CHELSEA were thrashed 4-1 by Brighton on Graham Potter's first return to the Amex Arena.
Two own goals plus one each from Leandro Trossard and Pascal Gross inspired a huge win for the Seagulls.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are reportedly hoping to secure the services of Newcastle ace Bruno Guimaraes after admitting defeat to pursuit of Manchester City's Bernardo Silva.
The Spaniards spent six months targeting Manchester City star Bernardo, and there were fears he would press for a move to the Nou Camp.
But Barca were priced out by City’s £80million valuation and Guimaraes now tops their wanted list.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from around the grounds…
- Kiro Evans
Paper Trail
Cristiano Ronaldo carried a piece of paper detailing all of his achievements everywhere he went when he was playing at Real Madrid.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed a trophy-laden stint at United before moving to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2009.
And the Portuguese regularly reminded himself of his accolades by carrying a piece of paper with them written down in his pocket.
That’s according to his former fitness coach at Sporting Lisbon Carlos Bruno, who saw the list of the forward’s accolades during a visit to Real’s training ground.
Read the full exclusive SunSport story here.
- Kiro Evans
Downe but not out
West Ham midfielder Flynn Downes has admitted he needs to "get a lot better" if his dream of playing for England is to come true.
The 23-year-old joined the Hammers from Swansea for £12million in the summer.
But he was made to wait for his chance in Europe and the Premier League, with Moyes employing him in different positions.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Downes said: "I just enjoy it. Wherever he wants me to play, I play. There really is nothing better.
"I’m not in my prime, I have so much to give. I’ve got to get a lot better.
"I want to play for England. That’s my dream. Dec is doing that now – I am learning a lot from him.”
- Kiro Evans
Rivalries Renewed
Arsenal are set to play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League for the first time in the 21st century as the two clubs cross swords this afternoon.
Since that last league meeting in 1999, they’ve only played each other four times in the two cup competitions while Forest toiled their way around the EFL.
It was only in January when Forest got one over Arsenal with their 1-0 FA Cup win.
They also beat Arsenal 4-2 in the same competition two years earlier.
In the League Cup, the Gunners won 0-4 in 2016 and 5-0 in 2019.
Forest haven’t won at the Emirates in the league since 1989.
- Kiro Evans
No Messing Around
Barcelona are ready to make a move for Lionel Messi as soon as January, according to reports.
The Catalan club are keen for a reunion with their greatest player after he left for PSG in regrettable circumstances in 2021.
Sport report that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is desperate to get a deal done but PSG will likely show resistance to any mid-season move.
Laporta said earlier this week: "Leo's era did not end how we all wanted. We have a moral debt to him and we would like that the end of his career would be in the Barca shirt."
- Kiro Evans
Counting the Costa
Diego Costa received his first ever Premier League red card yesterday when he head-butted Ben Mee.
Brentford and Wolves played out a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium but it's the striker who stole all the headlines with his dismissal.
Fireworks were expected when the former Chelsea striker made his surprise move to Molineux, and yesterday fireworks were what fans got.
Costa will now miss all of Wolves' remaining pre-World Cup league games, and will have to wait until after Christmas to try and score his first goal for the club.
- Kiro Evans
Jesus Walks
Real Madrid are set to launch a bid for Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus next summer, according to reports.
The Brazilian was linked with the Spanish giants in the summer, only for them to pull out of the running.
Madrid reportedly decided against the move because of an “issue with Jesus’ passport”.
Despite this, he remains a player that boss Carlo Ancelotti admires.
According to Goal, Jesus is on a five-man shortlist compiled by the Italian.
They claim that Ancelotti sees him as a perfect understudy, and potential successor, to Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
- Kiro Evans
'You have to suffer'
Graham Potter is hoping Chelsea's humiliation at the Amex yesterday can help his team grow.
The Blues were taken apart in the first-half by Potter's former side as the new Chelsea boss was handed his first defeat in charge.
But he says that loss could prove to be a big moment in the players' development.
Potter said: "We didn't recover [from the early goals].
"We have to take responsibility a bit for the first half. We have had a lot of football but that's no excuse. We couldn't quite get to that level.
"Unfortunately we missed the pass or didn't execute it. We didn't take our chances and they did.
"It's part of the process, You have to suffer and feel pain in order to grow and get better. Nobody said we're the finished article. We have to take the pain today and learn from it."
- Kiro Evans
Gunner Return Soon
Mohamed Elneny and Marquinhos have given Arsenal a much needed fitness boost.
Elneny is back in training after injury in September blighted his impressive start to the season.
While Marquinhos could be back in the squad after missing Thursday’s Europa League defeat to PSV.
Meanwhile, ahead of today’s clash with Nottingham Forest, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Magalhaes face fitness tests as the Gunners bid to return top of the Premier League with victory.
- Kiro Evans
'We have to fix that'
Jurgen Klopp has been reflecting on another defeat for Liverpool yesterday as their turbulent season continued to spiral.
It's now back-to-back losses for the Reds after Crysencio Summerville's late Anfield winner.
