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Arsenal stretched their Premier League lead to four points as Eberechi Eze’s goal beat his former club Crystal Palace 1-0, while Manchester City lost 1-0 at Aston Villa Sunday.Bournemouth are now the Gunners’ closest challengers in second after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0, while Tottenham climbed to third after a 3-0 win at Everton.After Liverpool’s latest defeat to Brentford on Saturday, Arsenal enjoyed the perfect weekend as both their title rivals fell further behind as they go from strength to strength.Eze left the Eagles to join Arsenal in a £60 million ($80 million) deal in August and his first Premier League goal was decisive as Mikel Arteta’s men were again able to lean on their set-piece prowess and a solid defence.The England international blasted in on the volley after Palace failed to clear Declan Rice’s free-kick six minutes before half-time.Arsenal again failed to hit top gear going forward, but didn’t need to as they kept a 10th clean sheet in 13 games in all competitions this season.“The technique from Eze is unbelievable. We needed something special,” said Arteta.“We didn’t score a second goal and when you don’t do that you are in danger, but we restricted them to very little.”The only concern for Arteta was the sight of Rice and William Saliba having to be replaced in the second half due to injury.Arsenal now lead fifth-placed City by six points and have a seven-point cushion over Liverpool in seventh.City appeared to be emerging as Arsenal’s biggest obstacle in the title race after a nine-game unbeaten run. But Pep Guardiola’s men lost at Villa Park for the third consecutive season as Erling Haaland’s 12-game scoring streak came to an end.Matty Cash’s stunning strike from outside the box on 19 minutes secured a fourth consecutive league win for Villa as Unai Emery’s men climb to seventh.Haaland had a late goal ruled out for offside, but City’s lack of goal threat other than the Norwegian finally cost the visitors. No City player other than Haaland has scored in the Premier League for a month.“We were not aggressive enough,” said a disappointed Guardiola. Spurs captain Micky van de Ven scored twice as Tottenham inflicted Everton’s first defeat at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.Pape Mate Sarr added a third late on to continue Tottenham’s strong start under Thomas Frank.Bournemouth climbed up to second as Forest’s struggles continued despite a change in management. Sean Dyche got his reign off to a winning start against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, but Forest remain in the bottom three after they were convincingly beaten on the south coast.Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring for the Cherries directly from a corner as the swirling wind caught out Matz Sels. Eli Junior Kroupi then blasted in his fourth goal in six Premier League games to double Bournemouth’s lead.Wolves remain bottom of the table after Burnley edged a 3-2 thriller in stoppage time at Molineux thanks to Lyle Foster.Zian Flemming’s double put the visitors 2-0 up inside 30 minutes but Wolves hit back before half-time through Jorgen Strand Larsen and Marshall Munetsi.Foster’s late strike propelled the Clarets five points clear of the relegation zone and left Wolves now six points adrift of safety.

Arsenal's miserly defence has conceded three Premier League goals so far this season and manager Mikel Arteta hopes their fortress-like foundation can finally deliver the silverware that has eluded the North London club for so long.With David Raya in goal and the commanding centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, clean sheets have become Arsenal's trademark in this campaign. Arsenal have conceded just three times in the league this season and have kept three successive clean sheets in the Champions League, meaning their defensive record after 12 matches is the best in the club's 138-year history. Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side of 20 years ago let in just 15 goals on their way to winning the league, which is a Premier League record.Their defensive solidity even extends to Europe where the formidable back line remain unbreached after three Champions League games and will be put to the test again when the Premier League leaders host Crystal Palace tomorrow."We hope that these records that we are getting a lot bring silverware at the end and the trophies that we want. But the more we can produce, the closer we are going to be able to achieve what we want to do," Arteta told reporters. "Our defensive record is very good but we need to be consistent. It's only the start of the season and our aim is to keep improving things, which we can do to keep getting better."The teams with the best defensive records, most of the time, apart from the last three seasons in the Premier League, you normally win the title. The stronger we are with the foundations, the more probability we have of winning."While Arsenal's defensive wall has frustrated opponents, it's their prowess from set pieces that has been rewriting the record books at the other end of the pitch. Arsenal