List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

Manuel Akanji is confident his Manchester City team-mates will deliver in this weekend’s derby at Old Trafford. The Switzerland defender, who scored as City beat Young Boys 3-1 in his home country on Wednesday, will miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United through suspension. Akanji picked up a one-match domestic ban after being sent off in the closing stages of last weekend’s victory over Brighton but he is backing those who do feature to cut down their rivals. “It is going to be a big game, it is going to be tough, but I trust in our guys,” said the 28-year-old, who started in City’s 2-1 FA Cup final triumph over United in June. “I think we are ready for this game and we are going to get the three points on an away game again.” City go into the derby with confidence now restored after their blip prior to the recent international break. After hanging on to see off Brighton, the holders took another step towards the Champions League knockout stages as they beat Young Boys on their artificial pitch at the Wankdorf Stadium. Akanji put them ahead early in the second half when he reacted quickly to turn in after a Ruben Dias header had been touched onto the bar. Meschack Elia responded with a sublime lobbed equaliser moments later but Erling Haaland eased nerves from the penalty spot before making victory certain with a fine finish four minutes from time. “Yes it was special,” said Akanji of his goal on his Swiss return. “I think we had already had a lot of chances in the first half and if we’d used them we would have scored three or four goals. “We tried to go again in the second half. Obviously Young Boys had their chances too but we went up 1-0 and shortly afterwards we conceded. “I think (the equaliser) was a little bit too easy but then we reacted to that and scored two goals, so I am really happy we got the three points.” City now have nine points after victories over Red Star Belgrade, RB Leipzig and Young Boys in their opening three Group G matches. They could secure their place in the last 16 for an 11th successive season with a follow-up win over the Swiss side at the Etihad Stadium in a fortnight. Akanji said: “That was really good from us, two away wins, two tough ones. I think if we can manage to win the next game then it looks really good. “I don’t say we are going to be through because you never know what happens, but I think with 12 points we’re looking really good for the next round.” Read More RFU ‘deeply disappointed’ as World Rugby closes case against Mbongeni Mbonambi World Rugby finds insufficient evidence to pursue Tom Curry racism allegation Dallas Mavericks spoil top draft pick Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut Wimbledon expansion plans face key hurdle One of those nights – Eddie Howe bemoans fine margins after Newcastle defeat Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic proved they can match ‘top-level’ team

There’s a new look about a key area of the team for Liverpool, a changing of the guard enforced by recent events, a previous zone of consistency now faced with uncertainty. No, we’re not talking about midfield - that particular switch-up already looks a definite upgrade, even early as it is for such conclusions. Instead it’s at left-back the unexpected alteration has occurred, a consequence of Andy Robertson’s need for surgery which means the Scot is out for the rest of the year. Having averaged over 44 appearances a season for the Reds since signing in 2017, he’ll now miss at least 17 matches, if best estimates of his return are to be believed. That leaves not just a gap for Kostas Tsimikas or an untested youngster to fill tactically, but a void which cannot be accounted for: that of a partnership, of understanding, of the natural, unthinking knowing which comes with playing hundreds of matches alongside a teammate. It can be argued that such a changeable nature can be applied not just to the midfield, not even just to left-back, but to the entire defensive structure this term at Anfield: injuries have already hit on the right and centrally too, to go along with the altered personnel ahead of them in the middle third of the pitch. All that simply means one truth must be constant if the Reds are to translate early season promise into longer-term capacity to challenge for major honours: Virgil van Dijk must once again prove himself to be among the very best, not just individually as a defender but as a force to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. There cannot be much debate that the Dutchman, now club captain at Anfield, has not quite reached the same levels of authoritative performances as he did pre-ACL injury, or at least not on as regular a basis. The period which saw Liverpool win both Premier League and Champions League saw Van Dijk at the pinnacle of the game, a central defender without peer, a worthy recipient of the Ballon d’Or itself, had he been handed it instead of a runner-up spot, pipped by seven votes in 2019 by Lionel Messi. Perhaps that in itself was a noteworthy award. In any case, he’s not quite there these days, not quite the automatic choice among fan or pundit asked to name the world’s finest. It’s arguable that there isn’t a single stand-out candidate right now for that particularly subjective title. But in asking whether Van Dijk is capable of being the world’s best defender again, part of the answer has to be that it doesn’t really matter. He might want to be of course, might already believe he is, but from a team perspective what they really need is Van Dijk’s ability to stabilise the team, to foresee and forestall danger, to order those around him to bring forth resilience from chaos. Because chaotic is, still, a little too close to the truth when it comes to spells of defending for Liverpool. The midfield is far more creative, far more offensive and energetic, far less reliant on Trent Alexander-Arnold always being at his best. But all that comes at a cost: it’s not always the most agile and defensive-first in either recovery or positional terms. It’s still new as a group, still needs time to become as cohesive as the best central trios are, on and off the ball. And in the meantime, the result can often be large gaps, lost runners, moments of inexplicable choices in possession. That leaves a hefty weight on the defence to counteract such moments - the defence and, of course, the still-magnificent Alisson Becker behind them. But before that one-man last line, it’s Van Dijk who must rise once more to ensure unity, if not always outright unison. Acting in perfect harmony is difficult enough with four constant selections; as it is this season, Jurgen Klopp has already utilised Jarell Quansah as a fifth-choice, following injuries. Alexander-Arnold missed pitch time and is not yet back to his peak physical or technical best. Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip have dovetailed, and now there’s Tsimikas present on a more regular basis - which also means either Joe Gomez will see minutes on the left, or an untried youngster will, with Calum Scanlon and Luke Chambers first in line. They presently tally one senior minute between them. They will all four need guiding for different reasons, all need time, all occasionally get things wrong and need the left-sided centre-back beside them to bail them out. No prizes for guessing who that is on a week-to-week basis. Because for Liverpool, there are prizes at stake. Three points off the top of the Premier League table after a fine opening quarter of the campaign; rolling along nicely in Europe and domestic cups alike. Between now and the next international break, the opportunities for victory across all competitions are as immense as the potential cost of dropped points: Toulouse twice, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Luton, Brentford. A modern title-competing team would take six wins with very little fuss, in truth. Then, beyond, it’s Manchester City away. The most true barometer of where Liverpool are this season, even coming after an international break and in the infamous 12:30pm kick-off spot. The margin for error remains almost nil, but with the reigning champions perhaps not quite at their own peak yet, and Klopp’s side having improved more than might have been thought possible at this early stage, thoughts of a title challenge will not be far away - if the defence is kept on-point, even with altered personnel. It all means Van Dijk must be as close to his own 100 percent as possible, even if his 2023/24 maximum level is a little lower than in 19/20. As far as transformative figures go, Van Dijk was one after signing. He, as much as anyone else and more than most, sent Liverpool from challengers to champions, in every competition across the board. Now once again he must be the leader - literally, given the armband - who enables the Reds to do so, not so much the new figurehead this time but as the standard-bearer, the supplier of consistency, the model of outperformance which can give Liverpool the extra edge they’ll need, both in the Premier League and beyond. Read More Build from the front? Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are repeating an old trick England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do? Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League’s best once more – Sami Hyypia Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League’s best once more – Sami Hyypia Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool finally had some luck go our way against Everton Euro 2024 qualifying – who has reached Germany and who still has work to do?

There were many moments that Sir Bob Murray could point to as illustrating how much football has changed, but one stands out for what he feels was a lack of basic decency. “My wife used to go to the boardroom at Chelsea, and they would thoroughly search her handbag,” he says. “She’s the woman married to the chairman of Sunderland.” The reason for that was out of the rigorous security concerns for Roman Abramovich, an ownership that Murray declares himself “personally diametrically against”. The 77-year-old even argues in his new book, I’d Do It All Again, that the entire issue of modern sportswashing “might have started with Abramovich picking up 20 trophies”. The deeper point is how some of football’s more dignified traditions, such as decency to rival clubs, were cast aside because of far loftier geopolitical concerns. Abramovich was a billionaire with a huge security detail, so that superseded the rest of the game. There is an obvious contrast with a great football figure that has been so celebrated this week, as Murray recounts in his book. The former accountant had taken his 10-year-old son James to see Sunderland’s match at Old Trafford, where Sir Bobby Charlton arranged for him to have his photo taken with the Champions League trophy. “When we played them at the Stadium of Light in the return fixture six months later, Sir Bobby had remembered the photo and handed James the picture. I was very touched by that; he’d showed great kindness and thought. Sir Bobby and his wife, Norma, always treated Sue and me like royalty at Old Trafford. In return, I always made sure I gave him some ham and pease pudding and stottie cake to take home whenever he came to our home games.” While so many of Murray’s stories raise a smile in the same way, it is very quickly apparent on talking to him about the book that this is no mere folksy look at what football used to be. It is about what the game is supposed to be, and what it represents. Drawing on his experience from 20 years as chairman of Sunderland, and having taken them up to the Premier League, Murray feels it is necessary to address the most complicated of themes. “Sportswashing” and the game’s many financial issues come up a lot, as he believes all of this is so damagingly moving the sport away from the community core it is supposed to be about. That ethos is visible in Sunderland’s Stadium of Light itself – with the financially sustainable way it was built seeing Murray brought into the St George’s Park and Wembley projects by the FA – as well as his aims for the book. He has insisted that 100 per cent of the cover prices goes to the Foundation of Light, the club-associated charity he set up “to use the power of football to invest in the communities we serve and to improve the education, health, wellbeing and happiness of people, no matter who they are”. It can be purchased at www.sirbobmurraybook.com. A core of the book of course covers Sunderland’s fortunes, from Roy Keane and the Niall Quinn-led takeover by Drumaville to Peter Reid’s transfers and tribulations, as well as the simple joy of having Kevin Phillips repeatedly lash the ball in after a Quinn knock-down. “It's the pace that things change,” Murray laments. “I think people don't realise it. This league is only 30 years old, it's in its