A former world champion has reflected on the timing of his showdown with Shakur Stevenson, believing that he should have fought the slick southpaw in 2023.

Stevenson is widely regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and that was evident back in January when he defeated Teofimo Lopez.

Back then, ‘The Takeover’ was coming off arguably a career-best performance against Josh Taylor, who he dethroned with a unanimous decision victory for the WBO super-lightweight title.

Lopez then made two lacklustre defences against Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett, before producing a far more dynamic display while unanimously outpointing Arnold Barboza Jr.

Based on that, many expected the American to at least win a few rounds against Stevenson, who ultimately dominated their 12-round encounter in January.

Since then, the two-weight world champion has criticised his father and trainer, Lopez Sr, who was berated for his bizarre corner work earlier this year.

But while he was unhappy with the tactics, Lopez has also told Ariel Helwani that he would have stood a better chance at defeating Stevenson two years ago.

“I’d say what went wrong [was] the gameplan. [Stevenson’s] a class act – a defensive fighter, at that – and I think the whole [problem] was the miscommunication, and possibly just taking a fight with Shakur at [that] particular time.

“Maybe earlier on – after the Taylor [victory] and those types of fights – would have been best.”

While disappointed with his last result, Lopez must now focus on becoming a three-weight world champion against Rolando Romero.

The pair will square off at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this evening, with ‘Rolly’ making a first defence of his WBA title.

He claimed the WBA ‘regular’ strap in May 2025, dropping and unanimously outpointing Ryan Garcia, and has since been upgraded to full welterweight champion.

Vikings Preseason Update
3 Up | 3 Down After the Ravens Game

The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Baltimore Ravens for the second preseason game on each team’s schedule. Doing so followed a pair of feisty joint practices at TCO Performance Center.

At the end, the final score showed Baltimore sitting on 13 points and Minnesota sitting atop 3 points. Check out the Vikings postgame breakdown to get a better sense of how the game went.

1 – Safety Jacob Thomas Keeps Earning a Beefy Workload

Several years ago, I was talking to a high school teacher about trying to turn his temporary contract into a permanent contract. His strategy involved doing as much as he could to help the school.

There was, of course, his normal teaching workload (classroom instruction, marking, etc.). But then he coached several sports teams and volunteered to help coordinate prom. All of the sudden, showing him the door became costly for the school since he was helping in so many areas.

Jacob Thomas started with the defense today. Yet again, he often looked fast and decisive while working as a center fielder who would creep close to the line of scrimmage when needed. He got worked into the mix with punt return and punt coverage. He was part of the defense seeking to block the Ravens field goal.

Kevin O’Connell praised the rookie in his postgame presser, describing him as “really smart, really instinctive” while giving him kudos for seizing the opportunity that has been in front of him.

Like an early-career teacher, Thomas could be hard to cut since he’s doing a lot of work.

2 – J.J. McCarthy High and Hot on Several Throws

Talent isn’t McCarthy’s issue. Rather, it’s being able to consistently do some of the basic parts of the job, like hitting an open receiver with regularity.

McCarthy wasn’t all bad. His deep bomb to Tai Felton was a great instance of maintaining his poise, stepping up in the pocket, and then showing off some arm strength. The problem, though, is that was one instance of excellence when what’s needed is consistency to surround these excellent moments.

I asked Coach O’Connell about the coaching point during the game when the ball is sailing high. The skipper said some of the issue could be due to pressure but that coaching adjustments during the game can be tough. By and large, Minnesota needs to roll with those tough moments and work on correcting them afterwards.

The questions about being dropped down to QB3 aren’t going to die down.

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3 – Myles Price Has Come a Long Way

Can’t help but be really happy for Myles Price. Not only is he eating up targets, but he also got tasked with breaking down the team prior to the game.

Last year, Myles Price got brought to town as an undrafted pickup. He demanded a whopping $0 in guaranteed money (Over the Cap), meaning he boasted zero job security. He’s now looking locked into the PR1 job and finds himself in a good spot to be the WR4.

4 – Dillon Bell Continues to Show Promise

Bell is somebody who can chew up yards in a hurry.

The do-it-all weapon went undrafted before Minnesota drained the ATM with $272,500 in guaranteed money. Getting onto the final roster is far from a sure thing. In fact, I’d guess that he’s on the fringe, at best.

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Toward the end of the opening half, Bell got hit on a short throw to the outside with less than 30 seconds on the clock. He didn’t get out of bounds, though, forcing Minnesota to burn a timeout for what was a 2-yard gain. That’s going to be frustrating for the coaches since timeouts are precious.

What’s clear, though, is that he’s somebody with explosive speed who could develop into a nice gadget guy for the Kevin O’Connell offense. He had 6 catches go for 51 yards.

5 – Demond Claiborne, Zavier Scott, and an Uninspiring Rushing Effort

Demond Claiborne boasts speed that’s second to none. He seldom got a chance to show it off, bottled up far too early in his reps. Claiborne’s 8 carries went for 22 yards.

Zavier Scott is a versatile player who boasts good size and silky mitts. He, too, got worked into the mix but couldn’t be described as having an explosive day. Scott’s day involved 7 carries for 28 yards.

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The Vikings will need to be better.

6 – Tai Felton Deep, Jeshaun Jones Deep, & The Pressure on the Passing Attack

In both instances, Felton and Jones were well covered. J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz still went for it.

The Kevin O’Connell era has largely been characterized by a potent passing attack. Going deep a pair of times is a reminder of what’s possible once the games start to matter.  Kyler Murray, the QB1, is going to work with a collection of skill that’s the envy of the NFL: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones.

Creating explosive gains while also arriving at some consistency on a play-by-play basis is what’s needed in Minnesota. Sometimes, that’s going to mean tossing the ball up and letting the receiver go get it.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

India’s women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand saw their dream run at the BWF World Championships 2026 come to an end on Saturday as top seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China beat them 18-21, 21-13, 21-8 in the semifinals at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

The defeat means Treesa and Gayatri will have to settle for the bronze medal, which will be India’s only medal at the 2026 World Championships. It is also only the second World Championships bronze for India in women’s doubles after Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won the same-colour medal in 2011.

Treesa-Gayatri fight back to take the opening game

The Indians made a strong start against the top seeds, racing into a 3-0 lead before Liu and Tan responded with a couple of points. Treesa and Gayatri, however, kept the pressure on and extended their advantage to 7-2.

The Chinese pair then showed why they are the top seeds, putting together nine consecutive points to turn the game around and take an 11-7 lead into the mid-game interval.

Treesa and Gayatri refused to let the game slip away. They began putting their power game to use and produced six points in a row to move 13-12 ahead.

Liu and Tan responded with four consecutive points to go 16-13 up, but the Indians again found a way back, picking up three straight points to level the game at 16-16.

The Chinese pair moved 18-16 ahead and appeared to have regained control, but Treesa and Gayatri produced their best stretch of the game at the crucial stage, winning five points in a row to close out the opening game 21-18.

Treesa said the confidence gained during the first half of the game helped the Indians respond whenever the top seeds threatened to pull away.

“Playing against these Chinese players, I feel like we were a bit more confident in the first game. Even when we were leading in the first half, they came back to 11-7. They took a break and again we caught up with them. At that time, we were much more confident,” Treesa said.

Liu-Tan turn the match around

The second game began in completely different fashion, with Liu and Tan taking an early 4-1 lead. Treesa and Gayatri gradually fought their way back into the contest, putting the Chinese pair under pressure and eventually levelling the score at 10-10 before taking an 11-10 lead at the interval.

But the top seeds responded immediately after the break.

Liu and Tan reeled off eight consecutive points to move from 12-12 to 20-12, leaving the Indians with little room to fight back. They eventually closed out the second game 21-13 to force a deciding game.

Treesa said the Indians lost their rhythm after the second game and began playing more defensively, which allowed the Chinese pair to take control.

“But in the second game, we didn’t get the rhythm. After the second game, a few mistakes made us a little unconfident. I felt a little doubtful about every shot we were playing. Then we went more defensive, and we cannot play against them defensively,” she said.

Gayatri felt the Chinese pair’s patience in the second game also made a major difference.

“In the second set, they played very patiently. I think we couldn’t match that. It happens,” Gayatri said.

She felt the Indians had still been able to control parts of the game from the backcourt but needed greater support at the net to convert their chances.

“I think we played very well in the third set. The backcourt was controlling pretty well. If I had supported a little more from the net, I think we could have pulled off the second set. But also in the third set, there were a few points that we could have converted. There was no rhythm,” she said.

Top seeds run away with deciding game

The deciding game started evenly, with the two pairs locked at 2-2. Liu and Tan then produced four consecutive points to move 6-2 ahead before Treesa and Gayatri picked up their third point.

The Indians tried to fight back with consecutive points, but the Chinese pair continued to apply pressure and reached the mid-game interval 11-5 ahead.

Liu and Tan then put the match further out of reach by taking four points in a row after the break to move 15-5 ahead.

With the Chinese pair controlling the rallies, the Indians struggled to find their attacking rhythm and began making errors. Liu and Tan maintained their advantage to close out the deciding game 21-8 and book their place in the final.

Treesa said the errors and loss of confidence after the second game made it increasingly difficult for the Indians to play their natural game against the top seeds.

“I think luck is also a big factor in the game. In crucial situations, with confidence and luck, everything comes together,” she said.

A breakthrough campaign

Despite the semifinal defeat, Treesa and Gayatri’s campaign marked a breakthrough at the World Championships. They had already stunned the 16th seeds in the round of 32 and then defeated the seventh-seeded Japanese pair Kie Nakanishi and Rin Iwanaga in the quarterfinals to reach the last four.

Treesa looked back at the campaign as a major step forward for the pair.

“If you see the whole week, it has been amazing. We have made so many upsets, and I think it’s been such a great week for us. We played so many great matches, and there are so many things to take away from this tournament,” she said.

Gayatri also acknowledged the mental demands of the tournament, particularly after their intense quarterfinal victory the previous day.

“Yesterday was a pretty intense match, so mentally it was pretty tough. There was a lot going on. But today, when we were on court, I think we were fresh, especially in the first set. Sometimes, mentally, we do get a little tired,” Gayatri said.

The bronze medal gives Treesa and Gayatri their first World Championships medal and India its second women’s doubles medal in the history of the tournament.

For Treesa, however, the podium finish is only the beginning.

“Obviously, being part of that club, I feel so happy. There is a lot of journey we have ahead of us. I feel like this is just a start. We just need to take this as a positive and in a confident way. I feel like it’s all about the moments,” she said.

The defeat also brought India’s challenge at the BWF World Championships 2026 to an end ahead of Sunday’s final day, with Treesa and Gayatri’s bronze the country’s lone medal from the home edition.

While the Winx Stakes contest between Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi will be the main event this week, the Rosehill barrier trials are also attracting considerable attention as a number of top horses continue their preparations for upcoming races.

Everest hopeful Headwall is slated to participate in his third trial over 900 metres in the opening heat, running alongside notable rivals including Beadman, Lazzura, Linebacker, Marhoona, and Skyhook.

The seven-year-old hasn’t raced since incurring a leg injury after his Concorde Stakes (1000m) victory in September last year. Trainer Matthew Smith has orchestrated a gradual return to fitness for the horse.

He was initially entered for the Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick this weekend, but the nomination was withdrawn as Smith opted to stick to his original strategy of aiming for successive wins in the feature sprint next month.

“I put him in and had a look, but decided I didn’t really want to change tack,” Smith stated. “I want to go to the Concorde and then go to The Shorts. He’s trialling Friday now and he’s low flying. I think he’s going better than last ‘prep’.”

Several promising three-year-olds from the new season will compete in the second heat, led by Reisling Stakes winner Chayan, Champagne Stakes placegetter Diameter, and Baillieu winner Southend. Todman Stakes winner Paradoxium will feature later in the session in trial six, and J J Atkins placegetter Stormy Marco in the eleventh heat.

Chris Waller has entered both Lady Shenandoah and Campione D’Italia for separate trials on Friday, but both are expected to race at Randwick the following day.

Lady Shenandoah is one of 14 acceptors for the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), while Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Campione D’Italia returns against older horses in the Show County Quality (1200m).

Tommy Berry partnered the latter to his Skyline Stakes (1200m) win in February. After riding him in two recent trials and an exhibition gallop at Rosehill last weekend, Berry is keen to ride him again on race day.

“He was quite a handful (at two), but everything he’s doing this preparation so far is showing he’s matured quite a lot,” Berry said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him do it at the races.”

The highly anticipated Winx Stakes is drawing significant interest from the betting public. Those looking to place a wager can find competitive racing odds at online bookmakers.

The Ciaron Maher stable has a proven track record of maximising the potential of mares as they age.

Examples like Bella Nipotina and Pride Of Jenni demonstrate horses who maintained their class into their later racing years.

Tennessee Bound, while not quite at that elite level, possesses a unique aspect to her racing record that those two outstanding mares do not share.

Across six career starts, Tennessee Bound has yet to be defeated, and she will be aiming to prolong this perfect record in the Dr Sheahan Plate (1300m) at Sandown this Saturday.

The start of Tennessee Bound’s career was delayed until October of last year due to issues with immature knees, and the Maher team has handled her progression with expert care.

Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, spoke about the stable’s careful selection of races for the mare.

“We’d have her in, give her a break, and thankfully (owner) Gerry (Ryan) just said do what you have to do,” Turnbull said.

“She’s a mare that has taken time and hopefully the time given repays us, but we can’t hide her now as we’ve placed her as best as we can.

“She’s in a 1300-metre benchmark 88 and we feel as though that’s that next bracket, but it’s tougher again than what she has been meeting.”

Turnbull noted that the team is uncertain about the upper limits of Tennessee Bound’s racing ability.

If Tennessee Bound manages to continue her winning form on Saturday, a possibility exists for her to contest the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), a feature mares’ race at Flemington on September 12.

To date, Tennessee Bound has not raced beyond 1200m, making Saturday’s event a new challenge for the mare.

“If she was successful, a race that comes to mind is the Let’s Elope, potentially stepping up to 1400 (metres),” Turnbull explained.

“She’s a speed horse, so we don’t have to stretch her if we don’t want to.

“We would only be thinking of Black Type if she was winning again.

“It’s hard to determine how good she might be because she is still only lightly raced, but she will come back and be better again, I’m sure.

“What she is racing against and her ratings, she is that Listed, Group 3 level now, at the right time, but to say she’s a Group 1 horse is a bit audacious given her trajectory has been monitored.”

Throughout her winning streak, Tennessee Bound has consistently been positioned in the top three, including leading from start to finish in her last two assignments.

“If there is genuine pace in the race (on Saturday), we would love to be third, fourth, fifth, in that sweet spot,” Turnbull stated.

“She is unbeaten, she seems to raise the bar every time it is asked and hopefully, she can do it again on Saturday.”

Following a potential win in the Dr Sheahan Plate, the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes could be on the radar for Tennessee Bound; consider the latest sports betting options available.

Trainer Cliff Brown has encountered a series of unfortunate barrier draws for Almairac in recent weeks and has decided to take a punt by heading to Adelaide.

Almairac drew a wide gate in Sydney last Saturday, again from an outside alley at Sandown on Wednesday, and now faces barrier 12 of 13 acceptors in The Footbase Group Handicap (1994m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.

Brown confirmed that Almairac would make the journey to Adelaide from his Mornington stables, as it has been over five weeks since the gelding last competed.

That last start was in a Benchmark 70 race over 1800m, where Almairac finished fourth on a Heavy 9-rated track.

Brown suggested that the likelihood of a slightly firmer surface, rated a Soft 7 on Thursday, would be in the gelding’s favour.

Almairac also sees a weight advantage, dropping from 57.5kg at Sandown to 55kg on Saturday in Benchmark 78 grade, with Will Price booked to ride.

“He’s kept drawing wide and he’s done the same on Saturday, but I’m just going to chance my arm,” Brown said.

“That would be three times in a week that he would have missed a start because of poor barriers.”

“It’s come about because he drew 10 of 12 at Randwick, drew 11 at Sandown, and the start at Randwick can be a bit tricky, and we’ve got 12 on Saturday.”

“The heavy track probably got him last time, but he had had a bit of a gap between runs, and for the pattern of the day, he ran pretty well.”

“There has been rain in Adelaide, but it’s clearing up, and I’ve got to race him somewhere, and that seems the most logical one.”

“He’s worked very well. I’m happy with how he is, but I’d love to draw a gate.”

Explore the available betting markets for the race at your preferred Australian betting sites.

The second phase of the 2026 Hockey World Cup is now underway, with the top eight teams from the first phase battling for the four semifinal spots.

Harmanpreet Singh-led India’s men’s team will begin their Phase 2 campaign on Saturday with a crucial clash against the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Salima Tete’s India women’s team will face Australia in their final Phase 2 game on Sunday after suffering a 0-2 defeat to defending champions the Netherlands in their opening match.

India men’s team semifinal qualification scenario

India are part of Pool E in the second phase, alongside England, the Netherlands and Argentina.

Under the new World Cup format, teams carry over points earned against other teams that progressed from their respective first-phase pools. England and the Netherlands begin Phase 2 with three points each, while India and Argentina start without any carryover points.

