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When Manchester United savoured the last of their three Champions League triumphs in 2008, Como were a Serie D club, playing in one of nine semi-professional regional leagues. On Wednesday, at a rainy but picturesque Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on the banks of the iconic Lake Como, the Serie A outfit showed how far they have come. In fact, on the evidence of their 4-1 thrashing of the English side - and with progressive coach Cesc Fabregas in the dugout - you could argue the European newcomers have leapfrogged the Old Trafford outfit and then some. Time and again, Fabregas' side sliced through United - who are now winless in their past seven games in all competitions for the first time since 2015. At the heart of Fabregas' team is the brilliant Nico Paz, signed from Real Madrid in 2024, who scored twice and set up another. Since the start of September, the 22-year-old Tenerife-born Argentina international has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions than any other Serie A player. "It was a historic night because we played against one of the best teams ever, to do this at home is incredible, we are very happy for our performance," said Paz. Wednesday's superb showing took him to nine goal involvements in eight appearances - four goals and five assists - he is also the youngest Argentine player to be involved in three goals in one Champions League game since Lionel Messi against Bayern Munich in April 2009. "Paz really runs, he covers a lot of ground. He's melded the old-school Argentine creative number 10 style with the physical demands of modern football," said journalist Lars Sivertsen on Champions League Match of the Day. For Como, this is the most high-profile victory since their project began. "It's Manchester United. We are only just getting our heads around the fact we are playing Inter, Milan and Juventus," said one member of staff. "This is without doubt the biggest night in the club's history." According to chief executive Mirwan Surwaso, it was Como's status as an amateur club - they returned to Serie D in 2017 after being unable to convince the authorities of their financial wellbeing - which first attracted the London-based media company Sent Entertainment, owned by Indonesian billionaires Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono. When they concluded a deal in 2019, the Hartono brothers were planning a TV project, with the idea of screening matches involving young Indonesian players back home. A visit from Manchester United was not part of the plan. There cannot be many Champions League stadiums you can walk around and in addition to seeing an iconic tourist attraction. Lake Como is 29 miles long and 2.5 miles wide in some parts - you also come across a yacht club and an 'Aero Club' for the sea-planes that take off at regular intervals. The clubs themselves have been there for a long time. But Como also use their natural surroundings to offer one hour Lake Como tours, followed by 'pre-match Lakeside hospitality'. In town - Como's population is just over 83,000, which means 90% of them could fit in the San Siro Stadium - there is a plush new club shop, selling all kinds of branded merchandise. There was no need for that in Serie D. "Somehow the team got promoted, we had to go professional, and the plan had to be scrapped," Surwaso told Piers Morgan's Football Uncensored Podcast this month. The alternative plan is still being amended substantially. Initially it was expected this season would be a selling year, when some of the developing talents Como thought they could cash in on would be sold. Instead, manager Cesc Fabregas steered his squad to fourth place in 2025-26, capitalising on AC Milan's shock defeat at Cagliari. It meant in the space of five seasons from Fabregas' arrival as a player, Como had gone from Serie B to the Champions League. Earlier this week, Lionel Messi's son Ciro gave Como his seal of approval by being pictured with his dad wearing a replica Como kit. Tangible evidence of a meteoric rise. "Compared to when I finished my career here, it is completely different," said Fabregas. "It is not even night and day. It is another world. "Playing Manchester United is a historic day once again for the club, the city of Como and fanbase. "When I retired as a player, I coached to get experience. I explained what I thought of the club and my vision and put the plan to work. We are a family here. Even when we lose, fans come and celebrate. We need to be humble and remember who we were because the story of Como will be beautiful, and we will remember it forever." The captivating nature of the Como story does bring with it some questions. In the short term, some wonder how they can possibly comply with Uefa's financial rules, which European football's governing body does not intend to amend despite Como's rise from Serie B. Surwaso told Morgan: "The scrutiny is on us but we always have our books in order, so we are not too worried." The other point is that three quarters of the 12,300-capacity Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is uncovered and was exposed to heavy rain during the fixture. Growing both sides of the club is essential if Como are to maximise their potential. For Fabregas, whose responsibility is clearly on the playing side, there is a balance to be struck between celebrating the spectacular journey Como have been on, and ensuring his players are not resting on their laurels. "We were at minus 10 when we started, but we don't want to spend time thinking about what has passed," said the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea star. "If you want to do that, retire and go write a book about what Como did. We must look at what is in front of us." While Como now attract thousands to their games, those who followed the club when crowds were in the hundreds remain. "I had an uncle who supported Como," said Marco Melillo, an out-of-town fan. "He showed me the sticker collection, I saw the blue shirt and the blue colours and totally went crazy about it. "I know in England a lot of people support teams in lower leagues, but that is not so true in Italy, where people support bigger teams. I do not like that that much. I was not really interested in supporting a team that was winning something. I liked the colours. I liked the stadium and when I came here and saw the lake, it was 'wow'. "We know the club is in the best situation ever in its history but when I see the faces of the guys and ladies that were also here in Serie D, we just see in our eyes and say, 'OK, we hope that this story will go on as long as possible, as best as possible, but if it maybe abruptly ended, because in the past we had also some bad things, we know we will be there'." Federico Borghi is a local, and despite the weather, came with his huge Como 1907-2007 history book. "In 2008, I had just started to go to the stadium to attend games," he said. "Not even in our best dreams could we think of playing Manchester United. I get chills even thinking about it. "As soon as I entered the stadium for the first time I realised this was going to be my faith. I was there in the bad times and that has strengthened my faith and my relationship with the club. "The Premier League is my inspiration and to face one of the top three or four biggest clubs in the world, it's a big honour." Fernandes rounds on Carrick after Man Utd humiliation Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari is a target for Chelsea , Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Aston Villa 's Johan Manzambi and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres could be moved on. Chelsea have joined Galatasaray in the hunt for Brighton 's 23-year-old Sweden midfielder Yasin Ayari. (Teamtalk), external Liverpool are not in any rush to open contract negotiations with Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister despite the 27-year-old's upturn in form this season. (Telegraph - subscription required), external Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the clubs keeping tabs on Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi after the 21-year-old's impressive start to his Aston Villa career. (Football Insider), external Sunderland are preparing a renewed bid to sign Sporting and Mozambique winger Geny Catamo, 25, in the January transfer window. (Teamtalk), external Everton are monitoring Dinamo Zagreb's 24-year-old Croatia striker Dion Beljo as one of several options in the January window. (Football Insider), external Liverpool , and a number of top European sides, are interested in signing 18-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora from Tijuana. (Marca), external Arsenal want to recoup the £55m they paid to sign Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 28, with a deal more likely to happen at the end of the season than in January. (Football Insider), external Brazil forward Vinicius Jr was strongly tempted to move to Arsenal in the summer, but the 26-year-old now hopes to spend the rest of his career with Real Madrid. (Mail - subscription required), external Arsenal are leading the race among Premier League clubs to sign 20-year-old Turkey midfielder Can Uzun from Eintracht Frankfurt . (The Daily Briefing), external Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Former England defender Ryan Bertrand is leading a consortium that has proposed an £87m minority investment in League One side AFC Wimbledon. Bertrand, who played for Chelsea, Southampton, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest during his career, is at the forefront of the group with British technology expert Omar Mir, who is the sole funder of the proposed minority share buyout through investment vehicle Sloane Street Capital (SSC). The Dons Trust board presented their proposals to its members on Wednesday night. SSC would invest £16m on completion for a minority 34% of the shares in AFCW PLC, the company that runs the club. The remaining £71m would be spread over five seasons to the 2030-31 campaign. If the deal is successful, SSC would oversee football operations, led by Bertrand as senior football advisor, but work within budgets and processes agreed by the AFCW PLC board. The Dons Trust currently own 50.01% of the voting shares of AFC Wimbledon, which was designed to ensure the club remains fan-controlled. Bertrand, who won the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League with Chelsea, said: "AFC Wimbledon's story is unique in English football and it was built by its supporters. We felt at home from our very first meetings. "We are not here to change what this club is. We are here to help it go further on and off the pitch, for the men's team, the women's team and the academy. "It would be an honour to join the Wimbledon family and help write the next chapter, and we look forward to meeting members and answering their questions over the coming weeks." Under the terms of the deal, the Dons Trust voting rights would be unaffected, plus they would hold veto control of the Cherry Red Record Stadium freehold. Other proposals include SSC taking two of the 12 seats on the club board, plus an observer position, while the Dons Trust would retain a veto over the club's name, badge, colours, ground and constitution. Stuart Fiertz, co-founder of the investment management company Cheyne Capital and sports executive Oliver Ward would join the board if a deal is ratified. Should SSC sell its stake, the Dons Trust would have first refusal and could block who they felt were unsuitable investors. Also, as part of the terms, if SSC missed a payment, its share of AFC Wimbledon's value would stop growing immediately and control would return to the club within three months. The voting period for Dons Trust members to decide on the proposals ends on 17 November. Earlier this year, members voted in favour of external investment on the proviso that fan ownership and control were protected. Since then, the board has considered more than 20 potential investors, with SSC emerging as the strongest. AFC Wimbledon's lawyers have completed source-of-funds and background checks on the individuals involved in the consortium. Angus Fox, chair of the Dons Trust board, said: "The deal brings at least £87m into AFC Wimbledon over five years, while the Trust keeps a permanent majority of the votes, control of the Plough Lane freehold and a veto over everything that makes us who we are. We have set out the factors to weigh as plainly as the opportunities. "The board recommends a yes vote, but this is our members' club and our members' decision." Pre-match, post-match and topical Dons content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about Wimbledon

