Key events
St Mirren 1-0 Rangers: More than an hour has passed now in Paisley and Rangers, having made a number of substitutions, still don’t resemble a coherent football team. The home side are defending quite deep but look fairly comfortable in keeping Russell Martin’s men at bay. Thelo Aasgaard has just scuffed a shot wide.
Northern Ireland youngster Justin Devenny is the first man tasked with replacing Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace, then. How Oliver Glasner must wish he had some of the attacking depth available to his opposite number, Nuno Espírito Santo, today. He may not be so envious of Nuno’s general predicament at Forest, mind, but the visitors have new signings James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson on the bench this afternoon, along with Juventus loanee Douglas Luiz, formerly of Aston Villa.
Team news for 2pm games
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi; Muñoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Devenny, Mateta. Subs: Benítez, Matthews, Lerma, Clyne, Esse, Édouard, Sosa, Rodney, Cardines.
Forest: Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Sangaré, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Wood. Subs: Gunn, Morato, D.Luiz, Kalimunedo, I.Jesus, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Boly.
Everton v Brighton
Everton: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Garner; Iroegbunam, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry. Subs: Travers; McNeil, Beto, Chermiti, Coleman, Alcaraz, Aznou, Armstrong, Onyango.
Brighton: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, De Cuyper; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, O’Riley, Mitoma; Welbeck. Subs: Steele, Gruda, Hinshelwood, Milner, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gomez, Veltman, Coppola.
Andy Hunter
Thanks Will. Andy Hunter checks in from his new surroundings:
Just arrived at Hill Dickinson Stadium and first impressions (not counting the previous first impressions from February’s test event) are extremely positive. It’s a beautiful day, so that helps, and thousands of fans were here early to check out Everton’s magnificent new home on the banks of the River Mersey. There were plenty of helpful stewards at Sandhills train station to guide people. And hand out Everton Mints at the exit. Nice touch.
It took 16 minutes to walk from Sandhills to the entrance to the stadium on Regent Road. Inevitably, there appeared to be some teething issues with confusion over road closures, where coaches should park and which entrances to use. There was also some congestion in certain parts of the outside concourse. But it is day one as a fully functioning Premier League stadium. The media facilities are very impressive – a niche point, admittedly – and the same friendly faces who staffed the press room at Goodison Park for years (including floor manager Lisa Hynds) have transferred across. Tony Hibbert is here too. A real blast from the past. So Everton’s new stadium is up and running. Will the same be true of David Moyes’ team?
Well, an hour has flown by and it’s time for me to hand back to Dom. Enjoy the rest of the assorted vibes before things get under way in earnest later on.
Nuno Espírito Santo has stepped over the threshold at Selhurst Park. No doubt he will be closely watched by the Sky Sports cameras today after his comments about his shaky relationship with Evangelos Marinakis, the club’s owner, in his pre-match press conference.
Half-time: St Mirren 1-0 Rangers
Thelo Aasgaard and Djeidi Gassama have forced George, the St Mirren keeper, into action, but Rangers have failed to find a way through and it remains 1-0 to the hosts at the break. Martin has, understandably, cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines.
Rowe signs for Bologna after dressing-room bust-up
Jonathan Rowe has signed for Bologna after being forced out of Marseille following a changing room fight with Adrien Rabiot which resulted in both players being put on the transfer list.
Bologna offered no more details on the transfer but Italian media report that the Serie A club agreed a fee of €19.5m (£17m) for Rowe who has signed a four-year deal. Marseille announced Rowe’s departure in a brief post on their website, wishing him “good luck”.
Rowe, 22, signed for Marseille on loan from Norwich last year and scored three times in 28 games in his first season in Ligue 1, before his move was made permanent in the summer. But the Under-21 England international was put up for sale on Tuesday, in the aftermath of an altercation with Rabiot which Roberto De Zerbi, the Marseille coach, called a “bar fight”.
The brawl kicked off after a 1-0 defeat in Marseille’s opening fixture of the Ligue 1 season at Rennes, a game which they lost to a stoppage-time goal after playing for an hour with an extra man.
“It was a fight like I’ve never seen in all my years in football. For the first time in my career, I didn’t know what to say or what to do,” said De Zerbi on Friday. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I come from the streets, I’m used to fights. But I’ve never seen anything like this. The club’s bodyguards were trying to separate them. Normally they’re supposed to protect us from others, not from ourselves.”
Pablo Longoria, the club president, described the incident as “extremely violent”, but on Saturday De Zerbi said he hoped the relationship between Marseille and Rabiot could be “repaired”.
AFP
Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest have arrived at Selhurst Park with a somewhat bemused-looking police escort. The match is expected to be spicier than usual, given the clubs’ controversial European switcheroo.
GOAL! St Mirren 1-0 Rangers (Ayunga 32)
We’ve got a goal in Paisley and it’s gone to the hosts, Mandron’s pass slicing open the Rangers defence to set up Jonah Ayunga for the opener. So far, this performance is hitting all the wrong notes as far as Russell Martin is concerned.
St Mirren have another good opportunity through Mikael Mandron, but he can only divert the ball wide at the back post.
St Mirren carve out a couple of decent chances, Alex Gogic heading a free-kick delivery straight at Jack Butland before Killian Phillips skews wide from the edge of the box. At the other end, Jayden Meghoma tees up Lyall Cameron but he also makes a hash of the finish.
It’s been a fiesty start to the match in Paisley, where St Mirren have already committed six fouls and are pressing Rangers aggressively. Oliver Antman has tested Shamal George, the St Mirren goalkeeper, with a long-range effort, but otherwise the visitors haven’t created much.
More photos are streaming in from Hill Dickinson Stadium, where David Moyes and his players have been getting used to their new surroundings.
Thanks Dom, enjoy your deserved hour away from bad screen (work computer) even if we all know you’re heading straight to good screen (The Big Match Revisited on ITV4). While Dom takes in the highlights of Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United from November 1975, in the present, St Mirren v Rangers has kicked off, but it’s goalless as things stand.
Right, with that I shall hand the matchday live blog reins over to Will Magee for an hour while I grab a sandwich and a blessed screen break.
I enjoyed this email from Ken Andrew:
Lovely words on Morecambe by Sam Dalling. 45 years ago as a cub reporter on the Morecambe Visitor I used to share the press box at the old ground with my opposition from the Lancaster Guardian Dick Quick. What a byline!
Different times of course. One of the directors was a local butcher who used to come to home games in his bloodied apron carrying a huge tray of meat pies. And the club was tottering even then. Save Our Shrimps was one campaign we ran.
Delighted the club has been saved. Come on you Shrimps!
Manchester United fans are taking an interest in the Royal Antwerp v Mechelen team news today. And, as called by our own Jamie Jackson, there’s no Senne Lammens amid serious interest from United in the 23-year-old goalkeeper. A move worth around £17m is anticipated.
The pictures from outside the Hill Dickinson Stadium are starting to drop. Looks like a corking day weather-wise on Merseyside for Everton fans to officially christen their new ground.
The early Craven Cottage team news is that André Onana is in the Manchester United squad, so could come back into the side, with Bayindir having failed to impress when given an opportunity against Arsenal last week.
It will be fascinating to see whether Ruben Amorim slots Sesko straight in, having used him as a substitute last week. Although shorn of a true No 9, United’s frontline of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount looked quite fluid and fluent against the Gunners and Sesko made little impact in his 25 minutes of game-time. Mount is the likeliest to drop to the bench to accommodate the ex RB Leipzig frontman.
John Brewin is (presumably) enjoying a lovely summer’s walk by Putney Bridge ahead of Fulham v Manchester United later and has sent us this scene-setter:
Bright sunshine by the Thames, where Manchester United travel to Fulham for the later Sunday game. Optimism of a decent performance against Arsenal last week is measured at United by the thought of losing the opening two matches. That happened three seasons ago and United finished third. Are hopes that high? Not especially. Who plays in goal? André Onana, Altay Bayindir or Tom Heaton? Will Benjamin Sesko start?
Fulham fans meanwhile await a new signing. Last week at Brighton, they got better as the game went on, and Rodrigo Muniz, offered a new deal, made a big difference, the fans asking him to stay. He smashed Liverpool’s defence to smithereens back in April. United have a decent record at the Cottage but not a great record under their current manager. Like so many other clubs in this second round of matches, the pressure is fully on.
We’ll bring you semi-regular updates from that game at The SMISA Stadium, by the way.
Steam is already emerging from the ears of some Gers’ hardcore …
St Mirren v Rangers team news
This is hot off the press, ahead of the midday kickoff in Paisley. A really big game for Russell Martin where nothing less than a win will do – and he appears to have picked a team without a recognised No 9.
