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Newcastle is twinned with Gelsenkirchen and, as Borussia Dortmund need no reminders, the German city is home to their great rivals, Schalke. They are found in the second division now: as Newcastle can testify from the Mike Ashley years, a vast stadium offers no immunity against relegation. Instead, as Newcastle and Dortmund go head to head in the Champions League tonight, they find themselves twinned in a footballing respect, wrestling with the same problem: how to cope with the loss of a pivotal midfielder. For Jude Bellingham, read Sandro Tonali, one gone to Real Madrid for a nine-figure sum, the other set for 10 months on the sidelines with a gambling ban. Tonali played in a Champions League semi-final for AC Milan last season. He will not for Newcastle this year, regardless of how far they progress. Wednesday’s game could be his last. “I’m expecting him to be available,” manager Eddie Howe said. If not, his plans may require a late rethink, Tonali’s campaign already curtailed. Dortmund arrive at St James’ Park with certain advantages in a shared conundrum. They had plenty of time to prepare for Bellingham’s departure: from the moment it became clear Erling Haaland would be their big sale of 2022, it seemed obvious the midfielder would be 2023’s cash cow. They received some €103m, whereas Newcastle paid £55m, the second biggest sum in their history, for Tonali. They will derive precious little benefit from it for the rest of this campaign and if their owners’ coffers are scarcely empty, Financial Fair Play limits their room for manoeuvre. Barring significant sales or a loan with an obligation to buy, there will be no £50m midfielder arriving in January to replace him. “It is too early for meetings to decide that,” said Howe, but his options may be limited. And Newcastle, who established a reputation as astute planners, were caught by surprise by the Italian Football Federation and the police’s investigations into Tonali. Both Howe and the Tyneside crowd have struck a supportive note, and Tonali’s apparent gambling addiction means he merits sympathy, but they thought they had signed a player who, along with Bruno Guimaraes, was supposed to be a cornerstone of their midfield for years. Dortmund’s answer to their own void might be deemed typical in several respects. For one, they did not spend all the money they banked: they are no strangers to transfer-market profits and tend to end up in the black roughly every other year. Some of the Bellingham bounty went on Niclas Fullkrug, a striker designed to compensate for the loss of Haaland, albeit one who has had a slow start. Around half the Bellingham millions went on midfielders. Felix Nmecha, bought from Wolfsburg at 22, is older than the Englishman but still conforms to the Dortmund model, a rising star with potentially big resale value, though his arrival came cloaked in controversy after he shared social media posts that led to accusations of homophobia and transphobia. Marcel Sabitzer, bought from Bayern Munich at 29, forms part of a growing trend. It may be harsh to say Dortmund take Bayern’s cast-offs or that their strategy is to take players not deemed quite good enough for the champions and thus finish second in the Bundesliga. But if the traffic of players south to Bavaria is more famous, Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule and Sabitzer form an ex-Bayern contingent at the Signal Iduna Park. One criticism may be that it is an acceptance of being second best. Dortmund’s broader problem might be familiar: whoever they targeted, they were never going to get a replacement of Bellingham’s calibre, and the same could be said when players such as Haaland and Robert Lewandowski left. But now, with Dortmund goalless in the Champions League, thoughts could be cast back a year, when Bellingham scored in each of their first four group games and when he was the biggest factor in their progression to the last 16. They could do with finding such a catalyst in an altogether tougher pool. Tonali’s Champions League campaign now may be brief but memorable: granted a euphoric reception on his homecoming at San Siro as Newcastle drew 0-0 with AC Milan, he then played in one of St James’ Park’s great European nights, the 4-1 demolition of Paris Saint-Germain. Now Dortmund may be his final outing until the 2024-25 campaign. That may render it unforgettable for the Italian, whatever happens. His imminent absence will leave Howe, instead of the deluxe upgrade Tonali was supposed to represent and with the exception of Guimaraes, with a midfield who were in a team that was winless at this stage two years ago: he inherited Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and Joe Willock, and did not even pick the Geordie for his first game in charge. Each has improved exponentially in his reign but Newcastle may have to rely on hustle and bustle where they had looked for an injection of class. His Dortmund counterpart Edin Terzic has not had the luxury of spending £400m in his reign. But when they are side by side in the technical areas at St James’ Park, he may be able to empathise as each wonders what to do when he has a hole at the heart of his side. Read More Eddie Howe opens up on ‘hardest part ahead’ for Sandro Tonali Sandro Tonali is the latest victim of football’s double standards Newcastle issue update on Sandro Tonali amid investigation into illegal betting

India’s central bank backed an outsider with little experience in the country to lead Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.,

