23/08/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | AUG 23, 2025

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Gunners locked and loaded Leeds face daunting trip to Arsenal as Man City aim to build momentum L EEDS UNITED enjoyed a triumphant return to the Premier League with a home victory over Everton at Elland Road last week, but tomorrow’s United in November 2010. Avoiding defeat will match Chelsea’s unbeaten run against promoted teams from 2001-2015, but that will not be playing on the mind of Arteta, who has bigger fish to fry this campaign, chiefly ending a five-season trophy drought. the Etihad Stadium as City’s hopes of a fifth successive title began to disintegrate spectacularly. It feels like a new era for City though and it began with a 4-0 rout of Wolverhampton Wanderers in which new recruits Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki both scored and Erling Haaland grabbed a brace.

of breaches of UEFA’s multi-ownership rules was a bitter pill to swallow and made worse by the fact their place went to Forest. Palace fans will be keen to bring Forest down to earth after Nuno Espirito Santo’s team beat Brentford 3-1 in their opener. Newcastle’s home opener against champions Liverpool on Tuesday (3am) at St James’ Park is the stand-out match of the weekend, but also one under a cloud created by United’s stand-off with striker Alexander Isak. Isak has made it clear he wants to move to Liverpool and will again not be part of the squad as Newcastle refuse to bend to the Sweden international’s desires. Liverpool have largely stayed out of the spat after having a reported £110 million (RM638m) bid rejected and maybe already have enough firepower as new signing Hugo Ekitike scored a goal and made an assist in a 4 2 home win against Bournemouth to open the defence of their title. – Reuters

(12.30am Malaysian time) trip to north London to face Arsenal could prove a reality check for Daniel Farke’s side. It says something about the standards expected of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal when a 1-0 win at Manchester United was greeted with negativity. They banked three points despite new big money striker Viktor Gyokeres failing to manage a shot on target and the team’s xG (expected goals) of 0.28 being third-lowest on the opening weekend. More will be expected tomorrowy from their attack, and Gyokeres in particular, as Arsenal seek to extend a remarkable 42-match unbeaten run at home against promoted clubs. They have won 37 and drawn five of those with their last loss coming against Newcastle CRYSTAL PALACE manager Oliver Glasner all but confirmed Eberechi Eze has played his last game for the club after claiming the England attacker pulled out of yesterday’s 1-0 Conference League playoff victory over Fredrikstad. Glasners insisted Eze would start the Eagles’ first leg against the Norwegian side at Selhurst Park – also their first foray into major European football – before Arsenal swooped in with a £60 million (RM348m) deal. The transfer of 27-year-old, who had for a long time been linked to Tottenham, could be confirmed as early as this weekend. On Thursday morning, Glasner revealed he received a phone call from Eze, who said he was not feeling well enough to play, forcing him to bring Northern Ireland international Justin Ű BY RACHEL STEINBERG

Leeds have lost their last six meetings with Arsenal, but will arrive in buoyant mood even if it is hard to make a case for them winning their opening two games in a top-flight campaign for the first time since 2002. While Leeds continued their summer spending by signing forward Noah Okafor from AC Milan on Thursday, Arsenal’s splurge shows no sign of ending with Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze set to become their fourth marquee acquisition after Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke. Pep Guardiola will need no reminder of the problems he has often encountered against Tottenham. Last season the north Londoners won 4-0 at Devenny into his starting XI. “I’m responsible for Crystal Palace and I think he won’t play for us again,” said Glasner when asked to confirm whether Eze was heading to the Emirates Stadium. “So I have to prepare the team for Nottingham (Forest, in the Premier League on Sunday, 9pm Malaysian time) and for the second leg against Fredrikstad, and I’m planning with out Eberechi.” Quizzed as to whether Eze was feeling physi cally or mentally unwell, the Palace boss merely replied: “You have to ask him. Maybe in a few days (you can ask).” Glasner also shared that he has never faced a situation where a player in Eze’s situation had called to say they were unavailable. “No,” Glasner confirmed. “And I don’t want it to happen anymore.” The drama and speculation around Eze – and his absence from Palace’s starting XI – overshad owed the FA Cup holders’ historic major European debut, which they won 1-0 after Jean Philippe Mateta nodded home in the 54th min ute. Glasner, who blamed late business for Palace’s poor start last season, did not hold back when sharing his frustration about their lack of activity in the transfer window, so far signing just Croatian defender Borna Sosa for £2 million (RM11.6m) and goalkeeper Walter Benitez on a free transfer. “I can’t do anything,”said Glasner.“I can’t sign a player’s contract. We have to act. We need this. defined for months… Also it’s not surprising for everyone that Ebs left, because five days earlier we couldn’t have done anything if he leaves (release clause). “We knew that this chance is very high that this would happen, and hon estly, I say it like it is, we missed the chance to replace him early enough. That’s completely our fault, and nobody else’s fault.” Speaking to Channel 5 after the vic tory, Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “The king is dead, long live the king. We have to move past it and we have to find other players to bring in that can support the rest of the team and Oliver.” – The Independent “This is Crystal Palace’s future. It’s easy to add num bers, we need to add the right players. “The profile has been

Tottenham, who finished 17th last season, began with a 3-0 win against promoted Burnley but a rejuvenated City will offer more instructive evidence of the north London club’s potential under new manager Thomas Frank. Nowhere will tensions run higher this weekend than in south London where Crystal Palace face Nottingham Forest tomorrow (9pm). Ordinarily it would be a clash between two passionately-supported clubs with no obvious rivalry. But things have changed. FA Cup winners Palace’s demotion from the Europa League to Conference League because

Palace boss confirms Eze exit

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (left) in action with Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez. – REUTERSPIC

Slot accepts blips will come under major scrutiny

Ű BY CARL MARKHAM

Curtis Jones, arrived in the box and made it difficult for the goalkeeper, the ball fell to Federico (Chiesa). “So, it’s also who we are but we need to find the right balance by not being too open.” What will help at Newcastle is the return of holding midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who missed last week’s victory through suspension. “That balance will be better with Ryan. With Ryan in his normal position, I expect us to be even better prepared for the counter attack than we were in this 2-2 moment,” added Slot. “I’ve watched the game back twice and I don’t think – apart from the two goals – there were many other counter-attacks from Bournemouth but if it leads to a goal it’s of course a big story. “For us conceding two, that’s too much in a home game, that’s too open. “I think if you look back at last season every time he played Ryan would have been in that position and for him not being there and us playing with very attack-minded players that hurt us in that goal. “Normally, if he brings his normal level, it would definitely help us to have him back again.” – The Independent

LIVERPOOL head coach Arne Slot admits the high standards they set winning the Premier League last season means any blip will come under immediate scrutiny. Despite winning their opening match 4-2 there was criticism of their defensive frailties as they conceded a two-goal lead before coming back late in the game. Liverpool’s fullbacks were singled out for playing too high while central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate did not escape the spotlight in allowing Antoine Semenyo to score twice. “Of course that has something to do with the bar we’ve set. “I agree we were at some moments too open,” said Slot. “The first goal was, I think, mainly unlucky that we lost the ball in a position we shouldn’t lose it and then we were three against three, which is normally not a problem but we had a disadvantage to our opponent. “Second goal is definitely being too open; if all your three midfielders are inside the box that’s too open, so I agree on that. “But also the reason why we scored (to make it) 3-2 was one of our midfielders,

Eberechi Eze. – REUTERSPIC