they replicate that success this season? Aston Villa 2026-27 season preview

The standard has been set for Aston Villa. (Image credit: UEFA via Getty Images)

Unai Emery is always right. It's both a blessing and a curse. He has lifted Villa to their highest heights since they were European champions in 1982.

The curse: he is so central to the club that, for supporters, contemplating life without the Basque gaffer one day feels like mourning the family pet while it's still alive and kicking.

Unai Emery is always right. (Image credit: Alamy)

The key is convincing Emery that he can achieve everything he wants at Villa Park. That elusive silverware – a tangible reward for Villa's transformation under him – was a start.

Securing European football for a fourth successive year is another major factor in his continued contentment in B6.

What next? A domestic trophy? A Premier League title tilt? A crack at winning the Champions League?

His genius has consistently moved Villa closer to the elite, despite the bigger boys' financial advantages.

With Emery, fans dare to dream that anything is possible. And, at Villa, Emery seems to believe that anything is possible. See Rule 1.

The Coach

If Villa's redeveloped North Stand were to include a Mount Rushmore of managers, Unai Emery would take his rightful place alongside '80s icons Ron Saunders and Tony Barton. In the past four decades, he's the only gaffer to deliver a trophy and a Champions League place.

Unai Emery worked his usual Europa League magic with Aston Villa last season. (Image credit: UEFA via Getty Images)

Key Player

Signed from Hibs for around £2.7m eight years ago, John McGinn has truly established himself as Villa's Captain Marvel (though the fans prefer to call him BraveArse). The generously bottomed Scot is a club icon, from his upside-down goggles celebration to trophy lifts.

John McGinn is a Villa legend. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last Season's Results

PREMIER LEAGUE: 4th

FA CUP: Fourth Round

LEAGUE CUP: Third Round

EUROPA LEAGUE: Winners

Top Scorer

Ollie Watkins bagged 21 goals in all competitions for Aston Villa last season, matching Viktor Gyokeres' total for a Premier League-winning Arsenal side.

The England international scored five of those in the Europa League, en-route to his side's competition victory.

He ended his season with back-to-back braces against Liverpool and Manchester City, in his final two domestic games of the campaign.

When Ollie Watkins is on it, he's electric. (Image credit: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

Lesson From Last Year

The 4-0 evisceration of Nottingham Forest in the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals was the most ferocious atmosphere that Villa Park has produced in a generation.

Villa must strive to repeat that vibe routinely, and not just on the big nights.

Groans about increased ticket prices are completely justified. But with the North Stand closed for its long-overdue makeover, capacity temporarily drops from 43,000 to 37,000, which puts extra onus on those fans lucky enough to get inside to really bring the noise.

Aston Villa's 2025-26 season. (Image credit: Unknown)

Most Likely To...

Award a penalty to Villa: traffic wardens. There's more chance of the players' car park being ticketed by overly officious hi-vis-wearing jobsworths than a Premier League referee giving Emery's team a spot-kick.

The last one was scored by Marcus Rashford at the Etihad, which shows how long ago it was.

Emery is often frustrated with penalties not being awarded for his team. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Least Likely To...

Get a statue: Harvey Elliott. And that's despite the loanee staying very still for almost all of 2025-26.

Harvey Elliot is back with Liverpool, now. (Image credit: Getty Images)

View From The Stands

Words by: PHILIP GENNOY

Last season was a huge success for Unai Emery and his squad. Finishing fourth, qualifying for the Champions League and lifting the Europa League was incredible, given the ongoing PSR compliance issues behind the scenes.

This season will be different because we'll play it with three stands! We're knocking down the North Stand to take the capacity over 50,000 for 2027-28 and the Euros.

Aston Villa lift the Europa League trophy. (Image credit: Ozan KOSE / AFP via Getty Images)

The big talking point is who Emery must sacrifice to comply with PSR.

Our key player will be Youri Tielemans.

The active played I'd love to have back is Jacob Ramsey. As one of our own, he is missed.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is Villa Park being one of the few iconic, historic English stadiums that remain today.

The ground I'm least looking forward to visiting is the Vitality Stadium. It shouldn't be a Premier League ground! Bournemouth – and the rest of us – deserve better.

The Vitality Stadium is the worst stadium in the Premier League, says Philip Gennoy. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The opposition player I'd love here is Gabriel, a world-class centre-back.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Coventry, possibly, as our only local rivals left in the division now. We haven't faced them in the Premier League for 25 years.

A social media account to follow is the podcast @MyOldManSaid, which continues to objectively call out big issues at Villa.

We'll finish in the top six – ideally in the top four – with good runs in Europe and both domestic cups.

Fixtures

AUGUST

23 Brighton (A)

29 Arsenal (H)

SEPTEMBER

5 Hull City (A)

12 Nott'm Forest (H)

19 Tottenham (A)

OCTOBER

10 Brentford (H)

17 Newcastle (A)

24 Man City (H)

31 Fulham (H)

NOVEMBER

7 Man United (A)

21 Sunderland (H)

28 Ipswich (A)

DECEMBER

2 Everton (H)

5 Crystal Palace (H)

12 Coventry (A)

19 Chelsea (A)

26 Leeds (H)

30 Liverpool (H)

JANUARY

2 Bournemouth (A)

6 Everton (A)

16 Man United (H)

23 Fulham (A)

30 Ipswich (H)

FEBRUARY

6 Sunderland (A)

10 Bournemouth (H)

20 Leeds (A)

27 Chelsea (H)

MARCH

3 Liverpool (A)

13 Hull City (H)

20 Nott'm Forest (A)

APRIL

10 Brighton (H)

17 Arsenal (A)

24 Coventry (H)

MAY

1 Crystal Palace (A)

8 Brentford (A)

15 Newcastle (H)

23 Man City (A)

30 Tottenham (H)

Title Odds

Aston Villa to win the 2026/27 Premier League title odds: 33/1

FFT Verdict

FourFourTwo verdict: Aston Villa to finish 6th.

Even with Morgan Rogers' heroics, can Emery juggle the Champions League with securing qualification again, while refreshing the squad on a PSR budget with fewer fans at Villa Park? If anyone can…

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.

Quiz! Can you name the authors of these footballer autobiographies?

Chris Nee — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:31:39 +0000

It's time for another football quiz from FourFourTwo and this one's for lovers of football literature.

PLAY ALL QUIZZES

(Image credit: Future)

PLAY NOW You can play all FourFourTwo quizzes right HERE

We all love to thumb through the autobiography of a former footballer every now and again, and some of the titles are more imaginative than you might think. So, we've picked out 12 footballer autobiographies credited to ex-players who didn't settle for 'My Story' and given you 3 minutes to identify who wrote each one.

Let us know your score below. We're expecting maximums. Don't let us down!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a vast warehouse full of football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. First up, we want you to name every member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

If you're in the mood for a picture quiz, we've got a delightful dip into history that should be right up your street. We want you to name 20 of the biggest stars of World Cup 1994, the first time the competition was played in the United States. There are some kits and hairstyles you're bound to enjoy.

We also want you to name every Premier League player to have been nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000 and identify these team line-ups from the nationalities of the players alone.

If you're more of a puzzler, we can recommend FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64. There are clues on Champions League finals, Olympic medallists, and name-dropping rappers. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

Quickfire Quiz 171: Can you answer 10 questions in 90 seconds?

Chris Nee — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:15:10 +0000

You've got a mere 90 seconds to answer these 10 football trivia questions. It's a brand new FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

PLAY MORE

(Image credit: Future)

QUICKFIRE QUIZ Play more Quickfire Quizzes

FourFourTwo has a whole load more football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Let's start by asking you to name England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League.

We also want to know whether you can name every Premier League player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000. If you're a keen flag enthusiast, you'll be a dab hand at this quiz asking you to guess these teams from the nationalities of their players.

