Luton remain pointless in the Premier League after Carlos Vinicius’ goal secured Fulham a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage. Substitute Vinicius opened his account for the season with his second-half strike which was enough for Marco Silva’s side to claim an important win weeks after they lost 5-1 at Manchester City. A fourth defeat in a row will be a frustration for Rob Edwards as Luton now sit at the foot of the Premier League table after they failed to take their golden first-half opportunities. The hosts were caught on the break by Tahith Chong in the fourth minute but his effort hardly tested Bernd Leno. Luton continued their theme of a low block which favoured the technical Joao Palhinha, who returned to Silva’s XI after a failed deadline-day move to Bayern Munich. Andreas Pereira’s whipped corner found the head of Kenny Tete but the full-back failed to keep his effort on target and it narrowly went over Thomas Kaminski’s crossbar. The Hatters patiently waited for openings and in the 26th minute Issa Kabore went down the right from wing-back and his pinpoint cross found the head of Jacob Brown whose attempt cannoned off the post. Edwards lauded the spirit of his side on Thursday and it was shown through the likes of Brown and Carlton Morris who defended from the front as well as Marvelous Nakamba who battled in the middle to win any loose scraps. Brown forced a booking and a free-kick out of Issa Diop in added time and referee Michael Salisbury waved away Morris’ appeals in the area for a penalty when he was brought down. It was Brown who created the first chance after the break in the 47th minute when he found a neat pocket of space in the channel and delivered a well-crafted cross to Amari’i Bell at the back stick but the wing-back’s shot found the gloves of Leno. Fulham broke the deadlock in the 64th minute. Pereira found Willian out wide before the winger’s cross forced Kaminski to parry the ball into the feet of Vinicius who was fresh off the bench to tap his side into a 1-0 lead. Willian nearly doubled the lead straight after with a long-range effort. Tete’s testing pass found Vinicius who could not keep his composure through on goal late on to add a second before Fulham were able to see out the game during four minutes of added time. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool ‘were not ready’ for first half after win at Wolves Current Davis Cup format set to stay despite being branded ‘a clear disaster’ Ford’s final audition and Sinckler returns – England v Japan talking points

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool’s first-half struggles left him questioning his side – before the Reds hit back to win at Wolves. Andrew Robertson’s late strike and Hugo Bueno’s injury-time own goal completed Liverpool’s 3-1 victory at Molineux. Cody Gakpo had levelled earlier in the second half as Liverpool earned a third comeback victory of the season and fourth straight win. They are now unbeaten in 16 Premier League games, stretching back to last season. Hwang Hee-Chan’s opener had put vibrant Wolves in command and only a shocking miss from Matheus Cunha stopped them from adding to their lead. Klopp had criticised the early kick-off after the international break – with Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Alisson and Alexis Mac Allister all returning from South America on Friday – and conceded he was worried during a wretched first half. He said: “In the first half I thought ‘WTF?’ a couple of times. We were not ready in the first half but Wolves did really well. “With these boys, some of them we’ve had seven, eight, nine weeks with, some of them longer, I know if they can be, they are there. Today they couldn’t in a lot of moments. “I know if you get through the first half with a reasonable result, you can turn it. “The team needed help and we could deliver the help a little bit with the changes and change of system. They were completely different halves. “The same players who looked rusty in the first half, in the second half it looked much easier. “Wolves played a super first half but in the second half we were really good and controlled the game. “We stayed calm, there was no rush, 3-1 was a result I didn’t expect after 20 minutes but during the second half we deserved it.” Wolves dominated early and Hwang grabbed a seventh-minute goal when he swept in Pedro Neto’s low cross. Livewire Neto caused chaos and he gift-wrapped a chance for Cunha after 33 minutes when he breezed past Joe Gomez to cross for the striker to miscue an unmarked header from five yards. It kept Liverpool in the game and, after introducing Luis Diaz at the break, the visitors levelled 10 minutes later. Gakpo and Diaz managed to smuggle the ball to Salah on the right and his low ball was turned in by the unmarked Gakpo. Wolves lost all their first-half fearlessness, failing to create another chance, but it took until the 86th minute for Liverpool to capitalise. When we were on top we could have taken one or two of our good situations Gary O'Neil Jose Sa’s poor clearance fell for Robertson just inside Wolves’ half. The defender burst forward to swap passes with Salah and finish from seven yards. Harvey Elliott’s 20-yard strike then deflected off Bueno in stoppage time to seal victory. Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said: “If you look at the two sides, the gap in quality, it takes a big effort to close that. “I thought we did for a very long time. The organisation and structure managed to help us bridge that gap. “When we were on top we could have taken one or two of our good situations. “We were digging in and then we make a strange decision, create a bit of chaos and concede the second goal. “At 1-1 they’ve had a lot of the ball but we made a strange decision and it cost us a goal. Up until 80 minutes to have pushed Liverpool that close was a very good effort. “We conceded a crazy second goal which is what I’ve been trying to get out of the players since I’ve been here.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Current Davis Cup format set to stay despite being branded ‘a clear disaster’ Ford’s final audition and Sinckler returns – England v Japan talking points Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hails ‘consistent’ Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has praised the “consistency” of Jude Bellingham’s recent performances ahead of his side’s clash with Real Sociedad on Sunday. Madrid have won all four of their league games so far this season, including a 2-1 win over Getafe last time out in their first game back at the Bernabeu, where Bellingham netted a stoppage-time winner. The 20-year-old has scored five times in those opening games and his streak continued into the international break where he also netted in England’s 3-1 friendly win over Scotland. Ancelotti has spoken highly of Bellingham following the bright start to his Real Madrid career and thinks he will remain grounded, despite the increased attention. Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Ancelotti said: “He’s evaluated by what he does on the pitch and he’s doing well. “He wasn’t widely known because he played in the German league and he didn’t have the role he has now. He’s playing in an important league and at an important club. He’s doing very well and I’m not surprised. “He’s very serious, focused and professional. I don’t think he’s the type of player who will let it go to his head if someone praises him. “He has the ability to get to the opponent’s box early and threatening. We talked about him in pre-season and he’s good in this position. He shows consistency and he has great physical strength. “I don’t know how many goals he can score, but he has to maintain this consistency because he helps us a lot in our attacking play.” Los Blancos are preparing for two games in a week for the first time this season, welcoming Real Sociedad before they kick-start their Champions League campaign with the visit of German side Union Berlin, who are making their debut in the competition. Ancelotti admitted he may have to rotate some players over both games to ensure they remain fit. He continued: “Tomorrow’s game is an important one against tough opposition. “We’ve got a lot of games and I’m going to rotate a bit more compared to when we played one game a week. Everyone is going to be involved. “For us, what is important is that we’re given time to recover properly. That’s enough. The internationals have returned in good shape and with more desire and enthusiasm after scoring goals and playing well in matches. They’ve come back in good condition.” Vinicius Jr has been absent for Real Madrid since the second game of the season as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered in their victory over Almeria in August. Ancelotti does not know when he will get the playmaker back but insists he is recovering well from the problem. “I don’t know the exact day he will be back,” Ancelotti said. “He’s recovering very well and we don’t want to force his recovery. The scar is fine and he’s increasing the workload. “Next week he’ll do some work with the team and we’ll see. I think he’ll recover before the six weeks that were said.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Kyle Steyn desperate for Scotland recall after missing South Africa clash Gabriel Jesus ‘changed Arsenal’s world last season’, says Mikel Arteta On this day in 2018: Simon Yates seals British Grand Tours treble at La Vuelta