It is a path less travelled, let alone as quickly, a journey from FC Copenhagen to Sturm Graz, Atalanta to Manchester United, all before his 21st birthday. It was the culmination of an ambition, too, for a boyhood United fan, the realisation of a dream. And yet there were points in a reunion where Rasmus Hojlund could be forgiven for wondering if he had been better off staying put. Not financially, admittedly, with the rewards that come with a £72m price tag, but from a footballing perspective. The more coherent team were Copenhagen, the low-budget overachievers seeming to have more of a plan than the high-budget overachievers but it was tempting to think that if the Danish champions could still call upon their most valuable old boy, they would have won at Old Trafford. Instead, United were victorious, aided by a telling intervention by a Dane. It wasn’t Hojlund, though that is no criticism: there are times when he is the brightest of United’s front three simply a process of excellence but here, as against Galatasaray, it was a consequence of excellence. But it was his compatriot Christian Eriksen who curled in a cross that Harry Maguire converted. Which, along with Andre Onana’s 97th-minute penalty save from Jordan Larsson, averted indignity. Which a draw would have been, given the gulf in resources between the clubs. Hojlund is proof of it. But as his former club, who had led against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich, came within a few inches of going ahead at Old Trafford, there were times when Hojlund had to stand and admire. In different ways, his younger brothers Oscar, a late substitute for Copenhagen, and Emil, who did not make the bench, were spectators. So was the older and more expensive sibling, limited to two touches in the first quarter of an hour, left stranded by United’s impotence. Yet, with the notable exception of Maguire’s decider, everything they did right thereafter in attack revolved around him. Which, in itself, may have been an indictment of others. Pivotal as centre-forwards can be, United looked over-reliant on one whose name, this time last year, may have simply seemed a failed attempt to spell Haaland. And the Norwegian, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been keen to point out, was a player he advised United to sign for £4m, five years before they got Hojlund for 18 times as much. But in the Hojlund derby, the forward United did get to show a sharpness. He came alive in the final third in a manner to suggest that his teammates needed to give him more of the ball. After that uneventful first 15 minutes, he rifled a half-volley over the bar. His backheel almost released Scott McTominay to shoot. He teed up Eriksen when his fellow Dane had a shot well saved. When an offside Marcus Rashford was brought down by goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, he had raced on to Hojlund’s pass. When Alejandro Garnacho came close, it was because Hojlund led a break. When Elias Jelert was required to clear off his line, it was because Hojlund met Bruno Fernandes’ header with a deft piece of chest control. It was a sign of resourcefulness, an ability to make something out of nothing. Which, at times, was just as well, given his supply line. Neither winger is a crosser. Antony, as even those who have spent decades stranded on tiny islands in the Pacific Ocean know, will try and cut inside and shoot with his left foot. Rashford, too, has designs on being more of a scorer than a supplier. Hojlund spent some of the first half acting as the creator for McTominay, the ungainly auxiliary No 10. But United had more footballing craft with Eriksen on. He is the technician while Hojlund’s physical attributes form part of his appeal. He has got a wiry strength. He is a rangy runner with a turn of pace. He has an eager willingness that stands him in good stead. The raw materials are there. Yet the concern is that too few signings have improved at United in the last decade; it is just a coincidence of negotiating that Hojlund’s fee is very similar to Jadon Sancho’s but the exiled winger is proof United’s best-laid plans can go wrong. The feeling at Old Trafford now is that Hojlund has a high ceiling: higher even than Randal Kolo Muani, another on their summer striking shortlist and who ended up costing Paris Saint-Germain more. Thus far, he has a relatively low goal return: just three in 10 games for United. For both his first and current clubs, he has been more prolific in Europe. He never scored in the Danish Superliga. He has not struck in the Premier League, either: outscored by Diogo Dalot on domestic duty, his goals have been confined to Europe. Yet he kicked off as the Champions League’s joint top scorer, the product of a strike against Bayern and a brace against Galatasaray. Even as he drew a blank against Copenhagen, Hojlund added to the impression that he belongs on this stage. But as United laboured to victory, they scarcely offered compelling evidence they will still be in the Champions League after Christmas. Read More Manchester United pay emotional tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton before Copenhagen match Ten Hag lays flowers in centre circle as Man United pay tribute to Bobby Charlton Watch: FC Copenhagen fans chant ‘There’s only one Bobby Charlton’ at Old Trafford Manchester United vs FC Copenhagen LIVE: Latest Champions League updates Harry Maguire and Andre Onana heroics offer fitting tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton Man United fans cover Bobby Charlton statue with flowers and scarves ahead of match

Manchester United paid tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton ahead of kick-off against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night (24 October). Erik ten Hag laid flowers in the centre circle at Old Trafford before both teams and fans observed a minute’s silence. Outside the stadium, fans paid tributes of their own, with flowers and scarves placed on the United Trinity statue, which features Charlton alongside George Best and Denis Law. The England World Cup winner, who also captained United to their first-ever European Cup win in 1968, passed away over the weekend. He was 86.

