Manchester Derby Poses Maresca’s First Big Test, Chelsea Aim to End Hull Honeymoon

 Manchester City's Erling Haaland runs after the ball during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland runs after the ball during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP)
TT

Manchester Derby Poses Maresca’s First Big Test, Chelsea Aim to End Hull Honeymoon

 Manchester City's Erling Haaland runs after the ball during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland runs after the ball during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and Manchester City in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP)

Enzo Maresca faces his first major test since stepping into Pep Guardiola's shoes as City visit United in the Manchester derby on Sunday, while Arsenal aim to extend their flawless start at Sunderland.

Alongside last season's top two, only newly-promoted Hull remain unbeaten but their brilliant start faces an acid test against Xabi Alonso's free-scoring Chelsea.

At the other end of the table, Fulham have yet to register a point under Alvaro Arbeloa ahead of their tough trip to Liverpool.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the weekend's action:

Haaland hungry for more

Four games in, Maresca has made the perfect start since accepting the daunting task of succeeding Guardiola as City boss.

But nine points from nine in the Premier League and a winning start to their Champions League campaign in Porto has masked some underwhelming performances.

Coventry missed a series of chances to secure their first goal and point in the top flight for 25 years at the Etihad last weekend as City clung on for a 1-0 victory, while Maresca's men needed two late goals to beat Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the season.

It was not only an off-season of change in the dugout. City splashed out a record £460 million ($623 million) on new players, including a whole new midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

That trio could start together for the first time at Old Trafford, but one thing that has remained consistent for City is Erling Haaland's reliability to get goals.

The Norwegian has five in four games, becoming City's third-highest goalscorer of all-time in the process on 167.

"I'm really proud of these numbers but I'm only 26 and I'm hungry for more," said Haaland.

United, by contrast, have wasted the chance to make a strong start and are at risk of already being cut adrift in the title race.

Michael Carrick's men have picked up just four points from an inviting opening trio of matches against Hull, Ipswich and Everton.

Fears for Fulham

Alvaro Arbeloa's reign as Fulham boss could be short-lived unless he can summon a response on his return to Anfield.

The Spaniard is favorite to be the first Premier League coach sacked after three straight defeats.

Arbeloa has been accused of being too naive, with his expansive gameplan leaving the Cottagers' defense exposed.

A trip to Liverpool, where Arbeloa played for two-and-a-half seasons, and a visit from Manchester United is to come before a three-week international break which could allow the club to rethink the decision to hire the former Real Madrid boss.

"It is not about my position, but I am very confident and I talk to my players that they are working in the way I want," said Arbeloa.

Hull have 'to kick' Chelsea

Odds-on favorites for relegation before the season began, Hull are the only side yet to concede in a dream return to the top flight.

Chelsea's slick forward line will put the Tigers solidity to the test after Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer masterminded a six-goal second half to beat Leeds 6-3 in the League Cup.

Introduced at half-time with the Blues trailing, Palmer scored twice and Rogers provided four assists to take Chelsea's tally in five matches under Alonso to 16 goals.

"To kick them," joked Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic on his plan to stop a Chelsea attack also featuring the in-form Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto and Estevao. "If you are there man-marking, you don't have a chance."



Carrick Confident He Can Turn Around Man Utd Slump

 Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick gestures as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Como and Manchester United in Como, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP)
Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick gestures as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Como and Manchester United in Como, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP)
TT

Carrick Confident He Can Turn Around Man Utd Slump

 Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick gestures as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Como and Manchester United in Como, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP)
Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick gestures as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Como and Manchester United in Como, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP)

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said on Friday he is convinced he can arrest his side's slump as he refused to confirm whether Bruno Fernandes will remain as the club's captain.

Carrick labelled a 4-1 thrashing by Champions League debutants Como on Wednesday, which stretched United's winless run to seven games, as "unacceptable".

After a successful interim spell in charge in the second half of last season, the former England midfielder was appointed on a permanent basis just five months ago.

But his position is at risk ahead of Sunday's visit of Bournemouth to Old Trafford.

United sit 13th in the table after their worst start in the Premier League era.

Carrick's men were also dumped out of the League Cup by Brighton and have lost two of their opening three Champions League games.

"We're in a moment where it's not gone well, so we need to show exactly what it means. Respect this football club, respect what it takes to be here, respect what it takes to win, what you have to do to win," Carrick said in his pre-match press conference.

"We've kind of lost our way a little bit if I'm totally honest and we'll get it back. I'm totally confident we'll get it back."

- Fernandes decision swerved -

Carrick's tactics were publicly questioned by Fernandes after the Como defeat for being too passive.

Despite being repeatedly probed on whether last season's Premier League player of the year will retain the armband, Carrick refused to clarify the Portuguese midfielder's future.

"The most important thing for me is the team, first and foremost, is the squad, is the dynamics in the squad," added Carrick.

