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A wild weekend in England’s top flight has Fantasy Premier League bosses considering what could come next and whether overthinking taking the captaincy away from Erling Haaland is really the way to go - but this week presents a chance for calmer reflection and, just maybe, sweeping wholesale changes to reignite a title bid, especially if a wildcard is available to use. Here are five players we think could impress in gameweek 13 and perhaps beyond, with managers needing to decide whether using a transfer or two earlier in the week is a gamble worth taking, or holding out until after the upcoming international fixtures is worth the potential greater price. Note: Our FPL tips come out every Monday but this is international week - so no domestic fixtures this weekend! James Ward-Prowse, West Ham (6.1) The central midfielder ended a run of six games without a goal or assist last time out to register two of the latter for the Hammers - and there’s reason to think his points could continue to tally up fast after the break. Ward-Prowse faces bottom club Burnley in the first match back, followed by a run which includes Crystal Palace at home, Fulham away and Wolves at home in the next four fixtures. These are games West Ham will feel they can win, but Ward-Prowse’s set-piece delivery will be a big part of that if so and he could be a solid operator for a period without breaking the bank. Luca Koleosho, Burnley (5.0) Our picks this time out are going to include some contrarian options, fair warning! And one of the starters for the league’s bottom club definitely comes under that category, especially since Luka Koleosho has just a single assist and no goals to his name this term. Yet his recent performances have been good, he’s in the starting lineup on a regular basis and between his acceleration, his dribbling and his willingness to get shots away, it looks only a matter of time before the 19-year-old starts to find some end product. Add in the Clarets’ upcoming fixture list - after West Ham at home it’s Sheffield United home too, then Wolves, Brighton and Everton - and if Burnley are going to mount some sort of resistance against relegation, he’ll surely play a part and it’ll surely have to come in this run of games. Listed as a midfielder in FPL, the wide forward is a cheap option to consider as a bench alternative at least. Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea (7.3) Speaking of contrarian options, how about getting ahead of the game? Chelsea’s £51m signing is still waiting for his competitive debut for the Blues but Christopher Nkunku has all the talent to make himself not just a starter for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in rapid order, but prove himself one of the Premier League’s best all-round attackers. It remains to be seen exactly where he fits into the team, but Chelsea are starting to click and the France international is on the cusp of his comeback from injury. Away to Newcastle seems a hard fixture at first, but the Magpies are decimated by injuries right now, particularly in defence and midfield. Nkunku, an FPL forward, might play here, might not - but when he does, it’s almost certain his price will quickly start to rise as managers jump in on his dribbling and high volume of shot-taking. Why not get in ahead of time? Jayden Bogle, Sheffield United (4.5m) If a Burnley attacker is contrarian, a Sheffield United defender might be even more so. But with a couple of nice fixtures to play, an upturn in team results and confidence and plenty to like about Jayden Bogle’s attacking capabilities, he could be another squad makeweight for the odd game who doesn’t take up big funds and might just offer a well-timed assist. The right wing-back has one goal this season and two assists (in FPL terms at least!), and if we set aside the hammering by Arsenal, has mustered an average of just under three points per game over his (other) last four appearances. There could even be a rare clean sheet bonus to come against either Bournemouth or Burnley in the next couple of games. Abdoulaye Doucoure, Everton (5.5m) Rounding off our selections is Everton’s advanced midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, a key component under Sean Dyche and an in-form one, too. He notched a goal and an assist against Crystal Palace last time out and will look to add to both across a run against a very poor Manchester United side, a leaky Nottingham Forest and an injury-hit Newcastle. It’s surprising really that Doucoure’s price hasn’t really risen; he’s selected currently by fewer than 1% of teams, yet has picked up more FPL points this season than the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Martin Odegaard, Dejan Kulusevski or Marcus Rashford. Playing just off the front man, Everton’s powerhouse runner from deep is often a goal threat and could comfortably sit in squads as a regular rotation option depending on the Toffees’ upcoming opponents. Read More The surprise truth behind Klopp’s blueprint to beat Pep Guardiola How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City Many Premier League managers have been in contact after FA charge – Mikel Arteta The surprise truth behind Klopp’s blueprint to beat Pep Guardiola How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City Many Premier League managers have been in contact after FA charge – Mikel Arteta

In 2021, Pep Guardiola was reflecting on an epic managerial rivalry that then only lasted a mere eight years. “He made me a better manager,” he said of Jurgen Klopp. When he registered his greatest achievement since leaving Barcelona, it owed something to Klopp, too. In swift succession, his captain lifted the Premier League, the FA Cup and then the Champions League. A decade after scoring for Klopp in a Champions League final at Wembley, Ilkay Gundogan struck twice for Guardiola in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Gundogan felt like a footballing soulmate of Guardiola – as well as a neighbour in the same deluxe Manchester apartment block – but a diplomat had links in each camp: Klopp often texted his former midfielder congratulations when Manchester City won something, just as he got in touch when Liverpool drew Guardiola’s team in the Champions League in 2018. Gundogan is gone now – to Guardiola’s old club and spiritual home, Barcelona – but he remains an example of how the Catalan has been influenced by the manager who has beaten him most often. As Guardiola’s haul from the seasons when they have faced each other stands at five Premier League titles and two Bundesligas, Klopp is likelier to defeat him over 90 minutes than nine months. That Guardiola has always tended to have greater resources is a factor: a mantra of Klopp’s is that he has never wanted to be the best team in the world as much as beat the best. And, with great regularity, that is how he describes City. Now, as Champions League winners, that description is utterly uncontroversial. Yet Guardiola’s methods for establishing superiority have entailed borrowing from Klopp. “I learned a lot from watching Liverpool,” he said in January. He learned from watching Borussia Dortmund, too: his first game as Bayern Munich manager a 4-2 defeat to Klopp’s previous club. It exposed him to the blistering speed of counterattacks in the Bundesliga. A recurring theme of many of Guardiola’s most chastening defeats in the subsequent decade has been a susceptibility to the break against quick transitions; his tactical shifts have often been predicated on attempts to provide protection against them. His use of inverted full-backs coming into midfield began in Bavaria and was designed in part to shield the defence when his side lost the ball. His sudden fondness for full-backs who are centre-backs by trade, however, reflected on lessons learned at Anfield. Explaining Nathan Ake’s role, he said in May: “You need proper defenders to win duels one on one.” He cited four wingers as reasons why, four men he would not want to be isolated against a midfielder masquerading as a full-back. One of them, Mohamed Salah, scored against City in four different games last season. He did not mention Sadio Mane, but the previous season, the Senegalese scored four times against City. One of those multifunctional defenders, Manuel Akanji, was on Liverpool’s radar in the past. He came from Dortmund, like Gundogan: a curiosity is that, during Klopp’s reign at Anfield, City have signed three players from his old club and Liverpool none. The third, Erling Haaland, was a signing that may bear comparisons with Bayern’s raid on Dortmund for Robert Lewandowski in 2014. And yet neither Klopp nor Guardiola is indelibly associated with the conventional centre-forward. The exchange of ideas can be a two-way affair. If one is seen as an apostle of pressing, the other the godfather of passing, there are common denominators and influences in either direction. If there has often been a difference of thought about wingers, with City’s often charged with supplying touchline-hugging width and Klopp’s normally goalscorers in narrower roles, running the channels inside the full-backs, the double act of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane, who fashioned perhaps the most viscerally entertaining Guardiola side, offered echoes of Liverpool. Meanwhile, there has been a shared fondness for the false nine. Liverpool had the Premier League’s definitive one, in Roberto Firmino; Guardiola had a host of them in the two seasons before Haaland’s arrival. Firmino reflected another tactical priority: with his propensity to drop deep, he gave Liverpool four players in an area populated by a three-man central midfield. City’s fourth player there was often a full-back of sorts, whether Fabian Delph, Oleksandr Zinchenko or Joao Cancelo. Now there has been a role reversal of sorts: Liverpool’s fourth man is a full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Merseysider readily admits that he is studying John Stones and Rodri in a bid to gain a greater understanding of his midfield duties. Stones, the centre-back who has become a hybrid midfielder, is Guardiola’s latest invention. Meanwhile, Klopp, lacking the injured Andy Robertson, will probably play Joe Gomez as his Ake, a centre-back operating as a left-back. Klopp’s midfield has taken on a Guardiola-esque look, with more technicians and attack-minded players and fewer ball-winners. Guardiola’s last game, the frenetic 4-4 draw at Chelsea, was reminiscent of the kind of confusion the early Klopp teams brought. Perhaps it is a one-off, perhaps a sign that Guardiola, who long embraced control, is instead accepting Klopp-style chaos. Maybe he is missing Gundogan, a midfielder forged in part by a peer but whose style was perhaps always best suited to Guardiola. Meanwhile, the injured afterthought at Anfield represented Klopp’s attempt to add Guardiola’s class in possession: in 2021-22, when Liverpool almost did the quadruple, it seemed as though Thiago Alcantara may be the man who added the extra dimension. Instead, a year later, it was Gundogan, Klopp’s protege, who propelled City to greater glory. It came in Klopp’s worst full season in charge on Merseyside. Yet now Liverpool are revived, once again City’s closest challengers. It is safe to say Guardiola won’t be surprised. Two years ago, he said: “They’re going to come back sooner or later: knowing the club, and the manager.” Now Liverpool are back. Over 10 years and 28 games, rivals have been opposites and influences, a mutual admiration society who have driven each other to greater heights yet providing reasons why either has not won even more. They have shaped each other’s sides and their thinking. And, as ever, their duel could shape a season. Manchester City vs Liverpool will kick off at 12.30pm on Saturday 25 November on Sky Sports Read More Pep Guardiola puts Jurgen Klopp on pedestal as ‘by far’ his biggest career rival The surprise truth behind Klopp’s blueprint to beat Pep Guardiola Pep Guardiola makes Man City vow — even if they are ‘relegated to League One’ Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland injury update ahead of Liverpool clash Premier League news LIVE: Updates from today’s press conferences Pep Guardiola not concerned that Manchester City only had eight subs at Chelsea

Jurgen Klopp cast himself as the philosophical opposite of his rival for Saturday’s crunch match. They have been pitted against each other for a decade now, Klopp and Pep Guardiola, over 28 meetings from the German Super Cup to the Community Shield, via the FA, Carabao and German cups, the Bundesliga, the Premier League and the Champions League. They will be in neighbouring technical areas at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday when Manchester City host Liverpool, just as they are side by side again in the league table, for a game Klopp said he “would watch wherever I was on the planet”. But, once again, he is up against the man he deems the finest in his business. “I don't know how often I have said it but he's the best manager in the world,” he said. And while he will willingly admit that Guardiola is an influence, he compared himself to his great rival by drawing a distinction between them. “Defending is an important part of the game,” he said. “That is where my philosophy starts and his maybe ends.” Guardiola may disagree on that point, given the importance he attaches to pressing. As Klopp accepted: “We are not that close that we have spoken about it.” But Klopp’s blueprint against Guardiola involves defending; which, in turn, is the basis of his attacking. Gegenpressing, after all, is his best playmaker. “I love preparing for a game when the opponent wants the ball because it gives you an opportunity to create something,” he said. Devastating transitions have been at the heart of his blueprint to beat Guardiola. It is one that no one else has been able to copy; not with any consistency. Only one manager has faced Guardiola at least eight times and has won more often than he has lost, and that is the man who has taken him on most often. Klopp’s 12 victories have been spread across Germany and England but have had certain common denominators. Klopp’s teams don’t dominate the ball, and nor do they try to. But nor do they give it up altogether: beating Manchester City with 20 per cent possession, he rationalised, “is really rare and your counterattacks have to be spot on”. And if Liverpool’s sometimes are, they had 37 per cent of the ball when they won 1-0 at Anfield last season, 32 per cent in the 2-1 Champions League victory at the Etihad Stadium, 36 per cent in 2018’s 4-3 triumph at Anfield. Klopp’s sides have to defend well, but the scorelines indicate that the games have not been defensive. Perhaps it is simply testament to the attacking quality on the pitch but those 28 matches have produced 93 goals, an average of 3.32 each. While winning more – 12 to 11 – Klopp’s teams have conceded more goals, 48 to 45; as he knows from 5-0, 4-0, 4-1 and 4-1 results, when City are on top, they can seem unstoppable. “If we can make it really uncomfortable for them, we have a chance,” Klopp said. “If they feel comfortable in their game, no team has a chance.” Arguably, no one else has made life uncomfortable for Guardiola as often as Klopp. Some of the unconventional decisions that have led to accusations that the Catalan overthinks things have come against Liverpool: Aymeric Laporte has played at left-back at Anfield, Ilkay Gundogan as a quasi-right-winger and Jack Grealish as a false nine, none with any conspicuous success. Klopp nevertheless argued that it will be hard for Guardiola to spring a surprise. “We are all kind of predictable so it is not that we have a rabbit in our pocket and pull it out,” he said. “It is football, all the pitches are the same size and it is super interesting.” He knows City want the ball and where they want it. The challenge lies in concentration and organisation, in when to try to take it off them, how and whether Liverpool can spring a break. “Now it is about each space on the pitch you give them on the pitch that they want to explore,” he said. “They really want to play. They are the one team who have four at the back and one of them is the goalkeeper. They don’t only play around their own box, they move slightly higher as well. If we have a solution for that, they will step back and adapt.” Guardiola can seem the control freak of the pair, Klopp the man with a brand of chaos theory. Yet he presented himself as the organiser, the defensive strategist, and the City manager as the ranter and raver. “I am not sure how deep you have to go into our personality to see what we are like,” he said. “I am 56 and I still don't know who I am but Pep is for sure this type of guy who likes to get angry with his boys if they don't want the ball. I have that a little bit. For me, I love to organise other things to get advantage from that and that is deep in my personality.” And that personality, over the years, has equipped him for the seemingly impossible task of facing Guardiola. Read More Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can benefit from Alexis Mac Allister’s deeper role Jamie Carragher explains how new Trent Alexander-Arnold role can leave Liverpool vulnerable How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City Pep Guardiola puts Jurgen Klopp on pedestal as ‘by far’ his biggest career rival Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can benefit from Alexis Mac Allister’s deeper role Mohamed Salah ‘a completely different animal’ for Liverpool before Man City clash

Jurgen Klopp has described Mohamed Salah as a “completely different animal” to the player he signed in 2017 and said the Egyptian is determined to improve again. Salah will bring up 200 goals for Liverpool – a feat only four players have ever achieved – if he scores twice when they face league leaders Manchester City on Saturday. And the Liverpool manager feels Salah is showing the work ethic to get better, while praising him for the way he has helped his fellow forward Darwin Nunez settle into life at Anfield and form a “pretty special partnership”. “He can improve but that is all about consistency and little moments in games,” Klopp said. “He expects that. Why would he come and be first in the building every morning and the last out if he doesn’t want to improve? It is about gaining that experience over the years that he knows much more about the game. “So, where is the position? He is a completely different player to the one who arrived here and he was good at that time, that’s why we signed him. Now his experience in dealing with different situation... he is a completely different animal. “He is really good with his teammates, all the offensive players look up to him and he is really supportive to them. That is a really good connection. In the beginning, Mo had to be more for himself and find his feet and himself and the way to impress me and maybe prove some people wrong. That’s completed settled now. Having still this desire to score makes him the player he is and that is pretty special. I’ve said it a million times - long may it continue.” Nunez joined Liverpool for £64m – which could rise to a club record £85m – in the 2022 and has struck up a fine understanding with Salah. All nine of the Uruguayan’s assists have come for the Egyptian and Klopp believes it is a sign of their intelligence that they are combining so well. He explained: “You cannot become a Liverpool player if you are not really football-smart. What would you do if you spring 900mph down the line and you look and think, who else has the same speed and [will] be in the right position? And it’s probably Mo. “The other players are quick as well, but that’s why Darwin and Mo is clicking and they look for each other. It’s not that they cut out the other boys, it’s just a different way of playing. “When we played with Bobby [Firmino] more centrally, I am not sure what the numbers are between Sadio [Mane] and Mo, but they were pretty good as well. They were the first two arriving in the box and if you want to pass the ball it is to probably to one of them. “How Mo supports the boys, Darwin came here big expectations and Mo probably understood the situation probably the best and saw his potential and wanted to help him. Without having the longest conversations because of some language issues, that was for sure the start of a pretty special partnership.” Read More Alexis Mac Allister’s performance could be key against Man City – Jan Molby Jamie Carragher explains Trent Alexander-Arnold role can leave Liverpool vulnerable How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana are set to be fit as the Premier League returns from the November international break this weekend. All three players withdrew or were absent from their international squads over the past fortnight but are set to be available for their respective fixtures. Haaland was considered to be an injury doubt after picking up a knock in Norway’s friendly win against the Faroe Islands, but Pep Guardiola is hopeful he will be ready to face Liverpool in Saturday’s top-of-the table clash. The battle between Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp kicks off when should be a fascinating run of fixtures leading up to Christmas and beyond. Along with the fight for first place, there’s the battle for fourth with Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle and Brighton all chasing down Tottenham who currently sit in the final Champions League place. Villa face Spurs this weekend while United host Everton. Speaking of the Toffees, they are once again in the midst of a relegation battle having been deducted 10-points for breaking the Premier League’s financial rules. The deduction sees them drop down to 19th above Burnley, and puts them two points away from safety. Follow along for the latest updates and injury news from the Premier League: Read More Pep Guardiola ‘hopeful’ Erling Haaland will return from injury to face Liverpool Mauricio Pochettino provides Chelsea injury updates on Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia Mikel Arteta reveals Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus updates before Brentford clash

Three wins from 10 games and just 13 goals scored. Rewind almost a month and the Premier League campaign had started in bleak fashion for Chelsea; the critics were loud from some sections over Mauricio Pochettino’s lack of a quick impact, highlighted all the more by Ange Postecoglou doing exactly that a few miles further north. Yet even with a misfiring front line there had occasionally been hints of what this team could be: the beginnings of partnerships, a few players starting to settle, standing out, finding their form. In a team which has been ripped up and effectively started anew over the last year, cohesion between individuals is everything to rebuilding a style and a successful approach. Pochettino has been hampered there, too, by injuries and absences, imbalances and those who arrived before him not reaching the level hoped of them. Now, two matches later and with eight goals scored across them – including four in that chaotic, eternally watchable draw with Man City just prior to the international break – there is not just intangible reason for optimism, but quite clear on-pitch alterations which show Chelsea should be far higher than the 10th place they currently occupy. Nicolas Jackson’s confidence has been boosted by his hat-trick at Tottenham. Raheem Sterling – perhaps the best way of hitting back at being left out continually by England – has been electric, leading Chelsea’s attack by example and producing crucial final-third contributions. And then there’s Cole Palmer, who cost up to £42m and has played only 28 top-flight matches, but who has already forced his way into the Three Lions squad, Pochettino’s best XI and the forefront of Chelsea fans’ minds when considering how they’ll return to the top. Yet the best is unquestionably still ahead and the player who might be Chelsea’s best link, spearhead and quite possibly best player overall has yet to play a single minute – but Christopher Nkunku’s English adventure is about to begin. Quite aside from his fitness and sharpness levels after almost four months on the sidelines, there are a couple of questions about how Pochettino will fit the former RB Leipzig man into his lineup. An all-round attacker, he played everywhere from an offensive midfielder to an in-from-out wide man and a central No 9 in the Bundesliga, while his time with the French national team has also been across the width of the front line. Where he looked at his best was perhaps as a free-roving centre-forward, able to be a box presence but also contribute enormously to the team’s build-up play, but one doesn’t necessarily directly translate to the other given the differences between Leipzig’s at-times chaotic and fully-committed transition attacking play, and Pochettino aiming to give Chelsea’s approach more structure, more consistency, more dominance. Jackson’s purple patch and ability to lead the line could mean that as well as reducing how quickly Nkunku is called upon, he will act best as part of a two-man attack when opposition quality allows. From Pochettino’s current team, that most likely means that one of the midfield triumvirate of Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez or Moises Caicedo is removed from the fold. But if it’s unlikely that happens too often, too soon, then Nkunku’s versatility may quickly make him Chelsea’s biggest tactical weapon as well as possibly their most potent one. His ability to attack from all areas of the final third means the manager can pick and choose how to play him, whether it’s a game for midfield solidity, for Palmer’s impetuous creativity or for Jackson’s constant foraging behind the defensive line. Occasionally it may be a game for all three, of course. But Nkunku’s combination of ball-carrying, ability to pick a pass and propensity for finding the back of the net – with 16 goals he joint-top scored in the Bundesliga last term – means that, once fit, he’ll almost certainly be the man for all solutions, all gameplans, all opponents. Chelsea may find that his return is a timely one. Of course, the team as a whole finding more form and cohesion, and more of the self-belief which comes from these, could itself lead to an upturn in fortunes. But so too might their upcoming fixture list, despite looking relatively tough on the face of things. Newcastle, Brighton, Manchester United and Everton – with only the Seagulls visiting Stamford Bridge in that run – looks a difficult three weeks or so to navigate. But the Magpies will head into Saturday’s game short due to injuries and with just two wins in six, plus a crucial trip to PSG following three days later. Minds, as well as team selections, might not be 100 per cent geared towards the league encounter. Brighton have themselves struggled for fluency of late, with just two wins in 10 dating back to late September, while the less said about consistency and cohesion the better regarding Erik ten Hag’s team this season. There are chances here, then, for Pochettino to pick up not just points but positivity and progression – up the table and with regards to finding his most favoured regular team. Chelsea’s squad and spending alike should insist upon a much higher position in the table. They’ve improved enough in recent weeks to show they’ll certainly start to move up; how quickly Nkunku is integrated and how fast he rediscovers his best level will almost certainly dictate just how much higher they go. Read More Mauricio Pochettino provides Chelsea injury update on Christopher Nkunku Is Chelsea vs Paris FC on TV? Channel, time and how to watch Women’s Champions League Premier League clubs set for fresh split ahead of crunch meeting What Everton ruling means for the Premier League, Man City and Chelsea Chelsea ‘robbed’ by ‘embarrassing’ referee in Real Madrid draw, fumes Emma Hayes Cole Palmer: ‘The most annoying thing about moving down south? The traffic’

Pep Guardiola is hopeful Erling Haaland will return for Manchester City against Liverpool after withdrawing from the Norway squad during the international break. The striker missed Norway’s final Euro 2024 qualifier against Scotland on Sunday after picking up a knock to his ankle in Thursday’s 2-0 friendly win over the Faroe Islands. Although Norway insisted the injury was “not serious”, Haaland withdrew from the squad and returned to Manchester City for treatment ahead of this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash. Premier League leaders City host rivals Liverpool in Saturday’s early kick-off, as Jurgen Klopp’s resurgent side look to spark another title race between the clubs this season. Haaland’s two goals in the 4-4 draw at Chelsea before the international break took his Premier League tally to 13 goals in 12 games this season, and the striker will be key to City’s hopes with Kevin De Bruyne sidelined until after Christmas. “He’s trained with niggles yesterday, hopefully he can train today and we will see,” Guardiola said. “We have a few problems, The same as many clubs. We will see in the training session and we will see tomorrow. At 6pm I will know for sure which players I will have tomorrow. Always it’s plan A.” More follows Read More Jamie Carragher explains Trent Alexander-Arnold role can leave Liverpool vulnerable Premier League news LIVE: Updates from today’s press conferences How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City

When Katie Taylor fought Chantelle Cameron in Dublin in May, Conor McGregor was ringside – an Irish fighting icon watching from the front row, as another went to war in the ring. McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout also sponsored the event, where 37-year-old Taylor suffered the first loss of her professional career – a remarkable career, in which the Irishwoman has been a pioneer for female boxing. Forged Irish Stout is also sponsoring Taylor’s rematch with Cameron on Saturday, when the boxers return to the 3Arena, where Cameron retained her undisputed super-lightweight titles against the undisputed lightweight champion six months ago. Earlier this week, Forged Irish Stout even erected a 14ft statue of Taylor in her hometown of Bray, 20 miles south of Dublin. McGregor, 35, is expected to be ringside again on Saturday, supporting Taylor who is an altogether different personality than the former UFC champion. “We have different personalities, but he’s obviously a very proud Irishman as well,” Taylor told Behind the Gloves in May. “He definitely is crazier, [but the sponsorship] is amazing. “Conor McGregor’s obviously a big name here, so it’s great to get the support off him for this event as a whole. It’s super!” Meanwhile, McGregor, who has not fought since breaking his leg in July 2021, had this to say of his compatriot in May: “Katie’s a super woman – for God and for country, that’s what she is. She stands by her beliefs, she called her shot, and I’ll always back Katie – all the way. “[She] brought big-time boxing back to the capital! [Katie,] you are a credit to the nation of Ireland, and the sport of boxing is indebted to you forever! Let’s go! With you all the way! Proud to back you.” Read More Katie Taylor: ‘I hate these press conferences, there’s nothing to say!’ ‘She’s not an athlete, she’s a deity’: Katie Taylor and a nation in awe Katie Taylor: ‘Failure is where all your growth happens’

I remember seeing her move with my naked eye for the first time. I was like: ‘What in the name of God is this?’” Peter Carroll, a combat-sports journalist and Dublin native, is recalling his first time meeting Katie Taylor. “She was 2-0. Me and maybe five other media guys are called to this tiny boxing gym in rural Ireland,” Carroll tells The Independent, leaning over a raised table in the foyer of Dublin City Convention Centre. “The gym’s roof is leaking, it’s this run-down spot, there’s room for the boxing ring and nothing else.” That’s all Taylor has ever needed. Four corners, three ropes, one canvas on which to physically plant her feet and figuratively paint a pioneer’s legacy. Born in Bray, 20 miles south of Dublin, Taylor was raised by her mother Bridget Cranley and father Pete Taylor – a former boxing champion who would coach Katie for some years. Early in her boxing journey, Katie was a girl pretending to be a boy, just for the chance to compete; now 37, she is a queen of combat sports who has carried women’s boxing on her back for over a decade. As an amateur, she claimed Olympic gold for Ireland in 2012, after carrying her nation’s flag at the opening ceremony in London. She won five consecutive world titles and took six European crowns. As a professional, she has reigned atop two weight classes, ruling the lightweight division as undisputed champion. She has headlined Madison Square Garden and earned the first seven-figure payday in women’s boxing. Until May, she had never been beaten as a pro. But this is to tell Taylor’s story as an outsider. Ireland, however? Ireland will tell you stories about Katie Taylor. “My first time hearing about Katie would have been before the 2012 Olympics,” says Mel Christle, who will be supervising Taylor’s rematch with Chantelle Cameron on Saturday, as the chairman of the Boxing Union of Ireland. “There was this little ‘legend’ – but a true one – that she was boxing teenagers and grown adults when she was young. I also heard what a talented footballer she was. I’ve no doubt that, if not for her boxing, she would’ve gone on to play for Ireland – at senior level, not just juniors. She’s just a special athlete.” Or something more. “She’s like a deity, she’s not like an athlete,” Carroll says. “I don’t think anyone has meant as much to Ireland as Katie.” Christle, Carroll and other Dublin locals are speaking to The Independent two days out from Taylor vs Cameron 2. Six months ago, Cameron stepped off a plane from England, strode into the 3Arena, and outpointed Taylor. In truth, she outworked Taylor to do so. With that, Cameron retained the undisputed super-lightweight titles, but this weekend, Taylor has another chance to take those belts from the first woman to beat her as a pro – and to become an undisputed champion in a second division. “I think what happened was, all week we celebrated the icon and forgot about the competitor,” Carroll says of the first fight. “Immediately after the event, we’re face to face with the competitor, when [her promoter] Eddie Hearn is like: ‘She wants to do the exact same thing again.’ We’re thinking, ‘Oh, my God.’ I personally think she’s the greatest Irish athlete ever, and that won’t change if she loses on Saturday. People will bring up GAA [Gaelic football] players and rugby players... Where are the world titles? I want to see you leaving this island and doing something magical.” Carroll mentions former rugby union captain Brian O’Driscoll and retired jockey Ruby Walsh as Irish athletes who “might be held in that regard”. But? “I don’t think anyone comes near Katie Taylor. I’ve never heard anyone go, ‘You know what? Katie Taylor really p****s me off,’ and she’s been around since I was a child! You can’t even compare Conor McGregor to her,” Carroll adds, referencing the former two-weight UFC champion, who once held a nation’s adoration in the palm of his 4oz gloves. “His achievements are overlooked in Ireland now, based on what he’s done outside of the cage. “The thing with McGregor was: He became a massive sensation over the space of three years, then it went away. He’s not beloved by everyone in Ireland anymore, but he was what we are. Katie Taylor is what we want to be. That’s why she’s taken on this saintly aura to Irish people. She’s the definition of Irishness for a lot of people, and when she fights and represents us, we come away feeling good.” And crucially, you don’t need to be immersed in boxing to feel that effect – the Katie Taylor effect. “She is a deity, she’s brilliant,” says Tony Coleman, a sightseeing guide in Dublin. “She put boxing on the map for every woman in Ireland, for every woman in the world. Everybody looks up to her, all the kids around Ireland look up to her. She’s not a show-off. She wouldn’t walk by a person on the street without saying hello. She’s not one of these people like Conor McGregor, coming out and shouting at people; she’s a beautiful person. You can tell that just by the way she goes on. She’s a lovely woman.” Christle echoes that sentiment. “If I could sum it up for you in one word: Humility,” he says emphatically. “She never boasts or brags. If you’re nine years old or 90, she’ll afford you the same respect.” Taylor’s commitment to her religion also contributes to her stark connection with a Catholic country. “Sports fans love Katie, and priests like Katie! She’s pure,” Carroll says, while Christle concurs: “She’s a religious soul to her core. She’s a very principled person, whether or not you believe in the same principles as her.” A patron at The Storyteller on Grand Canal Street is also quick to acknowledge that element of Ireland’s affinity with Taylor: “She believes in a higher power. The good Lord is looking down on her.” So, when Taylor fights, God looks down and Irish children look up. Everybody looks on. At 10.30pm on Saturday, Dublin and its people will stop in their tracks, having sought out the nearest TV or laptop screen – if not a seat at the 3Arena. “We’ve shown every one of her fights,” says Paul Lynch, assistant manager at the River Bar on Burgh Quay. “There’s always more people, it’s packed. It’s standing room only. And all our doormen are boxers or did MMA.” Carroll adds: “I think everybody’s always aware it’s happening. For instance, I’ll be at the fight on Saturday night, and my missus will be at home with all her mates, watching Katie fight.” Christle, meanwhile, will stop by Taylor’s locker room before the deity appears before the worshipping masses in the 3Arena. Even in the moments after Taylor’s defeat by Cameron, the mood around Ireland was positive. “It wasn’t so bad, she still did everybody proud,” Lynch says, while Carroll recalls: “All the press were saying, ‘Regardless of the result, thank God this event happened and she got to walk out in front of the Irish people and be embraced like an icon.’ We had a moment.” The mood in Taylor’s locker room, however, was altogether different. Christle insists that something was not right, just as Taylor has stated over the last two weeks. She is adamant, however, that things will be different this time. Already, she says, she “feels” different. On Saturday night, Ireland will hold its breath – a nation in awe of an athlete who has transcended far beyond that label. Read More Katie Taylor: ‘I hate these press conferences, there’s nothing to say!’ Katie Taylor: ‘Failure is where all your growth happens’ Who is fighting on the Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron undercard this weekend? What time does Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron start this weekend? How to watch Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron online and on TV this weekend Why Katie Taylor’s rematch with Chantelle Cameron has all the makings of a classic

Chelsea women are back in Women’s Champions League action tonight as they host Paris FC in Group D. The Blues come into the match second in the table following their 2-2 draw away at Real Madrid last week while Paris FC are currently bottom as they went down 2-1 to BK Hacken. Emma Hayes was left fuming at the end of Chelsea’s match against Real. Several decisions went against her team including a dubious penalty being awarded to the hosts in the second half and Niamh Charles’ seeming stoppage time winner being ruled out for offside. Still, they came away with a deserved point and will have their sights set on picking three more up against Paris FC. The French side have already proven their credentials during qualifying. They knocked out Arsenal and Wolfsburg in consecutive rounds on their way to the group stages and will want to put in a strong showing at Stamford Bridge. Follow all the Women’s Champions League action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:

Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron will clash in a rematch this weekend, as Taylor once again aims to take the super-lightweight titles from the undisputed champion. Taylor’s Dublin homecoming was spoiled by Cameron in May, as the Englishwoman beat the Irish icon on points to retain all the belts. In doing so, Cameron stayed unbeaten and handed Taylor the first loss of her professional career. Now, 37-year-old Taylor bids for revenge, with some fans believing that the undisputed lightweight champion may walk away from boxing, whatever the result. Here’s all you need to know. 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. When is the fight? Cameron vs Taylor 2 is set to take place on Saturday 25 November at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The main card is due to begin at 7pm GMT (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET). Ring walks for the main event are then due at around 10.30pm GMT (3.30pm PT, 5.30pm CT, 6.30pm ET). How can I watch it? The fight will stream live on Dazn in the UK. A subscription to the streaming service is available here at a cost of £9.99 per month. 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. Odds Taylor – 6/4 Cameron – 4/7 Draw – 14/1 Full odds via Betway. Get all the latest boxing betting sites’ offers Full card (subject to change) Chantelle Cameron (C) vs Katie Taylor (undisputed women’s super-lightweight titles) Paddy Donovan vs Danny Ball (welterweight) Gary Cully vs Reece Mould (lightweight) Skye Nicolson (C) vs Lucy Wildheart (WBC women’s interim featherweight title) John Cooney vs Liam Gaynor (Celtic super-featherweight title) Zelfa Barrett vs Costin Ion (super-featherweight) Thomas Carty vs Dan Garber (heavyweight) Emmet Brennan Jamie Morrissey (Celtic light-heavyweight title) Giorgio Visioli vs Lee Anthony Sibley (lightweight)

Katie Taylor will look to avenge the only loss of her professional career this weekend, as she takes on Chantelle Cameron in Dublin. Ireland’s Taylor, who holds the undisputed lightweight titles, moved up a weight class in May and challenged Cameron in the Irish capital, only to come up short on points. Now, England’s Cameron returns to enemy territory to defend the undisputed super-lightweight belts against the 37-year-old again. It is set to be a massive night for Taylor, Cameron, Ireland and boxing overall, with some fans believing that Taylor will walk away from the sport – whatever the result. Here’s all you need to know. 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. When is the fight? Cameron vs Taylor 2 is set to take place on Saturday 25 November at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The main card is due to begin at 7pm GMT (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET). Ring walks for the main event are then due at around 10.30pm GMT (3.30pm PT, 5.30pm CT, 6.30pm ET). How can I watch it? The fight will stream live on Dazn in the UK. A subscription to the streaming service is available here at a cost of £9.99 per month. 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. Odds Taylor – 6/4 Cameron – 4/7 Draw – 14/1 Full odds via Betway. Get all the latest boxing betting sites’ offers Full card (subject to change) Chantelle Cameron (C) vs Katie Taylor (undisputed women’s super-lightweight titles) Paddy Donovan vs Danny Ball (welterweight) Gary Cully vs Reece Mould (lightweight) Skye Nicolson (C) vs Lucy Wildheart (WBC women’s interim featherweight title) John Cooney vs Liam Gaynor (Celtic super-featherweight title) Zelfa Barrett vs Costin Ion (super-featherweight) Thomas Carty vs Dan Garber (heavyweight) Emmet Brennan Jamie Morrissey (Celtic light-heavyweight title) Giorgio Visioli vs Lee Anthony Sibley (lightweight)