“Hey Rob,” writes Simon McMahon. “Scotland’s game of the day is, as regular clockwatchers will no doubt be aware, at Tannadice where Dundee United take on Falkirk. It’s been a stuttering start for the Tangerines with an opening day draw against Rangers followed by disappointing defeats to Hearts, Dundee and then Motherwell last Wednesday, with only last weeks win at Kilmarnock offering some hope. Still early days, but three points today really the only thing that will prevent Jim Goodwin’s coat peg from becoming even shooglier.
“Deadline day signings Lyall Cameron and Zinedine Zidane Iqbal are both involved, the former Dundee man, but United fan, Cameron starting in midfield and headline writer’s dream Iqbal on the bench. Aberdeen v Kilmarnock and Rangers v Motherwell are the other 3 o’clock starts, with St. Mirren v Celtic at 8 tonight.”
Brentford v Sunderland team news
Brentford (4-2-3-1) Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Sangare, Janelt; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Henry, Yarmolyuk, Wilson, Carvalho, Anthony, Diouf, Schuster.
Sunderland (3-4-2-1) Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Danso; Meunier, Sadiki, Xhaka, Mandava; Le Fee, Angulo; Brobbey.
Subs: Ellborg, Methalie, Rigg, O’Nien, Alderete, Isidor, Ahoka, Hume, Fofana.
Referee Thomas Bramall (Sheffield)
Liverpool are searching for a fourth sporting director in four years after confirming that Richard Hughes has stepped down from the role.
Hughes’s departure has been long expected, with the 47-year-old in line to take up a similar position with the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. He informed Liverpool of his intentions to leave early this year, after the departure of his friend Michael Edwards as chief executive of football for Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owner.
With work already under way on Liverpool’s summer transfer targets – including the signing of Bradley Barcola in a £123m deal – and Hughes enjoying a close working relationship with the new head coach, Andoni Iraola, it was agreed he would continue in the role until the end of the transfer window.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa (Buurman og 79)
An unlikely equaliser at Stamford Bridge. Noelle Maritz’s shot is saved by Hannah Hampton but the ball rebounds off Veerle Buurman and into the net.
Manchester City v Coventry team news
Iliman Ndiaye starts for City after joining from Everton in the week. Phil Foden drops out and will be joined on the bench by City’s other big signing, Enzo Fernandez.
Coventry bring in Ethan Pinnock and Frank Onyeka for Caleb Yirenki and Loum Tchaouna.
Man City (poss 4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Anderson, Guehi; Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
Subs: Rulli, Kovacic, Fernandez, Ait Nouri, Matheus Luiz, Bouaddi, Foden, McAidoo, Lewis.
Coventry (poss 4-2-3-1) Rushworth; Thomas, Amenda, Pinnock, van Ewijk; Onyeka, Grimes; Dasilva, Rudoni, Mason-Clark, Awoniyi.
Subs: Bentley, Sakamoto, Yirenkyi, Simms, Tchaouna, Latibeaudiere, Thomas-Asante, Overgaard, Hamer.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Fulham v Crystal Palace team news
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Charles, Iwobi; Bobb, King, Palacios; Garcia.
Subs: Lecomte, Rodrigo Muniz, Kevin, Larsson, Berge, Angel, Affengruber, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1) Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Disasi; Khalaili, Wharton, Timber, Mitchell; Pino, Kamada; Nketiah.
Subs: Benitez, Gozo, Tomiyasu, Hughes, Larsen, Osorio, Doucoure, Mingueza, Chilwell.
Referee Sam Barrott (West Yorkshire)
Updated
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham team news
Nottm Forest (3-4-2-1) Sels; Jair Cunha, Milenkovic, Murillo; Aina, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Delap.
Subs: John Victor, Diomande, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Wood, Igor Jesus, Yates, Netz, Munoz.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1) Kinsky; Porro, van Hecke, van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Tonali; Savio, Gallagher, Tel, Marmoush.
Subs: Dubravka, Robertson, Senesi, Gray, Bergvall, Fernandes, Solanke, Kudus, Mudryk.
Updated
68 min: Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa Keira Walsh has just wobbled the crossbar at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are pushing incessantly for a second goal.
Brighton v Leeds team news
Brighton (poss 4-2-3-1) Verbruggen; Kadioglu, Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli, Gross, Ayari; Gomez, Yalcouye, De Cuyper; Kostoulas.
Subs: Steele, Hadjam, Struijk, David, Andres, Osman, Costinha, O’Riley, Oriola.
Leeds (3-4-2-1) Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Stach, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Zetterer, James, Longstaff, Wilson, Aaronson, Nmecha, Bijol, Bahoya, Bard.
Referee Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
Updated
“Friday night games still feel a little newfangled (and, let’s face it, only psychopaths actually enjoy change), but there’s is something to be said for seeing your team win on a Friday, and being able to simply relax and enjoy a weekend’s football without The Fear,” writes Liverpool fan Matt Dony. “I don’t care who what happens today. It’s freeing. (Especially after the first two weekends.)”
Newfangled? Tell that to Arthur Graham.
EFL latest
Plenty of early kick-offs across the Championship, League One and League Two. You can see all the details on our live scores page. The most eyecatching scoreline is in Staffordshire, where Stoke lead Charlton 4-0.
Justin Devenny, who signed from Crystal Palace in the week, is on a debut hat-trick – as is his new teammate Ethan Galbraith. Charlton had 10 points from four games going into the game.
Updated
WSL half-time: Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
For the first time since 2019, Chelsea are beginning a WSL season as Not Champions. Their attempt to win it back is under way; they lead Aston Villa at half-time thanks to a solo goal of frightening simplicity* from Lauren James.
* At least that’s how she made it look. In reality it was anything but.
Premier League half-time: Newcastle 1-2 Bournemouth
Bournemouth, who have won their last two Premier League at St James’ Park, could be about to make it three in a row. They were 2-0 up through Marcus Tavernier and an own-goal from his initialsake Malick Thiaw before Harvey Barnes got one back. Join David Tindall for more.
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to a bumperlicious Saturday clockwatch. No post-Europe matches tomorrow, which means our old friend, the Saturday 3pm kick-off, accounts for half of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures. These are the games we’ll be following today:
Brentford v Sunderland
Brighton v Leeds
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Manchester City v Coventry
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham
There’s also Chelsea v Aston Villa in the WSL, a full EFL programme and much else besides. Let’s get it on.
