Premier League
Another disaster averted; Man United held at home by Everton in latest slip-up

Manchester United missed the chance to move top of the English Premier League and needed a late Video Assistant Referee (VAR) call in their favour to avoid another home defeat, as Everton emerged from Old Trafford with a 1-1 draw on Saturday (Oct 2).
Yerry Mina’s late winner for the Toffees was ruled out by a review for offside after Andros Townsend had cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opener for United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision to rest Cristiano Ronaldo from the start will be questioned, as the Red Devils have now won just two of their last six games in all competitions.
A point is enough to move both sides level on points with league leaders Liverpool, who face champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Ronaldo’s heroics deep into stoppage time against Villarreal on Wednesday saved United from having a mountain to climb to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
But Solskjaer did not risk the 36-year-old with a third start in a week as he took his place on a star-studded bench alongside Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba among five changes.
Martial’s inclusion was the surprise with Jesse Lingard and Donny van de Beek left on the sidelines.
The Frenchman struggled to impress in his few previous outings this season and missed a glorious early chance when he mistimed his jump for a free header at the back post.
Everton do not have the same depth of resources in attacking areas, as Rafael Benitez again had to cope without his two main sources of goals, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, due to injury.
The visitors still created plenty of chances as Michael Keane flicked Townsend’s free kick just wide, Abdoulaye Doucoure’s goal-bound effort was blocked by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Demarai Gray tested David de Gea in the first half.
However, Everton’s good work before the break was undone on 43 minutes thanks to a moment of inspiration from Bruno Fernandes, as he perfectly teed up Martial to fire beyond Jordan Pickford thanks to a slight deflection.
Everton level after Ronaldo introduction
Solskjaer then called on Ronaldo and Sancho 10 minutes into the second half as he looked to put the game beyond Benitez’s men.
But it was Everton who struck next to expose United’s frailty on the counter-attack.
Gray won the ball back on the left and freed Doucoure into acres of space in midfield, the latter playing in Townsend to fire home his fifth goal in nine appearances for the club.
Solskjaer responded by adding another creative threat in Pogba for Fred.
England manager Gareth Southgate admitted on Thursday that Sancho’s performances since his £73 million (S$134.4 million) move from Borussia Dortmund were not worthy of keeping his place in the national squad despite picking him for the World Cup qualifiers.
But Sancho was the most dangerous of United’s star substitutes as he constantly demanded the ball in search of a winner.
Ronaldo’s only chance to be the hero once more came from Sancho’s reverse pass as the Portuguese blasted across the face of goal.
Pogba then curled wide from another promising Sancho break to destabilise the Everton defence.
Yet, but for a matter of inches, United would have succumbed to a second home league defeat in eight days after Aston Villa’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford last weekend.
Mina tapped home from Tom Davies’ cross, but the Colombian had just strayed offside to United’s relief.
-AFP
Premier League
Maguire handed suspended prison sentence for 2020 brawl

England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Premier League
Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace

Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
-
WAFCON5 days agoBREAKING: CAF Postpones WAFCON 2026
-
World Cup22 hours agoIraq coach calls for delay to World Cup playoff amid travel shutdown
-
DIPLOMACY23 hours agoMorocco Backs Gulf Security, Condemns Iranian Attacks Against Brotherly Arab States
-
OBITUARY6 days agoNigerian Sports Journalism Mourns Oyeniyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu
-
MLS1 week agoTrump to Host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House
-
World Cup6 days ago‘I really don’t care’ if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump tells Politico
-
World Cup5 days agoIraq’s World Cup Playoff in Doubt as War Disrupts Travel and Visa Processing
-
FA Cup2 days agoEze thunderbolt guides Arsenal past Mansfield into FA Cup quarter-finals