St Mirren: George; Fraser, Gogic, Freckleton; Richardson, Phillips, Baccus, O’Hara, John. Ayunga, Mandron. Subs: Mullen, Sobawale, King, Tanser, Taylor, Idowu, Dijksteel, Calvin, Mooney.
Rangers: Butland; Aarons, Souttar, Fernandes, Meghoma; Raskin, Rothwell, Cameron; Antman, Gassama, Aasgard. Subs: Kelly, Tavernier, Barron, Diomande, Dowell, Moore, Curtis, Igamane, Danilo.
Can we talk about Sheffield United for a moment? The Blades, having racked up 90 points under Chris Wilder last season – narrowly missing out on a return to the Premier League – decided in their infinite wisdom that sacking Wilder was the smartest move. His replacement Ruben Selles is already feeling the pressure, recognising that after a 1-0 home defeat to Millwall yesterday the club are “in a tough situation”. He’s lost three from three so far.
Blades fans, please get in touch. There’s some talk on social media about bringing Wilder back (again). Why isn’t it working for Selles and where do you go from here? (The words are coming out all weird …)
An email has landed from Gary Naylor.
Hi. Like most Everton fans going to Hill Dickinson, about 25% of the talk this morning is about the match, the event, the history. The other 75% is about where to park, how far the walk is and how the hell anyone with mobility issues can actually get to the ground. Gonna be great though.
I’m keen to hear from more Everton fans this morning, or indeed any supporters who have experienced watching their team in a new stadium for the first time. My team still play in a crumbling, leaking wreck of a ground, so I can only dream.
A couple of big reads on Everton’s new ground, and how teams tend to fare on their new stadium debuts.
Ange Postecoglou is believed to be in the frame to replace Nuno if and when he departs Nottingham Forest. For now, the Portuguese has a game away at Crystal Palace to contend with.
They’re in the Europa League. They came seventh last season. They won their opening game. Beguiling stuff.
What Nuno said about his own Nottingham Forest future was really quite incredible. We know Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis can be a combustible character but you rarely hear a manager talk this way, with Nuno admitting there was “no smoke without fire” re reports he could get the sack.
I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season was very close, almost [talking on a] daily basis. This season, not so well, but I always believe that dialogue and your opinion is always valid, because my concern is the squad and the season that we have ahead of us. But our relations have changed.
It is not so close 1756038237. I’m being honest with you, I cannot say that is the same, because it’s not the same. The reason behind it, I don’t know. My job is always to try to anticipate what’s coming ahead of us, and that’s what I said with respect.
I think everybody at the club should be together but it’s not the reality. The reality is that [it] is not what it used to be. It was a good, respectful relationship, but that was more based on trust and sharing opinions, and now it’s not so good.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so I know how things work, but I’m here to do my job. I understand, because I’m worried. I’m the first one to be worried. I’m the first one to be concerned. There’s no smoke without fire.
We’ve got a real treat for you London-based readers/listeners next month. Football Weekly live lands at the Troxy on 11 September with Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson, Nicky Bandini and Jonathan Liew.
What’s not to like? Grab a ticket.
Transfer roundup
That’s a timely story, as my next thought was to go through all the main transfer headlines as things stand:
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There appears to be a three-way race for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who is wanted by Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Aston Villa
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Two players also heading for the Chelsea exit door are Aaron Anselmino and Carney Chukwuemeka who are both going to Borussia Dorrmund, the former on loan and the latter on a permanent deal
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Savinho is wanted by Tottenham but Manchester City are holding out for a chunky fee for the winger
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Arsenal look set to sign 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers star Victor Ozhianvuna in what could be an Irish transfer record.
Lammens to miss Antwerp game with Man Utd move near
Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens is set to miss his team’s match against Mechelen today due to his €20m (£17m) proposed transfer to Manchester United.
This one is an exclusive from our man Jamie Jackson.
David Moyes likened moving into the Hill Dickinson Stadium to a “new romance” for Everton and the aesthetics are certainly nice when it comes to the architecture and engineering. Will supporters fall head over heels in love like they did, over the decades, with Goodison Park?
A long marriage has a lot to do with how the team is and what team we put on the pitch over the years to come. Can we make that marriage last with the supporters and everybody at the club? I think that’s the next bit.
It would help, if the Toffees could produce an appropriately attractive display today against Brighton. (In truth, anything would be better than their lousy performance at Leeds on Monday).
A truly impressive and beautiful new stadium overlooking the River Mersey for Everton FC and their supporters. The club must now fully support David Moyes to get things right on their beautiful new pitch.