infancy and yet... in 2000 I had the Golden Boot of Europe in Kevin Phillips. That was a wonderful thing to have, a lad that wanted to stay at Sunderland, that was 23 years ago.” It feels impossible now, because of how football’s economic infrastructure has been allowed to change. “It's just accelerating, we're just at the beginning of this journey... it's not going to get any better. We don't have any political leadership on it.” There is naturally a lot of discussion about Sunderland’s greatest rivals. While Murray is highly critical of the Public Investment Fund ownership of Newcastle United, and what it all represents, he believes the path to that point is instructive. He points to a period where both clubs reached agreements with broadcasters. “Where we’d created new shares, Newcastle United did a media deal of their own by selling existing shares to rivals NTL. The Newcastle directors received a lot more money – around £15m for themselves. The difference was it went straight into their pockets, while we took a share dilution so that ours could go straight into building and funding the Academy of Light. (We created new shares, so that the company – the club – got the money; Newcastle sold existing shares so that the directors got the money; then four years later the club bought some more Hall family shares, bringing the Hall income from Newcastle United to £20m. Add in salary packages and dividends paid to all shareholders and you’re looking at £36m to the Halls and £8m to Freddy Shepherd. And this was all before the sale to [Mike] Ashley.) “The receipts from the public flotation of Sunderland AFC all went to pay for the Stadium of Light and the Academy of Light. The receipts from the public flotation of Newcastle United helped pay back the Hall family loans. Sky had paid vast premiums to what the shares were really worth – but all the money went on the Academy of Light, and we had no debt. What do I think? I think we put the club first. Hall and Shepherd’s legacy to Newcastle was to get the highest price. That’s why they had 10 years of Mike Ashley. Now they’re owned by a Saudi. That’s your legacy…” While some would no doubt accuse Murray of jealousy or all the usual claims, that would be to completely misunderstand his perspective. This isn’t just about competing at any cost. It’s about creating something sustainable for the community. “It’s the Newcastle supporters I feel really sad for, they’ve got great tradition and pedigree, great supporters, very passionate, love their club, I'm concerned about them really. That’s what I’m concerned about. I don’t like them on a Saturday 3 o’clock, but after that I've got no problem with them.” He is highly critical of the Premier League’s leadership. “Who knows where it’s going to end? Probably with more clubs losing their soul.” Murray elaborates on this more in a chat about the book. “We've got a fantastic club, lots of youngsters, ladies, great mix, generations, really proper football club and we're very fortunate to have the owner we've got, but I didn't do the book because I'd been in the game so long again, and I did St George's Park and Wembley, I thought I should voice my concerns, that's to the advantage you spend a bit of time and effort on sportswashing, because it's quite new in the north east. That's where I am, I put my head above the parapet really, I didn't write the book to do sportswashing to be truthful. It's the issue isn't it.” Murray hones in on what this is in the book. “Sportswashing presents huge concern for the future. It’s money through the back door that hopefully will be investigated properly. And it goes back to that old chestnut of the supporter not being able to influence the thing he or she loves. In fact, it’s even worse: supporters are now turning their heads and not looking where the cash comes from as long as they are winning trophies or qualifying for Europe – that’s the ultimate triumph of sportswashing.” Speaking now, he brings much of this down to a core driving motivation. “There’s a lot of self interest because we have to win games. But football should be for the good of society. That's what we're all about really isn't it. “It reflects on them, because it's the power of the brand. We can get people to live better lives due to the crest. “That’s what the game's about.” Sir Bob Murray’s book can be bought at www.sirbobmurraybook.com, with 100% of the cover price going to the Foundation of Light Read More Eddie Howe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’ Newcastle given reality check as summer decision returns to haunt them One of those nights – Eddie Howe bemoans fine margins after Newcastle defeat Eddie Howe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’ Newcastle given reality check as summer decision returns to haunt them One of those nights – Eddie Howe bemoans fine margins after Newcastle defeat

The Champions League has seen Newcastle at its finest, complete with the surreal vision of Sean Longstaff upstaging Kylian Mbappe. There is a temptation to imagine Dan Burn is still somewhere in the Tyneside sky, soaring above Milan Skriniar to head in against Paris Saint-Germain. There is a similar temptation to say that Newcastle were brought down to earth by Borussia Dortmund. It may be more accurate to say Eddie Howe never left it. He met one of his most celebrated predecessors, Kevin Keegan, on Monday. The former Magpies boss was a dreamer. “You have to be,” said Howe, with Keegan’s example leading him to entertain the prospect of winning the Champions League. But Howe isn’t a dreamer, not really, anyway. A day, a defeat and a downpour later, he reflected: “We have to be at our best to win and if you dip below that it is tough to get results at this level.” And in this pool, the most competitive of all, Newcastle have to be at their best to claim victory in a match, let alone the entire competition. They were against Paris Saint-Germain; they were not against Dortmund. At a stroke – the right boot of Felix Nmecha, replacing Jude Bellingham this season, or of bad luck, as Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon both struck the woodwork – they may have been rebranded: potential winners, the team who tore PSG apart, could instead exit early. They now have successive away games, with the evidence that Dortmund are well equipped to play against them ahead of a trip to Germany next. “We're up against elite teams,” Howe said. “You make half a mistake and get punished.” If there