I’ll leave you with match reports from a dramatic day. Thanks for joining me, it’s been real. Bye!
Updated
Gary Cahill, thrust in front of the Sky microphone, just said Chelsea are “in a difficult moment”. Arsenal could force Antonio Conte’s mob out of the top four with a draw or more at Watford. Join Rob Smyth for that one:
Charlton have sealed a 1-0 win over Doncaster – that game was delayed after the referee was hurt in a collision and had to be stretchered off. We wish him well.
In Europe, Real Madrid got the job done at Getafe, while Neymar, Mbappé and co sill can’t find a breakthrough at Dijon.
Updated
In the FA Cup, Hereford are back in the first round draw after upsetting Eastleigh 2-1. Hartlepool dodged a shock with a 2-1 win over South Shields, while Shildon were ultimately overpowered at Guiseley, losing 6-0. Sutton United squeaked past Paulton 3-2 and are back in the hat for more Cup high jinks.
“Was wondering why Civil Service Strollers lost heavily in the Scottish Cup” asks Dennis Mumby. “I’ve always thought of CSS as pretty solid at the back, if a little uncreative and bureaucratic going forward.”
If they’d be willing to break into a jog, they could really go places.
In Scotland, Celtic beat Dundee 1-0, Aberdeen held on to win at Hibs, and Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Hearts all won away from home.
The big scorelines were elsewhere: it finished East Fife 5-4 Albion in League One, while in the Scottish Cup, we had Buckie Thistle 6-2 BSC Glasgow, Civil Service Strollers 0-5 Brora, Peterhead 9-0 Colville Park and Stirling Albion 3-5 Lothian Thistle.
And there was late heartbreak for Dalkurd in Sweden, who led Osters 1-0 but fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Championship
Barnsley 2-2 Middlesbrough
Bolton 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford 1-0 Millwall
Fulham 2-2 Preston
Leeds United 0-1 Reading
Norwich City 1-1 Hull City
Sheffield United 1-0 Ipswich Town
Sunderland 1-1 QPR
League One
Bristol Rovers 0-1 Oxford United
Bury 3-1 Bradford
Charlton 1-0 Doncaster (L)
Fleetwood 2-2 Rochdale
Northampton 0-1 Wimbledon
Oldham 1-0 Blackburn
Peterborough 0-1 Gillingham
Plymouth 1-1 Shrewsbury
Portsmouth 2-0 Milton Keynes
Rotherham 2-0 Scunthorpe
Walsall 1-1 Blackpool
Wigan 3-0 Southend
League Two
Accrington 1-0 Coventry
Chesterfield 0-2 Morecambe
Colchester 0-1 Carlisle
Forest Green 0-4 Newport
Grimsby 0-0 Crawley
Lincoln 0-0 Cambridge
Luton 7-1 Stevenage
Mansfield 1-3 Swindon
Notts County 2-1 Barnet
Port Vale 3-1 Cheltenham
Wycombe 0-0 Exeter
Yeovil 2-0 Crewe
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There’s late drama in the Championship too – Norwich have equalised at home to Hull, and Denis Odoi’s 96th minute goal makes it Fulham 2-2 Preston.
Updated
Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid (Ronaldo 85')
Cristiano gets his team out of a jam for the 300th time, firing home clinically to surely snatch the win!
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Full time: Tottenham 1-0 Bournemouth
It wasn’t pretty, but Spurs get over the line at Wembley, and are sitting pretty in third place.
Full time: Burnley 1-1 West Ham
Michail Antonio’s goal put West Ham ahead but Andy Carroll’s busy elbows left them up against it, and Chris Wood snatched a point for the hosts.
Full time: Swansea City 2-0 Huddersfield
Two goals from Tammy Abraham either side of half time as Swansea earn a welcome win.
Full time: Manchester City 7-2 Stoke City
A scoreline that speaks for itself. City have scored 29 goals in their first eight games – the most in the top flight since the 19th century.
Full time: Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea
No points, no goals in their first seven games – and in their eighth, Palace have picked off the champions! Mr Roy is grinning like a Cheshire cat, and well he might.
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Leeds win a late penalty – but Pablo Hernandez’s weak effort is saved! Luton lead Stevenage 6-1, Wigan have beaten Southend 3-0, and Oldham have snatched victory over Blackburn thanks to my new favourite footballer, Queensy Menig.