And Klopp made clear the urgency of the situation, with his side now 13 points off the pace.
He said last night: "You can't qualify for the Champions League if you play as inconsistently as we do at the moment. We have to fix that.
"I am sorry it is like this, but that is the situation. I am not sure how deep you can dig, but we will. It is like it is and we will work on solutions.
"We have to have a look at this game first, try to understand it a bit more and go from there."
- Kiro Evans
Are Roo Kidding?
Everton snubbed the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for just £2million in 2002.
The Portuguese superstar hadn't made his big breakthrough at Sporting Lisbon just yet, but a host of teams were aware of his talent.
A new book — entitled ‘Messi vs Ronaldo’ — reveals that the latter could have found himself at Goodison Park.
The winger was offered to the Toffees for just £2m around 20 years ago.
But Everton were focused on developing another special teenager instead.
The Toffees turned down the opportunity to sign Ronaldo as they had so much faith in their own young talent Wayne Rooney.
The full Sunsport exclusive story can be read here.
- Etienne Fermie
Good morning football fans
Manchester City defeated Leicester 1-0 at the Etihad with Kevin De Bruyne's superb free-kick winner.
Tottenham came back at Bournemouth to win 3-2 with goals by Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur, all of whom cancelled out Kieffer Moore's brace.
Brentford and Wolves drew 1-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium with Ben Mee opening the scoring for the hosts and Ruben Neves equalising before Diego Costa was sent off at stoppage time.
Brighton demolished Chelsea 4-1 in Graham Potter's return to the Amex Stadium with Leandro Trossard and Pacal Goss' goals as well as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah's own goal, while Kai Havertz got the Blues on the scoreboard.
Crystal Palace beat Southampton 1-0 with Odsonne Edouard's winner and Newcastle destroyed Aston Villa 4-0 with Callum Wilson's brace as well as Joelinton and Miguel Almiron's goals.
Fulham and Everton's Premier League clash ended in a goalless draw at Craven Cottage in the hosts’ boss Marco Silva’s first match against his former club.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have put Manchester United and Chelsea target Frenkie de Jong as well as Memphis Depay up for sale.
De Jong and ex-United ace Memphis, who has been linked with the Blues and Arsenal, could be sold as Barca’s Champions League exit deepened the Catalans’ financial woes.
According to Sport, five key players could be made available by the Blaugrana.
The midfielder was United manager Erik ten Hag’s summer transfer priority and the Red Devils even had a £71.5million bid accepted.
Chelsea joined the race too – but the Netherlands international has never been convinced about moving.
And Dynamo Moscow ace Arsen Zakharyan has confirmed he wants to join Chelsea and is determined to nail a first-team spot.
The Blues were believed to be closing in on Zakharyan, 19, during the past summer transfer window
However, a £12.6m transfer was BLOCKED by British sanctions placed on Russia and the midfielder stayed at Dynamo.
The Russia international has registered a total of three goals and five assists in 17 matches across all competitions this season.
Finally, Arsenal loanee Pablo Mari is set to return to action in two months after being stabbed in a knife attack.
Mari is beginning his recovery after Thursday’s horrific knife assault in Italy.
The defender was stabbed in the back while out shopping with his wife and child – one person was killed during the attack while five others were injured.
The Spaniard will be sidelined for two months as he rests after the traumatic incident
- Kostas Lianos
Fulham 0-0 Everton
Fulham and Everton's Premier League clash ended in a goalless draw at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers extended their unbeaten Prem record to four games on Saturday.
The Whites' boss Marco Silva faced his former club for the first time since he was sacked nearly three years ago.
And Silva felt aggrieved after Willian was denied a penalty following a challenge by Idrissa Gueye early in the second half
- Kostas Lianos
Juventus’ cash woe
Juventus could be fined a whopping £51million for hiding an alleged secret payment to Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bombshell secret documents claim Juve promised to pay former star Ronaldo a £17m fee during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Mail, the Bianconeri may potentially face a fine of up to £51m as punishment.
La Gazzetta dello Sport also claimed the Serie A giants are being investigated amid claims they falsified documents including balance sheets in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
That’s after Juventus said players would take significant salary cuts during the past lockdown.
Gazzetta also reported to have already sourced a secret document signed by Ronaldo and Juve, making reference to a “famous document that should not have theoretically existed”
- Kostas Lianos
Van Persie praises Arsenal target
Manchester United and Arsenal legend Robin van Persie has praised transfer target Cody Gakpo after the Gunners' 2-0 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League.
Van Persie told BT Sport: “He is a good player.
“He always finds a way in most games to have an influence in terms of making an assist or a goal.
“He is not really an out-and-out striker, but he can play as a No10, out on the wing. He can play in those positions”
- Kostas Lianos
More on Kane
Tottenham managing director of football Fabio Paratici is confident that he'll be able to convince Harry Kane to stay.
Last month, Paratici said: "Kane is the symbol of this club, the best scorer in history and captain of England.
"We are confident and always in contact.
"There is a great relationship between him and the club, we are very optimistic"
- Kostas Lianos
Back Ron track
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says Cristiano Ronaldo can top his 24-goal tally from last term.
That is despite the fact Ronaldo is not part of United’s starting line-up this season.
Ten Hag said: “It’s up to him, but I think when you collect all the chances he creates and the team creates for him in the last weeks, you see he’s still capable of getting in the right positions.
“And he’s still capable of finishing them. I think it’s possible, yeah”
- Kostas Lianos
Kane contract situation
Tottenham superstar Harry Kane has put contract talks on hold until after the 2022 World Cup.
According to the Standard, Kane has yet to begin negotiations over a new deal with his current contract expiring in 2024.
The 29-year-old wanted to leave Spurs for Manchester City in the 2021, following the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo.
But after being made to stay, the star striker has started enjoying life again under Antonio Conte.
- Kostas Lianos
Lokonga swap deal
Arsenal are willing to offer Albert Sambi Lokonga to land Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
According to Calciomercato, the Gunners are willing to let Lokonga go in exchange for Milinkovic-Savic as they want to strengthen in middle of the pitch.
The North Londoners have been struggling without Thomas Partey, who has been stricken by injury ever since his arrival in 2020.
Lokonga has had many attempts to impress in the absence of Partey, but failed to fill in the void
- Kostas Lianos
Premier League results
Tottenham came back at Bournemouth to win 3-2 with goals by Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur, who cancelled out Kieffer Moore's brace.
Brentford and Wolves drew 1-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium with Ben Mee opening the scoring for the hosts and Ruben Neves equalising before Diego Costa was sent off.
Brighton destroyed Chelsea 4-1 in Graham Potter's return to the Amex Stadium with Leandro Trossard and Pacal Goss' goals as well as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah's own goal, while Kai Havertz got the Blues on the scoreboard.
Crystal Palace defeated Southampton 1-0 with Odsonne Edouard's winner and Newcastle destroyed Aston Villa 4-0 with Callum Wilson's brace as well as Joelinton and Miguel Almiron's goals
- Kostas Lianos
Si you later
Real Madrid ace Marco Asensio is set to sign a three-year contract extension.
Asensio has been linked with a move to Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham throughout the years.
According to SER, however, Real want to hold showdown talks with the winger’s representatives to extend his stint in Madrid.
That would include a major pay rise for the Spain international
- Kostas Lianos
Use your Ed
Manchester United are set to join the bidding war for Ajax star Edson Alvarez.
According to Calciomercato, Alvarez is also wanted by Chelsea and it’s claimed that the Blues had an offer worth around £43million rejected in the summer.
And Graham Potter’s side could look to battle United for the midfielder’s signature by January.
The Mexico international has also attracted interest from Barcelona with Xavi seeing him as a potential successor for Sergio Busquets
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal’s Sak race
Arsenal have joined the bidding war for 21-year-old winger Gustav Isaksen from Midtjylland.
According to CalcioMercato, the Gunners want to land Isaksen but face stiff competition from Newcastle and West Ham.
Midtjylland are unlikely to accept anything less than £17million for the talented Dane.
The forward has registered seven goals in 23 appearances for the Danish giants so far this season
- Kostas Lianos
Taking the Myk
Shakhtar Donetsk have dealt Arsenal a transfer blow by declaring Mykhaylo Mudryk will cost over £85million.
That means Mudryk is valued more than what Manchester United splashed for Antony, who moved to Ajax from Old Trafford for £85million.
Shakhtar deputy sporting director Carlo Nicolini told Calciomercato: “Together with Kylian Mbappe, Rafa Leao and Vinicius Jr, Mudryk is the strongest player in his role.
“Is £35m enough to buy him? We don’t speak for these figures, not even for £45m, we don’t even call the president to make the offer.
“We value Mudryk more than United’s Antony – £85m. Floating between Arsenal and Man City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player.
“But there are also other clubs than can spend right away. We are not obliged to sell, we do not want to lose phenomena. We don’t want to shoot figures that aren’t realistic.
“But in this team, he is the most decisive. If you want to take on certain players who make a difference in the top clubs, you also need the right money”
- Kostas Lianos
Valencia target Van de Beek
Valencia are keeping tabs on Manchester United ace Donny van de Bekk ahead of the January transfer window.
According to TodoFichajes, the LaLiga giants want to sign Van de Bekk after the 2022 World Cup.
A loan is the most likely course of action with United willing to allow the move to happen in similar fashion to last year when they sanctioned the playmaker's loan to Everton.
However, the Netherlands international's £100,000 per week wages are a huge stumbling block that needs to be overcome for a move to happen.
Valencia are insistent that the Red Devils take on the majority of the burden, with their transfer goals for the window seeing them pursue two or three additions to the squad
- Kostas Lianos
Mari return date
Arsenal loanee Pablo Mari is set to return to action in two months after being stabbed in a knife attack.
Mari is beginning his recovery after Thursday’s horrific knife attack in Italy.
The defender was stabbed in the back while out shopping with his wife and child.
One person was killed during the attack while five others were injured.
The Spaniard will be sidelined for two months as he rests after the traumatic event
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