Key events<\/p>\n
Judging by my social media feed<\/strong>, Russell Martin\u2019s popularity ratings at Leicester are close to absolute zero.<\/p>\n double quotation markLeicester<\/strong>\u2019s stuttering start to life in League One continued with a 4-0 home defeat by Oxford<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Foxes, like their opponents relegated from the Championship last season, were looking to build on their first league win in midweek, but fell behind to an early goal from Mark Harris.<\/p>\n Oxford then put the game to bed with two goals in the space of three minutes either side of the hour from Mo Missanga and Harris before Jamie McDonnell\u2019s late strike completed a chastening afternoon for Russell Martin\u2019s side.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n What did Martin have to say?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s painful, really painful. Today, we look like a team that\u2019s the opposite of what we have looked like. \u201cWe\u2019re so together, so aggressive and ready to fight for each other. And today, for that 25-minute spell in the second half, is unacceptable<\/p>\n \u201cWe had five kick-offs today and three of them ended up with a chance on our goal, which is crazy. I think it shows the lack of experience we have on the pitch and decision-making at times.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we\u2019re chasing the game and we get caught in transition repeatedly against a team that are good at it. I made a couple of subs and took some experienced guys off to try and inject some energy in the game. \u201cBut the learning is, I think the team is too young and too inexperienced at the end. We were naive and too soft.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin has won four of his last 30 league games as a manager, 24 scored 61 conceded.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Big news at Liverpool to follow their Friday win at Ipswich.<\/strong><\/p>\n double quotation markWith work already under way on Liverpool\u2019s summer transfer targets \u2013 including the signing of Bradley Barcola<\/a> in a \u00a3123m deal \u2013 and Hughes enjoying a close working relationship with the new head coach, Andoni Iraola, it was agreed he would continue in the role until the end of the transfer window.<\/p>\n Liverpool say no approach was received from Al-Hilal<\/a> for Hughes to start work with them this summer and are satisfied the sporting director worked for them alone throughout this period.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What did Saturday bring in the Premier League?<\/strong> If anyone still does the football pools the dividend forecast would be \u201clow\u201d. Plenty of draws.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n How will Everton react to their disappointments<\/strong> in the transfer window? David Moyes has been very open about his non-relationship with the ownership.<\/p>\n double quotation markMoyes exposed an astonishing disconnect at the club when confirming he has had no contact with Friedkin, founder and chief executive of The Friedkin Group, since replacing Sean Dyche as manager in January 2025. TFG president, Marc Watts, is Everton\u2019s executive chair and Rishi Majithia, Friedkin\u2019s son-in-law, is the owner\u2019s day-to-day representative at the club. But with TFG\u2019s ambition for Everton<\/a> under scrutiny after the transfer window, and amid claims they are looking for fresh investment or even to sell the club, Moyes\u2019s revelation raises further questions over the company\u2019s commitment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jacob Steinberg on Chelsea landing a player that Arsenal were interested in.<\/strong><\/p>\n double quotation markChelsea were decisive. They were tracking Rogers before he left Middlesbrough for Villa in February 2024. Joe Shields, one of Chelsea\u2019s five sporting directors, worked with Rogers at Manchester City\u2019s academy. The signing was not done on a whim. Chelsea have a good relationship with Villa\u2019s owners and moved quickly after opening club-to-club talks a day after Rogers played in England\u2019s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina. The fee was \u00a3117m and Chelsea did not struggle to convince Rogers. Alonso wooed him and the deal was confirmed five days after negotiations began.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n No panic at Arsenal despite the lack of a major addition to the forward line.<\/strong><\/p>\n double quotation markAt Aston Villa on Monday night<\/a>, Arteta introduced two of Spain\u2019s World Cup winning squad \u2013 Mikel Merino and Mart\u00edn Zubimendi \u2013 from the bench. Plus the marquee summer signing<\/a>, Bruno Guimar\u00e3es. Plus Eberechi Eze. Plus another high-profile new boy<\/a>, Ezri Konsa. Arsenal\u2019s strength in depth is really something.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jonathan Wilson has previewed the London derby.<\/strong><\/p>\n double quotation markThe temptation, after the first two weeks of the season, is to cast Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso in a similar light. Arsenal are yet to concede a goal. They dominated the Community Shield from the first minute, beat a shambolic Manchester City 3-0<\/a> and gave the sense that they could easily have won more comprehensively had they been minded to do so. They were no more troubled in beating Coventry by the same scoreline<\/a> in their opening league game and, while they were rather less dominant, they were still extremely comfortable against Aston Villa on Monday<\/a> and had been slowly increasing the pressure when Bukayo Saka gave them the lead just before the hour.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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