Chelsea are interested in signing Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari, but will face competition from Super Lig leaders Galatasary, according to reports.

Contract negotiations are said to have broken down between Ayari and his current Premier League club, with the Blues lurking.

The Swede has already bagged two assists in six Premier League games for Brighton this season, with his current contract set to expire come the 2026-27 season’s conclusion.

Chelsea lurk as Yasin Ayari’s contract negotiations with Brighton break down

Despite Ayari’s contract soon expiring, the Seagulls do hold an option to extend his deal by an additional 12 months.

However, according to a report from TEAMtalk, the club are yet to activate that clause, and Chelsea are prowling for the Swede’s signature, with Galatasaray emerging as clear rivals.

Ayari is well known to the Blues’ sporting director Paul Winstanley, who has been alerted to the contract conflict between the Swede and Brighton.

Winstanley worked as the Seagulls’ Head of Scouting before his exit from the club in late 2022; now, the Chelsea chief, who initially alerted Brighton to Ayari’s potential, wants to experience a reunion with the player at Stamford Bridge.

As things stand, the Blues are only keeping tabs on the Sweden international, and keeping their options alive ahead of future transfer windows in January and beyond.

If the plug is pulled, and Chelsea are successful, Ayari would join as one of many players to leave Brighton for the Blues, which includes the likes of Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro.

In recent years, the London club has successfully pilfered more than a dozen members of staff and players from the Seagulls.

According to the report, Chelsea are likely to face competition for Ayari’s signature from multiple other Premier League sides, but they are currently unnamed.

In the Super Lig, Galatasaray, who are shooting high for an unprecedented fifth successive Turkish top-flight title, are among those outside of England hoping to bag Ayari.

Like Chelsea, they are also displaying interest and continuing to monitor developments in the Swede’s situation at Brighton. Saudi Pro League sides are also lurking, too.

As things stand, Ayari’s future with the Seagulls is up in the air; should he wish to move, Chelsea will certainly be among those interested.

Watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig for free as the 15-time winners aim to continue their perfect start to the Champions League 2026/27 league phase. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Madrid staged an incredible comeback to beat Roma 4-3 seven days ago, with the visitors scoring three times in the last 10 minutes to snatch victory in the Italian capital.

Leipzig edged past PSV Eindhoven 1-0 last week to claim their first points of the league phase, but they head to Spain still reeling from a 6-1 thrashing by Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig in this mouth-watering Champions League clash online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig for free?

Yes! Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig is live on free-to-air Virgin Media Two in Ireland, complete with English commentary. You can also stream the game via Virgin Media Play.

Abroad? You need a VPN to access your free Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig from anywhere

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How to watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig in the UK

Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig is available to watch on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The game will be shown on TNT Sports 4, with kick-off at 8:00pm BST.

How to watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig in the US

Paramount+ has live coverage of Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig in the US, with kick-off at 3:00pm ET.

Travelling outside of the US? Use NordVPN to access your usual Paramount+ stream.

How to watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig in Australia

Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig is live on Stan Sport in Australia. Kick-off is at 6:00am AEDT on Thursday.

Not in Australia? You need NordVPN to watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig on Stan Sport.

Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig: Preview

Real Madrid staged a recovery to rival any of their great European comebacks against Roma last Wednesday as late goals by Carlos Espi, Endrick and Antonio Rudiger gave them a remarkable 4-3 win.

That victory maintained Los Blancos' perfect start to the league phase and they carried the momentum into Saturday's 4-1 triumph over Sevilla in La Liga, with Arda Guler and Yan Diomande scoring either side of Kylian Mbappe's double.

France superstar Mbappe has already found the net 11 times this season and will be confident of improving that tally against RB Leipzig, who fell to a 6-1 defeat at Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Vinicius Junior is expected to start after missing the win over Sevilla due to his ongoing four-match domestic suspension, but long-term absentees Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio remain absent.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

Leipzig fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst ahead of their trip to the Bernabeu, as their side prepares to face a forward line of Mbappe, Vinicius, Yan Diomande and Jude Bellingham four days after conceding six against Bayern.

That was the latest twist in a mixed start to the season for the German club, whose five wins and four defeats in all competitions have featured victories of 6-0 (twice) and 5-0, as well as 4-1 and 6-0 losses.

It shows that Leipzig possess plenty of attacking threat as well as defensive vulnerability, with Norway winger Antonio Nusa and French forward Christopher Nkunku showing their quality with eight goals and five assists combined so far in 2026/27.

They also have a manager with recent experience of beating Madrid - former Argentina centre back Martin Demichelis arrived in the summer from Mallorca, who he guided to a shock 2-1 win over Los Blancos in April.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Real Madrid 3-1 RB Leipzig

We expect Madrid to triumph in what should be an entertaining contest between two sides who like to play on the front foot.

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Premier League and Bundesliga champions Arsenal and Bayern Munich will face off in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, but the latter side will be without Joshua Kimmich.

The Bayern Munich veteran will be unavailable after experiencing a death in his family, missing the Champions League clash for personal reasons.

The Bundesliga champions penned a statement in support of the midfielder, writing: “Due to a death in his immediate family, Joshua Kimmich is not in the squad today for the match against Arsenal in London.”

Joshua Kimmich to miss Bayern Munich vs Arsenal after death of ‘immediate family member’

The statement continued: “On behalf of the family, we ask that his privacy and grief be respected, and that further inquiries and reporting be refrained from.

“In deep sympathy, the entire FC Bayern stands by Joshua Kimmich’s side,” concluded the club’s writing.

It was already established on Tuesday evening by assistant manager Aaron Danks that Kimmich would likely be unavailable to face the Gunners.

In a pre-match Champions League presser, Danks revealed: “For Joshua, it is personal reasons. I am not sure what it means for [the Arsenal game].”

Danks was reporting for media duties in light of Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany being unavailable through illness.

“Vince has a virus, and it is important for him to rest,” revealed Danks. Whether Kompany will be present in Wednesday’s match is unclear, but the Belgian’s assistant manager clarified that he “will play his role in the game, whether in the Allianz Arena or not.”

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich will be without Michael Olise, who saw red in last week’s 3-3 draw versus Viking FC in the Champions League.

In a pre-match press conference, during which Mikel Arteta responded to “cheating” allegations directed at Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal boss then turned his attention instead to Bayern Munich’s right-hand side. Jamal Musiala is also absent with a thigh injury.

“I don’t want to say who is the best player in these kind of games… [Olise] is out, but when you look at the starting possible XI… how incredibly well coached they are.

“The mindset that they have, the competition that they have in every action, and the individual quality moments… that’s the opposition we will be facing,” concluded Arteta.

For Arsenal, their injury woes extend to a trio in William Saliba, Christos Tzolis and Piero Hincapie, none of whom are expected to participate versus Bayern Munich.

Watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal for free as two of the favourites to win the Champions League 2026/27 meet in the league phase, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Die Roten drew 3-3 with Norwegian champions Viking in a gameweek two thriller eight days ago, before taking their frustration out on RB Leipzig with a 6-1 Bundesliga thrashing on Saturday.

Arsenal are in similarly good form after winning all three matches since the international break, including cruising past Lille 3-0 last week to maintain their perfect start to the league phase.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal in this huge Champions League clash online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal for free?

Yes! Bayern Munich vs Arsenal will be shown live on free-to-air RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player in Ireland, complete with English commentary.

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How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal in the UK

Bayern Munich vs Arsenal will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK.

The game is live on TNT Sports 1, with kick-off at 8:00pm BST.

Travelling outside the UK? You need a VPN to access your TNT Sports stream from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal in the US

Viewers in the US can watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal on Paramount+, with kick-off at 3:00pm ET.

Not in the US? Access your usual Paramount+ stream with a VPN.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal in Australia

Fans in Australia can watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 6am AEDT on Thursday.

Away from Australia? Watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal on Stan Sport with a VPN.

Bayern Munich vs Arsenal: Preview

After thrashing Bodo/Glimt 5-0 in their opening league phase fixture, Bayern Munich would have been confident of a comfortable victory when they faced another Norwegian side, Viking, in gameweek two.

It did not turn out that way, with Vincent Kompany's men forced to battle back from 2-0 down to eventually draw 3-3 in a contest that also featured a red card for winger Michael Olise. The France international will miss the clash with Arsenal as a result.

Olise went some way to making up for his dismissal by scoring in Saturday's 6-1 dismantling of RB Leipzig, in which Luis Diaz bagged a hat-trick. Harry Kane was also on target and the former Tottenham Hotspur striker will have the chance to score in a 10th successive Champions League match when he faces Arsenal, which would put him one shy of the competition record.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could miss the game due to a foot issue, with Jonas Urbig primed to step in, while Jamal Musiala will also be absent as the Germany midfielder continues his recovery from injury.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

While Bayern had a roller-coaster week, Arsenal's was much more straightforward. The Gunners beat Lille 3-0 last Tuesday to make it two wins from two in the league phase before edging out Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday, courtesy of Noni Madueke's late strike.

The England winger came off the bench to seal the three points in what has become a common theme for Arsenal, which could give them the edge against Bayern if the game is in the balance.

Arteta's men claimed a statement 3-1 win over Bayern in last season's league phase, en route to reaching the final, and if they repeat that result they will be just the second visiting team to triumph at the Allianz Arena since April 2025.

The Arsenal manager is unlikely to have any of his injured players back for the trip to Bavaria, although winger Christos Tzolis is closing in on a return to action.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal

Bayern's attacking quality and Arsenal's defensive solidity makes this an intriguing game. We reckon it will end level.

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.

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko won't be back until next year, following his recent injury.

That's according to one report that has ruled the Slovenian out for months, with a more precise timescale for his return to be revealed in the coming days by under-pressure manager, Michael Carrick.

With Manchester United having only picked up a single win in the Premier League this term, the news will come as a huge blow to the Red Devils, as they look to turn their fortunes around tonight away to Como.

Benjamin Sesko blow is more bad news for Manchester United

Carrick initially sounded hopeful that Sesko's absence in the 1-1 draw with Fulham last month was nothing too serious, noting that, “He just felt a little bit of pain after the game [against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup]: hopefully, it's not too bad, but we will have to see.”

Slovenian outlet Ekipa via Sport Witness reported, however, that the diagnosis “doesn't look good”.

Now, The Sun have claimed that Sesko is looking at a return in February.

Another Slovenian outlet, Planet Nogomet, reported last month that the striker would undergo an MRI scan in London to diagnose a “repetition of problems that have plagued” him previously.

Sesko returned for pre-season with a shin injury that he picked up in May, with Carrick starting the season without the 23-year-old leading the line – after missing six games for club and country last winter with a knee issue.

The worry is that given there is no fracture or break, the star may have a chronic problem that needs an extended period of time to heal, with United having to rely on Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford and unfancied Joshua Zirkzee to lead the line in Sesko's absence.

Zirkzee is yet to start a game for Carrick this season, with less than an hour under his belt in the Premier League and three cameos in the League Cup and Champions League in which he struggled to impact proceedings.

With United looking to move the Dutchman on over the summer, it remains to be seen whether Zirkzee will get a second chance at Old Trafford or be offloaded in January, with the club considering replacements for the injured Sesko.

Manchester United host fellow strugglers Bournemouth this weekend, as Premier League action continues.

The United Strand might need to start paying attention to Manchester United Women if he wants a haircut.

Frank Ilett, the Manchester United fan who vowed not to cut his hair until the men's team won five consecutive matches, has now spent 745 days waiting for his moment in the barber's chair.

But while the men's side continue to fall short of the target, the women's team have been busy doing exactly what he needs.

An overdue haircut for The United Strand?

Eva Olid's side have now put together a five-match winning streak for the fourth time since Ilett began his challenge in October 2024.

That's four separate occasions on which United Women have achieved the feat that has kept the viral fan's hair growing - three times under Marc Skinner who departed in the summer, and now again under new manager Olid.

Ilett, who posts daily updates on social media, has become an internet sensation as his increasingly lengthy locks have turned the challenge into a running joke among football fans.

The men's team drew with Leeds at the weekend, taking Ilett to the 100-game mark without the haircut he has been waiting for.

Meanwhile, Manchester United Women have turned their own fortunes around after a difficult start to the season which included a 2-1 defeat to London City Lionesses and a 5-0 thrahsing by Chelsea, followed by a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Since then, they have hit their stride, stringing together five consecutive victories to achieve the feat once more.

They had achieved the feat three times before since his challenge began, most recently in February, when they celebrated a goal with a scissors-themed hair-cutting gesture on the pitch in their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

However Ilett's challenge remains tied to the men's team, meaning the women's impressive runs won't officially send him to the barbers.

But after four separate five-match winning streaks, surely the United Women have earned the right to give him a trim themselves?

Arne Slot has been linked with a stunning move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham collected their first win of the season on Monday night against fellow strugglers Coventry City at home, with Roberto De Zerbi's early-season warm-weather camp in Marbella proving a success.

But with the pressure still not completely lifted from the Italian's shoulders and Chelsea up next in the league, Spurs could well make plans to bring in a title winner with experience.

Tottenham Hotspur linked with stunning Arne Slot hire

De Zerbi has struggled at times in N17 since taking over from Igor Tudor midway through last season, overseeing a huge summer rebuild but simultaneously questioning his players' fight.

With a vast array of accomplished managers waiting in the wings for the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United to press the panic button, Sport Witness have relayed reports from the Netherlands that former Liverpool boss Arne Slot could be in the frame for the Spurs job.

According to De Telegraaf, Robin van Persie is a consideration at Nottingham Forest – with Oliver Glasner facing teething troubles at the City Ground – with Slot a contender for Tottenham.

The outlet notes that Slot's agent, Rafaela Pimenta, is in regular contact with clubs interested in Europe and that it is “certain that he will return to a major European club in 2027”

“Slot fills his spare time with a role as a technical observer at UEFA,” the report notes, mentioning that the Dutchman is currently assessing tactical trends during his time out of the game.

The 48-year-old was a big success in his first season at Anfield, lifting the Premier League title after taking over the reins from Jurgen Klopp – who had been Reds boss for nine years before his surprise resignation.

Slot was a success at Feyenoord, too, winning the Eredivisie in 2023 and leading the Rotterdammers to the inaugural Conference League final, where they lost to Jose Mourinho's Roma.

Things weren't quite so rosy last season for Slot, whose Liverpool side slumped to fifth in the table and failed to retain their title, as the manager appeared to lose the dressing room and Mohamed Salah was allowed to terminate his contract.

Slot was most recently linked with a move to the Netherlands national team, only for the Oranje to hire Xavi Hernandez instead.

Spurs travel away to Chelsea this weekend, as Premier League action continues.

Last season, Tottenham Hotspur valiantly battled and survived relegation. This term, with new boss Roberto De Zerbi getting a full season run-out, serious improvements are still needed from Spurs.