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned on head coach Michael Carrick following one of the most humiliating nights in the club's European history. A 4-1 Champions League hammering at Como led to Carrick fielding questions about his future. He apologised to the 700 travelling fans, having ignored his beaten players after the final whistle to march across the pitch and repeatedly hold his hands up - in a manner similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 which led to his dismissal as United boss 24 hours later. However, Fernandes - widely accepted as a football obsessive who watches games regularly and understands the tactical side as well as any player in the United squad - inflicted more damage when he spoke to TNT Sports afterwards. "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence," he said. Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes added: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable." Told of Fernandes' comments in his post-match press conference, Carrick offered a curt response: "There's a little bit of whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win." Man Utd embarrassment in Como leaves Carrick job in danger Carrick also refused to answer questions about his own future. Instead, he described his own feelings about United's performance and focused on taking responsibility. "I have to apologise to the supporters," said the former player. "I care about this football club as much as anyone, if not more, with the position that I'm in and what I value this football club. For us to play in that way is not acceptable. "I always go over to the fans anyway, regardless, so it wasn't a particularly different kind of reason why I went over. "It's the appreciation and acknowledgement of what they've gone through and have done over a period of a few weeks now. As I said, I was one of them. "I'm feeling the same as them. We've got a lot of values in this football club; what we represent and how we want to go about it. We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight wasn't acceptable. I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them. "Listen. I've not given my own position any thought - this is for the supporters - I was one of them watching that and I wasn't happy all." After winning 12 of his 17 games in charge last season to guide United back into the Champions League after a two-year absence, Carrick was given a two-year contract. However, as happened with Solskjaer five years ago, the new campaign has unravelled spectacularly and they are 13th in the Premier League, three points clear of bottom club Sunderland. Although they recovered from their shock opening-day defeat to newly promoted Hull by coming from behind to beat Ipswich the following week, United have not won in the Premier League since. Their only other success in 11 games in all competitions came against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK in the Champions League. Their latest loss meant they have now gone seven games without a win, their worst run since they went eight without a victory under Louis van Gaal between 25 November and 28 December 2015. Only Joshua Zirkzee's injury-time consolation prevented United suffering their joint second-worst European defeat of all time. The embarrassment was heightened by the knowledge that when they were last crowned European champions in 2008, Como were playing semi-professional football in front of a couple of hundred spectators in Serie D. It is a basic reality that if Como's star man Nico Paz, who opened the scoring after 118 seconds, created the second and added a third goal, said he wanted to leave Como, virtually every big club in Europe would want to sign him and United's chances would be virtually non-existent. They entertain 15th-placed Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday knowing that prior to last season's amazing 4-4 draw, the Cherries recorded 3-0 wins on their previous two visits to Old Trafford. United flew straight back to Manchester after the game. It remains to be seen whether the position around Carrick changes before the Bournemouth game. However, United supporters sang against the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the shambolic evening unravelled. Both Carrick and sporting director Jason Wilcox have been absolved of partial blame for the club's plight by some; Carrick because he was let down badly in the summer transfer window, when the club signed three midfielders, but failed to bring in competition for Luke Shaw at left-back and Benjamin Sesko in attack. Wilcox too, because he had to work to a budget set by those above him, including chief executive Omar Berrada. "There was a lot going through my mind watching that," admitted Carrick, who won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his United playing career. "It was tough to watch. "It wasn't just the goals, if I'm totally honest. It was was the manner and way we played at times. "I'm giving my absolute best all the time, I care about it. My whole life is wrapped around it. It might go well, it might not go so well, but I I genuinely give everything that I possibly can." Pre-match, post-match and topical United content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about the Red Devils Latest Manchester United news, analysis and fan views Ask about Man Utd - what do you want to know?