The career path is a mainstay of football trivia and we've gone big for our latest career path quiz, which challenges you to name a whopping 100 players from the clubs where they've played first team football.

Only 13 players have won both the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or. Can you name them all in just three minutes?

Finally, can you name every Champions League hat-trick scorer since 1992 and the players with most goals and assists in the history of the rebranded competition?

If you still want more, we have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for any relaxed Sunday morning, and remember to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits too!

How to watch Leeds United vs Liverpool: Live stream details as Premier League duo round off US tour in Chicago

James Roberts — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Watch Leeds United vs Liverpool today as the Premier League duo breeze into the 'Windy City' of Chicago for the third and final game of their respective US tours, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Leeds United vs Liverpool: key information

Date: Sunday, August 2
Kick-off time: 9:00pm BST / 4:00pm ET / 6:00am AEST (Mon)
TV & Streaming: All Red Video (14-day free trial), LUTV (worldwide except US) / ESPN (USA)
Watch from anywhere: Get 75% off with NordVPN

Andoni Iraola continues to fine-tune his squad ahead of his first season as Reds manager, having already guided Liverpool through friendlies against Sunderland and Wrexham in Nashville and New York respectively.

Leeds also faced the Black Cats and the Red Dragons in the first two games of their summer trip and this clash at Soldier Field will provide a useful barometer of each team's condition ahead of the new Premier League campaign, which is just three weeks away.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Leeds United vs Liverpool online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Leeds United vs Liverpool for free?

Although Leeds United vs Liverpool is not technically available to watch for free, new users on All Red Video - Liverpool's official streaming platform - get a 14-day free trial, enabling them to stream this pre-season friendly at no cost. Please note that this game will not be available on All Red Video in the US.

Fans in Australia can also stream the game on beIN SPORTS Connect, which includes a 7-day free trial.

Abroad for Leeds United vs Liverpool? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Leeds United vs Liverpool from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Leeds United vs Liverpool. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

Get 75% off NordVPN + 3 months extra free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
✅ Unblocks All Red Video
📺 Stream Leeds United vs Liverpool from anywhereView Deal

How to watch Leeds United vs Liverpool in the UK

Fans in the UK can watch Leeds United vs Liverpool through both clubs' in-house streaming platforms.

As mentioned above, the game can be streamed on All Red Video. The monthly plan includes a 14-day free trial for new users and then costs £4.99 per month. You can also buy a season subscription to All Red Full for £42.99, but this does not include the free trial.

Fans can also watch the pre-season friendly if they buy a LUTV match pass for £5 through Leeds' official website. Like All Red Video, the game is not available to watch on LUTV in the US.

In the US for Leeds United vs Liverpool? Use NordVPN to access your usual streams.

Watch Leeds United vs Liverpool in the US

Viewers in the United States can stream Leeds United vs Liverpool on the ESPN Deportes channel and via ESPN Select.

ESPN Select will stream a range of competitions live this season, including the FA Cup, La Liga and Bundesliga, and they'll also have coverage of this pre-season friendly between Leeds United and Liverpool. With plans starting from just $12.99 per month, it's an ideal time to sign up and get ready for the 2026/27 campaign.

How to watch Leeds United vs Liverpool in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch Leeds United vs Liverpool live through Stan Sport and beIN SPORTS Connect.

Stan Sport subscriptions start at AU$32, which includes the base plan ($12) with the sport add-on ($20).

Subscriptions to beIN SPORTS cost AU$14.99 per month or AU$149.99 per year, with both options including a 7-day free trial.

Travelling outside Australia? Use a VPN to login to your Stan Sport or beIN SPORTS Connect account.

Leeds United vs Liverpool: Preview

After a 3-2 defeat by Championship side Wrexham and clash with Premier League rivals Sunderland, Leeds United will aim to finish their US tour with a bang against Liverpool in Chicago.

The Whites head into the new campaign aiming to consolidate their position in the top flight after last season's 14th-place finish, and they have bolstered their squad with the signings of out-of-contract Fulham playmaker Harry Wilson and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic.

Supporters got their first chance to see Wilson in Leeds colours when he came on as a second-half substitute against Wrexham and the Welshman could feature against the club he joined at Under 9 level.

Daniel Farke's side have just three pre-season friendlies left after this game, with home fixtures against German sides RB Leipzig and Augsburg scheduled for the next two weekends, either side of an historic meeting with Manchester United at Dublin's iconic Croke Park stadium.

This US tour has not been completely smooth for new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, with defender Joe Gomez forced off with a muscle injury just eight minutes into the 4-2 victory over Sunderland in Nashville last weekend.

The Reds otherwise came through that match unscathed as they made a winning start under the former Bournemouth boss, who was already short of options at centre back. They then followed that up with a 1-0 win over Wrexham, with Rio Ngumoha netting the winner in the second half.

The good news is that Jeremy Jacquet could make his debut at the heart of the defence following his £60m move from French club Rennes, with the 21-year-old eased into action having not played since February following a season-ending shoulder injury. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch could also feature for the first time under Iraola after joining the tour late following the World Cup.

After this clash, Liverpool will fly home before facing Monaco and Como at Anfield on the next two Sundays, as they make their final preparations for their Premier League opener at Newcastle United on Sunday, August 23.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Leeds United 1-2 Liverpool

This should be a closely-fought contest as both teams build up their pre-season minutes, so it could go either way.

“I hope Leeds can entrench themselves in the top flight and one day return to the Champions League, where they belong” Lucas Radebe on seeing his former side on the rise again

Joe Mewis — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

As Leeds United gear up for their second season back in the Premier League, last year's 14th-place finish has left supporters daring to dream that the club are on the path to re-establishing themselves as a Premier League force.

And it's not just the fans who are harbouring these ambitions, with the club's legendary former captain Lucas Radebe also hoping that his old side can soon return to their former glories.

The South African skippered the side in the Champions League at the start of the millennium and believes the club belong in Europe's biggest club competition.

Radebe on his hopes for Leeds

Leeds returned to the Premier League with a 14th-place finish last season (Image credit: Getty Images)

"It’s going to be challenging for Leeds during the 2026-27 season in terms of competing and staying in the league," Radebe tells FourFourTwo when asked about the upcoming campaign.

"But hopefully in the future the club can entrench itself and someday qualify for the Champions League, and get back to where it belongs," he adds as his thoughts turn to those big European nights at Elland Road.

Farke is gearing up for his fourth season in charge of Leeds (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Throughout the years that I was there, we competed in the Champions League and had hopes of winning the Premier League. Hopefully we will bring those glory days back to the club.

Boss Daniel Farke is gearing up for his fourth season in charge of the Whites and Radebe believes manager and club are a perfect fit.

"The current manager, Daniel Farke, is a great person and fantastic boss. He isn’t a typical big-club manager, but is somebody well-suited to Leeds, whose fans are passionate about their football and want to see their team competing in the Premier League for the long haul once again."

Radebe was still a Leeds player when he retired in 2005, but remains a regular visitor to Elland Road and was officially named as a club ambassador last year and has been invited to speak at the club's academy to impart his wisdom to Leeds' young hopefuls.

"I sometimes pinch myself just to wake up and realise that it’s really me who receives such a great welcome," he continues.

Radebe is now a club ambassador (Image credit: Getty Images)

"From nowhere, I became a household name in such a great club and beautiful city. It was an honour and privilege to return and be involved in a way that I could impart my experience and share my history with the academy youngsters – it had been a long time since I was at the club.

"There is obviously a change of personnel and everything is different now. But to have been reintroduced at Leeds with the current players, staff and academy was absolutely amazing. I felt the value they see in me being able to contribute positively to the club. Then heading to the Radebe Suite and seeing the passion of the Leeds fans – to the point they tattoo their bodies with my face – it’s another level. I didn’t set out to be a legend, but to play football and showcase my talent, and doing that at Leeds was a dream come true.

