Key events
To the continent now, where – for now – domestic football will be played after a Uefa decision. Or, more properly, delay of a decision.
Further to the Selles reports, the heavy suggestion is Chris Wilder returns to manage the club for a third spell at Sheffield United. Let’s face it, even when he was managing Middlesbrough and Watford, it still felt like his club.
Will Unwin
Will Unwin will be at Turf Moor today for Burnley v Liverpool.
It was a year ago, after an international break, when Arne Slot suffered his first loss as Liverpool head coach. The Reds were surprised at home by Nottingham Forest after starting the season with a 100% record. Slipping up in Lancashire is not part of the thinking.
Burnley await today at Turf Moor. Scott Parker’s side have won their only home league game so far this season, brushing aside Sunderland but the quality of the opposition steps up today. Slot can call upon £125m striker Alexander Isak, although it is highly likely he will start on the bench.
It is a sign of the strength in depth available at Liverpool, who have spent heavily in the summer after finishing top of the pile. They will make many teams fearful this season but the Clarets are not one, happy to go toe-to-toe with anyone. Reputations are not overthought at Burnley, everyone is seen as beatable and they will be keen to get into the faces of these most illustrious opponents.
Talking of managers under pressure, there’s Russell Martin, whose press duties on Saturday saw him in a quarrel with fan media.
Look at that table.
Reports of Selles sacking by Blades
There are reports – so far unconfirmed – that Ruben Selles has been sacked by Sheffield United. That will come as little surprise to anyone who watched their game at Ipswich on Friday. Or any of their games so far this season.
The WSL’s second week of action is here, with four matches.
12pm: Aston Villa v Chelsea
12pm: Leicester v Liverpool
12pm: London City v Manchester United
2.30pm: Everton v Totttenham
Tom Garry will be our man at Goodison, the new/old home of Everton’s women’s team, and we will be following the goals from 12pm as they go in.
A rather easy win on Friday night for Arsenal over the Hammers.
Talking of Alexander Isak, a rundown of the greatest hits and misses of big money Premier League purchases.
Jonathan Wilson thinks it might be over for Pep Guardiola. Is Jonathan Wilson right about it being over for Pep Guardiola?
Two current Premier League managers worked as Guardiola’s assistants, Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta. Although both have developed along their own paths, they offer a snapshot of where Pepism was at the moment they set out alone: Maresca comes from the days of control through possession; Arteta from the era of four central defenders across the back. A tactical assessment of the elite is like a vertical tasting of Pepism.
Ruben Amorim isn’t exactly sparing the rod when it comes to Kobbie Mainoo.
“He’s not used to fighting for his place, maybe,” Amorim said. “He’s uncomfortable, but he’s a very good kid. He wants to learn. Sometimes it’s hard to push different things from the players.”
Under Ten Hag, Mainoo scored United’s FA Cup-winning goal against Manchester City in the 2024 final. Later that summer he started England’s European Championship final defeat by Spain. When reminded of this pedigree Amorim pointed to Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha, who when on loan at Wolves for the 2020-21 season made only five league starts, as an example to Mainoo.
“I remember Vitinha was not playing for Wolverhampton,” Amorim said of his compatriot. “Nowadays, you can see that Vitinha is maybe the best midfielder in the world. So you never know. Something can happen sometimes.”
Will we see Alexander Isak at Burnley?
Isak featured for only 18 minutes during the international break due to his lack of match fitness. He had spent time training alone at former club Real Sociedad during the summer but did not feature during that time. Slot admitted it will take the player time to get up to speed but has no doubt he will eventually display his talents for Liverpool.
One of the most bizarre own-goals you will see.
Arsenal looked very strong in Big Ange’s return to North London.
The south coast derby spoils went to Dorset rather than Sussex.
There’s a new local (German) hero on the Toon.
It was goalless at Selhurst Park.
And at the Hill-Dickinson.
Let’s roll through Saturday’s action, starting with a riotous second half at the Gtech.
A London derby pounding was handed out to West Ham.
The Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, has been speaking to the BBC’s Kelly Somers ahead of the derby:
BF – “Before the games I could get nervous. During the game, I just think about the goal we have for the game. What we have to do. I remember every step that we’ve trained. I remember every step that my teammates have to do. I remember every position, what they have to do. Like when I go to the training session, I focus not just on what I have to do, but what’s around me, because it could change that I have to play in a different position. It could change that.
“We change something, and a teammate is not very aware of where he has to be or which position he should stay on. Set pieces, everything. I know exactly where everyone has to be. So that’s the only nervous thing, is that it’s getting everything into my memory. So I can remember in the game every step. Also, when I’m on the ball, I know every movement that my teammates have to do so to be aware of. Like I’m on the ball here. So what we trained is this. But obviously you have to think that in a split second. So but it gets automatically because I have to think about that during the week until the game.”
KS – “What is the one thing that you think people who maybe don’t know you as well get wrong about you the most?”
BF – “Nothing. People have an opinion about me and I can’t change that. It’s the way people want to judge you about what they see on most of the people, what they see on the pitch, some of them, what they see on the television, some of them what they see on interviews. You know, I can’t change that. They have the freedom to think the way they want about me, as I have the same freedom to think about them. But what I don’t do is I don’t judge people until I know them. They can. They can have an opinion about me and that’s fine. We all have opinion, different opinions that that’s why life is so good and so different. Because if we all think the same way, it will be so boring.”
Video: Jamie Jackson asks if being Manchester United manager is the hardest job in football – and whether the pressure pendulum might swing if City are beaten in today’s derby.
Preamble
Sunday morning, brings the dawn in. It’s just a restless feeling by my side. Yes, welcome to another Sunday session of buildup to the Premier League action, and beyond. Just two games today, no multi-screen action required. It’s a big day in the north west.
The champions travel to Fortress Scott Parker, and then a battle of two teams that have struggled so far this season. Is it over for Pep? Almost certainly not.
All that, the latest news and a look-back on Saturday’s action. Join us.
