24 h. ago Nottingham Forest horror show on home European return adds to Postecoglou pain

Ange Postecoglou finds himself in an awkward spot. As Midtjylland streamed forward on the counterattack to score their third goal of a sobering evening, the Nottingham Forest head coach rested both hands on his head. The scenes that followed were close to extraordinary, sections of the home support singing: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” Then things got even more painful, the same supporters singing the name of his predecessor Nuno Espírito Santo and many turning towards Evangelos Marinakis, watching on his own private television in the directors’ box.Postecoglou insisted Forest had done their homework and understood what was always going to be a tricky assignment. Postecoglou acknowledged Midtjylland would be messy opponents but their direct “vertical football” proved Forest’s undoing, the Danish side twice scoring from set pieces before Valdemar Byskov Andreasen capped the scoring after Dario Osorio pinched possession from Callum Hudson-Odoi deep in the Danish side’s half...

Events

24 h. ago Nottingham Forest fans call for Postecoglou axe after 23 days following European defeat

Ange Postecoglou finds himself in an awkward spot. As Midtjylland streamed forward on the counterattack to score their third goal of a sobering evening, the Nottingham Forest head coach rested both hands on his head. The scenes that followed were close to extraordinary, sections of the home support, just 23 days into the manager’s reign, singing: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” Then things got even more painful, the same fans singing the name of his predecessor Nuno Espírito Santo and many turning towards Evangelos Marinakis, watching on his own private television in the directors’ box.Postecoglou insisted Forest had done their homework and understood what was always going to be a tricky assignment. He acknowledged Midtjylland would be messy opponents but their direct “vertical football” proved Forest’s undoing, the Danish side twice scoring from set pieces before Valdemar Byskov Andreasen capped the scoring after Dario Osorio pinched possession from Callum Hudson-Odoi. Chri...

Politics

26 h. ago Crystal Palace extend unbeaten run as Muñoz gets European tilt off to flying start

The Crystal Palace juggernaut is showing no signs of slowing down. Goals from Daniel Muñoz and the substitute Eddie Nketiah ensured Oliver Glasner’s side marked their first appearance in the main phase of a European competition with a comfortable ­victory over Dynamo Kyiv despite a late red card for Borna Sosa.It was the perfect reward for the 3,500 supporters who had made the pilgrimage from south London to southern Poland as Palace made it 19 games unbeaten in all competitions to establish a new club record that dates back more than 50 years. Continue reading...

Politics

48 h. ago Martinelli and Saka on the money as Arsenal sweep Olympiakos aside

They like to talk about invincibility in this part of north London and it remains the only way to describe Mikel Arteta’s record with Arsenal in European group phase ties at the Emirates Stadium. It is now eight wins out of eight in the Champions League with zero goals conceded. If you want to add in the Europa League from earlier in his tenure, it is 14 victories out of 14 with two goals  against.Olympiakos had pitched up with a remarkable statistic of their own. They had won on their last three visits to this ground, the most recent two coming in the knockout rounds of the Europa League, even if the second in 2020-21 did not prevent an aggregate exit. Continue reading...

Sport

48 h. ago Late Dier penalty for Monaco pegs back Manchester City after Haaland double

It was all Manchester City’s fault that they did not leave Monaco without all three points. A piece of late mindlessness from Nico González gifted Eric Dier the chance to level and earned a draw for the hosts.It should have been so much easier for City after Erling Haaland proved their such a thing as a sure bet in Monte Carlo, as his double looked to have secured victory on a subdued night in the principality. Instead Jordan Teze was afforded too much space for the first equaliser and Dier could not turn down the opportunity. There is plenty of time to make up for the dropped points but it was a frustrating match for City who dominated from start to finish but never gave themselves a sufficient cushion that would see themselves over the line. Continue reading...

Events

50 h. ago Anthony Gordon double fires Newcastle to easy win at Union Saint

Eddie Howe had reason to be wary. Up against a young hotshot coach and his high-flying Belgian champions, Newcastle’s manager must have felt a degree of pressure at the kick-off.Given that Howe’s team are still coming to terms with the departure of their former leading scorer Alexander Isak and had been struggling for form, a balmy early October night in Brussels seemed far from the ideal time or place to meet Sébastian Pocognoli’s vibrant Union Saint-Gilloise. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago ‘I think you’re testing me’: Anthropic’s new AI model asks testers to come clean

Safety evaluation of Claude Sonnet 4.5 raises questions about whether predecessors ‘played along’, firm saysIf you are trying to catch out a chatbot take care, because one cutting-edge tool is showing signs it knows what you are up to.Anthropic, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company, has released a safety analysis of its latest model, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and revealed it had become suspicious it was being tested in some way. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Late own goal rescues point for Spurs at Bodø/Glimt after Hauge double

These are strange times for Tottenham. Historically they’ve often been a side whose performances didn’t match their results, but tradition has it they would be pretty and ineffective. Under Thomas Frank they’ve become the opposite. Just as at Brighton they went 2-0 down and came back to draw; again, there was more to admire in their character than how they played. And if Andreas Helmersen’s effort hadn’t hit the bar with a couple of minutes remaining, it would have been a very different story.This was Bodø/Glimt’s first home game in the group phase of the Champions League, and they were determined to make the most of it. The pre-match singing of the club anthem was heartfelt and gently moving, and followed by the rhythmic detonation of a series of fireworks, startlingly loud in the still Arctic night. European football has little place these days for romance but Glimt remain an example of what can be achieved by enlightened leadership even in a remote town of just over 50,000 popula...

Events

3 d. ago Victor Osimhen fires Galatasaray to victory on hellish night for Liverpool

Reigning Premier League champions and league leaders may be held to higher standards but concerns grow for Liverpool. Arne Slot’s side suffered back-to-back defeats after falling to Galatasaray in Istanbul. Their performance may trouble Liverpool’s head coach greater than the result.Liverpool were short on ideas and again suspect defensively as they were beaten by Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty. Defeat could have been heavier had the Galatasaray striker not squandered two clear openings early in the second half and it needed the 62nd minute introduction of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak to inject direction into the Liverpool attack. The visitors were almost reprieved by the award of an 89th minute penalty for a suspected foul on Ibrahima Konaté but even that did not go their way. Referee Clément Turpin overturned his decision after being sent to the pitch-side monitor by the video assistant referee. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago No happy Chelsea return for José Mourinho as own goal sinks Benfica

One-nil to Chelsea, a messy own-goal the difference, a defensive display solid enough to raise belief for tougher assignments to come. It was enough given the context, so much so that José Mourinho probably even appreciated the efficiency. He was back at Stamford Bridge to witness it all – a greyer figure these days, no longer the explosive touchline presence of old – and had little to offer beyond a few humble waves when the home fans sang their former manager’s name.Chelsea avoid any stumbles on their trip down memory lane. The narrative about how Mourinho’s return would show how far his old club’s standards have dropped never materialised. There was no alchemy from the 62-year-old; no expert tactical plan to confound Enzo Maresca. Then again the Mourinho of 2025 is not in charge of one of the Champions League’s giants. Benfica were a tepid proposition and rarely looked capable of denying Chelsea a narrow victory. The only negative for the hosts was João Pedro seeing red in stoppa...

Politics

4 d. ago Bowen hits back at Everton to secure point for West Ham in Nuno’s first game

Only 20 days after his sacking by Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espírito Santo was back in a Premier League dugout and reminding himself why he returned so quickly. A revitalised West Ham earned a point at Everton, and deserved more after a fine second-half performance.It is a green shoot of hope, which did not look forthcoming before the break when Everton held a lead thanks to Michael Keane’s header. West Ham equalised through a superb Jarrod Bowen strike and from then on were the most likely winners. It was not to be for Nuno but he knows this point and performance give him a platform to build on. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Premier League star insists players ready to STRIKE as new analysis comes to light

The battle for footballers' well being continues with FIFPRO having released a new report following analysis on this summer's FIFA Club World Cup

Sport

4 d. ago Concerns raised over Lamine Yamal after ‘alarming’ report on player welfare

Global players' union Fifpro believes the workload placed on Yamal could risk his ‘long-term development and well-being’

Sport

4 d. ago The Mancunian Way: 'In my day Sunday league football was like a religion'

A special report into the state of grassroots football in Greater Manchester

Sport

5 d. ago Ollie Watkins ends drought to spark Aston Villa comeback win over Fulham

How Aston Villa needed this, a first league victory of the season easing the increased weight of expectation in these parts. A nervy Europa League win over Bologna on Thursday offered a slim platform on which to build and this week Unai Emery reiterated the Premier League remains Villa’s priority.Fulham punished Villa for another flat start with Raúl Jiménez heading in from a corner inside three minutes but Ollie Watkins’s first goal of the season and two strikes across two second-half minutes, courtesy of John McGinn and Emiliano Buendía, earned a comeback victory. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Ella Toone leads Manchester United to WSL derby win over lowly Liverpool

Liverpool’s wait for their first points of the Women’s Super League season continued as a well-oiled Manchester United side enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable derby victory in St Helens. United had lost three of their past four WSL meetings with Liverpool, but on Sunday there appeared to be a significant gulf in quality between the two sides as the visitors extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign.Liverpool’s German goalkeeper, Rafaela Borggräfe, made her first WSL appearance and started her second consecutive game in all competitions, despite currently being under investigation by the Football Association for an alleged racist comment that was overheard by teammates and staff during pre-season. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Ella Toone leads Manchester United to WSL win over lowly Liverpool

Gareth Taylor was frustrated by his Liverpool side’s lack of energy in the first half, as the wait for their first points of the Women’s Super League season continued with a home defeat against Manchester United.United, who fully merited their ­victory, had lost three of their ­previous four WSL meetings with ­Liverpool, but On Sunday there appeared to be a significant gulf in quality between the sides as the ­visitors extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign thanks to Hinata Miyazawa’s and Ella Toone’s goals. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Palhinha strikes in stoppage time to spare Tottenham blushes and deny Wolves

From zero to thwarted heroes, life breathes yet through Wolves. Though it should have been three points rather than one. Wolves had been full of a fight and determination hitherto lacking from their season, only for João Palhinha to strike an equaliser in the depths of stoppage time.It had been close to a tactical triumph for Vítor Pereira, linked with the West Ham job that is now Wolves predecessor Nuno Espírito Santo’s. Pereira signed a new, three-year contract last week, despite his team being on nil Premier League points. From a home defeat by Leeds last week that heightened the growing disquiet at Molineux, his starting team selection featured nine changes, including an initial shift to four at the back. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Sunderland sink Nottingham Forest to leave Ange Postecoglou waiting for win

Sunderland continued their dream start back in the Premier League as Omar Alderete’s first-half goal elevated them into the Champions League places but for Nottingham Forest, for whom qualifying for Europe was not enough for Nuno Espírito Santo to keep his job beyond the season’s first international break, the wait for Ange Postecoglou’s first win in charge at the City Ground stretches to five games.Postecoglou took an understandably low-key approach to entering the City Ground dugout for the first time as Forest manager before the game, but it was the Sunderland fans who were celebrating come full-time after Alderete, their Paraguayan defender signed for £10m from Getafe in the summer, headed in the winning strike. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Eli Kroupi’s late volley for Bournemouth makes Farke rue Leeds’ missed chances

It was a day when Leeds realised the harsh realities of being a Premier League team. Two lapses in concentration allowed Bournemouth to leave with a point, preventing the home side from securing back-to-back victories.Antoine Semenyo was allowed to drill a first-half free-kick under the wall and past a draught excluder of insufficient length. Ironically, Leeds got themselves back into the game thanks to set pieces; Joe Rodon and Sean Longstaff turned things around from corners and Leeds battled to hold on, only to leave Eli Kroupi in space, from where he volleyed home an injury-time leveller. Continue reading...

Politics