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Southampton forward Finn Azaz will continue to represent the Republic of Ireland despite reports that he may retire from international football. The 26-year-old told BBC Radio Solent, external that he would carry on playing for the country where he holds citizenship and has made 16 appearances since his debut in 2024. Azaz, who was born in England, represents Ireland through his father but also qualified for Israel through his mother. Azaz was an unused substitute when the Republic of Ireland met Israel in two recent Nations League matches - games that were embroiled in controversy - and reports afterwards suggested he could call time on his international career. The Republic of Ireland players faced calls to withdraw from the games due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. A campaign called "Stop The Game", organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine, staged protests before and during the Republic's game against Austria in Dublin, prior to their second match against Israel. However, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) decided to fulfil the fixtures, which had already been moved to neutral venues, with the Republic of Ireland winning the first match 3-0 before playing out a 1-1 draw. Ireland wore black armbands for the matches and bowed their heads when Israel's national anthem was played before kick-off, while the two teams did not shake hands. Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said following the second match that the period had been "tough" on Azaz "mentally". "It is probably the most difficult situation for him of all of us," he said. "He deserves a lot of credit for being in the squad and showed desire to be a part of this team." Republic of Ireland denied by Israel in draw Republic of Ireland defeat Israel in Debrecen Azaz has had an impressive start to the campaign and has emerged as one of Southampton's most important players. Since signing from Middlesborough last summer, the Irishman has scored 14 goals with 15 assists having played 60 times. Azaz has called for more from the group as they push for promotion back to the Premier League. "It's been a good start by the team but we're not there yet," he told BBC Radio Solent. "There's still space to get to another level, we've been pretty consistent but it was never going to be the same as the end of last season straight away. "You have to build that mentality, it's now about us wanting to keep improving and not just being content with how we're doing. "We have high aspirations and the mindset has to be to keep getting better." Pre-match, post-match and topical Saints content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about the Saints

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Former Georgia captain and Dundee midfielder Giorgi Nemsadze has died at the age of 54 of a heart attack. Dinamo Tbilisi, with whom he started and ended his playing career, made the announcement "with a heavy heart" on Facebook. Having previously played with Hamburg, Trabzonspor, Grasshoppers, Reggiana and Locomotive Tbilisi, Nemsadze joined Dundee in 2000, spending three years with the club, and earned 69 caps for his country. Giorgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has led the tributes, stating: "I express my deep sorrow over the death of Giorgi Nemsadze. This is a tremendous loss for Georgian football. 'Galvanised Dundee will shock more teams' "As the former captain of Georgia's national team, an outstanding professional and a leader with a fighting spirit, he successfully represented both the national team and Georgian and foreign clubs. "With his distinctive playing style and perseverance, he left a lasting mark on the history of Georgian sport." Nemsadze joined Dundee during the era of big-name signings, such as Argentina striker Claudio Caniggia, under manager Ivano Bonetti and was inducted into the Scottish Premiership club's hall of fame in 2010. He subsequently spent a year as Dinamo's sporting director before entering coaching with the country's youth players and managing Shevardeni Tbilisi, Dila Gori and Dinamo. Visit our Dundee page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views

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The cacophony of boos that greet the Premier League and Champions League anthems before kick-off have now become a fixture at the Etihad Stadium. The jeers from Manchester City fans were turned up a notch against Ipswich last Saturday when the side played their first home game since being found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules. "I can't remember a Premier League or Champions League home game where the anthems haven't been booed," City season-ticket holder Dave Wilson told BBC Sport. The pre-match dissatisfaction towards top-flight chiefs can likely be traced back to February 2023, when the 115 charges for breaching the rules were first announced. Later that same year, Everton had 10 points - reduced to six on appeal - deducted after being found to have broken profit and sustainability rules. In their first game back after the sanction, Toffees fans displayed their ire at Goodison Park by loudly booing the league's pre-match anthem as well as holding up red cards with the word 'corrupt' printed underneath the Premier League logo. Though City supporters did not organise a similar display, their anger was clear. "The Premier League anthem has been booed by City fans for many years," said Wilson. "It was probably heightened on Saturday because it was the first home game since the [guilty verdict] announcement. "There hasn't been much love lost between City and the Premier League for a long time. For certain games it will be louder than others, it definitely wasn't co-ordinated for that [Ipswich] game but a symptom of everything coming together." There was audible booing before Tuesday's Champions League fixture against AEK Athens too. No Haaland, no problem - can Foden be Man City's alternative goalscorer? City fans' displeasure towards Uefa goes back even further, there being a litany of disputes with Europe's top brass. In 2012, Porto were handed a fine, external of around £17,000 by Uefa after City made a complaint of racial abuse towards striker Mario Balotelli to the organising body. In that same season, City were given a fine, external of around £24,000 for being one minute late back on to the pitch for the second half of a game against Sporting. In 2014, Uefa fined City £49m and capped their squad size for the Champions League after they failed Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Six years later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) overturned City's two-year ban from European club competitions after clearing them of "disguising equity funds as sponsorship contributions" - Uefa initially ruled City had committed "serious breaches" of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016. Wilson adds: "City fans generally feel there is a conspiracy against them, like the booing of the Uefa anthem too. There is a feeling of being targeted, rightly or wrongly. "City fans just don't seem to like the competitions we play in!" City and their supporters are currently in limbo as they await the outcome of the appeal and any potential sanctions. The side are currently top of the table having won all seven league games so far and that 100% record will be given a stern examination with a difficult trip to Aston Villa on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 BST). Nick Clarke is interim chair of The Citizens Trust - Manchester City supporters' union, a member-led trust that was set up earlier this year at a time when the "potential biggest issue affecting City fans in the club's history" had transpired. Though it has been a "difficult time", fans are "completely behind the team" and he says his job is to ensure their views are heard amid the external noise. "The booing of the anthem on Saturday was totally organic," says Clarke. "Whereas the bananas at Liverpool was a fan-led initiative co-ordinated by the 1894 atmosphere group and they did great work handing those out before the game. "Even though there are fans who are conflicted about what has happened with the club, there is still a general feeling among the majority [of City fans] that the Premier League is not fit for purpose in regulating itself and how it is ran." Whatever the outcome of the appeal, City fans are likely to continue making their feelings clear before kick-off.