Liverpool’s late show fired Jurgen Klopp’s men to a 3-1 comeback win at Wolves. Andrew Robertson and Hugo Bueno’s own goal saw the Reds escape Molineux with a victory which looked unlikely at half-time. Hwang Hee-Chan’s early opener gave Wolves the lead as the hosts dominated and only a woeful miss by Matheus Cunha stopped them going further ahead. Liverpool were wretched in the first half but slowly improved, levelling through Cody Gakpo before breaking Wolves’ resistance with four minutes left for a third comeback win of the season. Boss Klopp had unloaded a new blast at the fixture schedule ahead of the early kick-off and his mood would have darkened just seven minutes in. Vibrant Wolves had already begun to stretch Liverpool before they broke at pace from the edge of their own area. Cunha sent Pedro Neto scampering down the left and the forward glided past the flimsy Dominik Szoboszlai and Joel Matip. He had little support but rolled the ball across the front of goal for Hwang to slide in at the far post as Alisson failed to make the ground. Manager Gary O’Neil promised Wolves had a plan to be aggressive and they continued to press with debutant Jean-Ricner Bellegarde a bustling presence, in contrast to the sloppy £60m Szoboszlai. Neto was a constant menace, steering over Nelson Semedo’s cross before firing wide from 20 yards, with Liverpool shellshocked and unable to find rhythm. If Klopp, who patrolled his technical area with typical gusto, expected a response he was found wanting. Gakpo was anonymous, Mo Salah timid and Diego Jota wasted their only opening of the half, firing over from 15 yards. While masterminding Bournemouth’s escape from relegation last season, O’Neil oversaw a 1-0 win against Liverpool and the boss believes the Reds will challenge for the title again. After three wins from their opening four games, he expected to see an improved Liverpool at Molineux yet for spells it was one-way traffic as Wolves dominated and should have doubled their lead after 33 minutes. Again Neto was the architect, bamboozling Joe Gomez to cross for an unmarked Cunha, only for the striker to completely mistime his header from five yards to let Liverpool off the hook. It was a glaring miss but the pedestrian Reds were unable to take immediate advantage, Gakpo slicing wide and nodding over. There was, at least, a small spark from Liverpool before the break when Jose Sa spilled Jota’s cross to Salah, whose shot was blocked, with Sa then saving Szoboszlai’s follow up. The fear for Wolves was Liverpool would not be that passive in the second half and Klopp responded by introducing Luis Diaz for Alexis Mac Allister. It almost paid off immediately when the forward headed Robertson’s cross inches wide 90 seconds after the re-start – and the visitors levelled 10 minutes later. Wolves were unable to rob Diaz and Gakpo on the edge of the box, with the ball eventually rolling for Salah to cross low for Gakpo to tap in from close range. It was the striker’s final touch, Darwin Nunez replacing him, while Wolves’ good work was in the process of being completely undone. From being in charge, the hosts had their backs to the wall and only a last-ditch block from Max Kilman stopped Nunez snatching the lead. Yet the Reds struck with four minutes left after Sa gifted them a second. The goalkeeper’s poor clearance was collected by Robertson mid-way inside the Wolves half. He advanced to dart into the area, swapped passes with Salah and finish under Sa. There was still time for a third in stoppage time when Elliott’s 20-yard drive clipped Bueno to wrongfoot Sa and roll in off the post. Read More Who is Jarell Quansah? The Liverpool ‘phenomenon’ making a first Premier League start Wolves vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League latest updates Remembering former Wales great Gary Speed – Friday’s sporting social What Mohamed Salah’s dressing room speech says about Liverpool future Jurgen Klopp gives update on Mohamed Salah Saudi Arabia transfer As Saudi clubs prepare world-record bid, Mo Salah shows his true value to Liverpool

Jarell Quansah will make his full Premier League debut for Liverpool today at Wolves, as Jurgen Klopp gives the 20-year-old defender his backing with a first start. Quansah is a Liverpool academy product who has impressed in the club’s reserve team and on loan at Bristol Rovers last season, where he made 16 starts in League One. He has worked his way through the international age groups for England, appearing at the Under-20 World Cup last summer – though he remains eligible to play senior football for any of Scotland, Ghana and Barbados. The 6ft 2in centre-back is right footed and has built a reputation for his ability to play out from the back and break lines with accurate passing into midfield, and his enormous potential is one of the reasons the club didn’t feel an urgent need to spend big in defence over the summer. Follow Wolves vs Liverpool LIVE Quansah gets his opportunity today in place of the suspended Virgil van Dijk, who was sent off in Liverpool’s remarkable win over Newcastle at St James’ Park. Quansah came on in the latter stages of that game and it is fair to say Trent Alexander-Arnold was impressed by his new teammate. “Jarell Quansah, absolutely phenomenal in his first game for us, coming on in an atmosphere and an environment like this is extraordinary,” Alexander-Arnold said after the 2-1 comeback win. “To hold his own in the way he’s performed is outstanding.” Quansah later revealed what Klopp had told him before entering the field. “He just said that I’m ready for it and I felt ready, but as ready as you can be in this scenario,” Quansah told LFCTV. “You don’t expect to make your debut away with 10 men at St James’ Park 1-0 down, so it’s hard to put into words at this minute. “I’m normally cool anyway but it’s always easier when something is sprung on you and you have got the adrenaline running through your veins. It’s what dreams are made of, a cliché but it’s so true. I’m ready for whatever comes.” He later added on Instagram: “Couldn’t have asked for a better Premier League debut. Hard to put into words the feelings and emotions. A day I’ve dreamed of from the very start. Time to kick on.” Quansah also played against Aston Villa at Anfield a week later, where the Reds won 3-0. Now, returning after the international break looking to continue their momentum, Klopp has backed his young talent to play from the start at Molineux. Read More Wolves vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League latest updates Wolves vs Liverpool TV channel and how to watch today Remembering former Wales great Gary Speed – Friday’s sporting social

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Liverpool are taking on Wolves at Molineux today as the Premier League returns following the international break. Jurgen Klopp’s side enjoyed an impressive start to the season, winning three and drawing one of their opening four games to find themselves third in the early table, including a stunning 10-man victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park before despatching Aston Villa 3-0. “We would’ve loved to have carried on after the Aston Villa game, which was a really good game,” Klopp said this week, ruing the two-week gap. Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has endured of baptism of fire after suddenly taking charge before the start of the season. A 1-0 win at Everton brought the only points from their first four games, and he has warned his Wolves players they will have to be at their very best to beat a Liverpool side he is tipping to challenge for the title. “I’ll be very surprised if they’re not right at the top this year,” O’Neil said. Follow all the latest from the Premier League match below. Read More Is Wolves vs Liverpool on TV today? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Premier League fixture What Mohamed Salah’s dressing room speech says about Liverpool future Erik ten Hag says he inherited Manchester United with ‘no good culture’

Mikel Arteta lauded “tremendous” Gabriel Jesus who he claims “changed Arsenal’s world last season”. Gunners boss Arteta could start the Brazil striker for the first time this term at Everton on Sunday after he recovered from a spate of injuries. Jesus has made two substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring last time out in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United on September 3. But Arteta insists the former Manchester City forward’s game is about more than goals. “He is a tremendous player,” said Arteta, whose side finished runners-up in the Premier League in 2022-23. “A really important player for us. He changed our world last season. You could all see that. He is going to be a really important player for us. “I think he brought a different energy, a different belief, a different threat, a different fear to opponents. “And he did it in a really natural way and I think he contributed hugely to the step that we had last season. “He tracks a lot of attention and players in the way he plays and creates space for others and that’s a big quality. “When you sign a player you know, who has done it in the league and he’s got the hunger to join us for the right reasons – it was a no-brainer for us to do it and we could see the impact he had straight away in the team.” Arsenal’s last win at Goodison Park came in 2017 and they have scored just twice in their last five visits. Former Everton player Arteta talked up Sean Dyche’s side and identified the levels his players need to be at if they are to take all three points. “For me Everton’s quality is not physicality, it’s what they do and they play really well and Sean (Dyche) does well at doing that,” Arteta added. “Just talking about physicality doesn’t reflect the qualities they have, the reasons they do it, the intentions they have, how they build sequences and momentum in matches. There’s a lot of work there so it is much deeper than that in my opinion. Just talking about physicality doesn't reflect the qualities they have, the reasons they do it, the intentions they have, how they build sequences and momentum in matches. Arteta on Everton “They know (Arsenal players on how hard Everton away is). Obviously we have experienced it so there’s a level of focus and attention you need when you play against a team like that.” Arteta praised Eddie Nketiah after he featured in Gareth Southgate’s England squad earlier this month, despite the striker not playing a single minute during victories against Ukraine and Scotland. He said: “I think it’s a big point to be named in the England national team, it’s a big point. “I was really happy and proud of him and it’s the coaching staff’s decision (on who starts) and he’s going to have to earn the right to play, that shows you the level there is there.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Europe’s 12 Ryder Cup members make cut at BMW PGA Championship On this day in 2018: Simon Yates seals British Grand Tours treble at La Vuelta Justin Thomas finds crucial glimpse of form as Ryder Cup looms

