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Man City player ratings: Matteo Kovacic steps up to fill Rodri-shaped void as Jack Grealish kept quiet by Fulham defence

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Man City player ratings: Matteo Kovacic steps up to fill Rodri-shaped void as Jack Grealish kept quiet by Fulham defence

MANCHESTER CITY kept ground on Liverpool with the help of a double from Mateo Kovacic.

Former Manchester United man Andreas Pereira opened the scoring at the Etihad.

Manchester City celebrate victory over Fulham

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Manchester City celebrate victory over FulhamCredit: EPA

But Kovacic’s double and a late Jeremy Doku goal separated the sides despite Rodrigo Muniz’s consolation.

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Here is how Martin Blackburn rated City’s stars.

EDERSON – 8

No chance with the goals but two brilliant saves to deny Traore on one on ones and they proved vital as City hung on for a win.

RICO LEWIS – 7

Reverted back to full-back – out-muscled by Traore on one occasion but baled out by his keeper. Looked more the part when he pushed into midfield

MANUEL AKANJI – 6

Lost track of Perreira as Fulham took a shock lead. Must have had an injury as he was hooked on the hour and replaced by Walker.

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Manuel Akanji lost track of Perreira as Fulham took a shock lead

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Manuel Akanji lost track of Perreira as Fulham took a shock leadCredit: Reuters

RUBEN DIAS – 6

Superb block to deny Jiminez as the visitors searched for equaliser. Busier afternoon than he expected as Fulham posed a real threat. 

JOSKO GVARDIOL – 7

Low shot saved by Leno in the first half but proved his worth at the other end with brilliant tackles to deny Traore then Jiminez.

MATEO KOVACIC – 9

Pep needs people to step forward after Rodri’s injury and the Croatian did it here. Pulled City level via a deflection then fired home a beauty to put them in front. 

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Mateo Kovacic scored a double for City

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Mateo Kovacic scored a double for CityCredit: Reuters

ILKAY GUNDOGAN – 6

Fluffed a couple of first half chances that could have changed the game. Ex-skipper did supply the corner to get his team back in it.

BERNARDO SILVA – 6

Off colour in the first half – better after the break and his super lay off for Kovacic’s second goal while he could have had one himself. 

PHIL FODEN – 6

First Prem start of a season that has yet to catch fire. Had a hand in the second goal then blazed a shot over the angle but subbed late on.

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Jack Grealish had a quiet afternoon

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Jack Grealish had a quiet afternoonCredit: Reuters

JACK GREALISH – 5

Quiet first half apart form a nice cross for Bernardo who missed with his header.  Brighter after the break but could have no complaints at being replaced by Doku on the hour.

ERLING HAALAND – 6

Failed to make the most of a series of first half chances – his blistering start to the season Unselfish lay off for Bernardo but the Portuguese could not make the most of it.

Subs

DOKU for Grealish 61 – What a sensational strike to put City two clear  7

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WALKER for Akanji 61 – Outpaced for once – by Traore – but rescued by Ederson. 5

STONES for Foden 78 – Brought on to tighten things up with the game in the balance 6

NUNES for Gundogan -89 – Too late to make much impact. 5

Doku helped seal the win

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Doku helped seal the winCredit: PA

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Motorsports

Alpine’s shock double podium in Brazil could lead to $30m payday

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The sensational double podium for Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly In Brazil has been a big boost for Alpine for a variety of reasons, with its three-place jump in the constructors’ standings potentially making a $30m difference at year’s end.

Ocon and Gasly appeared at the front after deciding to delay their only pitstop in a rain-affected Interlagos race, which gave them track position to the cars that dove into the pits for fresh intermediates.

Then a well-timed red flag allowed the Alpine pair, as well as Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen, to change their tyres without losing time ahead of a rolling restart.

Ocon was initially able to pull away from Verstappen, but after another safety car, the Dutchman comfortably passed Ocon to win his first race in 11 grands prix.

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There was arguably more elation at Alpine than at Red Bull, with Alpine having endured a torrid time this year, then suddenly saw its points tally triple thanks to Ocon’s and Gasly’s heroics as they joined Verstappen on the podium.

Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team, 2nd position, Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team, 3rd position, celebrate in Parc Ferme

Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team, 2nd position, Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team, 3rd position, celebrate in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Eyes on the prize (money)

The silverware isn’t just a major boost for the Enstone squad and incoming team principal Oliver Oakes, but it may also make a $30m difference in prize money as the team vaulted from ninth to sixth, past Haas F1 Team and RB with three rounds to go.

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“For me, it’s just a great result for the team. Across Enstone and Viry – that’s a big result after the last couple of years, or even the beginning of this year,” Oakes said.