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Barcelona have reported Paris St-Germain to Uefa after a tifo featuring a message which they say "incites violence and hatred in sport" was displayed ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match. Ahead of kick-off at Parc des Princes, PSG fans behind one of the goals unveiled a banner featuring a masked figure in a PSG shirt destroying the Barcelona badge with a chainsaw. Underneath the image, in French, were the words "massacre, Parisian style". Banners featuring explicit messages were also on display during the match, with Barcelona "strongly" condemning the actions of PSG's supporters. Barcelona lost 4-2 in the French capital after previously winning their opening two Champions League matches. In a statement, Barcelona told BBC Sport: "The club strongly condemns the incidents that took place when the tifo was displayed in the stands, including the images of a blood-covered chainsaw attacking the Barca crest. "These images were deeply disturbing and conveyed a message that incites violence and hatred in sport. "We consider this kind of imagery and language unacceptable as it goes against the values of respect, fair play and sportsmanship that should be upheld in football. "We believe that football should be a space for healthy rivalry, mutual respect, and passion for the game, free from messages that promoted hatred or violence." Under article 16 of Uefa's disciplinary regulations, the "use of gestures, words, objects, or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is not fit for a sports event" can result in disciplinary measures, including a fine of 10,000 euros (£8,381) for a first offence. BBC Sport has contacted Uefa and PSG for comment. PSG's Kvaratskhelia to have surgery on ruptured ACL Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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New Walsall goalkeeper Jed Ward is producing "Premier League" contributions with both his hands and feet, according to his dazzled manager and team-mates. The 23-year-old has kept eight clean sheets in 13 games in all competitions - making a string of superb saves in the process - since joining the Saddlers from hometown club Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee in the summer. And he added another string to his bow with an outrageous assist in Tuesday's 3-0 League Two win over Oldham Athletic - pinging a pin-point 50-yard low through-ball for Tai Sodje to score the Saddlers' opener. "The pass from Jed is different level - I was shouting at him to play Tai in, but I didn't think he'd do it in that way," said impressed Walsall top-scorer Aaron Pressley. "It was Premier League stuff, that." Ward leads League Two in percentage of shots saved - 86% with 43 stops from 50 efforts on target faced, which is almost four saves a game on average. Only Swindon's Connor Ripley (58) has made more saves while Exeter goalkeeper Jack Bycroft (seven) is the only keeper to have kept more League Two clean sheets than Ward's six. He has spent much of the past two seasons on loan at National League clubs Yeovil and Forest Green, but did make 18 League One appearances for Bristol Rovers in 2024-25. In addition to his unexpected assist, Ward made three stops at key moments of Tuesday's game to continue to delight Saddlers boss Lee Grant, himself a former goalkeeper for Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley and Derby during his playing days. "In terms of what he's bringing at the moment, [Jed] is very, very high level," Grant told BBC Radio WM. "There's a big save at 0-0, a big save at 1-0. There's an incredible assist, then there's distribution in the second half which is just so well thought-out and executed. His level of performance has been so high." Grant: 'We got to see both sides of the group' Pressley: 'One of our best performances' Walsall's collective level of performance under new boss Grant - with a largely overhauled squad - has been just as high as their last line of defence. After 11 games, they are the only unbeaten team remaining in the EFL, although a surplus of draws compared to wins - seven to four - means they only sit fourth. Two goals from Pressley, including one from the penalty spot, after Sodje's opener, comfortably saw off Oldham despite Walsall playing the final half hour with 10 men after Elicha Ahui's red card. "We got to see both sides of the group - we got to see a team that was really going after the game in the first half, dominated and controlled large parts," added Grant. "Then we got to see the other side of the group which is becoming a clear trend in terms of the character, the fight and the determination and I think in some ways that feels sweeter." Walsall have led League Two at Christmas in both of the past two seasons, only to fall away and fail to gain promotion on either occasion. Pressley, who joined in the summer of 2025 and was part of last season's slide, has already overtaken his goal tally from last term with eight so far - including seven in the league. Both he and his manager, however, pointed to Walsall's strength in depth - Grant has regularly tinkered with his starting XI, never fielding an unchanged side despite their solid results - as a beacon of hope they can last the course this time. "I've just trusted my whole group," said Grant. "So, for the long run, it's good to have this sort of depth and be able to utilise that." Pressley added: "We made four changes on Tuesday and that's the strength of the squad. The players coming on have been outstanding and the way we can change the team from game to game is such a strength." Arguably, Walsall's biggest test of their unbeaten start will come in their next home game when they host leaders Salford on Monday. "Obviously it's quite a big game next Monday, but we just need to focus on what we can control in a way on the training pitch and prepare properly," Pressley added. "That should put us in a good place for next week." Pre-match, post-match and topical Saddlers content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about Walsall