"Again, it's about the football club. I always do what's best for the football club."

Fernandes's criticism came just over a week after defender Lisandro Martinez took aim at the club's board for a lack of investment in the transfer market.

Carrick is just the latest manager struggling to turn around the ailing fortunes of the 20-time English champions since his former boss Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

United have not won either the Premier League or Champions League in the 13 years since under seven different managers.

Appointed on a short-term deal in January, Carrick led the Red Devils back into the Champions League for the first time in three years with a third-placed finish in the Premier League.

But their only two victories in 11 matches in all competitions this season have come against newly-promoted Ipswich and Azerbaijani side Sabah.

"Recently we haven't had a good time. I totally accept that. We had five months of relative success in a spell where I was happy with a lot of things we were doing as a team," Carrick said in an opening address to his media duties.

"We haven't done well enough lately. We've had a spell we're really not happy with. Wednesday was a bad night for a lot of reasons... it was really unacceptable."

"The supporters have to make the effort and spend the money to come and watch us. To have the feeling we all had after the game was a tough moment."

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said he had "too much respect" for Carrick to comment on speculation he is among the candidates to become the next United manager.

Hurzeler's side have plundered 23 goals in their opening seven Premier League games to sit third in the table.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham coach Antonio Conte also stated he is not in "advanced" negotiations with any club.

Conte, who has been out of work since leaving Napoli at the end of last season, has been repeatedly linked with United over the past decade.

"I will take the time I need to consider how and when to return to management," the Italian posted on social media.

"It will be a carefully considered decision, one I will make when I believe the conditions are right."

Former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is another of the leading candidates should Carrick be replaced.


PSG's Ligue 1 Home Game Against Lyon Is Moved to Monday at the Police’s Request Amid Paris Protests

A French police vehicle is stationed outside the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris on April 9, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. (AFP)
A French police vehicle is stationed outside the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris on April 9, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. (AFP)
TT

PSG's Ligue 1 Home Game Against Lyon Is Moved to Monday at the Police’s Request Amid Paris Protests

A French police vehicle is stationed outside the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris on April 9, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. (AFP)
A French police vehicle is stationed outside the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris on April 9, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. (AFP)

Paris Saint-Germain's clash with Lyon in Ligue 1 has been moved from Sunday to Monday evening at the request of Paris police, the French football league said on Friday.

The game was scheduled for 8:45 p.m. on Sunday — only hours after France's first NFL game was taking place just north of Paris — and will now be played at Parc des Princes in western Paris at 8:30 p.m. local time. Police resources are stretched in the French capital with mass protests planned for this weekend.

“The LFP said in a statement that it “acknowledges the order issued by the police prefecture prohibiting the staging of the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais (on Sunday).”

France’s worst rioting in years saw city halls, other public buildings and thousands of businesses across the country impacted last weekend. There were scenes of widespread violence as police and protesters clashed, with shops destroyed and burned out, and local residents and shopkeepers left feeling exasperated by the chaos.

Last Saturday, 110 marches drew about 550,000 people across the country as they protested against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.

Defending champion PSG and Lyon were level on 14 points at the top of Ligue 1 heading into this weekend’s eighth round of games.

France's first NFL Game

The NFL holds its first American football game in Paris on Sunday afternoon, when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints in their sold-out contest.

Around 80,000 fans are expected to attend the gridiron contest at Stade de France, which is just on the outskirts of Paris.

It can be reached via a short train ride from stations in Paris at Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord and Châtelet or by subway lines.


Second Round of Saudi Toyota Drift and Autocross Championships Kicks Off in Al-Ahsa

The drift competition features 59 drivers contending across professional, semi-professional, and amateur categories - SPA
The drift competition features 59 drivers contending across professional, semi-professional, and amateur categories - SPA
TT

Second Round of Saudi Toyota Drift and Autocross Championships Kicks Off in Al-Ahsa

The drift competition features 59 drivers contending across professional, semi-professional, and amateur categories - SPA
The drift competition features 59 drivers contending across professional, semi-professional, and amateur categories - SPA

The second round of the 2026 Saudi Toyota Championship Drift launched Thursday in Al-Ahsa Governorate, alongside the ongoing second round of the 2026 Saudi Toyota Championship Autocross.

The drift competition features 59 drivers contending across professional, semi-professional, and amateur categories. A further 59 racers are competing in the autocross championship across 11 classifications, including a dedicated women's cup, SPA reported.

Drift events continue today with qualifying sessions for amateur and semi-professional classes, alongside tandem battles in the professional tier, culminating in a podium ceremony.

Autocross track action commences on Saturday, with official drivers' briefings and practice runs, followed by two timed heats and the awards presentation.

Both championships will conclude their seasons in Jeddah, with the final round of the Saudi Toyota Championship Drift scheduled for November 26–27, followed by the decisive round of the Saudi Toyota Championship Autocross on November 27–28.