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Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Florian Wirtz takes on more responsibility in Liverpool’s attack while Pierre Sage is under pressure at Crystal Palace

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s physicality overpowering Bryan Mbeumo in Manchester United’s area at a corner grabbed him a fifth goal in 10 outings for Leeds: a pretty respectable ratio. “I just tried to cause a ruckus,” said Leeds’ No 9. “I make it difficult for the defender. I read the flight of the ball and was quickest to react. I feel really comfortable [here]. I feel the support from the club and the fans and it is a great feeling stepping on to the pitch, particularly at Elland Road.” Of the contenders to be understudy to Harry Kane as England’s centre-forward, Calvert-Lewin may be the lead act – if he can stay injury-free, which has been a difficulty throughout his career. Jamie Jackson

Match report: Leeds 1-1 Manchester United

Match report: Brentford 1-2 Liverpool

Match report: Manchester City 3-2 Ipswich

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© Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty / REX)

© Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty / REX)

© Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty / REX)

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Henderson back on Merseyside, Farke threatens more misery for Carrick and Forest are a threat to Arsenal

A lively reception awaits the former Liverpool midfielders Jordan Henderson and Xabi Alonso at Everton and, in the case of the former, any jeers can be considered an unintentional tribute. They will speak of what the 36-year-old is able to produce now as much as what, and where, he delivered in the past. With two goals and an assist against Bournemouth last Saturday, Henderson became the oldest player to contribute directly to three goals in a Premier League game, and demonstrated his role at Chelsea is not simply to elevate standards off the pitch. His midfield partnership with Moisés Caicedo gave Alonso’s team balance and enabled the front three of Morgan Rogers, João Pedro and Cole Palmer to flourish. Their confrontation against an Everton defence that had impressed this season, only to litter the draw at Hull with costly mistakes, will provide a stern test of the hosts’ unbeaten start and may well be dictated by the veteran behind them. Andy Hunter

Everton v Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Brentford v Liverpool, Saturday 3pm

Fulham v Hull, Saturday 3pm

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© Composite: Guardian Pictures; PA; Reuters; EPA

© Composite: Guardian Pictures; PA; Reuters; EPA

© Composite: Guardian Pictures; PA; Reuters; EPA

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Have any footballers ended their career with more own goals than goals? | The Knowledge

Plus: the earliest trophyless seasons, scoring off one’s backside (part II) and the origins of ‘shithousery’

  • Mail us with all of your questions and answers

“How many professional players have ended their senior careers with more own goals than goals for their own team?” wonders Peter Clark.

In the past we’ve looked at the players with the most own goals, but we haven’t looked at those who ended their professional career in debit. “Southampton cult hero Francis Benali scored only one ‘positive’ goal in his career and was legendary for banging in goal-of-the-month contenders at his own end, most notably a bullet header against Oldham in the 1993-94 season,” writes Daz Pearce. We could only find a couple of OGs for Benali, the other being against Manchester United in 1999-2000. But we were unable to find a comprehensive Southampton database, so there’s a chance we’ve missed some beauties.

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© Photograph: Action Images/Alex Morton

© Photograph: Action Images/Alex Morton

© Photograph: Action Images/Alex Morton

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Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Manchester City unrepentant in victory, Spurs make progress of a sort and Noni Madueke meets the moment

The manner of Manchester City’s victory at Liverpool was an article of both vindication and vilification. Those gleefully wielding inflatable bananas in the Anfield away end could thumb their noses. Why not enjoy the dances of defiance until the music stops? The same went for City players, asked to perform under the darkest of clouds, able to focus, at last, on football, rather than legal argument and uncertain futures. Beyond City, the sight of a club found guilty of 100-plus charges laying waste to such rivals as Liverpool was deeply uncomfortable. The Premier League season and product are badly damaged until the matter is somehow resolved. What happened at Anfield should double the haste for a resolution. Chants of “cheat” whenever City players, the game already won, slipped the ball around, are bound to be repeated at other stadiums. Enzo Maresca has described his club’s plight as “noise” but his team’s victory did absolutely nothing to turn the volume down. John Brewin

Match report: Liverpool 0-3 Manchester City

Match report: Crystal Palace 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Match report: Hull City 2-2 Everton

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© Composite: Getty Images

© Composite: Getty Images

© Composite: Getty Images

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Managers react to Manchester City’s guilty verdict: ‘Uncertainty is not good for anyone’

United manager Carrick rues missing out on ‘emotion in the moment’ while Iraola’s players are focusing on next game, not the fallout

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© Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty Images

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Michael Carrick is wary of ‘Dr Tottenham’, Oliver Glasner returns to Selhurst Park and will Manchester City summon a siege mentality at Anfield?