Liverpool will move to the top of the Premier League if they defeat Wolves at Molineux in the first top-flight match following the international break. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are currently sat in third place, two points behind champions Manchester City, but as they are playing in today’s early kick off they have the chance to add a bit of pressure on Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of their clash with high-flying West Ham later in the afternoon. Liverpool’s start to the season was sketchy but they seem to be finding their rhythm as new midfield signings Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai settle into the team. Victories over Newcastle and Aston Villa have given them some momentum and they will hope to continue their winning streak against their hosts today. For their part, Wolves are looking to bounce back from a 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace. They’ve featured in some close contests already this year and will be confident of attacking Liverpool’s high defensive line. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game; get all the latest football betting sites offers here. When is Wolves vs Liverpool? The match kicks off at 12:30pm BST at Molineux. Where can I watch it? Wolves vs Liverpool will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. It will be streamed live on the TNT Sports app and desktop website for subscribers. What is the team news? The hosts are looking likely to be as close to full strength as possible, though a couple of players such as Sasa Kalajdzic are still working their way back to total match fitness. Liverpool have doubts over Trent Alexander-Arnold after he went off injured before the international break, while Virgil van Dijk has an extra game suspension to get through before he returns to the fold. Jurgen Klopp’s decisions will centre around which South Americans are too fatigued to start after long journeys back for Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Alisson and Alexis Mac Allister. Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo were both on the scoresheet for their national teams and will hope to return after being subs against Aston Villa last time out. Predicted line-ups Wolves XI: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Dawson, Ait Nouri, Sarabia, Lemina, Nunes, Hwang, Neto, Cunha Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Matip, Robertson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez Odds Wolves 6/1 Draw 4/1 Liverpool 5/12 Get the latest Premier League odds here. Prediction The Reds to have the firepower to pick up another win on the road and continue their strong start in results terms to 2023/24. Wolves 1-2 Liverpool. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Read More New signing Ryan Gravenberch says Liverpool one of ‘biggest clubs in the world’ What Mohamed Salah’s dressing room speech says about Liverpool future Remembering former Wales great Gary Speed – Friday’s sporting social What Mohamed Salah’s dressing room speech says about Liverpool future Jurgen Klopp gives update on Mohamed Salah Saudi Arabia transfer

Pep Guardiola admits he would have had a “big, big problem” if Kyle Walker had left Manchester City in the summer. The England right-back came close to leaving the treble winners for Bayern Munich but ultimately opted to stay and this week extended his contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2026. The 33-year-old had a spell out of favour last season but has started the new campaign strongly and Guardiola is pleased to have retained his services after losing experienced pair Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez. The City manager said: “After Gundo and Riyad, losing Bernardo (Silva) and Kyle would have have been a big, big problem. “It’s not about the quality – the skills you can find quite similar, or different players can help you – but there are some things in the locker room that are so difficult to replace. “These guys have a lot of experience in the important moments of important games. You know exactly how he’s going to respond in the bad moments. “It would have been a big loss. That’s why as a club of course we fought for him to stay with us.” Walker joined City from Tottenham in 2017 and has since won 15 trophies, including the Champions League and five Premier League titles. Guardiola believes he has matured into a far better player than when he arrived and recently underlined his qualities with his response to a calamitous error last month. Walker was at fault as Sheffield United claimed a late equaliser against City in their Premier League clash at Bramall Lane but then recovered to tee up Rodri’s dramatic winner. Everyone makes mistakes but he has an incredible heart. Pep Guardiola on Kyle Walker Guardiola said: “He made a wrong decision when they equalised but, right after the equaliser, the next two actions came from Kyle in the byline. It was a goal. What a top, top player. “He forgets what happened, says, ‘OK I’m going to win the game’. That defines the big, big players. “No doubt he’s a much, much better player than seven years ago when he arrived. That is clear. “Everyone makes mistakes but he has an incredible heart. And he’s a really nice guy, really nice, always tries to help. “When a player is injured, he always calls him. I was at home (after back surgery) and he called me twice. ‘How you feel, Pep?’ This counts a lot in the group of people. “The reason why we have a lot of success? The quality of human beings that we have.” Walker has captained City so far this season and, with Kevin De Bruyne currently sidelined, could be the favoured choice to succeed Gundogan in the role full-time. A vote among the squad and backroom staff – in which Guardiola will not participate – is due to be held in the coming days. Guardiola said: “The vote will be taken the next days and the players will decide. It belongs to the players, not to me. What they decide, I’m fine (with).” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Mauricio Pochettino feels Chelsea’s young squad must be given time Erik ten Hag unsure whether Jadon Sancho will play for Manchester United again Early stages of life at Spurs ‘nothing like my honeymoon’ says Ange Postecoglou

Jadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United looks bleak after Erik ten Hag admitted he does not know whether the winger will play for the club again. The 23-year-old is training away from the first team as a disciplinary measure after claiming on social media that he had been made a “scapegoat” following his omission from the squad for the defeat at Arsenal before the international break. Ten Hag hinted that it was not just this misstep that was taken into consideration when deciding the punishment, though repeatedly declined the opportunity to speak about Sancho when asked at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s visit of Brighton. The episode bears similarity to the way Cristiano Ronaldo was jettisoned out of the club after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan last year and Ten Hag said he did not know how long Sancho’s disciplinary procedure would last or whether he will represent United again. Asked directly whether he would pull on the United shirt again, Ten Hag said: “I don’t know. I am sitting here. Tomorrow we have a big game, we are going into a new block of games, many games in a condensed programme. I focus on that.” On how long the disciplinary process might last, the Dutchman replied: “I don’t know but, as I say, I don’t think about that. I think about tomorrow. I think about the way the team has to progress. I have a lot to consider to make the right decisions. “He is not available, so in this moment, he is not important, because he can’t contribute.” Ten Hag, who claimed he inherited a club with “no good culture” when he took over, was at pains to stress that he was not focused on Sancho and the team is the most important thing. “It’s in favour of the team. That is what my decision is based on,” he said. “That is not about me, and to be strict. No. This is in favour of the team. I don’t think about that (Sancho’s tweet) and I don’t talk about that, because I have to win a game. It is all about that. “The players who are there and available deserve me. I have to guide them, I have to prepare them, it is about that. I only focus on the players who are available. “It is also not about me, it is about the team and the club. I put my energy into giving the best performance tomorrow against Brighton. “As a club, as a team we have to deal with that. But once again it is no importance to the coming games, I have to put my energy so that the team play their best tomorrow, in a week, the coming period. I have to focus on that.” He is not available, so in this moment, he is not important, because he can’t contribute Erik ten Hag on Jadon Sancho Sancho’s misdemeanour is the latest in a long line of off-field issues that Ten Hag has had to deal with since his appointment last summer and he said part of his brief was to instil better discipline at the club. Ten Hag said: “Strict lines is what the club asked me because there was no good culture before I entered last season, so to set good standards, that is what I did and it is my job to control the standards. “Of course, it is never someone only makes one mistake, it is a whole process before you come to a certain outcome about strict lines. “If staff or players or whoever, there is a structure to cross lines so you have to be strong.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Early stages of life at Spurs ‘nothing like my honeymoon’ says Ange Postecoglou Steve Borthwick says Lewis Ludlam is ‘the right person to start’ against Japan Dawid Malan’s happy to be left holding the baby after shining in England victory

