"A 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium ensured Arsenal will be in the knockout stages of the Europa League, but manager Mikel Arteta wants his players to focus on going through as group winners. They can ensure that happens by winning next week\u0027s reverse fixture against the same opposition. Granit Xhaka was the matchwinner as Arsenal made it eight wins in a row."
"After less than a year in charge at Villa Park, Steven Gerrard has been relieved of his duties following a difficult start to the Premier League season. Failure to beat fellow strugglers Leeds and Nottingham Forest put pressure on the former Liverpool and England midfielder, but a heavy defeat against Fulham proved to be the last straw for the club\u0027s hierarchy."
"It was hammerings all round in the Champions League on Wednesday night as Barcelona demolished sorry Benfica 9-0 to go alongside Arsenal\u0027s stunning 5-1 win over Lyon. Asisat Oshoala and Geyse both got doubles as the Blaugrana ran riot at Estadi Johann Cruyff to get their 2022/23 campaign under way in style. Juventus\u0027s goals came courtesy of Valentina Cernoia and Barbara Bonansea."
"Goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes in the second half were enough for Manchester United to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford. The win laid down a marker in the battle for top four and beyond, and was the best performance of the Erik ten Hag era. However, focus, as is often the case, was on Cristiano Ronaldo, who was on the bench; a station he left before full time."
"Newcastle and Southampton sealed important wins in the Premier League on Wednesday. The Magpies beat a feisty but lacking-in-ideas Everton to solidify their spot in fifth position in the table, and Southampton won a south-coast derby against Bournemouth to pull away from the relegation zone to 14th. Elsewhere, there was focus on the behaviour of Cristiano Ronaldo."
"There is good news and bad news for France ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. On Tuesday, Chelsea confirmed that midfielder N\u0027Golo Kante has had successful surgery on his hamstring but will be sidelined for four months, meaning he will miss the international competition. However, in a boost to Didier Deschamps\u0027 side, Juventus\u0027 Paul Pogba has returned to training as he recovers from a knee injury."
"Tuesday’s Paper Round is basically a managers’ special, and leads on the prospect of Aston Villa wanting to replace Steven Gerrard with Mauricio Pochettino, if the former is unable to reverse the club’s current slump. There’s also talk of a Brentford renewal (again), a new name in the hat for the Wolves job, and a Manchester United legend is close to taking charge of Middlesbrough."
"Liverpool have entered the race to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and will battle with Manchester United to sign the Dutchman in the winter transfer window. Elsewhere, Erik ten Hag is keen on AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, Antonio Conte and Harry Kane could sign contract extensions at Tottenham Hotspur and Joan Laporta was not happy with the match officials at El Clasico."
"Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to see Karim Benzema scoop the Ballon d\u0027Or on Monday after the striker scored in a 3-1 win over Barcelona. The Frenchman is the favourite to win the prize after a prolific year in front of goal that helped Real win La Liga and the Champions League last season. But Ancelotti said the award would belong \"a little bit to us\" if Benzema wins."
"Ivan Toney scored a brace for Brentford in the Bees 2-0 win over Brighton \u0026 Hove Albion on Friday night, and boss Thomas Frank thinks his striker would be the “perfect fit for England” and manager Gareth Southgate. \"I think he is the perfect fit for the squad, I don\u0027t see one striker that can do the same as him,” Frank told Sky Sports after the game."
"While happy to get three points in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night at the London Stadium against Anderlecht with a 2-1 victory, West Ham manager David Moyes said he was disappointed that his team was unable to further add to their tally in the second half, and also hit out at the visiting side\u0027s supporters\u0027 behaviour."
"Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand praised Mohamed Salah for his hat-trick performance against Rangers for Liverpool on Wednesday night. BT Sport pundit Ferdinand was joined by former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen and Rangers\u0027 former boss Ally McCoist in lauding the Egyptian\u0027s razor-sharp finishing at Ibrox."
"Barcelona are potentially on the cusp of a crisis after a 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. Barcelona will need Inter to drop points to have any chance of making it through, with the Catalan club needing to make it through for financial reasons. Xavi Hernandez admitted afterwards that the team made too many mistakes in the game."
"Thierry Henry has a word of advice for his compatriot Kylian Mbappe: do what your boss tells you. The Paris Saint-Germain forward appeared to have a dig at his manager\u0027s tactics in an Instagram post since deleted following a goalless draw with Reims on Saturday. On Tuesday, new reports surfaced that suggested the France international wants to leave the club in January. Henry isn\u0027t impressed."
"Chelsea had a numerical advantage for almost 70 minutes in their 2-0 win over AC Milan in the Champions League after Fikayo Tomori was sent off. Blues manager Graham Potter admitted his side \"had a bit of luck\", with some experts - including BT Sport\u0027s Robbie Savage - questioning the decision to show Tomori his marching orders. The win leaves Chelsea in a healthy place in Group E."
"Manchester United will be forced to choose between chasing Frenkie de Jong or Jude Bellingham as Erik ten Hag continues his search for the ideal midfielder. Elsewhere, Arsenal will attempt to meet Gabriel Martinelli\u0027s eye-watering wage demands for a new contract, Brentford are hoping to tie down Ivan Toney to a new deal and England are prepared to defy FIFA rules at the 2022 World Cup."
"Manchester United bounced back from their 6-3 derby defeat to Manchester City with a 2-1 victory over Everton. Antony and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the goals for the visitors. Manager Erik ten Hag was impressed with the way his side reacted after losing to City and was also impressed with the performances of Ronaldo and Casemiro, who was making his first Premier League start."
"Manchester United face competition for Sassuolo\u0027s midfielder Davide Frattesi, while Inter Miami hope to sign Cristiano Ronaldo on a free transfer. Elsewhere, Bournemouth are now owned by billionaire Bill Foley, and Atletico Madrid have agreed a new reduced price for Barcelona\u0027s striker Antoine Griezmann."
"Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Everton are all reportedly keen on Napoli forward Hirving Lozano, while Michael Carrick is under consideration for the Middlesbrough job. Elsewhere, Arthur Melo\u0027s time could be up at Liverpool already, and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might join Paris Saint-Germain."
"Arsenal looked in good form as they beat Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League to make it two wins from two matches in Group B. Fabio Vieira was one of the standout players as he provided an assist for Rob Holding and also netted the third goal. Joe Cole and Martin Keown were both impressed with Vieira and also highlighted Gabriel Jesus as a \"role model\" for the team."
"It was a tough night for AS Roma and Jose Mourinho as they missed the chance to close the gap on Real Betis in their Europa League group. Instead they lost 2-1 at home and as a result find themselves six points behind the Spanish side already. Roma will now face a battle to make it through to the knockout stages with three games left to play in Group C."