Manchester City fans who had made the long journey to Swansea City on Wednesday night might well have been fearful that their up-and-down side could be on the receiving end of an EFL Cup upset.

Their fears were beginning to be realised when Gonzalo Franco fired the Championship hosts into the lead after 12 minutes, after the number 17 calmly beat stand-in City stopper James Trafford to send the home masses into raptures.

Thankfully, for City’s sake, that was as good as it got for Alan Sheehan’s home side, as Pep Guardiola’s visitors ended up running away with the clash to secure a comfortable 3-1 win.

City are still on for some silverware; therefore, in the EFL Cup, with Jeremy Doku hopeful that his efforts in Wales mean he is in with a shot of a Premier League start against AFC Bournemouth this approaching Sunday.

Doku's performance in numbers versus Swansea

After all, the Belgian likely stood a good chance at starting against the Cherries on the left flank, anyway, irrespective of what he mustered up on Wednesday night, with Savinho seriously struggling in City sky blue as of late.

Doku has only boosted his already strong chances, though, with his showing against the Swans, as this deflected effort – which came about from the ex-Rennes man’s initially tricky footwork – levelled the scores in the first half, before Omar Marmoush eventually handed the away side a late second-half lead.

The diminutive attacker is well known for his front foot approach in attacking areas, as can be seen looking at his high successful dribble rate per 90 minutes back in the Premier League, and it was on full display throughout in Wales, with seven dribbles attempted in total.

With four key passes under his belt, too, it’s clear that Doku will be able to ramp up the entertainment levels far more on the left flank than Savinho moving forward, meaning the fast-paced number 11 could soon be reinstated into Guardiola’s starting lineup.

Yet, he isn’t alone in banging down the door for more first-team chances, as this other sensational performer against Swansea looked a class above everyone else on the pitch and is now viewed as undroppable.

The undroppable City star who looked "streets ahead"

In the end, even with Guardiola hooking the likes of Erling Haaland and making wholesale changes, City just had too much star power for the hosts to contain.

Rayan Cherki, in particular, bamboozled the Swans all night long, with one City-based content creator stating that the ex-Lyon playmaker “absolutely ran the show”, which is a fair assessment when you dig deeper into his numbers from the 3-1 win.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Touches

119

Shots

5

Accurate passes

74/92 (80%)

Key passes

6

Total duels won

5/11

Unfortunately, Cherki’s early days at the Etihad have been riddled with injury issues, with the dazzling Frenchman only fit enough for six games so far this season.

Hopefully, he will move past these recurring niggles to become a crucial first-teamer now in Manchester, with Cherki helping himself to a goal and an assist across the duration of his sensational 90 minutes against their in awe EFL opponents.

Cherki would stylishly dictate play by amassing a whopping six key passes from his mammoth 119 touches, while also showing off a fiery edge to his game when winning five ground duels.

With a further goal coming his way against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day, the time is right, surely, for Cherki to be given an extended run in the main side.

Haaland will also be licking his lips at the prospect of working alongside such an entertaining attacking marvel, who was labelled as being “streets ahead” of everyone else on Wednesday night by journalist Amos Murphy for his quick-witted play up top.

Doku and Cherki would love to cause similar havoc together when Premier League action returns, with more wins soon to be added to Guardiola and Co.’s league tally, if they can regularly run rings around top-flight defences together.

Man City have "Rashford-like" 17-year-old star who can surpass Savinho

Manchester City have an unbelievable 17-year-old starlet who could soon surpass Savinho.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 29, 2025

Super-agent Jorge Mendes has dismissed the "noise" surrounding the young Spanish talent Lamine Yamal, urging for support for the 18-year-old Barcelona star. His comments come as Yamal himself refutes "lies" about his pubalgia injury after a stunning display in the Champions League, though Hansi Flick confirms the issue is still being actively managed.

Mendes defends Yamal

Mendes has publicly addressed the intense speculation and "noise" surrounding Yamal, following weeks of discussion about the 18-year-old's fitness and conduct. Mendes, who represents five players at Barcelona including Yamal, Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati, broke his silence to defend the teenager from the mounting pressure. The agent's comments arrive in the wake of Yamal's scintillating performance in the Champions League, but also amid a backdrop of ongoing concerns over a persistent pubalgia injury.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMendes addresses 'noise' and ongoing pubalgia concerns

Speaking directly on the recent debate surrounding Yamal, Mendes sought to normalise the situation and called for the player to be supported, not scrutinised.

“I don't understand all the noise surrounding Lamine Yamal. We've all been 18 and young," Mendes told . "As president [Joan] Laporta said, what we have to do is support him and help him as much as possible because he's a great asset to the club."

