Key events
GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Ipswich (Kudus 44)
Mohammed Kudus gives West Ham a deserved lead just before half-time, gobbling up the loose ball after Michail Antonio’s header hit the crossbar.
The top of the Premier League table (as it stands)
43 min: Arsenal 0-0 Southampton Even though Arsenal have dominated throughout, Aaron Ramsdale hasn’t had a save to make. Yet.
West Ham 1-1 Ipswich Two near misses for West Ham: Mohammed Kudus hits the post when he should have scored*, then Tomas Soucek has a shot cleared off the line.
* Allegedly, I haven’t seen it
Man City 1-1 Fulham
“I made this point earlier, but for a top side to not have a ready-made replacement for a key player – or even one that can do 90 per cent of the role – and have to use a squarer peg in the round hole left, is bordering on negligent, doubly so if you have almost unlimited oil wealth behind you,” says Andy Flintoff.
Maybe the problem is that, because it’s such a specific role, the back up is unlikely to start more than 10 games a season when Rodri is fit, and anyone worth a damn won’t settle for that. There aren’t many top-class No6s who can also play another role. Declan Rice I guess, and City did go for him didn’t they? I still
The latest scores in our featured games
Premier League
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Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool (FT)
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Arsenal 0-0 Southampton
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Brentford 3-2 Wolves
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Leicester 1-0 Bournemouth
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Man City 1-1 Fulham
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West Ham 1-1 Ipswich
Bundesliga
“It can only be a matter of time,” begins Simon McMahon, “before James didn’t he say he was working Humphries mentions the 1991 Scottish Cup final. I still break out in a rash just thinking about it. Although 1987 was worse.”
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Wolves (Kovacic 32)
Who needs that lumpen galoot Rodri? His replacement Mateo Kovacic has equalised for City, rapping a deflected (I think) shot past Bernd Leno after a corner was only half cleared.
30 min: Man City 0-1 Fulham Adama Traore has missed a superb chance to make it 2-0. It sounds like Fulham are really hurting City on the counter-attack. O Rodri, Rodri, wherefore art thou Rodri?
WSL match report
Tom Garry was at Broadfield Stadium to watch a dramatic and controversial match.
GOAL! Brentford 3-2 Wolves (Norgaard 28)
Brentford have scored straight from the kick off again, but this time it’s the fifth goal of the game. The captain Christian Norgaard, back in the team today, has put Brentford ahead for the third time.
Both goals came when the opposition tried to play out and lost the ball. Jorgen Strand Larsen finished smartly at the near post; Norgaard passed the ball into the net after being put through by Vitaly Janelt.
GOAL! Brentford 2-2 Wolves (Strand Larsen 26)
But hang on, there’s a fifth goal.
GOAL! Man City 0-1 Fulham (Andreas 26)
Hello! Andreas Pereira has put Fulham ahead at the Etihad, stretching to volley past Ederson from close range after a superb backheel from Raul Jimenez.
The latest scores in our featured games
Holstein Keil, who were 2-0 down to Leverkusen after eight minutes, are back in the game thanks to Max Geschwill’s injury-time goal. He was set up by Lewis Holtby, once of Fulham, Spurs and Blackburn.
Premier League
Bundesliga
GOAL! Brentford 2-1 Wolves (Mbeumo 20 pen)
Bryan Mbeumo has got his weekly goal, this time from the penalty spot after a wrestling match at a Brentford corner. It was given on advice from VAR, which is unlikely to have amused Gary O’Neil.
Championship Jesuran Rak-Sakyi, on loan from Crystal Palace, has put promotion-sniffing Sheffield United ahead against Luton. Michael Obafemi has done likewise for Plymouth at home to Blackburn.
GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Bournemouth (Buonanotte 16)
Facundo Buonanotte has put Leicester in front at the King Power Stadium with a fine solo goal. He cut inside from the right, beat a defender through sleight of hip and rammed a rising drive past Kepa.
GOAL! Union Berlin 2-0 Dortmund (Vertessen 45) Union Berlin are (un)officially eight goals better than Celtic.
St Mirren 0-0 Dundee United “McMahon’s awful confident about the Buddies-Tangerines game, isn’t he?” says James Humphries. “I feel like I’ve seen them both get… Well beat recently.”
Oh that’s sheer delightful wordplay.
The latest Premier League scores
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Ipswich (Delap 6)
That didn’t take long either. The in-form Liam Delap has equalised for Ipswich, whacking a low shot on the turn that beat Alphonse Areola at the near post.
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Wolves (Cunha 4)
Brentford really need to stop scoring so early. The underlapping Nelson Semedo finds space in the area and cuts tbe ball back to Matheus Cunha, who mishits (I think) a shot past Mark Flekken from 12 yards.
GOAL! West Ham 1-0 Ipswich (Antonio 1)
This one was inside the first minute. Jarrod Bowen dragged a low cross towards the near post, where Michail Antonio swept a first-time shot into the net.
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Wolves (Collins 2)
This is absolutely bonkers. Brentford didn’t quite manage to score inside the first minute for the fourth game in a row, but Nathan Collins has put them ahead against his old club after 75 seconds. He wandered forward from the back, kept going after laying the ball off and eventually headed Sepp van den Berg’s cross into the net from six yards.
On this day in 1991… Leeds close on the early leaders Man Utd after a seven-goal thriller at Elland Road.
Bundesliga A bit more news from Germany, where Kevin Vogt’s penalty has given Union Berlin the lead against Dortmund. If it stays like that they’ll move above Dortmund in the table.
On this day in 1993… Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle put S-E-V-E-N past Notts County.
WSL: Brighton 4-2 Aston Villa
Nikita Parris scored her first goal for Brighton in an eventful victory over Aston Villa. There were six goals, two for Villa’s Rachel Daly, and a red card apiece.
Match report: Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool
John Brewin was at Selhurst Park to watch Diogo Jota keep Liverpool top of the Premier League. Here’s what he made of it all.
“James Humphries can rest easy at work: Scotland’s game of the day is in Paisley, where St. Mirren host Dundee United,” writes Simon McMahon. “Jim Goodwin’s men have made a solid start on their return to the top league, taking nine points from their opening six games, and also defeated today’s opponents in the Scottish League Cup back in August. So hopes are high of at least a point today, ahead of the international break, which would keep United above the Buddies and in the top six.
“A comfortable St. Mirren win then, to go with Hibs beating Motherwell at Easter Road, and Kilmarnock scudding Dundee at Dens. There’s also a top of the table clash in the Scottish Championship at the Falkirk Stadium as the second place Bairns host the Honest Men of Ayr, who lead them by three points but have played two games more.”
GOAL! Leverkusen 2-0 Holstein Kiel (Hofmann 8) Yeah, a long afternoon ahead. Jonas Hofmann has made it 2-0 after a lamentable kick/pass by the goalkeeper Timon Weiner was blocked.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: John Beck’s Cambridge never had this problem.
On this day in 1985… After 10 straight wins at the start of the league, Manchester United are held to a draw by Luton. Look out for an astonishing miss by Paul Elliott.
Bundesliga latest
Victor Boniface has scored after four minutes to put the champions Leverkusen ahead against the bottom club Holstein Kiel. Could be a long afternoon.
On this day in 1997… Patrik Berger’s hat-trick does for Chelsea on Super Sunday.
Championship
Burnley missed the chance to go top when they were held to a goalless draw. Norwich gave Hull a beating and the substitute Louie Sibley earned Oxford a point at Portsmouth.
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Burnley 0-0 Preston
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Norwich 4-0 Hull
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Portsmouth 1-1 Oxford
“Was planning to be at Easter Road today for Hibs-Well; instead, I am at work,” weeps James Humphries. “In line with how this week’s gone so far, then, I’m predicting 3-0 Hibs and at least one long-term injury for Motherwell. Fingers crossed that the reverse jinx works, but I wouldn’t put money on it.”
Which reminds me: you can follow all the games I don’t have the brain capacity/fingers to cover with our live scoreboard.
Full time: Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool
Even if Erling Haaland scores 400 goals this afternoon, Liverpool will be Premier League leaders going into the international break. Diogo Jota’s excellent early goal was enough to beat Crystal Palace, although things got a bit hairy towards the end and the substitute Vitezslav Jaros had to make an important save from Ebere Eze.
“Looking forward to the afternoon’s action,” says Jeremy Boyce. “Let’s hope it won’t be too Premier League-centric, other footie is available. But as I know you’re a multi-faceted sport fan like myself (I draw the line at horses and pugilism these days) I’m wondering what you make of the America’s Cup/LV Challenge these days? Obviously there’s a lot of joy at Sir Jim’s team today, qualifying for a ritual massacring at the hands of the master Peter Burling and his band of Kiwis.
“I can see that it’s all highly technical these days and requires an incredible amount of coordination to constantly max the incredible new boats can achieve, not to mention the dosh to fund a challenge especially developing a boat and its foils. All great, but I’ve a kind of hankering to see boats that are actually sitting on the water, not flying above it, with wooden masts and hemp ropes and real people heaving canvas up and down, rather than everything being run by machines.
“A bit like I prefer vinyl, books, craft beer…. I admit, I did buy myself a carbon fibre road bike, but the wheels stay on the road and it’s your legs and lungs that move it forwards.”
I’m sorry to say I know the square root of bugger all about the America’s Cup. If it’s any consolation, I’m addicted to the smell of old books.
Read Barney Ronay on, well, Euston station
78 min: Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool The leaders are still ahead thanks to Diogo Jota’s early goal, but their goalkeeper Alisson has just gone off with what looks like a hamstring injury. You can follow the rest of the game with Scott Murray.
West Ham v Ipswich team news
West Ham are unchanged. Ipswich bring in Ben Johnson and Wes Burns for Axel Tuanzebe and Chiedozie Ogbene.
Man City v Fulham team news
Phil Foden starts a league game for the first time this season. He replaces Kyle Walker in the only change from last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle; Rico Lewis will move to right-back.
In-form Fulham also make one change: Sander Berge is preferred to Emile Smith Rowe.
Your City line-up this afternoon 🩵
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Walker, Stones, Doku, Savinho, Nunes, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/6ovC0cHBd6
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 5, 2024
Leicester v Bournemouth team news
One change apiece. Leicester bring in Jordan Ayew for Harry WInks; Bournemouth prefer Justin Kluivert to Dango Ouatarra.
Brentford v Wolves team news
The captain Christian Norgaard replaces Fabio Carvalho in Brentford’s only change. Wolves bring in Craig Dawson and Carlos Forbs for Santiago Bueno and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Arsenal v Southampton team news
Raheem Sterling makes his first Premier League start for Arsenal. Jorginho replaces the injured Jurrien Timber, with Thomas Partey likely to move to right-back. Gabriel Jesus also starts, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard rested. They are joined on the subs bench by Mikel Merino.
Aaron Ramsdale starts against his old club. Southampton bring in Ryan Manning, Joe Aribo and Ross Stewart for Lesley Ugochukwu, Ryan Fraser and Maxwel Cornet.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Jorginho; Havertz, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Sterling.
Substitutes: Neto, Lewis-Skelly, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Merino, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji.
Championship There are three early games, and these are the half-time scores.
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Burnley 0-0 Preston
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Norwich 2-0 Hull
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Portsmouth 0-0 Oxford
Burnley will go top if they beat Preston. Norwich’s goals were scored by Marcelino Nunez and Josh Sargent.
Half time: Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool Diogo Jota’s ruthless finish has put the leaders ahead at Selhurst Park. You can follow the second half with Scott Murray.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to another busy Saturday clockwatch. Arsenal and Manchester City are among the teams in action at 3pm, and both have the chance to keep pace with/go above Liverpool, depending on the result of the early game at Selhurst Park.
We’ll keep an eye on the important games elsewhere, from Burnley to Leverkusen, but our main focus will be these Premier League games.
