Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Premier League
Manchester City cruised past espn.com the side in a dominant display, with Erling Haaland netting a brace, though Enzo Maresca played down espn.com fears over the striker after he limped off. Aston Villa won at Newcastle bbc.co.uk, with Johan Manzambi scoring the winner, and Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 skysports.com as Pedro Neto scored both second-half goals. Liverpool returned to winning ways bbc.co.uk at Brentford, with Florian Wirtz instrumental, while Andoni Iraola questioned the VAR decision espn.com that overturned a Liverpool penalty. West Ham were unstoppable bbc.co.uk in the weekend's action.
Manchester United
Michael Carrick dismissed questions espn.com about his own future as head coach, and insisted the squad is ready to move on espn.com from Lisandro Martínez's fiery outburst. Carrick also opened the door skysports.com to January transfer activity.
La Liga & Europe
Barcelona equalled the best espn.com start to a LaLiga season in history, with Lamine Yamal claiming a brace in a 5-2 win over Betis, and Hansi Flick hailed him espn.com as the best player in the world. Raphinha is fit to return espn.com for the trip to Betis. Bayern Munich moved top espn.com of the Bundesliga after a 6-1 win over RB Leipzig, with a Díaz hat trick, ahead of their Champions League meeting with Arsenal. Paris Saint-Germain came back espn.com to beat Strasbourg 3-1, with Gio Reyna scoring espn.com for the hosts in defeat. Inter Milan face a blow espn.com as captain Lautaro Martínez is likely to miss seven matches.
Championship & Lower Leagues
Wrexham eased pressure skysports.com on Phil Parkinson with a 4-1 win over Preston, and Parkinson credited bbc.co.uk the players for blocking out outside noise. West Brom came back skysports.com from two early goals to beat Blackburn 3-2. Stoke won 1-0 at Derby skysports.com, while Birmingham beat QPR 3-0 skysports.com with a Liam Millar double. Portsmouth beat Norwich skysports.com 1-0 from the penalty spot, and Sheffield United edged out skysports.com Bristol City 1-0. Swansea fell to West Ham bbc.co.uk, and Vitor Matos urged his squad skysports.com to use the defeat as fuel.
Scotland
Hearts face Celtic bbc.co.uk at Parkhead in a test of their credentials. Kilmarnock beat Motherwell skysports.com 3-2 with a Greg Kiltie double, Aberdeen beat St Mirren skysports.com 3-1, and Falkirk claimed an Edinburgh double skysports.com by beating Hibs.
Women's Football
Arsenal were booed skysports.com off after a 1-1 draw with Birmingham, adding pressure on Renee Slegers, and Olivia Smith's strike salvaged a point espn.com. Spirit claimed a playoff spot espn.com as Gotham missed out on the NWSL Shield. Zambia players will miss several espn.com NWSL games due to Ebola travel restrictions.
Other Headlines
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was taken to hospital bbc.co.uk for precautionary tests. Real Madrid demanded espn.com that LaLiga chief Javier Tebas resign. Gianni Infantino apologized espn.com at a FIFA Council meeting, though his reelection remains uncertain.
Coming Up
Lionel Messi travels to Spain espn.com two days before Inter Miami's MLS game against Atlanta United, and Enzo Maresca hopes to see espn.com inflatable bananas at the Etihad. Bayern face Arsenal espn.com in the Champions League.