Category Archives: football

comeback, football, sports, team, victory

Renck: In signature win for Sean Payton, Broncos prove they’re afraid of nobody with remarkable comeback vs. Eagles

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Broncos Rally Past Eagles in Stunning 21-17 Victory

PHILADELPHIA — The quarterback fought frustration. The tight end remained in witness protection. The cornerback got cooked. The penalties, each more ridiculous than the last, mounted. The Broncos were on the verge of getting skunked. Then something remarkable happened. They finished. They met the moment. At last.

Trailing by 14 points against the defending champion Eagles—who had not lost a home game in 13 months—the Broncos rallied for a 21-17 victory, surviving a heart-in-a-blender Hail Mary pass.

Broncos Analysis: A Blueprint for Success

This game threatened to become a blowout. Instead, it became the blueprint. You saw it: run the ball, convert third downs, use the middle of the field, and turn Nik Bonitto loose (not sure if he showers after games or just licks his paws).

As the football sat lonely in the corner of the end zone with time expired, safety Talanoa Hufanga taunted Philadelphia fans, raising his arms in the air for dramatic effect. The swagger and confidence were no longer just a locker room thing—they were out in the open for everyone to see.

The Broncos are back in every January conversation. They are 3-2 and should be favored in their next seven games. In a remarkable final 15 minutes, they transformed the lingering narrative that they were frauds into a story inspiring fear.

These players, who were the equivalent of a clenched fist after walk-off losses to the Colts and Chargers, punched back. Enough was enough.

“When that ball went up in the air and those two (Eagles receivers DeVonta Smith and A. J. Brown) thought they had it, there was no way I was letting that happen,” Surtain said. “It wasn’t going to be a horror story. Not today. We were writing the perfect story.”

Puff out your chest, Broncos Country. Embrace this group. Why not?

Sean Payton wants the bright lights, the biggest challenges, and his team beat the champs as he passed mentor Bill Parcells on the NFL’s all-time wins list. The Broncos knocked out a great team—in a close game.

Want to be taken seriously? Beat teams you are not supposed to beat—in games you are not supposed to win. That was Sunday.

“That is just who we are,” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “We believe in each other.”

Turning the Tide

They were all they had through three quarters. At one point, the Broncos punted six straight times. CBS did not assign Jim Nantz and Tony Romo this game to narrate a documentary on Jeremy Crawshaw. The excuses were lining up: short week, early start back East. Visiting teams prior to a game in London were 10-17.

“And then we come out and make mistakes. I obviously had one,” said cornerback Riley Moss, who Smith outran for a 52-yard completion on third-and-17. “But guys never stopped competing.”

The fourth quarter turned paint-by-numbers into Picasso. Bo Nix looked like an elite quarterback. He led three scoring drives, completing 9 of 10 passes for 127 yards. He found Evan Engram, who was called out by Payton for bad body language. Engram responded with two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.

Nix turned to the one player he never had chemistry with last season, college teammate Troy Franklin, drilling a strike for a two-point conversion. And when it mattered most, he leaned on Courtland Sutton—they share the same biorhythms on third down.

Even then, the Broncos needed one more drive to close out the Eagles, and J. K. Dobbins became the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki. They won between the lines. But also conquered demons between their ears, improving to 3-8 in one-score games over the past two years, including 2-2 this season.

“Today we showed we’re mentally tough,” Dobbins said. “We showed we are a dangerous team.”

Payton’s Signature Win

Let’s be clear. This is Payton’s signature win with the Broncos. Better than the victories at Buffalo, at Tampa Bay, and the streak-buster against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles were 20-1 in their last 21 games.

“You always get a chance to see where you are at. We talked a lot about that,” Payton said. “Our guys did a good job of preparing, and I think the locker room prior to today felt like this would be the result. I have done this long enough. I have pretty good instincts.”

And you wonder if the message to run the ball—written again on his play sheet—finally seeped into his brain as the Broncos imposed their will. Unable to win at the line of scrimmage, the Eagles crossed the line.

The Broncos benefitted from a suspect personal foul on linebacker Zach Braun that extended a late drive. Denver’s patience was rewarded when Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo committed malpractice. With Philadelphia holding a 14-point cushion, he kept passing.

At one point, the Eagles had a 20-second drive. Saquon Barkley finished with six carries—one in the fourth. The same criticisms we have lobbed at the Broncos applied to them. The Eagles abandoned the run. They got cute. And they did dumb stuff.

The Return of the Old Broncos

Sunday, the Broncos were not the same old Broncos. They were the old Broncos, like from 2015—a team that had the discipline, defense, and determination to beat anyone, anywhere.

No, Denver was not without sin. This was not perfection. But it was retribution.

In the smoke-filled celebratory locker room, Payton stood in front of the team and asked a simple question: Who are you afraid of? The answer? Nobody!

“It was electric,” Moss said. “We proved something today.”

https://www.denverpost.com/2025/10/05/broncos-eagles-sean-payton-signature-win/

american_football, football, penalties, sports, teams

Commanders' penalty leads to Chargers' opening touchdown

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The Commanders had the Chargers stopped at the Washington 11-yard line, with Cameron Dicker lined up for a field goal. Dicker made the chip-shot kick, but the Chargers took the points off the board due to a penalty.

Mike Sainristil was flagged for offsides, giving the Chargers a first down. This costly error shifted the momentum in Los Angeles’s favor.

Just two plays later, Justin Herbert connected with Ladd McConkey for a 2-yard touchdown, putting the Chargers ahead 7-0.

During the play, Herbert sustained a cut on his left hand and scraped his elbow after a 41-yard run. Despite the injury, he was efficient on the opening drive, completing 3 of 4 passes for 21 yards.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/commanders-penalty-leads-to-chargers-opening-touchdown

chelsea, football, premier league, soccer, sports

Premier League, Chelsea stun Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge: Stats

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By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 05, 2025, 01:17 AM

**Chelsea Stun Liverpool with Last-Minute Winner from Estevao in Thrilling Premier League Clash**

In a thrilling Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, October 5, 2025, Chelsea stunned Liverpool with a dramatic last-minute winner from Estevao. The home side took the lead through Moises Caicedo in the first half, but Liverpool fought back with an equalizer from Cody Gakpo in the second. Ultimately, it was Estevao’s stoppage-time strike that sealed a memorable 2-1 victory for Chelsea.

### Match Highlights

**Caicedo Gives Chelsea the Lead**

The match began cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out before an exciting contest developed. Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Moises Caicedo unleashed a stunning long-range shot that hit the top left corner of the net.

Liverpool responded quickly, nearly equalizing in the 18th minute through Cody Gakpo, whose shot from the left flank was expertly blocked by the Chelsea defense.

**Second Half Drama**

Chelsea looked to extend their lead before the break, with Alejandro Garnacho’s effort rattling the post in the 38th minute. Liverpool’s Alexander Isak also had a golden chance just before halftime, but his header sailed over the crossbar.

The second half started with Liverpool on the front foot. Mohamed Salah came close to leveling the score when his strike hit the side netting, keeping the game finely poised.

Liverpool finally drew level in the 63rd minute when Alexander Isak provided a perfect assist for Gakpo, who finished clinically.

The match remained intense as both teams created opportunities, but it was Estevao who emerged as the hero in stoppage time. Scoring from a low cross delivered by Marc Cucurella in the 95th minute, Estevao’s winner sent the Stamford Bridge crowd into raptures. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca celebrated wildly on the touchline, delighted by the blow to the Premier League holders.

### Match Details and Stats

– Chelsea recorded 12 attempts with 6 shots on target.
– Liverpool managed 12 attempts but only 2 shots on target.
– In the opposition box, Chelsea had 22 shots compared to Liverpool’s 24.
– Chelsea held 53% possession while Liverpool had 47%.
– Chelsea earned 7 corners against Liverpool’s 2.

### Premier League Standings Update

Following this result, Liverpool sit 2nd in the Premier League with 15 points from 7 matches (W5 D0 L2). Chelsea are sixth with 11 points (W3 D2 L2).

### Opta Stats and Key Records

– Chelsea remain unbeaten in their last 5 Premier League matches against Liverpool (W2 D3).
– This marks Chelsea’s first victory over the Premier League holders since a 1-0 win at Anfield in March 2021.
– The Blues have recorded back-to-back league wins against Liverpool for the first time since November 2014.
– Liverpool are winless in their last 5 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge.
– This is Chelsea’s second successive league win against Liverpool at home.

