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1 CommentsThe new season promises to be one of both little steps and giant steps for David Brooks.The 29-year-old midfielder will come up against childhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo with Wales in the Nations League before making his European debut with Bournemouth in the Europa League.At the same time, and more importantly, Brooks and wife Flora are getting ready for their daughter Lottie's first steps."She's crawling now and standing up. I'm getting my steps in when I get home," Brooks said to Feast of Football."Things have changed from the first couple of months after she was born where you're frightened to do anything."I'm enjoying it a lot now, she's got a personality so when you go home there's obviously a lot of enjoyment to be had."Bellamy link puts Wales in hard position - BlakeFive years ago, he was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma.He then endured chemotherapy, lost more than a stone in weight and found himself so weakened by the treatment that he struggled to get out of bed.Seven months later, in May 2022, Brooks declared himself cancer-free before he made his long-awaited return to action in March 2023."It feels like a different lifetime ago," Brooks recalls."Over the past couple of years, I've kind of got back to a place prior to that. So I feel good, and sometimes I forget that it even happened."Brooks made his Wales debut in 2017 and could well win his 50th cap by the end of the year as Wales play home and away games against Portugal, Denmark and Norway in Nations League A.Craig Bellamy's side start their campaign against Portugal in Lisbon on 24 September, and it is a chance for the boyhood Manchester United fan to play against one of his idols - Ronaldo."I had one or two of his tops," Brooks said."Being on that stage with potentially one of the best players of probably our lifetime - it's just crazy."It's a massive accomplishment for me personally to make it back to that point."Going to play against the best teams in Europe is obviously a massive bonus for Wales, and we want to showcase our talents and prove to the world that we're not just there to make up the numbers, that we can compete."Wales are still getting over the bitter disappointment of failing to qualify for the summer's World Cup, while head coach Craig Bellamy came close to moving to Burnley.And while some former players believe Bellamy has "burnt some bridges", Brooks says they are "getting back to work," with Euro 2028 their next target."We've performed well under him over the past couple of years," said Brooks."Everyone has personal decisions that they're going to make."Bournemouth have qualified for European football for the first time in their history after finishing sixth in the Premier League, although the man who masterminded that success is now gone.Head coach Andoni Iraola left and has subsequently taken over at Liverpool, with Marco Rose replacing him at Vitality Stadium."When Andoni told us he was leaving we were a little bit gutted because we did really well last season," Brooks said."But changes happen. We wish him all the best at his new club."Once this gaffer [Rose] came in he was really friendly. He just wanted to get to know everyone and set out what he wants done."We've all really enjoyed training and we did well in pre-season, so we're looking forward to getting the season started to show everyone what we can do."Stats that show Premier League is getting more competitiveAt a capacity of around 11,300, the club's stadium is the smallest in the Premier League by more than 6,000 seats.But after securing the necessary Uefa licence to host matches, Brooks cannot wait to play European football for the first time in his career."I've tasted going abroad with Wales, but I've never done it at club level," he said."I'm really looking forward to those European nights and and how special they can be."We're all looking forward to the draw and seeing where we're going to end up."Bournemouth will kick off their Premier League season at Manchester City on Sunday.One player who should be involved for last season's runners-up is Antoine Semenyo, who is still in Bournemouth's WhatsApp coffee group chat after leaving the Cherries in January."We haven't thrown him out yet. To be fair, half of us in that group chat aren't even at Bournemouth anymore. So we might have to make a new one," said Brooks."Hopefully I'm not tracking him back too much. He's a fantastic player and we still keep in touch."I'm hoping he doesn't score against us, and we all wish he has another good season - after the first game of course."Bournemouth have never won at Manchester City in the Premier League, but three points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday would be another new experience for Brooks in a season full of firsts.

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The rules are simple. Each day, there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.After each wrong guess, you unlock a new clue. The fewer clues you need to get the right answer, the more points you score.Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.So take part and return for more tomorrow.Today's player and clues set by BBC Sport's Joe Rindl.After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.What information do we collect from this quiz?Get in touchSend us your quiz ideasContact formContact formRelated topicsFootballPremier LeaguePlay more quizzesAll our Premier League Who Am I? quizzes in one placeAll our Five in Five football quizzes in one placeCan you name the players with most Premier League appearances?Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps?Can you name every team to have played in the WSL?

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Arsenal ended a 22-year wait to be Premier League champions last season, but can they successfully defend their crown?That is the next target for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, whose side finished seven points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City last time out.So, who will challenge them in 2026-27? We asked 26 BBC TV and radio pundits to pick their top four, with explanations for their selections.We've also asked AI's opinion, and included what Opta's 'supercomputer' came up with too.The AI prediction was generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool to "predict the Premier League table for the 2026-27 season".Opta's 'supercomputer' is actually a complex algorithm that uses a model based on betting market odds and the sports analytics company's own 'power rankings', which are calculated using past results.It has simulated the outcome of all 380 Premier League games 10,000 times and came to the same conclusion as AI, and three of the pundits.Disagree with our expert humans or think you know more than any machine? You can make your own top-four prediction, and forecast the rest of the Premier League table, at the bottom of this page.These predictions were made on the basis of how each squad shaped up on Thursday, 20 August, with 13 days to go until the transfer window shuts at 23:00 BST on Tuesday, 1 September.Last season, only four teams featured in the forecasted top-four positions, but this time there are seven named, in 15 different combinations.Overall expected ranking, using all 28 predictions is:Calculated using a system of four points for a first place, three points for second, two points for third and one point for fourth.Last year, only 17% of BBC predictors (6/35) thought they would be champions. This year, 89% (25/28) think they will successfully defend their crown and no-one thinks they will finish lower than second.Theo Walcott: They have got the biggest advantage of all - continuity. Mikel Arteta is still there, they are coming off an 85-point title-winning season and they have strengthened rather than rebuilt.The Bruno Guimaraes signing is massive, to add to a midfield that already boasts Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. Their defence was also ridiculously good last season, although William Saliba's progress after his World Cup injury is something to watch closely.Thomas Hitzlsperger: Arsenal are the team to beat. Unlike a lot of their rivals, they kept their manager and, every season, the team plays together and gets additions.I still don't expect Arsenal to play nice football in the sense that I am excited to watch them play. I just think they really know what it takes to win, and they are going to do the same again this season.Danny Murphy: It is always hard to call it now, especially when it feels like all the top teams have a lot of business to do before the transfer window shuts, but I can't look past Arsenal as champions.The main reasons being the momentum and confidence they will have from winning the Premier League already, but also the consistency of having the same manager and same players and just sprinkling even more quality on top.They have not lost any of their best players and they have got a group who know what the manager expects from them and are completely on board with it. Arteta didn't need to spend half the pre-season drilling them with his methods like a new manager has to.Joe Hart: It's really important how Arsenal handle the scrutiny of being champions, but they will totally understand that and what is coming their way.Leon Osman: They look like a team that are ready to have a run at winning three titles in the next four or five years.Teams like United in the early Premier League days, Arsenal under Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho's Chelsea give me the vibes this team does. And the way they've strengthened brilliantly states the league isn't their only objective this season.Matt Upson: They are my favourites again but I don't see them running away with it. Staying at the top is always harder - ask any manager - and you also have to remember there were spells when they looked like they had run out of steam last season and were grinding out results a lot of the time.The biggest challenge for Arteta this year will be picking the right team, or rather resting the right players, for the right games and keeping players engaged and ready to step in when needed.Chris Sutton: He will have to try to keep everyone happy but if you are fighting on all fronts, that's possible. They do look like they are at a different level, squad-wise.They won the title in a bit of a different way so it will be interesting to see how they go about it this time, but it does look on the face of it like they can beat you up, or just play through you.Nedum Onuoha: Watching them against City [in the Community Shield], you knew how they were going to play and so did their players. Arsenal have not just spent pre-season getting ready for this, they have spent the past five or six years building.Glenn Murray: They have had continuity for several seasons now, plus winning the league has given the group a wave of belief that will see them win another title.Michael Brown: It's theirs to lose. Arsenal should win the league because of the transition at other clubs, but also because of the quality and rhythm they have already got.Rachel Brown-Finnis: Great squad depth and additions this summer. Arteta's army marches on!Troy Deeney: They are the best team and they going to win the league by a comfortable margin. My only question is can they win the Champions League too? I still think they need an extra player in on that left-hand side to get that done.Sue Smith: The way Bruno played in the Community Shield, it felt like he's fitted in already. There are probably still players that they will look to bring in, but they have got a couple of great options in every position now.Ellen White: Bruno gives them something different again because he is so tenacious, an absolute warrior. Their midfield is formidable now, with Rice, Bruno, and Martin Odegaard to go in there, and then you have got Miles Lewis-Skelly too, almost saying "I'm still here" after the talk of him leaving. It's a great problem for Arteta to have.I don't know if they will get another number nine this summer or not, but I still think they have more potential to be champions than any other team.Tony Pulis: They are already strong enough defensively and they can score goals from everywhere. If they get the centre-forward they are looking for, they are going to be better than they were last year.Shay Given: They might miss out on the title unless they sign a top striker in the next couple of weeks to help with the goal situation.Paul Robinson: If Victor Osimhen comes in from Galatasaray, and they get Villa defender Ezri Konsa too, then it's a different conversation. But they are not the only team still trying to get deals done.City were the BBC predictors' pre-season favourites in eight out of their 10 seasons under Pep Guardiola from 2016 onwards, and were champions six times during that period. But before their first campaign with Enzo Maresca in charge, only 12% (3/26) think they will reclaim the title.Thomas Hitzlsperger: City are the only English club to have been ever-present in the Champions League since 2011, which is an achievement in itself when you think about how competitive the top of the Premier League is.With Pep Guardiola, I would always say they would finish in the top four, but now he has gone, and it is always so tough to follow someone like that. Maybe this is the year that City finally drop out.Shay Given: I don't think Pep leaving means we will see what happened when Sir Alex Ferguson left United. Instead, I am expecting the opposite, because of a fresh voice in the dressing room. These players have not won the Premier League in two years so they will be hungry for success. City will be number one.Troy