Spurs have a four-on-one breakaway but Moussa Sissoko manages to make a mess of it. Still 1-0, with time running out for Bournemouth.
Palace are holding on, with Andros Townsend spurning a chance to finish Chelsea off. Mamadou Sakho almost ruins everything moments later, trying a crafty backheel instead of the required hoof into Row Z. Cesc Fábregas so nearly got on the end of it. Oh Mamadou!
Isco has been summoned from the bench by Zinedine Zidane with Real Madrid still level at Getafe. Dijon have handled the heat so far against PSG – it’s 0-0 at half time.
Late goals in League One, as Nick Powell doubles Wigan’s lead, James Henry puts Oxford ahead at Bristol Rovers and Bury go 3-1 up at Bradford.
@niallmcveigh City vs Stoke #EPL https://t.co/3yZ0hQ7bGm
— AJ Carlos (@moxcarlitos) October 14, 2017
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 1-1 West Ham (Wood 85')
West Ham’s resistance falls just short, as Chris Wood climbs to head home and bring Burnley level.
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Big goal at Elland Road – and it’s gone to Reading, Modou Barrow putting the visitors in front late on.
In League One, Fleetwood were a goal and a man down at Rochdale, but Devante Cole (son of Andy) has scored his eighth league goal of the season to level things up.
In Germany, Bayern powered to a 5-0 win over Freiburg, with Robert Lewandowski and Joshua Kimmich adding late goals. In the day’s other results, Mainz beat Hamburg 3-2, Schalke won 2-0 at Hertha, Frankfurt won 2-1 at Hannover and Hoffenheim were held at home by Augsburg.
Port Vale began the day bottom of the Football League, but lead Cheltenham 3-0. In League One, leaders Shrewsbury are level at Plymouth through Shaun Whalley. Forest Green continue to look a little out of their depth – they’re 3-0 down at home to Newport.
GOAL! Manchester City 7-2 Stoke (Bernardo Silva 79')
Bernardo Silva gets his first Manchester City goal, set up by Raheem Sterling. Fair to say things are starting to click for Pep Guardiola in England.
Updated
Jermain Defoe almost returns to haunt Spurs, forcing Hugo Lloris to save with his feet from a Jordan Ibe cross. Spurs still looking shaky at Wembley. Britt Assombalonga’s sixth of the season has got Middlesbrough level at Barnsley, while Hull are hanging on at Norwich after David Meyler’s red card.
It’s shaping up to be a decent day for the Championship’s strugglers. Bolton lead Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, Aiden McGeady has got Sunderland level at home to QPR, Reading are holding on at Leeds, and Brentford lead Millwall thanks to Romaine Sawyers.
Updated
GOAL! Getafe 1-1 Real Madrid (Molina 56')
Real’s stuttering start to La Liga is in danger of continuing, as the hosts equalise. Moments after Guaita made a fine save to deny Marcelo, Jorge Melina converts from Francisco Portillo’s pass.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson has rattled the post for Burnley, while Chelsea are getting on top at Selhurst Park, roared on by Antonio Conte. They won at Atlético Madrid; are they about to lose at Crystal Palace?
Luke Berry has a hat-trick, and Luton are bossing the derby against Stevenage. In the Scottish Cup, League Two leaders Stirling are having a day to forget - they’re 5-1 down to non-league Lothian Thistle.
Graham Carey has set up a shock in League One, putting bottom club Plymouth ahead against leaders Shrewsbury. Elsewhere, Wimbledon lead at Northampton and Portsmouth lead Milton Keynes 2-0.
GOAL! Manchester City 6-2 Stoke (Sané 62')
Stoke must regret winding their hosts up with those two goals. Another dreamy through ball from Kevin de Bruyne, and Leroy Sané slots the ball home. City are going top, and look terrifying.
GOAL! Manchester City 5-2 Stoke (Fernandinho 60')
How many goals will City score this season? This is No27 already, Fernandinho strolling on to a Delph pass and blasting the ball past Butland from 30 yards.
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West Ham are a goal up and a man down, but are looking comfortable at Turf Moor, with Pedro Obiang on in place of Arnautovic. Sam Vokes is off the bench for Burnley and bringing the expected nuisance value. At Wembley, Harry Kane heads past Begovic, but is flagged offside.
GOAL! Manchester City 4-2 Stoke (Jesus 53')
Guardiola’s mob get their acts together and Gabriel Jesus gets their fourth, and his sixth in the league this season, thanks to another dazzling assist from Kevin de Bruyne. That came moments after Tom Edwards was stretchered off after an impressive debut, which is a great shame.
Sheffield United get the breakthrough at Bramall Lane, John Fleck crossing to Chris Basham, who scores his first goal in a year. Rochdale have started the second half at a fair whip – they’ve scored twice to lead Fleetwood 2-0.
Updated
In the Cup, which the FA are making impressively hard to follow, South Shields lead Hartlepool 1-0 at half-time, Sutton are being held by Paulton Rovers on their sloping pitch, and Hereford lead 2-0 at Eastleigh.
Dijon v PSG has kicked off, prompting this from Simon McMahon:
“I wonder how Dijon will get on against PSG? I’m keen as mustard to find out. PSG may be hot, but Dijon’s whole (grain) hearted approach could allow them to ‘ketchup’ with the leaders...”
GOAL! Swansea 2-0 Huddersfield (Abraham 48')
Tammy Abraham’s fifth goal of the season gives Swansea some breathing space, the striker popping up to prod the ball home after Jordan Ayew had done the hard work.
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GOAL! Manchester City 3-2 Stoke (Walker OG 48')
Well. Young debutant Tom Edwards whips in a cross and Diouf gets his head to it. It’s flying wide, but cannons off Kyle Walker and bounces into the net!
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GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Bournemouth (Eriksen 47')
Mauricio Pochettino must have got his message across in the Wembley dressing room. Christian Eriksen fires home to ease home fans’ nerves.
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In Scotland, Celtic are being held by Dundee while Aberdeen lead at Hibs, thanks to Gary Mackay-Steven. Steve Clarke will like what he sees, the new Kilmarnock manager watching as his team lead at Partick. Elsewhere, it’s Hamilton 1-1 Motherwell and Ross County 1-1 Hearts.
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Football League half times
Championship
Barnsley 2-1 Middlesbrough
Bolton 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford 0-0 Millwall
Fulham 0-2 Preston
Leeds United 0-0 Reading
Norwich City 0-1 Hull City
Sheffield United 0-0 Ipswich Town
Sunderland 0-1 QPR
League One
Bristol Rovers 0-0 Oxford United
Bury 2-1 Bradford
Charlton 1-0 Doncaster
Fleetwood 1-0 Rochdale
Northampton 0-0 Wimbledon
Oldham 0-0 Blackburn
Peterborough 0-1 Gillingham
Plymouth 0-0 Shrewsbury
Portsmouth 2-0 Milton Keynes
Rotherham 1-0 Scunthorpe
Walsall 1-0 Blackpool
Wigan 1-0 Southend
League Two
Accrington 1-0 Coventry
Chesterfield 0-1 Morecambe
Colchester 0-0 Carlisle
Forest Green 0-2 Newport
Grimsby 0-0 Crawley
Lincoln 0-0 Cambridge
Luton 3-1 Stevenage
Mansfield 0-2 Swindon
Notts County 1-0 Barnet
Port Vale 1-0 Cheltenham
Wycombe 0-0 Exeter
Yeovil 1-0 Crewe
GOAL! Getafe 0-1 Real Madrid (Benzema 40')
Karim Benzema barrels into the box and fires into the bottom left corner, and Real lead just before half-time.
Thiago Alcantara has put Bayern 3-0 up over Freiburg, while Hertha Berlin, a man down at half-time against Schalke, have gone behind to a Leon Goretzka penalty. Mainz lead Hamburg 3-1, and Ben Hubner has put Hoffenheim ahead against Augsburg.
It’s been a quiet first half in Getafe so far, save for a pitch invader in full kit:
'Cristiano Ronaldo' escorted off the pitch pic.twitter.com/mxcdpa3X7N
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) October 14, 2017
Premier League half times
Burnley 0-1 West Ham
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea (!)
Manchester City 3-1 Stoke City
Tottenham 0-0 Bournemouth
Swansea City 1-0 Huddersfield Town
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GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea (Zaha 45')
Palace are back in front, and it’s the returning Wilfried Zaha who gets it! Mamadou Sakho bustles Willian off the ball and plays a through pass to Zaha, who finishes with the requisite aplomb. Selhurst Park is rocking again.
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GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Stoke City (Diouf 44')
Stoke pull one back! Diouf cuts inside Delph and sees his low, angled shot deflected into the net.
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GOAL! Swansea City 1-0 Huddersfield (Abraham 42')
A most welcome goal for Swansea, and it’s a gift from visiting keeper Jonas Lossl. His pass out from the back is as shocking as Huddersfield’s away kit and Tom Carroll pounces, setting up Tammy Abraham for his fourth of the season.
Another injury blow for Chelsea, as Victor Moses picks up what looks like a hamstring injury. He’s replaced by Davide Zappacosta. In the Championship, Nouha Dicko has fired Hull ahead against Norwich, and – oh dear – QPR lead 1-0 at Sunderland. Idrissa Sylla has got the goal.
Thanks to Konstantin Sauer for pointing out that in Berlin, Hertha players took a knee before kick-off:
Hertha BSC steht für Vielfalt, Toleranz und Verantwortung! Für ein Berlin, dass auch in Zukunft weltoffen ist! #TakeAKnee #hahohe pic.twitter.com/KNEGPiGEyq
— Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) October 14, 2017
Penalty shouts ahoy, as Tom Ince topples over a leg in the Swansea penalty area while at Burnley there’s a more convincing appeal as Joe Hart goes sliding out and catches Chris Wood as he goes past him. Stuart Attwell awards only a corner.
Updated
Bayern Munich lead Freiburg 2-0 at half-time, Kingsley Coman getting the second. In other news I’ve been trying to sneak in amid the barrage of Premier League goals, Alex Neil’s impressive Preston side are 2-0 up at Fulham. As of right now, they’re up to second in the Championship.
Red card! Andy Carroll is off!
Two quick yellow cards in quick succession for Andy Carroll, both for leading with the elbow as he battled for the ball. West Ham still lead, but for how long?
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Manchester City 3-0 Stoke City (David Silva 27')
Ain’t no stopping this train at the Etihad, as Sterling collects Sané’s cross and picks out David Silva with a clever cut-back. Mark Hughes’ face must be a picture.
We’ve not heard much from Wembley, so here’s a bit of beat poetry from Jeremy Dresner:
“The Spurs guys in white look dazzling and the Cherries look dazed and glazed. Davidson Sanchez in particular is pushing further into red and black territory. Glazed cherries... yum.”
Shola Ameobi has joined Sammy on the scoresheet, netting for Notts County at home to Barnet. Those two can’t have scored on the same day all that often. Not sure what happened to Bradford – they’re now 2-1 down at Bury. No such trouble for Luton, as Luke Berry’s second puts them 3-0 up over Stevenage.
GOAL! Burnley 0-1 West Ham (Antonio 19')
It’s raining goals in the top flight, and West Ham are in front at Turf Moor. Mee and Tarkowski get in a pickle under a Joe Hart hoof forward, and Michail Antonio pounces, going round Nick Pope and slotting home.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Stoke City (Sterling 19')
Ruh roh. Stoke are two goals down inside 20 minutes as Raheem Sterling finishes off another silky move engineered by Kevin de Bruyne.
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GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea (Bakayoko 18')
Ah. Palace may have looked good going forward, but they’re a reliable shambles at the back, and Tiémoué Bakayoko equalises for the visitors quick smart.
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GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City (Jesus 17')
That didn’t take long. Kyle Walker intercepts the ball, plays a one-two with Kevin de Bruyne and rolls a cross to Gabriel Jesus who scores, and presumably does that telephone thing afterwards.
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Another drought over in dramatic fashion, as Bolton end their own 12-hour barren run against Sheffield Wednesday. It’s Sammy Ameobi who’s got it, while Wigan, Charlton and Portsmouth all lead in League One.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea (Cabaye 11')
Do not refresh your browser. Palace have actually scored! Yohan Cabaye is the name on the scoresheet, after lunging for a cross with Cesar Azpilicueta. I’ll wager Roy Hodgson couldn’t care less who scored it.
Updated
Value for money for Oakwell patrons, as Cameron McGeehan puts Barnsley straight back ahead. And a first goal in League One, as Charlie Wyke bags his seventh of the season for Bradford City at Bury.
Big chance for the hosts at the Etihad, as Leroy Sané smashes a shot over the bar from close range. Manchester City well on top early on there. You can say the same for Luton, already two up over Stevenage – but Middlesbrough have pegged Barnsley back, care of Martin Braithwaite.
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Early goals in League Two as Luton lead Stevenage 1-0, while Amine Linganzi has put Swindon ahead at Mansfield.
Oof! Wilfried Zaha, playing up front for Palace, has a great chance to put them ahead – but Courtois denies him from close range! Put simply, they cannot score.
Middlesbrough are off to a shocking start at Oakwell, as Ezekiel Fryers’ corner ricochets through a crowd of players, and in off Ashley Fletcher. At Swansea, Leroy Fer clatters Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lossl inside 30 seconds.
Here we go
Football is kicking off right about ... now. Don’t forget, you can get fancy new notifications direct to your phone, via our app. Do it immediately!
Here’s Simon McMahon from north o’ the border:
Afternoon Niall. Dundee United travel to face Livingston in the Scottish Championship in confident mood after winning 3-1 at Dunfermline in their last league outing. Elsewhere, St. Mirren are at Dumbarton and Falkirk host Inverness. In the big league Celtic will surely stretch their unbeaten domestic run to 59 matches at home to struggling Dundee. The last time the Glasgow side lost to Scottish opposition, David Cameron was still Prime Minister, José Mourinho was between jobs and Brexit wasn’t even a thing. Hibs entertain Aberdeen and Hamilton welcome Motherwell in the pick of the other Premiership games. It’s also the Scottish Cup second round - ties include Cowdenbeath v East Kilbride, Civil Service Strollers v Brora Rangers and Spartans v Clachnacuddin.
Our man at the Liberty Stadium fears for Swansea today:
What has Mesa done? Doesn't even make the bench. One summer signing (a loan) in the starting XI. Got a shit or bust feel about it today.
— Stuart James (@StuartJamesGNM) October 14, 2017
It didn’t take long for Bayern to get the Jupp Heynckes era up and running – Thomas Müller has put the hosts ahead against Freiburg. Elsewhere in Germany, it’s Mainz 1-1 Hamburg and Hannover 0-1 Frankfurt.
Here’s how Real Madrid will line up in 45 minutes’ time. In a game sandwiched between internationals and the Champions League, Luka Modric and Isco are on the bench, while 18-year-old full-back Achraf Hakimi keeps his place in the side.
📝🏃 #RMLiga
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 14, 2017
¡El once inicial del #RealMadrid frente al @GetafeCF!#HalaMadrid #RMMovistar pic.twitter.com/7XgodVUsN8
The best of the rest
The game of the day in League One sees bottom v top at Home Park, where Plymouth host Shrewsbury. Second-placed Wigan host Southend, Bradford visit Bury and there’s north-west derbies in Fleetwood v Rochdale and Premier League 93-94 reissue Oldham v Blackburn.
Promotion hopefuls meet in League Two, with leaders Exeter heading to Wycombe and Coventry squaring up to Accrington. Notts County play Barnet, and there’s a tasty Thameslink derby as Luton face Stevenage.
In the FA Cup, Hartlepool face a local derby against eighth-tier South Shields while Shildon, the lowest-ranked team still involved, visit Guiseley. Hereford might fancy an upset at Eastleigh, and we’ll see how Sutton like it up ‘em at Paulton Rovers.
And if you can take any more football without bursting at the seams, Dalkurd are closing in on a miracle promotion in Sweden. Read their incredible story here.
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It’s finished Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United at Anfield. You can see what Rob Smyth made of it here.
More team news
Tottenham v Bournemouth
Tottenham: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sánchez, Vertonghen, Trippier; Winks, Dier; Son, Eriksen, Alli; Kane.
Subs: Vorm, Nkoudou, Sissoko, Llorente, Foyth, Aurier, Walker-Peters.
Bournemouth: Begovic; Adam Smith, Francis, Steve Cook, Aké; Daniels, Lewis Cook, Surman, Gosling, Stanislas; King.
Subs: Boruc, Pugh, Arter, Afobe, Defoe, Mousset, Ibe.
Referee: Robert Madley
Burnley v West Ham
Burnley: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Brady, Defour, Cork, Arfield, Hendrick; Wood.
Subs: Lindegaard, Taylor, Vokes, Barnes, Gudmundsson, Westwood, Lindegaard, Long.