“This does help us to keep the confidence going in the team. Since I arrived after the shutdown, I could see already the build-up to Austin with the sort of tempering of expectations, because it has been really hard to develop a car, especially in-season.

“In Austin, I was sort of full of praise for the fact we brought performance to the car and it was nice to back that up in another way with points in Mexico. And then I think here to see another improvement on that – it definitely does help.

“Credit to everyone at Enstone and Viry, because for them, it does mean a lot. You can see that. The drivers didn’t put a foot wrong in tricky conditions. And also, strategy, those calls, everything. It was a good day.”

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Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

Photo by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Images

‘Rival’ team-mates

For Gasly it was the reward for the way he and Ocon – friends turned rivals turned team-mates – were able to work together to try and help Alpine get through its roughest patch in F1 yet.

“I think we can be very proud of the way we’ve pushed the team forward,” Gasly said. “It’s been tough but we’ve always tried to push the team in the right direction to never give up.

“And on a day like today, even when the car has misbehaved for the majority of the season, everyone tried to [bring their] A-game, and it was just a historical day for the team. So, I’m very proud of everyone working in the team to achieve such a performance.”

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Bristol Downs League: the 130-year-old competition where every game is at home

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Bristol Downs League: the 130-year-old competition where every game is at home

The referees at the Bristol Downs League are not always amateur.

When Richard Morris is not running the line at a League One or League Two game, he returns to where he started in order to offer his services.

“It’s a chance for me to meet up with old friends and remember how I came up through the system and where I came from,” he said.

“It’s really important to remember who supported you so you can support the next generation.”

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A week previously, he was officiating in top-of-the-table Portsmouth’s game against Cheltenham Town, before joining the 20-30 referees that gather every Saturday to officiate on the Downs.

“When you walk in the referees dressing room at the Downs there’s such a feeling of community there,” Morris added.

“So many of the guys have been coming up refereeing games on the Downs for years and years and they really are like a family.”

A stalwart of the Bristol refereeing community is Bill Bombroff. Now aged 86, he officiated matches in the old First Division at clubs including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and in the European Cup.

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Today he is the referees advisor for the Downs League, helping train new officials for the league.

“He will give you so much information, he will take you for the first week, ring you or email you on the Monday, little pointers on where you should go,” said referee Nick Baddell.

“He will leave you then for two to three weeks, then he’ll go to watch you again to see whether you’ve picked up on those bits of information he thinks you should work on.”

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Ajaz Patel says Wankhede pitch could support defending small total on Day 3- The Week

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Ajaz Patel says Wankhede pitch could support defending small total on Day 3- The Week

Leading by 143 runs, New Zealand have just one wicket in hand but spinner Ajaz Patel is certain that life will not be easy even for Indian batters while chasing a small total on a Wankhede track that is deteriorating fast.

Ajaz Patel, who claimed 5/103 in India’s first innings, said how the third day will pan out will depend on how the wicket behaves in the first session.

“Whatever we score, we’re going to have to try and do our best to restrict India but it’ll be interesting to see how the wicket continues to play, Patel said when asked if New Zealand have enough on the board.

“It’s turning quite sharply, it’s inconsistent in terms of how much it does turn and bounce, but as a spinner it’s encouraging as well that you’re going to get something out of the surface and for batting it’s quite challenging,” he said.

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“It is certainly turning from both ends, it’s just the bounce is a little bit variable, so from a batting perspective that can be a challenge as well.”

Patel, though, said the pitch hasn’t been as favourable to the spinners in the morning.

“If we have seen the pattern in terms of the wicket, over the last couple of days in the morning, it probably doesn’t do as much as the afternoon.

“Whether that’s due to the rolling, or whether that’s due to the heat and the wicket drying up throughout the day, I’m unsure. It’ll be interesting to see how that wicket plays tomorrow morning, whether it kind of reacts the same way or whether it’s a little bit different.

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Patel heaped praise on Rishabh Pant, whose counter-attacking 60 nullified the advantage New Zealand had at one stage.

“I felt like I bowled really well but Rishabh batted exceptionally, he’s been phenomenal throughout this tour and he’s kind of the player that’s put pressure back on us, regardless of the situation.

“As long as you’re putting the ball in good areas and you have a good plan and a good set field, then it’s about him taking the option and he is being very, very good and taking the right options, he said.

Patel disagreed that New Zealand spinners have out-bowled the Indians but said they have grown collectively on this tour.