The North London club already spent hundreds of millions of British pounds in the summer, but FourFourTwo have identified three further signings that, if secured in January, could improve this faltering Spurs machine.

Tottenham Hotspur added two Premier League standouts in Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali to their ranks ahead of the 2026-27 term, but there’s another man in the centre of the park desperately needed in North London.

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

If Spurs are serious about competing, they will go all in to secure the services of Morgan Gibbs-White, one of the Premier League’s finest midfield talents. By January, it appears likely that Nottingham Forest, led by an under threat Oliver Glasner, will still be among the relegation candidates.

Gibbs-White, naturally, will be worried about his Premier League future. Sure, it’ll take an absurd fee to lure the Englishman away from the City Ground, but Spurs need him.

The 26-year-old is pure dynamism in the midfield, a strong, clinical finisher, and a player who always inspires that creative spark needed to drag Nottingham Forest through their darkest of days.

With Spurs, the Englishman would make the step up to a ‘Big 6’ club without the ‘Big 6’ standards that accompany such transfers. Given time, he could become one of the leading figures to inspire a culture change in North London, and either help to bring Tottenham Hotspur to future glory, or use the club as a stepping stone to another sizeable club in England, or wider Europe.

Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)

This transfer makes sense on enough levels to warrant serious Spurs consideration. The Brighton winger is available for cheaper than he would have been seasons prior, has been linked to the North London side before, and, crucially, Mitoma brings Premier League-proven quality, which is more vital in today’s game than it ever has been in the English top-flight.

The Seagulls’ man is, unfortunately, of an injury-prone nature, but that shouldn’t matter much to Tottenham Hotspur. Ludicrous amounts of money have been poured into forming not just a strong squad, but a deep one, and adding Mitoma to their ranks could be lucrative, if the Brighton star is managed correctly.

Pulling out the £20-30 million it’ll take to buy Mitoma is a reasonable investment for a player that can rotate consistently with summer signings Savio and Omar Marmoush, and, if the Japanese forward can rediscover his previous Premier League heights in London, he will likely give Spurs an extra dimension in attack that could prove invaluable in a push for Europe.

Also, with Xavi Simons still recovering from injury, the motivation is right there for Mitoma to use his first few months at Spurs wisely and push the Dutchman out from the left flank. Quick, tricky, with the finishing to match, Spurs should call Brighton up this winter.

Igor Matanovic (Freiburg)

Spurs are crying out for a strong, agile centre-forward, and Igor Matanovic is their man. In the Bundesliga this season, he’s notched three goals and an assist in four German top-flight matches, having bagged 11 and two in 31 outings last term.

Matanovic could elevate Spurs significantly, particularly with the presence of Mitoma on the left flank, by offering aerial threat, clinical finishing and agile movement. And, if those three factors weren’t enough, Freiburg won’t be demanding ridiculous money for the Croatian, which makes him an ideal signing for a window in which Spurs will need to lay down well over £100 million for Gibbs-White.

In all competitions, Matanovic has already bagged five goals in 531 minutes of play this term; Spurs previously enquired about the Freiburg man in September and, despite the eventual addition of Omar Marmoush, a player of his profile is still needed in London.

At just 23 years of age, the Croatian is also one for the future at Spurs. Also, a switch-up at striker in January could ruffle some feathers and inspire the entire attacking unit to fight for their places, with so many Tottenham Hotspur forwards able to play in multiple front-line positions. Get Freiburg on the phone in January and Matanovic will surely be in North London come the new year.

The Times has issued a correction and apology to both Gianni Infantino and FIFA for a story published on October 13, containing false information about the body's President.

In that article, it was alleged that the FIFA President had taken a “second salary” that had not been disclosed, which The Times now admit was incorrect.

FIFA responded to the apology on X (formerly Twitter) by claiming: “It is evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President.

FIFA respond to ‘second salary’ correction and apology from The Times after publishing false Gianni Infantino story

The statement continued: “FIFA urges the media to act responsibly and carefully verify all sourcing to prevent the publication and subsequent reproduction of false and defamatory information.

In their apology, The Times accepted that regulations do not require FIFA to include certain expenses and reimbursements received by its President in the annual report.

That is because they are not considered to be “compensation” under Swiss reporting requirements, making the publication’s “second salary” claim false.

Their apology and correction read: “On 13 October 2026 (Sport), we reported that Gianni Infantino received a “second salary” from Fifa, which Fifa had failed to disclose.

“This is incorrect. There was no ‘second salary.’ Regulations do not require Fifa to include expenses and reimbursements received by Mr Infantino in its annual report as they are not considered “compensation” under Swiss reporting requirements.

Additionally, The Times apologised for a second false claim, related to Infantino purchasing, alleging, a Miami property at a suspected undervalue.

“We also accept Mr Infantino did not purchase a property in Miami at a suspected undervalue as we reported,” continued The Times’ statement.

“And neither he nor his family are the legal or beneficial owners of Shadi LLC and have no control over that company, as we suggested.

“We are happy to make these corrections and apologise to Mr Infantino and Fifa for the errors.”

In response, an outraged FIFA clarified that they “welcome legitimate scrutiny,” but that The Times crossed that line.

“Scrutiny is not a license to amplify false allegations. Where reporting is inaccurate, misleading, or totally false, as in this case, FIFA will continue to challenge it directly and vigorously.”

Football Manager 27 is out soon – with an exciting announcement that it'll be free to download.

The new game is available to play on PC and Mac from October 29 – and as 6pm GMT on the launch day, it's available to play for free until November 3.

So if you've not played the game for a while and you're thinking about whether you want to invest all winter stuck in the simulation… you've just been given the perfect opportunity.

Football Manager 27 is coming soon - and it's free!

“Every new football season brings renewed belief and Football Manager is where those beliefs become decisions.” Sports Interactive, the studio behind the game, tells us now.

“Making an annual title free to play with all game modes available is believed to be an industry first and is a move that continues Sports Interactive’s efforts to support its community of players.”

There's no small print, either: the game's available to download on Steam, Epic, the Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass (for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers) and PC Game Pass.

There’s no sign-up required – fans can simply download from their preferred platform and start scouting immediately.

To support this, the pre-purchase window for FM27 will open only alongside the free play period, offering players 10 per cent off and continued Launch Preview access between November 3 and the November 10 street date (to those purchasing via SEGA-approved digital retailers).

Anyone playing the game on Game Pass can continue the journey through their subscription.

It's looking like another exciting update to the game: new Tactical Tweaks, Tactical Effectiveness and Continue Flow customisation have all been announced, along with enhanced Match Day visuals and the return of a host of features that fans know and love.

Now is certainly the time to get that tracksuit (or suit) back on…

Watch Como vs Manchester United for free as the Red Devils head to the picturesque Italian city for their third game of the Champions League 2026/27 league phase. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Cesc Fabregas and Michael Carrick went head-to-head several times in the Premier League and the two former midfielders now pit their wits against each other in the dugout.

However, while ex-Spain star Fabregas is enjoying an excellent spell in charge of Como, Carrick's United tenure is in danger of unraveling after a poor start to the season.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Como vs Manchester United in the Champions League online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Como vs Manchester United for free?

Yes! Como vs Manchester United will be shown live on free-to-air Virgin Media Two in Ireland, complete with English commentary, while you can also stream the game via Virgin Media Play.

Abroad? You need a VPN to access your free Como vs Manchester United stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Como vs Manchester United from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Como vs Manchester United. 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.

How to watch Como vs Manchester United in the UK

Fans in the UK can watch Como vs Manchester United live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The game will be shown on TNT Sports 2, with kick-off at 5:45pm BST.

Outside of the UK? Watch Como vs Manchester United on TNT Sports with NordVPN.

How to watch Como vs Manchester United in the US

Como vs Manchester United is live on Paramount+ in the US, with kick-off at 12:45pm ET.

Travelling outside of the US? Use NordVPN to access your usual Paramount+ stream.

How to watch Como vs Manchester United in Australia

Viewers in Australia can watch Como vs Manchester United live on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 3:45am AEDT on Thursday.

Not in Australia? You need NordVPN to watch Como vs Manchester United on Stan Sport.

Como vs Manchester United: Preview

Even three years ago, the thought of Como playing Manchester United in a competitive fixture would seem fanciful. Yet the Serie A club have enjoyed such a rapid rise that they can legitimately be cast as favourites when they take on the Red Devils.

Como were playing in Serie D as recently as 2019 and in Serie B just three seasons ago, but under the management of former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas - and the ownership of the extraordinarily wealthy Djarum Group - they have quickly become a force in Italy's top flight.

They finished fourth last season to qualify for the Champions League for the first time and beat RB Leipzig 4-1 at the 13,600-capacity Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in their opening league phase fixture, although they then suffered a 3-2 defeat by Feyenoord last week.

Now, they welcome United to the banks of Lake Como for arguably the most glamorous fixture in their history and they have every reason to be confident, even with defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Yan Couto both doubtful due to injury.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

Contrastingly, this game has all the makings of a banana skin for United and their under-pressure boss Michael Carrick.

The Red Devils drew 1-1 at rivals Leeds United on Sunday as their winless run stretched to six games, although that was a decent result in a hostile atmosphere.

They now return to continental action, eight days after losing 2-0 at Atletico Madrid on a night that centre-back Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised the club's hierarchy. Carrick needs the trip to Como to be much more positive, on and off the pitch.

Martinez picked up a knock against Leeds so his involvement in Italy could be in doubt, while United will hope to have Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo back from injury.

Como vs Manchester United: Team News

Como XI: Butez; Couto, Kempf, Jacobo Ramón, Alex Valle; Luis Milla, Da Cunha; Perrone, Nico Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, De Ligt, Mazraoui; Mount, Santos; Fernandes, Tielemans, Cunha; Mbeumo.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Como 2-1 Manchester United

This is an awkward fixture for an out-of-form United, so don't be surprised if they fall to defeat.

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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to miss the remainder of the 2026-27 season after enduring an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

PSG prevailed against Barcelona in a 4-2 win. After nearly 80 minutes, Lamine Yamal tied the scoreline at 2-2; two late strikes from Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz won the game for the Parisiens.

Kvaratskhelia collided with Barcelona’s other goalscorer, Xavi Espart, after 59 minutes, and was carried off the field by PSG staff in the aftermath.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffers season-ending ACL injury with PSG

It has now been confirmed by the club that Kvaratskhelia will undergo surgery on his right knee “in the coming days” as the first step of the Georgian’s rehabilitation.

"Having suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during yesterday's match against FC Barcelona, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will undergo surgery in the coming days,” read a statement issued by PSG.

A date for the PSG winger’s return has not yet been revealed; ACL injuries typically lead to sidelining periods of, at least, nine months.

As such, Kvaratskhelia, who has been hyped as a possible 2026 Ballon D’or winner after his dominant run of individual performances during PSG’s title-retaining Champions League win last season, will likely not play again in 2026-27.

2025 Ballon D’or winner Ousmane Dembele was also withdrawn against Barcelona through injury, as was club captain Marquinhos.

PSG also shed additional light on the nature of their injuries, revealing that the pair, who are suffering with thigh issues, “will remain under treatment for the next few weeks.”

For Kvaratskhelia, his best hope will be to mimic the abnormal return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from an ACL injury in 2017.

The Swede recovered from a similar setback in just seven months, two months ahead of the likely nine-month rehabilitation period.

In this scenario, the Georgian’s best case, he would still only make it back to play in PSG’s final league game of the season, versus Toulouse in May 2027.

Should the Parisiens make it back to the Champions League final for a third successive time, Kvaratskhelia would also be available, should his body recover as well as Ibrahimovic’s did.

Arsenal are interested in a ‘complete striker’ to challenge Kai Havertz for the No.9 role.

That's according to a new report, which casts Viktor Gyokeres' position at the club in further doubt, with the Swedish hitman failing to start a single Premier League fixture this season.

Despite being the Gunners' top scorer in all competitions last season as Arsenal won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final, Gyokeres has struggled at times in North London – and now, it appears that he could have even more competition up front.

Viktor Gyokeres heading for Arsenal exit, with new striker lined up

Gyokeres has already noted this season that he wants to “play football as much as possible”, but with Havertz returning from an injury that sidelined him for much of last season, the Swede has found himself playing second fiddle.

Disappointing cameo appearances in the Champions League and Carabao Cup have led to rumours that the 28-year-old will be sacrificed in the coming months, as Arteta looks to bring in a more rounded centre-forward able to hold the ball up.

Sport Witness, meanwhile, have relayed a report from Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport today that link Arsenal with Monza frontman, Gustavo Varela.

Varela arrived in Serie A from Benfica over the summer and has already struck six goals from six in the division, with Napoli said to be leading the race for his signature at this early stage.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have an eye on the situation, with transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio adding that “major offers could be on the way for the striker”.

Benfica have the right to match any bid for the 21-year-old, but could well choose not to make an offer if Arsenal propose a deal out of their range.

The Gunners may well have to look for left-field targets in their bid to improve a squad that reached the latter stages of three competitions last season, as they struggled to land their big targets over the summer.

Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez both opted to remain in Madrid, with the Gunners only strengthening in attack by signing Christos Tzolis – with that sole deal perhaps indicating the direction that the club must go in to outsmart rivals.

Varela is worth €5m, as per Transfermarkt. Arsenal face Bayern Munich tonight as Champions League action resumes.

Manchester United’s trip to Italy in the Champions League, to face the Cesc Fabregas-led Como, is in danger of postponement.

In the 24 hours before kick-off, over 6cm of rain has been forecast. The match is set to be played this Wednesday evening.

As a result, the Italian Air Force National Meteorological Service has issued a ‘severe weather’ warning, indicating the potential for thunderstorms.

Will Manchester United vs Como be postponed?

The match is still slated to proceed as planned in the 13,600 capacity Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia; however, the forecast in Italy is complicating matters. Only one stand at Como’s stadium is covered.

Rain isn’t enough to worry Red Devils boss Michael Carrick, who downplayed talks of the weather causing an issue for his side in the Champions League.

“No, nothing immediate from me,” claimed the Englishman, when asked whether he is concerned. “We’re used to the rain. We’ll make the most of it.”

UEFA’s protocol in the event of a postponement is outlined in Article 27 of the 2026/27 regulations, with Manchester United likely to face Como the following day.

The regulations read: "If, on the day of a match, it is decided that the match cannot begin as planned or cannot be completed, the full match — or the remaining minutes — shall, in principle, be played the following day.

“This is without prejudice to any potential disciplinary measures. To this end, the home clubs must make all necessary arrangements to ensure that the required facilities are available and can be used."

While playing on Thursday is only guidance, not requirement, that potential schedule would benefit Manchester United more so than Como.

The Red Devils’ following game arrives against Bournemouth on Sunday, while Cesc Fabregas’ men will clash with Sassuolo earlier, on Saturday.

