Browsing: fresh

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United are seeking back-to-back league wins for the first time in the Portuguese head coach’s Old Trafford tenure.

Tasks don’t come much harder than the one before the Red Devils this weekend as they make the short journey to Merseyside where they will meet Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

The Premier League champions have hit a bit of a rough patch of late, relinquishing their grip on top spot to Arsenal, who have taken 16 points from their opening seven games.

Liverpool’s early season form has waned in recent weeks, losing 2-1 to Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the Premier League, either side of a 1-0 defeat on the road to Galatasaray.

Perhaps the biggest potential miss for Man United is Bruno Fernandes who was also granted additional leave by the club following Portugal’s international fixtures.

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Emma Raducanu again struggled physically in a first-round exit at the Ningbo Open to Chinaâ€s Zhu Lin, raising questions over the rest of her season.

The British No1 was back on court a week after retiring from her opening match in Wuhan with dizziness in hot and humid conditions. She posted a picture on social media from a doctorâ€s office and said she felt better but she faded after winning the opening set against Zhu and slumped to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat.

Initially, there did not appear to be any concerns, with temperatures lower than last week, but Raducanu began to look lethargic early in the second set and called the doctor after seven games.

Things got worse in the decider, the 2021 US Open champion seeking medical attention again – this time for her troublesome lower back – and limping to the finish line.

Raducanu was without her coach Francisco Roig, with the Spaniard taking a week off back at home in Barcelona and instead had hitting partner Alexis Canter courtside along with physical trainer Daniel Pohl.

Canter offered plenty of encouragement as Raducanu managed to keep her nose in front during the first set, despite appearing frustrated at how she was playing and dropping serve twice.

The looks turned to concern in the second set as the 22-year-old quickly fell 2-0 behind, moving sluggishly and being outhit by Zhu, who was ranked just outside the top 30 two years ago before injury saw her drop below 200.

Raducanu kept herself in contention in the set, pulling back to 2-2 and then 4-4 following consultation with the doctor, where she had her blood pressure checked, but she netted a forehand on set point in the 10th game.

She walked slowly off court for a bathroom break but things did not improve, with Raducanuâ€s back problem, which has been an issue at times throughout the season, flaring up again.

She doubled over repeatedly early in the decider and then took a medical timeout for treatment after three games. Raducanu opted not to retire again but she was barely able to move and the end came quickly.

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Andre Onana’s Cameroon have not been able to qualify for the 2026 World Cup via the CAF group stage and now face a series of make-or-break fixtures if they are to make the tournament.

The Manchester United goalkeeper is currently out on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor after losing his place as Old Trafford No.1 to Altay Bayindir.

Onana featured in Man United’s somewhat embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town back in August and was culpable for the team’s concessions in normal time, before being eliminated on penalties.

The fixture at Blundell Park could prove to be Onana’s last in a Man United shirt but it has proven not to be his final disappointment at such an early stage of the 2025/26 campaign.

If Cameroon are successful in the CAF play-offs during November, FIFA’s inter-confederation play-off will pit them against teams from CONMEBOL (South America), CONCACAF (North America), OFC (Oceania) and AFC (Asia).

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On Thursday night against the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins’ rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke became the first teenager to score a goal for the Penguins since Daniel Sprong in 2015.

On the surface, this doesnâ€t seem all that crazy. After all, teenagers playing in the NHL, period, is a bit of a rarity, and itâ€s something that certainly doesnâ€t happen on a yearly basis for most teams. But when considering the tendency of the Penguins to have largely favored veterans for a good chunk of the last decade, true youth populating the roster seemed like something that happened a lifetime ago.

This season, things are different.

Of course, there are a few reasons for that. Itâ€s important to distinguish the fact that – prior to the 2025-26 season – the Penguins had simply lacked legitimate youth talent in their system for a long while. Years of winning championships, 16 consecutive postseason appearances, and going all-in at the trade deadline does that to an organization.

But because Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, they have already shifted into rebuild mode, and theyâ€re focused on collecting high-value assets and infusing talent into their system. As a result, there are better young players and, therefore, more legitimate opportunities for those young players – such as Brunicke and 18-year-old center Ben Kindel – to populate the NHL roster.

However, the mere existence of young players isnâ€t the only factor. New head coach Dan Muse – hired this summer – along with the rest of his staff that is focused on development, is also giving the kids some runway to show what they can do at the NHL level. That kind of leeway wasnâ€t as easy for former head coach Mike Sullivan and his staff to grant while the organization was still prioritizing making the playoffs.

On A Night Of Firsts, Penguins Defeat Islanders, 4-3
It was a night of firsts for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ players in Thursday’s home opener against the New York Islanders.

The prevailing sentiment heading into this season was that the Penguins would likely be a pretty far cry from playoff contention. Yet – two games into the 2025-26 season – something about this team simply feels different. Feels rejuvenated. Energized.

Now, getting too far ahead of anything would be foolish. To declare the Penguins a playoff hopeful after two regular season games is unrealistic, especially since most people have them finishing in at least the bottom-10 this season. On top of that, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas himself said at the end of the 2024-25 season that the Penguins making the playoffs this season would be “an accomplishment.â€

That said, there is a certain energy – and structure – around this team that has been lacking in recent years. The team is playing faster. Smarter. Tighter. More risk-averse. In the two games so far this season – both wins against each team from New York – they were the better team in the final 20 minutes of play, generally doing a good job of limiting opposing chances, controlling play, and shutting things down, as they havenâ€t allowed a third-period goal.

And itâ€s not as if the youth on their team is sitting back and letting the veterans do all the work. Yes, Evgeni Malkin has five points in two games. Justin Brazeau has three goals in two games. Sidney Crosby has a goal and an assist as well.

But Kindel has been driving play on the third line, both in the offensive zone and in his own zone. The work of his line led to Brunickeâ€s goal on Thursday, and Brunicke himself has been quarterbacking the second power play unit and helping to generate offense in transition and off the rush.

Filip Hallander has six points in six games dating back to the pre-season. Ville Koivunen does not have a point yet, but fans and the organization got a glimpse of what Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty – currently on injured reserve – are capable of at the end of last season.

The kids are providing a spark and an energy that this team has desperately needed. They have, so far, proven capable of playing with NHL competition, even if there are some bumps along the way with their development and learning curve. They have given a dead-in-the-water team some new life – a new identity – and itâ€s translating into team performance.

8 Bold Penguins’ Predictions For The 2025-26 Season
In case you haven’t heard, the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey Tuesday night against the New York Rangers.

Muse said that the goal of the coaching staff – and the biggest thing that they want to see out of this 23-man unit – is for the team to play “connected.†And, so far, thatâ€s exactly what has happened. They have played well within structure, they have developed chemistry in a short period of time, and they have shown that they have a lot to play for, even if outside noise says otherwise.

That “connectedness” is, in essence, their identity. And the mix of youth and experience on the roster is cultivating a perfect environment for that identity to thrive.

There is no telling how this season will unfold. The Penguins could certainly still use improvement in some areas, and there are going to be some tough roster decisions to make as veterans Bryan Rust and Kevin Hayes work their way back from injury. With a current roster at full capacity, some players will need to go.

But one thing is for certain: The kids are alright. And theyâ€re giving some much-needed life to a team – and a fanbase – that craves a strong dosage of hope for the future.

Penguins’ New Top Defensive Pairing Could Be Hidden Gem
There are a lot of new faces populating the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster this season, especially on the left side of the Penguins’ blue line.

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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Liverpool are in the midst of a defensive injury crisis, and it may just have got worse.

Ibrahima Konate was withdrawn on the hour mark in their most recent outing against Chelsea, with manager Arne Slot later citing a “quad” issue.

It comes during one of the trickiest spells in the Dutchman’s tenure so far, with the Reds having lost three games on the bounce, including their trip to Stamford Bridge.

Depending on the length of his absence, Konate could soon be joining fellow centre-back and new signing Giovanni Leoni in the treatment room, the young Italian who picked up an ACL injury in his first outing for a new club.

Liverpool have confirmed, via their official website, that Wataru Endo has withdrawn from international duty with Japan due to injury.