"I also know about the Radebeer, which has been brewed in my honour, although I don’t actually drink alcohol myself!"

"Rafa Benitez decided he wanted a different keeper and I had to leave through the back door. That’s the only regret, that I wasn’t able to leave Newcastle organically” Tim Krul opens up on his Newcastle United exit

Joe Mewis — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Over the course of more than a decade, Tim Krul became one of the most popular players at Newcastle United, as he rose through the ranks at St James’ Park.

The Dutch goalkeeper turned out more than 180 times for the Magpies, producing countless memorable moments for the club, before his spell at Tyneside came to a premature end following an injury while on international duty.

As the 38-year-old looks back at his career, he has just one lingering regret - not being able to have said his goodbyes to the Newcastle faithful on his terms.

Krul on his Newcastle exit

Krul became a fans' favourite at St James' Park

By 2015, Krul had been established as the Newcastle No.1 for five years, but would suffer a serious knee injury while on international duty with the Netherlands.

“I came for a cross and Virgil van Dijk gave me a little nudge when we went for the same ball,” he recalls to FourFourTwo. “I was off-balance and tore my ACL.

Krul made 15 appearances for the Netherlands (Image credit: Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)

“I’m a believer that things happen for a reason. It changed me as a person. It was a difficult time because it was a long project, especially with new managers coming in.

“It took more than 14 months to get rid of the pain in my knee. It was mentally very tough.”

During this period, Krul had to combine the physical recovery with a mental battle, as he faced up to the prospect that the injury could even end his career.

“There are always doubts,” he admits. “That’s why I had to go back to Holland, on loan with AZ Alkmaar, to get that feeling back.”

This spell saw him reach the Dutch Cup final, and although his side lost 2-0 to Vitesse Arnhem, it was key in his recovery.

“I had to play. It was a difficult time, but I had a good experience in Holland. I’d always wanted to tick that off and got to play a cup final with AZ.”

Krul had to leave the club on loan following his knee injury (Image credit: PA)

The 15-time Netherlands international was then ready to return to St James’, only to discover the club had moved in a different direction.

“Rafa Benitez, the Newcastle manager by that stage, decided he wanted a different keeper and I had to leave through the back door,” Krul continues.

“That’s the only regret, that I was never able to leave organically. I had to force a deal to go to Brighton to save my career, because it wasn’t going to happen under Rafa.”

“Spurs wanted me to join their academy but my mum said no. I was fuming and cried non-stop that night” Michail Antonio on his path to senior football

Joe Mewis — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Michail Antonio's journey to the top of English football was anything but straightforward.

The former West Ham forward had to endure rejections, injuries and missed opportunities that threatened to derail his career before it really got going.

One of these first setbacks came at the age of just 14, when a young Antonio was offered a place at a Premier League academy.

Antonio on his early Spurs setback

A 14-year-old Antonio was offered a place at Spurs' academy (Image credit: Getty Images)

That opportunity came at Tottenham, only for his mother to turn down the chance.

"Yeah, I was playing for my school team and my teacher, Mr Watson, kind of worked with Spurs," Antonio tells FourFourTwo. "He got them to come and watch me and another player, we were both quite good.

Antonio would go on to join West Ham in 2015 (Image credit: West Ham United FC via Getty Ima)

"They scouted us and I was buzzing, thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to go to Spurs’ academy, this is the start of me becoming a professional.’"

However, when an excited teenage Antonio rushed home to tell his mum, he was handed a reality check.

"I went home to tell my mum – she wasn’t really into football and was like, “Oh, where is it?” I said North London, and she asked, “So when are you going to be going there?”

"I was like, “Every day after school.” She said, “What time will you be getting back?” I said, “Around 11 or 12.”

For Antonio's mother, this was unacceptable, and she would leave little room for negotiation.

Antonio has been capped 24 times by Jamaica (Image credit: Unknown)

"She said, “No, no chance. Your education comes first, there’s no way that we’re putting your education at risk for football, which isn’t a guarantee.”

Any protests were quickly shot down.

"She was like, “Go upstairs to your bed, you ain’t going nowhere, mate.” I was fuming! I was crying that night non-stop, I thought she’d taken my dream away from me…"

Michail Antonio’s autobiography 'Humans Not Robots', published by HarperCollins, is available now

Pre-Match Poser no.38: Can you answer this elite-level football quiz question?

Mark White — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Pre-Match Poser time, everyone.

Which club follows next in the pattern? Everton, Arsenal, Arsenal, Leeds United…

We'll reveal the answer this time next week in the next edition of The Pre-Match Poser – stay tuned for that – but for now, here's the answer to last week's conundrum…

Q. Kevin Keegan, Bobby Robson and Sven-Goran Eriksson have done it; Gareth Southgate, Steve McLaren and Sam Allardyce have not. Thomas Tuchel hasn’t done it (but has benefitted from it). Fabio Capello did it twice. What is it?

A. We’re actually not talking about their stints as England manager: we’re talking about all-time transfers. Keegan was manager of Newcastle United when the Toon smashed the world transfer record for Alan Shearer, Robson was Barcelona boss when Ronaldo broke that record a year later, and Sven was leading Lazio when Hernan Crespo became the most expensive player ever three years after that. Southgate, McLaren and Allardyce didn’t come close to breaking transfer records – but Tuchel did manage Neymar (the current holder) at Paris Saint-Germain. Capello was manager at Milan when both Jean-Pierre Papin and Gianluigi Lentini broke the record.

More football quizzes we know you'll love

It was a tough one last week, right? Don't worry, though: we've got plenty of quizzes to keep you sharp over the next seven days as you mull over your Keegans and Capellos, this time powered by Kwizly,

We’re launching straight into opposite ends of the international spectrum: the pinnacle of individual perfection and the long, gruelling road of continental qualifying. First, we want you to trace footballing royalty by naming every Ballon d'Or winner to have won the World Cup, honouring the rare pantheon of players who conquered both individual and collective summits. Once you’ve audited the golden elite, flip the script to test your macro-level knowledge by naming every FIFA nation to never appear at the World Cup, a rigorous exam of global footballing geography that separates genuine scholars from casual tournament fans.

If your expertise leans toward visual recognition and group-stage drama, we have a formidable double-header waiting in the tunnel. Put your spatial memory to work by trying to name every World Cup nation's flag, before diving into the history books to name every nation to have reached a World Cup... and failed to make it out the group stage.

Fancy another one? Course you do. FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 63 this week features playmakers, places and Euro '28, as we hone in on hosts and future tournament folklore. To ensure you stay sharp for every matchday, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To complete your transfer to the elite tier, join The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest questions, climb global leaderboards, and join the debate directly in the comments.

Quickfire Quiz 172: Can you answer 10 questions in 90 seconds?

Chris Nee — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Fancy a speed test? Here are 10 football trivia questions and just 90 seconds to crack them. It's a new FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

PLAY MORE

(Image credit: Future)

QUICKFIRE QUIZ Play more Quickfire Quizzes

FourFourTwo has many more football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. First up, we want to know whether you can name every Premier League player nominated for the Ballon d'Or since 2000 and all 13 players who have won both the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or.

Next, can you name every Champions League hat-trick scorer since 1992 and the players with most goals and assists in the history of the rebranded competition? We also want you to name England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad.

For the globally minded, we've picked out a bunch of club line-ups and we want you to guess them based on the nationalities of their players alone, which is a fair bit more challenging than it sounds.

If the English top flight is your comfort zone, you'll have no problem naming the top 100 goalscorers in the history of the Premier League. Don't forget to let us know how you get on!

Finally, we've set a serious challenge for our latest career path quiz, which asks you to name an enormous 100 players from the clubs where they've played football professionally.

Still want more? We have puzzles too. Our Weekend Crossword is a regular football teaser for any relaxed Sunday morning, and remember to sign up to the newsletter for more quizzes in your inbox. Don't forget to join The Club for free additional membership benefits!

“I fell in love with Aston Villa watching clips of English football on TV in the early ’80s – I promised my son I’d get a Villa tattoo when they won promotion in 2019” Gianluca Pagliuca explains his love for Aston Villa

Joe Mewis — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Gianluca Pagliuca is synonymous with Italian football, with the former Sampdoria and Inter goalkeeper most famous for his exploits with Italy during the 1994 World Cup.

But despite spending his whole career playing in his homeland, there is a special place in the Bologna-born stopper’s heart for one English club.

During his career, Pagliuca came close to joining Aston Villa and more than four decades on, the Villans hold a special place in his heart.

Pagliuca on his love for Aston Villa

Pagliuca was in goal for Italy in the 1994 World Cup final (Image credit: Getty Images)

The 59-year-old first fell for the West Midlanders as a youngster, long before the club were in for him and long before the English top flight became the all-conquering global success now known as the Premier League.

“I fell in love with Aston Villa watching clips of English football on TV in the early ’80s,” Pagliuca tells FourFourTwo.

Pagliuca won 39 Italy caps between 1991 and 1998 (Image credit: Getty Images)

“I remember those claret-and-blue colours and their title race with Ipswich in 1981.”

It would be 18 years later in 1999 that Villa, then under the stewardship of manager John Gregory, came calling.

“After my time at Inter, before I agreed to join Bologna, I got a call from Villa,” he recalls. “Back then, the Premier League wasn’t what it is today – Serie A was the world’s top league.”

What seemed like a logical decision at the time, given the respective strength of each league at the time, is now a source of regret for the 39-time Italy international.

“If I were playing now, or could go back in time, I’d seize that kind of opportunity immediately – especially in England, which has always fascinated me, but also abroad in general.”

Pagliuca remains a huge Villa fan to this day (Image credit: Getty Images)

Although that move to Villa Park never materialised, Pagliuca’s affection for the club has only grown stronger over the years, culminating in a permanent reminder of what they mean to him.

“In 2019, before Villa won the play-off final against Derby, I promised my son that, if they got promoted to the Premier League, I’d tattoo their crest on my right arm,” he admits.

“And I did! Even today, I still check their results automatically – it’s a habit I care about.”

“I’ve known Joe Cole since the age of 10 – he’d rip players apart even then. I was in awe of him” Ashley Cole on his respect for his friend and ex-England team-mate

Joe Mewis — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

After lining up alongside each other 126 times for club and country, Joe Cole and Ashley Cole shared plenty of career highlights, whether that was winning trophies with Chelsea or as part of England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ in the mid-2000s.

But the pair’s connection goes further back than this, with Ashley distinctly remembering the first time he saw Joe in action, long before either was anywhere near their Premier League breakthroughs.

And what the young Ashley saw left him in awe.

Joe and Ashley Cole alongside Carlton Cole

Asked by FourFourTwo why the pair get on so well, Ashley is quick to make a joke.

“Do we get on?” he asked before both former players broke out into laughter. “I’ve known Joey since the age of 10.

Cole joined Chelsea in 2003, three years before Ashley arrived at Stamford Bridge (Image credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“My brother played for a local team that played down that way and I got the opportunity to watch Joe literally rip players at that age!”

Indeed, Joe’s talent was clear from an early age, with the young playermaker’s reputation spreading across the youth football circuit in London long before he was snapped up by West Ham United and became one of the country’s best young players.

“So I knew his name then,” Ashley continues. “Then you came and played in a game for Arsenal, right? And again, I was in awe of him.”

Ashley is less than a year older than Joe and the pair would often cross paths as they progressed through the youth ranks of Arsenal and the Hammers respectively.

This led to a friendship that remains to this day, as the pair both reached the top of the game, culminating in their lining up alongside each other for England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, plus the 2004 European Championship.

Joe Cole and Ashley Cole now have a podcast together (Image credit: Could It Be Magic?)

“We played against each other in youth teams,” Ashley continues. I’ve gone through a lot of my life with Joe being around.

“We had the opportunity to play in the same team, to represent our country together – we had to have a good relationship to play well on the left-hand side, me at left-back, Joey on the left wing.

“We just got on, we’re easy-going guys.”

Could It Be Coming Home? with Joe Cole and Ashley Cole is brought to you by Carling, official sponsor of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. Watch the show on YouTube and Spotify, or listen to it wherever you get your podcasts

“Losing the League Cup final with Bolton frustrated me. We went in with the feeling that just getting there was already enough” Youri Djorkaeff on his 2004 League Cup regret

Joe Mewis — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

While Youri Djorkaeff would only spend two years at Bolton Wanderers, he counts his spell in Lancashire as one of the most memorable of his illustrious career.

The French World Cup winner was an integral part of the Sam Allardyce side that defied expectations and bucked stereotypes to be one of the Premier League’s most entertaining sides of that era.

But as the 58-year-old reflects on his playing career two decades on, he still harbours one major regret from his time with the Trotters.

Djorkaeff on his Bolton spell

Djorkaeff joined the Trotters in 2002 (Image credit: Alamy)

Djorkaeff arrived at Bolton in February 2002, joining from German side Kaiserslautern, with his home debut sticking in his mind.

“Maybe my first home game against Blackburn,” Djorkaeff tells FourFourTwo when asked to name his most memorable game at the club. “By half-time I didn’t know how my legs or my head were still holding up. Madness!”

Djorkaeff had previously won the World Cup with France (Image credit: Alamy)

Rod Wallace and Matt Jansen would trade goals in the 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium, with Rovers striker Andrew Cole seeing red after just 19 minutes. The rough and tumble of this Lancashire derby would end up being an ideal introduction to the physicality of the Premier League for Djorkaeff.

“I took several rough challenges while the referee kept on playing advantage” he continues. “My whole body ached. Gudni Bergsson, the captain, told me, “Don’t worry, it’s normal. Say nothing, don’t make a fuss.”

“I asked, “But if they kick me, can I kick back?” He said yes, but quietly. The second half was just bam-bam-bam. After that, I never had any more problems.”

The high point of Djorkaef’s two-and-a-half-year spell at Bolton was when the team reached the final of the League Cup in 2004, when they faced Steve McClaren’s Middlesbrough.

“It was unexpected for Bolton to reach the Carling Cup final,” Djorkaeff recalls. “In one of the earlier rounds, we beat Liverpool 3-2 at Anfield – incredible.”

Middlesbrough saw off Bolton 2-1 in the final (Image credit: Getty Images)

But his memory of their run to the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is soured by the 2-1 defeat.

“That’s why it still frustrates me that we lost the final against Middlesbrough, even after all this time. I was angry because we were so close. I remember telling the team that we still had one more step to take, but we went in with the feeling that just getting there was already enough.

“Still, I keep the positives – nobody expected us to reach a final and play in Europe within just three years. Bolton is a special club – a part of Djorkaeff stayed there.”

Return of the Cosmos: New York's original club are back and looking to build on the World Cup and the legends of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Raul

James Andrew — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Among the caddies at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, Donald Trump is nicknamed ‘Pele’, due to him frequently cheating by kicking his ball out of the rough and onto the fairway, mimicking the skills of the Brazil legend.

The nickname was also apt because, for decades, Pele was Trump’s only real footballing reference, having gone to Giants Stadium in neighbouring New Jersey in the ’70s to watch the forward run out for the New York Cosmos, back when the US president was working for his father’s real estate company.

Famous faces were regularly in the crowd watching Cosmos games – Mick Jagger, Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford among them – before mingling with the players in the dressing room afterwards. Given that the squad also included Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Giorgio Chinaglia, making them football’s first Galacticos before the term had even been coined, the Cosmos were the hottest ticket in town.

President Donald Trump earned the nickname Pele from some of the caddies at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York (Image credit: Getty Images)

Pele was the first global superstar to join the Cosmos in the 1970s (Image credit: Getty Images)

Between 1972 and 1982, they won five North American Soccer League titles and were among the most famous names in American sport – at the height of their popularity in 1978, the Cosmos averaged crowds of 48,000. For 1979, fashion designer Ralph Lauren joined forces with British kit manufacturer Admiral to create the team’s kit.

But as quickly as they became popular, the decline was just as rapid. In 1982, when Colombia pulled out of hosting the 1986 World Cup for financial reasons, Steve Ross, the Cosmos’ owner and Warner Communications/Time Warner CEO, led the bid for the USA to replace them as hosts, believing it would boost the ailing NASL. FIFA opted for Mexico – in 1984, the NASL folded and the Cosmos were no longer; a star that burned brightly but died quickly.

Shirts with Pele's name on the back are still popular in New York and around the world (Image credit: James Andrew)

That era of the Cosmos still lives on in the Big Apple today – in the heart of Times Square, the Pele Soccer shop sells retro Cosmos merchandise, alongside modern-day kits that bear the names of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.

In 2010, the Cosmos were reborn – three years later, they played their first competitive match in just shy of three decades when they took part in the reborn North American Soccer League, this time a second-tier competition sat beneath MLS. Cosmos won it three times, with Real Madrid great Raul and fellow Spaniard Marcos Senna among those to play for the club during that period.

In January 2021, having played half a season in a third-tier league, the Cosmos announced that they had “paused team operations”, and eventually the lights went out again. Even then, however, the name lived on. Last year, the Cosmos were brought back to life once more by real estate developer Baye Adofo-Wilson and Erik Stover, a former New York Red Bulls managing director responsible for signing Thierry Henry in 2010, and who worked as chief operating officer during the Cosmos’ second era.

Former Manchester United, Villarreal and Italy forward Giuseppe Rossi also invested in the club – becoming vice chairman and director of soccer. The club found a new home at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey, which sits 15 miles north west of Manhattan, and announced that they would play in USL League One, a Division Three-level league in the USA. The third era of the Cosmos was born.

Giuseppe Rossi is the Head of soccer and vice chairman at the New York Cosmos (Image credit: Getty Images)

“This shirt weighs heavier”

The latest version of the Cosmos has put a focus on developing their own talent, rather than buying a team of stars. Rossi is the most famous name at the club – the 39-year-old was born and raised in New Jersey, but had an Italian passport and joined Parma aged 12. Five years later, Sir Alex Ferguson signed him for Manchester United.

Now, his aim is to give promising young footballers in the New Jersey area a pathway that others may not have had. “Not everyone has dual nationality, or a father, mother and sister sacrificing themselves in the way that mine did for me,” he tells FFT. “But kids need to feel as if they’re able to get there. How can they do that domestically and have the right mentorship? That’s what I’m trying to create here. I feel like the Cosmos is a stepping stone in their career, not the end goal. That should be playing at the highest level.”

Developing the next generation of stars is one thing, but the Cosmos were once a winning machine. How does Rossi balance the two? “It’s a great honour to be part of American soccer history, having this responsibility to continue to grow it and show respect to those who were here before us,” he says. “That’s something we’ve been very conscious of. We let the players understand what the Cosmos means, the history of the players who were here before them.

Giorgio Chinaglia was one of the first superstars in the first era of the Cosmos (Image credit: Getty Images)

German World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer was also one of the first era's star names (Image credit: Getty Images)

Spain legend Raul played for the New York Cosmos in the club's second spell (Image credit: Getty Images)

“Yes, we have our own philosophy, which is thinking about young players, getting local talent and helping them grow. But also paying respect to the winning culture that was created with the Cosmos. There’s a fine line and it’s a challenge, but a beautiful challenge.

“Not many clubs can say they’ve had Pele and Beckenbauer playing on the same team. We’ve had that, and not only that, but what the club did to grow the game, especially in the 1970s and ’80s. We have to continue to pay tribute to that. Because of that past, the Cosmos shirt weighs a bit heavier than others. These kids are realising that and have bought into it.”

Italian gaffer Davide Corti – formerly the manager of Milan’s women’s team – was appointed ahead of the club’s first game in USL League One this March. After a playing career that delivered 30 caps for Italy though, did Rossi consider going down the coaching route himself? “I don’t have the patience!” he smiles. “But I’m always on the field at training, I do what the coach needs me to do.

“Every morning I wake up aching, but I love just being there, giving them as much insight as possible: the way that I see the game, the way things should be done. They’re embracing it and they listen, which is great.

“I’m fully invested in the Cosmos. I’m invested mentally, emotionally, and invested pocket-wise too, so it’s a big part of my life. It’s something I really do care about – there’s just so much of what I wanted to do post-career in this project. We’re only a few months into it and success will be finding the balance between the development of young kids and a winning culture. Fans love to win – giving them the satisfaction of trophies is something I’d love to do.”

The next Messi or Mbappe

Captain Sebastian Guenzatti is in his second spell at the club (Image credit: Getty Images)

Having a bloodline that runs through the club, linking the past to the present, is important for the latest iteration of the Cosmos. In CEO Stover, as well as captain Sebastian Guenzatti, the club have precisely that.

Stover has spent more than 25 years working for sports teams and venues in the US, so a return to the Cosmos was too good an opportunity to miss. “What I learned when I was involved with the club the first time was that we have a global media reach,” he tells FFT. “We’re not on the same level as Real Madrid, but we are a very well-known sports brand. When I worked for The Meadowlands Sports Complex earlier in my career, there were photographs on the wall of everything that happened in the New York metropolitan area that was globally significant – Live Aid, Bruce Springsteen, and it all happened at Giants Stadium. But the thing people talked about the most was the Cosmos.

“When the club stopped last time, did I think the Cosmos would take to the field again? I’d say 80 per cent no. But there were five foundational pillars of bringing the club back – Hinchliffe Stadium and a place that we could call home, joining the USL and its upcoming promotion and relegation system, the 2026 World Cup, identifying local New Jersey and New York talent, and lastly the local community of Paterson.

“The big opportunity on the football side is around player development, to try to correct what we’re doing all wrong in this country, especially if you’re in an urban area. If you’re a talented player in an urban area, you have little to no chance of making it professionally. The system in the USA is set up all wrong. It’s pay to play, so largely it’s wealthier kids who have the opportunity to play, because they can pay for the kits, the boots, the travel and the coaches.

“We know there are players coming out of Paterson. But then in northern New Jersey, there are 4.5 million people, and that’s not counting New York City, upstate New York and southern New Jersey. Just within 10 miles of where we are, there are 4.5 million people. There are players here who have the potential to become the next Mbappe or Messi, but they’re not getting the opportunity. So our approach is, ‘Let’s stop complaining about it, let’s find these kids and give them opportunities, let’s break that cycle.’”

New York Cosmos faced Brooklyn in the USL Cup earlier in the season (Image credit: Getty Images)

While Rossi grew up in New Jersey and forged a career in Europe, Cosmos head scout Jose Angulo was denied a similar pathway – the Colombian couldn’t move across the pond because of visa issues. “Giuseppe was a part of the New Jersey system, he was lucky enough to have an Italian passport and go to Italy at 12,” Stover explains. “Then we have Jose, who was a very gifted player and grew up here in Paterson, but didn’t have that opportunity. He went down the typical route for an urban kid in America – he went to the best soccer high school in the country, St Benedict’s in Newark, and won the national championship every other year, but that’s not a proper developmental path to get a player into a professional contract.

“These guys are running our football department and have two very similar but very different experiences – that was not by accident when we were building the club. We needed that experience – they understand it better than anybody because they’ve lived it.”