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“I don’t necessarily believe we’ve out-bowled the Indian spinners, the class of the Indian bowling attack is quite phenomenal… For us, as a spin bowling group, we’ve grown a lot and we can continue to show that everyone is quite capable, there’s a lot of communication between us and we make sure that we’re all aware of what the plan is at a certain given time,” he said. 

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Confusion as Peterborough awarded corner despite appearing to score

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Confusion as Peterborough awarded corner despite appearing to score



Watch the moment Peterborough United are awarded a corner despite appearing to have scored an equaliser against Newport County in the FA Cup first round.



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Motorsports

How Verstappen can seal a fourth F1 title in Las Vegas

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After his dominating display in winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, Max Verstappen could claim his fourth Formula 1 world championship in Las Vegas.

The Dutchman mastered the rain to storm from 17th on the grid to take the chequered flag and set the fastest lap in Sao Paulo, extending his lead in the drivers’ standings to 62 points.

Nearest challenger Lando Norris had an afternoon to forget as he slipped from pole position to finish sixth on a day when the McLaren driver would have been hoping to reel in Verstappen rather than fall further off the pace.

“From now, I just want clean races to the end. I’m not thinking about clinching the championship in Vegas or whatever. I just want clean races,” Verstappen replied when asked about potentially sealing a fourth successive drivers’ title.

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In truth, after taking his first victory since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, Verstappen will no doubt be keen to wrap up the crown on the streets of Las Vegas on November 23rd.

With two races, two potential fastest laps and a sprint race to come after Vegas, there will be just 60 points available.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, celebrates in Parc Ferme

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, celebrates in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

That means Verstappen will join Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel on four F1 drivers’ championships if he wins the Las Vegas Grand Prix, repeating his success on the Strip last year.

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Indeed, Norris will need to outscore his rival by three points to keep his own slender title ambitions alive heading to Qatar, meaning a finish of eighth or below in Vegas for the Briton, without the fastest lap point, would see Verstappen crowned regardless of his own finishing position.

The Red Bull driver was an all-conquering champion last season but has had to watch as McLaren and Ferrari surpassed his team for speed and results this year.

Even so, the 27-year-old is now on the precipice of a fourth straight title, with only Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Juan Manuel Fangio having managed the feat previously – with Michael Schumacher clear on five consecutive championship successes between 2000 and 2004.

Verstappen will be champion in Vegas if:

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  • Verstappen finishes ahead of Norris
  • Norris is second and Verstappen is third with the fastest lap
  • Norris is third and Verstappen is fourth with the fastest lap
  • Norris is fourth and Verstappen is fifth
  • Norris is fifth and Verstappen is sixth
  • Norris is sixth and Verstappen is seventh
  • Norris is seventh and Verstappen is eighth 
  • Norris is eighth and Verstappen is ninth
  • Norris is ninth, 10th or fails to score

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Sidemen Charity Match to return as fans say ‘we will be there no matter what’ after huge announcement

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Sidemen Charity Match to return as fans say 'we will be there no matter what' after huge announcement

THE Sidemen Charity Match will be returning next year.

The YouTube charity football match has gained huge attention since its first edition back in 2016.

The Sidemen have announced that their charity football match will be returning next year

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The Sidemen have announced that their charity football match will be returning next yearCredit: Alamy
The social media match has raised millions for charity

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The social media match has raised millions for charityCredit: PA

And fans are ecstatic to learn that it will coming back for the sixth time in 2025.

An announcement on the official Sidemen X account read: “The Sidemen Charity Match returns…

“Sign up at sidemenfc.com to get the latest updates”.

And ticket information is set to be released on November 10.

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Fans couldn’t hide their excitement for the event, taking to social media themselves to react.

One wrote: “We will be there no matter what”.

While another added: “PLS I NEED TO BE THERE!”

A third commented: “OMG I pray that I am able to go this time”.

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And a fourth posted: “Cannot wait.”

Sidemen member and internet sensation KSI hinted that the event will reach new levels next year.

Luke Littler in brand new business venture as darts star, 17, teams up with Sidemen

Writing on X: “It’s finally time. Our BIGGEST one yet!”

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Previous editions of the match have seen internet superstars such as KSI, Chunkz, IShowSpeed, MrBeast and Noah Beck take to the pitch.

While the game has been refereed by former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg for the last two years.

Most importantly, the event has been a success when it comes to raising money for charity.

The previous five games have raised in excess of £3.7MILLION for organisations including Teenage Cancer Trust and CALM.

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It’s not known where the 2025 match will be held with previous editions being played at West Ham‘s London Stadium, Charlton’s The Valley and Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium.

West Ham's London Stadium hosted last year's match

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West Ham’s London Stadium hosted last year’s matchCredit: Alamy

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