Deeney: My prediction for City is not based off what happened in the Community Shield, it is based off what I saw with Enzo Maresca at Leicester and Chelsea.I am not sure he has got that ability to really demand what he wants. Pep has taught all these coaches, but only Arteta has tweaked it and kind of said "I am going to use all the principles, but this is my way of doing it".I don't want to be disrespectful, but Maresca is a BTEC version of Pep Guardiola. He plays a certain way and has no other way of dealing with it. You saw on Sunday how bad City were defensively but all of his teams are wide open, and he is still doing that now, even with better players - top-class players.Joe Hart: City were clunky against Arsenal in Cardiff but I don't think they will over-react to one poor game. I think they still believe they've got the team and the quality to challenge.Theo Walcott: Maresca replacing Pep is obviously a gigantic question mark, but City's squad is still absurd. The problem is the transition from Pep to Maresca, plus losing Rodri and others.Nedum Onuoha: City have still got a bunch of players who have won the title before, but they have got a new manager and have also lost some of their more senior players.Anita Asante: Maresca's playing style is not that dissimilar to Pep's so there is not this massive change in terms of the team's identity. They have still got some fantastic forward players too, but Rodri leaving is massive because we know how pivotal he has been at the club.It's the same with losing John Stones and Bernardo Silva too. They were leaders in the dressing room and they will be missed there, as well as on the pitch.Leon Osman: That signals problems for me, even with Erling Haaland there.Pat Nevin: Midfield, management, you name it - City are rebuilding. I will be surprised if they win it, but they will still be up there.Rachel Brown-Finnis: They still have some big guns, but will be too inconsistent to win the league.Matt Upson: Even if Maresca struggles a bit at first, you look at the quality and experience in their squad and the goals in their team, and they still have enough to stay up there. I can't leave them out. City had that huge drop-off under Pep in the season before last, when they were terrible for a few months, and they still made the top four.Danny Murphy: I look at the firepower City have got and, whoever the manager is and whoever they are playing against, they are still going to be able to score a lot of goals and win a lot of games. I would still have them as being Arsenal's nearest rivals.Chris Waddle: The City midfield of Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan that won so much has all gone now, and they are replacing them with people where the expectation is they will grow into that City shirt.They are trying to build a new team, and it might take them a year or two. They will still be in the top four, but the question is how well - and how quickly - they gel together.Steph Houghton: Arsenal will be tough to beat but I still think City will push them, as soon as their players get back into a bit of form and find some rhythm.This is the next era for City, with a new manager and new players, and I think the likes of Elliot Anderson will come good. Then there is Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, plus Haaland of course. It's still a world-class squad.Sue Smith: They are going to add to their midfield so it's hard to predict what they will do until the end of the transfer window and we know who they've got, but Anderson will be a success there.There is a lot of pressure and expectation on his shoulders but he is a brilliant player and it just seems like he'll be able to cope with that.Ellen White: City want Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, but I am not sure he is the right player for them. And, whoever comes in, it is going to take time to find the right balance in midfield.Chris Sutton: There's no doubt the pressure will be on Maresca from the off, and replacing Rodri is nigh on impossible. They are in for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is a talented player but he is 18, and would be a massive gamble.Michael Brown: City are in transition, and a lot depends on who they bring in. But if they have a really impressive end to the window, it changes everything.Last season, 22 of 35 BBC predictors had them down as champions and only three thought they would finish lower than second. This time, only four of 28 have them finishing higher than third.Danny Murphy: Liverpool might need a bit more time before they are challenging for the title again. I am also not sure whether they think they have already got enough to replace Mohamed Salah by bringing in Victor Munoz and maybe giving Rio Ngumoha a bigger role, or whether they are really going to go for Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola, or someone like him, in the next few days.Michael Brown: They look light to me as I write this. Who are they going to get to improve them?Lindsay Johnson: Liverpool and Chelsea are in the same boat because both new managers will take time to settle in, and Liverpool probably don't have a big enough squad to last a full season playing the football Andoni Iraola plays.Theo Walcott: Liverpool are probably the hardest team to call. Iraola is an excellent manager and if Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have big seasons, they could absolutely push Arsenal for the title.Thomas Hitzlsperger: I've gone for them to finish second because I really like the way Iraola's teams play. Also, I am kind of biased here because I am really hoping Wirtz has the season now that people expected him to have last year.Paul Robinson: Wirtz looked a different player towards the end of last season and they also have a manager who has proved himself, and is Premier League ready.Sue Smith: I know it's a completely different level and expectation managing Liverpool and it's going be interesting to see how he does in that sort of step up, but all you can judge Iraola on is what he's done at Bournemouth and I think he's been brilliant. Defensively is my concern, though. Especially the right-hand side.Anita Asante: It will take time for Liverpool to adapt to Iraola's style, which is closer to Jurgen Klopp's. I am excited, because that means high-tempo, high pressing and playing on the front foot, but that's why it's even more important they sign reinforcements to strengthen their defence.Glenn Murray: They have got all the forward players you could dream of, but Iraola has a big headache when it comes to finding the right balance between attack and defence.Troy Deeney: They are decently balanced although I still think they need an additional left-back and an extra midfielder. Ultimately they have got one X-factor - Isak. He is a top goalscorer who has got a point to prove because everyone has written him off.Rachel Brown-Finnis: Iraola is Liverpool's most exciting signing in recent years. Liverpool's football DNA will be back.Leon Osman: Liverpool are a work in progress. Older players leaving, new managers in. Some good signings at the back but will Iraola get them firing straight away? I'm not sure.Last season, Chelsea figured in all 35 top-four predictions, and finished 10th. This time, they are in 21/28 predictions, with five people backing them to be runners-up.Pat Nevin: As usual my top four is only a guess but it's the triumvirate of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers up front that makes me back Chelsea to be in there more than anything else. They are a group who are exciting, and brilliant as well. It will be fascinating to see how they get on.Sue Smith: They have been using Palmer and Rogers as two number 10s in pre-season, which is frightening. They are potentially going to be unplayable.Michael Brown: They have got all this talent but as usual it is still about them finding the right balance. They might surprise people and be solid.Joe Hart: Their squad is well built, and they don't have European football.Nedum Onuoha: It's a ridiculous anomaly for teams like Chelsea or Spurs to not be in Europe, and being able to focus on domestic football while they have both been spending such big money.Matt Upson: There seems to have been a big change in their transfer policy and the balance of their squad looks a lot better for them to be able to win trophies.Troy Deeney: No Europe means more time on the training pitch, so Xabi Alonso will be in a great position to figure out what works best. I wouldn't be surprised if they finished second, because I can't split them, City or Liverpool.Glenn Murray: Alonso is coming in with a point to prove after what happened at Real Madrid, and he has made some shrewd signings, including some experienced players who can help their young team-mates harness their enormous potential.Chris Waddle: Having Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson in the team will be like having a coach on the pitch. Yes they are 35 and 36 now, but I played in the Premier League until I was 36 and I didn't really find it hard. You still have your brain and, even if your legs have gone a bit, you can have legs around you.Step Houghton: That experience is what people were saying they were missing last season.Tony Pulis: I really rate Alonso and bringing in Welbeck and Henderson was almost an act of genius because if, you look from the outside, the problems at that club are because there has been no-one in the dressing room to pull up the young players when that has been needed.Thomas Hitzlsperger: Chelsea are probably the team I am most optimistic about when I look at the manager.Anita Asante: Alonso will give them structure and bring an identity to the team but he won't restrict the players. I feel like he will give them the freedom to express themselves.Theo Walcott: Alonso gives them the stability they have been missing. If Palmer stays fit, I can see them being one of the most consistent teams outside the title race.Last season, none of the BBC predictors backed United to make the top four, and they finished third. This time they figure in 14/28 predictions, although only one of them has them improving on last year's position.Thomas Hitzlsperger: United can stabilise themselves this season.Michael Brown: The legs of the squad is still a concern, and the Champions League could make them unstable.Anita Asante: The mood at the club just feels different, compared to how dysfunctional they were under Ruben Amorim or Erik ten Hag.Ellen White: Unlike last season, Carrick has got Champions League football to contend with. I like Youri Tielemans as a signing, but they need more in... and is Marcus Rashford staying?Paul Robinson: The best thing Carrick can do with Rashford is put his arm around him and try to get the best out of him. It's difficult enough anyway to find another player at his level, but especially when you have already got him and don't have to pay anything for him.Steph Houghton: Rashford staying would be a massive bonus because we know his quality and he has a different skillset to a lot of the forwards they have already.Chris Waddle: They have Rashford back at the moment but is his heart in it? Or his head? I think he's had a taste of being abroad and I'd be surprised if he doesn't want to try it again.Matthew Upson: In the time Carrick was there, from January onwards, United showed they are definitely top-four material, and they are the ones I found it hardest to leave out.Tony Pulis: I still don't think United, over a season, will do it with what they have got at the moment. They might still get three or four in, and that changes the picture but, right now, they are short. Arsenal and City are miles ahead of them.Troy Deeney: I've got United down as fifth. A solid year, but nothing special. I don't think they have got a great squad so they will be out of the Champions League by February and then they can concentrate on the league.Lindsay Johnson: United's defence needs work but they may sneak in fourth.Lindsay Johnson: I've put Villa in there again because of Unai Emery and his experience.Leon Osman: Villa have been brilliant the past few seasons but they keep letting their best players go. How long can Emery keep over-performing with what he's given?Thomas Hitzlsperger: Villa being in the Champions League means they are probably going to be in the top six rather than the top four, but they are just so good under Emery.Glenn Murray: Tottenham are going to be much better than last season. They have made some great signings and James Maddison is back fit. My only worry for them is that they still need a goalscorer.Leon Osman: Their signings, plus injury returns should see Tottenham competing where they expect to - but can you ever trust Spurs?Paul Robinson: Spurs had a shocker last season but this time they are on the fringes of the Champions League places, without a doubt. When Roberto de Zerbi took over last season, he wanted guarantees in the transfer market this summer - and judging by the players he has brought in, he got them.Newcastle are miles off it, though. I cover the Saudi Pro League and Matthias Jaissle is a good coach who plays attractive football - but he needs the players and at the moment they don't have them.Troy Deeney: After finishing 17th two seasons in a row, expecting Spurs to be in the top five is a big ask. It is Nottingham Forest who are my surprise package this year - I know people will say they have lost Anderson but, the way they play, I don't think he is a massive loss. The owner is ambitious and so is Oliver Glasner, so it is a marriage made in heaven.Nedum Onuoha: I am going with Leeds and Sunderland to surprise people. A few people are expecting Sunderland to struggle because they are in Europe but the owners are a bit more ambitious than people realise. They won't necessarily be fifth in November, but I don't think they will be down the bottom either.The same for Leeds. Staying up last year was huge, and now they are thinking about part two of who they want to be, and part two features things like signing a goalkeeper for £40m.Steph Houghton: Sunderland are playing more games this season and have not been able to boost their squad yet, but hopefully that will happen next week. But they were seventh last time and will be there or thereabouts again, especially if they can sustain their home form.Tony Pulis: I don't see Villa making it although they are a good side. I don't think any of the teams like Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford - who were all in the top 10 last season - will be anywhere near the relegation places, but it is very difficult for them to get into the top four.Danny Murphy: I am not talking about the top four, but Ipswich might surprise a few people and, out of the the ones who have come up, be the team who don't struggle.They have spent quite a lot, and brought in about a dozen players, like Sunderland did last year, and again they have brought in a similar type of player too, with a lot of athleticism.Their manager Gary O'Neil did all right at Wolves and Bournemouth and he will be as well-equipped as ever to know which games to go after, and when to dig in.

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A look at six of the best and worst of the new season’s strips gives us Pro Evo chic, throwbacks done right, and how – and how not – to use stripesThe Premier League season kicks off on Friday and league debutants such as Christos Tzolis and Victor Muñoz, along with masses of fans, will be pulling on their teams’ shiny new strips. There were some lovely efforts at the World Cup (not least by the co-hosts the USA), and others more tedious than a 0-0 draw. It’s a mixed bag once again.Manchester City have gone with an ombre design, which feels – apposite for a gradient fading of colour – exhausted as a look in 2026. In the most surprising but successful collaboration since Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith,Sunderland have teamed up with Elvis Presley, or his estate, anyway, for a pink away shirt that nods to the supporters’ longstanding unofficial anthem Can’t Help Falling in Love.Here’s a selection of the best, worst and most interesting (for reasons good and bad) that sportswear giants – and Oxen Sports – have in store for us this year.Chelsea’s new home kit may look like the sort of thing a team called London Blue would wear in one of the early editions of Pro Evo, but it is pretty neat. I cannot stress this enough: the lack of a corporate logo will always make a shirt look better (Sunderland fans also got to enjoy this for pre-season, but alas the Black Cats have a sponsor incoming).The Blues have rolled out a number of stars to preview their 2026-27 look, first among them Madonna, a longtime supporter often spotted at Stamford Bridge, which is why Cole Palmer and João Pedro made a surprise appearance in her recent video. The 90s polo‑shirt collar is a popular aesthetic this season. The home and away kits – in a sleek black – heavily feature Ted Drake’s famous lion emblem.As a side note, Madonna’s twin daughters play for Tottenham, which I mention only because Spurs have, once again, produced the world’s most insufferably dull kit, presumably designed by Kazimir Malevich.Surely the kit of the season. An entirely unsubtle homage to the 1989-91 home jersey (and as far as sponsors’ logos go, Candy’s was one of the least hideous), the home shirt is a blast of fun at a time when football – Infantino, VAR, you name it – is increasingly dispiriting. Then again, I am not sure even a top this jazzy can offset the hideousness of Jeff Bezos acquiring a stake in the club.The white away kit is also a handsome affair, proving that white strips do not have to be boring; again, commiserations to Spurs fans. While the home fit is giving disco, the away is a more demure meet-the-parents type, with a preppy v-shaped neck. I do still miss the old YNWA crest, though.The Hull accent is one of Timothée Chalamet’s favourites and the actor and keen football fan would no doubt be charmed by the promoted side’s new-but-old look. This kit feels like it belongs on a glorious swamp of a pitch in the mid-to-late 20th century, complete with dribbled juice stains from half-time oranges.The official reference point is the Tigers’ late 70s aesthetic: wide black and amber stripes and a white collar and trim, the shirt features the HCAFC logo for the first time in 47 years, invoking the spirit of Billy Bremner. It is definitely understated, given how many riotous bangers the club has had in the past (see the amazing tiger-striped 1992 shirt, among others).Away from the MKM Stadium, Hull will turn out in a much more meh monotone kit with amber accents, but still, sterling work in the main from the city’s homegrown sportswear brand, Oxen Sports.It is extremely low-hanging fruit to compare this shirt to a barcode, but, seriously, look at it. It’s a barcode. It’s also dizzying to the eye. I’m generally a fan of risk-taking kits – bring on the chaos – but this is, well … the PR blurb describes the pattern as “disrupted”.Given this design belongs only in the vicinity of a self-service checkout, it is truly an unexpected item in the playing area. Then Adidas chucked some pale blue stripes on to the shoulders just in case fans weren’t distressed enough.The away strip is an improvement; a refined navy, it has a nice alternative badge of the city’s titular castle and a magpie. Newcastle aren’t the only club that have done too much with their home strip: Macron has produced a striking sash design for Crystal Palace, but, in the words of Hannah Gadsby describing the Pride flag: bit busy.Among what is always extremely strong competition, Ipswich secure the trophy for the most eye-rolling kit “inspiration”. The motif on the round-necked, blue home shirt is, according to Umbro’s press release, a tribute to Portman Road’s floodlights. This is not the only floodlight-inspired design; Nike paid homage to VfL Bochum’s floodlights in 2020-21 – but at least their stadium’s massive pylons are a genuine symbol of the city. As it happens, the weaved pattern is lovely, but the diamonds recall those mood-indicating crystals above the heads of characters in The Sims (officially plumbobs) more than the stadium floodlights.The change kit is cream with thin red and black horizontal stripes and black side panels. Floodlights 100% snubbed.I am haunted by the Adidas stripes on the red home shirt being white, while the ones on the white shorts are black. This would be fine, except the designers have made the stripes so thick – they seem to spread larger each season, like a kid who can no longer be arsed to stay colouring inside the lines – that this looks like one half each of two separate kits; it’s 24 hours before laundry day at the Theatre of Dreams.The shirt itself is beautiful; the perfect shade of red, a retro collar not too dissimilar to Chelsea’s, but the black touches are not strong enough to cohere with the massive oil streaks on the shorts. The away kit, meanwhile, nods to the 80s, in suave cobalt blue with red touches and trefoil logo. A final positive: it looks like just the one kit.

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Defender completes transfer for reported fee of 20m euros ($33m)Ten Australian players have now made post-World Cup movesYoung Socceroo Alessandro Circati has become the latest Australian international to be snapped up in a money-spinning European transfer, as he hailed his move from Parma to Benfica as a “privilege”.Following Lucas Herrington’s move from the MLS to become Australia’s only Premier League player at Hull City, and Nestory Irankunda joining Benfica’s great rivals Sporting from Watford, Circati has been signed by the Portuguese giants for a reported 20m euros ($33m).With Nishan Velupillay’s move from Melbourne Victory to third-tier German club FC Ingolstadt 04 also completed on Wednesday, World Cup Socceroos are clearly the flavour of the month, with other reports linking top clubs with Norwich striker Mohamed Touré.Circati’s move from the Italian top-flight Serie A to Portugal’s Primeira Liga has been in the pipeline for a while, with the 22-year-old having signed a five-year contract through to 2031 with the Lisbon-based double European champions.“To all the Benfiquistas, yeah, I can’t wait to play in front of you all, and win as many titles as we can. It’s a huge honour. It’s a privilege. I’m over the moon, couldn’t be happier,” said Circati in a message to the fans on the club’s website.“I think it’s a reward for many years of hard work. I’m so happy to be here, and I can’t wait to play for Benfica.”The Italian-born Circati will play at the world-famous Estadio da Luz – the Stadium of Light – and sounded just a little awe-struck as he added: “I can’t wait. I’ve just had a look at it now. It’s amazing, and I’m very, very excited to play.”Asked about adapting quickly to his move, he said: “I think I’m very adaptable. I think you can play me in either role of the centre-back, in a back-four or a back-three.“I’m sure it’s going to take a bit of time to adapt, but I’ll try and make it as fast as possible with the help of my teammates and staff. But I’m sure I’ll fit in just fine.”Circati came through the ranks at Perth Glory and, after completing a trial with Parma in 2021, returned to his Italian roots to join them, has made swift and impressive progress in Serie A, last year being a standout for the northern club as they finished 12th.Circati also played in all four of the Socceroos’ World Cup matches, with 17 international appearances now under his belt and one goal to his name.Parma paid tribute to his time at the club in a statement. “Alessandro made a total of 96 appearances for Parma, including 37 in Serie A, scoring two goals and playing a key role not only in the club’s 2023/24 Serie B title triumph but also in securing survival over the following two seasons,” a statement read.“President Kyle J Krause, CEO Federico Cherubini and the entire Parma Calcio family would like to sincerely thank Alessandro and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.”