is a truth to that – and Nmecha’s winner was scarcely the consequence of a glaring error – the greater issue was that Newcastle did not reach their heights. “We probably weren’t at our best and in this competition we have to be.” Howe said. They have days when they overwhelm opponents: 4-1 against PSG, 6-1 against Tottenham. But their quality is most evident when allied with a blur of energy. And when there isn’t that synergy of physical and technical that makes them appear unstoppable, they are a fundamentally workmanlike side who betray their origins. Which, as they spent much of a 1-0 loss to Dortmund with six players on the pitch who Howe inherited, is a group who have overachieved: look beyond the £400m spend, the concept of Saudi Arabian sportswashing and the grandiose ambitions, and some of them were in a relegation battle two years ago. A Champions League loss represented progress in that context. But if there were symbolic substitutions of the locals Longstaff and Burn, stripped of the superhuman powers they somehow possessed against PSG, perhaps the reality is that they could have been beaten twice in three games. Nick Pope’s heroics brought a point in Milan; he was similarly good against Dortmund but in vain. They have drawn a blank twice in three matches. They had a lone, late shot on target in San Siro. While they hit the woodwork twice, they only actually had three on target against Dortmund, and just one in the last 80 minutes. “In the second half the ball just wouldn’t go in for us,” Howe said. It was a legitimate lament, yet there are days when a shortage of natural creativity, of game-changing flair, of a natural No 10 can threaten to be their undoing. Edin Terzic arrowed in on Newcastle’s strengths. “A team that was pressing high with a very intense approach,” the Dortmund manager noted. It is a strategy that can serve Newcastle well but running alone did not unlock the Bundesliga’s runners-up. Moving Kieran Trippier into midfield in the second half was an attempt to get United’s best creator into a more advanced role. He may be required there more often. Sandro Tonali was not hired as a fantasista but he was designed to bring an injection of class. But his season seems over: not officially yet, but a ban beckons. Elliot Anderson has joined the injury list. In the forward line, Newcastle, already without Harvey Barnes for months, seem to be losing Jacob Murphy for a similar time with a dislocated shoulder. For Alexander Isak, a recurrence of a groin strain means he will play again soonest, but be out for a while. They are starting to look short of players. “There are some tired bodies,” Howe said. And Newcastle can require a physical edge, especially in meetings of evenly-matched teams. “A lesson in how fine the margins are going to be,” Howe rued. Particularly in Group F: this pool, of pedigree and money, of former winners and clubs who aspire to join them in that select group, may be the most intriguing. It is a product of circumstances. Newcastle’s lack of a recent record in Europe meant they were fourth seeds. Now they are plunged into peril. “The table looks very, very tight,” Howe said; his side kicked off in first, finished the night in third and could be out of the competition before they host AC Milan in it. They will always have Paris, but now the danger is their Champions League campaign in effect ends in the French capital. Read More Newcastle given Champions League reality check as summer decision returns to haunt them Eddie Howe provides update on Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy injuries after Borussia Dortmund defeat England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?

After the euphoric evisceration of Paris Saint-Germain, this was the downbeat sequel Newcastle did not want. After the feelgood stories of the Geordie boys scoring in the Champions League came a tale of gritty realism, of meeting their match in the teeming Tyneside rain. There was no triumphant farewell to Sandro Tonali, either: instead Newcastle lost to a goal by a midfielder they considered signing in the summer, in Felix Nmecha, and who Borussia Dortmund bought instead. With Tonali likely to be banned for the rest of the season – he could learn his fate within days as an investigation into alleged breaches of betting rules nears its conclusion – Nmecha gave Newcastle an added reason to rue their choice. Nmecha was handed what seemed an unenviable task, hired from Wolfsburg, charged with replacing Jude Bellingham at the Signal Iduna Park. And if that feels impossible, his first Dortmund goal kickstarted their European campaign. Edin Terzic’s team had failed to find the net in their opening two games and if they looked like possible casualties in the competition’s group of death, it now looks like Newcastle could instead. The margins were narrow, the width of the woodwork that denied Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon but Dortmund inflicted their first defeat in this competition since Barcelona in 2003. Now Newcastle will head into the rematch in Germany without Tonali. If his debut season in England ends early, it also came to an anti-climactic conclusion. The Italian came off the bench with 25 minutes to go, making scant difference to a game Dortmund were already controlling. They were everything PSG were not, boasting the combination of organisation, team spirit and running power the French champions failed to show on Tyneside. Newcastle could not blow Dortmund away with their power: not when the visitors had a similar speed, and were lighting quick on the break. Nor could their crowd intimidate them into defeat: not when the travelling Germans were still more vocal. Instead, they encountered a team who could cancel out their strength, with a similar emphasis on high energy. It was not effort Newcastle lacked, but then it never is. Dortmund supplied a touch of class; arguably two, given the role of a pair of players in their goal. Given how well they defended, perhaps it was apt it began with a challenge. Nico Schlotterbeck halted Gordon with an immaculate tackle, surged clear and kept going, collecting Marco Reus’s return pass and squaring for Felix Nmecha to sidefoot in. For a few seconds, the centre-back looked more Beckenbauer than Schlotterbeck. The midfielder, who has something of Bellingham’s elegance, showed his technique with the finish. It had been threatened. The opening 10 minutes could have yielded two goals at either end, but