With the Red Devils having been bounced out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton in September, they would be available to play next midweek; however, Como will face Torino on Tuesday.

Manchester United have been in dire form; their last clash in Europe, versus Atletico Madrid, ended in flames after Lisandro Martinez, whose future at the club is dangerously uncertain, publicly slammed the club’s hierarchy.

Amid a string of torrid results, Carrick is now at greater risk of being sacked than any of his fellow 19 Premier League managers, but the Englishman confessed he is staying calm ahead of battling Como.

"I don't need any reassurance,” claimed Carrick. "It's pretty clear. I know the role, I know my responsibilities. I don't need anyone else to tell me that or tell me when it's going well or when it needs to be better. I know that myself.

It's often an eye-rolling experience checking who the top goalscorers in the Premier League are, and sometimes I give my own award for the 'non-Haaland' top goalscorer.

Erling Haaland is one of the world's best, most deadly finishers of all time, to the point that it's boring.

But how many of those league goals are scored after winter? It always feels like he slows down each season after January, so I looked into things...

January blues

As you will see in the table below, in every single season since signing for Manchester City, Erling Haaland's goal rate slows down from January.

The last two seasons in particular have produced a stark drop-off, with Haaland adding just eight goals from January to May in the 24/25 and 25/26 seasons.

So what's going on? Does Haaland feel the winter pinch? Is it always exhaustion? Let's take a look at things season-by-season?

2022/23

Goals till January: 21 in 16. Goals till May: 14 in 22.

During the 22/23 season, teams were simply blown away by this physical specimen that arrived in the league. On top of that, the team built around him at the time was Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. Anchored by Rodri in midfield. All facilitating attackers that cook chances wide or centrally, with Rodri in his prime controlling midfield.

Haaland was the centrepiece of a treble-winning team, though there was some drop-off as teams started to cut off supply lines to him by choking the middle; but he still came good with 14 goals till the end of the season. Four of them may have been against Southampton and Leicester, but by that point it didn't matter; Guardiola had City in free-flowing mode when Haaland's initial burst till January ran dry slightly.

2023/24

Goals till January: 14 in 15. Goals till May: 13 in 16

Okay, so the drop-off here isn't pronounced, but looking beyond the stats paints a different picture. Haaland missed five games in December, and it took him a while to hit the ground running again after winter, scoring four goals in nine games. In fact, if it wasn’t for scoring four goals against Wolves late on in the season, his tally goes down to nine after December.

It becomes an even more intriguing season when you realise Kevin de Bruyne was out until after the winter and Haaland found joy with Julian Alvarez behind him, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden as wingers, with Rodri and Bernardo Silva controlling midfield before De Bruyne returned. There was a plan in place for the team that was working up until the Belgian got injured; then Guardiola was trying to figure out how to reintegrate the former Wolfsburg midfielder again. After January, Haaland scored five goals in ten games; and though City won the title, he struggled with an injury in December and took time to reconnect with a returning De Bruyne.

2024/25

Goals till January 14 in 19. Goals till May: 8 in 16.

This season I find to be one of the most interestibg. The former Borussia Dortmund striker scored ten goals in the opening five matches; after that? Four goals in fourteen, even before the post-January slump. He once again got injured after December, as City had played in the exhausting Club World Cup and the matches seemed to catch up with him.

But the main reason for a drop-off throughout the season was the injury to Rodri. Haaland is not a creative player; he is the man who can gobble up goals after a chance or half a chance is created for him. Rodri was out all season, and Guardiola tinkered incessantly to the point of playing Jack Grealish as a central defensive midfielder. It was City's first 'slump' since Haaland signed, and they created fewer big chances for him and were soft in the centre without Rodri; in addition to this, it was the most games he missed through injury.

2025/26

Goals till January: 19 in 18. Goals till May: 8 in 16.

Though he picked up his form towards the end of the season as City challenged Arsenal for the title, in Haaland's post-winter decline this time, the barren spell read as three goals in thirteen games beginning at the end of December till the middle of April. Incredible. Guardiola was busy building a new team with club legends like Kyle Walker, De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan departing. Once again, you have to point to a lack of service and chance creation. City were also ripped apart in games where teams hit them on the counter in notable matches like Bodo/Glimt or the Manchester Derby.

Haaland was also rested at one point in February because Guardiola spoke of him being exhausted, and he also complained of tiredness. Towards the end of the season, as Rayan Cherki became more prominent, the Norwegian returned to form with five goals in five starts. City began to peak at the right time, but for most of the season, they leaked goals and lacked creativity in the winter period.

After analysing each season, it’s clear that to get the best out of Haaland you need to build a team of creators around him. He may soon be appearing on the top ten list of all-time Premier League goalscorers, but his New Year attacking slump hinges on making sure he's well rested and fit, but also (more importantly) that the parts around him are presenting him with enough chances. His goal-scoring is heavily dependent on that.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta classily responded to Bukayo Saka ‘cheating’ allegations from Graeme Souness, saying in a presser on Tuesday: “I’m not going to speak about opinions.”

Souness’ words arrived during an appearance on Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored programme, in which he described Saka as a diver that “should be staying on his feet.”

The former Liverpool skipper told Morgan: “Your man Saka dives all over the place. I don’t want to hear about him… Anyone who simulates a foul, in my book, would be a cheat.”

Mikel Arteta classily replies to ‘cheating’ Bukayo Saka comments made by Graeme Souness

The Scotsman continued: “The minute [Saka] looks like losing possession, he’s down. He simulates a foul… he dives when he should be staying on his feet.

Souness then described how, when Saka is tackled, he “screams as he’s going down” to help convince the referee he’s been fouled. “The referee thinks there’s nothing in that but, wait a minute, he’s stayed down,” said the ex-Liverpool man.

The Scot then turned his attention to the wider Arsenal team, laying into players who rally around Saka in such moments.

“And then, worse than that, everyone in the immediate area - all Arsenal players - put their hands up and scream foul. [So] the referee panics.

“[He] blows his whistle when it wasn’t a foul; his first instinct was the right one. He blows a foul because he’s thinking, ‘Wait a minute, [there’s] something I’m not understanding here.’”

Souness expressed clearly his belief that “simulation is a form of cheating,” then admitted that many players, not just Saka, indulge in such antics.

“If you asked 100 people what it is that you dislike about the modern game, 50 per cent would say simulation, another 50 per cent would say VAR,” concluded the Scotsman.

In turn, Arteta responded classily in a pre-match presser to Souness’ words, claiming: “I haven’t heard it and I’m not going to talk about opinions.

When pressed to say more, and possibly something more concretely against Souness’ claims, the Arsenal boss refused.

“We are open to opinions,” said the Spaniard, classily. “It’s part of our job, it’s part of our roles, and those opinions need to be respected - especially if they are [given] in a respectful way.

“We are here to prove that we belong to this level, to this stage and certainly always have the intention and ambition to improve and be better. That's it,” finished Arteta.

The Gunners take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening, with Saka, who bagged two goal contributions off the bench in the Champions League last week, expected to take part.

Peterborough United manager Robbie Savage was unequivocal after his team’s 4-1 loss at Huddersfield Town that it was the Terriers’ third goal that ‘finished the game’ at Accu Stadium.

Savage was justified in that view. Posh had just pulled a goal back after going 2-0 down in a scruffy League One match that struggled for quality but was punctuated by exactly that. It was, said Savage, a game of moments.

Peterborough went on to halve the deficit but it was Huddersfield’s second goal that switched the valve on the tension in the stadium. Both were scored by Joe Taylor, a striker who’s young yet proven in the third tier and destined to join Savage among the ranks of Wales’ full internationals.

Joe Taylor is Huddersfield’s prodigal signing

The 23-year-old, formerly of Peterborough, joined Huddersfield in January 2025 after a prolific loan spell in League One with Lincoln City. Taylor scored on his debut but injury soon curtailed his progress and the Terriers’ soon started to cycle through managers.

Players left and players arrived; Huddersfield’s squad is unrecognisable from the one Michael Duff inherited in 2024. Taylor is one of a few players who’ve done both and has experienced the upheaval as directly as anyone in the current squad.

Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 List

At the same time as Lee Grant was dismissed as Duff’s permanent successor in January, Taylor left Huddersfield on loan and spent the second half of 2025/26 scoring goals in their division for Wigan Athletic.

When Huddersfield and Wigan meet on Saturday, Taylor will line up for the Terriers. After a tumultuous spell of goalless runs, misuse and exile, the striker is finally enjoying the platform he needs to be the signing Huddersfield wanted him to be.

On a miserable night in West Yorkshire that was illuminated by four moments of genuinely excellent finishing, Taylor’s two goals won the game. That’s what Taylor does, and it’s what Huddersfield missed out on until Martin Drury reintegrated him and helped to unleash his goal threat at the club that invested in it some time ago.

Their win moved them into the top two and Taylor’s brace put him on eight league goals in 10 matches. Only Kyle Wootton of leaders Stockport County has more, and both Taylor and teammate Derensili Sanches Fernandes match Wootton for overall goal contributions.

Taylor’s shooting numbers and performance against expected goals suggest that he’s capable of outstripping Wootton over the course of the season, but there’s data on paper and there’s data in observation.

The real value of Taylor’s two goals against Peterborough, beyond the three points, is that neither he nor Huddersfield were at anything like their best and he produced a couple of goals anyway.

Spinning wins from scraps is exactly what Huddersfield need

He’s had better all-round matches and been unable to take advantage but these goals were everything Drury could want from his leading hitman. They were pure Joe Taylor.

The first was all his own doing. He pinched a loose ball in midfield and raced clear to slot the ball past Posh goalkeeper Alex Bass. The second was made by his movement and finishing to convert a terrific cross from substitute Marcus Harness.

These were the moments Savage acknowledged and the moments that made the difference. The ability to spin an evidently tired performance in the brutal Saturday-Tuesday rhythm of the EFL into two match-winning goals is not common. There’s a reason Drury hugged Taylor like a returning son when he was substituted to a standing ovation.

Drury said after the match that Huddersfield have given too much attention to outside expectations since they were relegated from the Championship, and that they’ve done so at the expense of holding themselves accountable internally.

It was a damning assessment of what came before him but the need to return to second-tier football is as acute now as it was under Duff two years ago.

Having a striker who can turn draws into wins, who can turn an ugly 1-0 lead into 3-1 in just a few minutes without playing all that well for an hour beforehand, is the kind of strength that might just take them there.

Alex Scott had an unconventional route to where he is now.

The England and Bournemouth midfielder spent his formative years flying from Guernsey to the English mainland to train in the youth system Bournemouth and then Southampton.

Scott could have gone to find another club after being let go by Southampton's academy - but instead took a conscious decision to play senior football on the Channel Islands instead.

Scott told FourFourTwo: "I thought I could still be a footballer, that I might get another chance, but knew it would be tough.

"At that point though, I wasn’t enjoying it and if I’d stayed, I don’t think I would have progressed the way I did after going back home. It was the right decision.

"I was training with the team quite a bit when I was 15, doing bits after our under-16s sessions.

"I’d go over to the first team and fill spaces basically, but you couldn’t play until you were 16, so I had to wait.

"In the first game after my birthday, I got thrown on, wearing number 14 – that was also my first number in the Premier League for Bournemouth, so it came full circle.

"It was a lot different quality-wise for sure. Physically when I was that young, it was important for me to play men’s football and I learned a lot. In the youth teams, I’d almost just take the ball and dribble, but when you go into senior football, you’re going to get hurt doing that.

"I learned that the hard way, training with the Guernsey lads and playing in games, but that experience definitely benefited me, especially when I later went to Bristol City and broke through.

"I can remember one game – I can’t recall who it was against, but it was at home. I was playing at eight or 10, and every time I got the ball, this number six for the opposition was just nailing me every time! I was thinking, ‘Yeah, this is proper…’

"But I enjoyed it – I embraced it, gave him a bit back and started trying to do skills.

"That’s probably where it started for me, my way of playing, the freedom to play and enjoy football. Those moments brought that on."

Scott was speaking at PUMA’s new store on Oxford Street in London, the brand’s first European flagship store.

Manchester United's fourth title of the Premier League era arrived as early as 1996-97, when Alex Ferguson's team famously beat out Newcastle United to finish seven points clear. Sunderland and Middlesbrough were both relegated along with Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Leicester City all joined the top two in Europe via the Premier League. Chelsea beat Middlesbrough in the FA Cup final and would go on to win the Cup Winners' Cup the following May.

In this quiz, we want you to name the top league scorer of all 20 clubs inside the time limit of 6 minutes.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has lots more football quizzes, all courtesy of Kwizly. Transfers float your boat? Two of Spain's giant clubs will have made plenty you'll remember. Can you name the 50 most expensive players ever signed by Barcelona or Real Madrid?

We also want you to name every team competing in the league phase of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League this season and answer some questions about the streets football won't forget.

Finally, we have a Big Quiz of English Football Grounds. Show off your knowledge of stadiums, stands and sponsors from north to south and east to west of the football nation.

FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 72 features clues on Buccaneers, pirates and Vikings. 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.

It's time for a new FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz. Join us to answer 10 football trivia questions in just 90 seconds. Good luck!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has lots more football quizzes courtesy of Kwizly. Here's another quick one for you, but you'll need to know your English football in some depth to get a full house. We simply want you to name every sponsor of the EFL Trophy.

Next, we want you to name every Premier League player ever to have won the World Cup. Why don't you name every nation ever to have knocked England out of the World Cup while you're at it?

Combining the domestic and international games once more, let's see whether you're an aficionado of centurions. Can you name every player to have played 100 or more times for his country and at least once in the Premier League?

You'll enjoy this little fizzer. We've come up with some questions and facts. All you need to do is pick the right one out of just two choices in our Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo quiz.

Finally for now, try this one on for size. We've picked out 20 of our favourite football club names from around the world. Can you tell us which country each one of them is from?

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!

Watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens as Enzo Maresca's side look to bounce back from last Wednesday's home defeat by PSG in the Champions League 2026/27 league phase. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

City's much-anticipated clash with PSG fell flat rather quickly, as the European champions raced into a 3-0 lead inside 32 minutes on their way to a 4-2 victory.

Maresca's men start the night level on points with AEK, who beat LASK 1-0 in their opening league phase fixture before losing 3-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk last week.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens in the Champions League online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens for free?

Unfortunately Manchester City vs AEK Athens is not being broadcast live for free.

Read on to find out how to watch the Champions League clash from anywhere in the world with a VPN.

Watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Manchester City vs AEK Athens. 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.

How to watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens in the UK

Manchester City vs AEK Athens will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK.

The game will be shown on TNT Sports 1, with kick-off at 8:00pm BST.

Not in the UK? You need a VPN to watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens on TNT Sports.

