First Up: Football - A Daily Football Briefing

It was a night to forget for West Ham - fan protests, empty seats, and a performance so poor even the commentators couldn’t believe what they were watching. Brentford, meanwhile, looked sharp and confident, sealing a dominant 2-0 win that heaps more pressure on Nuno’s struggling side.

Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp reflects on life after Liverpool and admits he could “in theory” manage the club again one day, while in Sweden, Mjällby complete one of football’s great modern fairytales - rising from the third tier to national champions in just seven years.

Plus: Rangers roll the dice again, Maccabi Tel Aviv have their say on the Aston Villa ticket row, and we share some important news about the future of First Up Football.

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Liverpool’s miserable run rolls on after Manchester United finally win at Anfield for the first time in nearly a decade - and it was Harry Maguire of all people who seals it. Amorim celebrates back-to-back victories, while Arne Slot’s Liverpool side sink deeper into trouble.

Elsewhere, chaos reigns at Nottingham Forest as Ange Postecoglou is sacked just 19 minutes after full time, Arsenal edge Fulham, and Aston Villa score a goal-of-the-season contender.

Beyond England, Celtic fans stage a surreal protest in Scotland, Marseille leapfrog PSG in France thanks to four goals from Mason Greenwood, and in League Two, Bromley’s refereeing nightmare hits yet another bizarre twist.

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The Premier League is back - and it’s a monster weekend. Liverpool and Manchester United both head into Sunday’s clash under real pressure: Arne Slot’s Reds are desperate to stop their losing streak, while Ruben Amorim’s United are hunting their first Anfield win in nearly a decade.

Elsewhere, Arsenal head to Fulham and Chelsea visit Forest. But it’s not just on the pitch where sparks are flying - Aston Villa are at the centre of a political row involving the UK Prime Minister, and Sheffield Wednesday are in deep trouble over unpaid tax.

And finally, it’s billionaire versus billionaire in London this weekend, as Shahid Khan’s Fulham face Stan Kroenke’s Arsenal on Saturday - before their NFL teams, the Jaguars and Rams, meet at Wembley on Sunday.

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England are the first European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a 5-0 win over Latvia. Thomas Tuchel’s side look sharper than ever - but is it too soon to believe this team could finally go all the way?

Elsewhere, Messi and Ronaldo both made more history: Messi became the all-time international assist leader, while CR7 extended his record as top scorer in qualifier history. In South America and Asia, qualification drama continued, while in CONCACAF, Suriname’s players had the ultimate answer to Panama’s noisy ultras - joining their late-night street party.

We also round up the day’s biggest stories: Sweden sack their boss, Lewandowski’s injury blow for Barcelona, and UEFA’s latest big idea for a “Swiss-model” qualifiers.

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Cape Verde have made history - becoming the second smallest nation ever to qualify for a men’s World Cup. We break down how a country of just 500,000 people, led by long-time coach Bubista, defied the odds with smart scouting, a united team, and even a player found via LinkedIn.

Elsewhere, Arsenal’s injury list grows as Martin Ødegaard faces another setback, and Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma suffers a fresh blow on international duty. Plus, UEFA plans a Champions League shake-up, Salford fans vote to bring back their old colours, and former Man United youngster Demetri Mitchell reveals how ChatGPT helped him negotiate his latest deal.

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Ghana become 21st nation to book their place at next summer’s World Cup after a 1-0 win over Comoros, while Spain, France and Portugal maintained perfect qualifying records, though Cristiano Ronaldo saw a penalty saved in a frustrating night for the Portuguese. The Faroe Islands produced the shock of the weekend with a stunning 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, the USMNT battled back for a 1-1 draw with Ecuador, and Cape Verde could make World Cup history tonight.
Elsewhere, Jack Wilshere is set to take charge at Luton Town, and questions remain over Ange Postecoglou’s future at Nottingham Forest.

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Algeria booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Somalia - their first appearance at the tournament since 2014. Scotland produced a dramatic comeback to beat Greece in Glasgow, while England eased past Wales 3-0 at Wembley with Morgan Rogers and Bukayo Saka starring.

Elsewhere, Cole Palmer suffered a groin injury that will rule him out until November, Tottenham’s owners ENIC invested another £100m into the club, and reports suggest Netflix could soon enter the Champions League broadcast market. Burnley’s owners ALK Capital bought Spanish side Espanyol, and referee Anthony Taylor spoke about the pressures of officiating at the top level.

And finally, Italy’s U21 team have been spotted training in eye patches - a strange new method inspired by rugby, golf, and Formula 1 to help players sharpen their vision and awareness.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has thrown his support behind Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, insisting he needs three years to rebuild the club and deliver success - but will fans have the same patience? We break down Ratcliffe’s comments, United’s progress, and what this could mean for the future of the club.

Elsewhere, heartbreak for Cape Verde as a shocking offside call denies them a historic World Cup place, while Egypt cruise through to next summer's tournament. Sheffield Wednesday’s ownership crisis deepens, Cristiano Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire and Steven Gerrard edges closer to a return to Rangers.

And finally, the great debate - goal music. Should it stay, or should it go? From Bayern Munich’s can can to Chelsea’s new “Chelsea Dagger” moment, we unpack football’s most divisive celebration.

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It may only be October, but next summer’s transfer stories are already heating up. Fabrizio Romano reports that Marc Guehi could be at the centre of a huge transfer tug-of-war between Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona - while reports suggest Manchester United might cash in on Bruno Fernandes to rebuild their midfield.

Elsewhere, Jordi Alba announces his retirement, Steven Gerrard reflects on England’s ‘Golden Generation’ and could be heading back to Rangers, and Arsenal consider expanding the Emirates Stadium. Watford look set for yet another managerial change, and Cape Verde could qualify for their first-ever Men’s World Cup.

And finally, football’s newest social media craze: bio wars. From Crystal Palace’s unbeaten-run flex to Bayern Munich’s “we hate the international break” - clubs are getting petty, and we love it.

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For the first time ever, major European league matches will be played on foreign soil — with Villarreal v Barcelona heading to Miami and AC Milan v Como set for Perth, Australia. UEFA say their hands were tied by legal precedent, but is this a step forward for global fans, or another blow to football’s traditions?

Plus, FIFA’s fresh World Cup controversy — with ticket prices hitting record highs and accusations of bias in Asian qualifiers — as anger grows over fan costs and centralised hosting.

Elsewhere, Harry Kane commits his future to Bayern Munich, Fabio Cannavaro takes charge of Uzbekistan ahead of their first World Cup, and Fulham’s Marco Silva is linked to struggling Nottingham Forest. And in Wales, Storm Amy racks up a hilarious assist in one of the most bizarre goals of the season.

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