Manchester

Manchester City‘s legal fight with the Premier League has the potential to “spiral out of control”, a former top club executive has warned.

Christian Purslow, a former Liverpool managing director and Aston Villa chief executive, who also held a senior role at Chelsea, said the case could begin a chain of events that would be “appalling for the game”.

City have been found guilty of the vast majority of 115 charges brought forward by the Premier League.

The club were accused of a wide range of rule breaches which centred around claims that they inflated sponsorship revenue from connected companies and made other “off the books” payments to circumvent football’s financial rules.

Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice about compensation relating to the charges, while BBC Sport has been told that City will appeal.

Sanctions on the club are yet to be announced, but repercussions could include a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League or a huge fine.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Purslow appeared alongside football law expert Paul Gilroy KC, who described the case as a “seismic moment for world football”.

Purslow said: “It’s a sort of ‘where does this end?’ because if you look at every single season – the nine seasons which we now know Manchester City breached rules – then all of their 19 Premier League rivals in that season, to differing extents, suffered easy-to-compute loss. Whether it was a place in the Premier League – every place was worth £3m.

“Teams that came fifth who didn’t make the Champions League maybe lost tens of millions of pounds – and of course teams that were relegated. Let’s say the team that finished 18th would’ve finished 17th if Manchester City weren’t there. And they, of course, suffered huge loss.

“If you add all those claims up, over nine years, and that’s just in the Premier League, you can see that the potential here for this to spiral out of control is huge.

“I really hope that common sense prevails here and that there is a comprehensive solution between the authorities and Manchester City that looks at all these issues and tries to draw a line in the sand.

“Because a never-ending waterfall of legal claims and uncertainties for another four or five years would be absolutely appalling for the game.”

Gilroy added that, so far, four clubs have put in protective claims “reserving the right to claim compensation if City are found guilty”.

WHAT makes a city the best in the world? Well, there are lots of factors that go into it, according to Oxford Economics which has just named the top 100.

Looking at subjects like governance and quality of life, it has created the Global Cities Index 2026 and four UK cities have made the cut, with one coming in second place.

It might be a surprise to some, but London was named second best city in the world – only beaten by New York City.

Oxford Economics made their decision on the factors of economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.

Talking about the city, Oxford Economics said: “London remains one of the clearest examples of a truly global city.

“Its influence extends across business, science and technology, education, and the arts, giving it a reach that few other cities can equal.”

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It named its top strengths with its universities, large GDP size and low emissions.

It’s not the first time London has been named one of the world’s best cities – earlier this year it was named THE best city by Tripadvisor.

Almost as many as 80,000 people visit every day to see its historic landmarks like Big Ben, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge.

Or its more modern ones like the London Eye, The Shard and the Sky Garden.

And if you want some ideas on what to do in the capital for all ages, Sun Travel has some recommendations for you from its attractions to rooftop bars and free things to do.

The next UK city in the top 100 is Edinburgh in Scotland which came 71st on the list.

The historic city has cobbled streets – one of which being the Royal Mile which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

Edinburgh also has around 385 pubs, plenty of cafes, independent shops and of course it’s hilltop castle.

Another activity that lots of visitors embark on during a trip to Edinburgh is the hike up to Arthur’s Seat.

The extinct volcano is the highest peak in Holyrood Park just east of the city and you can see across the whole city from above.

Coming in at number 90 on the list is the city of Manchester – it was also named one of the world’s up-and-coming cities.

The publication described the city as “booming” thanks to its “productivity growth”.

It was also praised for its “thriving cultural scene” thanks to its two football clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United – as well as Co Op Live and AO Arena which both hold live events.

For more on what to do in Manchester, one local has lots of recommendations like exploring Warehouse Project for seeing live bands or DJs and stopping by the bars on Canal Street.

Just about making the list is the city of Cambridge which placed in 100th position.

The city in the East of England is most famous for its prestigious university which is often ranked as being one of the best in the world.

Popular activities include exploring the historic colleges, punting along the River Cam and exploring the shops and its many pubs.

One of which, The Eagle, is where Francis Crick and James Watson burst in to announce they discovered the DNA.

Other cities that deserve a mention are Dublin in Ireland which came in at number six.

It’s is largely known around the world for its lively nightlife, but it also has world-class museums, restaurants and historical sites.

Also in the top 10 were Paris and Zurich, as well as Tokyo in Japan and American cities, Seattle, San Francisco and San Jose.

Within the top 100, Europe represents almost half with 44 cities, a lot also belong in North America with its 34 cities making the list.

There are the top 100 cities according to Oxford Economics…

1. New York City, USA
2. London, UK
3. Paris, France
4. Seattle, USA
5. San Francisco, USA
6. Dublin, Ireland
7. Boston, USA
8. San Jose, USA
9. Tokyo, Japan
10. Zurich, Switzerland
11. Oslo, Norway
12. Los Angeles, USA
13. Sydney, Australia
14. Washington DC, USA
15. Stockholm, Sweden
16. Melbourne, Australia
17. Dallas, USA
18. Copenhagen, Denmark
19. Munich, Germany
20. Toronto, Canada
21. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
22. Berlin, Germany
23. Geneva, Switzerland
24. Vancouver, Canada
25. Brussels, Belgium
26. Helsinki, Finland
27. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
28. Houston, USA
29. Singapore, Singapore
30. Madrid, Spain
31. Atlanta, USA
32. Denver, USA
33. Minneapolis, USA
34. Tel Aviv, Israel
35. Vienna, Austria
36. Brisbane, Australia
37. San Diego, USA
38. Seoul, South Korea
39. Hamburg, Germany
40. Bergen, Norway
41. Phoenix, USA
42. Dubai, UAE
43. Basel, Switzerland
44. Perth, Australia
45. Canberra, Australia
46. Austin, USA
47. Chicago, USA
48. Taipei, Taiwan
49. Bern, Switzerland
50. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
51. Prague, Czechia
52. Miami, USA
53. Portland, USA
54. Utrecht, the Netherlands
55. Gothenburg, Sweden
56. Philadelphia, USA
57. Antwerp, Belgium
58. Lausanne, Switzerland
59. Salt Lake City, USA
60. Auckland, New Zealand
61. Warsaw, Poland
62. Montreal, Canada
63. Frankfurt am Main, Germany
64. Istanbul, Turkey
65. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
66. Nashville, USA
67. Rotterdam, the Netherlands
68. Ghent, Belgium
69. Calgary, Canada
70. Adelaide, Australia
71. Edinburgh, UK
72. Barcelona, Spain
73. Charlotte, USA
74. The Hague, the Netherlands
75. Wellington, New Zealand
76. Aarhus, Denmark
77. Malmo, Sweden
78. Gold Coast, Australia
79. Baltimore, USA
80. Eindhoven, the Netherlands
81. Orlando, USA
82. Colombus, USA
83. Osaka-Kyoto, Japan
84. Abu Dhabi, UAE
85. Raleigh, USA
86. Milan, Italy
87. Hong Kong, China
88. Lyon, France
89. Las Vegas, USA
90. Manchester, UK
91. Reykjavik, Iceland
92. Tampa, USA
93. Shenzhen, China
94. Riverside, USA
95. Madison, USA
96. Christchurch, New Zealand
97. Stuttgart, Germany
98. Düsseldorf, Germany
99. Linz, Austria
100. Cambridge, UK

Oasis ticket sales kick off this weekend and that means the lucky ones who’ve snapped up their tickets will be making plans. But how much will a trip to see the Britpop band set you back?

Oasis tickets go on sale this weekend ahead of the Britpop band’s 2027 tour. Not only will the Manchester band be touring the UK and heading to Ireland, but they’ll also be doing dates in Europe and the USA, meaning fans from around the world will see them perform hits from Wonderwall to Live Forever.

Ticket sales have been carefully controlled to avoid scalpers turning a profit, and fans have needed to sign up to even get a chance to try to buy a ticket. If you’re not successful bagging a ticket for a UK show, then you may be thinking of heading over to see Oasis in Europe. However, this means booking transport and accommodation.

Here’s a rundown of the costs of seeing Oasis in various cities. Prices are likely to rise closer to the time, especially as hotel rooms near the stadiums are likely to be snapped up.

UK dates and costs

If you’re lucky enough to snag Oasis tickets in the UK, the dates and costs for their UK tour are:

Glasgow – Celtic Park

May, 21, 23, 25, 28 and 29

Seated tickets from £71.50 – standing from £170.50

The tour kicks off in Glasgow at the Celtic Park stadium, which is in the east of the city. It’s well connected by public transport, so you might want to opt to stay in the city centre. The Moxy Glasgow Merchant City has rooms from £337 based on two sharing and is about a mile and a half from the stadium.

Manchester – Ethiad Stadium

June 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22, 25 and 26

Seats from £74.60 and standing from £173.60

Oasis will perform a string of dates in Manchester, and the city will have a huge influx of fans, so if you’re booking a hotel, you’ll need to do it as soon as possible. Hotel prices are already becoming dear. For example, on the June 2027 nights when Oasis are playing, the prices at Copthorne Hotel Manchester Salford Quays have hit £302 a night for two sharing, whereas visitors on nights without a gig pay as little as £92 for a room in this four-star property.

Knebworth – Knebworth House

September 11, 12, 18 and 19

General admission £170.50

Oasis’ return to Knebworth means this area of Hertfordshire will be very booked up. Your best bet is to get a coach bundle, as these will be available through Ticketmaster with routes across the UK. Knebworth House is a remote location, meaning staying in nearby towns with a bus connection may be wise. Hitchin has a Premier Inn, although at £349 on September 11, it’s a pricey option.

European tour dates and prices

Munich, Germany – Allianz Arena

July 2 and 3, 2027

Oasis will have two nights of shows in Munich next July, with seated tickets from €96.25 (£82.51) and standing from €165.25 (£141.68).

There are direct flights to Munich from London, Manchester, Glasgow, and several regional airports. Fly out on July 1 and come back July 4, and you’ll find flights on Lufthansa from London-Heathrow from £113 return.

The stadium is on the edge of Munich in an area called Fröttmaning. As you can imagine, hotel options are limited and already expensive for July dates. But it’s close to a Metro, so look for accommodation elsewhere in Munich that’s close to public transport, such as the ibis Hotel München Garching, which has rooms on July 2 from £218 a night and is just one stop away.

Barcelona, Spain – Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

July 10 and 11

Tickets to see Oasis in Barcelona start at €85 for seats and €204 for standing (£72.89 and £174.93 respectively). The Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys stadium, where the show takes place, is on the Montjuïc hill overlooking the city, making it a memorable location for major shows. You can even take the Montjuïc Funicular to the top to get to the show, although you’ll need to take a bus back as it stops running at 10pm.

Barcelona is, of course, packed with places to stay and the metro makes it easy to get around, so you don’t necessarily need to book somewhere next to the stadium. Stay at the Radisson Blu 1882 Hotel, Barcelona Sagrada Familia , available from £332 a night for two sharing, and you’ll be close to the major tourist attractions, so you can enjoy a city break too. If you’d rather stay closer, Mambo Tango is about a 20-minute walk away and has double rooms from £284.

Barcelona is served by several regional airports, and weekend flights from London Luton start at £89 return with Wizz Air.

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Johan Cruijff Arena

July 16 and 17

The next stop on the tour is Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff Arena, where tickets start at €84.15 for seats and €201.96 for standing (£72.15 and £173.16 respectively).

Again, the arena is on the outskirts of the city, and is found in the Zuidoost area. Just a short walk away is the Joy Hotel, which has budget double or twin rooms on the tour dates from £265 . However, the cheapest rooms don’t have a window, so don’t expect lovely views of Amsterdam.

There are lots of options for getting to the city and public transport is excellent. There are both a train and a metro station serving the arena. Eurostar offers London to Amsterdam tickets from £39 one-way, although they tend not to run at weekends, so you would need to travel down Friday and come back Monday. There are also lots of flight options from multiple airports, and even the London to Amsterdam overnight FlixBus, which starts at £44 in July. While nearly 12 hours on a coach is an endurance test, it does save you from needing to pay for a hotel that night.

Paris, France – Stade de France

July 23 and 24

Seated tickets for Oasis’ Paris shows start at €84.00 (£72), while standing options start at €199.50 (£171). However, these dates coincide with school summer holidays, so expect higher prices and demand not only from Oasis fans but also holidaying families.

The Paris leg of the tour will take place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, in the north of the city, and a metro line runs to the area. You can either opt to stay centrally, such as the boutique Chouchou Hotel, which has rooms from £325 a night and explore the city, or simply stay near the stadium. The Ibis Styles Paris Saint Denis La Plaine is about half a mile away, and has basic rooms from £350 a night for these July dates.

Eurostar is an excellent way to get to Paris. It arrives at Paris Gare Du Nord, and tickets currently start at £49 each way. There are also lots of flights to the sprawling Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle, about 40-minutes from the stadium, from airports across the UK.

Rome, Italy – Stadio Olimpico

July 29 and 30

Rome is another great option for Oasis fans, and the band will be playing in late July. However, it’s worth remembering that these are school holiday dates again, so travel is likely to be expensive and book quickly.

Seated tickets will start at €92.29 (£79.21), while standing will start at a whopping €221.49 (£190.09). There are some cheap flights available, such as Wizz Air, which offer a return from London Luton to Rome for around £131 for late July dates.

Stadio Olimpico is in the north of the city, and it’s served by metro and tram, which is useful as hotel options in the area are thin on the ground and expensive. Sweet Home Parioli is just over a mile away and has rooms from £180 a night based on two sharing, and offers simple accommodation that’s perfect for post-gig sleeps.

Slane Castle – Ireland

September 4 and 5

Before heading to Knebworth, Oasis will play two huge shows at Slane Castle, which is about 45 minutes north of Dublin. There will be a variety of bus services available to take visitors from the city to this rural castle for the gigs.

General admission tickets will be priced at €181.25 (£155.58) – and if you’re coming from the UK, there are lots of inexpensive flights available to Dublin. For example, Ryanair flights from Newcastle to Dublin for those dates are showing for £70 return, although there are often sales where you can buy flights more cheaply.

There will be a few pick-up and drop-off points for coaches across the region, so you might want to stay centrally in Dublin and spend some time exploring the city too. Four-star Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin has rooms from £350 a night for two sharing, or, for £61 each per night, you can opt for a bunk at the Gardiner House Hostel for a budget-friendly stay.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Barcelona’s sporting director Deco said the club has no interest in pursuing Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel.

Gabriel, 15, travelled to the Spanish city after informing United that he wanted to leave Old Trafford earlier this month.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain are among the clubs reportedly keen on securing his signature.

“There’s nothing to say about this boy,” Deco said at a news conference.

“It’s normal we always have players linked with us. There’s a huge market for that, even when they are young.

“We are not interested in any player in his situation. I’m not sure what’s happening, and if he’s still a Manchester United player. We are not involved in that.

“First of all, we need to understand how the situation is before we try to do something. To speak about young, teenage players, it is not our business.”

Gabriel has not trained at United since scoring a hat-trick on his Uefa Youth League debut on 10 September.

Tournament rules prevent him from playing for a side other than United in this season’s competition.

But if he obtains a European Union passport through either his father – a former Republic of Ireland international – or mother, who has Greek-Cypriot heritage, he could join a club in the EU when he turns 16 on 6 October.

Last week, United manager Michael Carrick urged for people to be “careful and sensible” about the amount of exposure and scrutiny given to the youngster.

Michael Carrick has struck a defiant tone after Manchester United equalled their worst start to a Premier League season, but a woeful 1-1 draw at Fulham left the beleaguered boss under mounting pressure.

Trailing to Lisandro Martinez’s farcical own goal, United were just moments away from a third successive defeat on another dispiriting afternoon for Carrick on Sunday.

Matheus Cunha’s deflected 89th-minute equaliser spared United from new humiliation.

But escaping with a barely deserved point against a winless side placed second-from-bottom of the Premier League was hardly cause for celebration.

With only one win so far this season, United have matched their lowest points total after five matches in the Premier League era.

Sitting in 12th place with five points, Carrick’s men equalled the mark set by Louis van Gaal’s United in 2014-15, when they went on to finish fourth.

The statistics are damning enough in their own right, but the eye test during their moribund performance at Craven Cottage provided an even more insightful look at what ails United.

Lacking a cutting edge in attack, bereft of defensive organisation and, in the words of Cunha, short of energy and drive until they fell behind, this was the kind of flawed display that has scarred so many United seasons since their last title in 2013.

Carrick was expected to build on last season’s climb to a third-place finish during his spell as interim boss.

But having hauled United from the wreckage of Ruben Amorim’s self-destructive reign, Carrick is in danger of losing his way in his first season as permanent boss.

A wretched 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull on the opening weekend set alarm bells ringing among the United faithful.

Beaten in the Manchester derby by an Erling Haaland goal that should have been disallowed last weekend, United then blew a two-goal lead at home for the first time in 50 years in a League Cup meltdown against Brighton.

‘Fine margins’

Already 10 points behind leaders City, Carrick’s team were so underwhelming against Fulham that even one of the manager’s former teammates took a swipe at United.

Commenting on the match for Sky Sports, ex-United defender Gary Neville was scathing in his assessment of their performance at the start of the second half.

“I’ve watched Man United since the age of five and that’s the worst 15 minutes I’ve ever seen. Absolutely pathetic,” Neville said.

The 51-year-old added: “I’ve never seen such a lack of effort. What must Carrick be thinking?”

Carrick does not have the confrontational personality of some of his United predecessors, but he tried his best to quiet the noise as he searched for reasons for optimism.

“It’s not been ideal. It was always going to come at some point, and it’s come at the start of the season,” he said.

“On the other side of it, at Everton, a 25-yard shot, top corner for their equaliser. The City goal that’s not a goal. Today, own goal, that’s one of them things.

“It’s pretty fine margins that have flipped it. I know we can do better; we need to do better at certain things.

“But I’m not despondent because I think we’ve shown some good signs as well.”

Carrick has three weeks to stew on United’s miserable start during an extended international break.

Questions about United’s transfer policy and fitness regime are growing louder.

‘We’ll get back to winning’

The 45-year-old must come up with answers before they return to action with a crucial clash against bottom-of-the-table Tottenham on October 10.

Losing to Roberto De Zerbi’s side would be a huge blow to Carrick’s hopes of turning the tide, especially with tricky trips to Atletico Madrid and Leeds looming after Tottenham visit Old Trafford.

But Carrick is putting his faith in United’s players absorbing the lessons from their painful start.

“You learn about each other, they learn about me, I learn about the individual and as a team, how we respond, what our reaction is,” he said.

“That’s part of growing as a group. You have to go through certain things to get to the end of it.”

Carrick said he had “mixed” reactions to the match but was focusing on the positives and bouncing back after this “first chapter”.

“There are parts we can do better. The way we responded to going down was really pleasing, the boys were really positive and played with good purpose,” Carrick said in a post-match interview.

“I’m convinced we’ll have a good season. We’re having a spell that feels bigger than it actually is to the outside. We’ll get back to winning football matches and we’ll be all right.”

Man United have won only one league game this season, leaving Michael Carrick under pressure ahead of Fulham trip.

Who: Fulham vs Manchester United
What: English Premier League
Where: Craven Cottage, London in United Kingdom
When: Sunday, September 20, at 4:30pm (15:30 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up to our live text commentary stream from 12:30 GMT.

One month into the new ‌Premier League season, excuses about bedding-in processes and newly assembled squads needing time to gel are wearing thin and for Manchester United ⁠there is an acute sense ⁠of urgency as the international break looms.

United are by no means the only ‘big club’ enduring a faltering start to the campaign but after so much pre-season optimism, the spotlight has fallen very much on manager Michael Carrick ahead of ⁠Sunday’s trip to Fulham.

Al Jazeera takes a closer look at the game:

How have Manchester United started the new season?

United have ⁠lost three of their six matches in all competitions and suffered a damaging League Cup exit on Wednesday, surrendering a 2-0 ⁠lead to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Their only win in four league games came at home to promoted Ipswich Town.

United started the better in the VAR-dominated Manchester derby last Sunday, but played second fiddle to the away team after City were reduced to ten men.

How have Fulham started the new season?

The London club have made a slow start under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa and are yet to win in the league.

A draw at Liverpool last week and a League Cup win at West Ham United in midweek offered glimpses of better things to come.

What has Carrick said about United’s start to the season?

Carrick accepted responsibility for the team’s poor start but said the focus must remain on finding ⁠solutions rather than assigning blame.

“It’s my responsibility and I’m fine with that. It’s not a blame ⁠game. Blame me, no problem, but it’s ⁠not about blaming people,” said the 45-year-old boss.

“It’s about finding solutions. It’s a whole collective thing. It’s about what you focus on. I know where we want to get to ‌and we want to get there fast.”

What happened the last time Fulham played Man Utd?

United won 3-2 in their last meeting which came in the Premier League at Old Trafford on February 1.

Casemiro and Matheus Cunha put United two up before a chaotic finale that saw Raul Jiminez net an 85th minute penalty for the Londoners before Benjamin Sesko and Kevin traded injury time strikes.

What happened between Fulham and Man Utd at Craven Cottage last season?

The teams shared a 1-1 draw in the Premier League match. Emile Smith Rowe’s 73rd minute goal levelled matters after Rodrigo Muniz put through his own net in the 58th minute.

When did Fulham last beat Manchester United?

Fulham won 2-1 at Old Trafford in the Premier League on February 24, 2024. Harry Maguire appeared to have sealed a point for United in the 90th minute when he cancelled out Calvin Bassey’s 65th minute goal, but Alex Iwobi got Fulham’s winner in injury time.

United have won three of the five meetings since then.

When did Fulham last beat Man Utd at Craven Cottage?

Fulham have not recorded a home win against United since December 2009. Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff sealing a 3-0 home win.

Of the 10 matches since then, United have won nine, scoring 21 and conceding six.

Prediction: Fulham vs Manchester United

Opta’s supercomputer has given Manchester United a 47.4 percent chance of winning, while offering Fulham only a 28.3 percent chance of victory.

Head-to-head: Fulham vs Manchester United

This will be their 94th meeting, with Manchester United winning 59 of the encounters and Fulham 14.

Fulham team news

Kenny Tete misses out due to concussion at Anfield last week.

Tom Cairney is also absent with a knee injury, but Ryan Sessegnon will have a late fitness test as he returns from a groin problem.

Predicted Fulham lineup

Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Garcia

Manchester United team news

United will make a late decision on whether to include Luke Shaw and Carlos ‌Baleba ‌in the squad. Both have had ankle problems, but could feature.

Manuel Ugarte, Tom Heaton, Matthijs de Ligt and Amad Diallo all remain sidelined with injuries.

Predicted Manchester United lineup

Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Michael Carrick says he expected tough season start as he rebuffs questions about his role as Manchester United manager.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick said he expected to have to ride out a storm at some point this season after a dreadful start to the current campaign.

Carrick was appointed on a permanent basis after his successful temporary spell at the end of last season secured third place in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League.

But United have taken just four points from their opening four league games this season and were dumped out of the League Cup in a 3-2 defeat by Brighton in midweek after blowing a two-goal lead at Old Trafford for the first time in 50 years.

“In terms of the future and ownership and how long I’ve got, it’s totally nothing. Thinking about it is ridiculous in the position I’m in. It’s ⁠just not on the radar. We’ve got to ⁠perform and we’ve got a lot of games to plan for,” Carrick said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham.

“History tells you that any team that’s successful goes through periods when you have to work through it, come through it and improve.

“We’ve had a small period, in recent time, when it hasn’t been exactly what we want it to be.

“I was expecting a point when we would go through it, it was going to come. We had such a good spell last season, going into this season.”

Former United and England midfielder Carrick also has reason to bemoan his side’s luck in recent weeks.

United received a swift apology from referees’ chiefs after Erling Haaland’s winning goal for Manchester City last weekend was wrongly awarded because the VAR officials did not spot an offside against Enzo Fernandez in the build-up.

Carrick’s men were also heading for three points at Everton last Sunday before until Toffees defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced a stunning strike into the top corner from long range.

“It is a week or two, the games haven’t gone our way,” added Carrick. “It’s tiny margins in some of those games. We will work through it. Winning games is always the answer, it can cover up a lot of things at times as well.

“Sometimes it’s the small disappointments that lead to something a bit bigger. It’s part of coping and being at this great football club.”

United could be boosted by the return of Luke Shaw from injury for the visit to Craven Cottage.

Carlos Baleba is also in contention to make his first appearance since a 70 million pound ($94m) move from Brighton.

Howard Webb says the referees’ body is disappointed with the decision to allow Haaland’s goal against Manchester United.

Pro Ref chief Howard Webb said “tunnel vision” led video assistant referee (VAR) officials to wrongly award Erling Haaland’s goal in Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Haaland’s second-half strike was initially ruled out for offside before being allowed to stand following a VAR review that concluded the Manchester City forward was onside.

Pro Ref, the body responsible for refereeing in English professional football, later acknowledged the goal should not have been awarded because VAR failed to properly assess the involvement of teammate Enzo Fernandez, who attempted to play the ball from an offside position.

“I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are. None more so than the officials themselves,” Webb, Pro Ref’s chief refereeing officer, said on Match Officials Mic’d Up on Sky Sports and TNT Sports.

“They take a lot of personal pride in what they do, and they’re obviously hurting now having fallen short in this situation.”

VAR is a refereeing support tool designed to enable the checking, reviewing and correction of clear and obvious errors during a match, according to FIFA. It was intended to be a combination of human expertise and technological accuracy, but has instead become a sour topic in football circles.

Current and former United players, including club legend Wayne Rooney, labelled the use of VAR “horrendous”, while football experts told Al Jazeera the technology has become “far too dominant” in decision-making.

Webb confirmed that VAR officials Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus would not officiate again until after the international break.

“We’ve reached out to Manchester United and acknowledged the error, as we do when these things happen,” Webb said.

Explaining the decision-making process, Webb said the semi-automated offside system quickly established that Haaland was onside, but the VAR became overly focused on the striker’s position and failed to fully consider Fernandez’s influence on the play.

“But of course, when he then runs it back through the full APP, he doesn’t truly evaluate the full impact of Fernandez’s position,” Webb said.

“He has a look to see if he touches the ball, because then that relates to potentially knocking it to Haaland, who goes on to score. He doesn’t touch the ball, but he doesn’t truly evaluate other elements of offside. In that moment, he gets tunnel vision.”

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick criticised the decision after his side’s 1-0 home defeat, their second loss in four Premier League matches this season.

United next host Brighton in the League Cup on Wednesday before travelling to Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.

JJ Gabriel is already the youngest person to play for Manchester United’s Under-18 team.

He is also the youngest person to play in an unofficial game with United’s first team.

The 15-year-old striker appeared set to become the youngest person to play in an official game with United’s first team. The club plays Brighton in an English League Cup game Wednesday.

But seems unlikely to happen at this point — not after Gabriel has requested to be let out of his youth registration with the club immediately to become a free agent. Gabriel is under contract with United until the end of the current season in May.

United remains hopeful it can retain the young star, a person with knowledge of the situation but unauthorized to comment told the Associated Press.

According to the BBC, Gabriel did not train with the team late last week “amid issues in the relationship between the player’s family and United.” The publication also states that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox “are directly involved in discussions with the player’s family, which underlines how seriously the club [regards] the situation.”

If United declines Gabriel’s request, the matter could ultimately be decided by the Premier League.

Gabriel’s father, Joe O’Cearuill, was a defender who played for Arsenal, mainly in the lower leagues, and briefly for Ireland’s national team.

Born in London on Oct. 6, 2010, Gabriel first gained wide attention — and the nickname “Kid Messi,” after global soccer legend Lionel Messi — as an 8-year-old youth player showing his skills in a YouTube video posted by SV2 in 2019. It has been viewed more than 5 million times.

After playing for youth academies such as Arsenal, West Ham United and Chelsea, Gabriel signed with Manchester United at age 11. He was 14 years, 6 months and 1 day old when he scored two goals in his U-18 debut, a 13-1 victory against Leeds on April 5, 2025.

Gabriel went on to score 20 goals in only 21 appearances and was named the U-18 Premier League player of the year. He also became the youngest player to be named Manchester United’s academy player of the year. Making his UEFA Youth League debut last week, Gabriel netted a hat trick during a 5-0 victory over Sabah.

On Aug. 1, Gabriel made his first appearance with United’s first team, playing eight minutes during a preseason game against Atlético Madrid. He was 15 years, 9 months and 26 days old. The youngest Manchester United first-team player in an official game is David Gaskell, who was 16 years and 19 days old when he first appeared for the club on Oct. 24, 1956.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LONDON: Referees’ chief Howard Webb said he was “really disappointed” with the VAR mistake that allowed Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby last weekend.

Haaland scored in the second half of City’s victory against archrivals United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Haaland’s close-range finish from Josko Gvardiol’s cross was initially disallowed for offside, but VAR official Matt Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus overturned the decision.

Donohue ruled City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was not interfering with play when he tried to reach the ball before it was finished off by Haaland.

City went on to win 1-0, but the result was overshadowed by the controversy involving the decisive goal.

United manager Michael Carrick said he was “staggered” by the decision because Fernandez blocked Lisandro Martinez’s attempt to clear and potentially distracted goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Donohue and Antrobus have been stood down by the Pro Ref organisation for this weekend’s Premier League matches.

Webb, the chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, said on the ‘Match Officials: Mic’d Up’ programme on Tuesday: “I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are. None more so than the officials themselves.

“They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they’re obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation.

“They’ll not be officiating again until after the international break. We’ve reached out to Manchester United and acknowledged the error, as we do when these things happen.”

Asked how the VAR officials had come to the conclusion that Fernandez was not interfering with play, Webb said: “In that moment, he (Donohue) gets tunnel vision.

“He gets focused on Haaland, and it’s down to the rest of his team to pull him out of that tunnel, and unfortunately, that didn’t happen on this occasion.

“This goal should have been disallowed. We’ll review it, reflect upon it, and try to take the learning forward to prevent this unusual type of error from happening again.”

AirBaltic, the national airline of Latvia, has filed fo Chatper 11 protection in New York. The airline currently operates direct services between London Gatwick and Riga, as well as twice-weekly seasonal Aberdeen to Riga service

AirBaltic has filed for bankruptcy, casting the airline’s future in serious doubt.

Latvia’s national airline filed for Chapter 11 protection in New York on 14 September as it seeks to restructure its debts.

AirBaltic currently operates direct services between London Gatwick and Riga, as well as twice-weekly seasonal Aberdeen to Riga service. These serve approximately 4,144 passengers each week, according to AirAdvisor.

Earlier this year, the airline announced it would launch flights from the UK to Lapland in December, offering five new routes to Kuusamo in Finnish Lapland from European airports, including services from London Gatwick and Manchester.

The airline plans to reduce its fleet from 54 aircraft to 36 by the end of 2026, while some staff members may also lose their jobs. CEO Erno Hilden has said that consultations are underway regarding workforce reductions, although no figure has been decided.

AirBaltic has faced a number of financial challenges since it took a €30 million (£26 million) state loan in April 2026, the company said in a statement, “including increased fuel costs arising from the crisis in the Middle East.”

Supervisory board chairman Andrejs Martinovs said in a written statement: “We have carefully assessed the restructuring options available to the company, with one priority in focus – to give airBaltic the best possible basis to continue operating and to build a sustainable financial structure. Under court supervision and with protection from creditor claims, this process provides a clear framework and timetable for reaching agreements with creditors, including aircraft lessors and other stakeholders. At the same time, it allows the company to continue operating.”

What does this mean for passengers?

If you have a flight booked with airBaltic, you shouldn’t panic. Passengers should not interpret the word ‘bankruptcy’ as meaning the airline has stopped flying and cancel valid bookings themselves – it has not cancelled any flights.

The airline has a commitment for €350 million (£300 million) in financing, subject to court approval, and insists that scheduled flights, bookings and customer services are continuing normally.

AirBaltic said flights would operate as scheduled during the court-supervised process, which it expects to finish by June next year.

Flights departing the UK fall under UK261. Riga to UK services are protected under EU passenger-rights rules because they depart from an EU airport. In either direction, a cancellation would normally allow passengers to choose between reimbursement and rerouting.

Anton Radchenko, Aviation Expert and CEO of AirAdvisor , said: “Chapter 11 is designed to give a company space to keep operating while it restructures, so I would not cancel a valid airBaltic booking when the airline is still flying and says the ticket remains valid. Cancelling voluntarily could leave the passenger subject to the ticket’s normal restrictions, whereas waiting for the airline’s decision preserves their statutory rights if the service is later changed or cancelled.

“I would use this moment to identify exactly what protects the booking. A direct flight is not usually ATOL protected, airline-failure insurance is not standard, and the practical fallback may depend on whether the passenger booked a genuine package, paid directly by credit card or can make a chargeback claim.

If airBaltic cancels while continuing to operate, passengers should request a refund or rerouting and the necessary care rather than accepting whichever option is presented first. Fixed compensation may also apply depending on the notice and reason, but if an airline ceases trading completely, possessing a legal claim does not guarantee immediate repayment, which is why the financial protection behind the booking matters.”

Erling Haaland’s goal for Man City should not have been overturned by VAR in derby at United, admits referee body.

Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) admitted on Sunday that the decision to allow Erling Haaland’s winner in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United was an “error of judgment”.

With City down to 10 men after Phil Foden’s dismissal for kicking Bruno Fernandes, Haaland netted on the hour mark with a close-range finish from Josko Gvardiol’s cross.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside against Haaland, but VAR eventually overturned that decision, even though City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and attempted to reach the ball before the Norwegian forward.

Fernandez did not touch the ball, so the goal was given, allowing Haaland to celebrate his ninth league strike in Manchester derbies.

Premier League Match Centre posted on social media after the goal to say the VAR “determined that Haaland was in an onside position” and “deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball”.

However, Pro Ref later on Sunday said the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact” of the Argentine midfielder’s position and “should have recommended an on-field review”.

“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgment. A review of the incident will take place,” the statement added.

After the match, United manager Michael Carrick said it was “worrying” that a team of officials had come to the conclusion that Haaland’s goal should stand.

Lisandro Martinez was the United defender at the centre of the controversy.

The Argentine said he was clearly impacted by the presence of his international teammate Fernandez and branded the City goal an “injustice”.

“I went to him because he was in front of me. That’s why Haaland was free at the back,” Martinez told Sky Sports.

“Five or six people [officials] doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable.

“We have to go home with this injustice.”

Senne Lammens: Not as busy as he might have expected to be. Absolutely vital save from Fernandez to prevent City second. 7

Diogo Dalot: If only he had been able to control Bruno Fernandes’ chipped pass into the penalty area he might have marked his 250th Manchester United appearance with a rare goal. Didn’t look down the line to see he was clearly offside as United pressed just before half-time. Screwed shot wide after break. 4

Harry Maguire: Decent performance from veteran central defender and not far away from an equaliser with late header. Needless push on Enzo Fernandez in the box, for which he was booked. 6

Lisandro Martinez: Didn’t dive in when Bruno Fernandes played a pass towards his own goal straight to Erling Haaland and won the ball from the Norwegian. Decent effort 7

Patrick Dorgu: Replaced Luke Shaw at left back in the starting 11 and did OK but doesn’t have the same link with Rashford. Attempted block proved so crucial to City’s opener. 6

Kobbie Mainoo: Another assured display in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel. Came close to giving his side the lead just after half-time and was home side’s most effective midfielder. 8

Youri Tielemans (off 66, Sesko): Best performance of the season so far but yet to make the standout contribution expected. 7

Bryan Mbeumo: Probably United’s most-effective attacking player. Header just wide before injury-time effort saved. 8

Bruno Fernandes: Fortunate to get away with no sanction at all over the incident that led to Foden’s dismissal. Not one of his better efforts 6

Marcus Rashford (off 83, Zirkzee): Curling long-range free-kick against the post with Donnarumma beaten and shot into side-netting but still waiting for first goal since his return. 6

Matheus Cunha: Preferred to Benjamin Sesko in starting line-up and dragged early shot wide. Got involved on plenty of occasions, but again by dropping deep. Off target with a second-half opportunity. 7

Subs:

Benjamin Sesko (on 66, Tielemans): Brought on to make an impact and tried his luck from distance soon afterwards. 6

Joshua Zirkzee (on 83, Rashford) 6

Subs not used: Darlow, Mazraoui, Mount, Yoro, Santos, Heaven, Lacey.

A MUCH-LOVED family experience that’s one of the world’s largest truck shows will be returning to the UK in just months.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is returning to the UK in early 2027 – and this time with a new feature.

The show will tour four cities across the UK – Glasgow, London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Yes, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live won the Pollstar Family Show of the Year award this year, in the prestigious awards by Pollstar magazine —which reports on global live entertainment and concert industry

Fans can expect “huge trucks, jaw-dropping stunts and an arena transformed by explosions of colour”, according to Family Entertainment Live and Mattel.

The show, called Colour Bash, will have paint splattered trucks that perform different stunts including wheelies, jumps, donuts and even crashes.

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The show begins with one of the trucks, Skelesaurus, taking all the colour away from Monster Truck Island.

Then Rhinomite, Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Bone Shaker and Bigfoot have to fight to win back the island and all its colour.

The big twist this year though is that they will be joined by a new truck ally, who will be revealed this autumn.

There will be FMX bikes flying across the arena and a fire-breathing robot as well.

The UK tour dates are as follows:

• The O2, London – January 9 & 10
• OVO Hydro, Glasgow – January 23 & 24
• Utilita Arena, Birmingham – April 10 & 11
• AO Arena, Manchester – April 17 & 18

The shows will have both matinee and evening performances and fans can also book VIP packages and pre-show party packages that allow you to get up close to the trucks.

Tickets go on sale on September 18 at 10am, with prices starting from £25 per person.

And there is a discount available for kids under the age of 13.

Ken Hudgens, CEO, Family Entertainment Live said: “Colour Bash is the most vibrant Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live experience we’ve ever created.

“We took everything fans love about the show — the massive trucks, the jaw-dropping stunts, the can’t-look-away energy — and supercharged it with colour.

“It’s a brand-new way to experience the action live, and we can’t wait to bring it to families in the UK in 2027.”

MANCHESTER, England: Pep Guardiola’s departure was expected to shift the balance of power in Manchester.

The early signs suggest otherwise.

For the first time in 10 years on Sunday, Manchester United goes into the derby against a Manchester City no longer guided by the genius of Guardiola.

Yet, if City wins at Old Trafford, the team of new manager Enzo Maresca would open a 12-point lead on United only four rounds into the Premier League.

Even this early in the campaign that would be a huge gap for United to make up.

While City is still getting used to change at the top after a decade of Guardiola, United has endured a carousel of managers at the same time in a desperate bid to return it to former glories.

Michael Carrick is the seventh permanent manager since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013.

United fans will hope Guardiola’s exit will prove as profound as Ferguson’s. United has not won the Premier League since Ferguson’s final season in charge.

In theory, Guardiola’s exit has removed the biggest barrier standing in the way of United’s route back to the top following his dominance of English soccer. Though he left without the title in his last two seasons, his run of six league crowns in seven years underlined City’s supremacy for the majority of his time at the club.

It would be asking a lot for Maresca — or anyone else for that matter — to emulate that level of success. Maresca, however, could not have made a better start to the season after a 100% winning record in the league and victory in City’s opening Champions League game this week.

Erling Haaland also looks at the top of his game with five goals in his last three appearances.

It’s been a different story for United after its resurgence under Carrick in the second half of last season led to a third place finish.

The opening day defeat to newly promoted Hull was an early blow. There was a win against another newcomer in Ipswich but a 2-2 draw at Everton after leading twice.

It is the type of inconsistency that has hindered United throughout the post-Ferguson years and something Carrick will need to quickly stamp out.

He has recent good memories of the derby. His first match in charge when appointed as Ruben Amorim’s replacement was a 2-0 win against City in Guardiola’s final Manchester derby.

Key matchups

The Manchester derby is the big one of the weekend, with pressure on United to get the season going, while it would be a first statement win for Maresca at City. Defending champion Arsenal is at Sunderland on Saturday.

Players to watch

Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard is in outstanding form with four goals in five games in all competitions. Haaland also has five goals and looks unstoppable.

Out of action

Cody Gakpo missed Liverpool’s game against Atletico Madrid because of an adductor issue. Bradley Barcola limped out of that match after appearing to hurt his calf, but coach Andoni Iraola said it was cramp.

Off the field

Manchester United fans plan to stage a protest ahead of the derby in opposition to a clampdown by the club on ticket touting.

The 1958 supporters group claims “loyal, generational” fans are being sanctioned or banned “without, clear and compelling evidence.”

United says its investigation has “uncovered significant and organized touting”.

LONDON — More than 400 flights were canceled Tuesday due to a technical issue in Britain’s air traffic control system, reported the flight monitoring website Flightradar24.

Britain’s National Air Traffic Services said a problem had been identified in its flight processing system and engineers were urgently working on the issue, which affected flights across the U.K.

In an update, it said it had “implemented a fix and our flight system is starting to recover.”

About 425 flights to and from U.K. airports, including Heathrow, were canceled, affecting services operated by multiple airlines including British Airways, EasyJet, KLM and Lufthansa.

The affected airports, which also included Stansted and City in London, as well as airports in Manchester, Birmingham and Scotland, said the technical issue caused disruptions. They warned passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline.

Budget airline EasyJet said some of its flights were “unable to operate” and that the system failure caused “delays to flights across Europe.”

Some passengers took to social media to complain about being stuck on the tarmac for hours. Many expressed frustration about a lack of communication from airlines.

Heathrow’s website showed that many short-haul flights departing for European destinations had been canceled or delayed.

Arriving flights did not appear to be affected. It was not immediately clear what caused the technical problem.

Who: Everton vs Manchester United
What: English Premier League
Where: Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, August 6, at 2pm (13:00 GMT).
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up from 10:00 GMT ahead of our live coverage.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said he is delighted with the additions to his squad despite being outspent by Premier League rivals in the transfer window and short on depth in some areas.

United put their efforts into rebuilding Carrick’s midfield, with Casemiro’s exit and a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte offset by the acquisitions of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba for a combined 155 million pounds ($210m).

The Red Devils’ fiercest rivals spent almost that budget on a single player as Manchester City broke the British transfer record for Enzo Fernandez, while Liverpool splashed up to 123 million pounds ($166m) on French winger Bradley Barcola.

Despite returning to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons, Carrick hinted at having to work within financial restrictions.

“We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group that we had last season. We’ve definitely added to that,” Carrick told a pre-match media conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton.

“I think we’ve done a lot of good work in that respect and the situation is what it is in terms of finances and what we can work with and what we’re trying to get the most of.

“Certainly, the players that we’ve brought into the group I’m absolutely delighted with and I think we’ve done some really good business there.”

What areas of doubt remain for Manchester United?

United look particularly short in defence with the injury-prone Luke Shaw their only senior option at left-back.

“What squad ever is the perfect squad? You’ve always got to find ways of adapting,” Carrick added.

“When you’re building and trying to push to go through a period where we’re trying to get to the top – that’s the ultimate goal – you’ve got to make steps.”

Joshua Zirkzee was among those expected to leave Old Trafford to boost the funds available to Carrick.

Despite interest from Fiorentina and Juventus and a deadline-day approach from Everton, the Netherlands international remains at United, despite limited game time over the past two seasons.

“He wants to play more than he has done and that’s the good competition and healthy competition for places,” said Carrick.

“Josh can do some really, really top things. I’ve seen it myself, and I know he can do that and looking forward to him doing that a little bit more often for us.”

How have Manchester United started the Premier League season?

After a dreadful 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull on the opening weekend of the season, United bounced back to thrash Ipswich 5-2 thanks to a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick last time out.

Moyes laments Everton’s squad after frustrating transfer window

Everton boss David Moyes conceded ‌he is left with a small squad after a disappointing transfer window in ⁠which key players departed ⁠and a deadline day medical fell through as they tried to sign American striker Folarin Balogun.

Moyes expressed frustration at his club’s close-season business, ⁠revealing they did not want to lose Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye but were powerless when bigger teams like Manchester City look to sign their players.

“Disappointed we didn’t do more business ⁠and disappointed things didn’t go our way in the end. Sometimes in football you have to live with disappointment and we will move on,” Moyes told reporters on Friday.

“I know what I needed and I know what it’s like to build a squad for the Premier League, I know ‌the numbers you need. I’ve been around long enough to know that, but some things went against us and some things could have gone better.

“Ultimately, we didn’t want to lose a lot of the players, but for different reasons that had to happen.”

AS Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro said Everton raised concerns over Balogun’s medical late on deadline day and that the US international pulled out because he was uncomfortable with the doubts ⁠raised by the Merseyside club over his health.

“It wasn’t anybody’s fault. ⁠It happens in football a lot,” Moyes said.

“The player had a problem in his medical and that was simply it. There’s no other story behind it.”

Everton face fans backlash over transfer window business

Everton’s Fans’ Forum also criticised the club’s planning and recruitment after the transfer ⁠window closed, saying supporters deserved answers after another window marked by late activity and a failed pursuit of key targets.

With a thin ⁠squad, Moyes said Everton’s academy players would have to step ⁠up but was unsure if they could fill the gaps.

“Are they ready to make the step up? I’m not sure about that. We will see how that goes, some of them might be pushed in,” Moyes said.

“They’re all ‌going to have to be able to muck in as we’ve got a real small squad now,” he added.

“It gives opportunities to some people who have not had them and sometimes ‌in ‌football you need to be given that chance so that you can show what you can do. Let’s see if some of them can do that.”

What happened the last time Everton faced Manchester United?

Manchester United were 1-0 winners in the last meeting of the sides, which came in a Premier League fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium in February.

Benjamin Sesko scored the only goal after 71 minutes.

When did Everton last beat Manchester United?

Everton won 1-0 in the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford last season – despite being reduced to ten men early on.

Idrissa Gueye was sent off in the 14th minute, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall came up with what would be the winner on the halfway mark.

Prediction – Everton vs Manchester United

The Opta supercomputer is giving Everton a 38.3 percent chance of winning, while offering United only a 33.3 percent chance of claiming the spoils.

Head-to-head – Everton vs Manchester United

This will be their 216th meeting with United winning 97 times and Everton 69.

The first meeting came in 1892 with Everton winning the English top flight encounter 6-0. The Toffees hit 10 against United that season as they completed the double with a 4-3 away win.

Everton team news

Jack Grealish is set to come straight into the matchday squad following his transfer deadline day loan from Manchester City.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles could also appear following the September 1 move for the ex-Arsenal defender. Christian Norgaard, another former Gunner, misses out with a knock.

Everton predicted starting lineup

Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry

Manchester United team news

Carlos Baleba’s ankle continues to prevent his United debut. Manuel Ugarte, Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt are all injured.

Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Tom Heaton all face late fitness tests.

Manchester United predicted starting lineup

Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha

Manchester City have signed England goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse on a short-term loan from Orlando Pride.

The 31-year-old will join the Women’s Super League champions until January, subject to international clearance.

Moorhouse has established herself in the National Women’s Soccer League after joining Orlando Pride from French side Bordeaux in January 2022.

She helped them win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in 2024 and earned herself a call-up to the England squad that year.

Oldham-born Moorhouse, who has two England caps and was part of the Lionesses squad that won Euro 2025, counts Arsenal and West Ham among her former clubs.

Carlos Queiroz has been reappointed as head coach of Ghana’s men’s national team.

The 73-year-old, who had two spells as assistant manager at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, took charge of the Black Stars in April and led the side to the last 32 at this year’s Fifa World Cup, where they were beaten 1-0 by Colombia.

Queiroz appeared to announce his own departure on social media shortly after that defeat, but the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has decided to re-engage him for another spell in charge following internal discussions.

The GFA has not announced the length of his new deal but said he will prepare the team for “a successful new phase on the international stage”.

“The GFA believes Queiroz’s extensive international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars position him strongly to lead the team into this next chapter,” a statement added.

Queiroz has previously led Iran, Portugal and Egypt at major tournaments and has had stints in charge of South Africa, Colombia and Qatar.

Further details on his mandate will be announced by the GFA in due course.

Queiroz will begin his second spell in charge of the West Africans with qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which begin later this month.

The Black Stars are yet to announce the dates and venues for their first two fixtures in Group C, where they have been drawn alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia.