Category Sports News

Manager Jimmy Thelin says Aberdeen have hit “rock bottom” after an insipid defeat by Dundee United left them adrift in the Scottish Premiership.

Ivan Dolcek and Vicko Sevelj struck either side of half-time for United to leave the Pittodrie side with just one point from their opening five matches, having failed to score in each of them.

Despite their Scottish Cup triumph in May, Aberdeen have won only four times in the top flight in 2025 and they were booed by the away end on the full-time whistle after a flat performance pock-marked with mistakes.

Thelin did not sugar coat the situation post-match, saying “this was rock bottom”.

The Swede added: “We can’t go deeper than we are right now. We need to step up and not have this tension when we play. We’re all too tense.

Thelin oversaw a significant turnover of players in the summer, as Aberdeen invested a large sum of money in reshaping the squad after their Hampden triumph.

However, the manager does not yet seem to have settled on his best team, with changes in midfield par for the course game to game.

Kevin Nisbet has struggled so far to replicate the impact he had while on loan last season, while Bologna loanee Jesper Karlsson has tried plenty without much coming off. Granted, both have only played three times so far.

Another deadline-day arrival, Stuart Armstrong, is short of match fitness but the 53-time Scotland cap grew into the game at Tannadice and hit the bar.

Thelin pointed him out as an example for others to follow when they face League Cup conquerors Motherwell on Saturday (17:45 BST).

“As individuals, I know the players can do better but we have to be more focused and trust our quality,” Thelin said.

“Stuart did really well, he has experience, there is a lot of expectation but he plays very composed and that’s what we need to spread through the whole team.

One only had to look at the away supporters that remained after the match at Tannadice to understand the discontent among the Aberdeen fanbase.

Thelin stood stony-faced with his players as fans booed and stood with arms wide, asking what has gone wrong.

“The fans are not applauding the players back, all they’re getting is abuse,” Aberdeen legend Willie Miller said on Sportsound. “There’s nothing to be celebrated for Aberdeen just now.

“Even through the bad results last season, the fans stayed and applauded. But this season, they’re away home before the final whistle. The next stage is usually a few banners and a wee demonstration outside.

“Thelin needs results quickly. Starting with Motherwell at Fir Park is a huge task.”

Thelin says he understands the strength of feeling and insists it’s on him and the players to provide some positivity on the pitch.

“It’s tough,” he said. “We shared with the supporters after the game that they’re angry and frustrated with our performance and result.

Olly: An Aberdeen manager losing their job after a loss to Dundee United? The ghost of Roy Aitken is peering over Jimmy’s shoulder…

Alistair: Disgraceful that Dons fans are singing for Jimmy Thelin to be ‘sacked in the morning’. Don’t bother coming back if that’s how you feel.

Ross: We always question the manager but surely the players need to have some pride in what they do.players need to take responsibility and fight for the club in these tough times.

Malc: Tempting to bin JT in the morning – but let’s not unless there’s a genuine, viable, committed alternative lined up and ready to hit the ground running.

Martin: Thelin must go now, no improvement, ots baffling on why He cant get thus team motivated, I personally think there’s something wrong in the dressing room, Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but you need to go.

Dave: Change of formation and shape has to happen now for Thelin. He bravely changed to win the cup final and now has to change again, away from this failed 4-2-3-1 shambles.

Matthew: We keep with the same formation that has failed us consistently since November. Five wins in 32 league games is the sort of form that doesn’t give you any leeway. You can change personnel but it’s the formation that needs to change. Which he’s shown he won’t. Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but times up I’m afraid.

Graham: The message is simple now. Thelin is not good enough for AFC. Must go unfortunately.

Aldo: Thelin has to go. The tactics are terrible, a squad of supposedly creative players create no chances whatsoever. Beating a few lower division teams and a terrible Hearts, then a flukey win over Celtic on pens should not keep him in the job.

SPB: The rather bizarre Scottish Cup final gave him a stay of execution. He won’t see out the year I’m afraid. His purple patch last year – when he blew a fantastic start – is all he has achieved in his tenure. He’s not the only one who should be walking at the club.

Ally: Awful! Lazy and slow. No passion, no heart. I’m afraid the bell tolls for the Aberdeen manager. Faith in your shape has failed! Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but fare thee well!

Denis: Board must act now. Give Leven a few games as he was up for it last year when acted as interim manager.

Neil: Can someone tell Thelin that performing the same experiment (formation) over and over again, and expecting different results, is the definition of insanity! Adapt, or go!

A moment of madness has cost Liverpool’s other top-notch forward a fortune on a night when they celebrated the record signing Alexander Isak’s arrival.

In the Carabao Cup’s fourth round, Hugo Ekitike scored the winner in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Southampton.

However, Ekitike removed his shirt and held it up in celebration as he was caught up in the 85th-minute goal.

He had probably known that he would be booked for that, and he was glad to pay the price, but it appeared as though he had forgotten that he had already received a yellow card.

He will be suspended for Saturday’s Premier League game at Crystal Palace, which is unacceptable when the player he is potentially competing with is back to full fitness.

Ekitike apologized on social media on Tuesday night, saying: “I was so happy to help the team win another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup game.

“I got upset with the emotion,” I said. I’m sorry to everyone in the Red family. Thank you to the fans who continue to cheer us on and to my teammates for winning!

However, his manager Arne Slot was perplexed by the incident when he spoke shortly after the game.

Even if you haven’t received a yellow card yet, he said, “It’s not stupid because it was his second yellow.”

Maybe you can say, “This is all about me,” but I did score a few goals (not at his level), and if I put one in the top corner after three other players, it was probably too late.

However, if I scored like he did tonight, I would turn to Chiesa and say, “I didn’t have to do a lot,” “it’s about you Federico.” Perhaps it’s because I’m old-fashioned.

Ekitike, a £69 million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, has been excellent this season so far.

He has three Premier League goals and one assist in the first five games that the Reds have won since signing Isak, taking their time to work the Sweden forward until they are fully fit.

That underscores Liverpool’s significance to the team, despite his unnecessarily dismissal on Tuesday, and has helped them win every game they have played since their Community Shield defeat by Crystal Palace on August 10.

In fact, he picked two unnecessary cards. Isak was replaced at the start of the second half, but soon after receiving a foul he threw the ball in the air.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton claimed on BBC Radio 5 Live that “for Ekitike to receive a second yellow card for taking his shirt off is just pure stupidity.”

He has been a significant player for Liverpool this season, including his important goal against Southampton, but Arne Slot won’t be happy if he sits out the weekend game.

Important learning experiences are likely to be the main takeaway for Ekitike from this.

I’d be surprised if he repeats the phrase, “added Slot.”

He probably misplaced his yellow card. He will grow from it because he is young. He won’t do it again, I assure you.

Since joining Liverpool, Isak has been carefully managed in terms of playing time.

His previous two starts included a cup match against Southampton on September 17 with a 58-minute start against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and a second-half start against Atletico Madrid.

He made just one Premier League appearance, coming off the bench in the team’s 2-1 win over Everton at the weekend, when he came off the bench in the 67th minute.

Slot may have planned to give Isak more game time at Crystal Palace, so he likely did because he likely had one eye on the weekend.

He also had a big chance early in the game but fired straight at goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Isak told ITV, “I feel good.” Every game I play is very beneficial and helps me get in better shape.

It is difficult to say, he continued, “On if he feels ready to start.” It combines football and fitness into one.

Arsenal interested in Takefusa Kubo, and Liverpool prepared to offer midfielder Ryan Gravenberch a new deal, while Crystal Palace is not interested in selling Adam Wharton.

Ryan Gravenberch, a 23-year-old Netherlands midfielder, will be offered a new long-term contract by Liverpool. (Talksport)

Takefusa Kubo, 24, from Real Sociedad, is a transfer target for Arsenal in January. (Fichajes – Spanish)

In the January transfer window, Liverpool were informed that they had no way of convincing Crystal Palace to sell England international Adam Wharton, 21. (Teamtalk)

Frenkie de Jong, 28, a 28-year-old Netherlands midfielder, has agreed to extend his stay until 2029 on reduced wages, making it possible for Barcelona to make a breakthrough. (Mundo Deportivo, Spanish)

Former Leeds United and Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford, 32, is a free agent after seven years at the club, according to Getafe. (Football Espana)

Both Liverpool and Arsenal have been informed that Vinicius Junior, a 25-year-old Brazilian winger, is uncertain about his future at Real Madrid. (TBR Football)

Harry Wilson, 28, who was targeted by Leeds over the summer, will hold talks with Fulham manager Marco Silva regarding a contract extension. (Sky Sports)

After a vote, proposed changes to the County Championship will remain a two-division structure with only 14 matches per team.

Eighteen first-class counties were given the option of choosing between the current system, which featured a 12-team top flight, six bottom tier teams, and 13-game games between each team.

One day before the final round of this year’s County Championship games begin, the ballot returned a result on Tuesday.

To pass the reform, a majority of the 12 counties needed to vote for it, a requirement that was not met.

The County Championship’s current structure, which has 10 teams in Division One and eight in Division Two, is preserved thanks to the results of the vote, with two teams promoted and relegated between each.

It puts an extensive examination of the counties’ domestic schedule to an end.

In August, a change to the Twenty20 Blast was approved, reducing the number of group games from 14 to 12 and introducing the season’s finals day.

However, the counties’ differing viewpoints on how the Championship should proceed have kept the current configuration.

There were several suggestions made, including reducing the number of first-class matches to 12, as recommended by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).

The 12-team top flight with a 13-match structure was suggested when it became clear the shift from 14 to 12 was dead in the water.

To make up the 13 games, a county would need to play two more teams twice and three more times in order to top the six teams.

The changes, according to supporters, will give more teams more opportunities to play over the summer and eliminate dead games at the end of the season. The PCA would have benefited from the reduced number of matches in some way.

However, a number of counties made it known that they wanted to stay in the two-division structure. The proposed system’s opponents felt it was too difficult to follow and lacked enough “best v best” appeal.

The counties’ counties are clear about a number of issues that are still unresolved as the championship matches near their final round of matches come to an end after the domestic consultation’s conclusion.

The relegation battle would have effectively been ended if there had been a reform vote, but Sussex, Essex, Yorkshire, Hampshire, and Durham are now forced to compete to avoid joining Worcestershire in Division Two. Both Glamorgan and Leicestershire have already secured promotion.

With a 4-1 victory over Jiang Jun from China, Mark Allen made it to the second round of the British Open.

Allen jumped out in the Cheltenham final to win his first ranking title in 19 months with a victory in the Sunday English Open final.

Jun was out of the lead after the first two frames, but the Northern Irish player rallied to claim the third frame.

Jun did hold on for the final frame of the fourth round, but former world no. 1 Allen completed the feat in the fifth to advance to the next round.

Aston Villa president of football operations Monchi is stepping down with former Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe replacing him.

Olabe, 57, spent seven years at Sociedad before leaving at the end of last season.

Monchi’s exit was confirmed by Villa on Tuesday with the club 18th in the Premier League after a winless start to the season.

The Spaniard will remain in an advisory role, the club added.

“Firstly, I would like to thank Monchi for his hard work and invaluable contribution as president of football operations during an exciting period at Aston Villa,” chairman Nassef Sawiris said.

“His commitment and vision has directly contributed to the club’s recent successes, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League as well as qualifying for Europe for three consecutive seasons.

“We are delighted that Roberto is joining Aston Villa. He has built a reputation as someone who can spot talent that can be developed and we look forward to supporting him to achieve the ambitions we have for V Sports and Aston Villa.”

Monchi joined Villa in 2023 from Spanish side Sevilla, where he had been sporting director, having previously worked with Villa boss Unai Emery at the La Liga club.

Monchi and Emery helped take Villa to the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and secured a Champions League place as they finished fourth in the Premier League that season.

They went on to reach the Champions League quarter-finals last term, being knocked out by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

“We have enjoyed so many special moments together and I look forward to continuing to support V Sports in an advisory role,” Monchi said.

Villa have started poorly this season, failing to win any of their opening five league games and scoring just once.

Villa boss Emery was involved in choosing Olabe as Monchi’s replacement.

Olabe is from Vitoria, part of the Basque Country in northern Spain, which is about 100 miles from Emery’s hometown of Hondarribia.

He managed Real Union between 2011 and 2012, the team which Emery holds a controlling stake in and where his brother Igor is president.

While Monchi’s departure comes at a time of poor results, it does not impact Emery’s position and his influence on Olabe’s arrival underlines that his position remains strong at Villa.

During Olabe’s time at Sociedad they won the 2020 Copa del Rey, their first major silverware in 33 years.

They also bought Alexander Isak from Willem II and sold him to Newcastle for £63m in 2022, while Martin Zubimendi came through the club’s academy before his £60m departure to Arsenal this summer.

The Gunners also signed Mikel Merino from Sociedad, while Olabe brought in Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid the season before he moved to Emirates Stadium.

Monchi and Emery have tried to reshape Villa, spending big on defensive midfielder Amadou Onana, signed for £50m in 2024, and attacker Moussa Diaby, who arrived in 2023 for £43m.

But Diaby was sold to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad after just one season while Onana has struggled with injury.

The imposing Belgium defensive midfielder made just 22 league starts last season after his club record move from Everton, and he is currently out with a hamstring injury having played just twice this term.

In the past 18 months Villa’s spending has been restricted because of profit and sustainability rules (PSR) imposed by both the Premier League and Uefa.

In July, Villa were fined £9.5m by European football’s governing body for breaching financial rules.

They needed to sell Douglas Luiz in 2024 to balance the books, with the midfielder joining Juventus for £42m. He made just three Serie A starts last season and joined Nottingham Forest on loan last month.

The sales of Omari Kellyman to Chelsea for £19m and Tim Iroegbunam to Everton for £9m last year also generated important profit, while Jacob Ramsey was sold to Newcastle for £40m last month, with all three having come through the club’s academy.

Just two of the starting XI in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland – Rogers and striker Evann Guessand – were signed by Emery and Monchi.

This summer Villa signed goalkeeper Marco Bizot from Brest and Guessand from Nice for £30m, before the deadline day arrivals of Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof.

England Under-21s midfielder Elliott joined on loan from Liverpool with a £35m obligation to buy, while Sancho moved on loan from Manchester United and his former Old Trafford team-mate Lindelof joined on a free transfer.