Browsing: action

1

Sturdy defence puts Gunners on top

“One-nil to the Arsenal†may not be thrilling but it is certainly effective. Sundayâ€s victory over Crystal Palace was Mikel Artetaâ€s sideâ€s third by that margin in nine Premier League games. Last season, Arsenal managed that result five times in the league, while also drawing 1-1 in seven matches. Clean sheets in just half of those might have made for an intriguing title race. For all the noise surrounding Arsenalâ€s attacking talent, their defence is just as vital. It is their solidity at that end of the pitch that will probably lead them to glory, with three goals conceded in nine top-flight games so far. Sunday also marked a century of games across all competitions since they have conceded more than twice. The last to put three past David Raya? Luton – remember them? – back in December 2023. Sam Dalling

David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães congratulate each other after Arsenalâ€s latest clean sheet. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

2

Elliott must wait for a chance

Aston Villa earned a statement victory against Manchester City to make it four straight top-flight wins but Harvey Elliott, who joined from Liverpool last month in search of game time, was a high profile absentee. Unai Emery explained Elliottâ€s performances across a total of 167 minutes in a Villa shirt simply did not warrant a place in the matchday squad, particularly given the return to form of Morgan Rogers and the rebirth of Emiliano Buendía, who was forced off against City approaching the half-hour and left Villa Park on crutches. Elliott was withdrawn at half-time on his sole league start for Villa, against his former club Fulham last month, and last featured as a 86th-minute substitute at Feyenoord at the start of October. Elliott left Anfield in search of regular minutes but has found them hard to come by. “I spoke with him about it,†Emery said. “My advice was: keep going. He is a very good player. Our demands are on a high level. He needs time to work and wait for his moment.†Ben Fisher

3

Kayode offers more than long throws

The temptation with a player such as Michael Kayode is to overprioritise the aspect of the game at which he is exceptional, which is to say his long throws. But even without the prodigious distance he can hurl a ball, the 21-year-old Italian is an extremely promising full-back. He has the physicality and energy of the modern defender and, while it may be more chaotic than graceful, his dribbling style is effective. Again and again against Liverpool, his forward surges carried Brentford out of trouble and created opportunities. Sometimes he ended up on the left and never seemed entirely comfortable shooting with his left foot, but Kayode did play two important passes, two-thirds of his crosses found a Brentford player and he ended up with a passing accuracy of 87%. He has started every league game, allowing Kristoffer Ajer to move to the left, with Keane Lewis-Potter becoming an option off the bench. Jonathan Wilson

4

Mbeumo and Cunha clicking for United

After Bryan Mbeumoâ€s double took Manchester United to a third consecutive Premier League win on Saturday night, the forward said he was aiming to emulate last seasonâ€s 20 league goals for Brentford – or do even better. “I try to not set limits on myself, on what I can reach. Iâ€m just going to work and try to do as best as possible,†said the Cameroon international, who has four goals in nine league appearances, and five in 10 in all competitions for United. Matheus Cunhaâ€s fine opener from distance against Brighton was the Brazilianâ€s first goal, 10 games in for Ruben Amorimâ€s team, easing pressure on him. “I think he took some off his shoulders today,†Mbeumo said. “He was waiting for it. We were waiting for it for him as well. So we are very happy for him.†Jamie Jackson

5

Van de Ven steps up for Spurs

Without the services of the injured captain, Cristian Romero, among others, there were concerns from Tottenham fans that they might lose their undefeated road record at Everton. They need not have worried as the Dutch giant Micky van de Ven stepped into the Romero-shaped void and more than filled it. Van de Ven was handed the captainâ€s armband at Hill Dickinson Stadium and the 6ft 4in defender responded by muscling in two headers from set plays to take his tally to five goals in all competitions. Perhaps concerningly, he is now out on his own as Tottenhamâ€s top scorer this season. Van de Ven was also required to show the kind of basic defensive instincts that Spurs lacked under Ange Postecoglou. As part of a back line that made 53 clearances, Van de Ven excelled. Playing on the road suits Thomas Frankâ€s team. They do not need to make the running, can sit in defensively and fall back on set pieces for their threat. At home against Chelsea on Saturday, Spurs and Van de Ven will need to show their more expansive side, especially if Romero is still absent. Tom Bassam

Tottenhamâ€s Micky van de Ven scores the first of his two goals at Everton. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

6

Chelsea feel Palmerâ€s absence in defeat

This was the first time Chelsea have properly felt the absence of Cole Palmer this season. They have mostly coped well during the playmakerâ€s absence with a persistent groin problem but they needed his ingenuity during their 2-1 home defeat against Sunderland. João Pedro, operating in Palmerâ€s No 10 position, was poor and has been out of form for a while, while Enzo Marescaâ€s wide players were largely blunt and predictable. “We didnâ€t create a lot,†said the Chelsea manager, who continues to encounter problems against teams who set up with low blocks. The hosts did not move the ball with enough speed and they ran out of ideas long before the end, and Sunderlandâ€s stoppage-time winner. The concern with Maresca is that his football sometimes becomes rigid and formulaic. Palmer has the imagination to open up stubborn defences by altering angles and doing the unexpected. He was missed on Saturday; Chelsea are eagerly awaiting his return. Jacob Steinberg

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7

Adams hitting the heights for Iraola

Tyler Adams had been a slow burner for Bournemouth but in the past 12 months, since recovering from back surgery, the American has become vital for Andoni Iraola. His energy in midfield was a leading reason for Nottingham Forest finding space so tight, and it was his robbing of Elliot Anderson that led to Junior Kroupi scoring the second, clinching goal. Alongside him, Alex Scott was given free hand to add his loose-limbed creativity to attack. Where last season, Iraola was often down to bare bones, at one point capable of fielding only 12 senior players, he now has options for the battles ahead. Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook, previous constants, were kept in reserve. “I have to take even more difficult decisions,†said a manager granted the novel luxury of choice – “internal competitionâ€, as he termed it. On current form, his performance against Forest the latest demonstration of his box-to-box capabilities, Adams appears to be an easy selection. John Brewin

8

Win on the road boosts Clarets†hopes

Now five points clear of the bottom three, Burnley picked up their first away win this season at Molineux. For a side that set a second-tier record on the road last season with 49 points and 14 wins, fans might have hoped it would not take the Clarets this long to secure points away from Turf Moor in the top flight. That being said, Scott Parkerâ€s side conceded 16 goals in 46 games last season; they have leaked one more so far this season in 37 fewer matches. Such is the difference in level between the two divisions, but that does not have to be a negative for Burnley. Three important points, taken right at the death after losing a two-goal lead, adds to the tally and puts them in 16th – eight points above their winless opponents. Peter Lansley

9

Shirt-pulling is still going unchecked

At the start of this season, there was a big song and dance about referees supposedly clamping down on holding and shirt-pulling. The clocks have only just gone back but that initiative seems to have gone the way of the late summer sun. Anyone seeking confirmation of this only needed to be at St James†Park on Saturday to see Nick Woltemadeâ€s shirt tugged so hard, and so persistently, by Fulhamâ€s Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey that the only surprise was the fabric did not tear. The Newcastle centre-forwardâ€s gangly 6ft 6in frame – allied to his preference for wearing slightly oversized tops – dictates there is plenty of shirt for his markers to pull, but surely referees should be offering Woltemade more protection? The Germanâ€s technical skills are a joy to watch and he should have been afforded more freedom to express them on a day when Bruno Guimarãesâ€s 90th-minute goal secured Eddie Howeâ€s side a much needed win, and consigned Fulham to a fourth straight defeat. Louise Taylor

10

Calvert-Lewin proving an asset for Leeds

Goals are hard to come by for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored only once since joining Leeds on a free transfer this summer. However, the former Everton striker has quickly become critical to Daniel Farkeâ€s structure and style of play, despite his struggles in front of goal. Sending direct passes down the pitch for Calvert-Lewin to either hold up or flick on was a regular feature of the victory against West Ham. It helped relieve the pressure the visitors were putting Leeds under, offering an ideal outlet. There is plenty of focus on set pieces under Farke and Calvert-Lewin is a constant threat when the ball is sent into the box. Out of contract at Everton, Calvert-Lewin took a long time to find a new club but he may have found the right one at Elland Road. He offered plenty of endeavour on Friday but did not receive the level of service a striker needs to thrive. If he can add goals soon, he will become an even greater asset. Will Unwin

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1

Amorim gets his tactics spot on

The high-stakes duel in one of the fiercest rivalries in the English game came down to a crucial in-game management decision. Arne Slot, a manager lauded for smart substitutions last season, took a gamble in the 62nd minute, making three changes that aggressively shifted Liverpool into a 4-2-4, leaving Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz dangerously exposed in midfield. The gamble initially appeared worthwhile: after rattling the post twice, Cody Gakpo finally delivered a 78th-minute equaliser to breathe some life into the deflated Anfield crowd. But Ruben Amorim remained calm and trusted his vision. Liverpool were undone just six minutes later after Bruno Fernandesâ€s fantastic cross found Harry Maguire inexplicably alone at the far post, the lack of defensive bodies evident as he thumped in the winner. Slot was hoping for a high-risk, high-reward outcome but ultimately, Unitedâ€s grit in the second half paid off. Amorim has his critics – droves of them – but his tactics, including starting Maguire, were vindicated to earn Unitedâ€s first win at Anfield since 2016. Two league wins on the bounce is a first for Amorim at United. Are the wheels shifting? “Itâ€s an embarrassing stat to have had,†said Maguire. “We have to start putting a bit more consistency together. We have set a benchmark.†Yara El-Shaboury

Match report: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United

2

Spurs struggle to paper over cracks

Tottenham began the day aiming to go second in the table, yet ended it pondering all-too familiar failings. Despite dominating for long periods Thomas Frankâ€s side created few clearcut chances, reflecting their continued problems playing at home, where they have won just three of their last 18 league games, and taken only four points this season. Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert are threatening from wide areas, but Xavi Simmons has not settled and Mathys Tel looks raw, which suggests scoring goals will continue to be an issue, particularly against deep-lying defences. Were it not for an impressive haul of 10 points out of a possible 12 away from home the boos that greeted the final whistle would have been far louder. Matt Hughes

3

Gunners sharpen focus at Fulham

For Arsenal this was another day like all the others: the Kind Of Game You Just Have to Win To Be Champions. Maybe one day Arsenal will play a Game You Donâ€t Have To Win, or a Game You Would Just Quite Like To Win. But not yet. There will be questions of course. One: is it boring to win like winning is everything when winning is everything (answer: no). And two, is there a case of Bukayo Saka dependence here? Saka was both brilliant against Fulham and also the only sharp creative element as Victor Gyökeres battered away and Eberechi Eze had a quiet day. It is hard to see too much wrong in channeling your main threat through a very good, very reliable academy-reared player. Could be worse eh? Plus Kai Havertz will be back next month and may play ahead of Gyökeres in The Super Vital Games You Really Really Have To Win. Behind all this the key stat is still one goal conceded from open play all season. This is how you win a league. And itâ€s deceptively hard to do. Barney Ronay

4

Maresca swats away disciplinary issues

Ange Postecoglouâ€s misery was Chelseaâ€s satisfaction. Victory at Nottingham Forest was Chelseaâ€s third in a row before hosting Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday. The frustrating thing for Enzo Maresca was he had to watch from the directors†box, a few rows below Evangelos Marinakis, who departed the stadium at 2-0; Maresca served a touchline ban after being sent off against Liverpool and Malo Gustoâ€s red card late on against Forest, after picking up a second yellow, raised further questions of ill-discipline. Chelsea have received five red cards in six matches, including Marescaâ€s. The Italian argued there is context behind the sendings-off, in this case stating Gusto was desperate to keep a clean sheet, though in reality the versatile defender needlessly fouled Neco Williams midway inside the Forest half, with the hosts trailing 3-0 and going nowhere fast. “It is something we can do better, but Iâ€m not concerned,†Maresca said. “But, for sure, we can avoid it.†Ben Fisher

Unlike Evangelos Marinakis, Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, watched the entirety of their match at the City Ground from the stands. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

5

Minteh shows what might have been

As Anthony Elanga struggled for Newcastle, a player who got away, Yankuba Minteh, showed what Eddie Howe missed out on. After struggling to meet profit and sustainability rules, Newcastle had to cash out Minteh to Brighton for £30m and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35m in the summer of 2024, a continued source of regret. Anderson has become an England regular and, even if Lewis Miley showed off his talents as a half-time sub, Newcastleâ€s midfield department is bare beyond Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães. Minteh is ideal for Fabian Hürzelerâ€s high-pressing, quick transition game, his speed a surrogate for the absence of the injured Kaoru Mitoma. He would suit Newcastle, too. Dan Burn had a torrid afternoon against his old club; Minteh ran rings round the team he never played a match for. Coincidentally, his time on Newcastleâ€s books included him impressing on loan at Arne Slotâ€s Feyenoord. John Brewin

6

Guardiola runs rule over Rodri deputies

Pep Guardiola said Rodriâ€s hamstring injury will continue to rule him out for Manchester Cityâ€s next two games – at least. “I donâ€t think [he will be available] for Villarreal or Aston Villa. Itâ€s not [for] long, but itâ€s muscular and you have to be careful. Weâ€ve tried so many times [to ease him back]. Weâ€ve tried to not take a risk, but we have not been able to [prevent more setbacks]. So we will see,†said the manager. To potentially deputise, Guardiola has the returning Mateo Kovacic, whose 86th-minute substitute appearance was a first for City this term after an achilles problem. “Kovacic has a special quality with the ball to keep it, but we cannot forget he came after surgery and a three or four month injury.†Nico Oâ€Reilly may also be unavailable for the Champions League trip to Villarreal. “A knock I think,†said Guardiola. “Weâ€ll see.†Jamie Jackson

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Pep Guardiola ponders his options on the sidelines. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

7

Kroupi shows quality in striking style

In the absence of Evanilson with a calf injury that could also keep him out of next weekâ€s meeting with Nottingham Forest, Eli Junior Kroupi took his opportunity on his first league start by scoring twice against Crystal Palace in a 3-3 thriller that showed the 19-year-old could prove to be a shrewd investment. Signed from Bournemouthâ€s sister club Lorient for around £12m and sent back on loan to finish as top scorer in Ligue 2 last season, the son of a prolific striker with the same first name, who helped the French side win the 2002 Coupe de France, already has three Premier League goals and also scored twice for Franceâ€s Under-21s last week. “Heâ€s a goalscorer because he smells the chances,†said the Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola. “Heâ€s someone who is very aware of the second balls, where the balls can finish. Heâ€s a good finisher. But obviously, he still has a lot of things to improve. The physicality, the rhythm, a lot of things that he has to learn.†Ed Aarons

8

Mbeumo starting to make his mark

It had barely been a minute at Anfield before the controversy began. Bryan Mbeumo struck quickly for the visitors but, in the frantic buildup, Virgil van Dijk had elbowed his own teammate Alexis Mac Allister in the head while challenging Mbeumo for a header. Liverpool were furious as United celebrated in front of the Kop, arguing Michael Oliver should have stopped play under concussion protocol, though Van Dijk admitted post-match that “there was still plenty of football left to be playedâ€. The opener cemented a purposefully aggressive start from Manchester United – a rarity from them at Anfield in recent years – and Mbeumo provided the high-intensity pressing and work ethic the club have desperately lacked. For a club heavily criticised for their recent transfer decisions, the 26-year-old is starting to look like an astute bit of business. YE-S

Bryan Mbeumo laps up the acclaim from the travelling fans, and Amad Diallo, after opening the scoring at Anfield. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

9

Pereira faces crucial test as woes resume

Will Wolves secure their first league win of the season at home to Burnley or at Fulham? If not, , the head coach, Vítor Pereira, could really be in trouble. In losing 2-0 to a once again impressive, upwardly mobile Sunderland, it was telling that Wolves did not test Régis Le Brisâ€s goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, until the 70th minute. Pereira admits that Jørgen Strand Larsen is “strugglingâ€. The Norway striker is without a league goal this season but, in mitigation, a player disappointed not to join Newcastle in August is carrying an achilles injury and barely able to train between games. Pereira, meanwhile, remains convinced his defensively fragile team will come good. “If in one minute of my work I feel that my players are not with me, that is the end, but I didnâ€t feel it,†he said. “I feel they are frustrated but this is a moment when I need to help them.†Louise Taylor

10

Burnley reap rewards of Florentino move

It was a very busy summer at Burnley as they invested heavily in the hope of building a squad capable of staying in the Premier League. Someone was effectively signed for every position; the final arrival was Florentino Luís on deadline from Benfica. The Portuguese midfielder was a shining light in the clubâ€s academy and it was thought he would follow in the footsteps of Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias by making a big-money move but Florentinoâ€s career had stalled somewhat. Loan moves to Monaco and Getafe did not work out, so he returned to Benfica, needing to prove himself once more, doing so domestically and in the Champions League. At 26, Burnley saw the right attributes; he is energetic, comfortable in possession and rarely panics even in tight situations. His contributions have been impressive thus far. He looks to be a smart acquisition. Will Unwin

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A toy influencer was recently arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars†worth of wrestling toys.

This week, the San Diego County Sheriffâ€s Department conducted a search at the residence of 36-year-old Brittany Gomez and 52-year-old Miguel Dominguez. The latter, TheGizmo619 as he goes by online, a content creator who specializes around wrestling toy collecting.

According to the police (via EWrestling News), the couple was arrested and charged with felony charges. These ranged from grand theft, possession of stolen goods, and theft of merchandise.

The report notes that police found “hundreds†of stolen WWE action figures, totaling over $1,000 in stolen goods. Police believe that the couple were planning on reselling the figures. According to police, the figures were likely from places like Target and Walmart. Currently, though itâ€s unclear exactly what types of figures were a part of the robbery or how the couple stole them, nor their means of selling.

As of now, the toys will remain in custody of the police as they continue to investigate. No word on the status of the couple or what type of punishment theyâ€ll face is available as of yet.

READ MORE: WWE SmackDown Results: Review, Grades, Card For Oct 17

What do you think about this case? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Following Andrade El Idolo’s return to AEW earlier this month, his sudden disappearance from television has been a topic of speculation. A new report suggests his absence may be due to a non-compete clause with WWE. On the October 16 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that the belief is WWE intervened.

“What Iâ€ve been hearing was WWE sent a letter. AEW obviously believed that there was no non-compete,” Meltzer said. “There were people who talked to people in WWE who also believed there was no non-compete. But WWE apparently… thatâ€s the story. They said that he canâ€t do (anything in AEW) for 90 days.”

This information aligns with a previous report from Fightful Select, which noted that sources close to Andrade said he was in “good spirits” but did not explain his absence. The report also mentioned that the situation was not seen as “AEW or Andradeâ€s specific fault.”

The assumption was that Andrade was free of any restrictions due to the circumstances of his WWE release. However, this new development indicates WWE believes he is still within the standard 90-day non-compete window for main roster talent. Andrade’s future in AEW appears to be on a temporary hold, not because of creative decisions or injury, but due to a potential legal complication with his former employer. AEW has not commented on the matter publicly.

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The start of every football match brings a little flutter in the stomach. Will the stars perform? Will the referee have a good game by giving your players every decision? And will the football gods shine down on your team? A more pertinent question to ask this season, though, is how much football will we actually see?

We wrote about ball-in-play time a few seasons ago, revealing that fans were not seeing as much football as in previous years. Weâ€re not saying our data nosiness led to referees adding more stoppage time, but there was a notable rise in ball-in-play time over the next two campaigns. It went up from 54 minutes and 49 seconds in 2022-23 to 58 minutes and 11 seconds in 2023-24. Itâ€s still early in the 2025-26 season, but the pendulum may be swinging back the other way.

How much is the ball in play in 2025-26?

We have seen an average ball-in-play time of just 55 minutes per game this season – down from 56 minutes and 59 seconds last season. Stoppage time has crept up – games last 100 minutes and 35 seconds on average this season, which is 51 seconds longer than last season – but the ball is in play for almost two minutes fewer. Fans are spending two minutes and 50 seconds longer than last season waiting for restarts, roughly the time it takes to listen to Youâ€re the One That I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

There are 45 minutes and 35 seconds of delays/pauses per game this season – or roughly one episode of Countdown. We could be struggling to solve a conundrum rather than watching someone saunter over slowly to take a corner. For clarity, a “delay†is the time between the ball going out and play resuming for corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, goal-kicks, kick-offs, penalties and drop balls. The ball has been in play for just 54.7% of the time this season; the lowest itâ€s been over the past 10 full seasons is 55.7%, which was in 2022-23.

So, which teams are giving us the most action? Despite being recently promoted and considered underdogs in most of their games, Leeds are averaging the longest ball-in-play time in the league this season at 56 minutes and 48 seconds (57.5% of total minutes). It either means Daniel Farke is happy for his side to get on with it, or their opponents are doing their utmost to keep the ball in play.

Newcastle games have the lowest proportion of ball-in-play action at 52.3% (53 minutes and nine seconds on average), closely followed by Chelsea (52.6%) and Manchester United (52.7%). One match in particular has dragged Newcastleâ€s numbers down.

The longest shortest game

Newcastleâ€s five-goal thriller against Liverpool has the lowest ball-in-play time this season, which is quite something when you consider it lasted 109 minutes and 24 seconds – the third longest match of the season so far.

There were 31 fouls, the joint-second most in a Premier League match this term, which created delays of 27 minutes and seven seconds. Newcastle averaged 67 seconds per free-kick, at least 10 seconds longer than any other team has averaged in a game.

There was 13 minutes and 43 seconds of stoppage time in the second half, the most in a Premier League match this season. Despite the added time, the ball was in play for just 45 minutes and 55 seconds (42%). So, for 63 minutes and 29 seconds of that game, nothing was happening. Itâ€s astonishing to think there were five goals, including Rio Ngumohaâ€s late winner for Liverpool.

Not far behind was Brightonâ€s 3-1 win at Chelsea, when the ball was in play for just 46 minutes and 44 seconds of the total time of 105 minutes and 14 seconds (44.4%). At the other end of the value-for-money scale, the ball was in play for 63.4% of Leeds†3-1 win at Wolves.

Who are the slowest at set-pieces?

Sunderland are spending the most time over each corner, with almost 50 seconds per corner. Arsenal, who topped this list last season and are second this term, have won more corners than any other team this season (53) so are comfortably ahead when it comes to total time to take them. Mikel Artetaâ€s team have spent 40 minutes and six seconds taking corners this season – at least 11 minutes and 12 seconds more than any other team.

All three goals in their recent game against Newcastle were scored from corners, which wasnâ€t that surprising considering 19 corners were awarded in the game. In total, 12 minutes and 14 seconds of that game was taken up by delays for taking corners, the most in a match this season.

Wolves are the quickest to take their corners, closely followed by Manchester City, who both average less than 30 seconds. There is not any clear correlation between time taken over corners and their effectiveness. Arsenal take the second longest time and have scored the most goals from corners this season (six), but Chelsea have scored the second most (five) despite taking the third shortest time. Sunderland and Wolves, who are at either end of the spectrum, have scored one each. Manchester City (29.1 seconds) are yet to score from a corner, but so are Liverpool (40.6 seconds).

Compared to last season, teams are generally spending more time taking corners, goal-kicks and throw-ins. Given the number of long throws weâ€re seeing, that is no surprise, with throw-ins taking an average of 17.7 seconds this season compared to 15.6 seconds last term.

Goal-kicks are also taking two seconds longer (30.3 seconds, up from 28.3 seconds), but corners have seen the most noticeable jump, up to 36.9 seconds from 33.6 seconds. With each corner taking 3.3 seconds longer on average, if we end up seeing the same number as last season (3,890), we will have spent more than three and a half hours extra waiting for them across the campaign.

Brentford are taking almost four seconds longer than any other team on throw-ins. This is largely because so many of them are long – the Bees have taken 34 long throws into the oppositionâ€s box, more than any other team – so they generally take more time to line everything up. Wolves are taking almost half the time on average, just 12.7 seconds per throw-in, the quickest in the division.

Sunderland are taking the longest over goal-kicks (36.7 seconds) and Nottingham Forest are the quickest. They have needed just 26.2 seconds per goal-kick, a steep decline from last season when their average of 34.1 seconds was the longest in the division.

Free-kicks can be tricky to read, as they depend on where they are won. Deep inside your own half and chances are youâ€ll take it quickly, but within 10-20 yards of the oppositionâ€s box and youâ€re far more likely to take your time lining up a cross or shot. For what itâ€s worth, Crystal Palace (41.6 seconds) and Brentford (41.0 seconds) spend the longest average time taking free-kicks, while Fulham (25.8 seconds), Brighton (26.8 seconds) and Liverpool (26.9 seconds) take them quickest.

Not so busy Bees

Taking all delays into account, Brentford are spending the most time getting the ball back into play, taking 33.5 seconds on average to do so. They are closely followed by promoted pair Burnley (32.7 seconds) and Sunderland (32.3 seconds), but also not far behind are Arsenal and Manchester United (both 31 seconds).

Wolves are the fastest at getting the game going again (24.1 seconds). Given that they are bottom of the Premier League with just two points after seven games, perhaps they should consider slowing down a bit. Manchester City (25.6 seconds), Nottingham Forest (26.4 seconds) and Liverpool (26.8 seconds) are also eager to get the ball back in play. Again, that is a big change from Forest, who were the slowest in the league last season at restarting play (32.2 seconds).

So, there you have it. We are getting some of the longest football matches we have ever seen in the Premier League, but weâ€re not seeing more football, unless you enjoy the sight of a player with the ball under his arm waiting for teammates to flood the box. Weâ€re not here to judge.

This is an article by Opta Analyst

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Kota Ibushi will not be seen for a long time.

The AEW star has been providing updates on social media after undergoing surgery for a broken fumer recently. Earlier this week, he had posted photos with the company president Tony Khan who visited him in the hospital.

The Japanese star took to Instagram to provide some more updates on Tuesday, though this time a disappointing one for his fans. Kota Ibushi revealed in his latest post that it’ll take him a year to recover from the surgery. He will, however, not return to the ring for 2 years:

“My current condition. One year to fully recover. Two years until I can step into the ring again. I believe in myself more than the doctors. I absolutely don’t believe in that. I know I have amazing DNA that gives me the ability to heal!!”

Ibushi suffered the injury during a singles match with Josh Alexander during last Wednesday’s Collision taping. AEW aired the match as part of the show on Saturday. It saw Kota landing awkwardly outside the ring during a top rope spot after which he was counted out:

This is disappointing development for the fans of the 43-year-old as he had only returned to action in June this year. Ibushi had been out of action for nearly 2 years before that. With his age, it seems unlikely that we’ll see him being featured on top of the card upon his return.

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October 14, 2025

(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT)

Singles started on Sunday, with top seeds in action on Monday. at the ITTF Pan American Championships in Rock Hill, SC.  Top seed Hugo Calderano won his first two matches 4-0 and 4-1 to advance to face USA’s Sid Naresh in one Quarterfinal matchup.  In the second section of the draw, USA’s Nandan Naresh fell to Nicolas Burgos and Canada’s Eugene Wang fell to Brazil’s Felipe Arado to set up a Burgos-Arado matchup on Tuesday.

In the bottom half of the draw Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes topped Puerto Rico’s Angel Naranjo 4-2 and Brazil’s Leonardo Iizuka defeated USA’s Jishan Liang – leaving Cifuentes and Iizuka to battle Tuesday afternoon.  And in the bottom section of the draw, USA’s Kanak Jha defeated Brazil’s Guilherme Teodoro 4-2 and Gustavo Gomez of Chile defeated Marcos Madrid 4-2 to set up the final Quarterfinal matchup (Jha-Gomez).

In Women’s Singles, 7 of the top 8 seeds advanced to the Quarters.  Top seeded Bruna Takahashi will face USA’s Jessica Reyes Lai, USA’s Sally Moyland will face Canada’s Mo Zhang, and USA’s Lily Zhang will face Daniela Ortega of Chile.  Second seed Adriana Diaz easily advanced winning her two matches 4-0 and 4-0.  Diaz will face Chile’s Zhiying Zeng, who upset Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi 4-0.

The Quarterfinals of Singles and Doubles will be played Tuesday, with Team events starting at the end of the week and extending into the weekend.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.

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There are several Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects who have been making headlines as of late.

But there is one prospect who has quietly been putting up numbers.

Forward Mikhail Ilyin, 20, is in his fourth season with the Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL. So far this season, Ilyin has registered three goals and nine points in 14 games, and he has continued to impress.

Selected by the Penguins in the fifth round (142nd overall) in 2023, the 6-foot, 180-pound right wing is known for his playmaking ability as well as his hockey IQ. Ilyin has been playing in a league of grown men since he was 17 years old, and he continues to get better and better with each passing year.

Pretty much every scoring play Ilyin is involved in nowadays involves dangling, maneuvering, net-crashing, and elite playmaking vision. The forward – who we ranked 12th on our Top-20 Penguins’ Prospects 2025 List – is certainly showing some NHL potential up to this point.

Ilyin signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins this summer, and he is playing for Severstal on loan this season. He attended Penguins’ Prospect Development Camp in July.

Top-20 Penguins’ Prospects 2025: Don’t Sleep On This Russian Winger
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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1

Duo keen to offer Anderson shelter

Elliot Anderson spent much of Nottingham Forestâ€s 2-0 defeat on Tyneside reminding Eddie Howe how much he lost when Premier League spending rules demanded that the midfielder be sold to fend off the threat of a points deduction. That was back in the summer of 2024 and Anderson, now an England international, has rarely looked back since joining Forest. For much of the first half he eclipsed even Sandro Tonali and, overall, was comfortably Ange Postecoglouâ€s best player. Yet Anderson is human and when his loose pass offered Bruno Guimarães an opening, his subsequent attempt at a recovery tackle was mistimed and sent Guimarães crashing in the area. The Brazilian had already shot Newcastle ahead from 25 yards and from the spot Nick Woltemade scored his fourth goal in five starts. Tellingly, at the final whistle both Postecoglou and Howe made concerted efforts to console Anderson. If Forestâ€s manager is to survive and then thrive at Forest he will inevitably be heavily dependent on Andersonâ€s talent. Howe, meanwhile, would love to buy the Newcastle academy graduate back. Should Forest, with or without Postecoglou, continue to founder Newcastle may yet be in with a chance. Louise Taylor

Match report:Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest

2

More Rodri worries mar City win

Rodriâ€s face told its own story. As he sank to the Brentford turf staring at his feet, there was a barely discernible shake of the head – though his body language spoke volumes. Another setback for the Spanish midfielder? It looked more than likely. Pep Guardiola has tried his best to manage Rodriâ€s game time this season since his tentative return from a serious knee injury; now he must put more faith in alternatives. Nico González is the most obvious replacement in Cityâ€s squad, yet has only been trusted to start one league game since 23 August. The former Porto man was a £49.8m signing in January and will be needed to step up more often after his 22nd-minute introduction for City in west London. On whether he can bring a measure of control akin to peak Rodri, the jury is still out. Dominic Booth

Match report:Brentford 0-1 Manchester City

Players check on Rodri (second left) after the midfielder pulled up. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

3

Mount climbs pecking order for United

Injuries have hampered Mason Mountâ€s United career. His start against Sunderland was only his 17th in the league since joining in 2023 from Chelsea. His pedigree has never been questioned but finding a position and sufficient minutes to play himself into form, has proved problematic. On Saturday, his touch was impeccable and he brought creativity and discipline in equal measure, which might explain why Ruben Amorim selected him over Matheus Cunha. He took his goal superbly, scoring the quickest opener for Amorimâ€s team since his first game in charge 11 months ago. In an intense environment, Mountâ€s experience could prove vital. “I see myself as bringing a lot of energy into the team and setting off the press at times, being a bit of a catalyst going forward,†Mount said. “Thatâ€s always something that I focus on, helping the people around me and really bringing the energy. To get the goal was obviously massive for me.†Will Unwin

Match report:Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

4

Nuno puts faith in youngster Marshall

Nuno Espírito Santoâ€s decision to bring on Callum Marshall for his debut at the Emirates against Arsenal, instead of the more experienced Callum Wilson, was an enormous show of faith in the 20-year-old Northern Ireland striker who spent last year on loan at Huddersfield. Given that Wilson – who joined on a free transfer in the summer – and Niclas Füllkrug have contributed just one goal between them so far in the Premier League, Marshall could get plenty of more opportunities if the new managerâ€s post-match assessment is anything to go by. “Itâ€s not easy to put a young lad in front of Callum Wilson,†said Nuno. “Itâ€s important for us, as soon as possible, to have total knowledge of who we have in the squad. What Iâ€ve been seeing in training sessions, [Marshall] has energy, heâ€s a good finisher, good mobility, he can recognise the gaps in the space. I think we have something we can use.†Ed Aarons

Match report:Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

5

Calm Frank slowly earns his Spurs

Nobody seems quite sure how good Tottenham can be this season, least of all themselves. What is undeniable is that they are heading in the right direction under Thomas Frank. After a third win from four unbeaten away games this season, belief is growing that Spurs are developing into a far more cohesive and resilient outfit to the one which slumped to their worst Premier League finish under Ange Postecoglou last term. There is a calm assuredness to Frank, who spoke glowingly of his teamâ€s mentality and collective desire in seeing off a pugnacious Leeds side at a raucous, windswept Elland Road. Frank had not beaten his Leeds counterpart and good friend Daniel Farke in five previous meetings in charge of Brentford and Norwich respectively, but goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, either side of Noah Okaforâ€s first-half equaliser, ensued the tables were turned. It is early days, but things are looking up for Spurs. Ross Heppenstall

Match report:Leeds 1-2 Tottenham

Mohammed Kudus scored what proved to be the winner against Leeds. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock

6

Acheampong and Badiashile step up

Enzo Maresca wanted a new centre-back after losing Levi Colwill to a knee injury before the start of the season. His bosses thought otherwise. Chelseaâ€s resources are deep and a panic buy was not required. Then came more injuries, leaving Maresca stretched. There were nerves about Josh Acheampong and Benoît Badiashile lining up against Liverpool on Saturday, but there need not have been. Acheampong is only 19 but few doubt his potential. The teenager dealt with Crystal Palaceâ€s Jean-Philippe Mateta well on the opening weekend and he was assured again as Liverpool were beaten at Stamford Bridge, with Alexander Isakâ€s influence was dimmed by Chelseaâ€s fine defending. For Maresca, the only problem was Acheampong and Badiashile having to go off in the second half. Badiashile has only just returned from injury and it is hoped he was only suffering from cramp. The 24-year-old Frenchman has not always been convincing, but he appears to have stepped up a level since coming back into the starting lineup. Jacob Steinberg

Match report:Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

7

Glasner stays calm as Eagles finally dip

To his credit, Oliver Glasner refused to blame fatigue as Crystal Palaceâ€s proud 19-game unbeaten run came to an end four days after their Conference League exertions in Poland. “That would be a cheap excuse,†he said while attempting to come to terms with Evertonâ€s unexpected late win at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Defeat to Jack Grealishâ€s first Everton goal was entirely self-inflicted, according to the Palace manager, with Jean Philippe-Mateta missing two clear chances to double the visitors†advantage before Maxence Lacroixâ€s foul on Tim Iroegbunam offered David Moyesâ€s side a way back via the penalty spot. “We didnâ€t decide the game when we could have done and that has happened a few times now,†explained Glasner. “It is part of our development. Weâ€ve made a few steps forward in the last few months and now we have to feel this pain and learn from it.†Andy Hunter

Match report:Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

Maxence Lacroix fouls Tim Iroegbunam to concede the penalty that let Everton back into the game. Photograph: Peter Powell/Reuters

8

Bogarde has Villa fans on their feet

It is a staple of junior football and if there was a Most Improved Player prize at Aston Villa it would surely go to Lamare Bogarde. The 21-year-old, who signed from Feyenoord at 16, was given a standing ovation upon being substituted in the victory at home to Burnley, a week on from Unai Emery leading the applause when Bogarde was withdrawn late on in the win against Fulham. Emery admires Bogardeâ€s versatility but it was at the base of midfield where the Dutchman, who has started Villaâ€s past two league matches and featured in eight of Villaâ€s 10 games in all competitions, looks most at home. He was Villaâ€s most-fouled player against Burnley, a statistic indicative of his involvement, but perhaps more tellingly he completed 97% of his attempted passes (56 out of 58). Villaâ€s rise has meant academy youngsters have had few opportunities but Bogarde is proving increasingly instrumental. Ben Fisher

Match report:Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley

9

Brightonâ€s note of curious caution

Brighton remain the team to have received the most yellow cards in the Premier League this season after another four in the frustrating draw away at Wolves took them to 22. Manager Fabian Hürzeler was frustrated by the refereeing decisions. “I didnâ€t understand it,†he said. “Every first foul from us was a yellow card and in the hardest league in the world, thatâ€s very frustrating.†He added that he was forced to substitute Carlos Baleba at half-time because of his midfielderâ€s caution. Itâ€s not as if Brighton are overly aggressive or cynical is it? Peter Lansley

Match report:Wolves 1-1 Brighton

Carlos Baleba and Hugo Bueno battle for the ball as their managers watch on from the sidelines. Photograph: David Davies/PA

10

Kluivert family make Patrick proud

If the summer transfer market divested Bournemouth of a first-choice defence, Andoni Iraola retains much of his teamâ€s attacking talent. Antoine Semenyo was the subject of serious interest but instead signed an extension to stay on until 2030. The match-winner in Fridayâ€s late defeat of Fulham is in rare form, his two well-taken goals taking him to second in the Premier League scoring charts. “World class,†said fellow scorer Justin Kluivert on his colleague. “I want to try to keep him at this level, especially, confidence wise,†said Iraola of Semenyo. Kluivert had come off the bench to score a fine goal, completing a fine week for the Kluivert clan. On Wednesday, 18-year-old half-brother, Shane, scored for Barcelona in the Uefa Youth League against Paris Saint-Germain while his full brother, Ruben, scored for Lyon in the Europa League against Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday. Father Patrick shared his delight on social media as a “proud dadâ€. John Brewin

Match report:Bournemouth 3-1 Fulham

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After Estevaoâ€s late winner at Stamford Bridge last night Chelsea Enzo Maresca set off on a manic touchline dash to celebrate with his team. It was maybe the most fun thing Maresca has ever done and he was sent off, meaning he will watch Chelseaâ€s next match from the stands, but Barney Ronay writes that it is his opposite number yesterday, Arne Slot, who has bigger issues to address when he is next on the touchline:

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At Old Trafford, the dark clouds lifted lifted on Saturday as Benjamin Sesko clicked with his teammates and as he Mason Mount got themselves on the scoresheet. Post-match Mount insisted that the club are “100% behind†embattled boss Ruben Amorim:

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Arsenal, the latest team to inherit the moniker of champions in waiting, handily saw off West Ham on Saturday but they are counting the cost of that victory. Martin Ødegaard picked up a knee injury and had to come off before half time again. Declan Rice, who scored the gameâ€s first goal, also departed early with a back injury.

More from Ed Aarons here:

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Liverpoolâ€s third defeat in a row has seen the spotlight move on to the relationship, or lack thereof, between Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak. The Reds couldnâ€t break down a Chelsea team missing almost all of their first choice centre-backs. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is not concerned, yet: “The more they play together the more they will connect,†the Liverpool manager said. “You have to work really hard to reach a certain level and then itâ€s very hard in football because you also play against very good teams to keep that level going. What I mean by that is consistency.â€

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Preamble

Hello, good morning and welcome to Sundayâ€s Matchday live! Before we head of on our international breaks we have one more action-packed day of Premier League action, with five fixtures and the opportunity for UK viewers to go multiview on their Sky boxes with four of those at 2pm.

Before any of that, four fixtures in the WSL. The pick of those is Tottenham v Brighton, two teams hoping to break into the European places.

Then, the East Anglian derby is a lovely little midday livener. Amazingly Ipswich havenâ€t beaten Norwich since 2009. If you want some bizarre pop culture context, the last time the Tractor Boys won this fixture Kanye West hadnâ€t yet interrupted Taylor Swiftâ€s acceptance speech for winning best female video at the MTV Awards (for what itâ€s worth, Beyoncé did have one of the best videos of all time!).

In the Premier League, the narrativecomes from St James†Park but not the home team, who are simply going about their business. Yes, I am of course referring to Ange Postecoglou and the threat hanging over his continued employment as the man in the dugout for Nottingham Forest. The chances of another game without a win are high for the Australian gaffer, with Newcastle nothing if not solid.

Did you know that Crystal Palace havenâ€t lost in ages? They take that proud record to Everton, where the Eagles†ability to recover from a gruelling European away day will be tested. Likewise Aston Villa, who are playing Burnley in a game for the soul of the colour claret.

Quite why Wolves v Brighton is being played on a Sunday at 2pm is not clear. Neither had a European game in midweek, but here we are. Wolves were better at Tottenham last time out, Brighton won at Stamford Bridge. This one is anyoneâ€s guess.

Then in the headline slot, Brentford look to be the Manchester slayers for the second week in a row. City will probably be less accomodating than United, but they are vulnerable, as was evidenced at the Stade Louis II in midweek.

But before we jump into todayâ€s action, letâ€s quickly recap some of the headlines from Saturday…

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