The Portuguese agent, whose Gestifute agency manages Yamal, acknowledged the unique burden on the young forward, who now wears the number 10 shirt for Barcelona once worn by the likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

"Lamine is the player everyone is talking about worldwide; there's a consensus that he's a great player for both the present and the future," Mendes continued. "Having everyone watching you is also a great responsibility and a lot of pressure. He's handling it very well, and we have to continue helping him, and one way to do that is to focus exclusively on his work.”

Mendes also confirmed the reports of a physical issue but insisted it is being handled correctly by the player and the club.

“Lamine knows perfectly well what he has to do both on and off the field, and that's what he's doing: concentrating on working quietly and not talking much," he added. "He has some physical issues that he's addressing with the club to resolve them in the best way possible while he plays, and that's the most important thing, that he recovers well and can contribute as much as possible to the team."

Yamal hits back at 'lies' after Brugge heroics

Mendes's comments about letting the football do the talking were emphatically underlined by Yamal's performance in midweek. The agent noted: "The best thing Lamine does is let his play on the field do the talking; he does it like no one else, as we saw in the Brugge match."

In that chaotic 3-3 Champions League draw against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Yamal was Barcelona's standout performer. He dragged his side back into the game three times, scoring a sensational solo goal and creating the third, which resulted in a Christos Tzolis own goal.

After the match, Yamal himself confronted the recent rumours about his fitness. The forward missed seven games for club and country earlier this season with the pubalgia problem.

"I am good," Yamal told reporters. "I try not to read things. A lot has been said about my injury and that I was sad. It was all lies. I wanted to work hard to get back to this level, which is when I feel the best and have the most fun."

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Flick confirms injury is still being 'managed'

Despite Yamal's declaration and his agent's supportive words, Flick provided a more cautious assessment. The German coach confirmed that the pubalgia, a notoriously difficult groin-related injury, remains a daily concern.

"I am happy that Lamine is back on this level, but how I said also, we don't know what is tomorrow; we don't know what is next Sunday," Flick said in his post-game press conference in Belgium.

"The important thing is that he manages this situation he has now because it's not easy. He has to be focused on what he has to do, how he has to train and also the treatment. If he manages that the right way, hopefully it goes away, but it's not easy to say when with the situation."

West Ham United boss Nuno Espírito Santo has swung the axe on midfielder James Ward-Prowse, but one player has impressed him behind-the-scenes at Rush Green.

Nuno making key West Ham decisions in build up to Arsenal

The Hammers take on Premier League title contenders Arsenal this weekend, and Nuno could hardly ask for a tougher second game in charge.

Harry Redknapp predicts major David Sullivan decision that will transform West Ham

The former West Ham and Tottenham boss is convinced.

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Emilio Galantini

Oct 3, 2025

West Ham have looked as soft as butter in all respects defensively, especially when it comes to set-pieces, and threatening from dead ball situations is something that Arsenal seriously specialise in.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham

Mikel Arteta’s side could have a field day if the Hammers don’t shore up in that regard and quickly, with Nuno looking to build upon his solid 1-1 draw at Everton on Monday.

Further up the field, Nuno has already decided that Ward-Prowse won’t be a part of his long-term plans – just under a year after Nottingham Forest cut his loan spell short with the 51-year-old still in charge – so he clearly doesn’t rate the midfielder that much at all.

Ward-Prowse was axed from the matchday squad for West Ham’s trip to Everton, and credible reports since then have claimed that the 30-year-old is expected to leave in January.

Fabrizio Romano has backed up the Englishman’s potential winter departure too, with journalist Dean Jones suggesting that Ward-Prowse could re-join Southampton as his exit looks nailed on.

However, while Ward-Prowse seems as if he’s being pushed out the door, Nuno has quite the opposite opinion on defender Max Kilman.

Nuno says Max Kilman has absolutely shone in West Ham training

The former Wolves boss worked with Kilman at Molineux for years, and Nuno says that the centre-back has impressed him at Rush Green so far with his work ethic in training.

Nuno’s arrival could be exactly what Kilman needs to rediscover his very best form, as the pair enjoyed a very productive relationship at Wolves.

The 28-year-old seriously credited Nuno for his development when they worked in the Midlands together, telling the Birmingham Mail in 2020 that West Ham’s boss helped him understand the game a lot better.

Interestingly, Kilman stood out as West Ham’s joint-best performer alongside Alphonse Areola against Everton (WhoScored), and supporters will be hoping that will spur on a string of convincing defensive displays.

كشف حسين الشحات لاعب فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، آخر التطورات الخاصة بـ إصابته وموعد عودته للتدريبات، موضحًا موقفه من تجديد عقده مع القلعة الحمراء خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وقال حسين الشحات في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة ام بي سي مصر2: “يتبقى أسبوعين وسأعود للتدريبات مع الفريق، وكان الجميع بحاجة إلى هذا الفوز، خاصة أمام نادي الزمالك، لرغبتنا في مصالحة جماهير النادي الأهلي”.

وأضاف: “لا توجد مشاكل في غرفة الملابس، وبالنسبة لمباراة المصري، لو أُعيدت 100 مرة فلن تدخل الكرة، كانت من أفضل المباريات التي لعبناها ولكن الحظ لم يكن معنا”.

طالع | عدلي القيعي: الأهلي فاز على الزمالك بالمنطق.. و”كل الشكر للكارهين” بعد حملة المظلومية

وبسؤاله عن تألق زيزو أمام الزمالك، أجاب: “هو لاعب كبير ولا أحد يستطيع التقليل من إمكانياته، قادر على حمل الفريق بمفرده، وكان يتمتع بثبات انفعالي في مباراة الزمالك”.

وواصل: “كان جميع اللاعبين يدعمونه، وهذا ما يميز الأهلي؛ الجميع على قلب رجل واحد، وكل اللاعبين كانوا يرون مدى تركيز وجاهزية زيزو”.

واختتم تصريحاته قائلاً: “لم أوقع على التجديد للنادي الأهلي حتى الآن، وقد كان لدي عرض من السعودية”.

Arsenal secured a seventh consecutive victory and extended their lead at the top of the Premier League this weekend, but not everyone was happy with what they saw at the Emirates.

The Gunners appear in unstoppable form and they capitalised on a weekend where Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all lost by securing a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace to cement their status as the current favourites to win the title.

Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice were sensational in the win, as was Jurrien Timber, who is fast becoming the standout right-back in world football.

The Netherlands international however called for calm ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash against Brighton: “It is good to stay neutral, and not to get too high.

“Obviously, we’ve been doing well, but it’s still early in the season, and we just have to keep getting better game by game.

“The next game is already in three days, which is a (Carabao) Cup match (against Brighton), and the next Premier League game (against Burnley) is going to be tough as well.

“So, let’s keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard, and then from there, we’ll see what happens.”

Stelling reveals he turned TV off during Arsenal win over Palace

Arsenal’s bid to land their first league title in 22 years has been built on a remarkable defence which has shipped just three goals, and only one from open play, in their 13 fixtures across all competitions.

They have of course dominated in the opposition box as well, scoring just five of their 16 league goals from open play, and former Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling was disgusted by the lack of expansive football during the win over Palace.

“They can’t keep relying on set plays, they just can’t,” he said on talkSPORT on Monday morning.

He continued: “I love some of the Arsenal players, I love Saka, I love Odegaard, I love Eze. But please, please be just a bit more expansive. I mean watching Arsenal against Palace, was watching paint dry. It was purgatory. I started watching that match, and I had enough of it before they had a shot. I’d turned over by then, to watch Villa versus City, which was a much better game.”

Arsenal’s clean sheet against Palace was their fifth in succession, And Timber is proud of their tough to play against style: “Everyone plays a part in it, but it’s a good thing and a good foundation to build on.

“From that standard, you just have to keep getting better and be consistent in what we do, and then throughout the whole season, hopefully we’ll turn it into something beautiful.

“It gives you confidence and it shows that we’re doing really well, and also, if it’s for multiple games in a row, it says something about consistency.

“We just have to keep improving, and look at what we can do better, but also take that feeling with you, that confidence and go into the next game with the same mindset.”

Mikel Arteta awaits news on injuries sustained to William Saliba, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, which is perhaps the only damp spot on an otherwise flawless October for the Gunners.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank will “definitely” be without a star player for this weekend’s trip to Leeds United, with the Dane looking to get back to winning ways after a hard-fought draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

Tottenham display grit again after rescuing 2-2 draw at Bodo/Glimt

For the third time this season, Spurs were forced to come back from a deficit to salvage any kind of result, with their 2-2 battle in Norway following Tottenham’s draw at Brighton by the same scoreline and a dramatic 1-1 at home to Wolves last weekend.

On this occasion, an 89th minute own goal by Jostein Gundersen rescued Spurs from what would have been an embarrassing defeat at the Aspmyra Stadion.

Matches

10

Wins

5

Draws

3

Losses

2

Points

15

Points per game

1.80

The match marked a return to the venue where Tottenham had triumphed in last season’s Europa League semi-finals and booked their place in Bilbao against Man United, which proved crucial to Ange Postecoglou ending their 17-year wait for silverware, but this visit told a very different story.

Bodo/Glimt dominated for extended periods, with Jens Petter Hauge scoring twice shortly after halftime to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.

Micky van de Ven, wearing the captain’s armband, pulled one back just minutes after Hauge’s second before the dramatic late OG gave Spurs an arguably undeserved point.

Frank’s tenure thus far has attracted mixed reviews from the Lilywhites fanbase due to Tottenham’s lack of real dominance over lesser sides, and this was certainly on full display in the Arctic Circle.

That being said, you can make a very real case that all the best sides in Europe are capable of getting results despite not playing at their very best.

It is also worth remembering that Tottenham impressed against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final, battered London rivals West Ham and got the best of Premier League title contenders Man City at the Etihad, so there is reason to believe that Spurs are definitely improving from last season.

Their grit to battle back from losing positions so far is testament to this, and it is perhaps a sign of things to come under Frank as the tactician continues to assess his new squad.

Tottenham have been forced to deal with a plethora of absences for key players too, with James Maddison out for the majority of 2025/2026 after a nightmare pre-season injury, Dejan Kulusevski on the comeback trail and Radu Dragusin still recovering from an ACL problem.

Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani has been absent with a dead leg as well, but while the Frenchman is expected to return imminently, the same cannot be said for £140,000-per-week striker Dominic Solanke.

Dominic Solanke "definitely" set to miss Leeds as Tottenham given timeline

The England international was forced to undergo minor surgery on a niggling ankle problem, and while Frank doesn’t expect his lay-off to be long, journalist Tom Barclay has stated that Solanke will “definitely” be unavailable for their trip to Elland Road.

However, Tottenham are hopeful he’ll return after the international break.

His fitness issues have been a real cause for concern, with Solanke missing a total of 22 games through injury since joining Spurs from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024 as Harry Kane’s heir.

Richarlison has started almost all of Frank’s game in charge as a replacement for Solanke, scoring three goals, but concerns have surrounded the Brazilian as Tottenham’s focal point.

Last season, Solanke scored 16 goals and provided eight assists across 45 appearances in all competitions when fit and available — proving integral at times — and Frank needs the England forward back in his fold ahead of crucial matches against Aston Villa, Monaco, Everton, Newcastle and Chelsea right after the October internationals.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos renovou contrato, pelo terceiro ano consecutivo, com a Tekbond Saint-Gobain para a empresa estampar o uniforme dos times masculino e feminino do clube.

+ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

O valor para a marca do segmento de construções estar na parte frontal da camisa santista gira em torno de R$ 1,5 milhão anual. O novo vínculo é válido até o término de 2024.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

– É uma marca vencedora, que segue conosco desde 2020, e é um grande orgulho saber que estaremos juntos até dezembro de 2024. A manutenção dessa parceria, demonstra que a empresa também confia no nosso trabalho – celebrou o presidente do Santos, Andres Rueda.

A empresa irá figurar em todos jogos da temporada profissional do Alvinegro Praiano. Além disso, a marca também deve aparecer nas mídias sociais do clube, em outras coleções de roupas utilizadas pela comissão técnica e jogadores, sem contar a exposição em placas publicitárias e backdrops de entrevistas.

– Ver nossa marca na camisa do Santos é um passe para o mundo, abrindo portas aonde chegamos. Estamos satisfeitos com o que alcançamos juntos, mas ainda mais empolgados com os desafios e vitórias que o futuro nos reserva – ressalta Eduardo Mano, diretor de Marketing da vendedora de colas e selantes.

This was LAKR’s eighth defeat in nine games

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2025

Kieron Pollard gives the ball a good, old-fashioned thump•Sportzpics for MLC

Kieron Pollard’s all-round performance of a 36-ball 50 and bowling figures of 1 for 12 in two overs kept MI New York in the hunt for a playoff spot in MLC 2025 as they defeated bottom-placed Los Angeles Knight Riders by six runs.Pollard came in at 63 for 4 in the tenth over of the first innings and hit four sixes and one four to give MINY a fighting total of 142 for 9 although he had little support from the remaining batters, except Nicholas Pooran’s 24-ball 30 from No. 3. MINY’s batting was wrecked by Shadley van Schalkwyk taking 3 for 24 with support from Jason Holder (2 for 28) and Corne Dry (2 for 25) to leave LAKR chasing 143.However, even that target proved difficult to chase for LAKR as they finished on 136, six runs short, despite losing only four wickets. Openers Alex Hales produced a sluggish 21 in 26 balls and Andre Fletcher was out for a 10-ball nine. Even though Sherfane Rutherford scored a 28-ball 29 and Unmukt Chand hit a 48-ball 59, they couldn’t keep up with the game’s equation that left them needing 21 off the last two overs.Pollard dismissed Rutherford in the 19th over and LAKR retired out Chand at the end of the same over. But with 16 needed off the final over, new batters Andre Russell and Holder could not take them over the line with Ehsan Adil holding his nerves with the ball.The defeat was LAKR’s eighth in nine outings while it was MINY’s third win in nine games.

England boss Thomas Tuchel and his assistant Anthony Barry have opted to skip the chance to watch Jude Bellingham in action for Real Madrid against Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League in another blow to the 22-year-old just days before the latest England squad is announced. Bellingham was omitted from Tuchel's most recent squad and will have to wait and see if he's done enough to earn a recall.

• Another blow for Bellingham

  Bellingham is back in England with his Real Madrid team on Tuesday and will be hoping to continue his recent good form. The England star has scored in Real Madrid's last three games and seems to have hit form after returning to action following a layoff after undergoing shoulder surgery. The game offered Tuchel the chance to watch Bellingham live and speak to the Real Madrid man at Anfield after the game, but the England boss is not expected to attend, according to . Tuchel is currently finalising his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, and it's not clear yet if he will recall Bellingham to his squad for the upcoming fixtures.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Tuchel's complicated relationship with Bellingham

  Bellingham has emerged has one of England's most talented players but is no longer guaranteed a place in Tuchel's squad. He hasn't been selected by the England boss since June, while Tuchel has also raised eyebrows by saying his mother is "repulsed" by the midfielder's actions. The German did subsequently apologise to Bellingham but has also warned big stars such as Bellingham and Cole Palmer than he is prepared to leave his 'most talented' players out of his World Cup plans. Tuchel says "the team" is more important than the individual as he aims to guide the Three Lions to glory at the tournament in North America, Mexico and Canada in 2026.

• Backing for Bellingham

  New Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been full of praise for Bellingham after seeing him shine for Los Blancos after being left out of England's last squad by Tuchel. 

  "He’s had three very good games," he told reporters."We knew before the last break that he needed time, minutes, to get going. He’s done better than we expected after the last break. Jude is all about feeling, communicating, and connecting. That’s why he’s had some very good games."

  Meanwhile, Bellingham has spoken of his desire to kick on from a trophyless season with Real Madrid last year. He told: "I didn't think last year was a disaster. [It was] still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn't play as well last year. There were still good moments, but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I've had my shoulder surgery, a new manager [Xabi Alonso], he's got that shape, how we want to play. You have to learn from it."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tuchel tipped to spring surprises

  As England have already qualified for the World Cup, Tuchel is being tipped to experiment with his latest squad. Brighton veteran Danny Welbeck is under consideration for a shock recall after a fine start to the Premier League season. The former Manchester United man has six goals in 10 games, and ex-England captain Wayne Rooney thinks it's a good time to give him a chance.

  He told his self-titled podcast : "The next couple of England games, I wouldn’t even call Harry Kane up. Give him a rest. There are not many opportunities from now until the end of the season when he gets a rest. Let him rest and go and look at (Danny) Welbeck, or (Ollie) Watkins or Ivan Toney. Whoever it is he wants to look at, give these players the opportunity to try and play."

  England take on Serbia on Thursday, November 13, at Wembley and then head to Albania three days later. Tuchel will announce his squad at 10am on Friday, November 7.

Tea Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja batted through the afternoon session, frustrating England and helping India creep towards a doughty draw. Washington and Jadeja both made battling half-centuries as England’s bowlers toiled without reward, adding exactly 100 in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership that took India into the lead.Washington batted at No. 8 in India’s first innings, below Shardul Thakur, but was promoted to No. 5 for the first time in their second. He brought up his half-century by hooking Ben Stokes for six, then pulling him for four, and Jadeja raised his later in the same over thanks to Zak Crawley’s misfield.Dropped first-ball by Joe Root at slip off Jofra Archer’s bowling, Jadeja brought out his trademark sword celebration to mark his fifth half-century in his last six innings. He also became the seventh Indian – and the third this week, following KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant – to reach 1,000 Test runs in England.England’s close fielders were occasionally excited by tight leaves or half-chances, but there were far fewer genuine opportunities than they would have anticipated. Liam Dawson and Root both wheeled away between spells from the four seamers, but found little joy from a pitch which has not deteriorated as much as they must have hoped.India’s slender lead means that England will have to chase down a target if they do manage to run through the lower order, but the draw is the clear favourite. The two captains could shake hands at the start of the last hour if they wish, though Stokes will be reluctant to accept what would be only the second draw of his tenure as captain.