Manager says top-four slot this season would be successKyle Walker says goodbye to fans of ‘incredible club’ Pep Guardiola has admitted ­Manchester City have lost their fear factor and need to “recover who we are” but backed his team to challenge for honours next season, while Kyle Walker’s loan move to Milan was confirmed. The reigning Premier League champions are fifth in the table and 12 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, before Saturday’s visit of Chelsea after a dismal first half of their title defence. City defeated Chelsea on the opening day of the season at ­Stamford Bridge but that accounts for one of only two victories over teams in the top nine, the other being a 3-0 home win against Nottingham Forest. Continue reading...

The teenager on his calm demeanour, learning the defender’s art in Italy and his side’s European credentials He is surely one of the most exciting prospects in the game – José Mourinho said as much around this time last year – but to many Dean Huijsen is just a Chill Guy. Last month the 19-year-old celebrated his first Bournemouth goal, against Tottenham, by mimicking the popular meme of a human-like dog smirking with paws in pockets, and then did the same a couple of weeks later after opening the scoring in a resounding win at Old Trafford. A TikTok clip of Huijsen imitating the image, posted by Bournemouth, has been viewed 11m times. “I’ve always been a pretty relaxed person, pretty chilled,” Huijsen says. “I think I am pretty calm on the ball, I make my decisions and I don’t get too panicked. I thought it would be a nice celebration but didn’t expect it to go so viral. I just thought it would be funny – I guess people liked it.” Continue reading...

With Bournemouth challenging for a top-four place in the Premier League this season, BBC Sport analyses how the Cherries are doing it.

Harvey Elliott deserves a Liverpool start, Chelsea should go for the jugular at City and Mikey Moore would help Spurs In a surprise to pre-season predictors, this match is as important as a fixture in January can be in the battle for Champions League football. Nottingham Forest head into the weekend level with second-placed Arsenal, while Bournemouth are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and seven back from Forest. The scrutiny on both teams is growing but they keep answering the questions thrown at them. Despite having no out-and-out striker last weekend, Bournemouth put four past Newcastle, giving Nuno Espírito Santo a warning. Justin Kluivert scored a hat-trick, his second of the season, at St James’ Park as Andoni Iraola’s flexible front four excelled. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo might feel more confident against a natural No 9 but Forest’s centre-back pairing will relish the challenge. Will Unwin Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm (all times GMT) Brighton v Everton, Saturday 3pm Liverpool v Ipswich, Saturday 3pm Southampton v Newcastle, Saturday 3pm Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood signs a new contract to keep him at the City Ground until 2027.

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha is attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs and Nottingham Forest have now emerged as a contender as they look to boost their top four bid

Forest want striker to alleviate pressure on Chris WoodAston Villa confirm signing of Levante right-back García Nottingham Forest have submitted a bid for Yoane Wissa which Brentford are expected to reject. Thomas Frank has dismissed the notion Brentford could sell the striker, who has scored 11 goals in 19 Premier League matches this season, in this transfer window. Forest want another striker to alleviate the pressure on the in-form Chris Wood. Only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland have outscored Wood, who has 14 goals in the Premier League, this season. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest make an approach to sign Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, with a reported offer of £22m.

There were times when Enzo Maresca seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. The Italian mooched around his technical area, bemoaning Chelsea’s frantic play and calling for calm. Panic had set in after another lead was frittered away, shoddy handling from the erratic Robert Sánchez gifting a mediocre Wolves an equaliser at the end of an average first half, and the winless run was in danger of ticking up to six. However, while Sánchez remains an accident waiting to happen in goal, at least Chelsea had a second half to correct matters against one of the leakiest defences in the Premier League. The nerves faded after Marc Cucurella restored the advantage after an hour. Authority returned and although this was far from Chelsea’s most stylish win of the season, a final score of 3-1 was enough to capitalise on Newcastle’s setback against Bournemouth and see Maresca’s side take fourth place off Manchester City before they visit the champions on Saturday. Continue reading...

Liverpool are among the top clubs who admire Murillo, but the Nottingham Forest defender will not be on the move anytime soon after penning a new four-year contract

Premier League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-offLive scores | Tables | Top scorers | And email Scott Enzo Maresca speaks to Sky Sports. “We had some problems … we tried to find different solutions and adapt … in this moment of the season many teams have problems with injury … [Trevoh Chalobah] can help us get the three points … I know [Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall] quite well and how he can help us … for sure he is going to play well … we have many important players … [Wesley Fofana] is a big loss … hopefully he can come back soon … the reason I said we were not in the title race is because I work every day with the players and can see we are not ready for many reasons … you cannot compete when you finish 12th then suddenly first or second … hopefully we can start again to win games and see where we are.” The big news for Chelsea: Cole Palmer, who had been an injury doubt, is good to start. They make five changes to the XI that started the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tosin Adarabioyo and Pedro Neto are in. Jadon Sancho and Josh Acheampong drop to the bench, while Enzo Fernández, Ben Chilwell and Roméo Lavia miss out altogether. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo agrees in principle a new four-year contract which would keep him at the City Ground until 2029.

The former Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest midfielder has signed a short-term deal to help Scott Parker's Burnley try to win promotion to the Premier League

Manchester United’s wing-backs are struggling, Foden is back to his best and Bournemouth are top-four contenders Ruben Amorim is repeatedly learning that his team are worryingly susceptible out wide. Brighton’s first two goals came from players being given space on the flanks in the huge gaps between wing-backs and centre-backs. Kaoru Mitoma gifted Yankuba Minteh a tap in and the favour was repaid in the second half. Leny Yoro had terrible troubles against Southampton and there were similar struggles once again as Brighton tested him on the outside. Noussair Mazraoui had a forgettable afternoon, looking poor in possession, which helped Brighton for the opener and he failed to intervene before Mitoma steered the second home at the back post. Mazraoui was moved to the left and soon the third goal arrived as Yasin Ayari was given the freedom to cross the ball. The wing-back positions need specialists and those available to Amorim are unable to provide the defensive robustness and attacking support required, although he will be sticking with 3-4-3 whether they like it or not. Amorim needs to find a solution. Will Unwin Continue reading...