It’s a joyous circus. This Saturday in Saudi Arabia, the first trick will be the ring emerging from a 26-foot hole in the ground, and then the real magic will start. Tyson Fury, the unbeaten heavyweight champion of the world, will then appear inside a giant neon beam and, wearing a crown, he will bow to the crowd and the dignitaries. In the opposite corner, as the magic continues, will be Francis Ngannou, a man who has never once fought a boxing match, and under this giant canopy of created rivalry, one of the biggest fights in history will take place. If that is not a “Hey, presto” moment, then I don’t know what is! In front of 20,000 people, including a dozen former heavyweight world champions, and some of the wealthiest men on Earth, the best heavyweight in the boxing world will fight the best heavyweight in the MMA world to see who is the Baddest Man on the Planet. It is a genius, simple and lunatic idea. It is not the first and it will not be the last circus fight involving a legitimate heavyweight boxer. Muhammad Ali had a 15-round bore fest with a wrestler called Antonio Inoki, Rocky Balboa met Hulk Hogan, Chuck Wepner fought Andre the Giant, and Two-Ton Tony Galento knocked out an octopus. I need to point out that the octopus was actually deceased before the first bell. Fury also has a massive advantage in his fight, which will be conducted under the rules of the British Boxing Board of Control, because kicks, chokeholds, headbutts, flying elbows and knees to the head will be banned. In short, Ngannou has had all his tools withdrawn. However, Ngannou has been trained by Mike Tyson, had a crash course in boxing’s darkest arts by the dirtiest fighter in the world, and his punch has been registered as the hardest in history. The science is available to prove just how lethal Ngannou’s right hand is, but even I draw the line somewhere. Fury is a genuine boxing giant and will tower over Ngannou once the anthems, introductions and pleasantries have been conducted by Michael Buffer, the suave voice of boxing. Ngannou will, trust me, shrink once he takes up a traditional boxing pose and his stated height of 6ft 4in will be in the permanent shadow of Fury. And then the beating will start; Fury is a truly vicious man inside the ropes. There are stupid claims that Ngannou has a “puncher’s chance”, which is like saying that any car, on any street, driven by anybody, could have won the F1 in Texas last weekend. Ngannou has no chance of winning and that is fine, but this is still a real fight, it’s just not a competitive one. It is an event and, as I said, we have had hundreds of sanctioned fights like this. The lovers and believers in the MMA dream will be praying to the fighting lords for a miracle; they are both delusional and out of luck. In 2000, Mike Tyson knocked out British heavyweight Julius Francis and the promoter, Frank Warren – who is also promoting the fight on Saturday – spent two months telling people: “This is not a fight, it is an event.” Warren was right and it was a great event. Francis, incidentally, sold the advertising space on the soles of his shoes to a national paper to make a few extra quid. The paper got a bargain. Fury will hold court in a country where the ruling elite know how to hold court. He will be draped in traditional clothing, sip tea from gold urns, have giant kestrels rest on his giant fists and bow respectfully each time he is honoured. It will be a fun circus and Ngannou, with the other Tyson in his face, will prepare like Rocky did in the first movie. It will be a wonderful carnival. There is bold talk of a rematch with Ngannou under MMA rules and that will never happen. On Saturday night, as Mike Tyson tends to Ngannou’s blood-stained face, there will be a cameo in the ring by Oleksandr Usyk, the other heavyweight champion, and a new carnival will start for Fury vs Usyk. What a business. Read More Fury vs Ngannou pay-per-view price revealed ahead of controversial fight Oleksandr Usyk predicts Joshua vs Wilder and makes Tyson Fury revelation Anthony Joshua admits to watching Tyson Fury’s Netflix show: ‘I’m enjoying it’ Anthony Joshua admits to watching Tyson Fury’s Netflix show Tyson Fury’s wife shares impact of boxing on their children: ‘I worry to this day’ Oleksandr Usyk predicts Joshua vs Wilder and makes Tyson Fury revelation

One person has died and four are still missing off the coast of Germany after a British cargo ship collided with another boat in the North Sea. The ships, Polesie and Verity, collided in the early morning about 14 miles south-west of the island of Helgoland, Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said. German authorities say four people remain missing and two have been rescued. Verity was headed from Bremen, Germany, to the English port of Immingham. The other ship, the Bahamas-flagged Polesie, remained afloat with 22 people on board. A P&O crusie called the Iona which was travelling from Hamburg is helping with the urgent rescue mission as German officials confirmed te According to reports, people on board were panicked when there was an announcement at 6am this morning alerting customers to the incident. A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “P&O Cruises Iona is currently involved in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Germany. “The incident is ongoing and Iona’s cooperation complies with international maritime law as well as being consistent with the company’s moral and legal obligations.” The emergency command said one person was rescued from the water and was being given medical treatment.