Declan Rice’s future role in England’s midfield was questioned by Gary Lineker after Alex Scott’s impressive first senior international start in the 7-0 thrashing of Croatia. But the decision to withdraw from Thomas Tuchel’s squad in an attempt to manage his workload made sense after Rice had only three weeks off post-World Cup before returning to pre-season training. The 27-year-old has struggled with persistent back problems after suffering a hamstring injury last December and Mikel Arteta will hope that the rest has done Rice – who is thought to be close to agreeing a lucrative new contract at the Emirates – the world of good as they prepare to resume the defence of their Premier League title against Leeds on Saturday. Ed Aarons

Arsenal v Leeds, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Aston Villa v Brentford, Saturday 3pm

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© Composite: Getty Images

© Composite: Getty Images

© Composite: Getty Images

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‘Those memories are ours and no verdict changes that’: Manchester City fans’ views

While most supporters seem to want to get behind the club, some fear actions of the owners will divide fanbase

Nicola Schofield, City fan for more than 40 years: One of my (million) concerns, as someone who feels angry with the owners, is if the owners’ strategy causes a split in the fanbase. I think everyone wants to get behind the club and team, but this is different to the experience of a relegation of the type I experienced in the 90s. We all shared that, and we stood by the club down to League One and as we came back up. This threatens to be messier, with those who may want the owners out (which is its own minefield) to those who will back them all the way. I think ultimately all fans want to ensure our club still exists, but I do worry at divisions this could cause and that might be hard to heal.

Ben, season-ticket holder: I don’t think I have fully processed the news yet. I trusted the club completely and believed every word they said in response to the charges, so this has hit hard. I still think the FFP [financial fair play] rules aren’t fair and never have been. I know that won’t get much sympathy from other fans, and I understand why. Most of them have been waiting for this day for years. Whatever happens, nobody can take the last 15 years away from us. We lived every moment: Agüero in 2012, the centurions, the treble, Istanbul. Those memories are ours and no verdict changes that. Right now I just feel confused. One thing won’t change, though: whatever happens, I’ll still support the team. This is character-building, as my parents used to say to me.

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© Composite: Getty Images, Reuters

© Composite: Getty Images, Reuters

© Composite: Getty Images, Reuters

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Cristiano Ronaldo: the extraordinary eight points he says Jorge Jesus agreed to make

  • Ronaldo lists notes ‘validated’ for Portugal coach to say

  • Pelé, Maradona, loyalty and selfies get mentions

Cristiano Ronaldo said in a lengthy statement on Tuesday that the Portugal head coach, Jorge Jesus, had agreed to make eight points relating to him in a press conference before the team’s game in Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said he had approved a document listing the points after a video meeting involving him, Jesus, his adviser Tiago Craveiro and his club Al-Nassr’s sporting director, Simão Coutinho.

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© Photograph: Patrícia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Patrícia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Patrícia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images

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Which footballers have ended scoring droughts with a goal off their backside? | The Knowledge

Plus: two political leaders at the same club game, a very long-term suspension and extremely quick equalisers

  • Mail us with all of your questions and answers

“Oli McBurnie is back in the Scotland squad,” noted John Cant last week. “With his record of 16 appearances [now 20] and zero goals, he said in a recent interview, ‘a tap-in on Saturday or one that goes in off my backside would be lovely’. The backside comes up often when players talk of breaking a goal drought – but has it ever actually happened?”

We dreamed of a perfect answer to this question: a usually prolific striker enduring a barren run that ends when an errant clearance ricochets off their derriere and dribbles over the line at 0.00001mph. Alas, no such examples were forthcoming – but all backside goals have a certain earthy charm, so let’s get stuck in.

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© Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Richard Lee/Shutterstock

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