have already plundered 10 goals from set plays in eight games, the earliest any side has reached double figures for set-piece goals in Premier League history.Arteta admitted he knew set pieces – including free-kicks and corners – would be essential to any success during his Arsenal reign. Crucially, Arteta was doing his coaching badges when he met Nicolas Jover, who would later become set-piece coach at Brentford before joining Arsenal in 2021. Jover has been instrumental in Arsenal's remarkable ability at set-pieces.Arteta credited the training ground obsession that has turned dead-ball situations into Arsenal's secret weapon. "First of all, creating the culture, giving to that part of the game the importance it has," he said. "Also, understanding that football is evolving and the way opponents are acting against us, we have to maximise certain things that happen very frequently. Something that happens very frequently has a lot of value to us, so we try to maximise that and be effective."Tomorrow's encounter carries extra significance after Palace held Arsenal to a damaging 2-2 draw in April, a result that effectively handed Liverpool the title initiative. "It's the fourth game in a row that we have played against an opponent that we dropped points against last year," Arteta said. "This season we've been able to beat them, so our focus is on continuing that."The match also gives attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze the chance to face his former club after the England international's 68mn move in August. Local boy Eze scored the winner for Palace in last season's FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley as the South London club won 1-0 to lift their first major trophy. "For Ebs (Eze) we know it is going to be a very special match with the history and what he did for Palace, but the focus is on the team," Arteta added.

Viktor Gyokeres says he is eager to respond to manager Mikel Arteta’s call to take his goal-scoring momentum into the Premier League, after Tuesday’s impressive performance against Atletico Madrid. Attacker Gyokeres ended a run of seven games without a goal by scoring twice in Arsenal’s 4-0 rout of Atletico in the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium.It took the 27-year-old’s tally for the Gunners to five goals following his £58mn ($77mn) transfer from Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 97 times in 102 appearances.Gunners boss Arteta challenged Gyokeres to keep the goals coming, with Arsenal back in domestic action against London rivals Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday. “I’m more hungry now,” said Gyokeres. “You always want to contribute with work rate and other stuff, but when you score goals as well, it’s a bit special. So that’s something I always want to do.“The group we have and the spirit is something different and something very special. When you win games and you do these performances, it builds confidence in the team. The belief has to always be there, but of course this helps to boost it. We just want to keep going like this.”Manager Arteta said Gyokeres fully deserved the ovation he received from the Arsenal fans. “I think he deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks,” Arteta told reporters.“There was no debate about that. It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely. I look at his teammates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him.”His opening goal was a messy affair as his weak shot dribbled into the net via a deflection while his second came from yet another Arsenal set piece with Gabriel heading a corner into the path of the Sweden international.“He makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable. He’s so physical, the way he presses the ball, holds the ball, that’s phenomenal,” Arteta said. “He’s scored two very different ones today, and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals.”Arsenal have won their three games in Europe so far this season with as many clean sheets. They have conceded just three goals this term, away to champions Liverpool and Newcastle and at home to Manchester City, with just one of those coming from open play, in their first 12 fixtures.Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who has posted five consecutive shutouts, said: “I give clean sheets the same credit as goals. If we’re keeping clean sheets, it’s going to make games easier to win. It’s really, really important for the whole team, not giving away that many chances and being very, very solid. The depth of the squad is incredible. We have a lot of players who can play in two, three or four positions. (Mikel) Merino came on as a striker (against Atletico), but he can play as a number six, eight, or as a number 10, and that is the variety that the boss has and he is using it to our advantage. It gives us an extra level in training and in games, because if you are not at it you can lose your spot and everybody is on board with that.”Premier League table-toppers Arsenal will head into this weekend’s round of fixtures with a three-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. Liverpool are a further point adrift.

Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean Dyche as their new head coach on a deal until 2027, the Premier League club announced. The 54-year-old former Burnley and Everton boss has replaced Ange Postecoglou after the Australian was sacked on Saturday following just 40 days in charge at the City Ground.Dyche, a Forest trainee under celebrated manager Brian Clough, becomes the club's third boss this season in what is his first job since the Englishman left Everton at the start of this year. Former Manchester City and Italy manager Roberto Mancini was reported to have held talks with Forest about the role, while Fulham boss Marco Silva was also linked to the vacancy.But Forest opted for Dyche, with the club saying in a statement: "A respected and experienced Premier League manager, Dyche brings the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement to guide the club through its next chapter."Dyche's first game in charge will be Thursday's Europa League tie at home to Porto, with his opening Premier League fixture away to Bournemouth on Sunday. His coaching staff will include two former Forest players in Ian Woan and Steve Stone.Postecoglou was sacked just minutes after Saturday's 3-0 loss to Chelsea, making him the shortest-serving permanent manager in Premier League history. Owner Evangelos Marinakis dismissed the former Spurs boss after no wins from his opening eight games.Postecoglou was appointed following the exit of Nuno Espirito Santo, who was himself sacked in September following the collapse of his relationship with Marinakis. Forest are in the Premier League relegation zone with just five points after eight games despite a squad bolstered by over £100mn ($134mn) of investment during the transfer window.Maradona's heirs sign deal with Swedish company to market brandThe five heirs to Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona, who died in 2020, have signed a deal with Swedish-Iranian businessman Ash Pournouri and his company Electa Global to market products under the Maradona name, the Swedish company said. The company said in a statement that under the long-term agreement "Electa will manage all aspects of product design, manufacturing, marketing, and retail, in close coordination with the family.""There aren't many official Maradona products," Pournouri said. Argentina's legendary number 10 died of a heart attack on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60.But while other football stars, such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappe, have leveraged their names and stardom into brands, Maradona never did. "This is partly because it didn't happen during his lifetime, and since his passing, his family and children haven't wanted to undertake anything with anyone," Pournouri explained, adding that "it took some time to earn their trust.""Our father's name means so much to millions of people around the world," the heirs were quoted saying. They continued to say "it's not just about products." "It's about preserving who Diego was – his passion, his energy, and his love for people."Initially, high-end clothing, shoes, and accessories will be designed for the European market.

Liverpool slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time in 11 years as Manchester United won 2-1 Sunday to end their near decade-long wait for victory at Anfield.Harry Maguire’s 84th minute header secured back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in Ruben Amorim’s tenure as United boss. Twelve minutes from time, Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s opener after just 61 seconds.Defeat leaves Liverpool four points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the table and Arne Slot still searching for answers in how to get the right blend after splashing out nearly £450 million ($604 million) on new players in the transfer market.United close to within two points of their historic rivals and up to ninth in the table to ease the pressure on Amorim after his biggest win in nearly a year in charge.Liverpool had only lost one of the previous 14 Premier League meetings between the sides and United had not tasted victory at Anfield since the early days of Jurgen Klopp’s reign in January 2016.However, the Reds are in a state of flux after transforming the squad that stormed to the title last season and the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July. After three consecutive defeats for the first time in Slot’s reign, Liverpool could barely have imagined a worse start.Mbeumo sped past Virgil van Dijk with ease before firing past Giorgi Mamardashvili from Amad Diallo’s pass after barely a minute.The home side and support were furious that play was not stopped in the build-up after Alexis MacAllister went down with a head injury, inflicted by his own captain Van Dijk.Slot left £100mn signing Florian Wirtz on the bench for the second consecutive game as he looked in vain to find the right balance between defence and attack.Gakpo should have levelled for the defending champions when he hit the post from Mohamed Salah’s through ball in Liverpool’s one flowing move of the first half.However, it was United who should have been further in front by half-time.Bruno Fernandes spurned a glorious chance to double the Red Devils’ lead when he hit the outside of the post when unmarked from the edge of the area.At the other end, Senne Lammens was rarely troubled in the first 45 minutes, but produced a big save when called upon to deny Alexander Isak his first Premier League goal since joining Liverpool for a British transfer record £125mn. A Gakpo deflected cross then came back off the post and the Dutchman rattled the woodwork for a third time early in the second half.Slot turned to his near £200 million in forward options off the bench as Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike were introduced on the hour mark to join Salah, Gakpo and Isak in a five-man attack.Salah has scored more goals than any other player in this fixture, but his lack of form showed in a wild finish to slice wide with just Lammens to beat at the back post. Liverpool’s wealth of attacking talent finally broke the door down when Federico Chiesa, who had replaced Isak moments earlier, drilled in a low cross that Gakpo converted from point blank range.Yet, their defensive frailties meant parity only lasted six minutes as Maguire was left unmarked to head in Fernandes’s looping cross. Gakpo should still have rescued a point when he headed wide with the goal gaping from Jeremie Frimpong’s inviting delivery.Rogers and Buendia inspire Aston VillaMorgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia inspired Aston Villa’s fightback to win 2-1 against Tottenham Sunday as the north Londoners suffered more misery on home turf. Rodrigo Bentancur put Thomas Frank’s side ahead early in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.But Rogers equalised with a superb strike before the interval and Buendia came off the bench to seal the points in the closing stages.Tottenham’s woeful home form in the Premier League – 11 defeats and just three wins in 18 league games – has proved a major issue for Frank since he replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou in the close-season.While the majority of those home losses came under Postecoglou last term, Frank’s short tenure has produced mixed results at the club’s 62,000-seat stadium, with boos audible after a defeat to Bournemouth in August and a 1-1 draw with lowly Wolves last month.The end of Tottenham’s seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions left them in sixth place after the second defeat in Frank’s eight league games.

Erling Haaland carried Manchester City to within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with the only goal at Brentford, while Crystal Palace's 19-game unbeaten run was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Everton.The Norwegian maintained his sensational early season form to score his 18th goal for club and country in just 11 appearances this season. Haaland showed his strength to bully his way through the Brentford defence from Josko Gvardiol's long ball and fire home on nine minutes.Victory came at a cost for Pep Guardiola's men as Rodri was forced off in his latest injury setback since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament tear that saw him miss most of last season. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was in tears when he had to be replaced with an apparent hamstring problem midway through the first half. Despite a less than sparkling performance, City held out to haul themselves up to fifth and right back into the title race.Palace missed the chance to go second after suffering a European hangover at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Eagles were dominant in the first 45 minutes but were left to rue not adding to Daniel Munoz's finish from Ismaila Sarr's pass. However, their UEFA Conference League exertions in winning away to Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday took their toll in the second half.Iliman Ndiaye equalised from the penalty spot after Maxence Lacroix clumsily upended Beto as Everton fought back to avoid a first defeat at their new home. Jack Grealish then got fortunate for his first Everton goal as Munoz's attempted clearance rebounded off the Manchester City loanee into the roof of the net. "I thought Crystal Palace should have been out of sight, they should have been 3-0 up, but we stuck at it," said Everton boss David Moyes.Ange Postecoglou's wait for a first win as Nottingham Forest manager goes on after a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. The Australian is the first Forest boss in over 100 years to fail to win in his first seven games and now faces an anxious wait to see if club owner Evangelos Marinakis decides to make another managerial change over the international break. "I knew it was a big challenge walking in. That's what it is and there's nothing wrong with that," said Postecoglou.Newcastle had only won one of their opening six Premier League games. But Bruno Guimaraes led the Magpies to victory with a brilliant strike from outside the box to break the deadlock on 58 minutes. Guimaraes then won a penalty after robbing former team-mate Elliot Anderson inside the Forest box.Nick Woltemade smashed the resulting spot-kick into the top corner for his fourth Newcastle goal since joining from Stuttgart last month. Forest slip to 17th, the same league position that saw Postecoglou sacked by Tottenham at the end of last season despite winning the Europa League.After a slow start to the season, Aston Villa beat Burnley 2-1 to secure a fourth win in the last 11 days. Donyell Malen was the Villa match-winner with his first goals since April. The Dutch forward opened the scoring after racing onto Boubacar Kamara's brilliant through ball to slot into the far corner.Morgan Rogers was the creator for the second that Malen controlled before drilling confidently into the far corner. Lesley Ugochukwu pulled a goal back but Burnley remain in the relegation zone. Wolves are still rooted to the foot of the table after conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at home to Brighton.

Brazilian wonderkid Estevao’s first Chelsea goal inflicted a third consecutive defeat on Liverpool Saturday, allowing Arsenal to go top of the Premier League after beating West Ham 2-0.After winning their opening seven games of the season in all competitions, Liverpool have suffered a nightmare week to leave Arne Slot plenty to ponder over the international break.Injury-hit Chelsea were well worthy of a dramatic 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge to end their three-game winless run in the Premier League.One-time Liverpool target Moises Caicedo blasted the Blues into a half-time lead with a blistering strike into the top corner on 14 minutes.Alexander Isak’s £125mn ($168mn) move to Liverpool last month broke Caicedo’s record as the most expensive Premier League player of all-time.The Swedish striker is still yet to score a league goal but his deft touch teed up Cody Gakpo to equalise just after the hour mark.However, Chelsea were not to be denied as Estevao slid in at the far post to meet Marc Cucurella’s cross deep into stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations from manager Enzo Maresca who was shown a red card for sprinting down the touchline.Liverpool now trail Arsenal by one point, while Chelsea edge up to sixth.Arsenal lose Odegaard In Mikel Arteta’s 300th match in charge, Arsenal proved far too strong for the struggling Hammers to further their ambitions of a first Premier League title for 22 years.Victory came at a cost for Arsenal as captain Martin Odegaard was forced off injured before half-time for the third time this season.However, the strength in depth now on offer to Arteta has made light of Arsenal’s injury troubles.“We dominated and fully deserved to win this,” said Arteta. “To go top of the table after some big fixtures over the last week and some injuries... we were able to respond.”Declan Rice, who left West Ham for £105 million in 2023, ended the visitors’ resistence by blasting high into the net on the rebound after Alphonse Areola parried Eberechi Eze’s drive.Bukayo Saka made the points safe midway through the second half from the penalty spot on his 200th Arsenal appearance after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf.Breathing spacefor Amorim Manchester United handed Ruben Amorim some relief with a 2-0 win over Sunderland Saturday.The Portuguese had taken just 34 points from his previous 33 Premier League games in charge, but enjoyed a rare convincing win to give him some breathing space over the international break.“We were a competitive and adult team today,” said Amorim. “We need to do this kind of performance away as well - it’s our responsibility to play like this,” he added.Before kick-off Old Trafford fell silent to honour the victims of a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue this week.Amorim’s bold calls with his team selection paid off as goalkeeper Senne Lammens kept a clean sheet on his debut, while Mason Mount justified his place over Matheus Cunha with the opening goal.Mount eased the home fans’ tension with a fine finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross on eight minutes. Benjamin Sesko doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with a predatory finish from a long throw-in for his first Old Trafford goal since a £74mn move from RB Leipzig.Nearly a twistThere was nearly a twist at the end of the half as Sunderland were initially awarded a penalty, only for VAR to intervene due to insufficent contact by Sesko on Trai Hume.Tottenham showed their newfound defensive resolve under Thomas Frank to end Leeds’ year-long unbeaten league run at Elland Road with a 2-1 victory.Mohammed Kudus’ first goal for Spurs secured all three points after Noah Okafor cancelled out Mathys Tel’s opener for the visitors.“That feeling to get over the line, to get three points, was big,” said Frank after his side moved up to third.

The Premier League’s record transfer summer has had an acute impact on Germany, where even Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have felt the impact of English football’s growing financial muscle.Other than Liverpool signing Alexander Isak from rivals Newcastle, the top four most expensive Premier League arrivals this summer Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Nick Woltemade and Benjamin Sesko all came from the Bundesliga.A total of 380mn euros (£300mn, $446mn) plus bonuses was paid out on that quartet alone, with the two most expensive moving to the same club: Liverpool.Premier League clubs spent more than three billion euros this summer, a record for a transfer window. The shifting sands have led to debate about whether to pursue major structural reforms in Germany, like abolishing the fan-loved 50+1 rule, which restricts outside investment and ensures member control.Others, however, suggest that clubs could take advantage of the Premier League’s wealth, potentially uprooting Germany’s well-established footballing hierarchy.Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn, the club’s former goalkeeper, slammed German football administrators on Monday, saying that clubs and the league were content to play second fiddle.Kahn called for changes in structure and in attitude.“For many, this is normal now. For me, it’s a signal. The league is playing too safe and has forgotten how to take risks,” Kahn wrote on his personal LinkedIn account.“(The question is) whether we want to remain a league that creates talent and loses it – or whether we want to create the conditions for talents to stay here.”Kahn did not directly call for the abolition of the 50+1 rule, but said that structural restraints meant “bold decisions don’t emerge”.Under the 50+1 rule, German clubs must be majority owned by club members mostly fans thus restricting external investment. The only two clubs which have an exception to that rule, Bayer-owned Leverkusen and Volkswagen-owned Wolfsburg, have won league titles in the past 20 years. Double winners in 2023-24, Leverkusen lost eight members of that team this summer, with five moving to the Premier League.Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes told DAZN this season: “when a domino falls in England, it will fall here. As a club you have almost no choice but to let the player go.”As Europe’s largest nation and a traditional football powerhouse, some view the rivers of Premier League gold as an opportunity.This summer, Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart each sold at least one player to the Premier League for a fee of more than 50mn euros.Rolfes said the “key factor in offsetting the Premier League’s economic advantage” was the “professionalisation of youth academy programmes”.The wealth available has the potential to change a German club’s fortunes.In 2024, Porsche paid 100mn euros to take a minority stake in Stuttgart, providing the side with financial security. Stuttgart qualified for the Champions League in 2024, the first time in 15 years, and won the German Cup a season later. In August, Stuttgart received 85mn euros for Woltemade, who arrived on a free a season earlier.One of Europe’s biggest clubs, even Bayern have not escaped the ripple effects. Despite courting Wirtz and Woltemade, both players moved to the Premier League.Earlier this season, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said “certain things weren’t possible during the transfer window because we want to be very financially prudent.”Asked at a press conference on Friday to assess the appeal of the Premier League this transfer window, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany gave a one-word answer: “money”.In Germany, Bayern’s woes are unlikely to win them too much sympathy. The growing financial might of the Premier League presents a real challenge to Bayern’s status as the league’s apex predators. Winners of 34 German titles no other side has hit double figures Bayern have built their success on the back of plucking their rivals’ best, particularly in recent seasons.This summer shows competition from the Premier League is making that more difficult.

Alexander Isak was on the brink of a British-record £125mn ($169mn) move to Liverpool from Newcastle Monday on a frantic final day of the Premier League transfer window.The Sweden striker is understood to have arrived at Liverpool’s training ground Monday as a protracted saga neared its end.With the Premier League window due to shut at 1800 GMT, there were a number of big deals yet to be done as clubs scramble to strengthen.Sky Sports reported that Newcastle had agreed a deal to sign Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, while Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was set for a move to Manchester City after being told he was surplus to requirements at Paris Saint-Germain.Struggling Manchester United were understood to have agreed a deal to sign Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for an initial 21mn euros (£18mn, $24.6mn) as they seek to address their goalkeeping problems. But most eyes will be on the expected finalising of Isak’s move to Liverpool.The 25-year-old has made clear his desire to leave Newcastle even though he has three years remaining on his contract. The Anfield club had a £110mn offer for the forward rejected last month and since then he has not trained with or played for Newcastle.Isak is set to become Liverpool’s eighth first-team signing of the summer window, and his purchase marks the second time that they have broken their own transfer record following the capture of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial fee of £100mn.Arne Slot’s side, who beat Arsenal 1-0 on Sunday to maintain their perfect Premier League record this season, are also reported to have agreed a £35mn deal to sign Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi.Once the Isak and Guehi deals are completed, Liverpool’s summer spending will reach an eye-watering figure of around £450mn, although there have also been significant departures including Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold.Newcastle last week signed German international striker Nick Woltemade for a club-record fee reported to be worth up to £69mn.That paved the way for the potential departure of Isak, who scored 27 goals for Eddie Howe’s team in all competitions last season. The Magpies will have further strengthened their attack with the arrival of Wissa, who on Sunday urged Brentford to “keep their word” and allow him to leave.Now it appears that the DR Congo forward, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, has his wish, giving Saudi-owned Newcastle extra firepower as they prepare for their Champions League campaign.Donnarumma, who won the Champions League with PSG in May, is poised for a move to City, with the Premier League club understood to have agreed a fee of around 35 million euros.Ederson, City’s long-serving Brazilian goalkeeper, is understood to be on the radar of Turkish side Fenerbahce. Man United have endured poor starts to the season from goalkeepers Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.The club had been linked with Argentina stopper Emiliano Martinez, who was not included in Aston Villa’s matchday squad for their 3-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.But the 20-time Premier League champions appear to have opted for the potential of Lammens over the experience of the World Cup-winning Martinez.United are also understood to have agreed to sell Brazil winger Antony to Real Betis. Villa were reported to have agreed a loan deal for United winger Jadon Sancho and have also signed former Old Trafford defender Victor Lindelof on a free transfer. Sancho has flopped since making a £73mn move to United from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 and spent last season at Chelsea on loan.Villa are also expected to tie up a loan deal for Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott. Chelsea signed Brighton winger Facundo Buonanotte on a season-long loan.The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Leicester, scoring five goals in 31 Premier League appearances.Tottenham have reportedly agreed a season-long loan deal to sign PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani.

Manchester United remain without a Premier League win this season after being held 1-1 at Fulham Sunday, while a Jack Grealish-inspired Everton opened their new stadium with a 2-0 victory over Brighton.Ruben Amorim's United were left to rue Bruno Fernandes' wayward first-half penalty as they were pegged back at Craven Cottage.Rodrigo Muniz's own-goal put United in front on the hour mark, but Emile Smith Rowe came off the bench to rescue a point for Fulham.Amorim is seeking an upturn on a disastrous 15th-placed finish last season, but so far his new £200mn ($270mn) forward line of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who again started on the bench, is yet to fire.Despite an encouraging performance, United lost 1-0 to title-chasing Arsenal in their season opener last weekend and will feel another two points slipped away in west London.Fulham, though, felt the visitors got the better of two controversial calls.United's penalty was awarded after a VAR review for grappling by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount.Fernandes is normally reliable from the spot, but blasted his effort high over the bar.When United did finally get their first goal of the season it came via a Fulham body as Muniz deflected Leny Yoro's header into his own net.However, the home side were furious that this time VAR did not intervene for a push by Yoro on Bassey.Fulham still managed to rescue a point when former Arsenal midfielder Smith Rowe's run into the box was not tracked and he turned in Alex Iwobi's cross 17 minutes from time.Everton's new eraAfter an emotional goodbye to Goodison Park, the club's home since 1892, Everton are hoping the move to a new 53,000 capacity stadium will rekindle their bygone glory days.Only four clubs have won more English top-flight titles than Everton's nine.However, they have not won a major trophy for 30 years and spent their final seasons at Goodison battling relegation."We're trying to find a way of moving the club on. I think this is a big step forward for Everton," said manager David Moyes.Grealish has so far been the marquee new addition to Moyes' squad and showed glimpses of the talent that saw Manchester City pay Aston Villa £100 million for him four years ago, providing the assist for both goals.Iliman Ndiaye scored the final goal at Goodison against Southampton in May and made more history with the first goal at Everton's new home.Grealish was the creator with a drilled left foot cross that Ndiaye timed his run perfectly to meet at the back post on 23 minutes.Brighton should not have come away from Merseyside empty-handed but wasted a series of chances.Kaoru Mitoma struck the bar and Jan Paul van Hecke's effort came back off the post, while Danny Welbeck spooned over with the goal gaping.James Garner doubled Everton's lead early in the second period with a blistering strike from Grealish's lay-off.Brighton still had the chance to set up a nervy finale, but Jordan Pickford saved Welbeck's poor penalty to round off a memorable afternoon for the Toffees.Nuno no goNottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo insisted he wants to remain in charge after his side's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.Callum Hudson-Odoi rescued a point for Forest after Ismaila Sarr's first-half opener for Palace.Nuno said on Friday his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated as odds on him being the first Premier League manager of the season to be sacked were slashed."That is nonsense. That does not make any kind of sense," said the Portuguese coach on whether he is trying to engineer an exit from the club.