Time is Right to Axe De Gea, Give Henderson the Gloves, Shearer Says

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. (Reuters)
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. (Reuters)
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Time is Right to Axe De Gea, Give Henderson the Gloves, Shearer Says

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. (Reuters)
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. (Reuters)

Manchester United should replace goalkeeper David de Gea with Dean Henderson next season, former England striker Alan Shearer has said after the Spaniard’s disappointing display in Sunday’s 3-1 FA Cup semi-final loss to Chelsea.

De Gea, 29, was at fault for Olivier Giroud’s opener late in the first half and then allowed Mason Mount’s shot to squirm through him and into the net after the restart.

A string of errors from De Gea have prompted calls for him to be replaced as first choice by Henderson, who is drawing praise for his showings on loan at Sheffield United.

“If the goalkeeper makes one mistake, or possibly two, you think you should stick with him,” former Newcastle United striker Shearer told the BBC.

“But it keeps happening. I think you only bring Dean Henderson back to Manchester United as the number one, or you keep him where he is to keep gaining experience. I think that time has come.”

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described De Gea as mentally strong after the game, but former club defender Phil Neville said the keeper was low on confidence.

“He’s unrecognizable from the goalkeeper that won (club) player of the year four years out of five years. He’s making mistakes. A confident, assured, on-form De Gea saves all three (goals),” Neville said.

“If I was Solskjaer, then I would be worried because of his performance levels. They’ve dipped and his inconsistency is costing United games.

“I wouldn’t leave him out yet. His credentials are still up there with the best in the world. He’s just lost all his confidence.”



Leverkusen Slump at Home in Ten Hag’s First Bundesliga Game

Bayer Leverkusen's Dutch head coach Erik ten Hag reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Leverkusen, western Germany on August 23, 2025. (AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen's Dutch head coach Erik ten Hag reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Leverkusen, western Germany on August 23, 2025. (AFP)
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Leverkusen Slump at Home in Ten Hag’s First Bundesliga Game

Bayer Leverkusen's Dutch head coach Erik ten Hag reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Leverkusen, western Germany on August 23, 2025. (AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen's Dutch head coach Erik ten Hag reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Leverkusen, western Germany on August 23, 2025. (AFP)

Bayer Leverkusen suffered a shock 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim in their Bundesliga season opener on Saturday to hand new coach Erik ten Hag a losing league debut.

Despite going 1-0 up, it was not the performance Dutchman Ten Hag, who replaced Xabi Alonso after the departures of star player Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Granit Xhaka, had wanted.

The 2024 German domestic double winners and last season's runners-up lacked ideas and precision up front while their backline badly missed Tah's dominant presence.

Hoffenheim hit the post through Tim Lemperle after two minutes but Leverkusen scored first when Jarell Qansah headed in for a sixth-minute lead.

Fisnik Asllani, however, bagged a 25th-minute equalizer after beating keeper Mark Flekken and things got worse for the hosts seven minutes after the restart when Lemperle drilled in a low shot from 22 meters.

Leverkusen did not get a look-in for much of the second half until Nathan Tella fired into the side netting.

Champions Bayern Munich opened the Bundesliga season on Friday with a 6-0 demolition of RB Leipzig.


Al-Ahli Win Saudi Super Cup as Ronaldo Nets 100th Al-Nassr Goal

Football - Saudi Super Cup - Final – Al-Nassr v Al-Ahli - Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China - August 23, 2025, Al-Ahli's Edouard Mendy lifts the trophy and celebrates on the podium with Franck Kessie and teammates after winning the Saudi Super Cup. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Super Cup - Final – Al-Nassr v Al-Ahli - Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China - August 23, 2025, Al-Ahli's Edouard Mendy lifts the trophy and celebrates on the podium with Franck Kessie and teammates after winning the Saudi Super Cup. (Reuters)
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Al-Ahli Win Saudi Super Cup as Ronaldo Nets 100th Al-Nassr Goal

Football - Saudi Super Cup - Final – Al-Nassr v Al-Ahli - Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China - August 23, 2025, Al-Ahli's Edouard Mendy lifts the trophy and celebrates on the podium with Franck Kessie and teammates after winning the Saudi Super Cup. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Super Cup - Final – Al-Nassr v Al-Ahli - Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China - August 23, 2025, Al-Ahli's Edouard Mendy lifts the trophy and celebrates on the podium with Franck Kessie and teammates after winning the Saudi Super Cup. (Reuters)

Al-Ahli beat Al-Nassr 5–3 on penalties to win the Saudi Super Cup final in Hong Kong after a dramatic 2–2 draw on Saturday as Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 100th goal for the losing side.

Portugal forward Ronaldo, 40, opened the scoring in the 40th minute from the penalty spot to reach the milestone after Ali Majrashi was penalized for handball

Al-Ahli, who won this year's Asian Champions League title, responded in first-half stoppage time through Franck Kessie, who finished low past Al-Nassr keeper Bento after a well-placed pass from new signing Enzo Millot.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the second half and Ronaldo tested Edouard Mendy with a powerful strike before Firas Al-Buraikan struck the post.

Marcelo Brozovic restored Al-Nassr’s lead in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on a poor clearance and firing home from inside the box.

Al-Ahli equalized again in the 89th minute, however, when Roger Ibanez headed in a Riyad Mahrez corner after Bento misjudged the ball.

In the shootout, Al-Ahli converted all five penalties and although Ronaldo converted his spot-kick, Al-Nassr missed one to hand the Jeddah-based club their second Saudi Super Cup title.


No Palmer, No Problem as Chelsea Run Wild at West Ham

Moises Caicedo of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United vs Chelsea FC, in London, Britain, 22 August 2025. (EPA)
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United vs Chelsea FC, in London, Britain, 22 August 2025. (EPA)
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No Palmer, No Problem as Chelsea Run Wild at West Ham

Moises Caicedo of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United vs Chelsea FC, in London, Britain, 22 August 2025. (EPA)
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the 1-4 goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United vs Chelsea FC, in London, Britain, 22 August 2025. (EPA)

Chelsea's new signings and young talents hit their stride in the absence of injured talisman Cole Palmer on Friday as the Club World Cup winners ran wild in a 5-1 Premier League demolition of West Ham United.

Palmer was ruled out after suffering some muscle soreness in the warmup but his teammates swiftly allayed any fears of that being a setback.

After conceding an early goal at the London Stadium, Chelsea hit back with goals from five different players inside an hour to take over at the top of the standings, even if only for one night, after two games.

"You could name any Chelsea player as man of the match, they were absolutely fabulous, especially after losing Palmer before the game and they were a bit rattled going 1-0 down," said former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports television.

"But they stayed calm and composed and the quality they possessed, they look like a big team who are going to compete this season.

"Defensively they did not have any problems and there were a lot of impressive performances. They were excellent and aggressive, got after the ball, (Moises) Caicedo was an absolute monster in midfield and it was a really emphatic, big win."

New signing Joao Pedro played a key role and provided the 15th-minute equalizer with his first league goal for Chelsea before Pedro Neto and captain Enzo Fernandez made it 3-1.

Moises Caicedo, on his 100th appearance for the club, and academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah added two more after the break from corners.

Eighteen-year-old Brazil winger Estevao, who replaced Palmer in the starting lineup, provided one assist -- a perfect pass across goal for Fernandez to tap in -- and was named man of the match.

While not appearing amongst the goalscorers, Estevao wrote his name in Chelsea history as their youngest provider of a Premier League assist.

He could also have scored in the 73rd but hesitated too long when clear on goal.

The Brazilian also gave away the ball that enabled compatriot Lucas Paqueta to put West Ham ahead in the sixth minute, but he more than redeemed himself later.

"He's young but he showed that he's very mature. He made good decisions and all the new players, all the new signings came here to help the team, to bring something good -- good energy, good talent," said left back Marc Cucurella.

"I think we have an amazing squad and hopefully we can do good things this season."