The relaunched club’s first signing was also important, to get fans excited to go and watch the team play again. That man was Guenzatti, who first joined the Cosmos in 2013, and played alongside Raul and Senna.

A Uruguayan who moved to Queens as a child and also played with Joe Cole at Tampa Bay Rowdies, he didn’t need a second invitation to return. “I’m 34, but I feel like I just started my career,” he says. “Coming back to the Cosmos and playing with a lot of young guys, it makes you feel young. I have to run a lot during training and games to try to be the guy they look up to. I want to be a mentor for players.

“I grew up in New York and New Jersey from when I was 10, so I know what the Cosmos means to people. Pele wore that shirt, Chinaglia, Beckenbauer and many other unbelievable players did too, so it does carry pressure. It’s like Manchester United and all the top teams in England – there’s a different pressure. It’s a new era now, with the younger players, but we have to keep that pressure going. You have to make yourself feel like you’re part of a top team.”

New York Cosmos fans are excited about the club returning to their new home in Paterson, New Jersey (Image credit: Getty Images)

“Signing Raul? terrible!”

Juan Carlos Obregon Jr celebrates his goal for Brooklyn as they beat the Cosmos in the USL Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)

The rain is pouring down in Paterson as FourFourTwo head to Hinchliffe Stadium to see the Cosmos entertain Brooklyn FC in the USL Cup. The U-shaped venue also hosts baseball, American football and athletics, so the pitch has plenty of line markings, but there’s no roof covering any of the stands. Despite this being a new derby for the region, many fans have opted to stay at home. Football in America isn’t known for large amounts of travelling supporters – only 30 or so Brooklyn fans have made the hour-plus coach trip to Paterson from their team’s base on Coney Island.

Jairo Reyes, of Cosmos supporters’ group The Five Points, has driven from Long Island to support the team. He’s busy putting up banners and sorting out the drums in the section behind the goal. “It doesn’t matter if they’re playing in Paterson, Brooklyn or Long Island, to us it’s the Cosmos, and we’ll be here,” the 45-year-old enthuses with FFT. “I went to my first game in 2014 – they played 15 minutes from where I lived, so it was easy. I was just a casual fan back then. I knew of the history of the Cosmos and Pele playing for them, and I became hooked. I’ve always been a football fan and before that I watched Barcelona. I’ve been to Spain to watch them, even a Clasico.”

How did Reyes feel, as a Barça fan, when Real Madrid legend Raul arrived at the Cosmos in 2014? “It was terrible!” he jokes. “The Cosmos had always had Galacticos in the past – it was amazing to see Raul and Marcos Senna.”

Once upon a time, the Cosmos were keen to become the third franchise from the New York area to join MLS – New York Red Bulls and New York City FC both play in the league. Now the USL suits them just fine, with promotion and relegation due to be introduced in 2028 along with an extra tier, USL Premier, that would have Division One sanctioning from US Soccer – the same status as MLS.

Promotion and relegation is a first not just for football in America, but sport in America, and will give the Cosmos the possibility of climbing a new pyramid via success on the field. “As a fanbase, we believe in promotion and relegation,” Reyes says. “We don’t go and watch MLS games – we have New York Red Bulls and NYCFC on our doorstep, but they aren’t of interest to us. MLS doesn’t represent what we believe soccer culture should be. It’s a closed shop and uncompetitive. When promotion and relegation comes in, we’ll have a more exciting and more competitive league in the USL.

“Cosmos started in USL League One as the club is promoting themselves as being community based, so you want to grow the fanbase first, then move up the divisions with a solid foundation.”

Much like promotion and relegation, local derbies are few and far between in the States, but this inaugural Cosmos vs Brooklyn derby could be the start of something exciting. “Having this derby with Brooklyn is great for soccer culture in the area,” Reyes adds. “Just having something else other than NYCFC or Red Bulls will help create more of a fanbase. Brooklyn host games at Maimonides Park on Coney Island, where the Cosmos used to play a few years ago. There’s still a mural on a wall there that says ‘Coney Island is Cosmos country’.”

New York Cosmos pair Davey Mason and Eligio Guarino thank their fans at the end of the game (Image credit: Getty Images)

Davide Corti is the manager of the New York Cosmos in this third spell (Image credit: Getty Images)

Hinchliffe Stadium is the ninth home stadium of Cosmos’ history – as well as Giants Stadium and Maimonides Park, they’ve also played in Queens, other venues on Long Island and at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Paterson isn’t the easiest place to get to from Manhattan – around 15 miles as the crow flies, but by public transport it takes an hour-and-a-half via two buses. FFT’s bus driver has never even heard of Hinchliffe Stadium, so is unable to tell us where to get off.

Nevertheless, having a place that the Cosmos can call home is vital, even if today’s game doesn’t go brilliantly for them. Brooklyn play a division above the Cosmos, in the USL Championship, and go ahead when Honduran international Juan Carlos Obregon Jr nods home.

Brazilian Gabriel Alves soon makes it 2-0 with a powerful left-footed effort, and French midfielder Abdoulaye Kante puts the contest beyond the Cosmos’ reach before half-time. “We run New York,” is the message from Brooklyn on social media after a 3-0 win, although the Cosmos supporters never stopped singing throughout, accompanied by flares and banners.

“This should be a derby where we play at the same level as Brooklyn,” Cosmos boss Corti says post-match, emphasising the club’s ambition in the years to come. “We’ll take some time to get into the USL Championship, but we will make it and play these derby games in the league, not just the cup.”

On our way out of the stadium, we catch the eye of Rossi, who’s still wet from standing in the rain. “You picked the worst possible game to come to, but we’ll be back,” he smiles.

It’s hard not to believe him. A long road lies ahead for the Cosmos, and there will be more rainy days. But if they get their wish, a sunnier future is on the horizon.

The Pele Soccer shop in the heart of Time Square sells retro New York Cosmos kits (Image credit: James Andrew)

Happy is the McBride

A former Fulham and Everton forward is the driving force behind New York’s other USL debutants

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Brooklyn FC might not have the history of the Cosmos, but they also joined the USL this season – with Brian McBride as sporting director and general manager.

“I want to make the people of Brooklyn proud,” the ex-Fulham, Everton and USA striker tells FFT, having also previously worked as general manager of the national team. “But I also have to be the person who’s going to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and do it all within a budget. That part is really important. You can have a vision of what you want to do, then you have to have it fit into a structure financially. I’ve really enjoyed that process.”

Unlike the Cosmos, Brooklyn have started in the USL Championship, though a recent vote has ensured that there will be promotion and relegation between that division, the planned USL Premier above it, and League One below from 2028. “It was really courageous of the owners to vote yes on promotion and relegation – it’s a statement that they’re taking a chance, that they want it to work and be the difference between MLS and USL,” he says. “Every game matters – you hear stories from players who have been relegated and how half the staff were let go, so it’s a really big deal.”

Football clubs have existed in Brooklyn before, the Cosmos included, but the new club’s aim is to give locals a team they can call their own.

“We want to represent them in our work ethic and our impact, on and off the field,” McBride adds. “The World Cup has been a huge opportunity for us – the exposure for soccer in this country has been massive. Other sports fans have been realising, ‘Wait, soccer’s fun!’”

As someone who played in both Merseyside and West London derbies, how does McBride feel about the potential blossoming rivalry of Brooklyn and the Cosmos? “I played for the Cosmos!” the 54-year-old laughs. “When they came back in 2011, I played in a game for them against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Eric Cantona was our manager and we had players like Patrick Vieira, Fabio Cannavaro and Dwight Yorke. We lost 6-0 against a Manchester United side that had Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney in it.

“Growing up, I was a Chicago Sting fan and I saw them play the Cosmos, so I saw Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia play. I wore the No.9 shirt because of Chinaglia, even though I played at left-back then!

“Derbies are hugely important, especially for fans. It gives them a reason to go to games, to try to out-sing their rivals. Those rivalries help in any sport.”

How to watch Manchester City vs Inter Milan: Live stream details as two of Europe's heavyweights face off in Hong Kong

Matthew Holt — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Watch Man City vs Inter Milan today as Enzo Maresca begins his tenure. FourFourTwo bring you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Man City vs Inter Milan: key information

Date: Saturday 1 August
Kick-off time: 12:30pm BST / 07:30am ET / 09:30pm AEST (Sun)
TV & Streaming: CITY+
Watch from anywhere: Get 75% off with NordVPN

Maresca begins his era in Hong Kong today as Manchester City take on Inter Milan in a pre-season friendly.

Trying to follow the success of Guardiola will be hard, but the Cityzens have recently bought Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, so things can't be that bad.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch online and Man City vs Inter Milan from anywhere.

Can I watch Man City vs Inter Milan for free?

Unfortunately, Man City vs Inter Milan is not being broadcast free-to-air.

Abroad? Watch from anywhere in the world with NordVPN.

Watch Man City vs Inter Milan from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Man City vs Inter Milan. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

Get 75% off NordVPN + 3 months extra free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
✅ Unblocks CITY+
📺 Stream Man City vs Inter Milan from anywhereView Deal

How to watch Man City vs Inter Milan

▶︎ Man City vs Inter Milan is set to be shown live on Manchester City's official streaming platform, CITY+. Prices start at £9.99 a month and £34.99 for an annual subscription.

▶︎ Those in Italy can stream the game on DAZN Italia or Sky Sport Uno whole CBS Sports Network will also have a stream in the US.

Abroad? Watch Manchester City vs Inter Milan online from anywhere with NordVPN.

Man City vs Inter Milan: Preview

City continue to await the decision of key midfield kingpin Rodri, with speculation over a potential move to Real Madrid continuing to circulate.

However, the recent World Cup winner is currently sidelined and is due to undergo back surgery over the remainder of the summer.

New signing Anderson is still enjoying some downtime after penning a deal with the Citizens. The same can be said for Erling Haaland, who is expected back in the coming weeks and will not feature in Hong Kong.

However, City still boast a strong squad with the likes of Phil Foden, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Antoine Semenyo all included.

Inter are currently managed by Chivu and will be looking for a third Serie A in the past four years in 2026/27.

Finishing 11 points clear of Napoli last season, the Italian giants are reportedly in talks to sign former City player John Stones, who is available on a free transfer. Unfortunately, he won't feature even if signed.

Defensive midfielder Aleksandar Stanković has arrived from Club Brugge, while Ivan Provedel has joined from Lazio.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Man City 2-2 Inter

A four-goal game will be split equally in China.

FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 64: Silvers, Silvas and Sylvas

Mark White — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Back once again with the world-famous Weekend Crossword.

PLAY NEXT

(Image credit: Future)

LAST WEEK'S FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 63

Think of your favourite trios and you might go with Neymar/Messi/Suarez or Milan/Inter/Juventus – perhaps, if you're Gianni Infantino, you'd pick power, corruption and lies. But for us, there's nothing better for a Saturday morning than the real Big Three: cup of tea, lie-in and FourFourTwo Weekend Crossword.

For the past 64 weeks (we've counted!), we've been presenting you with 24 clues to solve a football-related grid. Never done one before? Stick the kettle on and have a go. Even you, Gianni: we reckon you might need to take the edge off your week.

Love football crosswords? Here are some handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Tearing through the Weekend Crossword is the ultimate warm-up for a footballing brain, but once you’ve cracked the grid, it’s time to move from cryptic clues to international icons and world-stage royalty. Fresh off the heels of Spain’s historic World Cup triumph in North America, keeping your knowledge sharp across the game's greatest legends and quirky stats requires elite mental conditioning, courtesy, as ever, of Kwizly.

We’re starting at the absolute summit of modern greatness with the ultimate magician himself and the newly crowned world champions. First, we want you to test your knowledge of Argentina's eternal captain by seeing if you can get 20 correct answers in The Big Lionel Messi Quiz, tracing his unmatched journey from Rosario to global immortality. Once you’ve honored the GOAT, pivot to the newly crowned kings of the world and see if you can name every Spain player with over 50 caps.

Next, audit English goalscoring heritage by trying to name every England player with 10+ goals, before taking on a wonderfully quirky test of Dutch naming conventions: are these 20 Netherlands facts about a Van or No Van? It's harder than it first appears.

Then, wrap up your statistical marathon with the Big World Cup 2026 Quiz, testing how much you truly remember about the goals, shocks, and breakout stars of North America's historic 48-team tournament. To ensure you stay top of the table as pre-season kicks off, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To complete your transfer to the elite tier of fans, join The Club, our free membership hub where you can unlock secret hints for our toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and debate the latest footballing topics directly in the comments section.

'Xabi Alonso is being listened to by the owners and putting his stamp on things at Stamford Bridge' Clinton Morrison writes in his Top, Top Column

Clinton Morrison — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

I’ll start this week by speaking about Vinicius Junior’s links to Arsenal. It would be a massive statement to bring him to the club, and I know they need to strengthen in that area after losing Leandro Trossard.

But I don’t think he will leave Real Madrid, and I expect him to sign a new contract. It’s been reported that he wants something like £400,000 a week, and I don't think Arsenal are going to be able to pay that.

Clinton was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com home to the best betting sites.

'Arsenal won't land Vini Jr.'

Vinicius Junior #7 of Brazil (Image credit: Getty Images)

There’s also a lot of talk about Rodri joining Real Madrid, but Manchester City need to fight tooth and nail to keep him.

I was reading something which said that the Real Madrid president Florentino Perez needed to make that final decision whether to pursue a deal, but I'm surprised he hasn't said that Rodri is our number one target, because he's the best holding midfielder in the world at the moment.

The World's Best: Rodri (Image credit: Getty Images)

He wasn’t always at his best after coming back from injury at Man City last season, but Pep Guardiola said that you'll see the best of Rodri at the World Cup. And what did we see? We saw the best player at the World Cup. Rodri was outstanding.

I know he's got a back issue and needs to recuperate after his operation, but I'm sure Man City will be doing all they can to keep him and ensure he signs a new contract. There’s no question that it would be an incredible signing for Real Madrid, but I want to see the best players in the Premier League, so I'd love Rodri to stay at Man City.

Moving on to Chelsea, and I can understand the decisions to sign both Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson. Chelsea's motto has always been to sign younger players, but that didn't work for them last season.

There were too many younger players that didn't have enough experience to manage the group.

That's why I think they tried to sign Granit Xhaka earlier in the window, and Xabi Alonso clearly wants to bring a wiser head into the squad.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Image credit: Getty Images)

Looking at Welbeck, he was one of the top scorers in the Premier League last season and would be a good addition. They've got the likes of Joao Pedro, and we don't know what's happening with Nicholas Jackson or Liam Delap, but at least one of them will probably move on.

Henderson would also provide more leadership in that Chelsea squad, and I feel they will have a right go at the Premier League next season with no European football to play. We saw that with Manchester United last season.

Moving on to Liverpool, and there’s plenty of talk that Bradley Barcola could join for more than €100 million. He’s a good player, but it’s a lot of money, and I feel like he has to improve technically. But one thing he's got, is pace to burn and he's a threat. You saw that at the World Cup for France and last season at Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool target Bradley Barcola (Image credit: Future)

Liverpool need to bring in a winger, not to replace Mohamed Salah, because no one can replace Mo Salah and I don't think anyone will get his numbers. But Barcola is at a good age, he's got pace, and he'd be going to a big football club with a top manager in Andoni Iraola. He would be a decent signing.

They have some defensive issues to address as well. I saw that Micky van de Ven has been linked with Liverpool, and that would make good sense to go and sign him. He regularly plays with Virgil van Dijk for the Netherlands, and there’s a brilliant understanding between the two of them. Although, I think Tottenham Hotspur will keep him now, as Cristian Romero looks as though he’ll leave this summer.

There have also been three big appointments at international level, with Germany, France and Italy announcing new managers. Jürgen Klopp is the perfect manager to take charge of Germany, who will be trying to turn their fortunes around after a very disappointing World Cup. I would have loved to have seen him back in club football, but that wasn't going to happen unless he came back to Liverpool

As for Zinedine Zidane, he said this was the job he always wanted. He's not worked for a while and had other job offers, but held out for this one. He brings that aura when he walks into a dressing room, because people respect him after his incredible career, he's proven himself as a brilliant manager too.

There’s plenty of talent at his disposal in that France squad. I know they didn't turn up in the semi-final against Spain, but it's still a top country with top players. I think both Klopp and Zidane will improve their respective nations massively. The Euros in two years’ time will be very interesting!

As for Roberto Mancini, he faces a massive rebuilding job with Italy. I don't understand how they've not qualified for a World Cup for so long. They got knocked out in the play-offs before this year’s finals, but there was no excuse for that, considering the players at their disposal. I think it’s a good call to bring back Mancini though, and hopefully they can start regularly qualifying for major tournaments again.

I’ll finish this week by talking about the world’s oldest professional footballer, Kazuyoshi Miura, who scored his first goal in almost four years last weekend. To still be playing at 59 is unbelievable. I go to the gym at my age and I'm knackered afterwards! I've been for two days and my body is in tatters, I feel like I can't walk, and he's still playing at 59. It's a testament to keeping yourself in good shape and loving the game.

But at 59, I don't even think I'll be walking that straight, let alone running around a football pitch for 90 minutes. I hope he continues playing beyond the age of 60. What a career he's had, and huge congratulations to him.

How to watch Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid: Live stream details as Michael Carrick's men face Spanish giants in Stockholm

James Roberts — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Watch Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid today as Michael Carrick pits his wits against Diego Simeone in the Red Devils' third pre-season friendly, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid: key information

Date: Saturday, August 1
Kick-off time: 2:00pm BST / 9:00am ET / 11:00pm AEST
TV & Streaming: MUTV (worldwide) / Stan Sport (Australia)
Watch from anywhere: Get 75% off with NordVPN

After losing to Wrexham in Finnish capital Helsinki and beating Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway, United embark on the third leg of their Scandinavian tour with this clash at the 50,000-seater Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

It is a chance for Red Devils manager Carrick to test himself against veteran Atleti boss Simeone, with the Snapdragon Cup (no, us neither) on the line.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid online and from anywhere.

Can I watch Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid for free?

Unfortunately, Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid is not being broadcast free-to-air.

Read on as we show you how to watch the game online from anywhere.

Abroad for Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

Get 75% off NordVPN + 3 months extra free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
✅ Unblocks MUTV
📺 Stream Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid from anywhereView Deal

How to watch Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid in the UK and US

Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid will be shown live on MUTV worldwide, including in the UK and US.

MUTV is United's in-house television channel and costs £7.99/month or £29.99/year.

It is available to stream on MUTV Digital and the official Manchester United app, as well as on Sky (Channel 418) and Virgin Media (Channel 526) in the UK - but you must pay an extra £7/month to watch it on linear TV.

MUTV is also accessible via beIN Sports in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Watch Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid in Australia

As well as watching on MUTV, fans in Australia can stream Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid live through Stan Sport.

Stan Sport subscriptions start at AU$32, which includes the base plan ($12) with the sport add-on ($20).

Outside Australia? NordVPN can help you to login to your Stan Sport account.

Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid: Preview

Manchester United face their biggest pre-season test yet in Stockholm as Michael Carrick's side take on 2025/26 Champions League semi-finalists Atletico Madrid, led by the hugely experienced Diego Simeone.

Manager Carrick vetoed the option of a far-flung summer tour to an exotic location, so instead the Red Devils are tuning up for the 2026/27 campaign with a string of matches across Europe. They began with a 1-0 defeat by Wrexham in Helsinki, before hammering Norwegian side Rosenborg 5-0 in Trondheim last Friday.

Carrick fielded a strong starting XI in that game, with Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Bryan Mbeumo and new signing Andrey Santos included in the lineup, but it was United's next generation who caught the eye. Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass (all 19) and Ethan Williams (20) all found the net, and they will hope to be involved again as they push for first-team minutes next season.

That quartet will feel like veterans in comparison to 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who is part of United's squad in Scandinavia and could make his first senior appearance here. After the clash with Atletico, Carrick's men finish the Scandinavian section of their summer with a friendly against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg next Saturday.

If things had gone slightly differently in the spring, these two matches could be against last season's two Champions League finalists. Atletico were edged out 2-1 on aggregate by Arsenal in the semi-finals as they fell just short of reaching the competition's showpiece for the third time under Simeone.

After watching his country reach the World Cup 2026 final in North America, the Argentinian has returned his attention to domestic matters and is gearing up for his 15th full season in charge of Atleti. The La Liga club's early summer transfer activity suggests they mean business after last season's fourth-place finish, with wing-back Alex Grimaldo signing from Bayer Leverkusen, Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand arriving from Sporting, and South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in joining from PSG.

Atletico's campaign starts three days before United's, with a home game against Malaga on Wednesday, August 19, but this is only their second pre-season friendly, having started their summer programme with a 4-1 win over La Liga counterparts Getafe on Wednesday.

After this clash in Stockholm, they face United's rivals Manchester City in South Korean capital Seoul next Sunday, before a trip to the south of France to take on Marseille on Friday, August 14.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Manchester United 2-1 Atletico Madrid

United are further down the line in their pre-season preparations, so that may prove the difference here.

How to watch Chelsea vs Spurs: Free streams and TV details for pre-season London derby in Australia

Matthew Holt — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Watch Chelsea vs Tottenham for free as Xabi Alonso takes on Roberto De Zerbi in a fascinating pre-season friendly in Australia. FourFourTwo brings you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Chelsea vs Tottenham: key information

Date: Saturday, 1 August
Kick-off time: 10:45am BST / 5:45am ET / 7:45pm AEST
Free Stream: TVNZ+ (New Zealand) / CFC+ (UK) / SpursPlay (UK)
Watch from anywhere: Get 75% off with NordVPN

Chelsea began their Alonso era with an emphatic 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers FC just a few days ago.

Next up are old foes Spurs, who beat Sydney FC to penalties on Wednesday evening after a 1-1 draw in which Mathys Tel scored.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Chelsea vs Tottenham for free?

Yes, TVNZ+ in New Zealand are broadcasting the match between Chelsea and Spurs for free.

CBS Sports Golazo Network will also have the game for free in the US.

You just need an account and you'll be able to watch at no cost.

Abroad today? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Chelsea vs Tottenham from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss this pre-season friendly. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

Get 75% off NordVPN + 3 months extra free

🥇 World's best VPN service
🙌 Fast, secure, easy to use
✅ Unblocks TVNZ+
📺 Stream from anywhereView Deal

How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham in the UK

In the UK you will need SPURSPLAY to stream the Chelsea vs Tottenham game.

It will cost you £45 a year for a SPURSPLAY subscription with all pre-season games included.

Over on CFC+, the price is just £14.99 a year and it will unlock a stream for Chelsea vs Tottenham.

Visiting the UK or US from New Zealand? Use NordVPN to access TVNZ+.

How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham in the US

Chelsea vs Tottenham is available to watch on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network in the US.

How to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur in Australia

Paramount+ will be showing Chelsea vs Tottenham in Australia.

Plans start at AU$7.99 per month or AU$70.99 per year.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Chelsea 5-3 Tottenham Hotspur

We are expecting goals galore in this one!