Something is different at Tottenham: check the table, they are top and playing like league leaders as well. Ange Postecoglou’s side returned there after confidently asserting their superiority over Fulham in this comfortable 2-0 win in north London. Tottenham extended their best start to a season since 1960 with a helping hand from the visitors, who were hapless, and Calvin Bassey, who was culpable for both goals and fortunate it wasn’t more. Spurs, in essence, scored the same goal twice, with Bassey giving away possession with a loose pass into midfield and Micky van de Ven sharply intercepting on the half-way line. Son dispatched the first on 36 minutes after dancing past Bassey and curling into the top corner; then Son set up James Maddison to double their lead shortly after half-time. The finish, again, was ruthless. Spurs could have been out of sight long before then had Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski been as clinical, but a seventh victory out of nine so far in the Premier League never felt in doubt after Son continued his own excellent start to the campaign. Spurs enjoyed periods of control and flowed forward dangerously. There was, significantly, a sense that Tottenham’s players were enjoying this. Clearly, that is mirrored in the stands as well: if Postecoglou has arrived and convinced Tottenham they can be something new, the fans chosen to be fun and carefree. It is not surprising, therefore, that that spirit has been brought by those who did not play here under Antonio Conte or Nuno Espirito Santo or Jose Mourinho, and who embody the fresh start that Postecoglou has been able to make. The Australian’s four summer signings who started against Fulham, in Maddison, Van de Ven, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie, were all outstanding again. If Postecoglou’s presence has lifted Spurs, they are the ones who carry his message onto the pitch. Maddison’s quality is obvious in every touch, as is the idea that he has taken responsibility to drag Tottenham out of the existential crisis they faced here last season. The centre-back Van de Ven has become an unlikely fan favourite, bringing an energy and enthusiasm into every defensive action. Tottenham’s two goals would not have been scored without him and it was an illustration of why the German has become so appealing to the fans here: he wants this, and he’s doing it for you. Add in the quality that was already here and this Tottenham side has the makings of something exciting: how good this team really is remains to be seen, but another remarkable aspect of the transformation under Postecoglou is how those who appeared beaten and washed out last season have been revived. Son is devastating again, Kulusevski threatening with every touch, his dribble returning to such a fine, gliding motion. Perhaps most extraordinarily of all, Cristian Romero has emerged as the calm head guiding the defence. Yet in the first half, it was Udogie who shined brightest in spells, the 20-year-old a fearless example of what Tottenham are now all about. In his hybrid role from full-back, the Italian is already becoming vital to this attacking, dangerous Spurs, often playing further forward then Maddison when Postecoglou’s side have possession. Udogie, with his ability to receive the ball with back to goal, absorb pressure, and then shrug it off like a discarded cloak, offered a threat that Fulham struggled to pin down – the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when he was removed as Tottenham went 2-0 up. Udogie went off to a standing ovation. Son turned and beckoned for more. Meanwhile, there is Vicario, who looks as if he won’t concede a goal ever again. Already with the best save percentage in the Premier League before Monday night, the Italian has stepped in to give Tottenham a secure and reassuring presence. The goalkeeper appears built to handle the nervy moments that invariably come with playing for Tottenham, a part that Hugo Lloris, for all his years here, never felt quite fit for. Because for all that Tottenham were dominant against Fulham and the only team who ever looked capable of winning, there have previously been times where such a script has gone wildly off course. On 12 minutes, Vicario was there with an excellent leap and strong left arm to deny Palhinha’s free header, in what was the visitors’ first attack. It was a moment that came after a spell of overwhelming Tottenham dominance, and therefore a natural point for them to concede. But Fulham barely threatened again until it was too late. Silva’s side were a mess at the back, the absence of Issa Diop at the back compounded by Bassey’s woefully inaccurate performance. Fulham teased Tottenham with their reckless play into midfield: it may have worked in the past, against a passive Spurs, but Van de Ven and the excellent Pape Matar Sarr snapped into challenges and from there Fulham leaked chances like a sieve. And so, Postecoglou’s different Spurs left the Premier League table looking as it did at the start of the weekend: Tottenham are back at the top and looking down. Read More Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Ange Postecoglou hopes Tottenham can offer fans ‘escape’ from Israel-Hamas conflict Tottenham reveal Rodrigo Bentancur injury update as key midfielder nears return Can Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance? Baltimore boss John Harbaugh thrilled to end ‘heck of a week’ in London on high James Maddison says timing of international break is ‘annoying’ for Tottenham

First came the crack in Alexander Volkanovski‘s defence. Then, the crack in his voice. If the first crack was consequential, allowing Islam Makhachev to skim his shin off the Australian’s head, the latter was a consequence in itself – a consequence of one of the best fighters alive staying silent on his struggles with mental health. That is, until now. Volkanovski would have emerged from UFC 294 with credit anyway; he stepped in on 11 days’ notice and moved up in weight to challenge a man who had beaten him eight months prior. Even in this surprising, first-round defeat by Makhachev, Volkanovski lost very little. His featherweight title still rests firmly on his shoulder, and he will soon return to that weight class where he has been unbeatable. But soon may be too soon. In his post-fight press conference, Volkanovski began the dissection of this defeat – his second this year, but just his third as a professional mixed martial artist, with his first having occurred a long decade ago. The 35-year-old started to dissect the technical reasons for this knockout loss, but it soon became apparent what was of greater importance: the psychological reasons for his presence in Abu Dhabi. “He’s not somebody you should be taking a short-notice [fight] with, but I needed it,” Volkanovski began. “Obviously a lot of people will say it’s for the money and all that, but it was much more than that. It is hard, it is really hard for athletes... Sorry, um... I never thought I would struggle with it,” he continued, ignoring the blood over his eye, instead wiping a tear from beneath it. “But for some reason when I wasn’t fighting or in camp... F***, sorry,” he said, attempting a laugh, looking away and to the ceiling, then gently rapping his hand on the table to bring himself back into the room. “I was just doing my head in,” he continued, tears floating at the bottom of his eyes. “I needed a fight, and this opportunity came up. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t training as much as I should have, but I thought I had to do it. I had to take it. I’m telling myself, ‘It’s meant to be.’ I was struggling a little bit not fighting, doing my head in. I don’t know how; everything’s fine, I’ve got a beautiful family. But, I don’t know... I think you just need to keep busy. I need to be in camp, otherwise, I’m going to do my head in. “It’s weird, [it’s not that I] never ‘believed in that stuff’, but I never got it. It was something that – I don’t know – maybe the more and more I learn about myself, the more I understand. I talked about us having a smile on my face, me and my wife. My wife could see it does get hard, I don’t know why.” Volkanovski pointed to the birth of his third child, in August, and surgery on an injury this summer as reasons why he had not been training. Clearly, the knock-on effect of those moments – as joyous as the former seemed to be – has led Volkanovski’s mental health to suffer. Last week, all the talk was of how brave the Australian was to face Makhachev on short notice; braver was this admission that he is struggling, which simultaneously offers a different lens through which to view his choice to fight. Keeping himself engaged and busy is healthy, but that is complicated by the inherent risk in his profession. “Maybe it was just a silly decision under the circumstances,” he admitted. Perhaps it was, though it was also understandable. Volkanovski’s next challenge, however, will come outside of the ring. It must. He naturally sees the antidote to his current struggles as a quick turnaround to fight again, likely against the dangerous Ilia Topuria in January. Yet, that fight could go the same way as Saturday’s against Makhachev, if the Australian does not first tackle these thoughts and feelings, and find the right balance for him. We knew Alexander Volkanovski was brave. That is even clearer now than it was last week. Now, however, he must be sensible, and get to work outside the ring before he can return to work in it. Read More Islam Makhachev stuns Alexander Volkanovski with head-kick KO in first round at UFC 294 Conor McGregor reacts to ‘illegal’ strikes in Islam Makhachev win at UFC 294 Khabib explains why he wasn’t in Islam Makhachev’s corner at UFC 294

