Key events
Manchester City to meet Barcelona in Women’s Champions League
Right then, time for the Women’s Champions League group-stage draw … here’s what we have: Manchester City are in Group D alongside Barcelona, the defending champions.
Group A
Lyon
Wolfsburg
Roma
Galatasaray
Group B
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Twente
Celtic
Group C
Bayern Munich
Arsenal
Juventus
Valerenga
Group D
Barcelona
Manchester City
St Pölten
Hammarby
Newcastle CEO to step down after cancer diagnosis
Newcastle have announced that their chief executive, Darren Eales, will leave his role after being diagnosed with cancer.
“Being CEO of Newcastle United is an extraordinary privilege and I am incredibly proud to be part of the club’s exciting journey,” he said.
“However, it has become apparent to me that now is the right time to make this decision so that I can prioritise my health and my family.
“In the short term, it will be business as usual in terms of running the club’s day-to-day operations, and I will give my full support to a transitionary period that will enable the board to carefully assess and appoint my successor.”
Eales joined the club in 2022.
#NUFC CEO Darren Eales is to step down from his position after being diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer.
He will continue to lead the club’s executive team until a successor is appointed.
Our thoughts are with you, @DEalesNUFC. 🖤🤍
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 27, 2024
Fascinating. Would also make for a nice hipsterish print to put up in the living room.
Liverpool’s Alisson set to be available against Wolves
Arne Slot has some good news regarding the fitness of Alisson after the Liverpool keeper missed last weekend’s victory over Bournemouth with injury:
He trained yesterday … we expect him to do the whole session today. So we think he’s available [for Liverpool’s match with Wolves on Saturday], but of course we have to train today. And of course we’re really happy with Alisson being back, but I want to emphasise on the fact that Caoimhín [Kelleher] did really well in the two games he was in goal for us. So another example of me having two and I think even three good options in certain positions.
Ed Aarons speaks to – and plays golf (!) – with Peter Odemwingie.
How about some classic #OnThisDay content? Here’s Peter Crouch pulling off the scissor-kick for Liverpool in a 3-2 win over Galatasaray.
Friday morning … a brief lull in affairs … time for a quiz. 11/15 for me.
Daniel Boffey reports on sexual assault allegations relating to Mohamed Al Fayed’s tenure as Fulham’s owner.
A spokesperson for Fulham said the club “remain in the process of establishing whether anyone at the club is or has been affected by the reports concerning Mr Al Fayed”.
Alexander Isak a doubt for City clash with toe injury
Newcastle could be without Alexander Isak against Manchester City, their key centre forward having suffered a broken toe.
Here are Eddie Howe’s quotes, courtesy of PA: “He’ll be a doubt for tomorrow. He’s had scans, he’s had lots of tests. The injury has been diagnosed fine, there’s no issues there.
“It sounds worse than it is, but he’s got a broken toe, but it’s one that can be managed and played with providing he can tolerate the pain levels, and that will have no long-term risks.
“He trained last week before the Fulham game on the Friday and he had an injection in his toe to play. He felt fine, but then he started to feel his toe in the last five to 10 minutes of that game.”
More on the action from last night: Athletic Bilbao are upset with their own supporters.
Athletic Bilbao have condemned the behaviour of some of their fans after flares were thrown during their 1-1 Europa League draw with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Fans in the away stand lit several flares during the match, with some being thrown in the direction of the pitch as well as into sections of the stadium containing home supporters. After the draw, in which Aitor Paredes’s late equaliser cancelled out Artem Dovbyk’s opener, Athletic’s captain Oscar de Marcos and forward Iñaki Williams could be seen remonstrating with their fans.
Former Turkey forward Akin shot in the foot
Here’s a story on the wires from Reuters:
The Turkish Football Federation have condemned an armed attack on former Turkey and Fenerbahce striker turned TV pundit Serhat Akin in Istanbul on Thursday.
Akin posted a message on social media saying he had been shot in the foot after he left a TV studio in the Beykoz district of the city following Fenerbahce’s 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
“We have learned with regret that former national team player Serhat Akin was injured in his foot as a result of an armed attack,” TFF said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn the heinous attack and wish Serhat Akin … a speedy recovery.”
The 43-year-old, who played 16 times for his country between 2002 and 2006, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Akin’s social media post included a picture of his bloodied ankle and foot, accompanied by the message: “They shot my feet after the programme, our last word is Fenerbahce.”
Fenerbahce, the club where Akin started his career and spent five years before moving on to Belgian side Anderlecht, also condemned the attack.
“We expect the perpetrators to be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the club said.
Tom Garry has the good news and the bad news.
The proportion of schools in England offering girls equal access to football in physical education has climbed considerably since 2020, but not quite as fast as the Football Association had hoped at secondary-school level.
The Women’s Champions League draw for the group stage takes place at noon (BST). Here are the pots for that as we sort things into four groups of four:
Preamble
Morning. It’s bleak outside (where I am), but here’s to a bright weekend of FOOTBALL! LIVE! FOOTBALL!
Before we get there, feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts on last night’s action in Europe, with 10-man Tottenham beating Qarabag after a delayed start. Rangers found joy in Sweden and there was action in the Women’s Champions League, too, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Celtic all advancing to the group stage.
Looking ahead to what’s on offer in the Premier League, we begin on Saturday with Manchester City visiting St James’ Park. The hosts have had a strange season, not looking all that great on the pitch … but currently sit sixth. Will Haaland Haaland them and extend the misery? More on that fixture and the rest in our weekly offering of Ten Things: