Sports

Man Utd kick off Premier League season before Man City face new-look Chelsea

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2 years ago

August 16, 2024

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Manchester United kick-off the 2024/25 Premier League season at home to Fulham on Friday before Manchester City begin the defence of their title at free-spending Chelsea on Sunday.

New Liverpool manager Arne Slot will be under the spotlight on Saturday with a trip to newly-promoted Ipswich for his first competitive game since succeeding Jurgen Klopp.

AFP Sports looks at what to expect from the opening weekend of the new season:

Ten Hag needs fast start

Manchester United’s shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City back in May went a long way to keeping Erik ten Hag in charge at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman has been backed by United’s new football operations hierarchy, led by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, and was handed a contract extension to 2026.

Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have arrived to strengthen Ten Hag’s squad for around £150 million ($192 million).

But after finishing eighth last season — United’s worst ever Premier League finish — Ten Hag needs a fast start to the new campaign to dispell doubts he is the man to lead the club forward.

Fulham won at Old Trafford for the first time in 20 years in February.

Any repeat on Friday will have United fans fearing another season to forget.

Ipswich plan Slot shock

Arne Slot faces a tricky start to his Premier League career when Liverpool travel to an Ipswich side back in the top-flight after a 22-year absence and buoyant after successive promotions.

Liverpool are yet to make a single signing in the transfer window but have been rampant in pre-season with eye-catching wins over Arsenal, United and Sevilla.

Victory at Portman Road would bring some relief to Liverpool fans still coming to terms with the end of Klopp’s iconic reign.

The Reds could then build some momentum with a comfortable run of fixtures to come before the October international break.

But Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe is confident of maintaining Ipswich’s proud home record over the past two seasons.

“We’re going to empty the tank and give everything we’ve got,” Tuanzebe told the BBC.

“They’re just humans” he added. “It is just 11 v 11 on the pitch. Not many teams win at Portman Road and we intend to keep it that way.”

Chelsea chaos v City continuity

New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has a baptism of fire against his former club.

Maresca was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at City before leading Leicester to promotion from the Championship last season.

The Italian inherits a chaotic situation at Stamford Bridge with a first team squad now boasting over 50 players and question marks over the future of most of them.

Chelsea’s issues were exposed in a torrid pre-season, that included a 4-2 defeat to City in the USA.

By contrast, there have been few changes for Guardiola’s champions.

Brazilian winger Savinho is the only new arrival, while Argentine forward Julian Alvarez departed this week for Atletico Madrid.

City’s England trio of Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden, plus Spanish midfielder Rodri, only returned to training this week after competing in the Euro 2024 final and are unlikely to start against Chelsea.

Fixtures:

Friday (all times GMT)

Manchester United v Fulham (1900)

Saturday

Ipswich v Liverpool (1130), Arsenal v Wolves, Everton v Brighton, Newcastle v Southampton, Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth (all 1400), West Ham v Aston Villa (1630)

Sunday

Brentford v Crystal Palace (1300), Chelsea v Manchester City (1530)

Monday

Leicester v Tottenham (1900)

Related Topics:Chelsea MAN City Man United Premier League Season

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Edo Queens Win 2025/26 NWFL Title

They won the title after drawing goalless with Bayelsa Queens in the final round of NWFL Premiership Super Six fixtures at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.

Published

3 hours ago

June 15, 2026

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Edo Queens have been crowned champions of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) for the 2025/26 season.

They won the title after drawing goalless with Bayelsa Queens in the final round of NWFL Premiership Super Six fixtures at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.

This was s their second NWFL title in three years for coach Moses Aduku’s team.

Before the game, Adaaa Edo Queens were on nine points, needing only one point to be crowned champions.

Sports

World Cup: Japan Holds Netherlands To 2-2 Draw

A draw gives each team one point, so neither gains an early advantage in the group. Their exact positions would depend on the result of the other group match.

Published

3 hours ago

June 15, 2026

OCHEFA

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Japan came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their opening World Cup match, with Daichi Kamada’s 88th-minute header rescuing a point in Dallas.

The Netherlands took the lead in the 51st minute when Virgil van Dijk headed home to make it 1-0. Japan responded six minutes later through Keito Nakamura, who levelled the score at 1-1 in the 57th minute.

The Dutch regained the advantage in the 64th minute when Crysencio Summerville curled a superb strike into the net for a 2-1 lead.

However, Japan struck again with two minutes remaining as Kamada headed in the equaliser to make it 2-2.

The Netherlands controlled possession throughout the game and held a slight edge in expected goals.

Both teams registered 10 shots, but the Dutch were more accurate, recording six shots on target to Japan’s three.

Despite spending less time on the ball and producing fewer efforts on target, Japan capitalised on their key opportunities and left with a valuable point, while the Netherlands were unable to turn their possession advantage into victory.

A draw gives each team one point, so neither gains an early advantage in the group. Their exact positions would depend on the result of the other group match.

Sports

World Cup: Sweden beats Tunisia 5-1

For Tunisia, the defeat leaves little margin for error heading into their next group fixture, while Sweden have immediately established themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout rounds.

Published

4 hours ago

June 15, 2026

OCHEFA

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Sweden on Monday started their FIFA World Cup campaign on a good note , cruising to a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their Group F opener at Estadio Monterrey stadium.

The Scandinavian side took control early through Yasin Ayari, who opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the seventh minute before Alexander Isak doubled the advantage after half an hour.

Tunisia briefly threatened a comeback when Omar Rekik pulled a goal back just before half-time, but Sweden returned after the interval with renewed intensity.

Viktor Gyökeres extended Sweden’s lead in the 59th minute before substitute Mattias Svanberg and Ayari added late goals to seal an emphatic victory.

Ayari was the standout performer, scoring twice in an impressive World Cup debut, while Isak finished with a goal and two assists and Gyökeres contributed a goal and an assist.

Sweden’s clinical finishing ultimately made the difference. Although Tunisia enjoyed periods of possession and created opportunities, they lacked composure in the final third and paid heavily for defensive lapses.The result gives Sweden an early advantage in Group F after Netherlands and Japan shared the points in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.