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BBC Scotland's chief sports writerPublished6 hours agoCamilo Duran's second goal of a breathless night in Glasgow told you much about the direction of travel in this Champions League play-off - at 3-0, Celtic, barring the collapse to end all collapses, are heading back to the big league.It also told you plenty about what they hope to do when they get there, the type of stuff they want to play, the ambition, the class, the ruthlessness.Taking your pick of Celtic's three terrific goals is not an easy feat, but that third one is worth some examination.From slow start to emphatic finish it lasted just short of 30 seconds, from Viljami Sinisalo in the Celtic goal, out to Colby Donovan at right-back, back to Sinisalo and out to Auston Trusty on the left side of defence.Trusty played a positive ball into midfield and then it started to happen.Benjamin Nygren moved it on swiftly to Duran, who sent it back Nygren, now running free into the LASK penalty box. The visitors had been carved open. Nygren played it back to Duran, who whipped it into the top corner.LASK are no dummies. Austrian champions. Cup winners. Martin O'Neill sang their praises in the aftermath and preached caution ahead of the second leg, as he was obliged to do. And you could see why.Time moves on but O'Neill moves with it as 22-year absence nears endLASK created a bucket of chances in Glasgow on Wednesday. If O'Neill's team had been off it on the night, they'd be in trouble in the tie right now.They did not beat a punchbag. They have a healthy lead, but a knockout blow needs to be landed in a week, as you have to imagine it will be.This was a heavyweight Celtic performance in attack. There is much work to do in defence, for sure, but they can do that work from a position of strength - with the whiff of an extra £40m in their nostrils.Celtic won only 10 of their previous 50 games in European competition, so this one was to be savoured.Duran lit up the night. Nygren scored his fourth goal in four games. Callum McGregor was exceptional in keeping Celtic on the front foot. And Donovan - the teenager in Alistair Johnston's terrain - was hungry and effective."Big, big heart" said O'Neill of his young right-back. "Boundless enthusiasm."When the watching Sebastien Pocognoli picks his first Scotland squad, Donovan should be in it.A year is an eternity in football. Twelve months ago, Brendan Rodgers was the Celtic manager and O'Neill was on an endless talking tour of every parish hall in the land, promoting his latest book and reliving the good old days.It was a time when Celtic crashed out of the Champions League to Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan; 180 minutes plus an extra 30 on top and no Celtic goal. Adam Idah started in the first leg. Shin Yamada made an appearance.In a shoot-out of lamentable quality, Celtic missed three of their five penalties and exited the tournament. Rodgers said something about the state of the pitch. He might have fired a cryptic shot at the board for the lack of investment. It's what he did. He was right, but, you know…Kairat Almaty!On Wednesday, Celtic scored more goals from distance than they did from the penalty spot that night. They rode their luck early on, but then Nygren launched in a fourth goal this season (three assists) following on from 21 last term (10 assists).It's said of Nygren that he doesn't do a whole lot apart from scoring and creating goals. What every manager in the world would give for such a one-dimensional creature.The Swede set Celtic on their way and Duran's double did the rest, a gorgeous volley - on the back of hustling and harassing of the LASK defence - and then that sumptuous team goal that rounded it off.O'Neill said the club has a bargain in Duran and the early signs are that he was an absolute steal at somewhere between £4.5m and £6m, depending on who's talking.The Colombian has intelligence and guile but he's also got the work-ethic that means every bit as much as his other qualities.In the 72nd minute, Celtic were 3-0 ahead, and yet there the 24-year-old was darting back into defence to help out, tracking LASK men until they were hounded out of possession.As much as his goals, his lung-busting effort to put in a shift made him a hero of the night for Celtic people. Honesty counts for a lot.It's easy to say that Celtic learned their lesson from a year ago and splashed the cash. They spent close to £30m and now they're getting their reward. It's never that simple.Spending is something that Celtic have done a lot of over the years. Spending wisely has been their problem. Splurging money on last-minute loans who, surprisingly, turn out to be duds.Forking out multiple millions on recent and not so recent failures - from Balikwisha to Barkas - has been the problem. The decision-making has been awful too often.Duran represents a return to form, a reminder of the days when they found value, mostly under Ange Postecoglou.We're too quick to write off players and we can also be too quick to brand them as stars in waiting. You should tread carefully at all times. With Duran we'll take the plunge - this guy looks special.Beyond offering a physical distraction, Kasper Hogh was quiet against LASK, but he will score plenty in the weeks and months ahead. At £11m, he, too, looks like money very well spent.'One of the best Celtic performances in many years'Listen on SoundsFrom O'Neill, there were wary words about assuming that this tie is over and also an unmissable reminder about the money Celtic have been spending on players."We're on the plus-side in terms of money," he insisted - and he's right. Celtic are in net profit on transfer fees. Four in, yes, but all funded by the sales of Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda with a few million left on top.O'Neill's message was that more needs to be done. Right, again. Now that the Champions League loot may be nigh we will get to see the scale of Celtic's ambition.They need another goalkeeper - not necessarily to replace Sinisalo, but to offer proper competition - another left-back, maybe another centre-back, a top-class defensive midfielder and a more creative central midfielder.They don't need all of this for domestic fights because they've probably already got enough to win the league and a cup or two.That's not the testing ground. It wasn't last year or the year before that or the year before that. For Celtic, with all the advantages they hold over most others in Scotland, the true barometer is Europe.Their supporters don't expect miracles, but wanting a piece of what Bodo/Glimt, Midtjylland, Freiburg, Rayo Vallecano and others had, or still have, is not unreasonable given the spending power that Celtic have.They made a sure-footed step in the right direction on Wednesday. A stadium that has rocked to the sound of protest has now returned to deafening praise. Duran helped get them there and will be pivotal in trying to keep them there.

