Football

Liverpool's new era under Arne Slot got off to a winning start as they secured a 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Ipswich Town in their Premier League opener.Despite a spirited performance from Ipswich, who were cheered on by minority shareholder and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, Liverpool's class shone through in the second half. Diogo Jota broke the deadlock on the hour mark, tapping in a pinpoint cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Five minutes later, Mohamed Salah sealed the victory with a fine finish after being played in by Dominik Szoboszlai.Slot's side had struggled to create chances in the first half, but they came out with renewed vigor after the break. Jota's goal was a testament to their improved attacking play, while Salah's strike showcased his clinical finishing ability.The victory was a welcome boost for Liverpool, who have endured a quiet pre-season without any major signings. However, Slot's tactical acumen and the quality of his players proved to be too much for Ipswich.Salah, who made his 350th appearance for Liverpool in all competitions, was particularly impressive. The Egyptian forward now has more goals in the opening rounds of Premier League seasons than anyone else, and he looks set to play a major role in another Liverpool title tilt this term.Ipswich, despite their spirited performance, were ultimately outclassed by a superior Liverpool side. The Tractor Boys will need to improve their attacking output if they are to avoid a relegation battle this season.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) kicked off their Ligue 1 title defense with a resounding 4-1 victory over Le Havre on Friday. Despite the departure of star forward Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, PSG showcased their depth and resilience in their first competitive match of the season.South Korean winger Lee Kang-in opened the scoring for PSG within three minutes, but Le Havre equalized through Gautier Lloris in the second half. However, late goals from Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and a Randal Kolo Muani penalty sealed the victory for the reigning French champions.PSG's substitutes played a pivotal role in the win, with Dembele, Barcola, and Kolo Muani all coming off the bench to make a significant impact. Joao Neves, who joined from Benfica for a hefty fee, also made his debut for PSG in the second half.Despite the comfortable scoreline, PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged areas for improvement. "We had highs and lows, but the substitutes did a lot of good for us," he said. "The final score disguises the fact that there are things to improve upon."PSG's victory highlights their strength in depth, with several young players stepping up to fill the void left by Mbappe. Ibrahim Mbaye, Yoram Zague, and Warren Zaire-Emery all started for PSG, showcasing the club's commitment to developing young talent.Le Havre, under new coach Didier Digard, showed promise but ultimately fell short against a more experienced and talented PSG side. They will be hoping to bounce back in their next match against Auxerre.PSG's next challenge will be a home match against Montpellier on August 13th. They will be aiming to continue their winning ways and establish themselves as the early frontrunners in the Ligue 1 title race.

Bayern Munich, under the guidance of new manager Vincent Kompany, made a resounding start to their German Cup campaign with a 4-0 victory over second-division Ulm on Friday. The match marked the first competitive fixture of the German football season.Thomas Mueller, the veteran Bayern striker, was the star of the show, scoring twice in the first half. His first goal came in the 12th minute, when he tapped in a pass from Joshua Kimmich. Just three minutes later, Mueller doubled Bayern's lead, tucking in a cross from Serge Gnabry.Bayern continued to dominate the match in the second half, and they extended their lead in the 79th minute. Kingsley Coman, who had come on as a substitute, turned in a pass from new signing Michael Olise. Harry Kane, another substitute, added a fourth goal in injury time, his first German Cup goal.The victory was a welcome boost for Bayern, who failed to win a trophy last season, their first trophyless campaign since 2012. Kompany, who was appointed as manager in the summer, will be hoping to lead Bayern back to success this season.Earlier on Friday, first-division sides Mainz, St Pauli, and Hoffenheim each beat lower league opposition to progress past the first round of the German Cup. Defending German Cup holders Bayer Leverkusen will be in action in the DFL Supercup at home against Stuttgart on Saturday night.

The Durand Cup 2024 group stage match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan promises to be an electrifying affair as the arch-rivals clash at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. The Kolkata Derby is a highly anticipated event, with both teams vying for a knockout spot.Mohun Bagan have been in impressive form, remaining unbeaten and yet to concede a goal in the tournament. East Bengal, on the other hand, have conceded twice but are determined to secure a victory.The East Bengal squad boasts a strong defense led by Prabhsukhan Singh Gill and Lalchungnunga. Their midfield is anchored by Souvik Chakrabarti and Jeakson Singh, while Cleiton Silva and Dimitrios Diamantakos provide attacking firepower.Mohun Bagan's defense is equally formidable, with Ashutosh Mehta and Gurjinder Kumar forming a solid partnership. Their midfield is led by Sk Faiz and Surabuddin Mollick, while Subha Ghosh and Deep Saha pose a threat up front.In terms of head-to-head encounters, East Bengal holds a slight edge with 142 wins compared to Mohun Bagan's 129. However, in Durand Cup history, East Bengal leads 9-8 with five draws.The match is expected to be a close and intense battle, with both teams eager to secure a victory. Fans can expect a high-octane encounter filled with passion, skill, and rivalry.

Manchester United's Premier League campaign got off to a winning start with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday. Despite a lackluster first-half performance, the Red Devils secured the three points thanks to a late goal from substitute Joshua Zirkzee.The home crowd was in high spirits before kickoff, with four new signings being unveiled on the pitch and new faces in the United boardroom. However, United struggled to break down a resolute Fulham defense in the opening 45 minutes. Captain Bruno Fernandes came closest to scoring, but his efforts were denied by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.Frustrations grew after the break as United continued to misfire in attack. However, Dutch substitute Zirkzee arrived right on cue three minutes from time to earn United victory. The 21-year-old striker, who joined from Bayern Munich this summer, pounced on a loose ball in the Fulham area and fired home from close range."To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn't be better," Zirkzee told Sky Sports. "I've been told (scoring at the Stretford End) is one of the best feelings at Man United. I'm so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game. It's an amazing feeling."The victory was a much-needed boost for United, who have not won a Premier League title since 2013. Manager Erik ten Hag will be pleased with the result, but he will know that his team still has much to improve on."We defended and pressed very well," Ten Hag said. "We created a lot of chances and we should have scored earlier. That is the only criticism of the team - kill in the box."Fulham manager Marco Silva was disappointed to take nothing from the match. "It is really tough for us to lose this game the way we lost," he said. "We started really well, but after 20 minutes United reacted well. We adjusted at halftime and the second half was much better."

The Premier League 2024-25 season kicks off this weekend, bringing with it a significant change to the traditional matchday routine. Clubs will now have an additional 15 minutes to release their team sheets, moving the deadline to 75 minutes before kick-off.This rule adjustment aligns with UEFA regulations and aims to enhance the competitiveness of matches. By providing managers with less time for last-minute changes, the new rule encourages more strategic planning and reduces the potential for tactical surprises.The Premier League handbook now stipulates that team sheets must be submitted "at least 75 minutes before the time fixed for the kick-off of a league match." Clubs are required to provide the shirt numbers and names of participating players, including substitutes, as well as the color of their uniforms and the names of up to seven officials occupying the trainer's bench.The change also affects the pre-match briefing between managers and the referee, which must now take place at least 60 minutes before kick-off. This briefing provides an opportunity for managers to discuss any potential issues or concerns with the referee.The Premier League's decision to adopt this new rule is a testament to its commitment to improving the quality and fairness of its matches. By giving managers less time to make changes, the league hopes to create a more level playing field and increase the excitement for fans.