All four teams will play two matches each in Pool E. Here are the possible scenarios for India.

Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026: Pool E full schedule

Win vs Netherlands and Argentina

India’s best route to the semifinals is to win both their matches against the Netherlands and Argentina. Even then, however, their qualification will depend on the results of the other matches.

If India win both games, they will finish with six points. They will qualify if England either win both their matches or lose both their matches.

If England win both games, they will finish above India and the Netherlands, while India will be in contention for the second semifinal spot. If England lose both, India and Argentina will compete with the Netherlands for the remaining spot, with goal difference potentially becoming decisive.

Win vs Netherlands, loss vs Argentina

If India beat the Netherlands but lose to Argentina, they will finish with three points.

In this scenario, India will need England to beat both Argentina and the Netherlands. That result would leave England, the Netherlands and Argentina in contention for the second semifinal spot, with goal difference deciding which team joins England in the last four.

Loss vs Netherlands, win vs Argentina

If India lose to the Netherlands but beat Argentina, they will also finish with three points.

However, this is a particularly tricky scenario. If England beat Argentina, India would be eliminated from semifinal contention even before their match against Argentina.

For India to remain in the race, England would need to lose both their matches. India would then have to hope their goal difference is better than Argentina’s to join the Netherlands in the semifinals.

Draw vs Netherlands, win vs Argentina

A draw against the Netherlands followed by a win over Argentina would give India four points.

There would be several possible routes to qualification from there.

If England lose both their matches, India would qualify alongside the Netherlands. If England win both games, India would be level on four points with the Netherlands, meaning goal difference would decide which team advances.

However, if England beat Argentina and either draw or lose to the Netherlands, India would be eliminated because England would finish on six or seven points, while the Netherlands would have at least five.

If England lose to Argentina but beat the Netherlands, India would again be tied with the Netherlands on four points, leaving the qualification spot to the relevant tiebreaker.

Win vs Netherlands, draw vs Argentina

If India beat the Netherlands and draw against Argentina, they would finish with four points.

In this case, India would ideally need England to win both their matches to qualify directly.

If England lose both games, the Netherlands would qualify, while India and Argentina would be tied on four points. Goal difference would then determine which of the two teams joins the Netherlands in the semifinals.

If England draw both their matches, they would qualify, while India would finish level with the Netherlands on four points. India would have the advantage on goal difference in this scenario and would therefore progress.

Draw vs Netherlands and Argentina

If India draw both their matches, they would finish with just two points.

With the Netherlands and England already carrying three points into Phase 2, India would be unable to finish in the top two and would be eliminated from semifinal contention.

Loss vs Netherlands and Argentina

If India lose both their matches, they would finish at the bottom of Pool E and be eliminated from the race for the semifinals.

India women’s team semifinal qualification scenario

India’s women’s team are also in Pool E, alongside China, the Netherlands and Australia.

The Netherlands began Phase 2 with three carryover points after beating fellow Pool A qualifiers Australia in the first phase. India and China, meanwhile, carried one point each into the second phase after drawing their first-phase meeting.

In the opening set of Phase 2 matches, India lost 0-2 to the Netherlands, while Australia drew with China.

The result means the Netherlands have already secured their place in the semifinals, while India, China and Australia are fighting for the remaining semifinal spot from Pool E.

India will face Australia in their final Phase 2 game on Sunday. Here are the qualification scenarios.

Win vs Australia

If India beat Australia, they will finish Phase 2 with four points. In that case, India will need the Netherlands to beat China in their final match. A Netherlands win would leave China on two points, while Australia would remain on one point, allowing India to claim the second semifinal spot.

However, if the Netherlands lose to China, India will be eliminated because China would move to five points.

Draw or loss vs Australia

If India draw against Australia, both teams will finish Phase 2 with two points.

Since India have already lost to the Netherlands, their goal difference would be inferior to Australia’s in this scenario. Therefore, regardless of the result between the Netherlands and China, India would be eliminated.

A defeat to Australia would end India’s campaign as well. They would finish Phase 2 with just one point, leaving all three other teams above them in the standings.

India’s women therefore have only one clear route to the semifinals: beat Australia and hope the Netherlands defeat China.

The Philippine women’s baseball team in training ahead of the Women’s Baseball World Cup. –PABA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s baseball team opens its campaign in the Women’s Baseball World Cup on Sunday in Tainan, Taiwan where it will seek a spot in the Finals as one of the top three finishers.

A tough opening assignment awaits the Filipina batters as they take on defending champion Japan in Group B at Aspac Secondary Stadium with the first pitch set at 2:30 p.m.

Also in the group are host Chinese-Taipei, Venezuela, Cuba and Great Britain.

Veteran coach Saki Bacarisas is calling the shots for the 20-player Team Philippines, which qualified for the World Cup as a wildcard entry.

The top three teams after the group stage will advance to the Finals next year in Rockford, Illinois, along with the United States, Australia and Canada.

The Americans, the Australians and the Canadians secured their spots after Group A was played last month in Rockford. Also in the group were South Korea, Mexico and Hong Kong.

Players who will don the national colors are Maria Christine Bautista, Angel Kaye Bedano, Helea Campos, Ivymhel Capistrano, Shyla Mae Celis, Delyrose Covarrubias, Mharnie dela Cruz, Madelene Domaug and Erika Fernandez.

Also on the team are Martine Dominique Francisco, Cassandra Inot, Chastene Jover, Mae Langga, Jojielyn Lim, Mary Joy Maguad, Mary Nichole Padasas, Mery Ann Ramos, Jam’mn Joyce Rasco, Richelle Toledo and Veronica Velasco.

Their other games are against Cuba on Monday, Chinese-Taipei on Tuesday, Great Britain on Wednesday and Venezuela on Thursday.

It took just one round of the Premier League to puncture the preseason positivity surrounding Manchester United and Tottenham. Saturday in England’s top division began with United, the 20-time champion with a new permanent manager and a freshly renovated midfield, getting rolled over by promoted Hull in an embarrassing 2-0 loss. It ended with Tottenham, one of the biggest spenders in Europe this summer with $300 million – and counting – of new players in its squad, getting overwhelmed in a 3-0 defeat at Brentford. In the middle was a win for Everton in front of Britain’s recently installed prime minister and a victory for another promoted club, Ipswich.

Hull made a dream return to the top flight after a nine-year absence but much of the post-match chatter was about Man United’s shortcomings.

First-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy at set-pieces consigned United to a tepid loss away to a team that was promoted via the second-tier Championship playoffs and is widely expected to be among the relegation candidates.

“It was never going to be perfect,” said Michael Carrick, who was rewarded for leading United to a third-place finish last season and a return to the Champions League with a permanent contract over the summer.

Carrick also was given a new central-midfield duo in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos – Brighton’s Carlos Baleba might be next – while Marcus Rashford returned from a loan spell at Barcelona and entered as a halftime substitute against Hull.

They struggled to impress along with many other players in a lackluster team display that showed United – last a Premier League champion in 2013 under Alex Ferguson – still has far to go to recapture its former glories and is unlikely to challenge for the title, at least on this evidence anyway.

“One game doesn’t change the direction of everything,” Carrick said. “It doesn’t change the direction of the football club.”

Across Europe, only Chelsea has spent more on new players than Tottenham this summer but it didn’t show at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.

Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, who joined for a club-record $133 million from Newcastle, was among the new signings in a Spurs team that was completely outplayed by a settled Brentford lineup, which was two goals ahead by the 33rd thanks to close-range strikes by Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt.

Michael Kayode slid in to add a third just after the break and Igor Thiago, Brentford’s top scorer last season, missed a chance to pad the scoreline by hitting the post with a penalty.

Everton had a famous fan in its stadium watching a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Andy Burnham took in his first Everton match since becoming Britain’s prime minister last month and saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry score goals for the hosts.

Everton manager David Moyes said he spoke to Burnham, a season ticket-holder at the club, on the phone after the match.

Ismaila Sarr, linked with a move away from Palace, wasn’t in the matchday squad for Pierre Sage’s first game in charge of the team, though the manager said the Senegal forward’s absence was injury-related. Palace lost Morocco defender Chadi Riad to what appeared to be a serious knee injury that forced him to be carried off on a stretcher in the second half.

Ipswich was another promoted team to win in the opening round of games, scoring in the 90th minute through Jack Clarke to beat his former club Sunderland 2-1.

Leeds also scored a late winner, with Anton Stach’s 88th-minute free kick enough to dispatch Nottingham Forest 1-0.

Arsenal began its title defense by beating Coventry, the second-tier champion last season, 3-0 on Friday.

On Sunday, Manchester City – demolished 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend – looks to bounce back against Bournemouth and Liverpool travels to Newcastle.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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