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In the Championship, League One and League Two, clubs must have a minimum of eight homegrown players registered in their squad. For a league game in the EFL, clubs must name at least seven homegrown players in their matchday squad. A homegrown player is someone who has been registered with either their current club, or any English or Welsh club, for a period of three seasons or 36 months prior to either their 21st birthday, or the end of the season that the player in question turns 21. These rules are only enforced in league matches and are not enforced by the EFL for the FA Cup, EFL Cup or EFL Trophy. The Premier League operates its own separate system of rules on squad lists and homegrown players. An example of the rule classifying players as homegrown, despite not being English or Welsh, can be seen in Watford's recent 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic. Watford defenders Mattie Pollock and Marc Bola were the only players who are listed as English in the Hornets matchday squad. However, Hector Kyprianou (Cyprus), Jordan Zemura (Zimbabwe), Daniel Bachmann (Austria), Stephy Mavididi (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Amin Nabizada (Afghanistan), who all represent other countries for international games, are classed as homegrown due to where they played their club football as youth players. Once an EFL club has submitted its squad list following the conclusion of the summer transfer window, each club is required to list at least one club-developed player per match on its squad list or team sheet. For any match in which a club fails to do so, they are permitted one fewer player on their bench for the game. In the Championship, that would mean eight substitutes instead of nine, and in League One and League Two, it would result in six substitutes instead of seven. Players aged under 21 do not count towards squad lists across all three EFL leagues, while goalkeepers are not included in the squad lists for League One and League Two. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. This question is from James in London.

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Paris St-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will undergo knee surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during his side's 4-2 win over Barcelona on Tuesday. Kvaratskhelia sustained the injury during a challenge with Xavi Espart and was unable to put weight on his right leg as he was substituted in the 59th minute of the Champions League tie. PSG have not put a timeline on his return to action. Kvaratskhelia, 25, helped PSG win back-to-back Champions League titles following his move to the French capital from Napoli in January 2025. The Georgia international has featured 11 times for PSG this season. The club also confirmed Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos will be absent for a "few weeks". Dembele limped off with a left thigh injury while Marquinhos injured his right thigh. PSG and Barcelona were level at 2-2 heading into the final 10 minute at Parc des Princes before the hosts scored twice late on to maintain their winning start to their Champions League defence. They sit top of the table with three wins from three matches. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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The sound of fans being wowed by his football is something that has followed Eberechi Eze wherever he has played. The Arsenal forward is known for his off-the-cuff skill, maverick nature and entertaining style. But lately, those familiar elements of Eze have been missing. Sunday's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest was Eze's first Premier League start of the season. But replaced at half-time, having completed just nine passes and 22 touches of the ball, many have started to question whether he can reproduce the performances he was once known for. Arsenal criticism from very small minority - Arteta Madueke's 'anger and conviction' shows he's more than a 'finisher' This is not the first time Eze's role in the squad has been called into question. He switched off when Matty Cash scored Aston Villa's opener in their 2-1 defeat in December 2025 and, despite starting the following game, was left on the substitute's bench for the next four league matches. And while the 28-year-old is a much-loved character around both the Arsenal and England squads, even Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel referenced how Eze was "coming back to his true shape and form" in training during the last international break - hinting that he has not been at his best so far this season. The reason Eze's performance is coming under scrutiny now is that the Gunners failed to land a new world-class attacker in the transfer window, despite being heavily interested in Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge in the summer and the Greek international had been the first-choice winger for Mikel Arteta this season, until he picked up a hamstring injury on international duty. Tzolis being out of action presented an opportunity for Eze to break into the squad again, scoring in a start on the left wing against Lille in the Champions League - but he was unable to follow that up against Forest. "I