Tottenham can return to the top of the Premier League when they host Fulham tonight. Spurs have made their best-ever start to a Premier League season and have won six and drawn two of their opening eight games so far under Ange Postecoglou. Victory over Fulham would see Tottenham go two points clear of Manchester City and Arsenal in the early standings, ahead of Friday night’s trip to Crystal Palace. Fulham are 13th having three wins and three defeats from their first eight league games, but Marco Silva’s side are the only team to have beaten Spurs this season after their victory in the second round of the Carabao Cup. Fulham have not beaten Tottenham in the Premier League since 2013, however. Here’s everything you need to know before tonight’s London derby clash. When is Tottenham vs Fulham? The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Monday 23 October at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. How can I watch it? It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting from 6:30pm. Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the match on Sky Go or Now TV. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. What is the team news? Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma will serve a one-match suspension after his sending off in the 1-0 win against Luton and is expected to be replaced by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero are expected to be fit following international duty. Marco Silva confirmed that there are no fresh injuries from the international break, but Issa Diop is now sidelined along with Adama Traore, Kenny Tete and Tosin Adarabioyo. Predicted line-ups Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Maddison, Richarlison; Son Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Ream, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha, Perreira; Iwobi, Vinicius, Willian Prediction Tottenham 3-0 Fulham Read More Tottenham reveal Rodrigo Bentancur injury update as key midfielder nears return Can Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance? Baltimore boss John Harbaugh thrilled to end ‘heck of a week’ in London on high James Maddison says timing of international break is ‘annoying’ for Tottenham A closer look at the UK and Ireland’s host venues for Euro 2028 A closer look at the UK and Ireland’s host venues for Euro 2028

Khabib Nurmagomedov has clarified why he missed childhood friend and UFC protege Islam Makhachev’s stunning victory over Alexander Volkanovski. The former UFC champion, who finished his career with an unbeaten 29-0 record, said it was not unusual for him to not be in the corner in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. Nurmagomedov became Makhachev’s coach following his retirement in 2020, but the ‘Eagle’ announced earlier this year that he had taken a step back from the UFC. Makhachev stunned Volkanovski with a first-round knockout at UFC 294, retaining the lightweight title in their rematch. In February, Makhachev outpointed Volkanovski – who holds the featherweight belt – in the latter’s native Australia, in a competitive clash that left many fans desiring a rematch. Nurmagomedov congratulated Makhachev on his victory before responding to fans who had questioned his absence from ringside. “If you guys ask me where have I been? Why wasn’t I in the corner, I already answered this question,” he posted on Instagram. “I don’t go to fights, I don’t go to the corner and I completely left everything related to MMA. I ask you to accept my decision the same way as my brothers, friends and sparring partners did. What our team achieved will forever be in the history of MMA.” Makhachev had already addressed the fact that Nurmagomedov would not be in his corner before UFC 294, telling reporters that he understood and supported his mentor’s decision. “Here is my explanation: We have a very big team,” Makhachev said. “What if Khabib is there for one of us? We’re all equal. “No matter if somebody’s a champion and the other guy is still on his way up, we all support each other. If he is there for my fight, he will need to be there for every single one from our team to not let anyone feel abandoned. “He has already said that he will not attend the fights and he will not corner anyone. And we all support him in this decision.” Midway through the first round of the main event, southpaw Makhachev skimmed his left shin off Volkanovski’s head, wobbling and dropping the featherweight king. Makhachev, 31, followed up with a fierce flurry of hammer fists to the grounded Aussie, whose brow split open amid the onslaught. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in, confirming an emphatic victory and title defence for Makhachev, the mentee and childhood friend of UFC lightweight great Khabib Nurmagomedov. The result extended Makhachev’s win streak to 13 fights, dating back to 2015, when he suffered the sole loss of his professional career. Meanwhile, Volkanovski was beaten for the third time as a pro, though he remains undefeated at his preferred weight of 145lbs. Read More Alexander Volkanovski’s bravest move yet? Talking about his mental health Conor McGregor reacts to ‘illegal’ strikes in Islam Makhachev win at UFC 294 Makhachev stuns Volkanovski with head-kick KO in first round at UFC 294 UFC 294 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Makhachev fight results after shock KO Islam Makhachev demands two words from Alexander Volkanovski ahead of UFC 294 Volkanovski vs Makhachev gamble shows the best and worst of the UFC