Chelsea’s late drama not only delights their fans but also signals a potential shift in momentum in one of the Premier League’s most storied rivalries.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/chelsea-beat-liverpool-in-premier-league/story

competition, football, soccer, sports, team

Porto vs Benfica Prediction and Betting Tips | October 5th 2025

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Porto will welcome arch-rivals Benfica to the Estadio do Dragao in the Primeira Liga on Sunday in what promises to be an exciting clash between two of Portuguese football’s giants.

**Current Form and Standings**

The hosts, Porto, have maintained a perfect start to their league campaign, boasting a 100% record and sitting comfortably atop the league table. In fact, the Dragoes have preserved this flawless form across all competitions this season. They secured a dominant 4-0 away victory at Arouca on Monday, followed by a 2-1 home win over Crvena zvezda in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

Benfica, also known as the Aguias, have enjoyed an unbeaten run in the league as well, winning five of their seven matches. Their latest league outing saw them edge past Gil Vicente 2-1, courtesy of a brace from Vangelis Pavlidis. However, their Champions League campaign recently hit a snag with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea on Tuesday.

**Porto vs Benfica Head-to-Head and Key Statistics**

This fixture, famously known as O Clássico, has been contested 257 times across all competitions. Porto holds a slight edge in the historical head-to-head record with 102 wins, while Benfica have won 93 times, and 62 games have ended in draws.

Last season, Benfica completed a league double against Porto, winning both home and away matches convincingly with 4-1 scorelines. This season, Porto leads the league’s goalscoring chart with 19 goals scored and only one conceded. Benfica, on the other hand, have conceded four goals so far, with three of those coming at home.

When it comes to home and away records this season, Porto has maintained a 100% record at Estadio do Dragao, keeping clean sheets in all matches. Benfica have also remained unbeaten away from home in the league, winning all three away games and keeping two clean sheets.

Interestingly, their last eight league meetings have produced decisive results, with each side claiming four wins. Benfica has won four of their last five encounters against Porto, showcasing their competitive edge in recent fixtures.

**Team News and Player Updates**

Porto will be bolstered by the return of Samu Aghehowa, who was rested against Crvena zvezda due to a minor knock. Pepe, who started on the bench recently, is also expected to return to the starting lineup.

Benfica, however, face challenges due to a viral outbreak impacting several players and staff, which could see manager Jose Mourinho missing key first-team players. Notably, Mourinho has yet to secure a victory against his former club at Estadio do Dragao, adding an intriguing subplot to this high-stakes encounter.

**Match Prediction**

Porto currently enjoys better form and squad availability compared to Benfica. With their strong defensive record — having conceded just two goals in nine games across all competitions — and potent attacking prowess, the Dragoes look poised to claim a vital home win.

Despite Benfica’s resilience and past successes in this fixture, their ongoing injury crisis might hamper their effectiveness. Porto’s recent home wins against the visitors have often featured three goals apiece, and this match is expected to be competitive and entertaining.

We predict a closely fought game with Porto edging Benfica by a 2-1 margin.

**Prediction:** Porto 2-1 Benfica

—

**Porto vs Benfica Betting Tips**

– **Tip 1:** Result — Porto to win
– **Tip 2:** Goals Over/Under 2.5 — Over 2.5 goals expected
– **Tip 3:** Both teams to score — Yes
– **Tip 4:** At least one goal to be scored in the second half — Yes

—

This showdown between two Portuguese titans is sure to captivate fans and could prove decisive in the race for the Primeira Liga crown. Stay tuned for what promises to be a fantastic O Clássico at Estadio do Dragao!
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/porto-vs-benfica-prediction-betting-tips-october-5th-2025

chelsea, football, liverpool, premier league, sports

Chelsea v Liverpool: Premier League – live

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Premier League Updates from the 5.30pm BST Kick-Off

⚽ Live scores | Top scorers | Sign up for Football Daily

Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium, moving above Liverpool in the Premier League table, at least for a couple of hours. Here’s how the Premier League standings look right now.

Enzo Maresca on Upcoming Matches

“It’s nice to play Liverpool. It’s a chance to learn and we’ve prepared as best we can,” said Enzo Maresca ahead of the match.

Addressing Chelsea’s injury concerns, Maresca added, “Nine players are unfortunately out, plus we have two or three players carrying injuries. We will try to find solutions and hopefully we can have a good day – for us and for the fans.”

Continue reading for more updates…

https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2025/oct/04/chelsea-v-liverpool-premier-league-live-score-updates

champions league, football, premier league, sports

Hugo Ekitike reckons Alexander Isak competition will boost him at Liverpool

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Hugo Ekitike believes Alexander Isak’s presence will aid his development as the young striker welcomed the increased competition at Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions made waves in the summer transfer window, with the 23-year-old Ekitike following the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez to Anfield. Ekitike joined from Frankfurt in a deal worth £69 million plus a potential £10 million (approximately €11.45 million) in add-ons and has hit the ground running, scoring five goals in eight appearances across all competitions.

But Liverpool maintained a strong interest in Newcastle sharpshooter Isak throughout the summer and secured the striker for a British record £125 million on deadline day.

“I think it’s good to have players in such a big club,” Ekitike said. “I can’t see one big club playing with only one striker, so I think it’s good that he’s here. Even for me at my age, I think I still have a lot of things to improve and learn, so for me it’s good that he’s here.”

He added, “As for if we can play together, that’s for the coach to decide how he wants to play. That’s not me. But obviously, he’s a great player. I’ve been playing in two-striker compositions and one-striker systems, so I can do a lot of things. If we have to play together, I can do that.”

Ekitike certainly appears to be loving life at Liverpool, having joined despite interest from the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle.

“It was just the best choice,” he said. “You know, it’s the champions of England. For me, they have great players, a great history. It just fitted with what I was looking for after Frankfurt.”

Ekitike was speaking on the eve of Liverpool’s Champions League match at Galatasaray, where the young striker is in line to make his first appearance since last Tuesday’s embarrassing sending-off.

The Frenchman replaced Isak at half-time of the Carabao Cup clash against Southampton and went on to score a late winner. He famously removed his shirt and held it up to the cameras in celebration. However, the substitute had already been booked and received what Slot called a “stupid red card” that ruled him out of Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace.

“I think that wasn’t smart,” Ekitike admitted. “Obviously, I punished myself alone, I’d say. I felt a bit disappointed to watch the boys from home last Saturday, but as I said on Instagram, I apologise to everybody already, to my teammates. That kind of thing won’t happen again. I just move on now. I am just looking forward to playing and I just focus on football.”

Ekitike will hope to make amends in Istanbul, where Liverpool arrived without Federico Chiesa due to what Slot described as a “little niggle.” The Liverpool boss did not want to take any risks ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea—a match he hopes to approach on the back of a morale-boosting victory against Galatasaray.

“I think we always have to do, no matter if you win, lose, or draw, what is asked of you if you want to compete for trophies, but let alone if you wear a Liverpool shirt,” Slot said. “That is giving everything you have and combining that with the best football you can play.”

“We created more chances during the course of the game, more chances than we had in all the three games we played before against Palace, but we also conceded many more chances than we did before. So we can improve, and the things we can improve I will show tonight to the players.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/hugo-ekitike-reckons-alexander-isak-competition-will-boost-him-at-liverpool-1812742.html

aston villa, emery, football, match, sports

Unai Emery expects goals to start flowing for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins

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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes the goals are coming for striker Ollie Watkins after he opened his account for the season in the 3-1 win at home to Fulham.

England forward Watkins made amends for a penalty miss in the narrow Europa League win against Bologna in midweek when he brought Villa back on level terms before the break, following Raul Jimenez’s early headed opener for the visitors.

Villa put Fulham on the canvas with two goals right at the start of the second half. John McGinn’s drilled effort found the bottom-left corner, making it 2-1, before Emi Buendia added another less than two minutes later to give Villa lift off.

Emery said of Watkins:
“Hopefully he keeps going, but it’s the consequence of how he played on Thursday. He missed the penalty, which was important, but the most important and the first step forward is sticking to your tasks, and he was doing that on Thursday and today. The goals are coming hopefully for the next matches.”

Emery admitted Villa’s first Premier League victory of the season was much-needed and he could see confidence flooding back.

“We needed to win, it was very clear,” he said. “We played with energy and passion and changed through the match because we recovered confidence. In the second half, we started aggressive, trying to use those minutes, taking chances to score, and we did it. It was a fantastic response from some players after the goal.

“We started poor but we showed the same enthusiasm as we did on Thursday, and through that we won, and some players have started scoring.”

Fulham wanted a couple of penalties in the first half when goalkeeper Emi Martinez made contact with Josh King, but referee Andrew Madley booked the latter for simulation. King also saw a goal-bound strike blocked by the arm of Matty Cash, but no penalty was given. Marco Silva’s first-half frustrations landed him a yellow card.

Silva said:
“We have to blame ourselves for the goals we conceded; they were too soft for the level the Premier League demands. The things we cannot control have happened too often this season, and this afternoon was another good example.

“The reality of our season so far: we have lost two games and see the way we lost the two games — Chelsea, the VAR decisions, and this afternoon again. Very quick decision from the referee to go yellow card on Josh King. I’ve seen the images and it’s clear. He was tackled 100 per cent by Martinez, I’m sure. No one can tell me he wasn’t. Cash did not do it on purpose at all but he made his body bigger with the left hand.

“Last week it was a penalty against us but this week it was no penalty.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/unai-emery-expects-goals-to-start-flowing-for-aston-villa-striker-ollie-watkins-1812302.html

competition, football, match, premier league, sports

Late Eddie Nketiah winner sees Crystal Palace end Liverpool’s unbeaten start

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Liverpool were given a taste of their own medicine by Crystal Palace as Eddie Nketiah’s last-gasp winner wrecked their 100 per cent start to the season. The Eagles snatched a deserved 2-1 victory with the final kick of the match, just after Federico Chiesa thought he had rescued a point for the champions.

Since losing in the Community Shield to Palace, Liverpool had won all seven of their matches this season, clinching victory in six of them in the 83rd minute or later. But it was substitute Nketiah who produced the last-gasp heroics, prompting Palace’s usually reserved boss Oliver Glasner to charge down the touchline in celebration.

Palace took the lead early when Ismaila Sarr struck in the 10th minute. The goal came after Tyrick Mitchell and Yeremy Pino broke down the left, resulting in Palace’s first corner. Daichi Kamada swung in the cross, and Marc Guehi — who would have been playing for Liverpool if the Reds had secured his transfer on deadline day — challenged Ryan Gravenberch at the far post. It was Reds midfielder Gravenberch who inadvertently headed the ball back into his own six-yard box, where Sarr was on hand to lash it home.

Liverpool responded quickly by winning a free-kick on the edge of the Palace area, but play was delayed for six minutes due to a medical emergency in the Arthur Wait stand. When Mohamed Salah finally stepped up, his shot hit the defensive wall, and Gravenberch’s fierce follow-up was superbly tipped onto the near post by Palace keeper Dean Henderson.

Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker was by far the busier keeper throughout the match, keeping his side in it by denying Pino, Daniel Munoz, and Jean-Philippe Mateta in quick succession. Defender Ibrahima Konate, in particular, endured a torrid time at the back, which was compounded when he pulled back Mateta to earn a booking. This display highlighted exactly why Reds boss Arne Slot pushed hard to land England defender Guehi.

Konate probably should have equalised with a free header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner, but the ball flew inches wide. Palace twice came agonisingly close to doubling their lead in first-half stoppage time. First, a slick counter culminated in Mateta curling his shot against Alisson’s far post, then the French striker blazed a volley over from eight yards before the break.

After the break, Munoz just failed to convert Pino’s cross at the far post, before Alisson came out quickly to block Mateta again. Liverpool should have been level on the hour mark, but Florian Wirtz side-footed Szoboszlai’s cross straight at Henderson.

Then came what should have been Alexander Isak’s big moment. The £130 million striker raced onto a ball played in behind, jinked past Chris Richards, only to stab his shot wide.

However, with three minutes left, the ball found Chiesa in the area, and the Italian volleyed home. The goal survived a VAR check for handball by Salah, providing Liverpool with hope.

Yet Nketiah had the last word, tucking the ball away at the far post with another VAR check for offside adding to the late drama — which this time did not go Liverpool’s way.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/late-eddie-nketiah-winner-sees-crystal-palace-end-liverpools-unbeaten-start-1811933.html

football, liverpool, sports

Liverpool star makes ‘massive’ Alexander Isak claim as classy Giovanni Leoni gesture revealed

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Cody Gakpo has reacted to Alexander Isak scoring his first Liverpool goal and Giovanni Leoni suffering an ACL injury ahead of the Reds’ trip to Crystal Palace this weekend.

The Liverpool forward sent a heartfelt message to team-mate Giovanni Leoni after the teenager was struck down by a serious ACL injury. The Italian defender impressed on his Reds debut against Southampton in midweek, only to be injured after landing awkwardly late in the second half.

Leoni was stretchered off the pitch, and it has since been confirmed that he has suffered an ACL injury. Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted at his pre-match press conference on Friday that the young defender faces up to a year on the sidelines.

Leoni took to social media on Thursday to thank the Liverpool fanbase for their support following his injury. Several of his team-mates also offered their own messages of encouragement to the promising defender.

The Reds return to action on Saturday evening as they travel to face Crystal Palace. Ahead of the match, Gakpo shared how the Liverpool squad plan to support Leoni through his lengthy injury lay-off.

“It’s always sad to see that something like that happens,” Gakpo said. “We will try to be there for him as much as we can and to help him through this difficult period.”

Leoni was one of ten new signings at Liverpool this summer as the club embarked on a £450 million spending spree. Breaking the British transfer record twice to sign Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, the latter opened his account for Liverpool last time out against Southampton.

Having seen Isak regularly torment Liverpool in the past while playing for Newcastle United, Gakpo is delighted to now call the striker a team-mate. He also made a positive prediction for the impact of Liverpool’s record signing following his first goal for the club.

“That’s obviously massive for him, as well as for us,” Gakpo told the club website. “I think everybody knows how good he can be. We saw him in the Newcastle team scoring a lot of goals and hopefully he can do that for us as well. A very good player on the ball, off the ball. I’m very happy that he’s here.”
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-star-makes-massive-alexander-32562196

british football, europa league, football, sports

Friday’s briefing: John McGinn gives Villa victory and more woe for Rangers

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Aston Villa secured their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Bologna in their Europa League opener at Villa Park.

### John McGinn Earns Aston Villa’s First Win

John McGinn’s early strike earned Aston Villa a much-needed victory in a hard-fought contest. Under Unai Emery, who is aiming to win the Europa League for a fifth time, Villa finally found the net at home after scoring only twice in their first six games of the season—both goals coming away from Villa Park.

Ollie Watkins came off the bench and had a penalty saved in the second half, prolonging his goal drought for the campaign. Meanwhile, Bologna goalkeeper Marco Bizot made several important saves but couldn’t prevent Villa from claiming the win.

—

### Oh Hyeon-gyu Turns Up the Heat at Ibrox

Genk defeated 10-man Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox, with former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu scoring the decisive goal after missing an earlier penalty. The Belgian visitors hit the woodwork in the first half, and Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande was shown a straight red card in the 41st minute.

In added time, Rangers keeper Jack Butland saved a penalty from Oh, but the striker eventually broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a close-range finish.

Rangers manager Russell Martin, who recently received some relief following a 2-0 win over Hibernian, remains under pressure as disgruntled fans voiced their frustrations at the final whistle.

—

### William Saliba Agrees New Arsenal Contract

Arsenal defender William Saliba has agreed to a contract extension, according to the PA news agency. Reports indicate the France international has signed a five-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2030.

Saliba’s previous contract was set to expire in 2027. His impressive performances for the Gunners have reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old joined Arsenal from St Etienne in July 2019 but spent the following season on loan in France, with additional loan spells at Nice and Marseille. Since establishing himself at Emirates Stadium, Saliba has earned 28 caps for France and scored seven goals in 139 appearances across all competitions.

—

### Rio Ngumoha Signs First Professional Contract with Liverpool

Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha has signed his first professional contract, just a month after turning 17. The winger, who arrived from Chelsea a year ago, has quickly risen through the ranks and earned a three-year deal with the Reds.

Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest goal-scorer at 16 years and 361 days after netting the match-winner against Newcastle in August. He has made five senior appearances, including his debut in the FA Cup third-round tie against Accrington last January.

After impressing in pre-season, Ngumoha was promoted to head coach Arne Slot’s first-team squad. His Premier League debut was highlighted by a last-minute winner against Newcastle at St James’ Park. Additionally, his recent substitute appearance in Liverpool’s Champions League win over Atletico Madrid marked him as the club’s youngest player in European competition history.

Off the pitch, Liverpool announced a record 1,114 lifetime bans have been issued for ticket touting, with nearly half imposed following the discovery of mass manipulation of software last season.

—

### What’s On Today?

Friday night’s live Sky Bet Championship action features promotion hopefuls Leicester City visiting West Bromwich Albion.

In Scotland, Ayrshire rivals Auchinleck Talbot and Cumnock Juniors meet in the first round of the Scottish Cup at Beechwood Park.

Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, several clubs including Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham will hold press conferences.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/fridays-briefing-john-mcginn-gives-villa-victory-and-more-woe-for-rangers-1811284.html