Chelsea makes improve Romagnoli bid.

Chelsea have returned to AC Milan with a new bid for centre-back Alessio Romagnoli after seeing an opening €30million offer turned down.

Antonio Conte, who has been critical of the ‘crazy’ transfer market, is determined to add to his centre-back options and take the strain off first-choice pairing John Terry and Gary Cahill.

The Blues have seemingly moved on from their primary target Kalidou Koulibaly, who according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, has been offered a new, improved deal with current club Napoli which would see his release clause upped to €70m should he accept.

Romagnoli would be allowed to leave the San Siro if a suitable replacement can be found, and gianlucadimarzio.com believes Chelsea have tempted the Serie A club once again with a €35million offer and an extra €5million bonus based on performances.

Edimilson expected to have Hammers medical.

Edimilson Fernandes is due to travel to London for a medical at West Ham after the Hammers reportedly agreed a £5.5m fee with FC Sion.

According to The Guardian, Fernandes, who is the cousin of former Manchester City player Gelson Fernandes, will sign a four-year contract with the club once the formalities have been taken of.

Bilic has been predominantly focusing on bringing in a new striker, but has also expressed a desire to bolster his midfield options as well.

The arrival of Fernandes could spell the end of Pedro Obiang, who has been tipped with a return to Serie A.

Fernandes made 26 appearances in the Swiss Super League last season and is a product of the FC Sion youth system.

Hart wonders at situations in city.

Out-of-favour Joe Hart is said to be furious at how he has been treated by Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, according to reports.

Guardiola has dropped Hart for the opening three matches of the season, preferring Willy Caballero in goal, due to concerns over the England international’s ability with the ball at his feet.

City are now set to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in a £17million move, which would see Hart be demoted further to third-choice stopper.

According to the Daily Mail, Hart believes Guardiola decided he was going to replace him before the end of last season, but did not inform the player.

The 29-year-old feels that he has now been left without sufficient time to secure a move elsewhere and now has a distinct lack of options after Everton pulled out of a £7million loan deal.

Hugo Lloris: Champions league spot kept me.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris says there was never any doubt in his mind that he would stay at Tottenham this summer.

Lloris has cemented his reputation as one of the game’s finest stoppers during four seasons at White Hart Lane and the Spurs skipper has been linked with Europe’s biggest clubs ever since moving to north London from Lyon in 2012.

But the 29-year-old insists there was never any thought of leaving this summer after Mauricio Pochettino’s men confirmed their place in the Champions League with a third-place finish int he Premier League last season.

When asked whether his phone was ringing with offers during the close season, Lloris told L’Equipe: “I turned it off.

“There have been rumours of my departure for many summers. From the moment we reached our goal, in spring, my mind was made up.

“I’ve never asked myself the question. I knew I would stay.

“I am in a project which started really with Pochettino. The first two seasons, yes, it didn’t happen as I wished collectively, but the challenges have helped me make my way. They saw that they could count on me.”

Lloris can’t wait to return to the Champions League this term after a three-season absence.

“It is an indescribable competition,” added the France star. “This is where you have to be, and where you want to be.”

Kloop : Can injury not as serious as thought.

An injury to Emre Can threatened to sour Liverpool’s evening following their EFL Cup win at Burton but Jurgen Klopp has allayed fears.

Can came off midway through the second half of Tuesday night’s 5-0 victory after going to ground somewhat innocuously in some discomfort.

The Germany international eventually regained his feet and was helped from the pitch, rather than having to be carried off on a stretcher, but immediately after the game it was too early to know the exact problem or its extent.

Asked about Can, Klopp said: “I have no idea. He had a little pain in his ankle without any touch – I couldn’t see any contact. It was a long leg, then a little bit floppy and then he had pain.

“But it is not that serious. It’s not that big [of a] pain any more, but it’s the ankle he had problems with at the end of last season, so he’s a little bit worried.
“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious.”

Can departed with Liverpool having all but won the tie, leading 3-0 following two quick first-half goals from Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino and a second-half own goal by Reds fan Tom Naylor.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge netted a late double as Klopp’s side blew away the cobwebs of Saturday’s surprise 2-0 defeat to Burnley.

Against the Clarets Liverpool were laboured in their build-up, particularly in the first half, and careless and wasteful in possession and Klopp demanded more cutting edge from his players.

He felt it was a step in the right direction at the Pirelli Stadium, saying: “There were still a few situations where we were missing a bit of sharpness but the main problem was, it was unbelievable, our build up and style of play at Burnley – one more pass but 15 times we are completely free in the box.

“So we needed to use this game and that’s what we did and it was better.”

Origi marked his first start of the season with a goal while Sturridge will also hope to have given Klopp something to think about when making his team selection for the Premier League trip to Tottenham at the weekend.

“Of course in the end we have to make decisions but what I have to do is pick the right players to make the right solutions,” said Klopp.

“The job the players have to do is be in the best shape. It is clear what both sides have to do but they are difficult decisions.”

Burton boss Nigel Clough, a former Liverpool striker, knew the size of the task facing his side side was enormous but his focus was always the Championship clash at home to neighbours Derby on Friday night.

“It’s difficult for our lads to compete with that sort of quality,” said Clough.

“Derby isn’t more important – it’s the only important one. With tonight, we managed to get through in the last round and got a great draw.

“With this being 72 hours before the Derby game, our focus was always with that one.

“It was (invaluable experience). When you think we finished with a couple of teenagers and a 20 or 21-year-old, you could train with them for a couple of seasons and not gain the experience they’ve got tonight.”

Jose Mourinho already pressing his mark at old Trafford.

There have already been sweeping changes at Old Trafford since Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal as manager of Manchester United. The stats gurus at WhoScored.com take a look at the difference Mourinho has made so far…

Manchester United have only played two Premier League matches this season, but you can already see that Jose Mourinho has succeeded in doing what David Moyes and Louis van Gaal failed to do in the three years before him in restoring the excitement and swagger that has been absent since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

“I think anyone can see there are differences in relation to the last two or three years,” Mourinho boldly told reporters after United’s 2-0 win over Southampton on Friday. Mourinho’s bullishness with the press has been synonymous with his entire managerial career and it’s one of the contributing factors that has helped transform the mentality at United over the summer.

While Moyes failed to comprehend the enormity of the job, Van Gaal was simply deluded into thinking fourth place was something that should be celebrated. Mourinho, meanwhile, hasn’t tried to dampen expectations; he’s embraced them.

United have only won away to Bournemouth and at home to Southampton, but those were fixtures that United lost last season. It’s damning on the previous regimes at United that comfortable wins over these two south coast sides have contributed to the growing air of optimism around Old Trafford, but we are already seeing clear signs of improvement.


While Mourinho was never going to completely release the shackles on United’s forwards, the transition between defence and attack has been much better. Only Aston Villa (638 passes per goal) and Swansea (443) averaged more passes per goal than United in the Premier League last season (436), whereas no team is finding the back of the net with fewer passes than Mourinho’s side this time around (194).

Of course, we’re only two games into the new season, but the initial performances are encouraging. United are already averaging nearly twice as many shots on target (6) per game than last season (3.8) despite the fact there has only been a marginal improvement in chances created (8.5 per game) compared to last season (8.2). They are also the most clinical team in front of goal (21.7% conversion rate), accentuating their statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of ‘finishing scoring chances’.

There hasn’t just been an improvement in attack, either. No team conceded fewer goals in the Premier League last season than United (35) but their defence was rightly earmarked as an area of concern at the start of the summer. Van Gaal’s conservative and uninspiring possession-based football, coupled with an average of 55.9% possession – the second highest in the league last season – explains why they were so effective at shutting teams out, although the same couldn’t be said about their ability to defend set pieces.

