Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: August 25, 2026, 3:10 PM ET

Premier League: Matchday 1 Reactions

The opening weekend of the Premier League season is in the books, and the overreactions are already flying. Arsenal's title defense got off to a winning start, but the champions face a tough challenge repeating their crown, according to former title winners who know the difficulty of going back-to-back. All nine new managerial appointments had varied debuts, and Phil McNulty assesses who impressed and who has work to do.

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville made their season predictions on Monday Night Football, with both tipping Arsenal for the title. Meanwhile, Troy Deeney has selected his team of the week from the opening fixtures. The debate over the league's greatest managers also continues, with BBC Sport ranking the top 10 in competition history.

Liverpool's Troubling Start

Liverpool's new era under a different coach began with familiar struggles, as the Reds' opener looked like more of the same despite the change on the touchline. The VAR review of their penalty decision against Manchester United has sparked debate, with resident ref Andy Davies explaining whether Liverpool deserved to be bailed out by the penalty.

Gab Marcotti's Monday Musings didn't hold back, noting that Liverpool and Man United still look half-baked while Mourinho secured a vintage kind of win. Jamie Carragher has delivered a damning verdict on the club's transfer business, saying he doesn't see where Florian Wirtz fits into the team and suggesting the £116.5m German could be part of the worst transfer window in Premier League history.

Chelsea's Mixed Signals

Chelsea opened their campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham, with Cole Palmer looking like himself again, but Jamie Carragher argued the club's progress will be hampered by sticking with Robert Sanchez in goal. The player ratings from Craven Cottage show Morgan Rogers scoring on his debut while Sanchez struggled. There are three reasons Chelsea could challenge for the title, but the goalkeeper issue could haunt them.

The live updates from the match showed João Pedro giving Chelsea an early lead. Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest are working on a deal for Liam Delap as the striker's future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain.

Transfer Window: Final Week Drama

With the transfer window closing in seven days, clubs are scrambling. Arsenal are ready to make a move for Julián Álvarez if they receive encouragement, with sources telling ESPN the door may be opening. The papers report a £130m push is being prepared. However, Gabriel Martinelli's future at the Emirates is in doubt, with Al-Hilal in advanced talks to sign the Brazilian for at least £50m.

Atlético Madrid's interest in Nicolas Jackson could pave the way for an Álvarez exit, per Transfer Talk. Aston Villa have made a serious approach for Rafael Leao from AC Milan, while also working on a move for Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge after failing to agree a deal for Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Manchester United are monitoring Alejandro Balde's situation at Barcelona, while midfielder Éderson insists he doesn't know what happened with his failed move to Old Trafford.

Manchester City are interested in signing Cody Gakpo from Liverpool, while Jack Grealish's future at the Etihad remains in doubt despite two substitute appearances. BBC Sport takes a look at what each club still needs before the window shuts.

Tottenham's Big Splash

Tottenham have completed the £85m signing of Sávio from Manchester City, with the winger changing his name from Savinho to Savio upon joining. The deal, worth up to £85 million ($116m), represents a significant statement of intent from the north London club. Meanwhile, the women's team is also planning to break into the WSL's elite after a successful first season under Martin Ho.

Aston Villa's Mounting Problems

A threadbare Aston Villa squad fell apart against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, with problems mounting for Unai Emery ahead of a clash with champions Arsenal. The club's co-owner Jed York was arrested over the weekend in Ohio and pleaded no contest to misdemeanour charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.

Women's Football

Chelsea Women are going through a transitional moment as they rebuild for WSL and Champions League success. However, there's a shock watch in the UWCL, with Chelsea, PSG and Wolfsburg at risk of elimination before the league phase even begins. In the NWSL, Gotham FC remains No. 1 after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Angel City, while Orlando Pride snapped their losing streak with a win over Washington Spirit.

FIFA Governance and Governance Drama

The pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino continues to mount, with several current and former professionals saying "enough is enough" and joining criticism of his leadership on social media. However, Samuel Eto'o has backed Infantino's private equity plan, saying he doesn't believe selling off part of the World Cup to private investors was wrong. Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of running to replace Infantino, but expects a candidate to challenge the FIFA president's leadership in March.

Other News

The football with which Diego Maradona scored his "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup sold for $3.35M, falling short of its valuation by almost £5 million ($6.8m). Besiktas have hit back at a "disgraceful" refereeing performance after Leandro Trossard was slapped in the face with no punishment dished out. Amanda Vandervort will leave her position as USL Super League president "to pursue other opportunities." The NRL is planning an exception to its rules to allow Jai Arrow to reach the 100-game milestone for South Sydney after retiring due to motor neurone disease. Rugby league legend Sir Billy Boston has died aged 92.

Celtic and Scottish Football

Are O'Neill's Celtic ready for the Champions League? That's the question as the Scottish champions prepare for the season ahead. Hearts have emerged as favourites for Faroese winger Benjaminsen, while Celtic face competition for a midfield target.

EFL Cup and Other Competitions

BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team explains how prize money works in the EFL Cup.

Boxing, Racing, and Golf

Chantelle Cameron is aiming for a career-best performance when she takes on Mikaela Mayer in their unification bout in Birmingham on Saturday. There's a busy day's racing at Lingfield Park on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Racing. Ian Poulter hasn't made up his mind on whether he will continue to play on LIV Golf next season, amid concerns over the league's funding.

MLS and Podcasts

Inter Miami are slipping off the pace in ESPN's MLS Power Rankings, with Lionel Messi's side officially in a slump, while Nashville SC continue to impress. The Football Daily podcast features Chris Sutton, Andros Townsend and Rory Smith discussing the latest issues, including Ollie Watkins' future and Premier League readiness.