With the weekend’s action wrapped, Fantasy Premier League managers will be reflecting upon another week of either frustration or elation after some dramatic late finishes and plenty of eye-catching performances. As the Premier League enters its 10th week, FPL managers may be looking to ring the changes as fixture swings occur and new in-form teams emerge. Whether you are looking to just tinker with one or two changes or are planning a number of wholesale changes, here are five players we think you should keep an eye out for ahead of gameweek 10. Phil Foden - Manchester City, midfield (7.6 m) The Manchester City winger has often been an unreliable FPL asset due to his lack of regular starts. Riyad Mahrez’s departure for the Saudi Pro League has now cleared the way for Foden who has started all but one of City’s league games this season. Returns thus far haven’t been plentiful (1G, 3A) and his ownership has dropped as a result, but after a promising display for England in the international break and a much-needed win for City against Brighton at the weekend, the 23-year-old may offer something of a differential pick if you’re looking to make up some ground on mini-league rivals. Kieran Trippier - Newcastle, defender (6.9 m) After a tough run of fixtures at the start of the season, Newcastle are unbeaten in five and back in full flow. Trippier has been the fulcrum of their recent improved performances, with his six assists in his last four games seeing him rise to the top of the points list for defenders. A trickier set of fixtures are on the horizon, but with games against Wolves and Bournemouth mixed in, the experienced right-back should be at the forefront of many people’s plans if they are looking for a premium defensive asset. Alisson - Liverpool, goalkeeper (5.5 m) Going big on keepers is not something many FPL managers see as a necessity but with Liverpool’s good run of fixtures coming up, spending that little bit more to bring in Alisson could be a rewarding transfer. Jurgen Klopp’s side restricted Everton to just 0.09 xG in their 2-0 derby win on Saturday and have fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Luton Town and Fulham in their next five. Ezri Konsa - Aston Villa, defeder (4.5 m) Aston Villa’s statement 4-1 win over West Ham on Sunday continued their superb start to the season as they extended their unbeaten run to six games and remain just one point off the top four. Defensively, they were a tad unfortunate to not keep a clean sheet, with Jarrod Bowen’s heavily deflected strike somehow finding the bottom corner from long range. With fixtures against Luton, Forest and Fulham in their next three, defensive returns are a high likelihood and Ezri Konsa looks to offer some value at just 4.5m. The centre-back picked up an assist against the Hammers and also has two bonus points in his last four games. Neal Maupay - Brentford, forward (4.9 m) There was a time not too long ago when few, if any, FPL users would have looked at Maupay with a transfer in mind. But fresh off an assist in his first start back at Brentford, the Frenchman could be a player rejuvenated. It remains early days but as a potential rotation option, Maupay could offer something different if you are looking to make room for a more expensive player elsewhere. Read More FPL GW9: Watkins, Gordon and five players to consider for transfers Sir Bobby Charlton: England’s greatest ever player and the artist of 1966 Man Utd expect to pay further tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton on Tuesday night Sir Bobby Charlton: England’s greatest ever player and the artist of 1966 Man Utd expect to pay further tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton on Tuesday night Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League’s best once more – Sami Hyypia

The 2023/24 Premier League season is under way and you can follow every game and every goal right here with The Independent. Nicolo Zaniolo was named in Aston Villa’s starting line-up for the visit of West Ham despite assisting Italy’s authorities in their investigation into alleged illegal betting activity. He was the only change in Unai Emery’s side, replacing defender Diego Carlos, from Villa’s 1-1 draw at Wolves before the international break. West Ham, who are two points behind their sixth-placed hosts in the Premier League, are unchanged. The Hammers held Newcastle to a 2-2 draw last time out at the London Stadium. Follow updates from the Premier League clash, below: