The Game

Man City looked worth every penny of the money spent on them as they beat Liverpool at Anfield. But the result left a strange taste as many wondered what it meant. Is the integrity of the league at stake as all results involving Man City have an asterix until the punishment is announced. Could city 'win' the league only to then be relegated?
Liverpool had a front line including two hundred million pound players, neither produced. How worried should the club be about Florian Wirtz?
Jordan Henderson showed he wasn't just a 'vibes' signing when he scored twice and brought some calm to Chelsea's midfield.
Fulham contrived to lose again, Palace nicked three points and Brighton continue to impress.
Spurs took a lot of encouragement from a ten man draw with Man Utd. Not so Manchester United though - six points from the opening six games and a team lacking identity...how much pressure is Michael Carrick under?
And six games in the table has a refreshing look with Brentford and Brighton in the top four and Hull in 8th...can it last?
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The Premier League returns, Man City punishment needs carful thought and where do Bellingham and Kane rank?
Are Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in your top five England greats? Martin Samuel picks the best England players he's seen and Tony Cascarino picks the best five he's played against.
Manchester City plan to appeal, but if they are not successful could their punishment sink them as a club?
Messi retired in front of 80,000 adoring fans. Cristiano Ronaldo left in protest at being an used substitute, will his career end in a whimper?
And the Premier League finally returns with some big games this weekend - Liverpool City, Man Utd Spurs and will Gyokores replace Havertz for Arsenal?
Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson join Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel.

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Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson return with all the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two.
There are some big games in the Championship with third against fourth as Middlesbrough play Wolves and derbies at West Ham who take on QPR and West Brom at home to Birmingham.
Perhaps the most interesting story of the international break was Graham Alexander leaving Bradford City to return to Preston North End. Why do managers leave clubs flying high in one league to go to teams at the bottom of another? Alexander joins a list including Rob Edwards, Matt Bloomfield and Russell Martin. Do these moves ever pay off?

Plus, Robbie Savage takes the reigns at Peterborough, Ian holloway is losing it - again and the best irrelevant goals ever scored.
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As expected MAnchester City are to appeal against the guilty verdicts handed down to them by the independent commision. But what does that mean...will the whole affair drag on for another eight years? Matt Lawton brings us the latest - how long will the appeal take and what chance does it have of succeeding?
If City lose and the punishment relegates them - will their big stars stick around?
After the break, just how good were England? James Gheerbrant was at the match and thinks Jude Bellingham is looking like Zinedine Zidane...hyperbole or justified? Who else stood out and is this the start of something special or a one off?

Tom Clarke joins Tony Cascarino, Matt Lawton and Alyson Rudd.
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The Premier League have released their statement regarding the findings against Manchester City and it is a scathing assessment.
The independent commision referenced 'sham contracts' to reduce costs and inflate revenues disguising over nine hundred million pounds worth of 'secret funding' in the process.
The findings also make claims of false evidence and agreements or contracts designed to deceive.
For the very latest Gregor Robertson joins Chief Sports Correspondent for The Times Matt Lawton who has been leading on the story and The Times Chief Football Correspondent Jonathan Northcroft
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