Only Swansea (40%) conceded a greater proportion of their goals from dead ball situations than United (36.4%) last season, which would have played a part in Mourinho’s decision to make an imposing centre-back his first signing. A £30m signing from Villarreal, Eric Bailly joined as the only one of Mourinho’s four summer signings that was not one of WhoScored.com’s top rated players in Europe’s big five leagues last season. However, Bailly’s early season performances have been colossal and his physical approach to defending has already seen him draw comparisons to United legend Nemanja Vidic.


At either side of Bailly, the two full-backs – Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw – have been equally impressive. Sterner tests await, but the sight of both taking advantage of the space further forward vacated by the inside movement of Juan Mata and Anthony Martial has been a hallmark of United’s opening displays. In fact, only Paul Pogba (9) has completed more dribbles than Valencia and Shaw (both 3) for United and their use of the flanks has already become a st

José blocks Phil Jones move.

Man United defender Phil Jones is reportedly not looking to leave Old Trafford, while Jose Mourinho will not allow him to join Arsenal.

The Gunners emerged as a shock target for the 24-year-old, who has also caught the attention of Stoke City after failing to feature in any of Mourinho’s squads so far this season.

Jones has not started for Manchester United since January, but The Guardian believe that Mourinho still sees him as a valuable first-team player and will get his opportunity to stake a claim for a starting spot in the coming weeks.

The England international still has four years left on his £100,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford and Manchester United officials are not ready to give up on the 24-year-old just yet.

The report also states that Jones is not overly concerned by his lack of first-team football at the moment and is willing to fight for his long-term at the club.

Big Sam to meet Pep over Hart future.

Sam Allardyce is ready to stick with Joe Hart for now – but insists it is “critical” that he plays first-team football in the long-term.

Hart, 29, has lost his place as City’s first-choice stopper since the arrival of Pep Guardiola and has been on the bench for their first three games of the season, with Willy Caballero preferred in goal.

Guardiola has told Hart he is free to leave the Etihad Stadium if he desires but Allardyce said on Monday that the former Shrewsbury youngster will definitely be in the first squad he names since being appointed England boss a month ago.

That squad will be announced on Sunday, a week before Allardyce’s Three Lions take on Slovakia in their World Cup qualification opener in Trnava.

While Allardyce is ready to retain the services of Hart for now, the 61-year-old has warned that he must be getting regular football to continue to be selected.

“Eventually, in the end it is critical,” Allardyce said when asked how important it was that Hart was in the Man City side.

“If it’s a short period of time, maybe not. Then they come back in the team and everything goes fine.

“If it goes for a longer period of time then I think it’s difficult then to select them, based on how they feel, never mind from a training point of view. Can they go and play at that level having not played for their own team for a considerable amount of time? So it is a concern.

“At the moment, it’s a difficult decision in the goalkeeping area, there’s no doubt about that. It’s one I could have done without but you have to deal with it.”

Allardyce said he will seek to talk to Guardiola around his decision to drop Hart, for which he cited the goalkeeper’s perceived poor footwork as a reason for opting with Caballero.

“Well I’ll go and speak to them about that, Pep and Joe, sooner or later,” he said.

“If I can get the chance to go and see Pep I’d like to listen to him anyway, never mind just about that. I like the two full-backs coming inside, that’ll be the next generation of ‘who’s going to copy that?’.”

Like his predecessor Roy Hodgson, and as proved by his revelation that Hart will be in his first squad, Allardyce has come to the realisation that some of the players he picks may not be automatic choices with their clubs.

But he did single out Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, who burst onto the scene last year and was a surprise inclusion in Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016, as an example of someone who may have to take a step backwards before earning a spot in his England set-up.

Asked if he knew what his starting XI would be in Slovakia, Allardyce said: “No, I know the basis of it but I don’t know the team. I don’t know it all just yet. There’s other people to consider as well as the European squad that went to the Championships.

“There’s other people who have started this season who were not in the Euros squad that we’ve got to consider as well. I’m not going to say specifically say who they are at this moment. They will all come into play for the possible squad selection for the first get together.

“Rashford is not playing now. It makes it harder for me now to select him, as exciting as he was last year and how he burst on the scene.

“At such a young age, do I say ‘go play in the Under-21s. Get used to international football there, play regularly there and it will help you eventually, hopefully break into Manchester United’s team and then break into the England senior team.’ You’ve got all those scenarios to consider.”

Allardyce has also yet to reveal whether Wayne Rooney will retain the captain’s armband in his new set-up, after admitting at his unveiling last month that he was still unsure who his skipper would be.

He is still not ready to announce who England’s new captain will be, saying: ”We will announce the squad then we’ll meet up and the first thing I would probably choose to tell the public and the media would be who is going to be the captain so we can get that one out of the way. The team sel

Kloop hit out on media on transfer talks.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hit out at the media’s obsession with transfers and is looking forward to the summer window closing.

The German was once again facing the press ahead of the Reds’ EFL Cup clash against Burton and his latest comments come after stating that he would be an ‘idiot’ to make transfers based on one defeat at Burnley.

“I wait for the day when the transfer window is closed,” he said at his pre-match press conference. “I can’t believe how obsessed you all are with this.

“What will happen we will see, I don’t know in this moment, but we do not have a preferred position to sign players.”

Klopp admitted that the players are still hurt from the shock loss at Turf Moor, but will ultimately learn from the experience.

(They learned) different things. It doesn’t feel good and it still doesn’t feel good,” he added. “The first goal was too early. Development never works like you actually want it to, you have to take the knocks sometimes.

Klopp was also asked about whether Divock Origi would play a more prominent role in the side at Burton, but the German is wanting to see improvement from the Belgian international.

Klopp said: “Physically, he can make another step. But on the other side, he has no rhythm in the moment, which you can see.

“Saturday [against Burnley] was clear, we could have played another 20 minutes and not scored. He needs to find that rhythm again.

“He is so skilled, but he needs to use them all in the right moment. He is not a very experienced player, he needs to sort all of his skills. He needs to use the right skill in the right moment.”

Benteke is not lionel messi says teammate.

Damien Delaney has talked down Crystal Palace’s new arrival Christian Benteke by insisting: ‘He’s not Lionel Messi’.

Palace have smashed their club record transfer by spending £27million to bring in Belgium striker Benteke from Liverpool.

Manager Alan Pardew will assess the 25-year-old’s fitness before deciding whether to hand him a debut against Blackpool in the EFL Cup at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night.

Palace’s struggles in front of goal have continued this season as they are yet to find the net, losing both their games 1-0 to West Brom and, on Saturday, Tottenham.

But defender Delaney has warned Benteke will not be the answer to their goalscoring problems unless the rest of the team provides him with chances.

“We’re not signing Messi, he’s a good player but he’s not a player who is going to get the ball and make things happen,” Delaney told the Evening Standard.

“We’ve got to work on the midfield players, wide players, defenders, full-backs and have better service and a better way about us.

“He brings a presence, he’s a handful, but Connor Wickham is as well. It’s time we stop talking about things and go and win games.

“We have to get some ammunition for him, get some crosses in the box, give him supply. You can say we’re not scoring goals, but we’re not creating enough chances and that’s coming back to the midfielders and defenders, it’s up to us to get better service.

“If we were missing a whole host of chances, you just want finishers, but I don’t remember (Tottenham goalkeeper Michel) Vorm really doing anything if I’m honest with you.

“It’s not the centre-forwards’ fault, it’s a team game.”

Pardew could also hand a debut to French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who joined from Marseille over the summer, against the League Two Seasiders.

Barbosa to decide future soon.

Santos and Brazil forward Gabriel Barbosa is ready to think about a move to Chelsea or Man United following the conclusion of the Olympics.

The 19-year-old helped Brazil win the Olympic football tournament for the first time in their history and will head back to his league club Santos to hold talks with his representatives.

Barbosa told reporters: “Up until now, I haven’t really had the time to think about anything because my attention was completely on the Olympics.

“Now I will celebrate with my family, then I will return to Santos and think about what I should do.”

Barbosa’s agent has previously dismissed Manchester United’s interest as nothing but “pure speculation”, but Santos president Modesto Roma has also revealed that he has spoken to the Red Devils, as well as two other clubs.

“We had productive conversations,” Roma said.

“We didn’t come to buy or sell players, neither in London or Madrid. We came to build up relationships.

“There weren’t offers, but we did talk about partnerships. I talked to Manchester United, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.”

Allardyce : i will try to bring Terry back.

New England boss Sam Allardyce has admitted he may talk to former captain John Terry about returning to international football.

The Chelsea defender retired from England duty in 2012 having twice been stripped of the captaincy and was never considered an option by previous manager Roy Hodgson.

But, with 78 caps to his name, Terry – now considered a veteran at 35 – could make an unexpected return if Allardyce opts to offer him an opportunity to do so.

Allardyce said he would want to be fully aware of any lingering politics surrounding Terry’s past, which saw him lose the captaincy first in 2010 following stories over his private life and again in 2012 after allegations he racially abused QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, but the former West Ham and Sunderland boss revealed a conversation may take place in the future.

Asked if Terry was back in the England equation, the Three Lions manager replied: “I don’t know what the political side of that might mean, if there is a political side. I’ll have to have that conversation if I feel that John Terry may be a possibility.

“I think it depends on what John said. Maybe if I get the opportunity, I might have to give him a ring. But until I come to that selection or that process, we’ll wait and see.”
Allardyce, 61, will name his first squad on Sunday ahead of a World Cup qualification opener in Slovakia a week later.

He has yet to name his captain but has confirmed Joe Hart will remain part of his squad for the moment despite the goalkeeper falling behind Willy Caballero in the pecking order at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

Another City player fully expected to be involved in recent signing John Stones, with the centre-back having started all three games since joining from Everton earlier in the month.

While Allardyce wants instant results rather than the promise of potential from his squad, he said the 22-year-old has already shown he is good enough for the job.

“See there’s that word then, we don’t want potential do we. I want the thing, and right now,” he said when asked about Stones.

“Potential is something that’s going to be great in the future. I want it right now and I think he’s got a great chance of becoming right now working with Manchester City.

“With all due respect to Everton, working with Manchester City and the level he has to get to because you don’t realise he (Guardiola) does focus quite a lot on defending – not just wining the ball back.

“(Gerard) Pique was a little similar at Man United until he went to Barcelona then he became a good defender as well as a great attribute for Barcelona in possession. So he had both. That’s why he stayed there for so long.”

Leicester and Arsenal settle for draw.

Arsenal and reigning champions Leicester City produced an entertaining encounter but had to settle for a goalless draw at the King Power Stadium.

Both teams remain winless after their opening two Premier League games, with Leicester frustrating the visitors for long spells on Saturday evening.

Theo Walcott threatened, but Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was rarely forced into serious action.

It only added to the growing calls for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger – who was urged to spend by the travelling fans – to find a new striker as the visitors never capitalised on their territorial dominance.

For the hosts, Danny Drinkwater had strong penalty claims dismissed as Jamie Vardy, who rejected Arsenal over the summer before signing a new deal with Leicester, and his team-mates fired blanks.

Arsenal, the only visiting team to win in the league at this venue last term, bossed the first half without ever looking like they would score.

Comfortable in possession – with the Foxes clearly missing N’Golo Kante following his move to Chelsea – Arsene Wenger’s team were left trying to thread the ball through Leicester’s massed ranks.

Hector Bellerin and Walcott wriggled free down the left twice in the opening 25 minutes but there was nothing to seriously trouble the hosts and, for all of Arsenal’s delicate play, they again looked to lack punch even as Leicester struggled to impose themselves.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain bent a shot wide from 25 yards before Santi Cazorla almost opened the scoring on 31 minutes when his floated free-kick had to be scooped away by Schmeichel.

The goalkeeper claimed Cazorla’s 25-yard effort soon after but there was little cutting edge to the Gunners.

All of the supposed danger came from outside the area, with Alexis Sanchez often lost in a sea of blue shirts and isolated.

But Vardy and Leicester suddenly woke up three minutes before the break when the striker burst on to Riyad Mahrez’s pass.

Petr Cech smothered at his feet and the ball fell to Drinkwater, who went down under Laurent Koscielny’s challenge but referee Mark Clattenburg was unmoved.

Leicester lost debutant Nampalys Mendy just six minutes into the second half when he fell awkwardly and was replaced by Andy King.

But it was a lively restart from the Foxes and Mahrez fired a free-kick over as they looked to shake off their tepid first half.

Bellerin then tested Schmeichel and Walcott had the ball in the net after 58 minutes but had been ruled offside.

Vardy had endured another quiet half but his chance came with 20 minutes remaining when Marc Albrighton forced an error to send the striker clear.

He raced down the right and cut inside but, under pressure from Koscielny, only managed to shoot wide from the angle.

Walcott, the Gunners’ biggest threat, then fired at Schmeichel and was denied by Wes Morgan with 10 minutes left when he burst through.

Schmeichel was finally tested two minutes later when he saved at the feet of Mesut Ozil, but it was a standard save during a routine match for the Denmark goalkeeper.

It was the start of a frantic finish as Ahmed Musa was denied a penalty when he went down under Bellerin’s challenge and Cech saved Mahrez’s effort after the winger had tricked his way into the box, but there was to be no breakthrough.

Lacazette rule out Arsenal move.

Alexandre Lacazette has appeared to rule the possibility of moving to Arsenal this summer after scoring two more goals for Lyon on Friday.

Lacazette was the subject of a £29m bid from the Gunners in July, one which Lyon promptly rejected.

The striker himself hinted that he was open to offers from elsewhere, while it was revealed earlier this month that an extra £10m on top of Arsenal’s initial offer could secure the Frenchman’s services.

Lacazette has started the season in blistering form, scoring each of Lyon’s five goals in 3-0 and 2-0 Ligue 1 victories, and the 25-year-old says he is happy in France.

“Concerning my personal situation, I do not think there will be a departure from Lyon,” he said after scoring twice against Caen. “Everything is going well here.

“I would like to pass the bar of 100 goals in all competitions. I would like to do that at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.”

Hull continues their fine form as Swansea slump to defeat.

Hull City’s fine start to the season continued as second half goals from Shaun Maloney and Abel Hernandez gave them a 2-0 win at Swansea City.

Maloney had only been on the pitch six minutes when Curtis Davies flicked on Robert Snodgrass’ 78th-minute corner and he finished from close range for only his second Hull goal.

Hernandez then wrapped up the three points in stoppage time as the Swans were punished on the break.

Swansea had also won their first game at Burnley, but they ran out of ideas at the Liberty Stadium after a promising opening when Modou Barrow’s pace had posed problems.

Until Maloney’s goal, it looked as if the main talking point would be referee Stuart Attwell turning down three genuine penalty claims in the first half – two from Swansea and one for Hull.

Barrow appeared to be taken out by Tigers defender Andrew Robertson after 14 minutes, even though the Swansea winger was running out of room in the area.

Five minutes later Leroy Fer fired at goal but Tom Huddlestone came in late and made contact with the Swansea midfielder after the ball had gone.

The hosts might have had cause to feel aggrieved that their claims were ignored on both occasions, but Hull seemed to have a more cast-iron case four minutes before the break.

Snodgrass’ run across the area was ended by Jordi Amat’s sliding tackle, but again Attwell waved play on even though the Spaniard appeared to make no contact with the ball.

Swansea’s new American owners Jason Levien and Stephen Kaplan were in attendance after completing their takeover of the club this summer.

They might have been celebrating a goal inside six minutes when Wayne Routledge laid Kyle Naughton’s cross into the path of Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Iceland international made a sweet connection and the ball seemed destined for the top corner of Eldin Jakupovic’s net before the Tigers goalkeeper tipped it on to the crossbar.

That early chance set the tone for an open contest where Hull were content to sit and break at speed.

After Barrow’s penalty appeal was refused, Snodgrass set up Adama Diomande and the striker would have done better but for Amat’s last-gasp challenge which just did enough to put him off.

Barrow freed Routledge and his cross was met by Fernando Llorente, but the Spaniard failed to keep his header down and test Jakupovic from 10 yards.

Swansea were becoming increasingly frustrated in their struggle to create chances and it was showing in the theatrical response of their manager Franceso Guidolin in the technical area.

Davies, however, almost put the ball into his own net when Sigurdsson’s corner was allowed to travel across the six-yard box.

But the central defender soon left his mark in the Swansea area and Hull were on their way to making it six points out of six.

City ease pass Stoke in five goal thriller.

Braces from Sergio Aguero and Nolito saw Pep Guardiola keep his perfect Man City record intact with an emphatic 4-1 win against Stoke.

The prolific Aguero took his tally for the season to six in three games with a penalty and header in the first half before new signing Nolito made sure of victory at the bet365 Stadium with a late double.

Stoke had made it 2-1 with a Bojan penalty early in the second half, but the Potters were unable to force an equaliser and substitute Nolito finished them off with two in the last four minutes.

Manchester City, with Joe Hart again on the bench and Yaya Toure again omitted from the matchday squad, were highly impressive for most of the first period.

Their intensity slipped after the break but, although Stoke boss Mark Hughes may quibble over some of referee Mike Dean’s decisions, they were good value for their victory.

The visitors were straight on the front foot with Aguero firing across the face of goal and Raheem Sterling – booed by the Stoke fans, presumably after his poor summer with England – curling a shot narrowly over.

But as good as City looked going forward, there were still vulnerabilities at the back and they were caught out after one of centre-back John Stones’ forays forward.

Marko Arnautovic broke clear but he mis-hit his shot and Joe Allen drove a follow-up attempt over the bar. Allen had another chance when Bojan slipped him through on goal but Nicolas Otamendi blocked.

Guardiola’s side responded with a quick break of their own but Sterling, this time starting on the left, shot tamely. Their breakthrough came in the 27th minute after Ryan Shawcross was penalised for holding Otamendi in the area. Aguero, despite missing twice from the spot in midweek, retained penalty-taking duties and sent former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given the wrong way.

Aguero doubled his tally from another dead-ball situation after 36 minutes, this time rising to meet a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick with a powerful header.

Stoke could have had one back after a frantic passage of play shortly before the interval. First Phil Bardsley connected with a fierce volley which Willy Caballero blocked, Mame Biram Diouf heading wide in the ensuing scramble. Amid all that, Allen went down under a challenge from Aleksandar Kolarov and seemed unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.

But the Potters were awarded a spot-kick for less early in the second half after Sterling was harshly adjudged to have impeded Shawcross at a corner by referee Dean. Bojan made the most of the opportunity and rifled home from 12 yards.

Guardiola’s men became far more ragged after this and lost the precision of passing with which they controlled most of the first half.

Yet Stoke could not take advantage and struggled to create chances. Jon Walters went down in the area after a Sterling challenge but, much to Hughes’ frustration, nothing was given by Dean.

The visitors made sure of victory four minutes from time when Kelechi Iheanacho won possession and took the ball round Given to set up a tap-in for fellow substitute Nolito.

Nolito claimed another in stoppage time after a fine run from Sterling.

Gareth Barry hands Koeman his first Everton win.

Gareth Barry was Everton’s unlikely hero as they produced a fine display to beat West Brom at The Hawthorns.

I was Ronald Koeman’s first Premier League victory as Everton manager and it came in front of new WBA owner Guochaun Lai.

Lai, who heads the Chinese investment group which at the beginning of this month completed its takeover of the club, saw his team make the perfect start to their home campaign as Gareth McAuley headed Albion into an early lead.

However, goals from Kevin Mirallas and Gareth Barry either side of half-time saw Koeman claim his first three-point haul as Toffees boss after drawing 1-1 at home to Tottenham on the opening day.

West Brom’s opening goal came after eight minutes following some good forward play from Salomon Rondon. The Venezuela international used his strength to hold off Ramiro Funes Mori and control Craig Gardner’s long ball into the box before getting off a shot that Maarten Stekelenburg did well to come out and block.

From the resulting corner, an inswinger from Gardner, McAuley jumped highest between Mirallas and Phil Jagielka to head home at the far post from two yards out.

Everton struggled to muster a response until midway through the first half when a low cross from Leighton Baines found Barry arriving just inside the penalty area but he swept his shot tamely at Ben Foster.

As the half-hour mark approached former Albion loanee Romelu Lukaku received a warm round of applause from some of the home fans as he warmed up down the touchline and after 37 minutes he was on the pitch, brought on in place of James McCarthy in what looked like a tactical switch by Koeman.

Lukaku was not directly involved but the switch did quickly bring a reward as Everton equalised in the final minute of the half. A lovely one-touch passing move started by Mirallas just outside the penalty area and involving Barry and Ross Barkley was given the finish it deserved by the little Belgian when he beat Foster with a low shot from 12 yards out.

The second half began with a series of chances for either side to take the lead – before Everton eventually obliged on the hour.

West Brom would have regained the advantage had Stekelenburg not stuck out his right foot to block Darren Fletcher’s shot from inside the box while Foster kept the scores level as he instinctively blocked Gerard Deulofeu’s prod goalwards following an Everton corner.

Back at the other end, Gardner curled a free-kick narrowly wide before Foster had to push away a Funes Mori header.

From the resulting corner, Mason Holgate’s scuffed volley looped towards the far post where Barry, on his 100th Premier League appearance for the Toffees, headed the ball home from almost the exact position where McAuley had previously scored for West Brom.

Barkley should have extended the lead after 72 minutes but he powered a near-post header wide from a pin-point cross from substitute Yannick Bolasie, making his debut following his reported £25million arrival from Crystal Palace this week.

Lukaku was denied a late goal by Foster on his return when through on the home goalkeeper while a last-gasp chance to earn a point was put over the crossbar by Rondon.

Wanyama scored on home debut as spurs clinch victory.

Victor Wanyama scored on his home debut to hand Tottenham a hard-earned 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane.

Spurs looked destined for a frustrating afternoon at White Hart Lane as summer signing Vincent Janssen and Harry Kane were both thwarted by a resolute Palace back line.

Instead Wanyama, bought from Southampton in June, capped his home debut with an 83rd-minute winner, heading in from close range to snatch a dramatic 1-0 win.

Tottenham fans arriving for their first game of the season would have been surprised to see their ground with a gaping hole in the north east corner, as the construction of the club’s new stadium has meant the removal of 4,000 seats at one end.

They may also have looked twice at the teamsheet as Pochettino dropped Dele Alli and instead rewarded Janssen, impressive off the bench against Everton last weekend after joining from AZ Alkmaar, with a starting spot up front.

Palace had announced the signing of their own blockbuster forward, Christian Benteke, less than five hours before kick-off, but the Belgian was not involved in the squad and will have to wait until Tuesday’s EFL Cup game against Blackpool for a chance to make his debut.

Hugo Lloris’ hamstring injury meant Michel Vorm started only his fifth Premier League fixture since joining Spurs from Swansea two years ago and the Dutch shot-stopper was drawn into the action almost immediately as Jason Puncheon tested him with an early shot.

It was Tottenham who dominated the opening stages, however, as Toby Alderweireld nodded a free header straight at Wayne Hennessey early on and Christian Eriksen, a pale shadow of his dynamic self in the opening half, botched a counter-attack by tripping over the ball when Spurs had four against two.

Janssen could have scored after Hennessey parried Kane’s deflected effort from distance but despite twice trying to steer home the rebound, the Palace goalkeeper stood tall and made the saves.

Kane twice went close either side of half-time, first with a driven shot just wide and then with a glancing header under pressure from Pape Souare, but as the home fans became impatient, Palace grew in confidence.

Yohan Cabaye, a second-half substitute, should have given the visitors the lead on the hour-mark but skied over the crossbar and that was enough warning for Pochettino to introduce Alli, who replaced the out-of-sorts Eriksen.

Alli’s impact was instant, his bending pass putting Janssen through one-on-one, only for the striker to skew his finish wide with his weaker right foot.

Palace supporters were eager to remind Alli of his disappointing Euro 2016, chanting “you let your country down” whenever he was involved, but the midfielder was unperturbed, instead firing a shot just over the crossbar late on.

Spurs looked to be running out of ideas, only for Wanyama to transform the mood completely as Kane headed Erik Lamela’s corner towards goal and the Kenyan was perfectly placed to nod into the back of the net and seal a hard-fought three points.

Batshuayi scored as Chelsea win at away.

Michy Batshuayi and Diego Costa were on target as Chelsea came from behind to beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

Etienne Capoue thrashed the hosts in front 10 minutes after the interval, only for Batshuayi to come off the bench and capitalise on a poor piece of goalkeeping from Heurelho Gomes to draw Chelsea level with his first goal for the club.

And it was a superb through-ball from another substitute in Cesc Fabregas which set Costa away in the closing stages, with the striker making no mistake as he fired home another match-winning goal to give Antonio Conte’s side a second 2-1 success of the season.

Having relied on a late Costa strike to beat West Ham on Monday, Conte’s men were largely disappointing but found a way to win.

Watford paraded new acquisitions Younes Kaboul and club-record signing Roberto Pereyra before kick-off, and the Hornets had the first decent chance of the game as Jose Holebas was played in by Miguel Britos and struck a low shot that was well saved by Thibaut Courtois.

The visitors did look dangerous on the odd occasion and Britos did well to clear Eden Hazard’s low cross away from the onrushing Costa.

Heavy rain set in at the midway point of the first half but it would not dampen Watford’s impressive start as Odion Ighalo went close, turning the impressive Nordin Amrabat’s cross over the bar.

The Blues started the second half with more urgency but Hazard could only balloon Oscar’s tempting cross into the visiting fans behind Heurelho Gomes’ goal.

And they were soon behind as another direct run from Amrabat led to a throw-in which the Morocco international took quickly to find Adlene Guedioura – whose deep cross was controlled and lashed home at the back post by Capoue.

But Walter Mazzarri would be denied a first win as Watford boss as Conte threw on Victor Moses, Fabregas and Batshuayi – with the latter needing just seven minutes to make an impact.

He was quickest to react in the 80th minute as Gomes could only push Hazard’s strike away, Batshuayi making no mistake before peeling off to celebrate in front of the visiting supporters.

And the comeback was complete as Fabregas pinged one of his long passes into the path of Costa, who coolly slotted home with three minutes left on the clock.

There was still time for Batshuayi to rattle the crossbar with an injury-time effort but that would have been harsh on the hosts, who matched Chelsea for much of the contest.

Burnley hands Liverpool shock defeat.

Burnley caused one of the first major upsets of the new Premier League season after they recorded a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Turf Moor.

The Clarets converted two of their three shots on target, with Sam Vokes grabbing his first Premier League goal inside two minutes and Andre Gray doubling the lead before half-time.

There was no rousing comeback from Liverpool like the one they produced last weekend at Arsenal to win 4-3 after going behind and, despite dominating possession, they never looked like scoring, despite having most of the possession.

That was partly down to their hosts’ dogged determination to hold onto their lead but largely due to a lack of cohesion and penetration in the final third.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were laboured in their build-up, particularly in the first half, and careless and wasteful in possession.

They were punished after just 98 seconds when Ragnar Klavan’s crossfield pass posed some difficulty for Nathaniel Clyne and he gave the ball away, with Gray quick to pick out Vokes who turned to smash home from the edge of the penalty area.

The Wales international missed the first half of Burnley’s previous top-flight campaign with a knee injury which hampered his progress when he eventually came back but, after a confidence-boosting Euro 2016, the big frontman took Burnley’s first Premier League goal against Liverpool – and their first in the league in six matches – well.

Liverpool proceeded to huff and puff through midfield into the final third with very little energy or dynamism and even less reward.

Striker Daniel Sturridge, making his first appearance of the season after a hip injury ruled him out last weekend, played in a predominantly right-sided forward role and did not get his first sight of goal until the half-hour when he drilled wide of the far post from the inside-right channel.

The England international’s next contribution seven minutes before the break was more devastating but for all the wrong reasons as he lost possession on the edge of Burnley’s penalty area.

However, he was not solely to blame as Klavan missed his challenge on the charging Steven Defour, the Clarets’ club-record signing making his debut, and Gray easily skipped past weak tackles from Dejan Lovren and the recovering Klavan to stroke a past Simon Mignolet.

The last time Burnley scored more than one against Liverpool was in 1973 – a run of 20 matches – but they are a different team now and it was no more than they deserved.

Midfielder James Milner, who replaced the under-fire Alberto Moreno, looked understandably uncomfortable as a stand-in left-back. But the problems were further upfield, where an ineffective midfield failed to make the most of their possession.

Burnley, by contrast, were more efficient and clinical with the ball, and patient, tenacious and committed without it, which was most of the time.

The statistics showed Liverpool had 81 per cent possession and attempted 24 shots, but with only five on target and none which really troubled Tom Heaton.

Marko Grujic, a late substitute for Adam Lallana, forced Heaton into his first real save in the 79th minute, but Burnley ran out comfortable winners.

Sean Dyche’s side are up and running with their first points of the season. For Klopp, it is back to the drawing board, with their next Premier League outing once again away from home, this time against Tottenham, with the Reds odds-against to claim all three points.

Ibrahimovic double sends Man United to victory.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the star as Manchester United made it six points from six with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Southampton.

Ibrahimovic announced himself on the big stage with a goal just 36 minutes into his Old Trafford debut, powering a header past Fraser Forster.

His second goal came from the penalty spot; Luke Shaw being caught Jordy Clasie with the Swede sending Forster the wrong way from the spot.

Although Southampton were by no means outclassed, the Red Devils could have added more to their tally as the game opened up in the closing stages.

Pogba, the most expensive man in football with an £89million price tag around his neck, was handed his second United debut after missing the season opener through suspension but Ibrahimovic is not a man to be outdone easily.

Pogba is United’s future, and he turned in a midfield performance brimming with athleticism, energy and skill, but Ibrahimovic is the man of the moment, taking his tally to four goals in his first three matches with a precision header and a neat penalty.

The return of the prodigal child certainly caused a pre-match stir, with Pogba’s image glaring broodingly from the matchday programme and the home fans reserving their loudest roar for his name.

After such a build-up it was almost inevitable that his first touch would be a disappointment and he duly miscontrolled the ball off his instep before giving it away with a sloppy retrieval attempt.

But the fans were audibly energised, a stark contrast to the flatness of the Louis van Gaal era, and Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Juan Mata were soon probing away with a series of neat touches and flicks in the final third.

Ibrahimovic’s cutback gave Pogba an early chance at goal in the 13th minute, but his curling effort was never likely to beat visiting goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Southampton relied on counter-attacks and might have taken the lead when Nathan Redmond peeled away from Eric Bailly and into the box.

Dusan Tadic was lurking at the far post but Redmond put too much on his cross and the chance disappeared.

An opening goal never seemed far away, be it Shane Long missing by a yard after United failed to clear a free-kick or Wayne Rooney warming Forster’s hands with a low drive.

Ibrahimovic also attempted a trademark bicycle kick after Pogba’s cute chip and Mata’s flick on, but he could not control the attempt.

United eventually broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Rooney hunted down Antonio Valencia’s pass at the corner flag. He took a moment to assess his options and hung a bending cross to the leaping Ibrahimovic.

He outjumped Jose Fonte, hung in the air and guided his header past the diving goalkeeper.

The game was effectively settled inside in the first seven minutes of the second half.

Southampton came tantalisingly close to parity when Tadic beat David de Gea with his head, only for the referee to chalk it off for a push.

Within seconds United were attacking at the other end, Luke Shaw had burrowed into the box and Jordy Clasie was penalised for felling him.

Ibrahimovic stepped up, buried the penalty and the points were all but safe.

United were eager to entertain though, and Pogba might have put the perfect end to matters when he rose to meet a 63rd-minute corner. He was not the only one to react with shock as his header landed in the crowd rather than the net.

Ibrahimovic was also hunting his hat-trick, but made a rare error in timing when Mata picked him out at the far post.

Pogba had one last late chance to pen his dream finale but after making great ground on the overlap he shot wide.

José: Mkhitaryan will have enough playing time.

Jose Mourinho has hinted he is ready to use Henrikh Mkhitaryan sparingly at Manchester United for the time being – but insists he will get plenty of chances over the season.

United’s heavy summer of recruitment saw the Armenian join the club alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and the ‘world’s best midfielder’ Paul Pogba.

But while the latter trio have all hit the ground running for United, Mkhitaryan has been restricted to a pair of substitute appearances so far.

Mourinho explained that was due to the options he wanted against Leicester and Bournemouth and insists that, unlike other managers, he feels little pressure to throw the former Borussia Dortmund playmaker in right away.

“Some managers, when it’s their decision to buy players, the first thing they think is to protect themselves,” Mourinho claimed.

“To protect their choices, the player they buy, they have to play all the time. I’m not like this. Before me comes the team and what I think is best for the team.

“I keep saying Mkhitarayan is a super football player and will give us a lot during the season.”

Pogba won't win Ballon d'or say José.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho believes Paul Pogba may already be the world’s best midfielder, yet he thinks his goal return ensures he will struggle to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d’Or.

The returning Pogba, who has only trained with United for 11 days, has been declared fit for selection against Southampton when the Frenchman could make his first Old Trafford appearance since 2012.

A world-leading sum of £89million was required to bring him back after a four-year stint with Juventus and Mourinho believes his club have acquired a player who has evolved into one of the planet’s finest midfielders.

However, the United boss does not expect to see Pogba breaking Messi and Ronaldo’s domination of the Ballon d’Or because his goal haul, which never exceeded 10 in a season at Juve, is not eye-catching enough.

“First of all, when you speak about the best players in the world you go immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals,” Mourinho said.

“You don’t give a gold ball to a goalkeeper. They gave a gold ball to (Fabio) Cannavaro once but because in that season he was captain of Italy, they were world champions, and there were not too many top players.

“(Paolo) Maldini never got a gold ball, (Javier) Zanetti never got a gold ball, top goalkeepers over history don’t get a gold ball. You look immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals.

“Can Paul score Ronaldo and Messi goals? Not even 25 per cent. I believe in a season he cannot score 20 goals. If to be the best player in the world means to score a lot of goals, that’s not the point.

“He is one of the best midfield players, maybe I could say the best midfield player in the world.”

Drinkwater on the verge of new contract amind Tottenham interest.

Danny Drinkwater is understood to be close to agreeing a new contract with Premier League champions Leicester.

The England international is in talks with the Foxes to extend his deal and follow a host of key names in pledging their future to the title winners.

Riyad Mahrez signed a new contract on Wednesday with Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and Andy King all extending their terms this summer.

Boss Claudio Ranieri confirmed the club are edging towards an agreement with Drinkwater, who has been relaxed about his future, despite reports linking the former Manchester United man with Tottenham.

“I think Drinky is very, very close,” he said, ahead of Saturday’s visit of Arsenal. “I am very happy with Drinky, he had a fantastic season and I am sure also he can improve as he has more confidence. He can extend his career here.”

Drinkwater signed a four-year deal in 2014, after Leicester won promotion to the Premier League, and was instrumental as they won the title last season. He forced his way into the England team and won three caps but was left out of their final Euro 2016 squad.

The 26-year-old formed an impressive midfield partnership with N’Golo Kante but the France international left to join Chelsea in July.

Kante is the only player to leave who Ranieri wanted to keep – with the boss prepared to let Gokhan Inler and Ritchie de Laet go – and he admitted he got it wrong by thinking Kante would stay.

He said: “If I am honest, no-one. I thought everybody wanted to stay with Leicester and continue to fight. I made a mistake. One did want to go. Kante is finished. It is not an excuse now because there isn’t Kante.”

The Italian is determined to keep Jeff Schlupp but West Brom are preparing another bid for the Ghana international having had a £12million offer rejected. Schlupp wants to play more regularly having made only 14 Premier League starts last season.

Chelsea are in for Wolfsburg defender.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly wanting to strengthen his Blues defence and is a keen admirer of Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez.

The 23-year-old Swiss international was linked with Arsenal earlier in the summer, but fresh reports have emerged from the Daily Mirror that the Blues are now at the front of the queue to sign him.

Cesar Azpilicueta is Chelsea’s only recognised left-back in the first team at Stamford Bridge and with Rodriguez expressing his desire to leave the Bundesliga outfit, Blues officials are hopeful of concluding a quick deal.

Cologne’s Jonas Hector is also said to be a reported target. However, the German international only signed a new contract last week and Chelsea would have to pay significantly more than Rodriguez’s valuation to prise him away from his homeland.

Lloris out for four weeks.

Hugo Lloris will be out for around four weeks with a hamstring injury and could miss Tottenham’s first match in this season’s Champions League.

Goalkeeper Lloris sustained the injury during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Everton and faces a race against time to be fit for Spurs’ European opener, which will be played on September 13 or 14.

The Frenchman is likely to sit out Tottenham’s next three Premier League matches, including home games against Crystal Palace and Liverpool, as well as a trip to Stoke.

A club statement read: “Following further assessment and scans of the left hamstring injury sustained by Hugo Lloris in the 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday, we can confirm he is expected to be out of action for around four weeks.”

Lloris was replaced by Michel Vorm in the first half at Goodison Park, having earlier appeared slow to react when Ross Barkley’s free-kick crept inside his far post.

The Tottenham captain has been an integral part of his side’s progress under manager Mauricio Pochettino and his absence comes as a blow, particularly if it extends into the start of the Champions League.

Scrutiny may also be placed on Pochettino’s decision to pick Lloris, who was a key figure in France’s run to the Euro 2016 final. The hosts’ defeat to Portugal came 34 days before Spurs’ Premier League opener against Everton.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said it had been an “impossible situation” choosing which players had recovered from the Euros, after his midfielder Aaron Ramsey sustained a hamstring injury against Liverpool on Sunday.

Lloris is also set to miss France’s friendly against Italy on September 1 and a World Cup qualifier against Belarus on September 6.

Mourinho meet Mario Balotelli.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly met with Mario Balotelli to discuss the Liverpool striker’s stalling career and offer him some transfer advice.

Italian striker Balotelli, whose agent Mino Raiola brokered United’s recent captures of Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, is reported to have sought Mourinho’s advice over his future.

It must be stressed that the Manchester United boss is not about to make a shock move for the Italian but Calciomercato claim Mourinho met with his former player to offer him his thoughts over what he should do next.

Balotelli has failed to make an impact at Liverpool since joining from AC Milan for £16m in 2014 as a replacement for Luis Suarez, scoring just one league goal.

He spent last season on loan back at Milan and Jurgen Klopp is desperate to offload him this summer.

A number of clubs, including Sampdoria, Chievo Verona, Ajax and Besiktas have been linked with Balotelli but his wage demands have so far prevented any deals taking place.

They say informal talks took place between the pair, with the Italian outlet claiming Mourinho advised Balotelli to change his attitude and lower his demands.

Diego Costa: I'm a target to all.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa believes he is victimised by referees in the Premier League and claims he regularly receives unfair treatment.

Costa was booked during Chelsea’s win over West Ham on Monday evening, but seemed fortunate to escape a second yellow card after his tackle on goalkeeper Adrian – a challenge for which Hammers boss Slaven Bilic claims he should have been sent off.

However, Costa believes that it is him that is the wronged party, and says he uses his faith in God to help him through his difficulties with referees.

“I can’t ask for anything, the crowd here always loved me. It’s a support which I always appreciate,” Costa told ESPN Brasil.

“It’s important to get the three points, it’s important to start winning.

“I am aware of [the new dissent law] now. The second time I went to talk to him, he showed me [the yellow card].

“I even found it a bit weird, but then I understood. I went to apologise at half-time and that’s it.

“But I’ll be honest, I am targeted here, by the referees, the people… if I do something, it’s totally different than if any other players do. It needs to be seen, that people targeted me.

“It’s something I have to deal with and I ask God that these things don’t disturb me and don’t take the sequence of the games from me, which happens sometimes and gives me suspensions.

Pep Gaurdiola record a fantastic win.

Pep Guardiola was delighted to maintain his winning start as Manchester City manager as his side all-but secured their place in the Champions League group stage with a 5-0 win over Steaua Bucharest.

Sergio Aguero missed two penalties in the first 20 minutes but rediscovered his scoring touch to bag a hat-trick with David Silva and Nolito also on target in the Romanian capital.

Guardiola again left goalkeeper Joe Hart on the bench, but saw his side dominate from start to finish as they eased to victory to leave Steaua with a seemingly impossible task in Manchester next week.

“We are almost in the Champions League and that was our target at the very beginning,” Guardiola told BT Sport.

“It was a great performance, we played really, really good. The result is amazing but the way we played, I’m so satisfied and it’s a big compliment to these fantastic players.

“All the managers in the world want to create chances and concede few. We are there so now it’s rest and focus on our coming games.”

Aguero’s missed penalties were the only blot on City’s copy book, but team-mate Kevin de Bruyne was not overly concerned.

“We play a good game and it’s a really good advantage for next week,” said the Belgian.

“In the end he scored three goals, so what can you do? If you score three goals nobody will complain about the penalties.”

Pep Guardiola on Yaya Toure.

Yaya Toure’s agent has insisted his client is fit to play and says Pep Guardiola has to “learn all about the players he has available”.

Toure was left out of the matchday squad for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sunderland and the midfielder has been omitted from the travelling party for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Steaua Bucharest. That has led to suggestions that the 33-year-old, who has 12 months remaining on his contract, could be on his way out at The Etihad.

However, Toure’s agent Dmitri Seluk says Toure is desperate to fight for his place and his player is not looking to move on.

Seluk told Sky Sports: “Pep is the best manager in the world and I just hope he gives Yaya the chance to prove he is still good enough for City.

“Yaya is the perfect professional and he will do his job. City fans know he will do his best. He has not been included against Sunderland or Bucharest, but that’s okay.

“He is fit to play right now. Guardiola has to learn all about the players he has available. The performance against Sunderland was far from perfect.

“This is a very good process for Yaya. It will allow him in training and then in matches that he is still a wonderful player. But there is no talk of a transfer. Yaya will stay and fight.”

Former Barcelona star Toure, who played for Guardiola at the Nou Camp, did not start any of City’s three friendlies against Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.

Guardiola, over the weekend, insisted Toure has a future at City.

“I don’t have doubt about that,” he continued, “I know Yaya from Barcelona, how he loves to play football. I know perfectly his quality.”

Pep: Hart is unhappy.

Pep Guardiola admits Joe Hart is unhappy at being left out of the Manchester City side, amid reports his time at the club is coming to an end.

Guardiola wasted little time in shaking things up at the Etihad Stadium as he dropped the England number one for his first match in charge on Saturday.

Hart had to watch from the bench as Guardiola’s new-look City laboured to a 2-1 victory over Sunderland and the surprising and ruthless selection decision is sure to fuel speculation over the 29-year-old’s future.

“I’m pretty sure he is not happy,” said Guardiola. “All the players who don’t play aren’t sacked, they’re absent. Of course I would not be happy if absent, but now it is ‘try again’.

“I am sorry, I have to decide (on the team). We have 28 players. They have to convince me on the pitch.”

Hart generally had an excellent 2015-16 season and has been a key component of City’s successes in recent years.

But he had a difficult time on England duty at Euro 2016 and City have been linked with Rui Patricio since the arrival of Guardiola in the summer, while reports on Monday morning suggested a deal for Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo was close.

Reports on Monday, meanwhile, suggested Hart has been targeted by both Everton and Sevilla, amid claims he will be allowed to leave as soon as a deal for a replacement is sealed.

Yet while Guardiola has confirmed his decision on Saturday was based on his preference for goalkeepers who are comfortable coming out of the area and playing with their feet, he insists Hart could still be his first choice.

His claims his preference for Willy Caballero at the weekend was more down to the fact the Argentinian began pre-season training earlier than Hart and is therefore more familiar with the new system.

Guardiola said: “Maybe the next game it changes, maybe not. I needed the build-up and to use the goalkeeper to play quicker to arrive the balls behind the line. Willy had this quality first of all, he trained more times. He arrived on the first day.

“That doesn’t mean Joe can’t do that. I know the quality of Joe, he is an amazing goalkeeper. He plays for the national team and he was so important for the two Premier League (title) wins. The personality, the character, I know about.”

Crystal Palace in search of Young.

Crystal Palace are eyeing Manchester United man Ashley Young as a possible replacement for Yannick Bolasie, who has completed a move to Everton.

The Daily Mirror state that the Eagles have an interest in the Red Devils’ wideman, who is likely to see his opportunities limited under Jose Mourinho.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Memphis Depay all appear to be ahead of Young in the pecking order at Old Trafford.

According to a report in the Daily Express, Manchester United have rejected Palace’s first attempt to sign the 31-year-old on loan, as they only want to sell the player permanently.

Young admitted in March that he was looking forward to getting some minutes in the United team, and expressed his versatility.

“I’m feeling good,” he insists. “I was out for nine weeks, it was disappointing as I felt I was doing really well at the time and enjoying my football, and obviously it’s one of those things.

“It’s how you bounce back from it and now I’m back and I’m fully fit, there are a few games left and a big one at the end of the season in the FA Cup final, so I definitely need to get myself back into the squad and get some game-time under my belt.

“If the manager wants me to play as a winger, a full-back or as a striker, I go out and do the best I can, I know I can play in these positions, I’ve done it throughout my career, and I’ll definitely be ready to go out there on Sunday if the manager calls on me.”

The Croydon Advertiser claim that Palace are also keeping tabs on Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Burke, who would cost them around £8million.

The 19-year-old Scottish international scored for Forest in their 4-3 win over Burton Albion on the opening day of the Championship season.

Yannick Bolasie complete Everton move.

Everton have completed the signing of Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie for a fee of around £25million.

The 27-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Goodison to June 2021 and has moved for an “undisclosed fee”.

TEAMtalk revealed last week that Bolasie “was considering his future” at Selhurst Park and Everton have now won the race for his signature with West Ham also interested.

Bolasie was a 66th-minute sub in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to West Brom, replacing Lee Chung-yong in what was his final appearance for the club.

“I’m looking forward to putting on the Everton shirt,” Bolasie told the club’s website. “This is a big club and I know all about it from having played against them over the years.

“For me, it was a no-brainer to come here. But now that I’ve come to Everton, the job is not done. I’ve got to work hard and feel my way in. I’m ready and up for the challenge.


“It’s not about the money for me. It’s about looking at the ambition of the Club and where they are trying to get to. I just like to play football.

“I just like to play football and it’s going to be really interesting to learn from someone like Ronald Koeman, who was obviously a top centre-back as a player and he played with some of the best players in the world.

“The club has made good signings, players like Ashley Williams who I know well – and I know that I’ve joined a club that not only has lots of quality players but one that produces lots of quality players, like Ross Barkley, as well.

“This season is going to be very interesting and I’m looking forward to being part of it here at Everton.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored on his debut.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his Premier League debut with a goal as Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United tenure began with a convincing 3-1 victory over Bournemouth.

The match was Mourinho’s first Premier League game in charge of United but nevertheless Ibrahimovic arrived as the star attraction on the south coast and the Swede did not disappoint, unleashing a superb long-range strike in the second half. He has now scored on debut in Serie A, LaLiga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney’s goals had earlier put United in command before Bournemouth defender Adam Smith added what proved only to be a consolation.

Mourinho has spent almost £150millon turning United into title contenders this summer but with £89million man Paul Pogba suspended and Henrikh Mkhitaryan starting on the bench, it was left to Ibrahimovic to provide the blockbuster appeal.

The 34-year-old has previously plied his trade for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris St Germain, but the Vitality Stadium, with its raucous 11,464 fans, seemed primed to offer an altogether different type of challenge.

Sloppy touches early on and a clattering from defender Simon Francis offered the hosts room for encouragement, but it is goals that Ibrahimovic’s success this season will be measured by and his was certainly the pick of the bunch.


Mata will also hope to be judged on merit rather than reputation, after all his United career only began when Mourinho decided he was not suited to his style of play at Chelsea while in the Community Shield last weekend, the Spaniard endured the humiliation of coming on and off again as a substitute.

Whether his goal here signals the start of some sort of rapprochement between the pair remains to be seen but Mourinho must have noticed that Mata was arguably United’s brightest performer before going off for Mkhitaryan with 15 minutes to play.

Bournemouth’s best spell came early on as Luke Shaw turned into trouble when his loose touch almost allowed Callum Wilson a shot at goal but otherwise both sides struggled for rhythm in the opening stages.

With half an hour on the clock, United gradually established a foothold although their opening goal was largely due to a combination of good fortune and defensive error rather than any fluent attacking move.


Francis’ under-hit back-pass set Artur Boruc scrambling and as the goalkeeper attempted to clear, the ball instead rebounded into the path of Mata, who was left to tap into an empty net.

Any hopes of a comeback then looked to be dashed midway through the second period as United scored twice in five minutes, Rooney nodding in Anthony Martial’s miscued shot before Ibrahimovic’s stinging effort from 25 yards evaded Boruc’s outstretched hand and nestled in the bottom corner.

As Ibrahimovic turned to celebrate with Mourinho, Bournemouth appeared in danger of a demolition but instead they quickly grabbed a goal back as substitute Lewis Grabban played in Smith and the full-back showed great composure to turn and drill the ball into the top corner.


It staved off United’s goal glut but there was to be no late drama.

The jubilant visiting fans were left disappointed as they begged Mourinho for a late celebratory wave. The Portuguese knows there is still much work to be done.

Stoke denied Boro all three point on matchday opener.

Middlesbrough were forced to settle for a point on their Premier League return after Stoke rallied to a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium.

Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri beat Boro keeper Victor Valdes with a curling 67th-minute effort to cancel out debutant Alvaro Negredo’s opener as the Teessiders dominated for long periods in front of a crowd of 32,110.

Indeed, had the impressive Gaston Ramirez not been thwarted by both the post and the bar before the break, they might have had the points wrapped up long before the Potters levelled to snatch a 1-1 draw.

Stoke’s 40-year-old keeper Shay Given, starting in place of the injured Jack Butland, had to tip a speculative effort from Albert Adomah on to the roof of his net and Ramirez headed over from a Stewart Downing corner inside the opening eight minutes.

But Stoke did not heed the warnings and fell behind with 11 minutes gone when Adomah, this time from the left, crossed deep for Ramirez to head back across goal and Negredo climbed above defender Philipp Wollscheid to bundle the ball into the net.


The visitors gradually started to work their way into a physical game – there were four bookings in eight minutes, the last of them for Given as he fell foul of reinforced dissent rules after racing from his line to protest over Ramirez’s challenge on Erik Pieters – with Bojan Krkic and Shaqiri belatedly finding their feet.

But it was the Teessiders, despite losing Marten de Roon to a hamstring injury, who continued to threaten on a more regular basis and they were denied a second when Ramirez fired a left-foot shot across Given from the corner of the penalty area and saw it clip the post.

The former Southampton midfielder was enjoying his afternoon and he rattled the goal-frame once again in stoppage time, curling a corner against the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

For their part, the Potters offered little of note going forward with Marko Arnautovic blazing wide after cutting inside from Pieters’ pass and Shaqiri wasting a good one-two with the Austrian by firing into the side-netting after collecting a deflected return pass.

Stoke’s efforts to force their way back into the game were laboured and Arnautovic volleyed well wide after bursting onto Pieters’ intelligent 58th-minute throw-in, although the home side should probably have extended their lead on the hour when Adomah was set free down the right but could only pick out defender Phil Bardsley, with Negredo and Stewart Downing awaiting his pass.

Arnautovic was the visitors’ biggest threat but simply could not find his bearings, to the point where he uprooted a corner flag with his 64th-minute shot.

However, Shaqiri finally made an impact with 23 minutes remaining when he curled a fine free-kick over the defensive wall and looked on as Valdes could only help the ball into his bottom corner.

Wollscheid was booked after appearing to lash out at Ramirez in a frenetic conclusion, but there was to be no late drama.