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Andrew Cesare Richardson

Saturday in the UK and, for the majority of the year, that can only mean English Premier League action.
And that majority seems to be growing year by year.
It was a rare Saturday in which the three main title contenders in Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal were all in action.
City and Arsenal both kicked off at 3pm local time, which meant it wasn’t live to UK viewers but don’t worry, we’ll tell you all about it and any other major sports news which occurred while you were sleeping.
Big three

When the English Premier League was first formed in 1992, its breakaway was attributed to the “big five” of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton.
Once Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea, it led to a “big four” which effectively meant the Blues and United flipping between first and second, while Liverpool and Arsenal battled it out for third and fourth.
Manchester City’s billions and Tottenham resurgence extended that to a “big six” with the top six places almost exclusively reserved for the aforementioned sides over the past decade. But now, are we in a “big three” era?
Just one point separates Premier League leaders Liverpool from City and Arsenal as last season’s top three look to break away from the chasing pack.
For those morning people who like to get an early night, you may have missed Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, sealed thanks to an early Diogo Jota goal.
City made it 17 wins in a row against Fulham in all competitions, but it was far tighter than that stat would have you believe: Mateo Kovacic scored twice and Jeremy Doku’s 82nd-minute strike to make it 3-1 appeared to have killed the game before Rodrigo Munoz reduced the deficit on 88 minutes to add to former United midfielder Andreas Pereira’s goal.
While Arsenal came from a goal down to beat Southampton and ruin former goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s return to the Emirates.
Cameron Archer gave the winless visitors the lead on 55 minutes before Kai Havertz struck back three minutes later and Gabriel Martinelli gave Mikel Arteta’s side the lead shortly afterwards. Bukayo Saka made it 3-1 with two minutes remaining.
Foxes in the hunt

Leicester got their first win in England’s top flight since May 2023 as they overcame Bournemouth at the King Power thanks to Facundo Buonanotte’s early goal to move up to 15th in the table.
Meanwhile, West Ham finally had a home success as Julen Lopetegui’s side got off the mark with a thumping 4-1 victory over newly promoted Ipswich Town.
After scoring inside the first minute in three consecutive matches, Brentford took their time against Wolves. They didn’t take the lead until the second minute here.
This, however, was their first victory in that sequence as they beat the Premier League’s bottom side Wolves 5-3.
And, finally, Anthony Gordon missed a penalty on his return to Goodison Park as Everton and Newcastle drew 0-0.
Bayer’s struggles

There was plenty of other football around Europe as Bundesliga title holders Bayer Leverkusen’s troubling start to the campaign continued.
They let a 2-0 lead slip at home against newly promoted Holsten Kiel to draw 2-2. Fifth in the table, they have only won one match so far this season by more than a goal.
Elsewhere in Germany, Borussia Dortmund slumped to a second defeat in three matches as they went down 2-1 to Union Berlin.
In Italy, meanwhile, Marcus Thuram’s hat-trick earned Inter a 3-2 win over Torino and elevated the reigning champions to second place, while Italy forward Mateo Retegui’s treble helped Uefa Europa League winners Atalanta smash Genoa 5-1.
And, over in Spain, Real Madrid went level with Barcelona in top spot as Los Blancos beat Villarreal 2-0 with the Catalans playing on Sunday.
Back with a bang
In snooker, China’s Zhao Xintong bounced back from his recent ban following a match-fixing investigation to rattle in the first maximum 147 break at a World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association Q Tour event.
Zhao, winner of the UK Championship in 2021, was suspended in January 2023 then sidelined for more than 18 months after accepting charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches, as well as betting on matches himself.
He was back to his imperious best in Stockholm, taking a 3-1 lead and then clearing the table in front of a handful of spectators to win the best-of-seven match against Hong Kong’s Shaun Liu by four frames to one and put himself into the last 32 of the competition, which ends on Sunday.
T20 hotting up

Defending champions Australia and fellow heavyweights England enjoyed winning starts at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday, shrugging off the crushing heat and humidity of Sharjah.
Australia began their title defence with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka before England saw off Bangladesh by 21 runs.
Megan Schutt equalled the highest wickets for a bowler in Women’s T20 World Cup history when the pace bowler returned figures of 3-12 to move level with South African Shabnim Ismail on 43 wickets.
Schutt’s efforts kept Sri Lanka down to 93-7, a total the Australian batters overhauled with 34 balls to spare after losing four wickets.
Opener Beth Mooney, player of the tournament in the 2023 edition, hit an unbeaten 43, taking regular drink breaks to beat the heat.
“In the heat it was tough,” player of the match Schutt said. “I think ‘Moons’ lost about 16 kilos out there.
“I think we’ve finally acclimatised because I didn’t feel like I would die today. We’ve played in hot conditions before. It is what it is, got to suck up and get on with it.”
A little extra
Rugby: Scotland beat Japan 19-13 in Cape Town as they look to retain their WXV2 title with first-half tries from Francesca McGhie and Alex Stewart putting the Scots in control. Despite the victory, Scotland head coach Bryan Easson was unenthusiastic. “Disappointing,” he said afterwards. “A good win, but not the standards we set ourselves.”
Golf: Tyrell Hatton’s 61 saw him take the lead in the third round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and equal a course record on the Old Course at St Andrews. “I was taking each hole as it came and just trying to make as many birdies as I could,” two-time tournament winner Hatton said. “I really wanted to birdie the last and that’s actually my lowest round on tour as well.”
NBA: Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe will miss the start of the regular season because of a small labral tear in his left shoulder. The Trail Blazers said Sharpe would miss from four to six weeks. It is Portland’s second injury after the opening week of training camp. Robert Williams III is out for two weeks with a hamstring strain.
Football: In the English second tier, it was a mixed day for Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney, who thought victory had been snatched away from his side after Blackburn equalised on 86 minutes. The former England forward was then sent off, which meant he missed Plymouth’s winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.


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English Premier League

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring the third goal against Southampton to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign. Photo: AP

Mateo Kovacic was Manchester City’s unlikely hero with two goals against Fulham. Photo: DPA

Facundo Buonanotte celebrates as his goal gives Leicester City a first win of the season. Photo: Reuters

Marcus Thuram scored a hat trick as Serie A title holders Inter beat Torino 3-2. Photo: DPA

Contrasting emotions as England celebrate, while Bangladesh’s Sobhana Mostary walks after being dismissed. Photo: Reuters

Pogba ban cut, India’s T20 rout, clash of Premier League wannabes: what happened overnight

Juventus’ Paul Pogba has had his doping ban reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Photo: Reuters

Jannik Sinner speaks during a press conference at the Shanghai Masters on Friday. Photo: AFP

New Zealand players mob Eden Carson (third from left) after she dismissed Smriti Mandhana. Photo: AP

Players prepare for WXV 1 action at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver this week. Photo: AFP

Escape to Hong Kong: football coach recalls terrifying evacuation from Ukraine-Russia war

A Ukrainian flag is seen in front of thick smoke in Kyiv after Russian missile attacks in September. Photo: dpa

Shakhtar are playing Champions League football this season despite the war. Photo: Reuters

A memory wall in Kyiv honours Ukrainian victims of the war with Russia. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Football

Cricket

Golf

Basketball

The English Premier League’s top three starting to creep ahead of the rest, while there was golf, cricket and even some snooker updates


The English Premier League’s top three starting to creep ahead of the rest, while there was golf, cricket and even some snooker updates.
