Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: September 20, 2026, 10:01 PM ET

Manchester City Edge Eight-Goal Thriller to Stay Top

Manchester City held off Sunderland 5-3 in a chaotic eight-goal encounter at the Etihad, heading into the extended international break three points clear at the summit. Erling Haaland set a record by scoring the eighth and final goal of the game, a strike that gave him a unique Premier League milestone. Brian Brobbey hit a hat-trick on the losing side, with player ratings reflecting an eventful afternoon for both clubs. Enzo Maresca expressed relief after his side passed what he called a "difficult" Sunderland test, allowing him to relax over the international break. The result put pressure on Arsenal at the top, capping what was described as a perfect 24 hours for Maresca. Analysts highlighted the chaos under Maresca's City, while also noting Cody Gakpo's shining performance for Liverpool elsewhere on the weekend card.

Liverpool Grind Out Bournemouth Win on Iraola's Return

Alexander Isak scored the winner as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 1-0 on Andoni Iraola's return to the Vitality Stadium. Isak's winning goal gave Iraola hope, even as Liverpool's expensive attack looked devoid of a spark for long stretches at Bournemouth. New arrival Jeremy Jacquet made a step forward, earning praise from Iraola after an impressive defensive performance. Jacquet and Alisson both impressed in the player ratings for the Bournemouth versus Liverpool match. Liverpool's defence shone under Iraola, though the manager still needs more from his attackers. Jamie Carragher was scathing about Florian Wirtz, calling it one of the worst displays he has seen from the midfielder and suggesting he cannot play against Manchester City.

Manchester United Salvage Late Point at Fulham

Matheus Cunha's late deflected equaliser grabbed Manchester United a 1-1 draw at Fulham, rescuing a point from an otherwise dispiriting afternoon. A comical own goal by Lisandro Martinez had seen United fail to win for yet another match. Cunha's 89th-minute strike saved United from another defeat, with player ratings assessing who stood out at Craven Cottage. Michael Carrick played down concerns that United's poor start to the season reflects a fitness problem. Gary Neville urged Carrick to stop defending his players after what he labelled a Fulham "disgrace." Alvaro Arbeloa accused referees of not wanting Manchester United to lose, adding a further layer of controversy to the result.

Mourinho Furious After Madrid Derby Defeat

Jose Mourinho blasted the referee and VAR after Real Madrid's 2-1 derby defeat, claiming two red-card incidents were missed. Mourinho printed out screenshots displaying two incidents he believed should have been punished, holding them up for the media. The Real Madrid manager held up pictures of two tackles in his post-match news conference to underline his complaints. Mourinho and Diego Simeone renewed their rivalry after a 12-year wait as Real Madrid hosted Atletico in the Madrid derby.

Pulisic Scores as Milan Extend Unbeaten Run

Christian Pulisic started and scored his first AC Milan goal of 2026 as the Rossoneri beat Lecce 3-0 at San Siro. The win continued Milan's unbeaten run in Serie A, with Pulisic's strike a highlight of the afternoon.

Referees' Union Criticizes MLS NEXT Pro Over Higuain Discipline

The union representing MLS and USL referees launched a scathing critique of MLS NEXT Pro over its handling of discipline involving Higuain, putting the league and its officiating body at the center of a growing dispute.

Marseille Fans Protest American Owner's 'Ligue 2 Project'

Angry Marseille supporters displayed hostile banners aimed at the club's American owner, Frank McCourt, accusing him of running a "Ligue 2 project" at the storied French club.

Old Firm: Rangers Flip the Narrative as Celtic Look Lost

Rangers sealed a narrow win at Celtic Park, with highlights capturing the decisive moments of the 2026/27 Scottish Premiership Old Firm clash. Tom English reflected on the first Old Firm league game of the season, arguing Rangers look like they know where they want to go while Celtic just look lost. Consecutive Old Firm derby wins show Derek McInnes is making his mark, flipping the narrative around the Ibrox club. Martin O'Neill said he will use the international break to reflect on his position at Celtic after the defeat, admitting it "might be time to wrap it up."

Palace Hold Unbeaten Leeds in Defensive Stalemate

Crystal Palace secured a useful point at in-form and unbeaten Leeds as the sides played out a 0-0 draw at Elland Road, with Pierre Sarr among those impressing in a tight defensive contest.

Bolton Prevail in Seven-Goal Championship Thriller

Norwich suffered a second successive defeat by a 4-3 scoreline, this time at home to Bolton, in a Sky Bet Championship encounter that delivered seven goals at Carrow Road.

Premier League Lessons as International Break Looms

BBC Sport took stock of the opening weeks of the Premier League season as the campaign pauses, weighing the key takeaways from the early fixtures. With three coaches already sacked this season, attention turns to mounting pressure on other managers during the three-week break.

USMNT: Pepi Injury Concern, Next Generation Kicks Off Road to 2030

PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi had to be substituted because of injury in the club's match, raising fresh concerns for the U.S. men's national team. There is no Christian Pulisic on this USMNT squad, but the next generation kicked off the road to the 2030 World Cup, with Sullivan and other gifted youngsters leading the way.

Transfer Buzz: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool Circle Targets

Arsenal could offer a way out of Real Madrid to Endrick, while Manchester City and Liverpool are both looking at Real Sociedad defender Jon Aramburu. Tottenham could move for Morgan Gibbs-White in a £125m January deal, with JJ Gabriel's next step still unresolved.

Townsend Escapes Injury After Pitch Roller Incident

Former England international Andros Townsend remarkably escaped injury after being run over by a pitch roller in Thailand. Townsend joked that playing Stoke away "wasn't so bad" by comparison, lightening the mood after the freak accident.

Ipswich Investigate Racist Abuse of Fatawu

Ipswich Town condemned the abuse directed at Abdul Fatawu as "completely unacceptable" and confirmed the player has the club's full support while an investigation proceeds.

Golf: Spaun Wins BMW PGA as McIlroy Falters

JJ Spaun outlasted a packed leaderboard on Sunday to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Spaun said he played with a "huge chip on his shoulder" after being snubbed for Team USA's Presidents Cup side, using the omission as fuel. Rory McIlroy turned his attention to chasing down Patrick Reed for another Race to Dubai title after his BMW PGA near-miss, admitting "I had my chances." Jacob Bridgeman heads into his Presidents Cup debut as a two-time PGA Tour winner after racing to the Biltmore Championship title. Charlotte Heath secured her maiden title in dramatic fashion at the La Sella Open, bouncing back after blowing a lead to win her first Ladies European Tour event. The DP World Tour plans to keep its Play-Offs in the UAE despite player safety concerns, chief executive Guy Kinnings confirmed.

Darts: Smith Thrashes Price After Littler's Shock Exit

Ross Smith thrashed Gerwyn Price 11-5 to become World Series of Darts Finals champion, capitalizing on the earlier shock exit of the tournament favorite. Luke Littler's bid for a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in 2026 ended in Amsterdam after a crushing defeat to Jonny Clayton.

Rugby: Ireland Blow 19-Point Lead Against USA

Ireland blew a 19-point lead to suffer a 40-36 loss to the USA in their opening match of the WXV Global Series, a stunning collapse that handed the Americans a memorable victory.

Cricket: Middlesex End 36-Year List A Trophy Wait

Middlesex ended a 36-year List A trophy drought by beating Leicestershire Foxes in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup final, a long-awaited piece of silverware for the club.

NFL: Williams Injured as Bears Lose, Saints Shock Ravens

Caleb Williams suffered an injury that contributed to the Bears' loss, while the Saints delivered a shock result against the Ravens in a dramatic slate of NFL action.

Quiz: Guess the WSL Star

BBC Sport challenged readers to work out the identity of the fifth WSL player in as few attempts as possible, part of its ongoing quiz series.