Sport Updates
Same-day match highlights, records, team news and results from across the sports you follow.
Tottenham Remain Winless and Goalless After 0-0 Draw With Nottingham Forest
Tottenham remain winless and without a single goal scored through three Premier League matches after a goalless 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, though it marked their first point of the season under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi . Brazilian summer signing Savio made his full Premier League debut on the right wing and was Tottenham's most dangerous outlet, completing eight take-ons and looking the player most likely to unlock Forest's defence. Forest thought they had snatched a late winner when Neco Williams found the net, but the goal was overturned by VAR after the ball was ruled to have struck his arm in the build-up. "Disappointing for the result, but for the performance, very happy," said De Zerbi afterward. "Considering we started working together on Thursday for the first time, we played well." The result comes after back-to-back opening defeats to Brentford and Newcastle, with Tottenham having spent more than £350 million over the summer without yet finding the net in the league. New arrival Omar Marmoush had a clear sight of goal but shot wide, while Mathys Tel struggled on the opposite flank and was substituted with 15 minutes remaining. The point comes with Tottenham also formally omitting Richarlison from their Premier League squad this week, adding further pressure on De Zerbi's misfiring attacking options.
Ben Chilwell's Late Winner Gives Crystal Palace First Points of the Season
Crystal Palace claimed their first points of the season with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at Fulham, with deadline-day signing Ben Chilwell marking his return to the club with a late winner. Fulham led twice through Josh King and Cesar Palacios, with Tyrick Mitchell equalising on both occasions either side of half-time to keep Palace in the contest. Chilwell, signed from Strasbourg after previously spending half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Selhurst Park from Chelsea, was introduced as a 74th-minute substitute and needed just three minutes to find the winner, sealing new head coach Pierre Sage's first victory in charge. The result offers timely relief for Palace, who have been without top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta and winger Ismaila Sarr through injury this season, with Eddie Nketiah stepping in as a makeshift option in attack. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson made several important saves throughout to keep Fulham at bay before Chilwell's decisive intervention. The win moves Palace off the foot of the table after a difficult start to the campaign, while Fulham will rue letting two separate leads slip in a match that slipped away from them late on.
Haaland's 300th Club Goal Sends Man City Top With Win Over Coventry
Erling Haaland scored the 300th club goal of his career to give Manchester City a hard-fought 1-0 win over newly promoted Coventry City, sending Enzo Maresca's side top of the Premier League with a perfect three wins from three. Haaland powered in a 26th-minute header from an Antoine Semenyo cross, with debutant Enzo Fernandez involved in the buildup after being handed a surprise start following Nico O'Reilly's warm-up injury. It was the Norwegian's 165th goal for City, adding to his tallies from Borussia Dortmund (86), Red Bull Salzburg (29) and Molde (20), and his 20th goal against a promoted Premier League side, a run of dominance broken only by Sunderland last season. Coventry, still searching for their first top-flight goal since May 2001, gave City a real fright. Taiwo Awoniyi spurned a clear one-on-one chance, while goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action to deny both Jack Rudoni and Ellis Simms as the visitors pushed hard for an equaliser throughout. "It is an important win, different from the other two," said City boss Enzo Maresca afterward, with fellow deadline-day arrival Iliman Ndiaye also making his full debut in the same match. Frank Lampard's Coventry remain without a point or a goal in their return to the Premier League after three matches.
Shafali Verma's Record 3,000 T20I Runs Highlights India's Demolition of Pakistan
India completed a perfect Women's Asia Cup group stage, thrashing Pakistan by seven wickets in Dubai after bowling their rivals out for just 55 , their lowest-ever T20I total, in a match that also produced a landmark individual record. Opener Shafali Verma became the youngest and fastest woman to reach 3,000 T20I runs , needing just seven off the first two balls of India's chase to get there. She achieved the milestone at 22 years and 220 days, and in just 2,182 balls faced, both records previously held by Alyssa Healy and Gaby Lewis respectively. She is now the third Indian, after Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, to reach the landmark. Pakistan's innings collapsed entirely, with Shree Charani and Prema Rawat taking three wickets apiece and Deepti Sharma adding two more. India knocked off the target in just 8.4 overs, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur unbeaten on 18 and Deepti Sharma finishing on 12 not out. The win completes a clean sweep of three wins from three in the group stage for India, having also beaten Thailand and Hong Kong, and extends their dominant head-to-head record over Pakistan in Women's T20I cricket. India now progress to the semi-finals as the tournament's in-form side, while Pakistan face a must-win match against Hong Kong to keep their own qualification hopes alive.
India Bowl Out Pakistan for 55, Cruise to 7-Wicket Win in Women's Asia Cup 2026
India Women made light work of the biggest game of the group stage, thrashing Pakistan Women by 7 wickets in Dubai to seal top spot in Group A of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 , having already qualified for the semi-finals. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and chose to bat, but the decision backfired badly. India's bowlers were relentless from the start, with Shree Charani (3/7) and Prema Rawat (3/9) sharing six wickets between them as Pakistan collapsed from 27/0 to be bowled out for just 55 in 18.1 overs — their lowest-ever T20I total. India's chase was a formality despite an early wobble. Fatima Sana struck back with the ball, picking up 3/17 including the wickets of Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana inside the powerplay. But Harmanpreet Kaur (18* off 18) and Deepti Sharma (12* off 14) steadied things, finishing the chase in style with Harmanpreet slog-sweeping the winning six in just 8.4 overs . Shree Charani was named Player of the Match. India move to three wins from three and finish the group stage unbeaten, while Pakistan will need to beat Hong Kong, China in their final group game to secure a semi-final spot.
Timber Boost for Arsenal Ahead of Chelsea Clash, But Guimaraes and Mosquera Doubtful
Arsenal could hand Jurrien Timber his first appearance of the season against Chelsea on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta confirming the Dutch defender is "in really good condition" after returning to full training following groin surgery that also ruled him out of the World Cup. Arteta faces a more uncertain picture elsewhere in his squad, with Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera both being assessed after picking up knocks during last week's 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Guimaraes, who made his competitive debut off the bench at Villa Park, missed Thursday's open training session, while Mosquera was withdrawn during the second half as a precaution. "It was more precaution than anything else, so we will have to see how he feels," Arteta said of Mosquera, with £51m signing Ezri Konsa in line to deputise if needed. William Saliba remains a longer-term absentee. Chelsea arrive at the Emirates unbeaten with three wins from three under Xabi Alonso and in free-scoring form, though they carry their own fitness concern over Moises Caicedo , who was forced off again with the same injury issue during last weekend's 4-3 win over Brighton after returning from a previous spell out. The London derby represents the toughest test yet of Arsenal's title defence, with both sides having made big-money additions to their squads over the summer ahead of Sunday's Emirates showdown.
Newcastle Fight Back From Two Down to Draw 2-2 With Bournemouth, Stay Unbeaten
Newcastle fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth at St James' Park, preserving their unbeaten start to the season under new head coach Matthias Jaissle in a dramatic finish. Bournemouth raced into a two-goal lead through Marcus Tavernier's close-range finish and a Malick Thiaw own goal, but Newcastle responded almost instantly when Harvey Barnes curled in a stunning finish just 101 seconds later. The hosts pushed for an equaliser throughout a tense second half before substitute Jacob Ramsey steered home the leveller in the 88th minute, sparking wild celebrations at St James' Park. The result extends a miserable statistical quirk for Bournemouth, who became the first side in Premier League history to score first in each of their opening three matches of a season without winning any of them, having also conceded stoppage-time goals against Manchester City and Everton in their previous two outings. "It's good that we're in situations to win games, but we have to talk about how we can finish games," said Bournemouth boss Marco Rose. For Newcastle, the draw means Jaissle remains unbeaten through his opening three matches in charge, following a 2-2 draw with Liverpool and a 2-0 win over Tottenham. "Happy for that spirit, that belief the lads were showing until the end together with the crowd," Jaissle said afterward.
Enzo Fernandez Handed Surprise Man City Debut After Nico O'Reilly's Warm-Up Injury
Enzo Fernandez made a surprise Manchester City debut from the start against Coventry City, promoted into the starting XI after Nico O'Reilly suffered a suspected lower back injury during the warm-up at the Etihad Stadium. Fernandez, City's £125 million record signing from Chelsea, had initially been named among the substitutes just four days after completing his British record-equalling move. But O'Reilly's late fitness issue forced an immediate reshuffle, with the Argentine drafted into midfield alongside fellow deadline-day arrival Iliman Ndiaye , who also made his full debut having replaced Phil Foden in the only other change from City's 4-1 win at Crystal Palace. O'Reilly had started both of City's opening two league matches and has been a key figure under Pep Guardiola since breaking through last season. His absence adds an unexpected complication for City just as they look to build early-season momentum with a revamped midfield following the departures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva. Fernandez's unplanned introduction means his first appearance in City colours arrives with minimal specific preparation for the occasion, though the club had always viewed him as a rotation option in Pep Guardiola's expensively assembled midfield alongside Elliot Anderson.
Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes First Cricketer Ever to Captain in 150 T20Is
Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first cricketer in history, male or female, to captain in 150 T20 Internationals , reaching the landmark during India's Women's Asia Cup clash against Pakistan in Dubai. India's captain since 2012, Harmanpreet entered the match on 149 games as skipper with a record of 86 wins and 57 losses. "Great achievement. But the key is to keep enjoying yourself on the field, and that is a key; I try to keep up with that," she said at the toss. She stands well clear of the next-best captains in the format: Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu (121) among women, and Namibia's Gerhard Erasmus (91) among men. The milestone came in a match already stacked with individual landmarks. It followed shortly after teammate Deepti Sharma became the leading wicket-taker in Women's T20I history, while Smriti Mandhana entered the contest just 78 runs short of overtaking Suzie Bates as the format's all-time leading run-scorer. Pakistan's Muneeba Ali also had milestones of her own in sight, two matches away from a century of T20I appearances. India had already secured their Women's Asia Cup semi-final berth prior to the Pakistan match, following wins over Thailand and Hong Kong, extending a dominant head-to-head record over their rivals that now stands at 14 wins from 17 T20I meetings.
Alexia Putellas Debuts as London City Lionesses Beat Man United 2-1 in WSL Opener
London City Lionesses made a statement start to the newly expanded Women's Super League season, beating Manchester United 2-1 at a sold-out Hayes Lane as Alexia Putellas made her competitive debut for the club. London City took the lead after just nine minutes when Alanna Kennedy's header was inadvertently turned into her own net by United's Julia Zigiotti Olme, following a tussle in the box. Danielle van de Donk doubled the lead in the 82nd minute with a clever flick to seal the points, before Simi Awujo grabbed a stoppage-time consolation for United with their only shot on target all night. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas started alongside fellow new arrivals Rosa Kafaji, Mapi Leon and Janni Thomsen, with further big-money signings Mary Earps and Kadidiatou Diani left among the substitutes, in what head coach Eder Maestre hopes signals the arrival of a genuine WSL title contender under owner Michele Kang. The club's only concern came when Lucia Corrales was forced off in the second half, later confirmed to be a rib injury. Backed by significant investment this summer, London City are targeting a first WSL title as the first fully independent club to do so, having finished sixth last season behind the established top five of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Pretorius' Maiden Century Sends South Africa Into Tri-Series Final After Namibia Thriller
South Africa survived a stern chase from Namibia to win by 11 runs in a 445-run thriller at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, sealing their place in Sunday's final against Zimbabwe in the T20I tri-series. Put in to bat, South Africa exploded through a 156-run opening stand between Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Connor Esterhuizen . Esterhuizen blazed 88 off just 40 balls, striking six fours and eight sixes, while Pretorius made amends for missing out on a century three days earlier against Zimbabwe (he was dismissed for 94), reaching his maiden T20I hundred with a six in the final over before falling for 101 off 53 balls. South Africa finished on 228 for 4, their fifth-highest T20I total. Namibia refused to fold under the daunting target, with Jan Frylinck (72 off 36) and Louren Steenkamp (61 off 44) putting on 119 for the first wicket to keep the hosts in touch deep into the chase. But South Africa's bowlers held their nerve at the death, with Nqobani Mokoena finishing with 2 for 43 including the crucial last wicket, as Namibia fell agonisingly short on 217 for 3. The result ends an impressive home campaign for Namibia, who had already beaten South Africa earlier in the series and pushed Zimbabwe to a last-ball finish, but it is South Africa who advance to face Zimbabwe in Sunday's decider.
Brighton's Mats Wieffer Sidelined With Freak Knee Injury
Brighton have confirmed Mats Wieffer will be sidelined until after the upcoming international break with a freak knee injury sustained during last weekend's 4-3 defeat at Chelsea. The Dutch full-back was struck in the face by the ball during the match, causing him to lose his balance and twist his knee awkwardly as he fell. "I can explain this quite easily because I also like to watch boxing," head coach Fabian Hurzeler said. "Sometimes in boxing, when someone gets hit, you see how weak his legs go and then the legs get in very strange positions, and then it might happen that your knee gets injured. It was a similar situation with Mats." Wieffer had started both of Brighton's opening Premier League matches at right-back and was considered the preferred option in the position when fit. His absence adds to an already lengthy Brighton injury list that includes Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter and Jack Hinshelwood. Summer signing Costinha is the most likely option to deputise, with Hurzeler praising his fitness and tactical understanding since arriving at the club.
Real Betis Stun Real Madrid 1-0 as Mbappe Misses Stoppage-Time Penalty
Real Betis stunned Real Madrid 1-0 at La Cartuja, ending Jose Mourinho's perfect start to his second spell in charge with a dramatic finish that saw Kylian Mbappe miss a stoppage-time penalty. Madrid dominated for long spells, with Vinicius Junior striking the post from an Arda Guler pass in the first half, and Mbappe twice denied by heroic blocks from Natan and Marc Bartra. But Betis snatched the lead nine minutes from time when Troy Parrott , on his home debut since a summer move from AZ Alkmaar, fired home the rebound after Thibaut Courtois had saved Nelson Deossa's header, scoring his first goal for the club. Madrid thought they had salvaged a point when substitute Carlos Espi scored a stunning acrobatic volley from a Vinicius cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside in the build-up. Deep into stoppage time, Vinicius won a penalty after being fouled by Natan in the box, handing Mbappe a golden chance to rescue the game. But Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles guessed correctly and saved to his right, sparking wild celebrations at La Cartuja. "I genuinely don't know why we lost. We played so well," said Mourinho afterward. "I have nothing to reproach my players for." The defeat ends Madrid's perfect start to the La Liga season under Mourinho, while Betis pick up a major confidence boost after a difficult opening to their own campaign.
Isak's Quickfire Double Gives Liverpool First Win of the Season at Ipswich
Liverpool secured their first Premier League win of the season, beating Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road as Alexander Isak struck twice inside the opening nine minutes, with both goals set up by Cody Gakpo . Gakpo cut inside just six minutes in and slid a defence-splitting pass through to Isak, who beat goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen at his near post. Three minutes later, Gakpo produced an even better assist, curling an outside-of-the-boot through-ball for Isak to run onto and slot home again. Isak nearly completed a hat-trick before the break, converting a Florian Wirtz pass, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Ipswich rallied after the interval through Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda, but could not find a way past Alisson. New £123m signing Bradley Barcola made his Liverpool debut as a 64th-minute substitute for Isak, receiving a warm reception from the away end. "I have no doubt with Cody. He has been very good all pre-season," said head coach Andoni Iraola afterward, praising Gakpo's versatility and continued excellent form despite interest from Manchester City and Tottenham in the closing days of the transfer window. The result moves Liverpool onto five points from three matches, ending back-to-back opening draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and sets up a Champions League return against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Esha Oza Guides UAE to 6-Wicket Win Over Indonesia in Women's Asia Cup 2026
United Arab Emirates Women bounced back from their opening defeat, chasing down a modest target with plenty to spare to beat Indonesia Women by 6 wickets in Dubai. Sent in to bowl after winning the toss, UAE ran through Indonesia's batting with a disciplined display. Suraksha Kotte struck twice in the powerplay to reduce Indonesia to 1/2, and Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini 's battling 39 was the only real resistance as the rest of the order struggled. Esha Oza and Heena Hotchandani picked up two wickets apiece as Indonesia were bowled out for just 71 in 19.4 overs . UAE's chase was never seriously threatened. Captain Esha Oza led from the front with 30 off 29 balls, while Rinitha Rajith (22) kept the scoreboard ticking in a 45-run stand for the second wicket. Indonesia's spinners fought back briefly, with Sofia Velic and Ni Kadek Ariani sharing three wickets, but Samaira Dharnidharka saw UAE home with an unbeaten 8, finishing on 75/4 in 13.1 overs . Oza was named Player of the Match for her all-round effort (30 off 29, 2/11). UAE move to two points from two games, while Indonesia remain winless after three matches and will look to salvage pride in their remaining fixtures.
Sancho, Pogba, Ramos and Alaba Among Big-Name Free Agents Still Available
The European transfer window has shut, but a host of high-profile names remain free agents , still available to sign at any point since the free-agent market operates outside the standard transfer calendar. Jadon Sancho , 26, is available after a difficult spell tied to Manchester United, having spent the past two and a half seasons out on loan, most recently helping Aston Villa win the Europa League. He is reportedly closing in on a move to Brazilian side Palmeiras, with Borussia Dortmund and Roma also credited with interest. Paul Pogba mutually terminated his contract with Monaco after struggling with fitness, leaving the 2018 World Cup winner without a club just a year into a deal signed following his return from an 18-month doping suspension. David Alaba , 34, remains unattached after Real Madrid opted not to renew his contract, closing out a trophy-laden five years in the Spanish capital that included four Champions League titles. Sergio Ramos , now 40, has been without a club since leaving Mexican side Monterrey in December 2025 and has yet to announce his retirement, having recently led an unsuccessful attempt to acquire a controlling stake in former club Sevilla. Other notable names still on the market include Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Dani Carvajal, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jamie Vardy, who is separately being courted by Wrexham.
Liverpool Without Five Players for Ipswich Clash, Barcola Available for Debut
Liverpool remain without five first-team players for Friday's trip to Ipswich Town , head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed, though new signing Bradley Barcola is available and in line to make his debut. Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are all still sidelined through injury, with Gomez the closest to a return and expected to resume full training next week, while Leoni and Chiesa are targeting the upcoming international break. Bradley and Ekitike remain further away. Liverpool arrive at Portman Road still searching for their first Premier League win of the season after consecutive 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Ipswich , meanwhile, have received a timely boost of their own. Striker Emersonn , withdrawn at half-time against Manchester United after jarring his knee, has trained fully all week and was confirmed fit by manager Gary O'Neil , who said there are "no concerns" over his recovery. Florentino Luis is also available for the first time this season having overcome a calf issue, giving O'Neil a fresh central-midfield option alongside Marcelino Nunez and Sasa Lukic. Deadline-day signing Zian Flemming, a £20m arrival from Burnley, is also in contention, though Azor Matusiwa, Jack Taylor and Jaden Philogene remain out. Ipswich sit above Liverpool in the table following their opening-day win over Sunderland, and will look to cause an upset against a Liverpool side yet to find their rhythm this season.
Deepti Sharma Becomes Leading Wicket-Taker in Women's T20I History With 174 Scalps
Deepti Sharma has become the leading wicket-taker in Women's T20 International history, reaching 174 wickets after adding three more scalps in India's win over Hong Kong at the Women's Asia Cup, moving clear of Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong. The milestone was first set up during India's tournament opener against Thailand, when Deepti produced a stunning spell of 3 for 0 in just 1.1 overs to move to 171 wickets and overtake Putthawong, the landmark arriving in her 150th T20I appearance. It was the most economical three-wicket haul by any Indian bowler in the format's history. She has since extended her lead further with three more wickets against Hong Kong. Deepti also became just the third Indian, after Harmanpreet Kaur (203) and Smriti Mandhana (172), to play 150 or more T20Is, and the 12th woman cricketer overall to reach that landmark. "More than 150 wickets, it's a proud feeling to wear the Indian jersey with the Indian logo. It's about doing the right things as an Indian player," she said, reflecting on the achievement. The 27-year-old off-spinner's record comes in the same tournament that has already produced Smriti Mandhana's record-breaking 124, giving India's spin and batting attack a share of the individual headlines as the side marches unbeaten toward the semi-finals.
India to Play Historic First-Ever T20I Against Japan on September 22
India will play a historic one-off T20I against Japan on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, marking the first-ever meeting between the two nations in international cricket. Dubbed the Suzuki Cup , the match has been organised by the BCCI and the Japan Cricket Association to launch celebrations for the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations . The fixture forms the flagship event of "Sport 75," a bilateral sporting initiative that followed a summit agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The game kicks off at 1:00 PM local time (9:30 AM IST). "The BCCI is delighted to be part of this historic occasion as the Indian and Japanese men's teams come together for a special T20 International in Japan," said BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia. JCA CEO Naoki Miyaji called the visit of the reigning world champions "a landmark moment for cricket in Japan," with organisers planning to expand the venue's usual 500-person capacity to as many as 2,000 to accommodate demand. The match effectively serves as a warm-up for Shreyas Iyer's India squad ahead of the Asian Games , where they arrive as defending gold medallists and have already secured a direct berth in the quarterfinal on September 28 owing to their higher ranking. Japan, unbeaten in eight of ten T20Is played in 2026, will be playing their first-ever match against a full ICC member nation.
Crystal Palace Confirm Sarr and Mateta Both Out for Fulham Trip
Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage has confirmed that Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta will both remain unavailable for Saturday's Premier League trip to Fulham. "Sarr needs time to recover. He is injured at the moment," Sage told his pre-match press conference, with the winger continuing to nurse a groin problem that has kept him out since the start of the season. Sarr's situation was complicated further by a failed deadline-day exit, with Liverpool showing interest before the move collapsed. Sage addressed the fallout from a pointed statement released by Sarr's agent following the collapsed transfer, saying: "I don't really agree with this position. I just want to say that the club and the people here are respectful and we want the best for our club and players." On Mateta , who was Palace's top scorer last season with 21 goals across all competitions, Sage confirmed: "As I said last time, Mateta is injured, now for three weeks." The club's only other long-term absentee is defender Chadi Riad, with Sage confirming everyone else in the squad has recovered well following the last match against Manchester City. The extended absences leave Palace light in attack for the trip to Craven Cottage, with the club needing others to step up in the final third in the meantime.
Genoa Sign Kingsley Ehizibue on Free Transfer From Udinese
Genoa have signed Dutch-Nigerian right-back Kingsley Ehizibue on a free transfer, returning the 31-year-old to Serie A after he left Udinese as a free agent earlier this year. Ehizibue has put pen to paper on a multi-year deal through 2027, with an option for a further season to 2028. The move gives Daniele De Rossi's side a replacement at right-back following the departure of Brooke Norton-Cuffy to Hull City, with Genoa's initial target for the slot, Woyo Coulibaly, falling through in the closing hours of the window despite the Leicester full-back having already arrived in Italy for a medical. "Ehizibue brings sprint, a wide range of coverage and knowledge of the league, always a point in his favour," said Genoa's Chief of Football, Diego Lopez. "With Kingsley we've completed the roster of wide players." Ehizibue made 115 Serie A appearances across four seasons at Udinese, scoring four goals, and previously spent time at 1. FC Koln in the Bundesliga and PEC Zwolle in his native Netherlands, where he began his senior career. The signing follows Genoa's earlier free-transfer capture of Stephan El Shaarawy, continuing a summer strategy built around picking up experienced players once their contracts had expired.
Women's Champions League Draw: Arsenal Face Barcelona Test, City Land Toughest Group
The Women's Champions League league-phase draw took place in Nyon, with Arsenal drawn to face Barcelona as they look to defend the European title they won in 2025, while Chelsea and Manchester City discovered tough schedules of their own. Arsenal, seeded in Pot 1, will travel to Barcelona and Paris FC and host Lyon, Benfica and HB Koge, with Inter Milan completing their six-match slate. Barcelona , aiming to reclaim the trophy they lost to Arsenal last season, face a similarly stacked group including Bayern Munich, Roma, Paris FC, Servette and HB Koge. Chelsea , also in Pot 1, will host Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and Austria Wien, with away trips to Lyon, Hacken and OH Leuven. Manchester City , drawn from Pot 3, face arguably the toughest run of any English side, taking on both PSG and Bayern Munich from the top seeding pot, alongside Real Madrid and Hacken from Pot 2, plus Austria Wien and Inter. Real Madrid will test themselves against PSG and Bayern among their six opponents, while eight-time champions Lyon face a symbolic double header against both Chelsea and Arsenal. The new 18-team league-phase format sees each side play six matches, three at home and three away, with the top four advancing directly to the quarterfinals. The opening round of fixtures gets under way on September 22/23, with the full match schedule confirmed by UEFA on September 5.
Newcastle Fear William Osula's Foot Injury Could Keep Him Out Longer Than Expected
Newcastle forward William Osula could be sidelined considerably longer than first expected after suffering a foot injury in the club's season-opening 2-2 draw with Liverpool, though head coach Matthias Jaissle has pushed back against the most alarming reports. Osula picked up the injury in a collision with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and played on before being substituted early in the second half. He has since missed Newcastle's wins over West Brom and Tottenham and has continued wearing a protective splint. A report from Denmark's Viaplay claimed the Denmark international could be out for a "long time" and cast doubt over his availability for the upcoming international break, but Jaissle responded skeptically when asked about a specific seven-week absence claim, saying "I doubt that." Newcastle have avoided the worst-case scenario of a fracture, but a clear return timeline has yet to be established. In Osula's absence, Yoane Wissa and new signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo are expected to shoulder the workload at centre-forward, with the club already managing a lengthy injury list that includes Tino Livramento, Joelinton and Dan Burn.
Joe Gomez Set to Resume Liverpool Training Next Week
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is set to resume full team training next week, head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed, edging closer to a first appearance of the season after picking up a muscle injury in pre-season. "The closest one is Joe. Joe will probably start training with us next week and it has gone normally, the recovery, from a muscle injury, more or less we were expecting the time on this. I hope we can have him before the break," Iraola said in his pre-Ipswich press conference. Gomez was injured just minutes into Liverpool's first pre-season friendly and has missed the club's opening matches of the campaign, though he remains likely to sit out the Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid. Iraola also provided updates on two other long-term absentees, with Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa both expected to resume full training during the upcoming international break. No firm timeline was given for Conor Bradley or Hugo Ekitike, who remain further away from returning. Gomez's imminent return offers Liverpool much-needed defensive reinforcement after successive 2-2 draws to open the Premier League season, with the club still working through a thin central-defensive options list following a summer window that added only Ronald Araujo on loan alongside Jeremy Jacquet.