The 32-year-old has not been a regular starter under Slot, but has reams of experience operating at centre-back, as well as his more common defensive midfield role.

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With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez the only fit senior centre-back’s at the manager’s disposal – and the latter left on the bench at the weekend with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch deputising for Konate after his injury instead – Endo’s adaptability would have come into its own.

Further updates are still required to know precisely how long Konate and Endo are expected to be out for, but the fact that both are doubts is enough to give Slot a headache.

In FourFourTwo’s view, Endo’s injury may not affect immediate squad selection, but it does greatly reduce the cover Slot has.

Wataru Endo has been forced to withdraw from international duty with Japan (Image credit: Alamy)

Selecting Gomez to partner Van Dijk seems the obvious choice, but his refusal to send the Englishman on after Konate’s injury raises questions about whether the Reds boss sees that as the answer at the minute.

Spoilt for choice in terms of attacking options this season, Slot may be wishing some more of his summer budget had been diverted to defensive acquisitions.

Endo is valued at €8m, according to Transfermarkt. Liverpool next face Manchester United, when Premier League action returns after the international break.

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When Chase Stillman learned heâ€d been traded to the Vancouver Canucks organization this summer, it was unexpected but exciting. Rather than dwelling on the uncertainty of being moved, not once, but twice in the same season, the 22-year-old forward is choosing to focus on what it represents: opportunity.

“It was awesome,†Stillman said. “Obviously, getting traded twice in the same season is a lot on a player, but at the end of the day, youâ€ve got to look at it as someone wanting you. I got traded for a pretty important piece on the team last year, so itâ€s clear they see me as high value.â€

That mindset —resilient, grounded, and optimistic — has defined Stillmanâ€s approach to his career so far. The American-born winger, originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, joins the Canucks organization that prizes speed, grit, and relentless competition. After a strong showing at training camp, Stillman began the year in Abbotsford, where heâ€s eager to establish himself as a key piece of the teamâ€s forward group.

“I just want to get my foot in the door and play in the NHL,†Stillman said. “Regardless of what that takes or what kind of player I have to be to get there. Thatâ€s the goal this year. Itâ€s a brand new season, zeros across the board, so Iâ€m just trying to enjoy the process.â€

Over the summer, Stillman focused on building both his physical strength and mental resilience. He trained with his agencyâ€s development group alongside other pros, sharpening his skating and conditioning, but he admits the mental reset was just as important.

“It was a tough start to last year, for sure,†he reflected. “But mentally, Iâ€ve been working on building back my confidence and remembering that every season is a clean slate. Iâ€ve been really excited about coming here. The fans are great, and obviously, Canada loves their hockey.â€

Stillmanâ€s enthusiasm for Vancouver is palpable, and heâ€s already experienced a taste of whatâ€s to come. “I played in the exhibition game here in Abbotsford, and it was pretty rowdy,†he laughed. “Iâ€m excited to see what itâ€s like during the regular season for sure.â€

Hockey runs deep in the Stillman family. His father, Cory, played over 1,000 NHL games and won two Stanley Cups, while his brother, Riley, is a defenceman in the Buffalo Sabres organization. When asked if his brother had any advice about playing in Vancouver, Chase smiled.

“Yeah, he said the fans really like their hockey here. Regardless of what you do or what your job is, if you do your job really well, youâ€re going to be liked. Thereâ€s no better feeling than when youâ€ve got fans that love the way you play.â€

For Stillman, thatâ€s what this new chapter is about: proving himself to a new city, a new organization, and to the fans who fill the stands. “I just want to show them that Iâ€m a fun player to watch,†he said. “That I can do a lot of things on the ice. Iâ€m excited to get going.â€

Make sure you bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Robert Lewandowski said Barcelona will be fresher when the big games come around this season after coming off the bench to spur his side on to a 3-1 win against Real Oviedo in LaLiga on Thursday.

Oviedo led 1-0 at the break but Barça flexed their muscles in the second half, bringing on Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong to highlight the depth coach Hansi Flick has at his disposal.

Lewandowski, 37, scored Barça’s second goal as they kept within two points of leaders Real Madrid. It was the Poland striker’s LaLiga-leading third goal off the bench this season and he says he’s happy to play fewer minutes if it keeps him in better shape throughout the campaign.

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“We have so many games and the season is very long,” he told ESPN. “At the end of preseason I got injured, I was out for three weeks, but later I still felt that I couldn’t do everything 100%.

“Now I feel good physically. You have to be patient sometimes. Of course, for strikers it’s always better to play, but we have to be patient and think there are more games coming, more important games coming.

“We know that last season there were parts where we didn’t play well. I don’t want to say we were tired, but not so fresh. So we have to know being more fresh for the future means we have more opportunities to be a better team.”

Robert Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead in their win over Real Oviedo. Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Oviedo took a surprise first-half lead at the Carlos Tartiere when Alberto Reina lobbed into an empty net from 40 yards after a mistake from Barça goalkeeper Joan García.

Eric García drew Barça level from close range in the 56th minute and Lewandowski, coming off the bench for the fourth time this season, completed the turnaround with a stunning header from a De Jong cross in the 70th minute.

“I didn’t yet see the goal because when you’re on the pitch, you’re focused on your job,” Lewandowski added.

“I saw the corner or left side of post, I don’t want to say empty, but if I put the ball there I thought it’s possible. The cross is amazing and I know the space is there.

“It was a very important goal. I knew if I came on I had to do something, try and score the goal.”

Flick, who celebrated his 50th win in 67 games as Barcelona coach, praised the quality of Lewandowski’s contribution.

“It was important, this is what we know from Robert,” the Barça coach said in a news conference. “He’s one of the best in the world in the box. We’re happy we have him.

“I always say to the team, we start with 11 and finish with maybe five different players. The most important thing is everyone gives 100% for the team.

“When Robert comes on, you can feel he wants to change the result. Not only about the goal, but the dynamic it gave us in the match. It was great to see this.”

Flick also downplayed García’s error giving the ball away before the Oviedo goal — “it happens, it’s the style and how we want him to play” — and praised defender Ronald Araújo, who added Barça’s third goal late on, for his start to the season.

“Ronald is an important player for us and I am happy he scored a goal,” he said. “For him, maybe it’s a good step, for the belief in himself. This is for him the most important thing.

“I think he showed also this season that he is doing much better than last season. It’s normal. At the moment, everyone has the confidence and gives us a lot of options.”

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Jasprit Bumrah (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has stirred debate around Jasprit Bumrahâ€s workload management and role in Indiaâ€s white-ball setup. Sharing his observations from the recent Asia Cup, Kaif pointed out that Bumrah, under Suryakumar Yadavâ€s captaincy, bowled a three-over spell at the start of the innings, rather than being reserved for crucial death overs.

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He noted that while Bumrah now prefers to bowl once his body is warmed up, limiting his presence in the slog overs could hand a significant advantage to stronger opponents in the upcoming World Cup.“Bumrah under Rohit would generally bowl overs 1, 13, 17, 19. Under Surya, in Asia cup, he bowled a three-overs spell at the start. To avoid injury, Bumrah these days, prefers to bowl while his body is warmed up. 1 over of Bumrah in the remaining 14 overs is a huge relief for batters, against stronger teams at World Cup, this could hurt india,†Kaif remarked on X. Despite the concerns, selectors have shown complete faith in the pace spearhead. Jasprit Bumrah was named in Indiaâ€s 15-member squad on Thursday for the two-Test home series against West Indies beginning October 2 in Ahmedabad. Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Bumrah is “rested, fit, and eager to play both Tests†following an extended break after the England tour.The squad also features significant changes. Devdutt Padikkal has replaced Karun Nair, with Agarkar admitting the latter did not make the most of his opportunities in England.Sai Sudharsan, meanwhile, has been backed to secure the No.3 slot after impressing with his consistency. Vice-captaincy duties fall to Ravindra Jadeja in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who is expected to return for the South Africa series in November.Notably, Abhimanyu Easwaran finds himself out of contention despite years of travelling with the squad, while Mohammed Shamiâ€s future remains uncertain amid fitness concerns.Squads:Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.

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