
And here’s our WSL roundup:
Here’s Ben Fisher’s first take from St Mary’s:
In the Premier League, Burnley v Liverpool is under way. Follow that one with John Brewin, here:
Tom Garry will be taking in Everton’s WSL bow at Goodison Park against Tottenham. Unfortunately for our 6’ 4” roving reporter, there have been no changes to the old press box. “Please pray for my legroom,” writes Tom.
Tom Garry's WSL review
There have been some big storylines this afternoon with Sam Kerr’s goalscoring return, Jess Park’s outstanding first Manchester United goal and those debuts for the £1m+ women Alyssa Thompson and Grace Geyoro, but that victory for the relegation favourites Leicester City, with 10 players, is a very big moment indeed, and perhaps the most significant of the lot, longer-term.
It will go under the radar amid all those headlines, but the managerless team have been widely tipped to go down and yet they have just beaten Gareth Taylor’s Liverpool, whose start to the season is now turning into a bit of a nightmare. They have some tough-looking games coming up too, including a trip to Aston Villa and meetings with both Manchester clubs soon. Taylor has work to do, and quickly.
In WSL 2, it’s finished Durham 1-2 Charlton. The Addicks go top of the second tier, although others could catch them with four other matches just kicking off, including Crystal Palace v Southampton and Newcastle v Sheffield United.
WSL result: London City 1-5 Man Utd
Grace Geyoro made her debut off the bench in a tough afternoon for her new side, always chasing the game after Maya Le Tissier’s early penalty. Melvin Malard (2), Jayde Riviere and newcomer Jess Park all struck for United, with the only negative a potentially serious injury to defender Millie Turner.
WSL result: Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea
In-form Villa gave the champions a big test in the first half, with Ebony Salmon levelling after Aggie Beever-Jones’ opener. Keira Walsh’s deflected strike, which goes down as a Missy Bo Kearns own goal, restored Chelsea’s lead and Sam Kerr capped the win with a goal on her return from injury.
In Serie A, it’s finished Roma 0-1 Torino, Giovanni Simeone’s winner ending Gian Piero Gasperini’s perfect start in the Italian capital.
Championship result: Southampton 0-0 Portsmouth
The points are shared in a south coast derby that simmered without ever coming to the boil. Both sides will feel like this was an opportunity missed, and there’s a bit of needle to the managers’ handshake at the final whistle.
WSL full time: Leicester 1-0 Liverpool
Despite going down to 10 players early in the second half, Leicester went ahead through Emily van Egmond’s header and saw out the victory without too much fuss. A little pressure on Gareth Taylor already at Liverpool, this defeat following a 4-1 derby loss at Anfield last time out.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea (Kerr 93')
Sam Kerr seals a hard-fought Chelsea win with a goal on her long-awaiting return from injury. It’s an exceptionally scrappy goal, in truth, but she showed her goal-poaching instincts to find the bottom corner in a penalty-box melee.

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Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea: Seven minutes for Villa to rescue a point, although it’s Chelsea who have looked more likely to score in recent minutes. Roebuck makes another fine save to deny Cuthbert, just as Hannah Hampton is named player of the match.
Southampton v Portsmouth: Will Still has thrown on Adam Armstrong and new recruits Caspar Jander and Leo Scienza in a bid to grab the three points. At the other end, Bishop somehow fails to turn the ball in from a cross – but the flag was up, any road.
GOAL! London City 1-5 Man Utd (Park 88')
Jess Park extends United’s lead at Hayes Lane, firing home from distance to cap a counterattack.
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Everton v Tottenham: WSL team news
Everton: Brosnan, Robinson, Fernandez, Ishikawa, Pacheco, Mace, van Gool, Wheeler, Snoeijs, Momiki, Vignola.
Subs: Ramsey, Hayashi, Payne, Gago, Ladd, Weir, Stenevik, Holmgaard, Jones.
Tottenham: Kop, Rybrink, Koga, Hunt, Nilden, Summanen, Spence, Tandberg, Ahtinen, Naz, England.
Subs: Heeps, Jackson, Grant, Oroz, Holdt, Graham, Gunning-Williams, Dennis.
Kerr has the chance to shoot but instead plays in Beever-Jones, whose shot is well saved by Roebuck. Meanwhile in the second tier, a late turnaround as Charlton lead 2-1 at Durham, goals scored by Gillian Kenney and Lucy Fitzgerald at Maiden Castle.
