Will Lankshear scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to complete a debut double as Middlesbrough fought back to beat newly-promoted Lincoln City 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium.
The marquee summer signing equalised just after the hour mark before snatching all three points in the dying moments of their Championship opener.
His late intervention cruelly ended an incredible 29-game unbeaten run for the visitors across all competitions.
Imps make dream start to Championship return
Lincoln were playing their first match in the second tier of English football since 1961.
The League One champions refused to be overawed by the occasion in front of an expectant 31,487 crowd on Teesside.
They took a shock lead in the 12th minute following an excellent move involving both of their wing-backs.
Captain Tendayi Darikwa surged down the right flank and delivered a firm cross across the penalty area.
Adam Reach arrived perfectly on the left side to drill a ferocious shot past debutant goalkeeper Radek Vitek from 15 yards.
Boro pressure eventually yields results
Kim Hellberg’s side responded strongly, with Leo Castledine and Alpha Kante both testing the opposition defence from distance.
The hosts intensified their attacking efforts as the half-time whistle approached.
However, Imps goalkeeper George Wickens produced a brilliant save to deny Kyle Joseph from close range.
The relentless pressure finally told in the 62nd minute when Callum Brittain delivered an inviting cross from the right wing.
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward connected decisively to drag the North Yorkshire outfit back on level terms.
Late heartbreak for spirited visitors
A draw seemed the likely outcome as Lincoln’s new joint head coaches, Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, prepared to celebrate a hard-earned point.
The defensive resilience that characterised their historic nine-month undefeated streak was evident throughout much of the second period.
But the young striker had the final word, stabbing home deep into added time to break Lincoln hearts.
The dramatic climax secured a vital opening-day victory for Boro and showcased exactly why they invested heavily in their new attacking focal point.
West Bromwich Albion launched a successful smash-and-grab raid to defeat Norwich City 2-1 at Carrow Road in their opening match of the Championship season.
The visitors spent long periods under intense pressure but stood firm before striking twice in the closing stages.
Aune Heggebo opened the scoring for the away side in the 75th minute, though the goal sparked controversy as the ball appeared to strike his hand.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan doubled the advantage shortly after to secure an unlikely victory for the West Midlands outfit.
Canaries left to rue missed opportunities
The hosts dictated proceedings from the opening whistle and nearly took an early lead through captain Kenny McLean.
However, Albion goalkeeper Max O’Leary produced a magnificent stop to deny the Scottish midfielder following a sharp exchange with Anis Ben Slimane.
The Norfolk club continued to dominate the first half without seriously testing O’Leary again, while Callum Styles provided a crucial last-ditch clearance to preserve the deadlock.
Resolute defending frustrates the hosts
Norwich resumed their onslaught after the interval, only to be repeatedly thwarted by an inspired defensive performance.
Nat Phillips proved instrumental for the visitors, executing a vital block to deflect Ben Slimane’s effort into the side-netting.
The imposing centre-back intervened again moments later to deny Andre Brooks what seemed a certain goal following superb build-up play from Paris Maghoma.
Late drama seals opening day points
The home side’s pressure became relentless as Mohamed Toure struck the post and O’Leary kept out a clever flick from Kellen Fisher.
Despite the incessant attacks, it was the Baggies who found the breakthrough entirely against the run of play.
Mathias Kvistgaarden managed to reduce the deficit for the hosts in the 90th minute, but the late strike offered mere consolation.
The narrow defeat leaves Norwich wondering how they emerged empty-handed from a fixture they largely controlled.
Liverpool are expected to submit an opening offer for Paris St-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye in the coming days as manager Andoni Iraola scrambles to bolster his depleted squad.
The Anfield club have endured a remarkably quiet summer transfer window despite losing key figures such as Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers.
Iraola has only managed to secure winger Victor Munoz and defender Jeremy Jacquet to date.
With the new Premier League campaign less than a week away, the 20-time English champions face a severe shortage of depth.
Barcola valuation proves prohibitive
Bradley Barcola remains the primary target for the Merseyside outfit ahead of the September deadline.
However, the French giants have placed an exorbitant £145m price tag on the international attacker.
This valuation has created a major stumbling block, even though the forward has reportedly agreed terms to join the Premier League side.
As a result, attention has increasingly shifted towards securing his Senegalese club-mate instead.
Leverkusen rival Reds for signature
French media report that a formal approach for Mbaye is now imminent following a flurry of transfer activity in the capital.
The current European champions recently recruited Spain international Ferran Torres from Barcelona alongside Ajax prospect Mika Godts.
These high-profile arrivals have paved the way for the promising African forward to seek regular first-team football elsewhere.
The Anfield hierarchy will need to act swiftly, with reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen also heavily monitoring the player’s situation.
Attacking reinforcements required
Liverpool currently rely on Alexander Isak to lead the line as their solitary senior orthodox striker.
Creative support is provided by an array of talent including Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and Harvey Elliott.
Nevertheless, the current roster looks remarkably thin for a side holding ambitions of challenging for major honours.
With both the player eager to move and his current employers willing to negotiate, the onus now rests entirely on Fenway Sports Group to finalise the deal.
Former Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Steve Clarke as manager of the Scotland men’s national team.
The Scottish Football Association is understood to have identified the 39-year-old as their primary target for the vacant managerial position.
He is currently a free agent after departing his role with Ligue 1 side Monaco earlier this summer.
Title-winning pedigree
Prior to his stint in France, the highly-rated tactician guided Union Saint-Gilloise to the Belgian league title last year.
That domestic success significantly boosted his coaching profile across European football.
The Scottish hierarchy are now hoping his progressive tactical approach can revitalise a squad adjusting to life after Clarke.
Familiarity with British football
While relatively young for an international manager, the Belgian brings valuable experience of the British game from his playing days.
During his time on the pitch, the former defender featured prominently for West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.
He also spent a period on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion a decade ago.
The national governing body is expected to accelerate their recruitment process in the coming days as they prepare for upcoming international fixtures.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed he will sign a new contract with the Premier League champions, reassuring fans his long-term future remains in north London.
The Spaniard has entered the final year of his current deal but insists an extension will be resolved organically.
Co-chairman Josh Kroenke stated in May that securing the title-winning manager’s future was an utmost priority for the club.
Addressing the media, the former midfielder made it clear that he feels fully settled at Emirates Stadium.
“They don’t have to worry about any of that because I want to be here, I’m extremely happy and I feel very grateful to work with the people I work with,” he said.
“Everybody feels comfortable that the timing of the contract is not going to be an issue because my will certainly is to be here.”
“My feeling from the club is the same one, that’s why everyone is doing things in a very organic way.”
Attacking firepower and transfer business
Beyond his own future, the Gunners boss also addressed concerns regarding his squad’s attacking depth for the upcoming campaign.
Despite lifting the Premier League trophy and reaching the Champions League final last term, the team faced criticism for a perceived lack of offensive fluidity.
The champions relied heavily on their defensive solidity to navigate a gruelling domestic and European schedule.
To bolster their midfield and attack, the club secured the signings of Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis this summer.
However, Leandro Trossard has departed for Turkish side Besiktas, leaving the core of last season’s forward line largely unchanged.
The board had reportedly shown interest in high-profile targets such as Vinicius Junior, Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola, though no further attacking additions have materialised.
Faith in the current squad
When questioned on whether his current forward options possess enough quality to defend their domestic crown, the manager remained resolute.
“If they are fit, yes,” he responded emphatically.
The 44-year-old highlighted the remarkable resilience his players demonstrated last season, despite losing key goalscoring threats to injury for extended periods.
“When you look last year at the amount of days, games, months that we missed a lot of our important players, the manner that we sustained to have the season that we had is remarkable,” he added.
He believes the collective effort and conduct of the playing staff deserve significant credit as they prepare to raise their standards once again.
“We’re going to prefer to elevate our level, for sure, expecting that the rest will do the same, because that’s traditionally what happened.”
Argentina defender Cristian Romero has completed a £34.2m transfer to Atletico Madrid, ending a five-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
The South American centre-back leaves north London after captaining the side during a tumultuous recent campaign.
His departure follows a challenging domestic season where his injury absences hindered the club as they narrowly avoided top-flight relegation.
The international stalwart also recently suffered heartbreak on the global stage, losing 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final in New Jersey.
Spurs reshape defence under De Zerbi
The combative defender played his final match for Spurs in April, suffering a 1-0 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
That fixture marked Roberto De Zerbi’s inaugural game at the helm of the north London club.
Tottenham have already moved to rebuild their backline by securing Micky van de Ven to a new long-term contract alongside the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi.
The former Atalanta man will now link up with compatriot Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital.
‘My home and my challenge’
In an emotional social media post, the outgoing captain expressed deep gratitude to the supporters who embraced him.
“Today, I say goodbye to a place that, for five seasons, was much more than a club.”
“It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives.”
“I leave with a heart full of memories and enormous pride for everything we lived and achieved together.”
Focusing on happy memories
The 26-year-old acknowledged that his tenure was not entirely flawless but chose to focus on the positive milestones, including lifting a trophy.
“I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it.”
“The journey wasn’t perfect, but I don’t want that to define my goodbye. I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years.”
“Thank you for every hug, every song, every flag, every applause and for always being there. I know I wasn’t perfect, but one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything.”
AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim will face former club Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Poland on Saturday, seven months after his dismissal from Old Trafford.
The Italian giants appointed the Portuguese manager in June, shortly following his departure from the Premier League side.
Amorim endured a turbulent 14-month spell in Manchester after arriving from Sporting with a stellar reputation.
His successor, Michael Carrick, has overseen a dramatic improvement in results since taking charge in January.
Dressing room frustration and tactical struggles
The 41-year-old initially struggled to implement his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation in English football.
A damaging 3-1 home defeat by Brighton in January 2025 proved to be a catalyst for growing tensions behind the scenes.
Frustrations reportedly boiled over at half-time during that fixture, resulting in a damaged tactical television in the home dressing room.
The former Sporting boss also publicly labelled his squad as the worst in the club’s 147-year history, a comment he subsequently retracted.
European heartbreak in Bilbao
Domestic struggles left the Red Devils heavily reliant on continental success to secure Champions League qualification.
They successfully navigated their way to the Europa League final, setting up a crucial showpiece event in Bilbao.
However, unexpected selection decisions contributed to a disappointing performance and a devastating defeat on the European stage.
That failure ultimately compounded a miserable campaign, paving the way for his mid-season exit and the eventual appointment of Carrick.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has urged the club’s Ineos ownership to deliver further transfer reinforcements ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Red Devils started the summer window aggressively by recruiting Andrey Santos, Karl Darlow and Youri Tielemans.
However, transfer activity at Old Trafford has recently stalled, leaving the squad short of desired depth with their domestic campaign beginning next week.
Champions League return demands investment
The former England international guided his team to a third-place finish last season, securing a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023.
Despite this impending European challenge, a young winger named Tynan Thompson has been the only recent addition to the senior setup.
Speaking to the media during a pre-season tour in Dublin, the 43-year-old made it clear that additional fresh faces are required.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good balance in all when you lay the squad out, but yeah, of course, we would like more,” he said.
“We would like more, we need to keep pushing for more.”
Listen, there’s one or two areas where we’d like to improve, and we feel that there’s the possibility to improve.
Newcastle and Brighton targets remain key
It is widely understood that a left-back and a third central midfielder remain top priorities for the Manchester hierarchy.
Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall has emerged as the primary target for the defensive vacancy, though negotiating a £70m fee has proved difficult following the Magpies’ recent high-profile sales.
The young full-back is reportedly eager to make the switch, placing the pressure squarely on Ineos to fund the lucrative move.
Meanwhile, club staff view Carlos Baleba as a potentially transformative signing for the engine room.
The combative midfielder is believed to be available for a reduced fee of £65m, yet a formal bid has not yet been submitted.
If the Manchester giants are to build upon last year’s domestic success, resolving these two £135m transfer dilemmas must be an urgent priority for the board.