thereafter in the first half Dortmund were the more dangerous. The scoreline would have been greater but for terrific saves at either end. If footballing goalkeepers have captured the Zeitgeist, Newcastle have a goalkeeping goalkeeper. Nick Pope was their saviour in San Siro and he threatened to reprise that role. A first-minute stop from Donyell Malen was excellent: better still was a superb double save to deny the Dutchman and Niclas Fullkrug. Malen produced a curiosity of a performance, adopting a shoot-on-sight policy and mustering six efforts before the break. Yet he was a sign of Dortmund’s counterattacking menace: their speed on the transition brought back memories of Jurgen Klopp’s blistering side a decade ago. Kieran Trippier, so often a great strength for Newcastle, was made to look a weak link as Dortmund found space behind him. At the other end, meanwhile, Gregor Kobel made twin early saves from Gordon. His best save came early in the second half, repelling Wilson’s shot. And when Wilson beat Kobel with a late header, it bounced back off the bar. It was not Dortmund’s only reprieve: in the 94th minute, Gordon’s shot looped up off Sebastien Haller, over Kobel and on to the bar. Gordon was relentless, probably Newcastle’s best outfield player, yet Wilson’s prominence was a sign their plans were going awry. Eddie Howe had demoted the striker and selected Alexander Isak, but he limped off inside a quarter of an hour. When the substitute Jacob Murphy hurt his shoulder a few minutes after coming on, Newcastle may have, in effect, lost three players, given Tonali’s imminent suspension. And yet Dortmund were depleted, too, minus Julian Brandt, stripped of the stricken Emre Can before half-time. But there was a resourcefulness and a resilience to them, a willingness to them. A team with a lone defeat in the Bundesliga in 2023 were not to be beaten. And as Newcastle lost instead, it prompted the question of whether the anomaly was this underwhelming evening or the glorious night they demolished PSG. Read More Howe provides update on Isak and Murphy injuries after Dortmund defeat Newcastle player ratings as Callum Wilson struggles as Alexander Isak replacement Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund LIVE: Latest Champions League updates Newcastle and Dortmund share same glaring hole before Champions League clash Eddie Howe opens up on ‘hardest part ahead’ for Sandro Tonali Sandro Tonali is the latest victim of football’s double standards

Eddie Howe felt Newcastle were dealt a “lesson” on the fine margins of the Champions League as Borussia Dortmund handed the Magpies a first defeat of their campaign. After a goalless draw at AC Milan and a 4-1 win over Paris St Germain last time out, Newcastle were brought back down to earth as Felix Nmecha’s controlled finish gave Dortmund a 1-0 victory. On a rain-sodden night at St James’ Park, Callum Wilson was denied by a superb save from Gregor Kobel then the crossbar while Anthony Gordon’s deflected strike also came off the goal frame late on. Newcastle, though, lacked some impetus as a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end, leaving them third in Group F, level on four points with Dortmund and two behind table-topping PSG. “It was always going to be tight,” the Newcastle boss said. “There are top-quality teams in the group. Tonight is a blow, especially (losing) at home. A lesson in how fine the margins are going to be. “The ball just wouldn’t go in for us. It was one of those nights. Callum had the first chance of the second half, that was a good one and then we hit the bar twice but just couldn’t force it in. “Credit to the players, we never gave up, we kept doing the right things. We looked like a goal threat. But we have to be at our best to win and if you dip below that, it is tough to get results at this level. “Any mistake you make is liable to get punished. We made one and seconds later we conceded so there is stuff we could have done better and when we analyse in the cold light of day, we will take a lot.” A return trip to Dortmund in a fortnight’s time could prove instructive as to whether Newcastle will progress to the last 16 on their first appearance in Europe’s elite club competition in 20 years. Their loss on Wednesday night was compounded by Alexander Isak limping off a quarter of an hour in with what appears to be a recurrence of a groin strain while second-half substitute Jacob Murphy was withdrawn five minutes after his introduction with a suspected dislocated shoulder. “You look at some of the injuries, they are quite difficult to get your head around but we have to adjust,” Howe said. “We can’t analyse too much, we have to regroup the players. We’re still in a very good position in the Premier League and Champions League. “(The return game against Dortmund) is going to be hugely important. The next two away games, the league table looks very, very tight so they are great games for us, we have to approach them like that. “Our lads are very honest and very focused on trying to win and achieve, there are some tired bodies and we have to recover for (the Premier League game at) Wolves (on Saturday).” Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic hailed the display of Nmecha, who settled the contest after exploiting some space on the edge of the area and coolly slotting Nico Schlotterbeck’s cross beyond Nick Pope. Nmecha, a former Manchester City youngster, was signed by Dortmund from Wolfsburg in the summer to fill the vacancy left by England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who left the Bundesliga club for Real Madrid. “Felix is a brilliant player and we know about his potential and his talent and we knew he could improve our game – he had a fantastic game,” Terzic said. “He finally managed to score, he had many opportunities in the first games of the season. This was a different role, he played more attacking. He had a rocky start in Dortmund and now he is in good form.” As for Howe’s comments about Newcastle being given a lesson by Dortmund, Terzic responded: “That is nice to hear but it is just half-time, we face each other in a couple of weeks. “We deserved in the first half and protected in the second half. We needed to be passionate, have some luck and a good goalie and we had all of that.” Read More Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic proved they can match ‘top-level’ team Pep Guardiola: I don’t judge Erling Haaland on scoring goals Erling Haaland scores Champions League brace while PSG ease past AC Milan Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright David Moyes hopes West Ham and Olympiacos fans behave in Greece Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again

