The Guardian

⚽ Buildup, news and discussion before Saturday’s action ⚽ Nottingham Forest Q&A at 11am | Mail matchday live here Ange Postecoglou’s future at Nottingham Forest is on the line this afternoon. The 60-year-old is yet to win a match with Forest and is already at risk of being sacked – despite only arriving just over one month ago. Postecoglou urged the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, to maintain …

Manchester United’s striker is a topic of context-free condemnation as social media’s sluice of aggravation sinks us all The first thing you need to do is find a photo of Rasmus Højlund looking happy in a Napoli shirt. There you are. Now you find a photo of Benjamin Sesko looking sad in a Manchester United shirt. Like he’s just missed an open goal. No, obviously you don’t need to find a photo of …

Brexit and PSR are contributing to a spike in the fees and wages offered by big clubs for teenagers, but is this stockpiling really raising standards? The discussion during a meeting of Premier League sporting directors this year turned to academies and the amount of money spent on homegrown teenagers. The market for players as young as 14 has turned wild, according to industry figures. “Some wag…

Former England midfielder has always been a disruptor and says Saturday’s match will show his kids he can fight David Bentley has never been one to turn down a challenge, even if it is to his detriment. In 2008, on England duty, he got roped into playing what was meant to be a lighthearted game with Jimmy Bullard, shouting “Postman Pat” at Fabio Capello in training, on account of the manager’s li…

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side have ditched the excesses of ‘Jon-ball’ but have not settled into their new strategy. They need to now England find themselves in a curious position at the halfway point of their World Cup campaign as they prepare to face the hosts, India, on Sunday. They are unbeaten, sit third in the points table, and – partly because India have already lost twice – have a 98% chance of …

Hosting the world champions is as tough as it gets, but the players say this is the ‘best England team in a long time’ By No Helmets Required With the club season over, England players George Williams and Jack Welsby are focusing on their next challenge: an Ashes series against the world champions. The pair will take centre stage at Wembley against Australia on 25 October. We met up in London to …

Updates from the series opener in Christchurch Sign up for The Spin newsletter | And mail James The players emerge onto the outfield of a blustery Hagley Oval. Looks like a double cable knit sort of evening to me. Let’s play! Mitch Santner – not at all reminding me of the ‘Weatherfield One’ Deidre Barlow when he wears his oversized specs… wins the toss. Continue reading...

Mikel Arteta’s side head to Fulham with belief the title can be won after a string of injuries in previous seasons “It is reassuring to know that if your performances are right, you do not need bad results from somebody else,” Arsène Wenger said after watching Arsenal leapfrog surprise package Leicester to go top of the Premier League a few days after Christmas in 2015. “That is one less stress. …

Sweden striker missed pre-season training at Newcastle Arne Slot says Isak is at full fitness ahead of United clash Arne Slot has said Alexander Isak is ready to showcase the qualities that made him Britain’s most expensive footballer. Isak’s low-key start to life at Liverpool has been attributed to him missing the majority of pre-season training with Newcastle while he forced through a record £1…

Tottenham have taken 13 points from past 17 home games ‘We need the fans, especially in the tough moments’ Thomas Frank believes that Tottenham’s poor home form will improve if there is a better connection with the crowd, the fans make more noise and stay positive during tough spells. Frank’s side have made a strong start to the season, 14 points from their first seven games taking them into thir…

The idea that barring the Israeli club’s supporters from Villa Park will de-escalate a volatile situation just doesn’t stand up Well, at least we have Ayoub Khan in the house, Birmingham MP and a voice of tolerance, unity and de-escalation in these difficult times. “Sports entertainment events should be enjoyed by all regardless of their race, ethnicity and background,” Khan wrote on X on Thursda…

La Liga players to protest Miami match plan Union blasts league’s lack of transparency Flick, players decry travel and workload La Liga players will protest this weekend the league’s decision to hold a regular season game in Miami , the Spanish soccer players’ union said on Friday. Players plan to pause for 15 seconds after kickoff in games in the ninth round held from Friday through Monday, Span…

Tim Mayer hits out over rules surrounding election Mohammed Ben Sulayem will be the only candidate The FIA has been accused of presenting an “illusion of democracy” in an uncompromising broadside from the last remaining challenger to Mohammed Ben Sulayem as he formally announced his attempt to succeed the organisation’s incumbent president was over. Tim Mayer, a former FIA senior steward, also co…

McLaren’s total dominance has gone and Norris and Piastri’s title race head-to-head is no longer such a binary affair At the mid-point of this season it might have been considered that the title fight between McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri would simply be decided by which driver had the edge to take the flag at each remaining meeting. Going into this weekend’s US Grand Prix, however, th…

Fans of his old clubs have chance today to show support for their former flanker after shock of his MND diagnosis Emotions are bound to run high at Welford Road on Saturday, and not just because Bath are in town to renew one of the great rivalries in English rugby. Not even because Leicester’s round-four date with the reigning champions is a repeat of last season’s fina l, a little over four mont…