Chelsea’s policy of targeting young players in the transfer market must be given time to prove its effectiveness, according to boss Mauricio Pochettino. Co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have led a recruitment drive that has prioritised youth over experience during the last two transfer windows. At an average age of just over 23 the club have the youngest squad in the Premier League this season, with contracts of seven or eight years for new players common at Stamford Bridge. They have broken the British transfer record twice in 2023 on two players who are under 23, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Yet the team have taken just four points from the manager’s first four league games in charge, after a summer in which recruitment spend in the previous 12 months under the current ownership surpassed the £1billion mark. The manager was unhappy with the ease with which Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga was allowed to run through the heart of his team’s defence to score the only goal in the visitors’ 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge before the international break, and mistakes in defence and in midfield have been a theme in the season’s early weeks. Nevertheless, Chelsea have enjoyed periods of dominance in all four fixtures, particularly in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on the opening weekend and in the 3-0 win over newly-promoted Luton. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic said this week that the squad lacked the kind of world-class individuals that helped the club win five Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues over the past 20 years. But Pochettino has seen enough to be reassured that his ideas are taking root amongst his young squad, and appealed for the necessary patience for an inexperienced group to find their flow. “They were (once) young also, John Terry was young, Frank Lampard was young, (Didier) Drogba was young,” he said. “You know better maybe than me, that is a completely different pressure. This is a different Chelsea to what I saw when I was at Tottenham or Southampton. Worse or better? I’m not saying that. “But it’s different pressure. Different circumstances. Now we cannot compare with the past. I think it’s not fair. It’s a different Chelsea. What I want to translate is the fans want to win because the normal way in the past for Chelsea is to win. “We need to accelerate all the process, because Chelsea is about to win, and we want to win. But I understand that the process is completely different to in the past. Because we have a different approach to the game and the philosophy and the ideas, (it means) we have a young squad of course. “(We have) very talented players that need time to perform. But for sure we have one of the best squads of young players with the project. But of course we need time. We need to be careful about how we evolve and how we develop these ideas. But it’s true, players that need to improve and improve.” Chelsea travel to Bournemouth on Sunday looking to win away from home for just the second time since March, with their only victory on the road in that time coming on their previous visit to the Vitality Stadium at the end of last season. Pochettino spoke positively about his side’s performances so far this campaign despite a points return that has left them 12th. He emphasised that his young squad are carrying the club into a new era where success is planned over a longer period, investing in potential rather than ready-made stars. “I cannot give my opinion about what (Begovic) said because I didn’t hear,” he added. “But it’s obvious that at the moment, if you’re talking about a name like John Terry or Lampard or Drogba… come on. “Today maybe we have the potential of Lampard or Terry or Drogba, but they are young. They need to prove that they can be one of these guys. “In the past, Chelsea was about to sign (big) players, like Drogba. Now the idea is to buy young people to have the possibility to develop and to build a team. We are in the process of building a team.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Pep Guardiola admits Kyle Walker exit would have given him a ‘big, big problem’ Erik ten Hag unsure whether Jadon Sancho will play for Manchester United again Early stages of life at Spurs ‘nothing like my honeymoon’ says Ange Postecoglou