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BBC Sport correspondentPublished1 hour agoRacist abuse aimed at England footballers on social media was amplified during the World Cup by algorithms designed to maximise engagement and profit, according to new research.The activist group Hope Not Hate analysed more than 300,000 posts on the platform X (formerly Twitter) during the 2026 World Cup and found more than 5,500 explicitly racist posts targeting England players.The organisation argues that X's recommender algorithm pushed toxic content into millions of feeds, because posts which provoke anger and outrage can generate more interaction.Posts generating strong reactions keep people on the platform for longer and can ultimately help drive advertising revenue."X is actually benefiting from this hate," Patrik Hermansson, senior researcher at Hope Not Hate told BBC Sport."It drives engagement on its platform and it effectively uses its algorithm to elevate and show it to more of its users."They show up in the recommendation feed - they are not obscure corners of this website, they are front and centre."That's a choice it doesn't have to make and yet it does".Jude Bellingham was the player most targeted by racist abuse, while Bukayo Saka and Kobbie Mainoo experienced the highest proportion of racism compared with the total number of posts mentioning them.Djed Spence, who has converted to Islam in recent years, was also subjected to a distinct stream of anti-Muslim abuse, Hope Not Hate said.In addition, researchers examined how abuse gathered in the replies to individual high-profile posts on the platform.In its response to the report, an FA spokesperson said "all players have the right to play without being exposed to hateful, discriminatory and distressing content online"."We want service providers to take all of the necessary steps to create a safer life online for everyone," it added.Hope Not Hate said current attempts to tackle online abuse often focused too heavily on what happens after a racist post had already been seen.Players can block users, report messages and platforms can suspend accounts, but Hermansson says those measures do not address the way abusive content is amplified."X doesn't take racism seriously enough," he added. "We've seen it for a number of years now. There is no change or improvement."He said social media companies already had the tools to alter how their algorithms recommended content, particularly during periods when abuse is surging."It's actually a relatively small number of accounts and originating tweets that then get tons of replies," he said."I think it's entirely feasible to stop this, or a vast amount of it."Hope Not Hate said one option would be to downrank posts attracting large volumes of abuse, meaning they were recommended to fewer people.Before the new Premier League season the group called on UK's media regulator Ofcom to use its existing powers under the Online Safety Act more effectively and address predictable spikes in hate.They want Ofcom to outlaw the algorithms fulling abuse and also to designate major sporting events as "high risk".This would require platforms to deploy strict safety-by-design rules, remove abuse proactively and downrank rapidly escalating viral hate through algorithmic adjustments.In a statement to BBC Sport, Ofcom said: "We're pushing tech firms hard to make their services safer, and we'll be holding them to account if they don't."Ofcom also cited a new partnership with police and footballing bodies before the World Cup to tackle online abuse.Hope Not Hate collected posts mentioning England players by name or X handle, and replies to player and team accounts. They also collected posts mentioning Team England and other related keywords. Irrelevant posts were filtered out.The researchers then used artificial intelligence to sort the data, based on human-labelled examples.Different forms of racism were identified, as well as "far-right narratives" and hateful slogans. Samples were checked manually for accuracy. Posts were counted as abuse on a yes-or-no basis, rather than graded by severity.

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Guardian writers’ predicted position: 17th (NB: this is not necessarily Louise Taylor’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)As David Hopkinson, Newcastle’s chief executive, recently reflected: “This is a moment of change. Life is all about change but there are certain moments of punctuation and we are in one of those now”. With Eddie Howe having stepped down, applying a full stop to almost five largely successful years as manager, there is a new head coach in Matthias Jaissle. The 38-year-old German excelled during previous postings in Austria and Saudi Arabia but has never managed in England, let alone in the Premier League.Jaissle’s task is complicated by Newcastle, who finished a disappointing 12th last season, selling arguably their three best players – Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães – to Barcelona, Tottenham and Arsenal respectively this summer. Along the way the wage bill has been slashed and spending rules complied with as the sporting director, Ross Wilson, reduces the squad’s average age quite significantly. Four of the first five close-season signings were aged 20 or under. Small wonder Hopkinson keeps referring to “Newcastle 2.0”.Significantly, no one at the club is talking about Europe; the reality is that this season a top-10 finish would constitute a triumph. As Jaissle keeps reiterating, Newcastle have entered a “transitional” period. The way it pans out may well hinge on whether he can succeed where Howe failed and get the best out of last season’s twin attacking disappointments Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade. With Wissa excelling in pre-season, there is cause for cautious optimism. Bazoumana Touré, Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur, three of the new boys, also do not look entirely out of place.On paper Newcastle’s majority owners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), are the wealthiest in world football. But the sport’s spending rules are based on the balance between squad costs and commercial revenue and Newcastle’s income is around half of that of some key rivals.They are now in a three-year “settlement agreement” with Uefa after breaching European cost control regulations and, in a bid to balance the books, have not merely sold Gordon, Tonali and Guimarães but implemented a policy of broadly signing players under 25 priced between £20m and £40m. “We were living beyond our means but at some point you have got to pay the credit card bill,” said Hopkinson. Meanwhile, the seemingly interminable wait for confirmation that a new training ground will be built near the airport at Woolsington and a decision as to whether to build a new stadium or redevelop St James’ Park endures.Opinions about PIF – they own 85% of the club while the Reuben family hold the remaining 15% – are varied. At one end of the spectrum lies the pressure group NUFC Fans against Sportswashing who, admirably, do not miss an opportunity to highlight Saudi Arabia’s atrocious human right record. The vast majority of supporters are united in disappointment that PIF officials have no direct contact with fans or reporters. Bonds with the fanbase weakened when the popular former minority owner Amanda Staveley was ousted in a 2024 boardroom power struggle. Moreover, many Tynesiders had hoped the takeover would bring significantly greater local and regional regeneration.Jaissle proved a serial trophy winner at RB Salzburg and Al-Ahli, winning two Asian Champions Leagues during his three year stint in Saudi Arabia. Hopkinson has described him as “a rock star”, while the man himself appears a high priest of pressing. Asked recently to describe his preferred style, Jaissle replied: “Front-footed, aggressive, vertical, high energy, intense and relentless.” Howe’s successor could easily pass as the centre-half he was until serious knee trouble ended his career in his mid-20s. Jaissle, who had played for Thomas Tuchel in Stuttgart’s youth teams and then Ralf Rangnick at Hoffenheim, immediately turned his attentions to coaching, beginning his new career as an assistant at Leipzig. Newcastle fans already delight in serenading him with choruses of “Oh Jaissle, I can boogie.”How are Newcastle going to create chances this season? It’s hard to imagine a Premier League side losing their leading four chance creators in one transfer window but Newcastle have allowed that to happen. The departures of Guimarães, Tonali, Gordon and Kieran Trippier have left quite the hole. New signing Bazoumana Touré needs to make a fast start.Newcastle now have a genuine sweeper-keeper in Lukas Hornicek, the 24-year-old Czech Republic international who has joined for £26m from Braga. Hornicek’s footwork is so good he alternated between keeping goal and playing as a striker until well into his teens. Allied to excellent shot-stopping abilities and competence in the face of crosses, that kicking ability attracted plenty of admirers as Hornicek impressed during the 2025 European Under-21 Championships. Hornicek has been dubbed the “new Petr Cech” in his homeland.Mason Miley, the young brother of 20-year-old midfielder Lewis, has impressed enormously during pre-season, shining during a narrow home defeat by Bayer Leverkusen. His preferred position is as a defensive central midfielder. Miley joined Newcastle’s academy at the age of nine and signed his first professional contract earlier this summer. “Mason’s a young lad with the attitude we need; he has the right heart and the right quality,” said Jaissle. Mason is the third Miley to have graduated from Newcastle’s academy. His eldest brother Jamie, 22, is another midfielder, currently playing for Hartlepool in the National League.Tino Livramento missed the final five weeks of last season with a thigh injury but recovered in time to be called up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup and even travelled to the United States. Unfortunately for the right-back, he was back home before his country’s opening game against Croatia after sustaining a calf injury in training. Livramento has undergone “minor” surgery this summer and hopes to return to action in early autumn. Meanwhile, Lewis Hall was desperately disappointed not to receive a World Cup call-up from Tuchel. The left-back has been hotly pursued by Manchester United all summer.

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Close00Champions League analysts Pat Nevin and James McFadden look at the "outstanding" impact new signing Camilo Duran had for Celtic in their Champions League play-off first-leg win over LASK.Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated topicsCelticFollow Celticclose panelYou are now following CelticUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.FootballFollow Football

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A stunning double from the summer signing Camilo Durán helped Celtic open up a commanding lead against Lask in their Champions League playoff. Benjamin Nygren also produced a superb finish to send Martin O’Neill’s side on their way to a 3-0 first-leg win over their Austrian opponents in Glasgow.The visitors had two goals disallowed for offside and created chances throughout in an open encounter but Celtic were clinical as they continued their strong start to the season. Nygren has been at the heart of it with four goals and four assists in as many games and he opened the scoring in the 26th minute. The Swede readjusted his body to volley into the top corner from 20 yards after a weak clearance from Kieran Tierney’s cross.Durán scored an almost identical goal 12 minutes later, firing into the same top corner from the same spot after Tierney’s cross was headed out. The only major difference was the Colombian struck his volley first time.The former Qarabag forward netted his third Celtic goal midway through the second half, exchanging passes with Nygren after a flick from another summer signing, Kasper Høgh, and stroking the ball into the top corner from inside the box.O’Neill said of his double goalscorer: “He was exceptional. Really exceptional. He’s been fantastic for us since he’s arrived at the football club. His goals were terrific, his play was great. His running back, helping full-backs, helping Colby [Donovan] out on a number of occasions. It was just a magnificent performance.“And if he stays clear of injury, he’s going to be a really, really good player. Whatever we paid for Durán, I think he has paid his ticket by now. I don’t think it was an awful lot of money when you consider some of the fees that they’re talking about for the Premier League.“I think he’s a real bargain – £4.5m or something like that there. The centre-forward [Hogh] has given us a bit of presence there, which I don’t think we had last year, despite Daizen [Maeda] probably winning the league for us single-handedly. It’s nice to have that.”The victory puts Celtic firmly in the driving seat before the second leg in Linz next Tuesday and eased nerves among home fans after more transfer tribulations.Celtic went out at this stage last year, drawing a blank against Kairat Almaty after failing to sign a proven striker. The arrival of Durán and Høgh solved that problem but other signings were slow to come and the German midfielder Mika Baur was handed a start in his Celtic Park debut.The 22-year-old’s inclusion was necessitated by the departure of Arne Engels to West Ham at the weekend, which caused more anxiety among Celtic fans who have seen their team fail in their last five Champions League qualifying campaigns. The playoff defeat against the Kazakhstan side followed losses in earlier rounds against AEK Athens, Cluj, Ferencvaros and Midtjylland in recent seasons.The Celtic fans were in full voice in the buildup but there were early worries. Moses Usor sent a brilliant volley into the top corner inside 30 seconds but was flagged offside, before Samuel Adeniran scuffed a shot wide when clean through.The Lask forward soon forced a save from Viljami Sinisalo with Celtic looking very open in central midfield without Engels, but Durán threatened twice from half-chances before Nygren opened the scoring.Lask had a headed goal chalked off for offside before Durán struck his first and Sinisalo made another couple of saves before the break.The Celtic captain, Callum McGregor, fired a deflected 20-yard shot off the inside of a post as chances kept coming in the second half, and Usor squandered two excellent opportunities.Reo Hatate came on to huge acclaim in what could be one of his final Celtic Park appearances before Durán came close twice from long range before his second goal of the night.The goal hero got another massive cheer for sprinting back to his own byline to make a challenge and Sinisalo continued to look assured as Celtic maintained their clean sheet.

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Close00Hapoel Be'er Sheva fight back from a goal down to beat Sabah in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated topicsUEFA Champions LeagueFollow UEFA Champions Leagueclose panelYou are now following UEFA Champions LeagueUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.FootballFollow Football