GM football fans. It’s Wednesday, August. 27 - Updated Premier League projections, Isak insists he wants to leave Newcastle, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
EFL Cup, 2nd Round: Grimsby Town vs. Manchester United, 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET. Grimsby, in League Two, will be encouraged by their home form, which has seen them win all three of their matches at Blundell Park since the start of the season. Meanwhile, Man United have only won two of their last 13 away matches. Everton vs. Mansfield, 19:45 / 14:45 ET. Everton will be confident going into their second competitive match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, as they have not lost at home to lower-league opponents in the EFL Cup since 1999. Fulham vs. Bristol City, 19:45 / 14:45 ET. Both teams are unbeaten in their respective leagues, and both have drawn their last two league games. Fulham, a division above their opponents, have won three and drawn one of their four most recent home games. See every EFL Cup fixture here.
Results…
Champions League Play-offs: Kairat 0-0 Celtic (Agg 0-0, Kairat win 3-2 on pens) | Pafos 1-1 Red Star Belgrade (Agg 3-2) | Sturm Graz 2-1 Bodo/Glimt (Agg 2-6)
EFL Cup, 2nd Round (All Results)
TOP TALKING POINTS
Updated Prem Projections
Liverpool and Arsenal are considered stronger favourites after two Premier League matchdays, according to Opta’s updated projections. Last year’s champions Liverpool are given a 39% chance of retaining the title, up from 28.5% before Matchday 1, while Arsenal’s chances have risen from 24.3% to 30.6%.
After losing their second game of the season to Tottenham, Manchester City’s chances have fallen to 11% (from 19%). Chelsea are the only other team seen as realistic contenders, with an 8% chance. Despite Tottenham’s perfect start, winning both matches without conceding, their projection has risen only slightly—from 0.3% to 1.4%.
At the bottom, the model has shifted newly promoted Leeds (38.9%) out of the projected relegation zone, replaced by West Ham (42%) after two straight defeats and a –7 goal difference. Sunderland (62%) and Burnley (44%) round out the other projected relegation places.
Newcastle Try, Isak Declines
Alexander Isak has told Newcastle (paywall) that he still wants to leave despite chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s personal attempt to keep him. A Public Investment Fund (PIF) delegation, along with co-owner Jamie Reuben, met the striker at his home yesterday, but reports suggest no breakthrough was made.
Liverpool are reportedly prepared to make a second offer after the opening £110m bid was rejected three weeks ago. The Reds are currently waiting for encouragement from the Newcastle board and will not pay near the £150m asking price.
Isak has until the close of the transfer window—Monday, September 1 at 19:00 BST—to secure a move. Last week, the Premier League broke its transfer record with £2.37bn spent this summer, surpassing the previous high of £2.36bn set in 2023.
Florida to Host Sevens
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been chosen to host the next edition of World Sevens Football from December 5-7 this year. The tournament, which is the most lucrative competition in women’s football, uses half-size pitches and seven-a-side goals.
The inaugural edition, staged in Portugal in May, carried $5m in total prize money, with the winners receiving $2.5m—more than the $1.6m awarded to the winners of the Uefa Women’s Champions League. Eight teams featured, with Bayern Munich beating Manchester United in the final.
This year’s Fort Lauderdale edition is expected to feature clubs from across the Americas, with teams from Brazil, Mexico, and the United States (including NWSL clubs) among those in talks to participate.
POLL
The Premier League transfer record has been broken this summer. Do you think this has been the best transfer window in Premier League history?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Celtic were knocked out of the Champions League by Kairat Almaty in the qualification stage, 3-2 on penalties; the Kazakhstan-based club will play in the league stage (previously group stage) for the first time in their history (More)
> Arsenal’s Kai Havertz has been ruled out until after the September international break, with a decision on whether he should get knee surgery yet to be confirmed (More) | Cole Palmer did not train with the rest of the Chelsea squad on Tuesday after picking up a groin injury in the warm-up ahead of the West Ham match (More)
> Bayern Munich have agreed personal terms with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, and Chelsea is open to a loan move (More) | Borussia Dortmund have signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea for around £24m on a five-year contract (More)
> Lucas Vazquez, 34, has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year deal following his exit from Real Madrid after 17 years at the Spanish club (More)
Americas
> With Neymar’s injury, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta was called by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for the first time on Monday for the last two World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia next month (More)
> MLS’s St. Louis City SC fired sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel following nearly two seasons of lacklustre performances (More)
> River Plate were held to a 1-1 draw by Lanus in Argentina's Clausura championship after Rodrigo Castillo scored deep into added time (More)
Rest of the World
> After ten years, six trophies, eight Grand Finals & 163 record-breaking appearances, Princess Ibini has left Sydney FC (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think there's a way back for Alexander Isak in the Newcastle squad if he doesn't move this summer?
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 👍 Yes (31%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅♂️ Nope (66%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (3%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 J.P.L: “He's too good a player not to take back. He's made an ass of himself, no doubt, but they really could have used him against Liverpool. If they had him, they probably win that game. I don't think it's too far gone, as his squabble is with the front office, not his teammates.”
🙅♂️ J.V: “This situation was mishandled by Newcastle, and lines have been drawn by both sides. There is no fairy tale ending to this saga. Time for both parties to move on.”
🙅♂️ R.G: “I personally don't like the way the player has been behaving (or any player who does this sort of thing). I appreciate that he wants to move, but the player signed a contract, so he should honour it. If he were coming to my club, I'm not sure if I want him, as there is nothing to say they won't do it again to get what they want. There is no loyalty in football, barring fans.”
✍️ J.E: “Who cares anymore. Time to move on. This is worse than a bad daytime drama. There’s too much excitement to come this season.”
EXTRA TIME
Every transfer in Europe’s top five leagues. (live tracker)
How Everton made their stadium the loudest.
Stars to watch in Women’s Champions League this week.
Reviewing every VAR decision from the Premier League weekend…
… and BBC’s team of the week.
Inside the birth of the A-Leagues, 20 years on.
How Liverpool poached Ngumoha away from Chelsea.
The Copenhagen club that mixes fashion and football.
GAME FACE ON
Question: Arsenal, Real Betis, Manchester City, Benfica, and Bayern Munich–what connects these clubs? In no particular order.
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
Champions League Play-offs
Qarabag vs. Ferencvaros (Agg 3-1) (17:45)
Benfica vs. Fenerbahce (Agg 0-0) (20:00)
Club Brugge vs. Rangers (Agg 3-1) (20:00)
Kobenhavn vs. Basel (Agg 1-1) (20:00)
English League Cup, 2nd Round
Everton vs. Mansfield (19:45)
Fulham vs. Bristol City (19:45)
Oxford United vs. Brighton (19:45)
Grimsby Town vs. Manchester United (20:00)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
All these teams have lost to Chelsea in a European final.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
Everyone who leaves Manchester United suddenly plays great at their new club. Manchester United is the problem, 100%.
