Is hurricane Haaland about to hit Ipswich?
As the half-time whistle blew in their first Premier League match in 22 years, all was well in the world for Ipswich Town. Kieran McKenna's side had more than held their own against the might of Liverpool as the two teams headed for the dressing room with the score at 0-0.
But the realities and ruthlessness of the Premier League quickly hit home after the break as the Tractor Boys struggled to get out of their own half with goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah earning Liverpool a 2-0 win.
“The first half was something to be really pleased about and a real good base for us to build on,” insisted McKenna after the match. But after facing the firepower of Salah and Co last week, it's champions Manchester City and a certain Norwegian super striker next up at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Erling Haaland scored his 91st goal for City in only his 100th appearance in their 2-0 victory at Chelsea last week as they look to make it a record-extending fifth title in a row this season.
“These are the numbers of [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” said manager Pep Guardiola of a player who already has six Premier League hat-tricks to his name. “They controlled the last decade and … in terms of numbers, it is that level.”
Can Dyche avert disaster at Everton?
There seems no light at the end of the tunnel for hapless Everton manager Sean Dyche who saw his side brushed aside 3-0 by Brighton at home last week, a result that strongly suggests the Merseysiders are set for another relegation battle.
Last season, Dyche managed to guide his team to safety despite being docked eight points for breaching Premier League financial rules and owner Farhad Moshiri desperately trying to sell a club whose latest accounts in March showed debts of more than £330m.
The exits of defender Ben Godfrey and midfielder Onana during the summer were offset by the arrival of exciting attackers Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom, giving fans some hope that their final season at Goodison Park before moving to a new ground on Bramley-Moore Dock might not be one of misery.
But the battering by Brighton – which saw veteran full-back Ashley Young sent off and the team jeered off the pitch – suggested that Everton's opening campaign in their new home might be involve playing in the second tier for the first time since 1954.
And, ahead of a tricky away day at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Dyche admitted his problems are only increasing: “We are down to around 14 recognised first-team players at the minute; that is not perfect.”
Will Hurzeler build on Brighton success?
While the experienced Dyche was feeling the pain of another stinging defeat, the Premier League's youngest ever manager enjoyed a sparkling start to his Seagulls reign.
Fabian Hurzeler, 31, is seven years younger than James Milner who started against Everton in what is a record 23rd Premier League campaign for the former Liverpool and Manchester City utility player.
And the German says it “would be silly” if he did not try to learn from players such Milner and 33-year-old Danny Welbeck in what is his first season coaching outside Germany.
“They have experienced more things on the pitch than me, so I can learn from listening to their opinions,” said Hurzeler ahead of his first home game in charge against Manchester United on Saturday.
And it seems that the new man – who follows in the footsteps of two successful Brighton managers in Graham Potter and Roberto de Zerbi – has already made a big impression on his players. “He's been brilliant and very authoritative,” said Milner. “He hasn't ripped up what we did before. He recognises there was a lot of good already. He just wants to add to it.”
Can Havertz fire Arsenal in title chase?
While Manchester City are attempting to make it five titles in a row, Arsenal are hoping to spoil the party and bring an end to their own run of two successive second-place finishes.
Mikel Arteta's side eased past Wolves 2-0 in their opening game which saw two of the stars of last season – Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka – providing a goal and an assist each.
While Saka looks to maintain his record of improving his scoring tally every year since turning pro, Havertz's form leading the line suggests Arteta does not need to enter the transfer market for a new striker.
The German struggled at former club Chelsea and at the start of his spell in North London before finding his feet, finishing last season with 13 Premier League goals and seven assists.
And he heads into Saturday's match against Aston Villa already looking in fine form. “He’s gained the confidence and the respect of everybody in the way he handles certain situations and in the way he’s performing,” said Arteta last week.
Do Chelsea's owners know what they are doing?
When Joao Felix completed his return to Chelsea this week, for a reported fee of £44 million, the Portuguese attacker became the 36th signing made by Chelsea since the Todd Boehly and the Clearlake consortium bought the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022.
The turnover of players – and coaching staff – during that time has been truly staggering with more than £1 billion spent on new players, according to Transfermarkt, with a net spend of £670m.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell are the only survivors from Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea squad that beat Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final. Neither player featured when the two teams met again last weekend.
New manager Enzo Maresca – the fifth coach of the Boehly-Clearlake era after Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard (interim) and Maurcio Pochettino – is now left with a squad of 40-pus players, included a 15-strong band of unwanted brothers left training away from the first team that includes Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah and Raheem Sterling.
“If they are looking for minutes, then it is better if they leave,” said Maresca about those not in his plans and the Italian – whose team take on Wolves at Molineux on Sunday. He will be hoping many find new homes before the transfer window closes on August 30, especially considering the threat of falling foul of the top- flight's strict profit and sustainability rules.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Spain drain
CONVICTED
Lionel Messi Found guilty in 2016 of of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying €4.1m in taxes on income earned from image rights. Sentenced to 21 months in jail and fined more than €2m. But prison sentence has since been replaced by another fine of €252,000.
Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils
8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers
T20 World Cup Qualifier
Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets
Qualified teams
1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman
T20 World Cup 2020, Australia
Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Fixtures:
Thursday:
Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm
Friday:
Al Dhafra v Al Nasr, 5.05pm
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm
Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm
