Key events Right, that’s all from me on this blog. Thanks for reading. Join Daniel Gallan for live updates on Tottenham v Aston Villa, which starts in just under 10 minutes. We’ll also have our clockwatch, taking in as many as the 3pm BST kick-offs as Scott Murray can manage, launching around 2pm BST. Later […]
Key events
Right, that’s all from me on this blog. Thanks for reading.
Join Daniel Gallan for live updates on Tottenham v Aston Villa, which starts in just under 10 minutes.
We’ll also have our clockwatch, taking in as many as the 3pm BST kick-offs as Scott Murray can manage, launching around 2pm BST.
Later on, Will Magee will helm our liveblog of Arsenal v Manchester United in the Women’s Super League. Kick-off for that one is 5.30pm BST.
Cheers!
West Ham’s team bus has arrived at the Den, with Millwall supporters giving the away team their customary warm welcome. West Ham fans are being escorted from the nearby train stations to the ground, and are in full voice, including songs and chants of Ludo Miklosko, who died aged 64 on Monday.
Millwall v West Ham team news
Millwall: Marschall, Osei-Tutu, Taylor, Cooper, Sturge, Metcalfe, Mazou-Sacko, Sykes, Dykes, Neghli, Arconte.
Subs: Crocombe, Servais, Baggott, Kelly, Lisbie, Batth, Cundle, Issoufou, Doughty.
West Ham: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Morato, Bowen, Mukasa, Engels, Solomon, Piroe, Castellanos.
Subs: Herrick, Kante, Pablo Felipe, Magassa, Scarles, Austbo, Golambeckis, Orford, Ajala.
Referee: pray for Paul Tierney (Lancashire).
The Metropolitan Police, London’s police service, issued this statement this morning, via social media:
A Section 60 order has been authorised for today’s fixture of Millwall v West Ham. This gives police enhanced powers to stop and search people and vehicles without the usual requirement of reasonable suspicion. This will cover the area shown on the map and will run until 20:00hrs on Saturday, 19 September. You can expect to see additional officers in the area too, providing visible reassurance and working with partners to keep ticket holders and the wider public safe.
The City of London police have also put an S35 order in place, in effect to the area directly north of the blue area above, over the Thames. “If someone is contributing to crime, disorder or anti-social behaviour, they can be told to leave & not return for a specified period,” says the statement, which says the order will be in effect until 8pm BST.
WSL team news
Two early kick-offs in the WSL, with London City Lionesses and Chelsea in action – superstars Mapi León and Alexia Putellas both start for London City while the Blues will be desperate to close the gap on leaders and defending champions Manchester City, following the latter’s victory over Liverpool on Friday.
Charlton v London City Lionesses (12.30pm BST kick-off)
Charlton Women: Whitehouse, Siber, N’Dow, Lobato, Skeels, Robe, Davidson, Van Egmond, Hutton, Kenney, Korhonen.
Subs: Koivunen, Mason, Johnston, Humphrey, Azzaro, Fitzgerald, Flannery, Lockwood, Waldie.
London City Lionesses: Lete, Fernandez, Kardinaal, Leon, Pattinson, Arques, Geyoro, Diani, van de Donk, Putellas, Goodwin. Subs: Earps, Perez, Linari, Godfrey, Parris, Anyomi, Kafaji, Thomsen, Powroznik.
Chelsea v Birmingham City (12.45pm BST kick-off)
Chelsea Women: Hampton, Carpenter, Bronze, Buchanan, Buurman, Potter, Walsh, Nusken, Thompson, Kaptein, Baltimore. Subs: Peng, Girma, Malard, Bjorn, McCabe, Dragoni, Las, Hamano, Rudz.
Birmingham City Women: Baggaley, Levasseur, Herron, Turner, McKenna, Miyagawa, Naalsund, Crosthwaite, Leidhammar, Hurte, Lee.
Subs: Thomas, Harris, Rastocle, Cooke, Amano, Holloway, Cornet, Effa Effa, Sarri.
The pressure is on for Manchester United, who go to winless Fulham on Sunday. The decision not to buy a left-back already looked like a mistake, while I would argue that £50m for Andrey Santos is waaaaaaay too much money, even if the Brazilian is a capable player. Carlos Baleba is a real talent, but inconsistent and hasn’t played a minute of football since his £65m move from Brighton, owing to injury. He will not feature at Craven Cottage.
Here is Will Unwin on United’s growing concerns:
Tottenham v Aston Villa team news
Our minute-by-minute report for Tottenham v Aston Villa is live! Join Daniel Gallan.
The team news is in:
Tottenham XI: Kinsky, Porro, Van Hecke, Van De Ven, Robertson, Tonali, Bentancur, Savio, Fernandes, Marmoush, Solanke.
Subs: Dubravka, Tosin, Senesi, Gallagher, Maddison, Udogie, Gray, Bergvall, Kudus.
Pedro Porro returns for Spurs and slots in at right-back in place of Archie Gray. Sandro Tonali also returns to the starting line-up in place of Conor Gallagher.
Aston Villa XI: Suzuki, Wan-Bissaka, Mings, Lindelof, Ruggeri, Joao Gomes, Kamara, McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi, Jackson.
Subs: Wright, Cash, Harwoo-Bellis, Barkley, Garnacho, Abraham, Mbaye, Bogarde, Hemmings.
Summer signing Johan Manzambi makes his debut! Looked a very exciting player with Switzerland at the World Cup. Joao Gomes returns after his ban following an opening-day red card. Matteo Ruggeri and Tyrone Mings are also included with Ross Barkley dropping to the bench, despite his goal against Coventry in the League Cup.
Here’s Andy Hunter on Andoni Iraola and Liverpool. There are, regrettably, no mentions of volleys but it’s a nice piece:
Turns out Emi Martinez is less the new Petr Cech and more the new Dave Beasant. Some of us saw it coming amidst those ‘signing of the window’ plaudits here and elsewhere. Long way to go yet, but he’s been on the slide for years.
Emi Martínez has conceded 10 goals in four matches since joining Chelsea and while he hasn’t been at his best, I think the Blues’ defensive woes are a collective problem.
Looking back at the three goals that Brentford scored last night, I’m not sure he is at fault for any of them (potentially could have come for the corner that led to Bees’ first goal?!). He actually made an excellent one-on-one stop top deny Kevin Schade and was helpless to prevent Thiago tucking in the rebound.
It remains an interesting goalkeeper situation at Chelsea. Robert Sánchez has been sent on loan to Como, with Cesc Fabregas excited to have his compatriot in his squad: “Robert Sánchez is a player who comes from a very important team, he’s won trophies and is under constant pressure. There, you have to always win. It was a great opportunity to always win. Since he’s arrived, it’s perfect for me; we didn’t expect it at the start.”
Xabi Alonso does have the option of Mike Penders, who is widely seen as Chelsea’s No 1 in the long-term. The Belgian impressed at Strasbourg last season and is very good with his feet, an area that is not the strongest for Martínez. Penders is the No 2 and will play games in the cups, but it will be interesting to see if Chelsea improve defensively with Martínez in the Premier League.
Veeeeeeeeeery interesting game today in Brighton. The Seagulls come into this game off the back of a 5-0 win at Coventry and a brilliant 3-2 win at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and will fancy their chances of getting something against Arsenal – Brighton have scored 13 goals this season. No other team that has played just four matches has more than eight goals.
Arsenal travel to the Amex looking to win 10 Premier League games in a row for the first time in 24 years. A win at Brighton would match the Gunners’ club record for consecutive wins at the start of a season, set back in 1903.
After his two goals against Ipswich in midweek, Arteta spoke on Friday about Max Dowman’s “extraordinary” transition from schoolboy to Arsenal first-team squad member and backed the teenager to make more of an impact this season.
We’ll see if he is rewarded with a start against Brighton but most suspect his development will be a slow burn. Barney Ronay has written this on Arsenal managing Dowman’s unmistakeable talent at such a young age.
Zinedine Zidane’s goal in the 2002 Champions League final? Volley, obviously.
Papiss Cissé’s goal against Chelsea? Half-volley.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal against Tottenham? Somewhere in between. Neither a volley or a half-volley. I stand with Iraola.
The first and most pressing question that Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola was asked at his press conference on Friday, before his side’s trip to former club Bournemouth on Sunday?
Whether Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal against Tottenham in midweek was a volley.
Iraola smashed it, 100% the correct answer. It is categorically not a volley, neither a half-volley. “We need a new word for it,” said the Spaniard.
I enjoyed this, from Andrew Beasley, on Tottenham’s failures so far this season. Spurs have failed to score a single goal in their four matches to date.
Inter legend Sandro Mazzola dies aged 83
Former Italy forward Sandro Mazzola, who spent all 17 years of his senior career at Internazionale, has died at the age of 83, the club said on Saturday.
Mazzola, considered a club icon at Inter, scored 158 goals in 565 appearances, helping them win four Serie A titles and two European Cups. He was part of the Italy side that won the Euros in 1968 and reached the World Cup final in Mexico two years later.
“Sandro Mazzola was one of the greatest footballers in history. Not only in the history of the Nerazzurri,” Inter said in a statement on their official website, using a nickname for the team. “He was Inter’s history: he joined the club as a boy and never left it.“
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy had lost one of the most beloved figures in its soccer history. “He brought joy and passion to generations of Italians, leaving an indelible mark on our nation,” she posted on social media.
Mazzola was six years old when his father Valentino, also an Italy international, died in the Superga air disaster, a plane crash in May 1949 that killed the entire Torino team on their way back from a match in Lisbon.
At 18, Mazzola made his senior debut when Inter fielded their youth side in a match against Juventus, after the Italian federation overturned a decision awarding Inter a 2-0 victory following a pitch invasion by Juventus fans and ordered a replay.
A former Inter club mascot as a child, Mazzola made his senior debut at 18 and quickly became a first-team regular, helping Inter win their first European Cup in 1964 by scoring a double as they beat Real Madrid 3-1 in the final. He played a key role when Inter won the title again the next season.
Mazzola retired as a player in 1977 and later served as Inter’s sporting director. He also became the sporting director of Torino, his father’s club.
“The star with the moustache shone on the pitch, and still does today. As he often said, he had one final wish: to be remembered as a good man, someone who keeps fighting even when winning is impossible, like in that 9-1,” Inter said. Reuters
Regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England recall, here’s what Tuchel had to say …
… and here is Sid Lowe’s analysis, the view from Spain:
Thomas Tuchel said Trent Alexander Arnold had enjoyed a good start to the season, which came as news to those in England who have not been watching him at Real Madrid. It also, in truth, came as news to those in Spain who have. If the England manager did not see enough in Alexander-Arnold to include him in the World Cup in the summer he has not really had the chance to see enough to change that decision as autumn begins. Two unremarkable league starts provide insufficient evidence with which to make a case for the full-back’s recall, or indeed his exclusion, but he is in the squad.
The Ben White/England situation continues to be frustrating. After missing out on the World Cup squad through injury – a tournament which Reece James struggled for fitness, Tino Livramento was sidelined for and Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped (and White’s relationship with Saka on the right wing could have proved invaluable) – the versatile Arsenal right-back was again omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s squad on Friday, with the German admitting that he would have called up the 28-year-old – possibly instead of Trent Alexander-Arnold – had he not been injured.
“Ben White pulled out with an injury after a fantastic start to the season with Arsenal. He’s not available now – which has been the story with Ben,” said Tuchel on Friday.
All of which is fine, until Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta announced later on Friday that White was fit enough to be in contention for Arsenal to face Brighton this weekend. Hmmm. With England not playing their first match of the international break for another week, something does seem to be up. Just what, we don’t know.
That Malen has better numbers than even Kane since January is remarkable. Especially as the Englishman is continuing to break scoring records with Bayern. Kane scored two on Friday as Bayern roared past Union Berlin 7-0 – smashing the 49-year-old record for the fastest player to reach 100 Bundesliga goals (in 98 games). Cologne’s Dieter Müller set the previous mark in 1977, but it took him 129 matches.
Quite the match later on in Serie A, as Internazionale travel to Roma. The two teams are leading the way at the top of the table. Defending champions Inter are very much the team to beat in Italy, but the story really is Roma and free-scoring Donyell Malen
Malen has six goals from four league games this season and no player in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more goals since his Roma debut on 18 January, when he joined on loan from Aston Villa. Roma made that deal permanent in the summer – a snip at £21.6m. Malen also has more combined goals and assists (22) than any other player, putting Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (20), Bayern striker Harry Kane (20) and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal (19) in the shade.
There is no doubt Roma are making great strides under Gian Gasperini, surely one of the finest managers on the continent. After qualifying for the Champions League last season, the Giallorossi now have their eyes set on a first Scudetto since 2001 – Batistuta, Totti, Montella et al.
Roma v Inter kicks off today at 5pm BST.
There was a fabulous WSL game at the Academy stadium in Manchester last night. City were made to work very hard by an improving Liverpool side, with the defending champions scoring two in stoppage time to edge a 4-2 thriller. Here’s Tom Garry’s report:
Elsewhere in the Championship, Wrexham host Southampton with the Welsh side looking to bounce back from that harrowing 6-0 shellacking at West Ham eight days ago.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, Wrexham’s co-chairmen, have previewed the game with the Saints with this video …
Possibly more interesting is the progress of the new Kop Stand at the Racehorse Ground. Which you have to say looks magnificent.
Plenty of Championship storylines to go around today – as per – but the headline act is definitely Millwall v West Ham. It is the fierce rivals’ first clash in 14 years, and their 100th competitive meeting. Jacob Steinberg has penned this excellent preview:
The mood will still be tense. There is an odd dynamic to the game. West Ham have at times found it awkward because some of their fans care far more about beating Chelsea and Tottenham. But a trip to Stamford Bridge or N17 is a familiar experience. Going south of the river to Millwall is somehow viewed as different, the short train ride from London Bridge treated as an intrepid journey into some hostile alien planet.
Very early days, of course, but this is the current Premier League table. That’s quite the top six, even at this stage of the season.
Let’s start with Brentford’s drubbing of neighbours Chelsea, who were soundly beaten 3-0. Quite a funny result for the neutral, but Brentford are no joke these days. Thiago is a starting striker for Brazil, Vitaly Janelt has just been called up by Jürgen Klopp to the Germany squad, Mikkel Damsgaard remains criminally underrated, Kevin Schade is quietly turning into one of the most efficient forwards in the Premier League and Jannik Schuster – signed for around £14m in the summer from RB Salzburg – has apparently inherited the spirit of Franco Baresi.
This is what Jonathan Wilson, at the at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday, had to say about Brentford’s victory:
Those early-season thoughts that Chelsea might be the team best-placed to challenge Arsenal are beginning to look extremely over-optimistic. The two chaotic wins with which they began were always difficult to read: they might have been useful points picked up on the way to a more solid structure, or they might have represented evidence of significant problems. After three games without a win, and 12 goals conceded in five games this season, it’s beginning to look like the latter.
At the final whistle, Keith Andrews tipped his head back and roared at the sky, celebrating Brentford’s first home win over Chelsea since 1938. They remain unbeaten, coherent and disciplined, and moved up to third in the table. The comparison is impossible not to draw: as one side flail in an orgy of structured spending, their far less wealthy neighbours thrive with a clear plan and sense of direction. “It was a performance I felt was bubbling,” said Andrews. “I could see it in the players’ eyes over the last two days. They were very focused, very determined.”
Preamble
The last weekend before the international break. The final beer of the holiday. Savour it, drink in the sunset (Millwall v West Ham), ignore the kids screaming in the background (Tottenham v Aston Villa) and reminisce about all the memories you have created (Brentford 3-0 Chelsea).
There is, of course, plenty more besides to enjoy. We’ll have WSL, a full set of Scottish and Football League fixtures, four more Premier League matches, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1. You’ll be a lot of things today, but one thing you won’t be is bored.