How to watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens in the US

Fans in the US can watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens on Paramount+, with kick-off at 3:00pm ET.

Outside of the US? Access your usual Paramount+ stream with NordVPN.

How to watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens in Australia

Viewers in Australia can watch Manchester City vs AEK Athens on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 6:00am AEDT on Wednesday.

Not in Australia right now? You can still access your usual Stan Sport stream via NordVPN.

Manchester City vs AEK Athens: Preview

Manchester City came up short in their first big test of the Champions League campaign, as they were torn apart in the opening 45 minutes by holders PSG at the Etihad Stadium last Wednesday.

The good news for Enzo Maresca and Co. is that this clash with AEK Athens should be far more straightforward as they look to move closer to the top eight of the league phase table, which would guarantee a place in the last 16.

City have already returned to winning ways on the domestic front, beating Ipswich Town 3-2 on Saturday to claim seven successive victories at the start of a Premier League season for the first time in their history.

Erling Haaland scored twice as he found the net for the eighth straight game for City before hobbling off, with the striker a doubt for Tuesday's game. Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Nico O'Reilly should also feature despite fitness concerns, but Antoine Semenyo is set to miss the next eight weeks with a knee injury.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

AEK play an away match in England for the second successive week, having faced Shakhtar Donetsk at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday with the Ukrainian club unable to host games in their own country.

The Greek champions postponed their league fixture with Atromitos last weekend as a result, allowing them to stay in the country to prepare for the trip to City.

They travel to Manchester more in hope than expectation after conceding two late goals to lose 3-1 against Shakhtar, although their 1-0 win over LASK in gameweek one means they are on the same number of points as Maresca's men heading into this game.

AEK will need their big names to step up if they are to get a result against City, with Serbia striker Luka Jovic and Portugal veteran Joao Mario among their higher-profile players.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Manchester City 3-0 AEK Athens

City should be able to see off the Greek champions with little fuss.

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Two seasons ago, Liverpool won the Premier League title. They did so with the spine of a Jurgen Klopp-formulated side, and the Herculean efforts of a recently departed Mohamed Salah.

Flash forward to the present day, and Liverpool aren’t anywhere near the heights they reached in the 2024-25 term, despite parting with over £500 million to secure the services of an under-performing Florian Wirtz, an injured Hugo Ekitike, a recently returned Alexander Isak, and others additions.

Ahead of January, FourFourTwo have devised Liverpool’s dream transfer window, with signings made for the midfield and the Reds’ virtually empty right flank.

Alex Scott (Bournemouth)

A bit of an obvious one, right? Liverpool are practically begging for additional cover in midfield. In Scott’s case, this transfer would, naturally, be anything but ‘cover.’

By signing the Bournemouth man, who was recently revealed to be up for sale come January, with Chelsea also lurking, Liverpool’s midfield would entirely transform.

In its current state, it is weak, ageing, injury-prone, and overly reliant on youngsters (looking at you, Trey Nyoni) that should be given greater time to develop, not carry the Reds’ burden.

Scott offers a bit of everything, not least his immense press resistance. There’s a reason he looked so special under a heavy-metal manager in Iraola when the pair combined at Bournemouth, and there’s nothing to suggest it couldn’t be replicated at Anfield.

The fee will be ludicrous, sure, but that’s life in the Premier League, and global, transfer market. Pay up, immediately, and keep Scott away from Stanford Bridge.

Givairo Read (Feyenoord)

Liverpool’s right-back spot will never quite be the same. That’s the harsh reality, Trent Alexander-Arnold was a once-in-a-generation talent; now, he’s gone.

Luckily for Liverpool, that reality can be comforting, if they choose to accept it. Instead of scouring the transfer market far and wide looking for a like-for-like replacement for the Scouser, they should consider adding greater depth to the right-back position.

Jeremie Frimpong is a ludicrously poor option for any Premier League title-contending unit to carry with them at right-back, and that’s where Liverpool want to be. Conor Bradley’s injury woes are a concern; at his best, he was magnificent, but even his consistency, albeit superior to that of Frimpong, was lacking in comparison to the Reds’ ambition.

Bring in Givairo Read. He’s been linked prior, possesses clear defensive talent, can road forward when required, will be available for a reasonable price, and he’ll be the third in an ever-rotating right-back line-up that can receive rest, and grow hungry.

Plus, he has five assists in nine games for Feyenoord this season. That’s nothing to scoff at. Let this trio battle it out to claim the right-back spot, and one might just end up pushing themselves to limits that prove worthy of Liverpool’s standards.

Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace)

Even more so than Alexander-Arnold, now that Salah has left the club, Liverpool’s right wing will never be the same. Not even close. Again, that’s fine; accept the truth of the situation and move accordingly. The Reds’ only option is to replace the Egyptian ‘in the aggregate,’ and even that’ll be a tough feat.

It’s clear that Liverpool need to bring in a quick, tricky forward that can bag them around 8-10 Premier League goals each season, to add to the 25-40 strikes brought by the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo.

What Sarr offers is Premier League-proven quality and a clear desire to play at Anfield. He was linked to the Reds in the summer, and they’ll no doubt be keeping tabs on the Senegalese star ahead of January.

His fee will be too high for what he’s worth, but the market is sorely lacking. Liverpool need a natural right wing option, and to let Rio Ngumoha develop in his ideal position, so Sarr is the clear choice. A strong, quick finisher - he’ll surely get at least 20% of the goal contributions for Liverpool that Salah used to bag from the right.

He’s a stronger option than Yankuba Minteh at a comparable price, and, as shown at the World Cup this summer, various Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and in his exploits versus Liverpool, undoubtedly a better man for the big occasion.

Watch Liverpool vs Villarreal for free as the Reds aim to make it three wins out of three in the Champions League 2026/27 league phase, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Andoni Iraola's men will be looking to follow up their excellent 6-3 win over Austrian side LASK last Wednesday, in which summer signing Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick - his first goals for the club.

Villarreal claimed their first points of the league phase 24 hours earlier, fighting back from 1-0 down to beat Napoli 3-1.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Liverpool vs Villarreal online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch Liverpool vs Villarreal for free?

Fans in the UK can watch Liverpool vs Villarreal on Prime Video, which has a 30-day free trial for new customers, allowing them to stream the game at no cost.

Abroad? Get NordVPN to access your free Liverpool vs Villarreal stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Liverpool vs Villarreal from anywhere

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How to watch Liverpool vs Villarreal in the UK

As mentioned above, Liverpool vs Villarreal is live on Amazon Prime Video in the UK. Kick-off is at 8:00pm BST.

Not in the UK? Watch Liverpool vs Villarreal on Prime Video with NordVPN.

How to watch Liverpool vs Villarreal in the US

Paramount+ is the place for US viewers to watch Liverpool vs Villarreal, with kick-off at 3:00pm ET.

Outside of the US? Access your usual Paramount+ stream with NordVPN.

How to watch Liverpool vs Villarreal in Australia

Viewers in Australia can watch Liverpool vs Villarreal live on Stan Sport, with the game kicking-off at 6:00am AEDT on Wednesday.

Not in Australia right now? You can still access your usual Stan Sport stream via NordVPN.

Liverpool vs Villarreal: Preview

Liverpool host Spanish opposition at Anfield for the second time this season after back-to-back away trips brought two very different wins.

Six days ago, the Reds cruised to a 6-3 victory at LASK in which they were 4-0 up after just 51 minutes and summer signing Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick. They then had to do it the hard way in the Premier League on Saturday, fighting back from 1-0 down to beat Brentford 2-1 as the hosts ended the game with nine men.

Andoni Iraola's side now return home looking to extend their perfect start to the league phase of the Champions League, having beaten Atletico Madrid at Anfield before that win over LASK.

They remain without influential midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who has a hamstring issue, while Jeremie Frimpong will also be absent having suffered an injury just six minutes after coming off the bench at Brentford.

SEE ALSO Should I use a VPN to watch football?

Last week's 3-1 win over Napoli was an important result for Villarreal, who lost to Borussia Dortmund in their league phase opener and have had an underwhelming start to the La Liga season.

The Yellow Submarine were held 0-0 at home by struggling Elche on Saturday and have taken just nine points from their first nine league games under Inigo Perez, who replaced Marcelino as manager this summer.

Villarreal are without former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe, who recently had eye surgery, and Canada midfielder Tajon Buchanan.

It means they will be relying on Georges Mikautadze and Alberto Moleiro for much of their attacking threat, with both players already registering five goal involvements this season. Former Newcastle United and Leicester City striker Ayoze Perez could also feature.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal

The Reds should beat an out-of-form Villarreal side fairly comfortably.

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Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, whose reign at Old Trafford ended in October 2024, has opened up about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s behaviour on “toxic culture” at the club.

The Dutchman described issuing sanctions in matters related to player discipline, to the likes of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, then confessed that a similar situation emerged with the Portuguese #7.

In an interview with The Athletic, the ex-Manchester United manager claimed: “[Ronaldo] let me down… I respected him a lot,” before revealing the Red Devils icon’s behavioural issues.

Erik ten Hag claims he “respected” Cristiano Ronaldo but was “let down… he let the team down” at Manchester United

On “toxic culture” at Manchester United, the Dutchman claimed that power is given to the players who enact such behaviour, ‘fuelling the cycle.’

“They are continuing the toxic culture, they fuel it. They give power to the players… sometimes, you have to make corrections,” claimed Ten Hag.

The Dutchman then explained how he felt he had to play ‘bad cop’ with players to raise standards, while grappling with the reality of having to pick certain personnel to win Premier League matches.

Ten Hag claimed that Ronaldo’s poor work ethic led to sub-par fitness levels, leaving the No.7 unable to press or play as hard as the Dutchman required him to.

“He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,” claimed Ten Hag. “I flew out to Portugal to speak with him about what I was aiming for before I came to United.”

According to the Dutchman, the now 41-year-old pulled out of training sessions, didn’t get his heart rate raised to sufficient levels during training, and completed just two of the three scheduled laps that Ten Hag infamously made players do after a torrid 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022.

“Obviously, he’s one of the best in football history. I respected him a lot. But at that time, as a manager, I had to make a rational decision and keep the players I admire in.

“I confronted him with this. Many times I say, ‘Ronnie, everyone wants to work for you to bring you in the right position, but if you can’t bring yourself in the box, you can’t score.’

“He was not capable of this. It’s the wrong idea to put this to me that I expected him to do the pressing, that he’s exhausted. But he couldn’t. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didn’t prepare himself,” revealed Ten Hag.

“Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team. He was telling the players, ‘Save your legs at the training.’”

“I understand it when you are top fit - you have sessions, you can save the legs. But first you have to train yourself to get into the right fitness levels.”

Ten Hag hasn’t returned to management since his brief stint post-Manchester United with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Cristiano Ronaldo, whose return date, fine and suspension period for Portugal has now been revealed, is enjoying time in the Saudi Pro League, as he chases 1000 career goals.

Watch PSG vs Barcelona for free as the holders meet European football's form side in one of the standout fixtures of the Champions League 2026/27 league phase. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

PSG have begun their bid for a third successive Champions League title in impressive fashion, winning their opening two league-phase matches and scoring 10 goals in the process.

However, they will need to be at their best to contain Hansi Flick’s free-scoring Barcelona, who have started the season with 11 consecutive victories across all competitions. Expect goals galore in Paris!

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch PSG vs Barcelona in this mouth-watering Champions League clash online, on TV, and from anywhere, including for free.

Can I watch PSG vs Barcelona for free?

Yes. PSG vs Barcelona will be shown live on free-to-air Virgin Media Two in Ireland, complete with English commentary, while you can stream the game via Virgin Media Play.

Watch PSG vs Barcelona from anywhere

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How to watch PSG vs Barcelona in the UK

PSG vs Barcelona will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK.

The game will be shown on TNT Sports 2, with kick-off at 8:00pm BST.

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How to watch PSG vs Barcelona in the US

Fans in the US can watch PSG vs Barcelona on Paramount+, with kick-off at 3:00pm ET.

Travelling outside of the US? Use NordVPN to access your usual Paramount+ stream.

How to watch PSG vs Barcelona in Australia

Australian viewers can watch PSG vs Barcelona on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 6:00am AEDT on Wednesday.

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PSG vs Barcelona: Preview

PSG are purring once again, after putting a slow start to the domestic season behind them to win six successive matches in all competitions.

Having won the Champions League in each of the past two campaigns, Luis Enrique's men showed why they remain the team to beat on the continent in their 4-2 victory at Manchester City last Wednesday, when they went 3-0 up inside 32 minutes at the Etihad Stadium.

The visit of Barcelona is arguably an even bigger test, with Hansi Flick's men tipped by many as the strongest challengers to PSG's throne this season, and they will be looking to repeat their 2-1 win over these opponents in the league phase last term.

Enrique made eight changes for Saturday's 3-1 comeback win at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, although two of the players he rested - Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue - had to come off the bench to secure the points with late goals. Expect them to return to the starting XI, but left-back Nuno Mendes will not be involved after suffering a thigh injury.

SEE ALSO How to watch Champions League 2026/27

Barcelona will rightly head to Paris full of confidence, after Saturday's 5-2 win at Real Betis extended their perfect start to the campaign.

The Catalans look unstoppable in La Liga, where their nine straight victories is the joint-best start to a season in the division's history, while they have eased to 5-1 and 4-1 triumphs over Feyenoord and Galatasaray respectively.

Hansi Flick made only four changes to his lineup between last Tuesday's win over Gala and the thrashing of Betis, which could see Eric Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Anthony Gordon and Dani Olmo return to the starting XI for the trip to Paris.

The Barca manager also received a huge boost with the return from injury of top goalscorer Raphinha, although it remains to be seen if the Brazilian forward is fit enough to start after coming off the bench on Saturday.

FourFourTwo's prediction

PSG 2-2 Barcelona

This has all the makings of a classic, but both teams are so good that it's hard to pick a winner.

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.

Bayern Munich host Arsenal this week in the Champions League, but Die Roten have been dealt a major blow.

Both teams are among the favourites for the trophy this season, as Arsenal were beaten in last season's final, and Bayern Munich reached the final four last time out – with both suffering defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.

But while plenty will suggest that this week's battle between the two sides is essentially meaningless given that they will both likely qualify for the knockout stage, there's a huge incentive to get a result at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich struggling with a virus outbreak ahead of Arsenal clash

As Arsenal proved last season by finishing top of the league phase with eight straight wins in the first stage of the competition, racking up 24 points from 24 can help pave the way for a preferable route to the final.

Mikel Arteta's men faced Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting and Atletico Madrid on their side of the draw, with each of their home ties coming second in the knockout stage – so Bayern will want to replicate that and look to avoid the likes of PSG, Barcelona and Arsenal themselves until the latter stages of the competition.

The Bavarians have a problem, however, with Sport Witness relaying reports of a virus that Vincent Kompany is suffering from.

“According to BILD, the Belgian underwent another thorough examination on Monday by the team doctors,” the report states, adding, “Internally, the illness is not being taken lightly, as Kompany was clearly feeling unwell around the time of the resounding victory against Leipzig.

“Although he delivered the team talks in the locker room, he had to lie down briefly on his sofa in his coach’s room at the Allianz Arena both at halftime and after the win.”

Sport Witness notes that his “close proximity to the players and other coaches is a cause for concern,” as the Bundesliga champions look to avoid a crisis ahead of Wednesday's clash – in which they are already missing Michael Olise.

The French international was dismissed against Viking for two yellow cards in quick succession: the first for tugging at Zlatko Tripic to stop a transition on the right flank, before immediately throwing the ball into the Norway international's face to receive his marching orders from referee Georgi Kabakov.

The moment of madness came back to haunt Olise's side, as Bayern were leading 3-2 in Stavanger – after going 2-0 down in the first half – before Kompany's 10 men were pegged back to 3-3 for a shock draw by the minnows.

Arsenal have been given a boost of their own, with defender Piero Hincapie having returned to training on grass following an injury picked up before the international break.

The champions of England against the champions of Germany is one of 18 clashes as Champions League action resumes this week.

Rio Ngumoha has downplayed the strength of transfer links to Arsenal, amid a series of dominant individual performances being delivered by the 18-year-old at Liverpool.

Arsenal, Bayern Munich and even RB Leipzig have all emerged as contenders to try and lure the English wonderkid away from Anfield; however, Ngumoha has now insisted that such transfer talk is “all with my agent now.”

The 18-year-old appeared off the bench in Liverpool’s comeback 2-1 win versus Brentford at the Gtech on Saturday, then discussed his future on Merseyside post-match.

Rio Ngumoha tells Liverpool fans transfer talk is “in the back of my mind” amid Arsenal and Bayern Munich links

Ngumoha has appeared in five of Liverpool’s first seven Premier League outings this term, looking to turn a corner with new boss Andoni Iraola after a torrid final season under Arne Slot.

The 18-year-old has also appeared in two Champions League matches versus Atletico Madrid and LASK, and started in Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win against Spurs.

Ngumoha is yet to open his account for the season, after two three goals and notching an assist under Slot in 2025-26, playing 19 Premier League games for a total 582 minutes.

Links to Arsenal arrived through David Ornstein, who claimed in an article for The Athletic last month that the 18-year-old is “well-liked” at the Emirates.

After his 38-minute cameo versus Brentford, during which both of Liverpool’s comeback strikes arrived, the England international said: ‘To be fair, that is all with my agent now. I think it is all going well. I am not too sure. I just let my football do the talking at the end of the day.

Ngumoha further downplayed the possibility of an Arsenal transfer, claiming: “‘I enjoy playing, and all of that stuff is in the back of my mind really. I just play for the club, and hopefully I can carry on doing well.

‘I am enjoying the challenge and to be able to play off both sides is important,” continued the 18-year-old, who has appeared on both the right and left flanks at Liverpool after the club lost Mohamed Salah last summer to Super Lig contenders Trabzonspor.

“Do I have a favourite position? No, not anymore. I am getting to grips with the right wing now, and I am liking it. It gives me a bit more unpredictability. I have been working hard on the training pitch.

‘I went away with England and I was playing on the right, so I learned a lot there as well. Watching the likes of Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka. I took on board some of the stuff they told me, and it’s really helpful.

Ngumoha then sung the praises of new manager Iraola, revealing that his received directive has been to take on players more frequently in one-v-one duels.

“I am enjoying working with him and enjoying improving,” said the England international. Whether I start or come off the bench, I have the same mentality. I know the club is just trying to look after me. We have some of the best attackers in the world, so competing for places is not easy.

"It is all about healthy competition and we all just want to make the team win at the end of the day. So whatever minutes we get, we can’t be sulking, we just have to go out and show what we can do."

Ngumoha’s current Liverpool contract runs through until 2028; for now, talk of transfers elsewhere appear to be out of sight and out of mind for the 18-year-old.

Former Manchester United boss, and current AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim has confessed that he blocked Pervis Estupinan’s move to Aston Villa after the Unai Emery-led side made a summer swoop for the Ecuadorian.

Estupinan joined the Serie A side in the summer of 2025, after spending five years at Brighton in the English top-flight.

The left-back was largely overlooked by then-manager Massimiliano Allegri in Italy; however, his new boss, Amorim, has revealed why he never had any intention of letting the Ecuadorian leave amid concrete interest from Aston Villa.

Ruben Amorim explains blocking of Pervis Estipinan from attempted Aston Villa swoop

Aston Villa made serious efforts to attempt to bring Estupinan back to England, in need of a new left-back after Lucas Digne’s exit to PSG this summer.

Sport Witness reported in July that the Ecuadorian had agreed on certain terms to set up a Villa Park move; however, Amorim never wanted Estupinan to leave.

The Serie A side coughed up nearly £17 million to secure the left-back’s services from Brighton, and Amorim was far from happy when he heard of Aston Villa’s approach.

Under Allegri, the 28-year-old averaged under 60 minutes per game during the 2025/26 Serie A term. With Amorim as his leader, Estupinan has played 340 minutes in seven Italian top-flight matches, averaging even fewer minutes played at just 48 per match.

Despite using the left-back even less than his predecessor did, Amorim has explained why letting Estupinan depart was never on his mind.

“At the end of the transfer window, we had a list of clubs that wanted Estupinan. But I said no. So, I want the fans to know that it was my responsibility,” claimed the Portuguese coach, who then acknowledged that a section of AC Milan fans aren’t overly keen on the Ecuadorian.

“Even at other clubs, sometimes the fans don’t like certain players too much. We have to help Estupinan, we have to help the fans understand who Estupinan is: and I can assure you that Estupinan works really hard.

“So, I want the fans to know that it was my responsibility. He’s playing because I chose Estupinan, because I believe in him and I’m convinced he'll be truly important for our team.”

“But I understood that feeling from the first game. We simply have to help Estupinan, because we are a team: if one of our teammates suffers because of this, the whole team suffers with him and stands by him,” Amorim concluded.

Unai Emery’s men instead welcomed Aaron Wan-Bissaka to their line-up; however, an injury against Newcastle on Saturday has left the Villans shortchanged at left-back. They return to action against Viking in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Liverpool travelled to Brentford last Saturday and left with a 2-1 victory, fighting back from a goal down courtesy of strikes from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak.

Since the clash, in which Brentford were reduced to 10 men against Andoni Iraola’s side, footage began circulating online of a rugby ball being kicked into the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford have now confirmed that the police have been made aware of and launched an investigation into the matter, with the offence’s nature being “dangerous and potentially harmful.”

Investigation opened into rugby ball-kicking individual during Liverpool vs Brentford clash

The footage appeared to capture a man kicking a rugby ball, from a balcony that overlooked the Gtech, onto the pitch.

Another clip shows a member of staff carrying the rugby ball away from the pitch, captioned: “Wrong sport, mate.”

Brentford have now referred the incident to the police, describing the individual’s actions as “dangerous and potentially very harmful.”

A club statement issued by the Bees on Monday read: “Brentford Football Club is aware of an incident involving an item being kicked from a height towards the field of play during Saturday’s match against Liverpool.

“Such behaviour is dangerous and potentially very harmful. The matter has been referred to the police and the club is supporting the relevant authorities in their investigation to help identify those responsible and take appropriate action.”

Brentford stated that the individual’s actions may result in criminal prosecution, then affirmed the importance of safety for all fans, staff, players and officials visiting the Gtech.

Others can be heard in the video laughing and cheering as the rugby ball was kicked onto the pitch at Brentford’s stadium. Liverpool Football Club are yet to comment publicly.

The Reds are now positioned fifth in the Premier League standings, having taken 12 points from seven matches.

Following their defeat, the Bees are placed sixth, claiming 10 points from their first seven outings. Prior to their clash with Liverpool, Keith Andrews’ men were undefeated in the Premier League.

Liverpool, whose supporters face the highest average pint prices on their European away days this term, will next play Villarreal at home, while Brentford are set to clash with Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Sunday.

Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has claimed that Scott McTominay, who Manchester United sold to Napoli in 2024, was forced out of the club against his wishes.

The Scotsman went on to lift the Serie A title with Napoli, and win the Italian top-flight’s ‘Player of the Season’ award, as the league’s MVP.

For Manchester United, he bagged 37 goal contributions in 255 games; now, in light of ten Hag’s words and according to reports, INEOS want the Scot back.

INEOS want Scott McTominay back after Erik ten Hag reveals uncomfortable Manchester United truth

McTominay was sold in the summer of 2024 for a total of just over £25 million, including add-ons, with Manuel Ugarte being signed in his place.

Ten Hag has now claimed that the club broke their promise with the Scotsman, selling him to Napoli against his wishes and ousting him from Manchester.

In an interview with The Athletic, the former Red Devils coach said: “ “That’s why I got disappointed. In Ibiza, we agreed. I said, ‘No selling Scott McTominay.’ We would go aligned in the transfer window. I [made] an argument, a reason - we don’t have scoring abilities.

“Scott brings scoring abilities and a great mentality. He has [Manchester] United in all his veins. So, when they bring up the subject: ‘No’. And in the end they sold him.

“I got, of course, very embarrassed and disappointed,” admitted Ten Hag, who left the club in October 2024, just months after McTominay’s exit.

The Scot has thrived in Italy, bagging 37 goal contributions, the same figure he recorded for Manchester United, in 85 games, not the 255 matches it took him as a Red Devil.

In early October, Sky Sports Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri claimed, as relayed by TEAMtalk, that Manchester United co-owners, INEOS, want to transfer McTominay back to Old Trafford.

“The player’s agent, according to our sources, maintains close relationships with several Premier League clubs and has already held preliminary discussions regarding McTominay’s future,” stated Tavolieri’s report.

It claimed that Aston Villa also approached the Scot in April, adding that the midfielder is “nostalgic… and open to the idea of ​​returning to the Premier League.”

Manchester United, placed 13th, are in dire form, with Michael Carrick’s job in serious peril. The Red Devils return to Champions League action against Como on Wednesday, as they travel to Italy.

Plenty of Arsenal players haven't gone on to better things after leaving the club.

Nicolas Anelka became the Gunners' record sale when he departed for big things in the 1990s, but despite his journeyman career, perhaps never reached the heights that some thought he would during his Arsenal days – while Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Marc Overmars can all safely claim to have given their best form in North London after big moves to Europe.

Now, one Gunner from that era has admitted as much.

Former Arsenal star admits, “I would pay good money to go back to those days”

While the likes of Ashley Cole, Serge Gnabry and Robin van Persie have all enjoyed silverware post-N5, Emmanuel Petit has now reminisced with FourFourTwo about his time as an Arsenal player.

The Frenchman is still the only Gunner to have scored in a World Cup final, and after signing for mentor Arsene Wenger in 1997, enjoyed phenomenal success at Highbury, winning a league and FA Cup Double in his first full season.

“I have some very good memories. When I first came to England, I really loved the tradition over there,” Petit tells us now, courtesy of Betfred.

“I loved it. Back in the day I loved everything. The football, the speed, the total football at times. You never give up and that’s something I learned in England. Never give up until the end.”

The midfielder ended up leaving in 2000 for Barcelona – moving back to the Premier League just a year later to return to London with Arsenal's rivals, Chelsea.

Reflecting on that time now, Petit says that the connection he had with the English supporters was stronger than that at Camp Nou – and that he regrets even moving to Barça in the first place.

“I loved the link with the fans in England and I would pay good money to go back to those days because I miss that sometimes,” he says, adding, “I do believe that my biggest mistake was leaving Arsenal to move to Barcelona.”

Petit failed to win anything in Catalonia, appearing 31 times under manager Lorenzo Serra Ferrer's failed tenure as manager after Louis van Gaal left in 2000.

The World Cup winner retired in 2004 after three years at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal take on Bayern Munich as Champions League action returns this week.

The 2026-27 Premier League season is now well underway, and some teams, and their managers, are struggling more than others.

Michael Carrick has seized headlines recently for his dire start to the term with Manchester United - and persisting with him could, says the noise from Italy, cost the Red Devils their chance to bag Antonio Conte.

Here, as per Sky Bet, are the favourites for the next manager to get the Premier League sack, from ‘Big 6’ to mid-table to possibly relegation-battling clubs.

Michael Carrick (2/1)

While many Manchester United pessimists might have seen something like this coming, with the club’s return to Europe introducing a balancing act that Carrick didn’t have to deal with in 2025-26, going from a third-place finish to 12th and out of the Carabao Cup by October is stark.

When a manager reaches the point where a draw, as the Red Devils claimed last weekend against rivals Leeds United, is seen as enough to just about keep them in a job, they’re clearly walking on a tightrope. Manchester United have Como in the Champions League up next, where they will travel to Italy, and another dire result against an at times brilliant Cesc Fabregas-led side could be the final nail in the coffin.

After that, it’s Bournemouth at home in the Premier League, followed by Chelsea away. A nasty three-game swing, and even more motivation for Sky Bet to have him in first as their likeliest manager to exit their Premier League club.

Pierre Sage (13/8)

In the seasons prior, Crystal Palace were flying. No, not flying in the way of a bottom-half Premier League side venturing into the European qualification spots, flying in an actual trophy-winning manner, beating Manchester City to the FA Cup, Liverpool to the Community Shield, and lifting the Conference League trophy, all in two seasons.

When the architect behind that success left, Oliver Glasner, there remained an expectation that the Eagles would continue to soar. Perhaps another trophy would prove difficult, but performances that put them in contention are now the baseline.

Instead, Crystal Palace have taken just seven points from seven games, landing them at 14th in the Premier League standings. Sky Bet have new boss Pierre Sage at second in their rankings, with odds of 13/8.

Alvaro Arbeloa (9/2)

It’s slightly surprising that the former Real Madrid boss, now Fulham manager, was unable to leapfrog Sage in this list. After all, Fulham are positioned 18th in the Premier League table, with five points from seven games.

A strong 1-0 win versus Hull City last weekend, after falling 2-1 away from home to Ipswich Town the week prior, could be the reason. Instead, Sage is a few inches closer to the guillotine, and Alvaro Arbeloa has bought himself a little more time with the Cottagers.

That and, naturally, expectations at Fulham being less high than they are elsewhere in London. One thing is for certain, the longer that Arbeloa battles relegation, the higher he will move up Sky Bet’s odds list. A slight improvement defensively in recent weeks bodes relatively well for Fulham, but there is a long, long road ahead for the Spaniard to push his side to mid-table.

Roberto De Zerbi (9/1)

Hundreds of millions of British pounds spent, off the back of a season spent battling relegation, and a new manager in Roberto De Zerbi, whose previous reign with Marseille in Ligue 1 was mostly solid.

All of this, and Tottenham Hotspur still limped to the finish line against Coventry City on Monday night, to secure their first win of the Premier League season.

Spurs are now positioned 16th in the standings, with six points from seven outings, but De Zerbi’s job is by no means safe. Battling from a goal down at Old Trafford with just 10 men on the pitch was a more impressive result from the North London unit, but anything less than total abstinence from the relegation spots will be the Italian’s downfall, as the 2026-27 term rages on.

Oliver Glasner (9/1)

Crystal Palace, Glasner, what a match made in harmony. Instead, Sage is second on this list, and the former Eagles man has also managed to make an appearance shortly into his new gig with Nottingham Forest.

Glasner’s new team are 19th in the Premier League, with just five points from seven games; barring an impressive 2-1 away win at Villa Park, the highlights have mostly been lowlights from Forest in England this term.

Still, Glasner arrived with the expectation that he’d work magic - this Forest side, that finished 16th last season, was anything but a superteam before him. Sky Bet has his odds of leaving the club at 9/1, but the City Ground will surely keep the Austrian for long enough to accurately gauge whether he can replicate his London-based success in Nottingham.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended by the Portuguese FA and fined less than £250 after the Portuguese maestro walked out on the national team following a row with Jorge Jesus.

That occurred during the last round of international games, during which Ronaldo exited the Portugal camp in Copenhagen prior to their Nations League clash versus Denmark.

Jesus, new boss in Portugal and former manager to Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, was accused of breaking his word twice to Ronaldo; now, the #7 will serve a 30-day suspension.

Cristiano Ronaldo issued under £250 fine and 30-day suspension period with Portugal

When receiving his punishment from the disciplinary council, it was not specified whether time already served under a provisional suspension would be removed from Ronaldo’s 30-day period.

As a result, it is unclear as to whether the 41-year-old’s punishment will extend to Portugal’s upcoming Nations League clashes in November; however, further information has since emerged.

According to Sky Sports News, the suspension began on the day of Ronaldo’s walk-out, September 30, making him eligible to face Denmark on November 14.

The news arrives after the #7 took to Instagram and asked the Portuguese FA to spare him any leniency, while revealing the details of his row with Jesus.

The 41-year-old also published a bullet-pointed list of ‘validated’ claims he signed off on Jesus saying in a post-match Nations League presser, which Jesus never read.

“I made the mistake in having someone of the stature of Pele or [Diego] Maradona warm up today and then not putting him in the game. If it were today, I would not do it,” read one point.

The Al-Nassr forward then clarified that Jesus broke two promises made with him, before offering an apology to his Portugal team-mates.

“The consequence of this act of mine must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation… Regardless of each person’s status, the rules are the same.

“The Federation wants to give me [a dignified farewell]... I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially the Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches,” concluded the 41-year-old.

It appears that Ronaldo is set to return versus both Denmark and Wales next month; whether that will be the 41-year-old’s farewell with Portugal is still unclear.

Across his 16-year playing career, Diego Demme faced some of the world's biggest clubs like Juventus, Barcelona, Inter, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan. However, one of his most daunting challenges came on August 20, 2016, in a DFB-Pokal match between RB Leipzig and Dynamo Dresden.

Demme was 17 when Red Bull acquired the playing rights of fifth-tier SSV Markranstadt and established RB Leipzig. He was 22 when he left Paderborn, who were closing in on a maiden promotion to the Bundesliga, and joined Leipzig, who were already viewed as pariahs by millions of German fans.

These supporters accused Leipzig of using their corporate backing to undermine Germany's 50+1 rule and outspend traditional eastern German clubs like Hansa Rostock, 1. FC Magdeburg, and Dresden, whose supporters had endured years of financial instability.

RB Leipzig's rise has been met with aggressive opposition

It didn't take long for rival fans to voice their discontent. Leipzig's team bus was attacked with bottles during their first away fixture, and players were spat at and pelted with beer cups. Five years later, as they celebrated promotion, a prominent Leipzig supporter known as 'Mocke' was beaten by four assailants.

They suffered more hostility in 2015: Erzgebirge Aue fans displayed banners comparing Leipzig fans to Nazis, and Heidenheim fans threw fake banknotes at the team bus. After warning Leipzig fans against attending, Karlsruher hooligans entered Leipzig's hotel, forcing them to hire private security for away matches.

In Leipzig's opening match of the 2016/17 season, Dynamo Dresden ultras smuggled a severed bull's head into the stadium and hurled it towards the pitch, in protest against Red Bull, whose logo features two charging bulls. Dresden were fined €60,000 and sanctioned with a partial stadium closure order.

Some fans unfurled banners stating that 'tradition cannot be bought.' Another threw a coin that struck Leipzig captain Dominik Kaiser's shoulder, who, after squandering a two-goal lead, missed Leipzig's fourth penalty in a 5-4 shootout defeat.

"We always had fans against us and our project with Red Bull, particularly in the second and third division, and we wanted to give our best to shut them up," stated Diego Demme to FourFourTwo. "Sometimes, there was a little bit of overacting, like when Dynamo Dresden fans threw a severed bull’s head onto the pitch. There were some crazy people, but that gave us a little extra motivation."

If Leipzig thought they would be given a reprieve against Bundesliga fanbases, they were soon proven wrong. In September, 100 Koln supporters staged a sit-in blocking Leipzig's bus and delaying the match. In February, 400 Dortmund ultras gathered before the match and attacked Leipzig supporters with stones and bottles, leaving six Leipzig fans and four police officers injured.

It was Leipzig who had the last laugh, finishing three points clear of BVB in second. Leipzig have finished in the top four in seven of the last eight seasons, and after losing in the 2019 and 2021 DFB-Pokal Final, they hoisted the cup in 2022 and 2023.

Just as Leipzig were gearing up for a run to the Champions League semi-final, Demme left in January 2020. Alongside Yussuf Poulsen, he was the last remnant of a team that had gone from playing in Germany's third tier to sitting atop the Bundesliga.

Six years after swapping Paderborn for Leipzig, Demme departed as a German international and a Champions League footballer. He would go on to win the Coppa Italia and Scudetto with Napoli before enjoying a swansong with second-tier Hertha Berlin.

Leipzig might never win over the hearts of rival Bundesliga supporters, but they did give Demme the platform to win something far more important: his place amongst Europe's footballing elite.

Thomas Hitzlsperger has urged journalists to take a respectful approach if they want to help gay footballers feel comfortable coming out.

The former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder came out himself in 2014, just a few months after announcing his retirement from playing professional football.

But there have been very few openly gay male footballers since then - and Hitzlsperger hopes that the media can learn to be genuinely supportive rather than prioritising their own interests.

Hitzlsperger told FourFourTwo: "The example of a group of 125 employees of the German Catholic Church coming out in 2022 was a powerful statement and, within the world of football, there are many possibilities.

"I’d assume in some way that would be easier, but because every story is different, some players may want to tell their own personal story, and not be one of 10, 20 or however many footballers to come out.

"I just hope that footballers who are gay find a way to live happy lives.

"Nowadays, there’s a strong desire from a number of journalists to break stories and it’s become almost obsessive.

"It’s very annoying, because it would be best to leave closeted players alone and let them find a way. It feels more about breaking the story of the next gay footballer and less about helping to really make a change.

"That’s something I don’t like – we have to be as supportive as we can, but don’t give the impression that we want to force people to come out because it’s for the greater good.

"While I embraced my identity as a gay man after my playing career, I had to discover what I wanted to do after retiring in 2013 at the age of 31.

"That transition applies to every single player and is about finding a new passion. For all of your life, you’ve been focused on your football career.

"Suddenly that’s over and you have to really think about what you want to do, – what you want to be in life, other than a former footballer.

"It’s about finding your own structure, because for so long you’re being told when to show up for training, what to wear and what to do.

"It’s also about dealing with being on your own, no longer in the spotlight. You have to be able to live another successful career."

Football v Homophobia is a year-round initiative tackling anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, building inclusive communities at all levels of the game around the world. For more info and support, visit footballvhomophobia.com

Can you remember who was on the wrong end of this extraordinary demolition job?

It was one of the most incredible comebacks in the history of European club football. After losing 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie in 2016-17, Barcelona won the second leg 6-1. The Parisians learned from the experience and went on to win the competition back-to-back with a very different approach.

As the teams meet again, we're looking back not to the winning team, but the opponents they conquered. Can you name all 11 players? There's no time limit!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Are you keen to take on more of our football quizzes? We've got plenty of them and they're all courtesy of Kwizly. For starters, we're sticking with the same season but switching focus to England. We want to know whether you can name the top goalscorer of every Premier League team in the 2016-17 season.

After that, join us for some quizzes that really dive into the social and cultural fabric of football. If you're a trivia master with knowledge of the details, this is the batch of quizzes for you. How about trying to name every sponsor of the EFL trophy or identifying which English clubs were or are served by these fanzines? Here's one for experts only: Show us what you're made of by tackling the Big Quiz of English Football Grounds.

We have countless quizzes for Premier League aficionados. Can you name every player ever to have been sent off three times in a single Premier League season and every player to have won the World Cup while playing for a Premier League club? If that combination of club and international football tickled your fancy, try to name every player with 100 or more international caps and at least one appearance in the Premier League.

More puzzler than quizzer? We get it. Here's FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 75, featuring clues on ultras, underdogs and upsets.

Don't forget you can stay one step ahead of the game by subscribing to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section.

As many West Ham, Oxford, Spurs or Arsenal fans will tell you, once that history-filled ground is gone, it really is gone. The new edifices might have shiny new seats, better sightlines, even beers filled from the bottom up… but just what’s been lost in the modernisation process?

It’s the stories and rituals, that favourite seat and neighbour, the sense of history and hallowed turf, the feeling of being a fan and not a customer. To quote Bruce Springsteen’s defiant Wrecking Ball, a stadium demolition is where: ‘all our little victories and glories have turned into parking lots’. And the Spurs fans didn’t even get that cheese room…

So, while many of us reminisce about the lost loves of Upton Park, White Hart Lane or even Wembley (conveniently forgetting the toilets and pillars), here are 10 other stadiums you need to savour before the demolition crew move in and it transforms into a shiny if soulless dome (or a shiny and soulless supermarket).

San Siro, Milan, Italy

Opened in 1926 but beamed into British homes by the 1990 World Cup and by James Richardson’s Gazzetta Football Italia, San Siro (or Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) is a stadium that manages to be at once futuristic and decaying, raucous and romantic, and unlike any on Planet Earth.

Exit the underground stadium at San Siro Stadio metro stop and your first glimpse of the 75,000-capacity arena will stop you in your tracks. It looks like it could have been created in another dimension. You can hear the hum from a kilometre away, and that noise becomes near-deafening if you sit just above AC Milan’s flare-waving ultras in the Curva Sud, as I was lucky to do during a thumping of Juventus in 2022.

Yes, look a little closer and it’s seen better days, but those towers, that roofing, the steep terraces and the views over Milan itself are incomparable. And then there are the memories of Baresi, Maldini, Gullit, Van Basten, Shevchenko for AC; Bergomi, Matthäus, Zanetti, Ronaldo and Sneijder for Inter when Serie A was at the pinnacle of football.

And yet, San Siro looks set to be replaced in the early 2030s by a Sir Norman Foster and David Manica-designed arena, meaning time could be ticking to visit this true football cathedral. You won’t regret it.

Mestalla, Valencia, Spain

Boasting what are widely thought to be the steepest stands of any major ground in Europe, Valencia’s Mestalla has been hosting football since 1923 and is now the oldest stadium in La Liga. It’s been graced by peak Mendieta and Aimar, Ayala and Villa, with Valencia briefly breaking the Real/Barca duopoly in Spanish football during the early 2000s.

Valencia have been planning to move from the (Viejo) Mestalla to Nou Mestalla since 2007, with the unbuilt shell of the new stadium acting as a concrete reminder of the club’s turbulent fall from the pinnacle of Spanish football.

But now the Mestalla move is back on again, with the club set to move in the 2027/28 season. Which means you have just months to experience the Mestalla’s 50,000-capacity, 35-degree stands before Valencia do one to the €250-300m Nou Mestalla. The local paella is pretty good, too.

St. James' Park, Newcastle, England

Another genuine football cathedral on this list is Newcastle’s St James’ Park, where the Toon have played since 1892.

Whether it’s the brutalist East Stand, the vertigo-inducing Leazes End or the sheer noise of the Gallowgate, this has long been one of Britain’s (and Europe’s) great football grounds for home and away fans alike.

But now the club are considering building a new stadium behind the existing ground at Leazes Park, meaning the hallowed turf where Keegan, Gazza, Waddle, Ginola and Shearer once shone so brightly could eventually be replaced.

Old Trafford, Manchester, England

Okay, the roof can be leaky and the shiny new edifices at Arsenal, Spurs and across the city make it seem outdated, but you should visit Old Trafford at least once before United move to their proposed 100,000-capacity big top, currently targeted for the early 2030s.

It’s the ground of the Busby Babes and Charlton, Law and Best. Giggs and Cantona, Rooney and Ronnie. Of the Stretford End singing ‘Take Me Home’ and of Fergie time and Brian Kidd on his knees, after all.

Kenilworth Road, Luton, England

Kenilworth Road has been Luton Town’s home since 1905 and, despite its 12,000 capacity, was hosting Premier League football as recently as 2023/24.

Understandably, given its 12,000-capacity, Luton are targeting a move to the new 25,000-capacity Power Court Stadium for the 2028/29 season, with the existing Kenilworth Road stadium expected to be demolished and redeveloped into residential housing.

So enjoy one of England’s most atmospheric old grounds while you can, including the famous entrance into the Oak Road away end through the row of terraced housing.

Millmoor, Rotherham, England

Okay, you won’t be able to watch actual live football here, but Rotherham United’s spiritual home of Millmoor is still just about standing, despite having been abandoned since 2008.

After years of decay and failed attempts to revamp the stadium, demolition plans have been submitted for large sections of the ground. The long goodbye could finally end.

Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy

The Stadio Artemio Franchi, home of Fiorentina since 1931, is about to undergo a major reconstruction project.

Major sections of Pier Luigi Nervi’s original design are set to face the demolition squad, making much of it unrecognisable from the seasons when Batistuta, Rui Costa and the famous La Viola shirts graced the pinnacle of Italian football. The facelift will include a restoration but not full demolition of the famous Torre di Maratona (Tower of Marathon).

Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, England

Stamford Bridge’s proximity to London’s King’s Road is one of the joys of a visit to the 40,000-capacity home of Chelsea FC. And the reason why they’ve fallen far beyond London rivals Arsenal and Spurs in match day revenue.

Being surrounded by some of the capital’s most expensive real estate and transport infrastructure has meant expansion at the current site is decidedly tricky, meaning Chelsea’s owners have long explored possible moves to new London homes, including Battersea and Earl’s Court, or a complete rebuild. Either way, the costs are expected to run into the billions.

So, while we’re not expecting any move or rebuild to happen until next decade, tick-off the ground once graced by Zola, Drogba and Super Frank before it becomes unrecognisable… or some rather pricey apartments.

Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England

If ever a Premier League club needed a new stadium, it’s Bournemouth. Restricted by Dean Court’s capacity of 12,000, the club have remarkably become a top-flight mainstay despite falling way behind their rivals (see Brighton and Brentford) in match day revenue.

That could soon be about to change, with plans announced for a complete rebuild of the existing stadium instead of a move. Capacity would be 20,000, potentially rising to 23,000. Time then to visit the Premier League anomaly – and one of the league’s great away days – before the renovation begins.

The New Lawn, Forest Green Rovers, England

Perched on top of a hill in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, The New Lawn has only been Forest Green Rovers’ home since 2006, but the club have long explored building a new stadium near the M5.

Plans for the Eco Park, purported to have the lowest carbon footprint of any football stadium in the world, are currently on hold, but, until then, The New Lawn has plenty of quirks to make a trip worthwhile. It hosted what’s believed to be the world’s first vegan football match in 2014, its pitch is made of organic materials and, in contrast to the mechanically recovered burgers seen elsewhere, there’s an environmentally sustainable menu.

You know by now how the FourFourTwo Quickfire Quiz works. There are 10 questions to answer and a time limit of just 90 seconds. Here's a new one to put you through your paces.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has lots more football quizzes and they're all courtesy of Kwizly. If you know you're Premier League history, here are a couple you'll enjoy. First, can you name every player ever to have been sent off three times in a single Premier League season?

Next, we're taking you back 10 seasons to find out whether you can get all 20 when we ask you to name the top goalscorer of every Premier League team in the 2016-17 season.

World Cup experts will make light of this quiz about England's dreaming, and not the good kind. Can you name every nation ever to beat the Three Lions in a World Cup match?

We also have this fanzines quiz, which will challenge you to name 20 English football clubs based on the titles of some of their most popular, most historic and most revered fan publications.

Over on the other side of the world, the always entertaining A-League is back. If you want to see early goals, Australia is the place to be. But can you name every team competing in A-League Men in 2026-27?

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!

European football will resume this week, with fans of various Premier League clubs travelling far and wide in search of two things: three points, and a cheap pint.

Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth faithfuls will embark across the continent to witness their sides play Europa League football, while others will prepare for Champions and Conference League clashes.

LiveScore, using their ‘European Away Day Pint Index,’ analysed 31 trips for Premier League fans travelling across the continent, to find pint prices in the likes of Jablonec and Lillestrom.

Which European away day offers the cheapest pint for travelling Premier League fans?

To begin with, the average European away-day pint sits at £4.34, across all clubs and destinations analysed in the Index.

By looking at each club’s European fixtures as a complete schedule, the fans of two clubs emerge as ready to face, on average, the cheapest and most expensive pints in Europe, respectively.

The lucky fanbase, that of Aston Villa, will purchase pints at an average price of £3.59 across their many European excursions in the Champions League league phase, with their next trip being to Barcelona in early November.

Elsewhere, the wallets of Liverpool supporters will suffer the direst time of any travelling Premier League fanbase, paying, on average, £4.91 per pint. Their next trip will be to Fenerbahce in November.

The Index analysed 31 European away trips for all nine Premier League clubs competing in Europe this season, pricing pints at three fan-friendly bars in each away day destination. As a result, it was able to decipher the average cost of a pint for travelling Premier League supporters.

But what is the cheapest pint available to a supporter travelling across Europe to see their side play? That trophy belongs to Brighton, who can purchase a pint for just £1.22 in Jablonec.

They will be able to enjoy that cheap, tasty beverage when they travel to Jablonec on Thursday for the Seagulls’ next Conference League clash.

Unfortunately for Bournemouth, their supporters will endure a torrid time financially when they land in Lillestrom, with the price of a pint rising to £8.66.

Returning to each club’s full away day schedule, Arsenal fans are the second luckiest bunch after Aston Villa, with the average pint across their European trips costing £3.70.

In third are Brighton, with an average pint purchase being £3.93, then Sunderland at £4.18. Manchester City are next at £4.44, edging out their Manchester rivals on £4.52.

Bournemouth at £4.68, Crystal Palace at £4.80 and, as mentioned earlier, Liverpool at £4.91 complete the bottom three.

Manchester United are in danger of missing out on an Antonio Conte-shaped managerial switch-up, with Juventus now interested in the Italian.

The Red Devils are enduring a tough 2026-27 Premier League campaign, positioned 13th in the English top-flight standings. In Europe, things aren’t much better.

Pressure is now being piled upon Michael Carrick, who led Manchester United to a third-placed finish last season; and if they persist with the Englishman, they could lose out on Conte.

Time is running out for Manchester United in potential Antonio Conte managerial switch-up

Manchester United made unfortunate headlines after suffering a thorough beat-down at the hands of Atletico Madrid last week, after which Lisandro Martinez, whose future at Old Trafford is more uncertain than ever, made incendiary comments about the Red Devils hierarchy.

After a 1-1 draw versus an in-form Leeds United at the weekend, Carrick’s job remains under significant threat, with The Athletic writing that his place in Manchester is “beginning to feel precarious.”

According to reports, Conte, former manager of both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, is linked heavily to take on Carrick’s position at Old Trafford, but time is running out for the Red Devils to see through this potential managerial switch-up.

Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb revealed that Juventus have been ‘alerted’ to his availability, amid a turbulent period for Conte at Napoli.

His side were defeated 1-0 by newly-promoted side Venezia over the weekend, and are positioned ninth in the Serie A standings with 10 points from seven matches.

Elsewhere, at Juventus, Luciano Spalletti’s job is under imminent threat having suffered a 3-0 loss to Lazio at home on Sunday. The club are seventh in the Serie A table, with 11 points.

The publication noted that Conte’s move to Manchester ‘never materialised,’ with the Red Devils’ hesitancy now set to bite them amid interest in the Italian from Juventus.

“The coach is complicating his life with constant experimentation, offering no certainty. He’s playing a complicated game with obscure language, when simplicity is needed,” concluded Tuttomercatoweb.

Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in September, falling in a 3-2 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford, despite leading 2-0 after nine minutes.

The Red Devils return to Champions League action away at Como on Tuesday, then host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, with Carrick’s job under increasing threat, and likely no Conte to step in and steady the Manchester United ship.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City for free from anywhere as Roberto De Zerbi's men hunt their first win of the Premier League season at the seventh time of asking. FourFourTwo has all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Still without a victory to their name, De Zerbi has made some big changes with Tosin Adarabioyo entering the starting line-up alongside Omar Marmoush and Micky van de Ven. Dejan Kulusevski is also fit enough to appear in a matchday squad for the first time since May 2025.

Coventry searching for a third win on the spin have made just the one change with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto starting in place of Ephron Mason-Clark.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City online and from anywhere, including for free, in the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City for FREE

Fans in the US can stream Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City for free thanks to YouTube TV's 10-day free trial, which carries USA Network — the US broadcaster of this game.

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A good VPN is your ticket to the game, even when you’re abroad.

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 Proton VPN as one of the best for unlocking streams...

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City in the UK

Viewers in the UK can watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City live on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League will have live coverage of the Premier League clash, which kicks-off at 8:00pm BST.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City in the US

As mentioned above, Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City is live on USA Network in the US, with kick-off at 3:00pm ET.

Not in the US right now? Use Proton VPN to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City on USA Network.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City in Australia

Fans in Australia can stream Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City on Stan Sport. Kick-off is at 6:00am AEDT on Tuesday.

Tickets

Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City: Preview

Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City is the most iconic fixture in Sky Blues history. Spurs were the opponents when the West Midlands club won their only major trophy, triumphing 3-2 after extra-time in the 1987 FA Cup final.

If Coventry were to repeat that result here it would be nigh-on disastrous for Roberto De Zerbi's side, who will see a home game against a promoted club as a huge opportunity to claim their first Premier League victory of the season amd move off the bottom of the table.

To do so, they will need to improve on a frankly abysmal return of three goals in six league games, which makes them the lowest scorers in the top flight.

Spurs did at least show some fight in battling back to claim a 1-1 draw at Manchester United last Saturday, despite being down to 10 men. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended after being sent off at Old Trafford, but Pedro Porro could return and James Maddison looks set to face his boyhood club.

SEE ALSO How to watch Premier League 2026/27: TV Guide, Streams & Fixtures

Like Tottenham, Coventry failed to score in their first four Premier League games, but Frank Lampard's side have put their slow start behind them.

After claiming a crucial 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest before the international break, the Sky Blues returned to action with an emphatic 4-1 home victory over Newcastle United that sees them head into this game in 16th after Saturday and Sunday's fixtures.

Manager Lampard knows how tough it is to put a winning run together in the Premier League so he will be telling his side to keep the hammer down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a good start could unsettle the home crowd.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden is available for Coventry after returning from injury, while Taiwo Awoniyi is back from a three-match suspension.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City: Team News

Tottenham XI: Kinsky, Robertson, Adarabioyo, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Gray, Tonali, Kudus, Maddison, Marmoush, Solanke.

Subs: Dubravka, Senesi, Davies, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett, Fernandes, Gallagher, Kulusevski, Tel.

Coventry XI: Rushworth, Dasilva, Thomas, Pinnock, Van Ewijk, Grimes, Yirenkyi, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Thomas-Asante, Cherif.

Subs: Bentley, Kesler-Hayden, Mfuni, Onyeka, Torp, Hamer, Mason-Clark, Simms, Awoniyi.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Coventry City

We think the Sky Blues could snatch a point in a low-scoring contest.

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According to reports, Barcelona are pushing strongly to sign club captain and Manchester United record-breaker Bruno Fernandes in the winter transfer window.

The Portuguese superstar, who broke the Premier League assist record in 2025-26 under Michael Carrick, is reportedly frustrated with Man United's current direction and open to a January departure.

Galatasaray are also in the picture, as they gun for an unprecedented fifth successive Super Lig title; however, Barcelona’s emergence could spell trouble for Carrick’s side.

Barcelona emerge as strong contenders in hunt for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes’ signature

Should Fernandes make the move, he would trade in life at Old Trafford for the chance to win major silverware in Spain, and possibly the Champions League.

Aged 32, the Portuguese star’s hopes of winning football’s biggest prizes appears likely to die in Manchester, and his time to secure such trophies elsewhere in Europe is running out.

According to Fanatik, the 32-year-old has become unhappy at Manchester United, who are currently placed 13th in the Premier League standings, and is pushing to leave Old Trafford in January.

Galatasaray, long-time admirers of Fernandes who previously tried to sign him, are pushing again for the 32-year-old, but will face serious competition from reigning La Liga champions Barcelona.

The Super Lig side, pursuing a fifth consecutive Turkish top-flight title, were beaten 4-0 by Trabzonspor in September, after their rivals secured the services of Mohamed Salah following the World Cup.

The Egyptian, who won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year trophy a year prior to Fernandes’ victory in 2025-26, bagged a hat-trick and notched an assist in that clash. Now, Galatasaray are aiming to bring a PFA victor of their own to Turkey.

However, should Barcelona’s interest remain, it is likely that the 32-year-old will instead opt for a La Liga move, with Hansi Flick’s men displaying clear Champions League-winning potential.

For now, Manchester United face a crucial decision, with Fernandes’ contract expiring next summer ahead of the 2027-28 Premier League season.

The Red Devils do hold an option for another year; however, should their captain wish to depart, it is unlikely that Manchester United will be able to prevent Fernandes from departing to Barcelona in January.

After Lisandro Martinez’s flame-stoking post-match comments, directed at unnamed executives in the Red Devils’ hierarchy, tensions at Old Trafford are boiling over, and things could soon go from bad to worse for Manchester United.

Manchester City are to face a record fine in the Premier League, with relegation to the Championship all but confirmed as a result

That's according to a bombshell new report, following the Citizens being charged with over 100 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-year period.

Manchester City deny any wrongdoing, not only insisting on their innocence but claiming to have “irrefutable evidence” that will overturn the league's decision following an appeal from the six-time champions.

Manchester City to be slapped with record punishment

Between 2009 and 2018, it has been claimed by the Premier League that not only did City arrange ‘sham’ contracts with commercial partners – “which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties” – and conceal their true financies from auditors and regulators, but the club “committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith”.

The club remain top of the Premier League this season having won all seven of their fixtures in the competition this season, but with a cloud handing over Enzo Maresca's side, Oliver Holt of The Mail has just dropped a report that this season will essentially be for nothing.

“It is unlikely, sources close to the process have told me, that City will face a doomsday scenario of being expelled from the Premier League and forced to start again in League Two at the beginning of next season,” Holt claims.

“It is thought that the Premier League are pressing for City’s punishment to be announced before the result of their appeal, which is unlikely to be decided before the end of January.

“Soundings from insiders suggest the most likely punishment is a swingeing points deduction which will ensure City’s relegation to the Championship, plus a huge fine.

“It is also possible that the punishment would include a further points deduction that would effectively confine City to the Championship for at least one more season.

“The EFL would not be obliged to accept that sanction for one of their clubs, but it is probable that they would.”

With the Premier League title race shaping up as a fight between the likes of City and Arsenal, with Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea and Liverpool following, this report is good news for the chasing pack.

City host AEK Athens as Champions League action returns tomorrow night.

Arsenal star Mikel Merino has opened up about the moment that he believed the Gunners would win their first Premier League title in 22 years.

The Spaniard picked up a serious injury in January that looked to rule him out of the season, but miraculously fought to play in Arsenal's final league game of the season and earn a place in Luis de la Fuente's World Cup squad.

Speaking now to The Player's Tribune, Merino has reflected on his 2026 and cited a reaction after the disappointing draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers as the moment he truly realised that his side would become champions in May.

“In my view, that was the day we won the title” Arsenal's Mikel Merino on Wolves reaction

After going two goals up against Wolves in February, Arsenal conceded a late equaliser, courtesy of a mix-up between David Raya and Gabriel – with Merino claiming that the players sought to repair the damage among themselves to take the strain off manager Mikel Arteta.

“One slip, and all we heard was ‘same old Arsenal,’” Merino said. “To be honest, there were doubts inside the team too. Giving away a 2–0 lead should never happen.

“But the day after the game, the players had a meeting inside the dressing room, without the boss. Everyone spoke up. Nobody talked about tactics. This was about how a group of human beings handle adversity together.

“I spoke about how I saw the team from the outside, and I said that this was something we as players had to handle, because the boss couldn’t do everything for us. When one person has so many tasks at one club, you need leaders who can figure things out on their own.

“Well, at this club, we do. In my view, that was the day we won the title. Even when we lost to Bournemouth and City, that meeting kept us together.”

With social media permeating the inner sanctum of the Gunners' London Colney base, Merino also revealed that his team-mates used the criticism towards them as fuel to end the club's long title drought – including one Manchester City fan who was pictured with an Arsenal bottle.

“We were bottlers. Runners-up. Second, second, second. Boring. Set-piece team. Couldn’t score from open play. Couldn’t handle the pressure. When they questioned our professionalism, we grew even closer,” Merino continued.

“The guy with the bottle on TV? We just laughed. ‘Bantah,’ like the English say.

“The boss was on fire. Every team talk, he reached into our hearts. He spoke about looking out for one another, like a family. The culture we have is thanks to him. Even when the world expected us to collapse, I felt confident that the title would be ours.”

Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, as Champions League action continues at the Allianz Arena.

The FA Cup first round draw is tonight, as League One and League Two sides enter the tournament.

We're back and we're ready to do it all over again, with the greatest cup competition on Earth welcoming 80 teams into the first round proper, including 32 non-league sides daring to dream of a giant-killing run.

So when's it on?

When is the FA Cup first-round draw?

The draw for the first round of the 2026/27 FA Cup takes place on Monday October 19, at around 6:35pm.

The television coverage starts at 6:30pm BST, with the draw itself expected to begin at approximately five minutes later.

How can I watch the FA Cup first-round draw?

The FA Cup first-round draw is live on TNT Sports 1, available to watch on HBO Max, hosted by Matt Smith.

If you don't have TNT Sports, you can always watch the draw live on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.

What are the balls for the FA Cup first-round draw?

1. Accrington Stanley
2. AFC Wimbledon
3. Barnet
4. Barnsley
5. Blackpool
6. Bradford City
7. Bristol Rovers
8. Bromley
9. Burton Albion
10. Cambridge United
11. Cheltenham Town
12. Chesterfield
13. Colchester United
14. Crawley Town
15. Crewe Alexandra
16. Doncaster Rovers
17. Exeter City
18. Fleetwood Town
19. Gillingham
20. Grimsby Town
21. Huddersfield Town
22. Leicester City
23. Leyton Orient
24. Luton Town
25. Mansfield Town
26. Milton Keynes Dons
27. Newport County
28. Northampton Town
29. Notts County
30. Oldham Athletic
31. Oxford United
32. Peterborough United
33. Plymouth Argyle
34. Port Vale
35. Reading
36. Rochdale
37. Rotherham United
38. Salford City
39. Sheffield Wednesday
40. Shrewsbury Town
41. Stevenage
42. Stockport County
43. Swindon Town
44. Tranmere Rovers
45. Walsall
46. Wigan Athletic
47. Wycombe Wanderers
48. York City
49. Harborough Town
50. Chorley or Worcester City
51. Gateshead or Stafford Rangers
52. FC Halifax Town
53. Guiseley
54. Barrow or Gloucester City
55. Marine
56. Scunthorpe United
57. Macclesfield or Anstey Nomads
58. Altrincham or FC United Of Manchester
59. Bury or Harrogate Town
60. Spalding United or Alvechurch
61. AFC Rushden & Diamonds
62. Kidderminster Harriers
63. Carlisle United
64. AFC Fylde
65. Salisbury
66. Sutton United
67. Chesham United or Forest Green Rovers
68. Leatherhead or Yeovil Town
69. Bedford Town or Cray Wanderers
70. Hornchurch
71. Aldershot Town or Tadley Calleva
72. Oxford City
73. Wimborne Town
74. Wealdstone
75. Boreham Wood
76. Eastleigh
77. Berkhamsted FC
78. Sholing
79. Plymouth Parkway
80. Dover Athletic

Lisandro Martinez’s long-term future at Manchester United appears to be dead in the water, with the Argentine planning a swift exit from Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old made headlines for incendiary comments made after the club’s defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, in which he aimed harsh words at the Manchester United hierarchy.

Martinez’s contract with the club expires at the end of the 2026-27 Premier League season; however, the Red Devils do hold an option to extend for a further 12 months.

Lisandro Martinez planning swift exit from Manchester United after incendiary post-match Champions League comments

Following his public criticism of unnamed members of the Manchester United hierarchy, Martinez’s long-term future at Old Trafford is in serious doubt.

As a result, questions have been raised as to whether both the Argentine and Manchester United want their relationship to continue beyond 2027.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Martinez has suggested that he does not see a long-term future at Manchester United beyond the expiration of his contract.

The defender criticised recruitment from the Red Devils this summer, implicitly questioning the work of technical director Jason Wilcox, after a strong first season under Michael Carrick in 2025-26.

The Red Devils finished third under their former player, and secured their return to the Champions League. In Europe, they were played off the park at the Wanda, provoking Martinez’s words.

The Argentine later took to Instagram to clarify that his comments were made out of frustration, and that unity must be achieved at Manchester United going forward.

Elsewhere, Carrick suggested that the matter between the club and Martinez had been handled internally, and that the conflict wouldn’t affect the Red Devils going forward.

Despite this, uncertainty still remains regarding Martinez’s future at Old Trafford - in fact, the possibility of Manchester United extending the Argentine by an additional 12 months is more unlikely than ever.

If the 28-year-old is set in his ways, and does not want to remain a Red Devil, then it is likely he will depart from Old Trafford next summer.

In terms of player options, it is rumoured that Martinez would prefer a move to Spain, with, ironically, Atletico Madrid closely linked to the Argentine.

Sarina Wiegman has signed an extension to remain England women's manager for another two years.

The Dutch head coach was set to leave the Lionesses after next year's World Cup – but after this new deal, she will lead them to a third European Championship in Germany in 2029.

In leading England to the Euros in 2029, Wiegman will be looking to win the tournament for the fourth time in a row, having done it twice with England and once with her native Netherlands.

Sarina Wiegman looking to make history with next two England women's tournaments

“I am so happy to be able to carry on with this squad and cannot think of a better job in football,” Wiegman said after the announcement of the deal.

“Working for a world-class organisation like The FA, and alongside so many people dedicated to winning England teams and the growth of our game, excites me every day.”

England have next year's World Cup in Brazil to look forward to before they turn attentions to another Euros, as runners-up in Australia to Spain three years ago.

The Lionesses recently qualified for the second round of the play-offs to get to the competition next summer, beating Greece 8-1 on aggregate last week to set up a tie with Ukraine.

“My main concern right now is absolutely the World Cup, and helping this squad realise their potential in the years to come,” Wiegman said, adding, “We have an important job to do to confirm our place in Brazil, and hopefully we can do that and give the country another special summer to remember next year.”

Wiegman has overseen a golden era in English women's football since taking over the reins from Phil Neville in September 2021.

The national team triumphed at Wembley Stadium to beat Germany in the final of Euro 2022 to lift the Lionesses' first-ever trophy, before beating the Spanish last summer, as Wiegman became the manager in history – men's or women's – to reach five consecutive major international finals.

Should England reach the World Cup next summer, they will go into the tournament as one of the favourites alongside the likes of Spain and the United States, but with the Lionesses still in transition, it could be the final tournament for a number of familiar faces who have enjoyed recent success under Wiegman.

The draw for the World Cup takes place on December 11 at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ahead of the Dutchwoman is looking to become the first coach to win four successive European Championships in 2029, after equalling Christina Theune's record of three with Germany last summer.

Wiegman has a 70 per cent win record as England manager, with 58 victories from 82 fixtures and just 11 losses in her five years in charge.

Liverpool are hoping to plug their centre-of-the-park holes by securing the services of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, setting up a potential reunion with new Reds boss Andoni Iraola.

Currently positioned fifth in the Premier League standings, Liverpool’s midfield, which contains the likes of chronic under-performers in Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister, remains an issue.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, fans of the Reds should “save the name" ahead of the winter transfer window, claiming: "I'm maintaining Alex Scott for 2027."

Liverpool’s pursuit of Alex Scott intensifies ahead of winter transfer window: report

Elsewhere in the Reds’ midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai, the club’s best-performing player in Arne Slot’s dismal last season at Liverpool, is at risk of breaking down, having missed clashes with LASK in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League.

Ryan Gravenberch, once a guaranteed starter in Liverpool’s title-winning 2024-25 unit, is also experiencing reduced minutes, with Trey Nyoni stepping in for the Dutchman.

As relayed and added to by TEAMtalk, various clubs are in pursuit of Scott, with Chelsea believing they are in pole position to sign the Englishman.

According to transfer expert Romano, the 23-year-old’s club are open to selling in January, with his departure being a “genuine and serious possibility.”

“After a number of meetings between his agents and Bournemouth, the decision of the club is to change their stance in the January transfer window,” began Romano.

“In the summer, Chelsea tried twice to sign Alex Scott. Arsenal called before signing Bruno Guimaraes. Liverpool called to understand the situation without sending any bid. All the English top clubs [were] trying to understand the situation.

“Chelsea were the more aggressive and Bournemouth told all these clubs that the player is not for sale. The player is going nowhere. Then they wanted Alex Scott to sign a new contract but there was no agreement. Now Bournemouth are open to selling Alex Scott already in the January window.

“So, Scott leaving in January is a genuine and serious possibility, [but] this depends on the proposal. Sources close to Bournemouth believe it has to be, at minimum, £100 million.

“It has to be big money in order to open doors. Let me clarify, Bournemouth could be open to selling if the bid is a good bid, an important bid, and if the player wants to go. So these have to be the conditions.”

It appears that Scott’s exit in January is now a firm possibility, with the Bournemouth table having been reset ahead of approaches from the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea this winter.

Should Iraola’s men look to march on in the Champions League, or alert their rivals to a future Premier League title charge, then the Reds’ activity in relation to Scott will be one to monitor.

“They're playing with two wingers and Wirtz at 10, so they're relying heavily on the two midfield players to try and cover so much space,” Danny Murphy said on BBC Match of the Day just hours after Wirtz created nine open-play chances, the most by a single player in a Premier League game since January 2021.

“Instead of a No.10, where Wirtz is struggling to impact games, put three midfielders in.”

It speaks to the hysteria that hangs like smog around Florian Wirtz that he cannot escape criticism even when his creativity sets a five-year Premier League record and inspires Liverpool to a gritty win at Brentford.

Does Wirtz hold the key to a post-Klopp utopia?

It isn’t just the price tag that makes Wirtz a lightning rod. Slight and silky – ‘twinkle-toed’, is the word they would spit back in the day – Wirtz can be guilty of an apologetically light touch, playing with all the charisma of a man excuse-me-ing his way through a mosh pit to get to the toilets.

More than that, Wirtz is the grand symbol of the post-Klopp world that Liverpool are struggling to birth. If only they could tap into his talent, if only his hesitancy fell away, then Liverpool’s identity would emerge.

That might turn out to be true, just not quite how anyone had planned.

In the second half on Saturday, when searching for a plan to break down ten-man Brentford, Andoni Iraola stumbled upon a tactical solution to the Wirtz problem – and it’s disarmingly simple.

When Wirtz rose to prominence at Bayer Leverkusen by contributing 22 goals and assists in consecutive Bundesliga seasons, 2023/24 and 2024/25, he was almost exclusively deployed in a 3-4-3 system as one of two number tens. Just as Xabi Alonso now (usually) deploys Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer together in the middle, it was Alonso who started playing Wirtz with a partner, Jonas Hoffman.

In other words, Wirtz is being played out of position. Perhaps his problems in England have nothing to do with physicality or speed, but formation and positioning. My message to Murphy: they don’t need one less No.10, they need one more.

Liverpool switched to an unusually lopsided 4-2-3-1 after Rio Ngumoha came on, with Rio, nominally on the right, effectively playing as a second number ten alongside Wirtz, a move that overwhelmed Brentford centrally.

It might seem like a minor shift for Wirtz, but the difference between operating alone or as one of two is enormous. That it led directly to both Liverpool goals is all the evidence we need of that.

The equaliser, when Wirtz took a brilliant touch before playing the through-ball to assist Victor Munoz’s goal, was thanks to that more Leverkusen-y shape; Wirtz only had space for the pass because Rio – starting in the middle – was tracked out wide by Mamadou Sangare, pulling the Brentford midfielder out of position:

Liverpool began to create chances at will from within that box-shaped midfield, leading to the winner, too, where space was found to cross into the penalty area only because Brentford had two No.10s to keep track of:

The obvious caveat is that Liverpool were playing against ten men. Other Wirtz critics might point to the fact that he lost possession 19 times, the second-most of any Liverpool player, and won just one of his nine duels.

But we can forget the details. By playing two number tens in the second half, Iraola mimicked the only system in which Wirtz has previously excelled. If unlocking Wirtz really is the key to discovering a new Liverpool, then a formation change is surely worth a try.

Sergio Ramos is exploring the possibility of a return to Europe, journeying back to La Liga with Getafe keen to sign the Spaniard.

If he does so, the 40-year-old would reunite with recent Getafe signing Dani Carvajal, whose time at Real Madrid overlapped with that of Ramos.

The club’s president, Angel Torres, has confirmed that the Spaniard’s name remains on the table, having held talks with the 40-year-old’s brother and representative, Rene Ramos.

Sergio Ramos set to make surprise La Liga return and reunite with Real Madrid team-mate

Ramos’ time with Mexican side Monterrey ended in December 2025. His final match, in which he struck a penalty versus Toluca, arrived in the Apertura Playoffs semi-final, which the Spaniard’s side lost 3-2.

The 40-year-old has been without a club since; now, according to Sport, Ramos is in contention to make a La Liga return, with Getafe interested and a reunion with Carvajal possible.

President Torres insisted that the club’s interest in Ramos is not new, then stressed that a move from Getafe would require manager Jose Bordalas’ sign-off.

“It's a topic that we've been chasing for a long time,” revealed Torres. “But it was not the priority. Now, we have that position well covered.

"It's not a position that, right now, needs [reinforcement]. The manager wanted [reinforcement in other positions]. But it's not too late yet. I mean, it's on the list for the future,” concluded Getafe’s president.

His comments explain Carvajal’s signing, with positions on Getafe’s flanks being high transfer priorities. The ex-Real Madrid man has signed for the La Liga side until June 2027, and could soon be joined by Ramos.

Torres clarified that, should the needs of Getafe and Bordalas change, then the 40-year-old would be considered for a transfer in 2027.

The La Liga side’s president confirmed that talks have been held with Rene Ramos, and that Getafe would be ‘willing to study the signing, if circumstances were favourable.’

Getafe are currently placed 15th in the La Liga table, having taken just eight points from eight matches in the Spanish top-flight.

Should the club’s dire form continue, Torres’ comments suggest that Ramos would be viewed as a solution making his potential La Liga return a reality.