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Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea: Almost an immediate impact from Sam Kerr, teeing up Macario for a shot that Ellie Roebuck saves at her near post. At the other end, Villa substitute Lucia Kendall fires narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
Southampton 0-0 Portsmouth: Another opening for the hosts as the referee plays advantage after Finn Azaz is brought down. That allows Tom Fellowes to shoot and his deflected effort has Killip concerned, but ends up looping behind the goal.
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GOAL! London City 1-4 Manchester United (Parris 76')
Nikita Parris heads home what looks like a consolation for the hosts – who are also sending on world-record signing Grace Geyoro for her debut.
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Sam Kerr is back! The forward replaces Johanna Rytting Katteryd at Villa Park, making her first Chelsea appearance since January 2024. That’s bad news for everyone else in the WSL. Villa also make a change, with Ebony Salmon replaced by … Georgia Mullett.
Leicester holding on at Liverpool, with Gareth Taylor making changes as he looks to avoid a second troubling WSL defeat in succession.
Burnley v Liverpool teams
The big news from Turf Moor is that Alexander Isak is not in the Liverpool squad for their game at Burnley. You can follow live buildup to that one with John Brewin.
Burnley (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Walker, Hartman, Esteve, Ekdal; Ugochukwu, Cullen; Tchaouna, Laurent, Anthony; Foster.
Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Humphreys, Pires, Luis, Flemming, Mejbri, Edwards, Broja.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Bradley, Chiesa, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Aston Villa continue to press Chelsea, the attacking trio of Rachel Daly, Salmon and Hanson still causing plenty of problems. Back at St Mary’s, Pompey have kept their rivals honest with a couple of dangerous crosses, but it remains goalless.
Tom Garry is at Goodison Park for Everton’s WSL game against Tottenham. The grand old ground is now the women’s team’s permanent home, and has had a revamp.
The rebrand around the exterior of Goodison Park in recent days has been impressive. A timeline of the women’s team’s history is now found proudly along Goodison Road outside the main stand, while along Walton Road, a series of new banners bear the women’s team’s name and say: ‘A history we own; a future we are making.’ Another simply reads: ‘Goodison Park, the home of Everton Women.’
Two changes for London City, with Lindstrom and Perez replacing Corrales and Zelem – but still no sign of Grace Geyoro getting her WSL debut. In WSL 2, Beth Hepple’s first-half goal has Durham in front at home to Charlton.
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Southampton v Portsmouth: A better second half from the hosts so far, and they should probably be ahead as Cameron Archer gets to a through ball before Killip. With the goal gaping, he tries to cross rather than shoot from a narrow angle, and there’s nobody in red and white there to finish it off.
GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Liverpool (Van Egmond 59')
Intriguing developments at the King Power, where Leicester have just seen Shannon O’Brien sent off for a second yellow – but the 10 women are now ahead thanks to Emily van Egmond’s header.
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GOAL! Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea (Walsh 54')
Those half-time changes didn’t change the flow of the game much – but Chelsea have restored their lead as Keira Walsh’s strike ricochets in off Missy Bo Kearns. That may go down as an own goal, with Walsh’s shot heading wide before the fateful deflection.
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Alyssa Thompson is on for her Chelsea debut, part of a half-time triple sub from Sonia Bompastor. Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore are also on, with Reiten, Kaptein and Charles making way.
GOALS! London City 0-4 Manchester United (Malard 47, 50)
A sobering start to the second half for the other Lionesses, as Melvine Malard finishes well from Jess Park’s through ball – and moments later, heads home Celin Bizet’s cross for her second goal, and fourth in two WSL games.
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Some very sad and shocking news from the world of boxing: former world champion Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46. Outside of his stellar career, Hatton was a huge Manchester City fan, and there will surely be tributes paid at the Etihad Stadium later.
Perhaps we should not be surprised to see Aston Villa giving Chelsea such a tough run for their money today. Villa won all five their last five WSL games in a row at the end of last season so they are now unbeaten in six league games. They should probably be winning this one too.
Regardless of how they perform in the second half, their improvements since March, under Natalia Arroyo, are not just valuable for Villa but valuable for the league more broadly, making it a more competitive division. It was boring going into Sunday afternoon’s knowing the ‘big teams’ would go away to face a team like Villa a win. Nowadays we can’t be so sure.
Half time! Southampton 0-0 Portsmouth
Southampton’s in-game xG was an underwhelming 0.01, but Cameron Archer went close in stoppage time with an improvised flick that was gathered by Ben Killip. A much better half for the blue side of this rivalry, but it’s still goalless.
WSL half-time scores
Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea
Leicester 1-1 Liverpool
London City Lionesses 0-2 Man Utd
WSL 2: Durham 1-0 Charlton
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Half-time: Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea Aggie Beever-Jones put Chelsea in front but Ebony Salmon’s chip has Villa level at the break – and it could be even better for the hosts, with Hannah Hampton making some big saves from Salmon and Kirsty Hanson.
Half-time: London City Lionesses 0-2 Manchester United An early penalty from Maya Le Tissier and Jayde Riviere’s did-she-mean-it finish from a tight angle have the visitors firmly in control.
Half-time: Leicester 0-0 Liverpool Having been on the back foot for most of the first half, Leicester nearly grab the half-time lead through Asmita Ale, whose close-range shot is blocked by Gemma Bonner.
Aston Villa v Chelsea: The hosts really should be ahead against unusually off-colour opponents; Salmon gets ahead of Bright again but sees her shot saved by Hampton.
Southampton v Portsmouth: Pompey continue to look the more likely to break the derby deadlock; Josh Murphy’s cross has to be cleared behind, and his next delivery finds Colby Bishop – but the big striker miscues his shot on goal.
Aston Villa v Chelsea: Salmon has the chance to double her tally after pouncing on Carpenter’s poor back-pass, but Hannah Hampton is out quickly to smother the ball. An even better intervention from the England keeper moments later, as she gets down smartly to keep out Hanson’s goalbound shot.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea (Salmon 34')
Having fallen behind against the run of play, Villa are level thanks to a brilliant finish from Ebony Salmon. From Grant’s cutback, she sends a first-time lob spinning over Hampton and into the far corner. Pick that one out!
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Plenty of possession and half-chances for Liverpool at Leicester but the visitors are yet to break through. Meanwhile, a goal at Villa Park!
GOAL! London City 0-2 Man Utd (Rivière 32')
Manchester United double their lead through Jayde Riviere, who gets played in down the right and smashes a shot inside the near post! Hard to tell if she meant it, or was looking to cross – it’s a spectacular finish, either way.
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London City Lionesses v Man Utd: After their early setback, London City have shown plenty of attacking intent, although for the visitors, Anna Sandberg has gone close with a free kick that was well-saved by Elene Lete.
Southampton v Portsmouth: Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid has had to go off after colliding with his teammate, Connor Ogilvie. Ben Killip, who sprinted back to the dressing room to get something (gloves? energy drink? little towel?) is on in his place.
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GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea (Beever-Jones 22')
Sorry about that, Villa fans. On Chelsea’s first foray forward in a while, Macario skips past a couple of defenders and Ellie Carpenter’s cross is deflected into the path of Aggie Beever-Jones, who nods home unmarked.
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It’s been an encouraging start for Aston Villa, with Kirsty Hanson pouncing on a defensive mistake and teeing up Ebony Salmon, who can’t get a shot away in time.
Pompey hit the bar! The visitors have shaded the early proceedings and go close to breaking the deadlock here, as André Dozzell’s shot from 25 yards thunks off the crossbar.
Aston Villa v Chelsea: Niamh Charles has suffered an ankle injury but looks like she will try to play on. Still goalless there and at the King Power, where Leicester host Liverpool.
At Villa Park, Aggie Beever-Jones gets into space but is just caught offside, before Hannah Hampton watches Lynn Wilms’ cross drift onto the roof of her net. It’s been a fast and furious start to the south coast derby – which you can watch on ITV1, if you’re in the UK. Big Match vibes!
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GOAL! London City 0-1 Man Utd (Le Tissier pen 4')
A nightmare start for the WSL newcomers as Jana Fernández hauls down Melvine Malard in the penalty area, and Maya Le Tissier drills her spot-kick down the middle.
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Kick-off in Championship and WSL
We’re off at St Mary’s where the two managers, Will Still and John Mousinho, have already exchanged a few choice words on the touchline. We’re also under way in three Women’s Super League games, and there’s already a penalty at Hayes Lane …
There’s a busy schedule of games around Europe today, starting with Roma v Torino in Serie A, which kicked off 30 minutes ago. It’s goalless so far.
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“One of those rare moments in recent past where the red Manchester team is sitting above the blue side in the table before their clash,” notes Krishna Moorthy. “Amends shall be made by 5.15pm this afternoon I guess …”
Not much has gone right for Ruben Amorim since he took the United job, but he did pick up four points from last season’s derbies – a wild 2-1 win at the Etihad thanks to two late goals, and a goalless draw I can barely recall, despite live-blogging it.
And finally, two teams looking to rebound from an opening-day loss meet at the King Power Stadium …
WSL: Leicester v Liverpool
Leicester (3-4-1-2): Leitzig; Kees, Boureille, Thibaud; Cayman; Tierney, Van Egmond, Ale; O’Brien; Cain, McLoughlin.
Subs: Clark, Wellesley-Smith, Rantala, Payne, Las, Eiriksdottir, Sherwood, Ayane, Kaczmar.
Liverpool (4-1-4-1): Kirby; Fisk, Bonner, Evans, Clark; Nagano; Olsson, Kerr, Hobinger, Kapocs; Enderby.
Subs: Borggrafe, Parry, Shimizu, Szymczak, Kiernan, Lundgaard, MacLean, Haug, Holland.
The player who ended Thompson’s extremely short reign as the women’s game’s most expensive signing, Grace Geyoro, is also on the bench as London City Lionesses host Manchester United at Hayes Lane.
London City Lionesses v Manchester United
London City Lionesses (4-2-3-1): Lete; Fernández, Kennedy, Kumagai, Imuran; Zelem, Roddar; Parris, Asllani, Corrales; Goodwin.
Subs: Orman, Perez, Jakobsson, Linari, Franssi, Lindstrom, Brown, Sangare, Geyoro.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, Sandberg,; Zigiotti Olme, Miyazawa; Bizet, Toone, Park; Malard.
Subs: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Janssen, Rolfö, Naalsund, Griffiths, Terland, Williams.
There are three Women’s Super League games kicking off at 12pm (BST), and we’ll keep you updated on all three. Let’s start at Villa Park, where big-money signing Alyssa Thompson is on the bench for Chelsea alongside Sam Kerr, who could make her return from long-term injury today.
WSL: Aston Villa v Chelsea
Aston Villa (3-4-3): Roebuck; Wilms, Patten, Deslandes; Grant, Baijings, Kearns, Maritz; Daly, Salmon, Hanson.
Subs: Kelly, Mayling, Maltby, Parker, Taylor, Kendall, Mullett.
Chelsea (3-4-3): Hampton; Bjorn, Bright, Charles; Carpenter, Walsh, Kaptein, Kaneryd; Reiten, Macario; Beever-Jones.
Subs: Peng, Buurman, Nusken, Cuthbert, Thompson, Kerr, Baltimore, Jean-Francois, Hamano.
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Thanks, John. Team news coming up from the WSL, but first, the big derby game in the Championship …
Southampton v Portsmouth
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Bazunu; Roerslev, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning; Downes, Charles; Fellows, Azaz, Fraser; Archer.
Subs: McCarthy, Edwards, Wood-Gordon, Jelert, Jander, Scienza, Robinson, Armstrong, Stewart.
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Schmid; Swanson, Poole, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Swift, Dozzell; Segecic, Chaplin, Murphy; Bishop.
Subs: Killip, Williams, Devlin, Knight, Pack, Le Roux, Bianchini, Yang, Kirk.
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And with that, the blog falls into the hands of Niall McVeigh.
Forget the Manchester derby, Southampton v Portsmouth is the biggest game of the day.
Ederson’s departure from Manchester City remains somewhat mysterious.
The big question – or at least one of them – for the Manchester derby, is who’s in nets. Gianluigi Donnarumma and Altay Bayindir is the expected selection for the respective teams, with James Trafford and Senne Lammens on the bench.
Jamie Jackson reimagines Ruben Amorim as the Truman Show.
Feel free to post comments below the line. And get in touch with matchday.live@theguardian.com
Full story: Sellés out, Wilder back in at Blades
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Confirmed: Sellés out, Wilder to return at Sheffield United
Ben Fisher, our man with his ear to the ground in the midlands and the EFL, states the news is true: Rubén Sellés has indeed been sacked by Sheffield United and will br replaced by Chris Wilder.
More details to follow …
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Later tonight, Milan v Bologna, and that means a reunion of Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe, participating in a scuffle even Marseille manager Roberto de Zerbi was afraid of.
The Derby d’Italia turned out to be a stone classic on Saturday, while yet another Manchester United reject in Rasmus Hojlund turned into a Serie A goal machine.
Kylian Mbappé is turning into Real Madrid’s key player after last season’s struggles, where he still scored plenty of goals.
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 Sellés 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.
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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.
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Kilmarnock | 4 | 0 | 4 |
9 | Falkirk | 4 | -2 | 4 |
10 | Rangers | 5 | -2 | 4 |
11 | Dundee | 5 | -3 | 3 |
12 | Aberdeen | 4 | -5 | 1 |
Reports of Sellés sacking by Blades
There are reports – so far unconfirmed – that Rúben Sellés 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
2pm: Burnley v Liverpool
4.30pm: Manchester City v Manchester United
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.