think that finding his role and position has been challenging," former Arsenal and England defender Matt Upson said. "And when you come to a club with the stature and the quality of Arsenal, if you're not showing that you're nailing down a certain role, I think it's very very hard to maintain a position in the team. "He's now filling in a bit on the left-hand side, which I don't think particularly suits him, but he's had to. "He doesn't play like a wide player for me and I think just knowing your role when you're at a club like Arsenal is so important." Eze scored some spectacular goals in big moments when he was at Crystal Palace, including the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City in 2025. "I think all the high-end stuff that we saw from him which made him a player that Arsenal we're going to go and target, that's the icing on the cake," said Upson. "So when the foundation's not quite there in terms of the situations you're getting in and how quickly you get into the ball, where you are on the field, where your headspace is at about what your role is and what you've got to do, then it's hard to produce those moments that make you the top player." Eze shone from the left at Palace, but in his final two seasons in south London he operated from a narrower number 10 role. But with captain Martin Odegaard the first choice in that position at Arsenal and Arteta unlikely to start the pair regularly with the options he has available in the middle of the pitch, it means Eze's route into the team is limited. Upson believes Eze must understand what is wanted from him. "It's almost a process for him if he wants to kind of grow into starting more matches for Arsenal," he said. "I think figuring that out is really important and having that level of intensity, which I think has been an adjustment for him from where he's come from - into a big club, with a manager that they don't come more intense than really." There's an argument that Eze does not get a run in one position or a run of games to build momentum, but the stats show he gets a substantial amount of game time. The Gunners played 63 matches last season and Eze started 36 of those (57%). Since his debut for Arsenal in August 2025 he has started in 56% of games (40 out of 72). His 11 goals in 61 appearances have been scored across just eight games. And he has delivered some huge moments in an Arsenal shirt, scoring five against rivals Tottenham Hotspur across two Premier League matches, with a hat-trick in the home fixture - while he also scored winners against Newcastle and former club Crystal Palace as the Gunners won the title. Encouragingly for Eze and Arsenal fans, there are signs it still could click this season. Although the sample size is a lot smaller, Eze's numbers per 90 minutes this season are higher in assists (0.25), goals and assists combined (0.50), shots on target (0.74), dribbles completed (1.98) and touches in the opposition box (5.95) than the previous campaign. "We have some really good players and the expectations are so big for all of them," Arteta said. "And we want more from everybody. That is the mindset. "That is what is going to make us better individually and as a team. I hope that continues as it is going to push all of us to reach different kind of levels and develop." Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday (20:00 BST). Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan views Ask about Arsenal - what do you want to know?

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Eighth-tier Stafford Rangers will host League Two side Grimsby Town in the FA Cup first round after thumping National League strugglers Gateshead 5-0 in Tuesday's fourth qualifying round replay. The Heed, who are bottom of the fifth tier, had been held to a 1-1 draw in Saturday's initial tie and were humbled by goals from Scott Bakkor, Darryl Mason, Mitch Clarke, Joe Dunne and Jack Birch. Caretaker Gateshead boss Ben Clark apologised to his club's fans and said his side were "miles off it" after the defeat at Marston Road. Stafford are one of two eighth-tier sides remaining in the competition, along with fellow Northern Premier League club AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who will visit Burton Albion in round one. It is the first time in 20 years that Stafford have reached the first round proper. Elsewhere, seventh-tier Alvechurch hammered sixth-tier Spalding 4-0 to set up a trip to League One high-fliers Plymouth Argyle. Another seventh-tier side, London-based Cray Wanderers, earned a tie at home to the highest-placed team in round one, League One leaders Stockport County, by beating Bedford Town on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Worcester City, also from the seventh tier in the Southern Premier Central, will visit Colchester United of League Two after edging out Chorley 1-0. However, ninth-tier Tadley Calleva, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, were unable to pull off a shock as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat by Aldershot in their replay and it is the Shots who will visit third-tier Barnsley. Harrogate Town needed extra time to beat seventh-tier Bury 3-1 and Macclesfield, who stunned holders Crystal Palace in the third round last season, secured their place in round one with a 3-0 victory at Anstey Nomads. The Silkmen will now travel to League One side Mansfield in the first round. This was the final round of the competition where ties can go to replays, with all further rounds decided on the day. All first round ties will be played on 6-9 November. Four sides reach round one of FA Cup for first time Leicester to visit Oxford City in FA Cup first round Stafford Rangers awaiting another bumper Cup crowd Cray Wanderers 2-2 Bedford Town (Cray won 4-3 on penalties) Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Crawley Town have sacked head coach Colin Kazim-Richards with the side five points adrift at the bottom of League Two. Kazim-Richards was dismissed after his side's 3-2 loss at home to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night. It was their seventh loss in 10 league games - the Red Devils have won just once in League Two all season. Kazim-Richards' assistant Julian Gray has also been relieved of his duties while director of football Erdem Konyar will leave the club too. "The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Colin and Julian, who joined during a challenging period and played an important role in securing the club's EFL status at the end of last season," a club statement read., external "We would also like to thank Erdem for his hard work and commitment since returning to the club last year. "All three depart with the best wishes of everyone at Crawley Town, and we wish them every success in their future endeavours." Shrewsbury pile pressure on Crawley's Kazim-Richards Crawley name Kazim-Richards as new head coach Kazim-Richards signs new deal with Crawley The start is Crawley's worst since they won promotion to the English Football League in 2011. Having won the League Two play-offs in 2024, Crawley were relegated back to the fourth tier a year later. Last season, the club finished just one point and one place above the League Two relegation zone as Kazim-Richards guided them to survival via two wins and three draws in their final seven matches after his appointment in March. But this season's struggles have led fans to call for a change, with the club announcing his departure just after midnight following their loss at home to Shrewsbury. Asked by BBC Radio Surrey if he could turn his side's fortunes around after the loss, Kazim-Richards said: "I feel I can. If I'm given the time is another question. It's not a question I can answer for you. "I think we need a little bit more experience, a little bit in terms of game management and things like that. But we'll see what happens, right?" Over the summer, 16 players arrived at Crawley either permanently or on loan while another 16 departed. Kazim-Richards felt he did not have enough experience in his side, which has conceded 20 goals in 10 league games. "With the players we've got I still think I could have got the best out of them and I can get the best out of them," he added. "I just think there's certain areas they need help in and players need other players to be able to give them that nous, that experience, while they're playing with them as well. "I think I've given nine league debuts. That's not an excuse and it's not me getting at them - you can only get experience by doing it, but at certain times they need help with that for sure." Robin Grey, sports editor, BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex This has felt inevitable for the last few weeks, it's been Crawley's worst start to an EFL season in their history. Colin Kazim-Richards achieved his goal of keeping the club up in difficult circumstances at the end of last season. But this summer's recruitment felt a scattergun approach, with nine senior debuts handed so far - that stat alone shows this squad lacks experience. The departure of Erdem Konyar as director of football shows there is clearly recognition from [owner] Raphael Khalili the recruitment hasn't been good enough. He took a gamble on the inexperienced Kazim-Richards, now he must go for someone with league experience. The club's position seems desperate even at this stage of the season. Pre-match, post-match and topical Reds content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about Crawley Town

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An animal rights group is urging Crystal Palace to retire their live bald eagle mascot with immediate effect, saying a "bright stadium filled with boisterous fans is no place for animals". In a letter to Palace CEO Sharon Lacey, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) asked the Premier League club to stop using the eagle, named Phoenix, in pre-match displays at Selhurst Park and to never use live animal mascots again. The London team, known as the Eagles since 1973, introduced a live eagle to matchdays in 2010. Kayla, who died in 2020, performed the role for 10 years and her replacement Phoenix made her debut against West Ham in August 2024. Peta says birds can become "frightened, disoriented and panicked" in stadium environments, putting themselves and fans at risk. Using them for displays and entertainment also denies the animals, who "would naturally avoid humans", the opportunity to engage with their natural instincts, leading to "frustration and stress", the group said. The organisation has "detailed records" of incidents involving live mascots, including birds, being injured or killed in collisions with walls, windows and match balls, as well as a falcon embedding its talons in a spectator's scalp after landing on his head. In 2017, a Charlton Athletic fan was found guilty of trying to punch Kayla the eagle at a League Cup fixture two years earlier. "Many professional sports teams use only willing humans as mascots and the club already has Pete the Eagle to excite the crowd," said Dr Carys Bennett, Peta's senior corporate projects manager. "Bald eagles are widely recognised as symbols of freedom. They deserve better than to be used as an entertainment prop to amuse the Eagles' fans." Latest Crystal Palace news, analysis and fan views Ask about Crystal Palace - what do you want to know?