West Ham: Hart; Zabaleta, Fonte, Reid, Cresswell; Antonio, Lanzini, Kouyaté; Arnautovic, Carroll, Hernández.
Subs: Ádrian, Obiang, Sakho, Noble, Ayew, Ogbonna, Masuaku.
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Swansea v Huddersfield
Swansea: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernández, Mawson, Olsson; Fer, Britton, Carroll; Narsingh, Ayew, Abraham.
Subs: Ki, van der Hoorn, Dyer, Nordfeldt, Routledge, Clucas, Rangel.
Huddersfield: Lossl; Smith, Jorgensen, Schindler, Malone; Billing, Hogg; Kachunga, van La Parra, Ince; Depoitre.
Subs: Mooy, Sabiri, Coleman, Cranie, Lowe, Williams, Hadergjonaj.
Referee: Paul Tierney
Crystal Palace v Chelsea teams
Michy Batshuayi starts up front for Chelsea with Álvaro Morata injured, while teenage midfielder Kyle Scott earns a place on the bench. Wilfried Zaha is back in a strikerless Crystal Palace line-up. Not sure what’s Roy up to, there.
Crystal Palace: Speroni; Ward, Dann, Sakho; Van Aanholt, Cabaye, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp; Townsend, Zaha.
Subs: Tomkins, Fosu-Mensah, Kaikai, Sako, Puncheon, Riedewald, Henry.
Chelsea: Courtois; Luiz, Azpilicueta, Cahill; Moses, Fàbregas, Bakayoko, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Hazard.
Subs: Caballero, Rüdiger, Pedro, Musonda, Zappacosta, Christensen, Scott.
Referee: Andre Marriner
Manchester City v Stoke teams
Fabian Delph is fit to continue his fine work at left back, while Sergio Agüero is back on the bench just over two weeks after his car accident. Mark Hughes hands a start to 18-year-old Tom Edwards, who faces a baptism of fire at right wing-back.
Man City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Sané. Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Gundogan, Agüero, Mangala, Bernardo Silva, Touré.
Stoke: Butland; Zouma, Wimmer, Pieters; Edwards, Fletcher, Cameron, Diouf; Shaqiri, Jesé, Choupo-Moting.
Subs: Berahino, Afellay, Martins Indi, Adam, Crouch, Sobhi, Grant.
Referee: Craig Pawson
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Championship preview
Cardiff’s defeat to Birmingham on Friday means Sheffield United can move top of the Championship with a handsome win over Ipswich. Leeds United can close the gap too against struggling Reading, while Preston go to Fulham. If either slip up, Norwich can clamber into the top six with a win over Hull.
At the bottom, Bolton are still chasing their first win, while Sunderland haven’t won at home since last year. Hoo boy. They take on Sheffield Wednesday and QPR respectively. Brentford will aim to pull clear of trouble at home to Millwall, while Middlesbrough go to Barnsley in search of a promotion kickstart.
3pm fixtures
Barnsley v Middlesbrough
Bolton v Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford v Millwall
Fulham v Preston
Leeds United v Reading
Norwich City v Hull City
Sheffield United v Ipswich Town
Sunderland v QPR
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Preamble
Club football’s tractor beam is rarely weakened one iota by an international break, but Europe’s best and brightest will have to go some to outshine this week’s World Cup drama.
Liverpool and United are off to a so-so start, but stepping up next in the Premier League are the hitherto irrepressible Manchester City, at home to Stoke. Spurs are still seeking a first league win at Wembley as they take on Bournemouth, while Chelsea will look to pile misery upon hurt upon woe at Crystal Palace.
The big dogs are barking around Europe too: Real Madrid make the short trip to Getafe, PSG’s soccer skills roadshow visits Dijon in Ligue 1 and Jupp Heynckes returns to the Bayern Munich hot seat against Freiburg.
There’s also a full Football League programme and the FA Cup’s fourth and final qualifying round with which to fill your boots; more on that in two ticks. Here’s your super soaraway Saturday hit list:
Premier League (3pm BST)
Burnley v West Ham
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Manchester City v Stoke City
Tottenham v Bournemouth
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich v Freiburg (2.30pm)
La Liga: Getafe v Real Madrid (3.15pm)
Ligue 1: Dijon v PSG (4pm)
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