The 2024-25 Premier League season promises to be an enthralling spectacle, with a host of intriguing storylines and captivating matchups. Here are five key talking points to watch out for:1. Arsenal's Title Ambitions:After narrowly missing out on the title last season, Arsenal will be determined to mount a stronger challenge this time around. Mikel Arteta's side has shown glimpses of brilliance, but they need to maintain consistency and avoid costly slip-ups.2. Aston Villa's Champions League Adventure:Aston Villa's remarkable fourth-place finish last season earned them a spot in the prestigious Champions League. Unai Emery's team will face a daunting task as they navigate the rigors of European competition while also competing in domestic cups.3. Erling Haaland's Goal-Scoring Prowess:Manchester City's Erling Haaland is poised to continue his prolific goal-scoring form. The Norwegian striker has already established himself as one of the most lethal finishers in the league, and he will be eager to add to his tally this season.4. Leicester City's Return and Jamie Vardy's Farewell:Leicester City's immediate return to the Premier League after relegation is a testament to their resilience. All eyes will be on Jamie Vardy, who is entering the twilight of his career. Can the veteran striker lead the Foxes to another surprise title challenge?5. Arne Slot's Liverpool Era Begins:Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool marks the end of an era. Arne Slot has taken over the reins, and he will be tasked with maintaining the club's high standards and challenging for major trophies.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant Drawn in Group A of AFC Champions League TwoIndian club Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MB SG) has been drawn alongside Al-Wakrah SC of Qatar, Tractor FC of Iran, and FC Ravshan of Tajikistan in Group A of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Two. The draw was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.MB SG qualified for the newly-rebranded second-tier men's AFC club competition by winning the 2023-24 Indian Super League Shield. The Mariners finished third in the 2023-24 AFC Cup Group Stage and failed to qualify for the knockout stage.Al-Wakrah SC qualified for the Champions League Two by finishing fourth in the 2023-24 Qatar Stars League. This will be the Qatari side's first appearance in Asia since the 2001-02 Asian Club Championship.Iranian side Tractor FC also qualified with a fourth-place finish in the 2023-24 Persian Gulf Pro League. They have twice reached the Round of 16 of the erstwhile AFC Champions League in 2021 and 2016.FC Ravshan booked their spot in the tournament as the runners-up of the 2023 Tajikistan Higher League. The side from Kulob has made four appearances in the AFC Cup but never managed to progress from the group stage.The Champions League Two features 32 clubs divided into eight groups – four West, four East – of four teams each for the group stage, which will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format from September 17 to December 5.The top two finishers from each group will advance to the Round of 16, to be played in February 2025. This will be followed by the quarter-finals in March and semi-finals in April, before the tournament culminates in a single-leg final on May 17 next year.East Bengal FC, the other club representing India in the 2024-25 AFC club competitions by virtue of being the 2024 Kalinga Super Cup champions, lost their Champions League Two qualifying round match to FC Altyn Asyr on Wednesday. They will feature in the 2024-25 AFC Challenge League (third-tier) Group Stage, the draw for which will be conducted on August 22.

Ajax and Panathinaikos engaged in an epic penalty shootout that set a UEFA competition record, with the Dutch giants emerging victorious after 34 attempts. The Europa League third qualifying round tie ended 1-1 over two legs and extra time, leading to the marathon shootout.Ajax, who had won 1-0 in the first leg in Greece, conceded a late equalizer in the 89th minute in Amsterdam, forcing the shootout. The previous record for the longest shootout in a UEFA competition was 32 attempts, set in the 2007 European U-21 Championship semi-final between Netherlands and England.The world record for the longest shootout was set in May when Israeli third-tier clubs SC Dimona and Shimshon Tel Aviv took 56 penalties to resolve their semi-final promotion playoff tie.Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer was the hero for the hosts, saving five penalties. However, Dutch international Brian Brobbey missed two penalties for Ajax, keeping the shootout alive."Five is quite a lot, yes. I save a penalty every now and then, but I don't think you often experience something as crazy as this," Pasveer said. "Every time I thought we would do it. Brobbey behind the ball, we will do it. But he missed, while he always scores during training."Defender Anton Gaaei ultimately delivered the winning penalty for Ajax, sending the Eredivisie club into the playoff round later this month, where they will face Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.