LONDON – Marcus Rashford marked his return from World Cup obligation with an excellent solo aim as Manchester United superior into the quarterfinals of the League Cup on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Burnley whereas Premier League rivals Brighton had been knocked out by third-tier Charlton.

United’s first sport because the World Cup was additionally their first since Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic departure from Old Trafford and an announcement by homeowners the Glazer household that they had been ready to promote the soccer giants.

The Red Devils went forward in the twenty seventh minute by a close-range end from Denmark’s Christian Eriksen, who additionally featured at Qatar 2022.

Rashford, who scored three objectives for England on the World Cup, doubled United’s lead in opposition to second-tier Championship leaders Burnley, managed by former Manchester City star Vincent Kompany, simply earlier than the hour mark in very good fashion.

The England ahead went on a run from inside his personal half and into the guests’ field earlier than drilling a shot low into the online.

“There is space in front of you and you’re almost waiting for the right time to get a pass off but the gap opened and thankfully it went in,” Rashford advised Sky Sports.

‘NO TIME TO FEEL SORRY’

This was Rashford’s first match since England’s agonising World Cup quarterfinal loss to France, with the ahead saying: “It was such a disappointing feeling to be knocked out and you have to pick yourselves up.

“There is not any time to really feel sorry for your self. You want to select up outcomes and fortunately we did that right now.”

United manager Erik ten Hag added: “There continues to be room for enchancment however I’m happy with the win.

“The players are hungry after the World Cup break.”

Burnley boss Kompany was happy with his aspect’s efficiency, saying: “We didn’t roll over, we were aggressive, we were on front foot, we created some chances.”

Brighton bowed out on spot-kicks three days after their Argentina star Alexis Mac Allister received the World Cup with Argentina in a penalty shoot-out.

Mac Allister was not concerned on Wednesday after being given break day following his World Cup heroics and was thus spared any involvement away to southeast London aspect Charlton.

A goalless draw noticed the sport go to penalties, with a rare shoot-out beginning with Pascal Gross, Jayden Stockley and Leandro Trossard all hitting the woodwork.

Brighton keeper Jason Steele saved from George Dobson and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

That left Solly March with the prospect to win the sport however the Seagulls star shot excessive over the crossbar.

Addicks goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer then saved Moises Caicedo’s penalty, with Sam Lavelle scoring the decisive aim at The Valley as League One Charlton booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 4-3 shoot-out win.

“I’m sorry for the result and sorry for our fans, we wanted to win the game and play in the quarter-finals,” stated Brighton supervisor Roberto De Zerbi.

“We had opportunities to score. And in penalties you can lose.”

Charlton interim boss Anthony Hayes, in cost of his final match earlier than Dean Holden, the membership’s fifth supervisor in lower than two years, takes over, stated: “It was a special night. It gives everyone a lift.”

Nottingham Forest, four-time winners of the League Cup, had no such issues in opposition to decrease league opposition, the top-flight strugglers defeating Championship high-flyers Blackburn Rovers 4-1.

Forest went forward at Ewood Park by Brennan Johnson’s Thirteenth-minute penalty earlier than Scott Wharton made amends for conceding the spot-kick by equalising on the stroke of half-time.

But additional objectives from Jesse Lingard, Taiwo Awoniyi and Johnson once more took Forest into the quarterfinals for the primary time since 1994.

MANCHESTER – Arsenal and Manchester City stay out in entrance, however the Premier League title race is way from a two-horse race after a weekend by which all of the prime 5 received.

Liverpool’s newest embarrassing defeat, 2-1 at residence to Leeds, leaves the Reds with an eight-point hole to bridge to the prime 4.

Chelsea had been the different large losers on Saturday as Graham Potter was thrashed 4-1 on his return to Brighton.

AFP Sport appears to be like at three talking points from the Premier League weekend:

NO MORE HOME COMFORT FOR LIVERPOOL

Despite Liverpool’s struggles this season a proud document of not having been crushed at residence in the Premier League in entrance of followers for over 5 years had stayed intact till Leeds’ win on Saturday.

The guests arrived at Anfield with supervisor Jesse Marsch clinging to his job after an eight-game winless run noticed them fall into relegation hazard.

Leeds’ dedication to combat for his or her boss was clear as they ran 11 kilometres greater than their hosts.

But a surprising defeat encapsulated the flaws of Liverpool’s season to date.

Leeds had been gifted the opening aim by a person error from Joe Gomez and stored in the recreation by wasteful ending from Darwin Nunez.

But Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was most aggravated by the slack defending that allowed Crysencio Summerville to fireside in an 89th-minute winner unchallenged.

Klopp once more pointed to accidents and a heavy fixture schedule for such a sluggish begin to the season.

The Reds are additionally clearly struggling a bodily hangover from a 63-game marketing campaign final season after they got here so near an unprecedented quadruple.

Currently they’re a shadow of the crew they as soon as had been and desperately have to restrict the injury over the subsequent two weeks to limp in direction of a much-needed break for the World Cup.

Already 14 points behind Arsenal, the title appears to be like lengthy gone however even a return to the Champions League by way of a top-four end is turning into unlikely.

MINI MARTINEZ A COLOSSUS FOR MAN UTD

Lisandro Martinez’s suitability as a Premier League centre-back at simply 1.75 metres (5ft 9in) tall was ridiculed amidst Manchester United’s disastrous begin to the season.

But the Argentine has proved the doubters unsuitable, together with his velocity, aggression and poise on the ball greater than making up for an absence of peak.

Martinez’s partnership with Raphael Varane has supplied a strong basis for Erik ten Hag to construct on, however even with out the injured Frenchman, the former Ajax man stood agency to resist a second-half West Ham onslaught to safe a 1-0 win on Sunday.

United have now stored 5 consecutive clear sheets at Old Trafford, only one fewer than they managed in the entirety of final season.

NO MERCY FOR POTTER

Brighton’s followers and gamers refused to roll out of the crimson carpet for Graham Potter’s return to the Amex Stadium.

The Chelsea boss was subjected to boos and chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” by the residence help, who stay upset at his determination to leap ship to Stamford Bridge final month.

“I’ve got nothing to say sorry for, I think I did a good job at the club and I think I left it in a good place as you can see today,” mentioned Potter.

Of extra urgent concern for Potter is getting the Blues’ Premier League marketing campaign again on observe.

His first defeat as Chelsea supervisor had been coming after being outplayed by Brentford and Manchester United in attracts earlier than the journey to Brighton.

Victories for Tottenham, Newcastle and United imply Chelsea slip to sixth, three points adrift of the prime 4, and 10 behind Arsenal, who they face subsequent weekend.

LONDRES – Graham Potter was appointed as Chelsea’s new supervisor on a five-year contract on Thursday following the shock sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

The Englishman has left fellow Premier League membership Brighton to transfer to Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea praising his “progressive football and innovative coaching”.

The 47-year-old earned widespread admiration for his work at Brighton on England’s south coast.

He led the Seagulls to a ninth-place end final season and took them up to fourth within the desk this time period whereas demanding entertaining and tactically astute performances from his gamers.

Potter’s first recreation as Chelsea boss shall be a derby at west London neighbours Fulham on Saturday.

“I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club,” he stated.

“I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of.”

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly, who axed Tuchel on Wednesday, simply seven video games into the brand new season, stated he was “thrilled” to convey Potter to the membership.

“He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the club,” Boehly stated.

“Not only is he extremely talented on the pitch, he has skills and capabilities that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful club.”

Potter was mooted as a candidate for the Manchester United job ultimately crammed by Erik ten Hag after masterminding Brighton’s highest-ever league end final season regardless of working on a restricted price range.

But when Chelsea got here calling, Brighton had been unable to stand within the his manner as he had a launch clause in his contract.

Potter’s spectacular work in three years with Brighton, and through his earlier spells at Swansea and Swedish membership Ostersunds FK, marked him out as a rising managerial star.

‘EXCEPTIONAL COACH’

His success within the dug-out has come after a modest taking part in profession that included eight Premier League appearances at Southampton, however was largely spent within the decrease leagues.

“I am very disappointed that Graham will be leaving us. He has done exceptionally well over the past three-and-a-bit seasons — he is an exceptional head coach and an exceptional person,” stated Brighton chairman Tony Bloom.

Despite all of the plaudits, Chelsea will give Potter his first style of coping with the egos of celebrity gamers, whereas dealing with ultra-demanding new US homeowners.

Already tipped as a future England boss, Potter will face the sternest take a look at of his profession as he assesses a unstable state of affairs at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel’s relationships along with his gamers had reportedly deteriorated and there have been tensions with the membership hierarchy.

Chelsea’s assertion tellingly highlighted the “collaborative, forward-thinking approach” of Potter, who will take members of Brighton’s backroom workers with him.

Tuchel, who changed Frank Lampard in January 2021, was axed hours after an embarrassing 1-0 defeat in Chelsea’s Champions League opener in opposition to Dinamo Zagreb.

The membership’s homeowners made the dramatic transfer although the German led them to their second Champions League title in May 2021.

Last season they gained the Club World Cup, reached two home cup finals and completed third within the Premier League.

But Tuchel departed with the membership sitting a disappointing sixth within the Premier League after successful solely three of their first six matches to sit 5 factors behind leaders Arsenal.

Boehly’s consortium paid a world-record price of £4.25 billion ($4.9 billion) for a sports activities franchise to purchase Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in May.

They spent closely in the summertime switch window, signing a clutch of stars together with ahead Raheem Sterling from Manchester City and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

But to date the outlay has not paid dividends, with damaging defeats in opposition to Leeds and Southampton earlier than the nightmare begin to their Champions League marketing campaign in Croatia.

LONDON – Thomas Tuchel urged “soft” Chelsea to toughen up after a shock 2-1 defeat in opposition to Southampton plunged his spluttering workforce into Premier League turmoil on Tuesday.

Tuchel’s aspect blew the lead at St Mary’s after Raheem Sterling put them forward halfway via the primary half.

England ahead Sterling bagged his third aim in two video games with a close-range strike within the twenty third minute.

But Chelsea had squandered a bunch of probabilities earlier than Sterling’s opener and, not for the primary time in Tuchel’s reign, their profligate ending got here again to hang-out them.

Romeo Lavia equalised within the twenty eighth minute together with his first aim for Southampton, curling house from the sting of the realm after Chelsea did not clear a nook.

Adam Armstrong put Southampton forward on the stroke of half-time as he took Romain Perraud’s go and drilled a deflected shot previous Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea, overwhelmed 3-0 at Leeds of their earlier away fixture, have been unable to muster a response as they slipped to a second defeat from their final three video games.

“Soft, soft, soft defending. There is no need to give shots away. Just toughen up as a team and show a different mentality,” Tuchel stated.

With simply two wins from their first 5 matches, the Blues are already 5 factors behind leaders Arsenal, who play their recreation in hand in opposition to Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Despite a big close-season spending spree, which is about to proceed with a number of extra signings mooted earlier than Thursday’s switch deadline, Chelsea are struggling to seek out any sustained momentum at current.

While it’s too early to put in writing them out of the title race, Tuchel can be involved by his workforce’s newest sloppy show – with key errors at each ends of the pitch – having already criticised them publicly after the Leeds loss.

“It is too easy to put us off balance, to beat us, to confuse us. It is too easy. It happened against Leeds. We need to understand why and find solutions,” Tuchel stated.

“We lose concentration, we lose our plan and lose consistency. I don’t understand why we have so many injuries.

“In a match the place you might be within the lead there isn’t a want to provide away half-chances. To haven’t any solutions within the second half was disappointing.”

EVERTON FRUSTRATED

Everton’s look ahead to a primary win this season goes on after Luis Sinisterra’s first league aim for Leeds earned a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

Frank Lampard’s workforce went forward when Alex Iwobi’s incisive go was flicked via the legs of Diego Llorente by Anthony Gordon, whose medical end capped an excellent transfer within the seventeenth minute.

But Colombia winger Sinisterra marked his first begin for Jesse Marsch’s males in memorable trend with a composed end from Brenden Aaronson’s go within the fifty fifth minute.

Fulham ended Brighton’s unbeaten begin to the season with a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage that lifted them to sixth place.

Fourth-placed Brighton had received three of their first 4 video games, however Marco Silva’s promoted aspect broke the impasse within the forty eighth minute via Aleksandar Mitrovic’s fifth aim this season.

Neeskens Kebano supplied the go and Serbia striker Mitrovic tapped in on the far publish for his one hundredth league aim for the Cottagers.

Fulham doubled their lead seven minutes later as Brighton defender Lewis Dunk diverted Andreas Pereira’s cross into his personal internet.

Alexis Mac Allister transformed a sixtieth minute penalty for Brighton after Pervis Estupinan fouled Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

Yoane Wissa’s late leveller rescued Brentford of their 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

Wilfried Zaha confirmed why Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with him because the Ivory Coast ahead gave Palace the lead with a superb strike from the sting of the realm after 59 minutes.

But Wissa was left unmarked to equalise with a close-range header within the 88th minute.

LONDON – Erling Haaland scored twice on his Premier League debut as Manchester City opened their defence of the title with a 2-0 win at West Ham, whereas Manchester United had been beaten 2-1 by Brighton in Erik ten Hag’s first recreation in cost on Sunday.

Haaland lived as much as the hype since his switch from Borussia Dortmund to present the champions an ideal begin to the season within the searing warmth of East London.

West Ham almost derailed City’s title probabilities once they led 2-0 at half-time within the penultimate recreation of final season earlier than Pep Guardiola’s males battled again for the purpose that in the end edged out Liverpool on the prime of the desk.

But they had been no match this time as Haaland instantly proved the worth of City including a confirmed goalscorer to their arsenal.

The Norwegian has been signed because the long-term successor to Sergio Aguero and began his City profession similar to the membership’s all time document goalscorer with a double on his league debut.

Haaland had missed probabilities in City’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool within the Community Shield, however Guardiola’s warning that the objectives would quickly stream proved to be right.

“We know we have a threat there. He is an incredible deep runner and finisher,” mentioned Guardiola.

“He is adapting perfectly in the way we want to play. We are going to find him more and more and hopefully we can give him the opportunity to score more goals.”

City’s affected person possession recreation wore the Hammers down as temperatures within the English capital soared above 30 levels celsius on Sunday.

Haaland took accountability from the penalty spot to open his Premier League account after he had been introduced down by Alphonse Areola.

West Ham began the second half with extra attacking intent however that merely performed into the arms of City’s new weapon as Kevin De Bruyne break up open their defence with one move on the counter-attack for Haaland to gallop clear on purpose and slot low previous Areola.

SEAGULLS TOO SLICK FOR UNITED

The contrasting fortunes of the Manchester golf equipment in current seasons continued as United suffered one other false daybreak in Ten Hag’s first aggressive recreation in cost.

Cristiano Ronaldo began on the bench for the Red Devils as a consequence of his lack of pre-season coaching with the Portuguese reportedly eager on an exit from Old Trafford to play within the Champions League this season.

Brighton thrashed United 4-0 when the edges final met in May and regardless of shedding Yves Bissouma and Marc Cucurella for over £100 million since ($121 million), the Seagulls had been once more too slick for United’s leaden-footed defence.

Twice in 9 minutes Pascal Gross ghosted in unmarked on the again submit to fit into an unguarded internet earlier than half-time.

It even took a Brighton mistake for Ten Hag’s males to search out the online as Robert Sanchez slapped the ball into his personal internet off the unlucky Alexis Mac Allister.

Ronaldo was given a rousing reception from an in any other case pissed off crowd, however by no means had a transparent sight of purpose to disclaim Brighton their first ever win at Old Trafford.

“It’s the worst possible start, to be 2-0 down at half-time at Old Trafford,” mentioned United captain Harry Maguire.

“It’s not good enough. We huffed and puffed to get one back and we had chances to equalise. It’s a bad start for us.”

Brentford did handle to return from two objectives all the way down to salvage a 2-2 draw away to Leicester.

The Foxes have been in turmoil heading into the season with long-serving captain Kasper Schmeichel becoming a member of Nice and rumours over the futures of James Maddison and Wesley Fofana.

Both began and Maddison’s nook teed up Timothy Castagne to attain the opening purpose.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s gorgeous strike from lengthy vary then doubled Leicester’s lead early within the second-half.

But Brentford bounced again to take some extent as Ivan Toney used his energy to fireplace dwelling from shut vary earlier than Josh Dasilva discovered the highest nook.