Let’s dip back into some Serie A chat.
And once again yesterday for Napoli, it was all about Scott McTominay. The recently-crowned Amalfi Coast King (TM) headed the Italian champions in front at Sassuolo before some Belgian midfielder named Kevin de Bruyne curled home a free-kick on his Napoli debut to round off a 2-0 victory.
Meanwhile, Brazilian right-back Wesley also scored on his debut for Roma, that the only goal in their 1-0 win over Bologna – in which Brighton loanee Evan Ferguson was named Player of the Match. The Rome club’s veteran manager Gian Piero Gasperini was impressed with the Irish striker.
He said: “Ferguson? He played a great game, and his condition is improving. He played very little last year, and needs to get used to it, but tonight he showed some important qualities for us. He has a lot of potential and will give us great satisfaction in the long run.”
This is a nice piece from Sam Dalling on Morecambe, who won their (delayed) opening game of the season yesterday having been saved from extinction just days earlier.
A huge win for the club, for new manager Ashvir Singh Johal and for football.
What else is happening today away from the Premier League?
Well at midday in Scotland it’s a huge fixture for Rangers and under-fire Russell Martin, who really needs three points at St Mirren. There’s already been speculation around his future after an inauspicious start at Ibrox for the former Southampton boss.
There are a few games in La Liga, including for Real Madrid who take on Sid Lowe’s Real Oviedo this evening, while in Italy Juventus take on Parma and Cesc Fàbregas’ Como host Lazio.
Speaking of Manchester United, here’s Jonathan Wilson on the fresh pressure facing Ruben Amorim.
At 2pm today we’ve got the following:
Then it’s Fulham v Manchester United at 4.30pm. And honestly, who can predict any of those games? Palace have lost Eze, but Forest – despite winning their opening game convincingly – appear to be in turmoil. I think the comment below sums the situation up nicely. A new deal for Nuno? Hmm, maybe.
As for the other games, Everton should be bang up for their new stadium debut but Brighton are Brighton. I’ll get onto United a bit later …
Forest have built what is probably the best squads outside of the big 5 plus Spurs. Think they’ll do big things this season, although the situation with Nuno seems a concern. No doubt it would get fixed with a chunky new contract (announced with a photo of Mariakis standing threateningly close to him on the pitch)
(All times are BST)
While Arteta did express concern regarding those injuries to Saka and Ødegaard, he also welcomed the addition of Eberechi Eze, who was beaming from ear to ear after being paraded in front of the Arsenal fans. Eze completed a move from Crystal Palace worth £60m plus £7.5m in add-ons.
On the new signing, Arteta said: “I think he has the capacity to create these magic moments. He’s got that flair, that charisma that is very contagious. We know he can play as an attacking midfielder, right or left. He doesn’t care. He plays shifted off the left, as well. I’m sure we will find the right place for him.”
And what of 15-year-old academy sensation Max Dowman? Arteta was always going to be asked about him after Dowman made his league debut, becoming the Premier League’s second ever youngest player.
“Max has zero hesitation,” Arteta said. “He’s so convinced that he can go at 15 and deliver, which I’ve never witnessed in my life. For us, it brings joy, it brings emotion and something else that makes our jobs so great.”
Before we look ahead to today’s action, let’s drop in a bit of Arsenal reaction. They were at their destructive best against Leeds last night. Here’s Jacob Steinberg assessing the new Mikel Arteta era at the Emirates.
Yesterday’s headlines
Let’s start with a quick reminder of what happened yesterday:
Preamble
Morning all. Welcome to another of these matchday live blogs, the place where we pull together all our weekend football reaction, buildup and general chat around fixtures, and where you’re always encouraged to drop us an email and join the conversation. The idea is that we’re your one-stop-shop on matchday mornings and beyond – well… until the games kick off.
And it feels like the Premier League season really got started yesterday. We had wins for hitherto written-off Burnley and Brentford, an actual 15-year-old starring for Arsenal and a surprise result at the Etihad (if you can call another Spurs win away at Manchester City a surprise – they’ve done it three times in the last three-and-a-half years).
There’s plenty going on today, too. Everton make their league debut in their shiny new ground, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Nottingham Forest travel to Selhust Park amid rumours surrounding Nuno Espírito Santo’s future as manager, and Manchester United will be playing football, which is always entertaining as long as you don’t support Manchester United.
Let us know how you’re taking in today’s action and any wild predictions or theories you’d like to share at this nascent stage of the season. Let’s get into it!
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