Pep Guardiola claimed there is no pressure on Erling Haaland to score more goals after the Norwegian’s double sank Young Boys on Wednesday. Haaland struck twice in the second half as the holders claimed a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Swiss side in their Champions League Group G encounter on the artificial surface at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium. The game had been in the balance after Meschack Elia had cancelled out Switzerland international Manuel Akanji’s opener with a superb strike. Haaland’s goals were his first in six Champions League games while his effort against Brighton on Saturday ended a three-game scoreless run – relative barren spells for a player who plundered 52 in total last season. Guardiola said: “There is the impression after last season that he has to score seven goals every single game. That is impossible. “But he is scoring a lot of goals and if people want him to fail because he doesn’t score 50 goals it doesn’t matter. He is always there. “The second goal was really good and he had other chances. The important thing is to create them. “Maybe in the right moment of the season he will be there, better than now, but he has already scored a lot of goals and we are really pleased. “I’ve told him many times I don’t judge him for scoring goals, although I know he wants to score goals. He has the desire to improve and I don’t have doubts about that.” City’s victory, sealed with a Haaland penalty and a clever late finish, was their third in succession and took them a step closer to the knockout stages. They could reach the last-16 for an 11th consecutive season with a follow-up win over the same opposition at the Etihad Stadium in a fortnight. “The result was good and in general it was a really good performance,” said Guardiola, whose side had 26 attempts on goal. “We could have scored more goals but is the important thing is to create the chances.” Guardiola added that Phil Foden did not play because of a “small problem” while Julian Alvarez, who had a goal disallowed after coming off the bench, was not able to play the full game. Young Boys coach Raphael Wicky felt his side gave a good account of themselves. He said: “That courage and passion, we can be proud of what the team delivered, but you need a perfect game against a team like this. We couldn’t do it. “Perfect means taking your chances and not conceding from set-pieces. We’re disappointed with the result, but we can be proud of the team’s performance.” Read More Erling Haaland scores Champions League brace while PSG ease past AC Milan Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright David Moyes hopes West Ham and Olympiacos fans behave in Greece Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Self-confessed ‘golf tragic’ Dan Carter keen to boost participation in Ireland

Erling Haaland struck twice as holders Manchester City moved a step closer to the Champions League knockout stages with a hard-fought 3-1 win at Young Boys. Haaland put City back into the lead on the artificial surface at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium after Switzerland international Manuel Akanji’s opener had been brilliantly cancelled out by Meschack Elia. Substitute Julian Alvarez had an effort ruled out by VAR but Haaland made victory certain with a smart finish four minutes from time. The win was City’s third in succession in Group G and they could now secure their spot in their last 16 for an 11th successive year with a follow-up victory over the Swiss side at home in a fortnight. Celtic twice lost the lead but picked up their first Champions League point in a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park. Kyogo Furuhashi got the hosts off to a flying start with his second goal in two Champions League games and Luis Palma quickly restored the lead after Antoine Griezmann had equalised from the rebound of his own saved penalty. Celtic were deservedly on course for a first Champions League group-stage home win in 10 years following a first-half display full of pace and purpose but they started slowly after the break and Alvaro Morata levelled inside eight minutes of the restart. The Scottish champions never rediscovered their spark – even after Atletico had Rodrigo Paul sent off in the 82nd minute – and their run without a home win at this level is now at 12 games. Paris Saint-Germain claimed a 3-0 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League to go top of Group F. The Parisians bounced back from their 4-1 defeat to Newcastle earlier this month with strikes from Kylian Mbappe, Randal Kolo Muani and Lee Kang-in. Barcelona moved a step closer to reaching the knockout stages after a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. Goals from Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez made it three wins from three for Xavi’s side. Santiago Gimenez helped Feyenoord to a 3-1 win over Lazio. The Mexican scored twice during a convincing win at De Kuip. Evanilson scored a second-half hat-trick as Porto clinched a dominant 4-1 win over Antwerp and RB Leipzig’s 3-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade gave them a five-point advantage over third-placed Young Boys in Group G. Read More Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright David Moyes hopes West Ham and Olympiacos fans behave in Greece Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Self-confessed ‘golf tragic’ Dan Carter keen to boost participation in Ireland Liverpool set for boost as Cody Gakpo in line to make return against Toulouse

Celtic twice lost a lead as they gained their first Champions League point in a 2-2 home draw with 10-man Atletico Madrid. Kyogo Furuhashi got Celtic off to a flying start with his second goal in two Champions League games and Luis Palma quickly restored Celtic’s lead after Antoine Griezmann scored following his own saved penalty. Celtic were deservedly on course for a first Champions League group-stage home win in 10 years following a first-half display full of pace and purpose but they started slowly after the break and Alvaro Morata levelled inside eight minutes of the restart. The Scottish champions never rediscovered their spark - even after Atletico went down to 10 men in the 82nd minute - and their run without a home win at this level is now at 12 games. Feyenoord’s win over Lazio left Celtic three points adrift of the Italians at the bottom of Group E, halfway through the campaign with trips to Spain and Rome to follow. The build-up to the game had been dominated by internal and external strife. Thousands of Celtic fans defied the club before kick-off by displaying Palestine flags, an act which will inevitably lead to UEFA sanctions. Atletico’s decision to dispense with their striped shirts and wear an all-red top based on the one worn by the team that beat Celtic in the 1974 European Cup semi-finals also opened old wounds. Two of the team that gained a goalless first-leg draw at Parkhead had travelled with the current side but the tribute did not go down well among the Celtic support given Atletico had three men sent off and seven others booked in that brutal encounter. Furuhashi ignited the highly-charged atmosphere inside four minutes following a one-touch move. The Japan international twice exchanged passes with Matt O’Riley before taking a touch and slotting home from six yards. There was a blow for Brendan Rodgers moments later when Reo Hatate went off injured. The Celtic manager brought on 21-year-old midfielder Paulo Bernardo, who is yet to start a game since his loan move from Benfica. The home side remained positive, roared on by the crowd as they pressed Atletico high up the park, but the visitors levelled in the 25th minute after Greg Taylor was penalised for a trip on Nahuel Molina. Joe Hart saved Griezmann’s penalty at full stretch but the France international dispatched the rebound. Taylor atoned three minutes later when he played a searching ball beyond right-back Molina which sent Daizen Maeda in behind. The resulting cross found fellow winger Palma and the Honduran took a touch and rifled a shot in off the post. Palma had been denied a late goal against Lazio three weeks ago by a marginal VAR ruling and an offside decision soon went Celtic’s way after Axel Witsel headed home from a set-piece. O’Riley had earlier threatened with a first-time strike which was met with a diving save as Celtic continued to attack with verve. Diego Simeone made two half-time changes and substitute Marcos Llorente vindicated his introduction within eight minutes as he crossed for Morata to equalise with a diving header. Morata and Llorente both threatened and Rodgers responded by bringing on centre-back Nat Phillips for Palma and changing formation. Atletico continued to boss possession and Celtic were contributing to their difficulties with some slack passing. Hart saved well from Morata after the Spain international turned Cameron Carter-Vickers. Celtic got a lifeline when Argentinian midfielder Rodrigo de Paul received a second yellow card following a sliding tackle on Bernardo. Substitute James Forrest shot not far over but Celtic could not seriously trouble the 10 men. Read More Erling Haaland scores Champions League brace while PSG ease past AC Milan Erling Haaland strikes twice as Man City continue perfect Champions League start Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund LIVE: Latest Champions League updates Erling Haaland scores Champions League brace while PSG ease past AC Milan Erling Haaland strikes twice as Man City continue perfect Champions League start Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund LIVE: Latest Champions League updates

Felix Nmecha dented Newcastle’s Champions League charge as Borussia Dortmund kick-started their Group F campaign with a 1-0 victory on Tyneside. The Germany midfielder’s 45th-minute strike clinched victory at a rain-soaked St James’ Park on a night when three more points for Eddie Howe’s men, who twice hit the crossbar late on, would have left them with one foot in the last-16. They will now head into tough away games in Dortmund and against Paris St Germain next month with serious work to do to extend their stay in the competition. And they will possibly have to do it without midfielder Sandro Tonali, who was used as a second-half substitute amid speculation he could be handed a lengthy ban for alleged breaches of betting rules. Memories of Newcastle’s 4-1 demolition of Paris St Germain earlier this month faded as last season’s Bundesliga runners-up produced an accomplished away display to remind them that the race for qualification from Group F has a long way to go. In a frenetic start to the game, Nick Pope had to block Donyell Malen’s second-minute shot with his legs after he had controlled Marius Wolf’s cross as Dortmund broke at speed, but opposite number Gregor Kobel had to be equally resilient seconds later when Anthony Gordon cut inside and unleashed a curling attempt. But it was the Newcastle keeper who had to produce a brilliant double save to deny first Malen and then Niclas Fullkrug from point-blank range after Emre Can had dispossessed Sean Longstaff and sent Marcel Sabitzer away down the left wing. However, as played switched rapidly from end to end on a slick pitch, Kobel came to the German side’s rescue within seconds when Alexander Isak raced towards goal from halfway before sliding a pass into the run of Gordon, whose left-foot strike was beaten away by the goalkeeper. Pope was relieved to see Malen whip a first time shot from Marco Reus’ square ball over his crossbar. The Magpies were forced to make a change after only 15 minutes when Isak, who had earlier undergone lengthy treatment on the pitch, limped off to be replaced by Callum Wilson. Miguel Almiron saw appeals for a 20th-minute penalty waved away by Portuguese referee Artur Dias after he went down under Nico Schlotterbeck’s challenge after carving his way into the box, with the breakneck tempo of the game showing few signs of abating. With Can and Sabitzer providing the ammunition and Reus linking play, the visitors continued to cause problems and Jamaal Lascelles had to block another Malen shot at the end of an intricate passing move. Dortmund, who had earlier replaced the injured Can with Salih Ozcan, finally forced the breakthrough in the final minute of the half when Sabitzer robbed Gordon and Reus fed Schlotterbeck, whose cross was steered emphatically past Pope by former Manchester City youngster Nmecha. Wilson passed up a glorious opportunity to level 12 minutes after the interval when, after Fabian Schar’s crunching tackle in midfield had sent the ball into his path, he exchanged passes with Gordon before his shot was blocked by Kobel. Howe made his move with 25 minutes remaining when he sent on Tonali and Jacob Murphy, who lasted just five minutes before having to leave the pitch with his shoulder in a makeshift sling. But his side struggled to create anything of note until Wilson headed an 87th-minute free-kick against the bar and Almiron repeated the feat in stoppage time with a deflected shot. Read More Manchester City too good for Young Boys as Erling Haaland scores twice Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright David Moyes hopes West Ham and Olympiacos fans behave in Greece Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Self-confessed ‘golf tragic’ Dan Carter keen to boost participation in Ireland

Erling Haaland struck twice as holders Manchester City moved a step closer to the Champions League knockout stages with a hard-fought 3-1 win at Young Boys. Haaland put City back into the lead on the artificial surface at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium after Switzerland international Manuel Akanji’s opener had been brilliantly cancelled out by Meschack Elia. Substitute Julian Alvarez had an effort ruled out by VAR but Haaland made victory certain with a smart finish four minutes from time. The win was City’s third in succession in Group G and they could now secure their spot in their last 16 for an 11th successive year with a follow-up victory over the Swiss side at home in a fortnight. There had been much talk over the synthetic pitch in the build-up to the game and heavy rain added another variable element but it proved a free-flowing encounter. Young Boys started well with Filip Ugrinic forcing a save from Ederson before Rodri headed wide from a corner. Jack Grealish, who ignored the persistent booing of the vociferous home crowd, teed up Jeremy Doku with a superb first-time ball but the Belgian slipped as he cut inside and Anthony Racioppi saved. The impressive Swiss keeper denied Haaland soon after but did have a moment of alarm when he spilled a Grealish shot. Matheus Nunes could only poke the loose ball weakly towards goal, however, and Loris Benito cleared off the line. Doku went close again after switching from the right to left wing but Racioppi brilliantly saved his curling effort and blocked a first-time Rodri shot. Young Boys had a good spell before the break with first Cedric Itten breaking clear but failing to beat Ederson. Itten then teed up Sandro Lauper with a neat flick but Nathan Ake got back to block before a powerful Lewin Blum effort was turned behind. Itten went close again from the set-piece as his header dropped narrowly over. While that made for a lively end to the first half, the game truly burst into life early in the second. Akanji and Nunes both had chances before City grabbed the lead in the 48th minute. Rodri delivered a cross into the box and Ruben Dias, still forward following a corner, had a header tipped onto the bar by Racioppi. Akanji reacted the quickest to turn the ball in. City went in immediate search of a second but were caught out after a Haaland shot was saved by Racioppi. The ball was quickly sent to the other end and played into the path of Elia, who caught Ederson stranded off his line with a superb lob. Young Boys were firmly back in the game and Itten forced Ederson into an awkward save with a swerving shot. City stepped up the intensity and were awarded a penalty when Mohamed Ali Camara, moments after being booked, caught Rodri from behind. Haaland stepped up to thump home his 10th of the season. City thought they had claimed another through Alvarez but his low strike was ruled out for a Grealish handball in the build-up. It fell to Haaland to complete the job, the striker wrong-footing the defence just inside the box and then lifting into the top corner. Read More Newcastle suffer Champions League setback with defeat to Borussia Dortmund Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright David Moyes hopes West Ham and Olympiacos fans behave in Greece Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Self-confessed ‘golf tragic’ Dan Carter keen to boost participation in Ireland

David Moyes has urged West Ham and Olympiacos supporters to behave themselves when the teams meet in Greece in the Europa League. Tensions are high in Athens after Olympiacos’ league match with rivals Panathinaikos on Sunday had to be abandoned after an opposition player was hit by a firecracker. Olympiacos have subsequently issued a warning to their supporters against throwing missiles and using laser pointers, which has become big problem in Greek football. Meanwhile, West Ham fans were banned from their last European outing in Freiburg due to missile throwing during the Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina in June. Hammers boss Moyes said at his pre-match press conference: “They’ve got great support here, fantastic enthusiasm, and it’s fantastic to come to a football city where the football really matters. “You want the passion and the atmosphere but we also want good behaviour from our supporters and Olympiacos supporters. “It’s a big game, but it’s important that everyone works together and end up having a good night. “I think all we want is a good football game. You have to support your team well. You’re not doing your club any favours if you’re getting stadium bans or your team is getting thrown out of Europe. “You have to be well behaved and we want the supporters to be that.” Thursday’s match gives West Ham the chance to bounce back from Sunday’s painful 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa. Greek defender Dinos Mavropanos said: “For the game against Aston Villa, it was a bad day against a good team. “But our schedule is really busy so we needed to learn from it and start to focus on this game. We’ve been doing that. We’re here, we’ve worked hard and we’re looking forward to the match.” Vladimir Coufal has not travelled due to a knock but fellow full-backs Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell are back in the squad after spells out. Read More Former Everton boss David Moyes pays tribute to ‘wonderful man’ Bill Kenwright Moeen Ali eager to get anxious England playing with a smile again Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Self-confessed ‘golf tragic’ Dan Carter keen to boost participation in Ireland Liverpool set for boost as Cody Gakpo in line to make return against Toulouse London Broncos set to lose out under rugby league’s new grading criteria