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Josh Ball

It feels as though today’s task is to cram a week’s worth of action into a manageable chunk, which I guess is the point of this column in the first place.
With apologies to college football (the American version), athletics, and Harry Kane, and none to Conor McGregor, these are the best bits from a packed eight hours of overnight action.
Here then, is a mere soupcon of what happened, while you were sleeping.
Oh God, not again
Honestly, at this point I’m just getting fed up writing about Erling Haaland scoring goals, and the only thing I can hope for is my colleague, Lars Hamer, made the mistake of not making the Manchester City striker captain for his Fantasy Premier League team, otherwise I’m going to hear about it all week.

Anyway, despite the best efforts of Brentford, who scored the quickest goal of the season so far - Yoane Wissa struck after 22 seconds - the champions ran out 2-1 winners, with the Norwegian racking up goals 98 and 99 in just 103 appearances for City. Which is just a ridiculous statistic.
Manager Perp Guardiola could afford to be magnanimous in victory, and praised counterpart Thomas Frank for the way his side played.
“I don’t remember in eight or nine years having a team playing the way they played,” Guardiola said. “People say City are so strong, but the Premier League is so difficult. Today was the real proof.”
Speaking of ridiculous
Hands up anyone who had Nottingham Forest to win at Anfield on their betting slip? Anyone? No, didn’t think so. And why would you?
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 72nd minute strike gave Forest their first win in the red half of Merseyside since February 15, 1969. For context, that was just six days after Boeing’s 747 took to the skies for the first time, Sly & the Family Stone were rocking the US charts with Everyday People, and Amen Corner’s If Paradise (is half as nice) was top of the pops in the UK.
Defeat ended Liverpool’s run of three wins without conceding a goal. Relegation favourites Forest meanwhile, who had just 30 per cent possession and three shots on target, climbed to fourth in the table.
“If you lose a home game it’s always a setback, especially if you face a team ... we never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for Champions League tickets, but normally this team is not ending up in the top 10, so if you lose a game against them that’s a big disappointment,” said Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who wasn’t feeling very magnanimous at all.
Living in a blue world

Not even Eiffel 65 could cheer up Everton fans at the moment. Blue is very much the mood at the self-proclaimed School of Science, which is giving off more remedial maths than astrophysics vibes right now.
Sean Dyche’s side have made the club’s worst start to a season in 66 years having let a two-goal lead slip in a 3-2 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa.
It is the second game in a row Everton have led 2-0 only to lose. They are rooted to the bottom of the table with no points from four games and 13 goals conceded. Fans should expect a fourth relegation battle in a row.
The other fantasy football
The San Francisco 49ers have placed All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve because of his lingering calf and Achilles tendon injuries, so I guess if you haven’t drafted a replacement yet, now’s the time.
Saturday’s move means McCaffrey will miss at least four more games after already sitting out the season opener. He is eligible to return for a Thursday night game in Seattle on October 10.
The Niners made up for McCaffrey’s absence thanks to a strong performance from backup Jordan Mason, who had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. Mason is set to start again Sunday at Minnesota.
Cavaliers seal Okoro deal
Forward Isaac Okoro has agreed to a three-year US$38 million deal to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The fifth overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the 23-year-old has averaged 8.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 279 games in four seasons with the Cavaliers.
The signing comes on the heels of a busy offseason for the Cavaliers, who secured huge extensions for guard Donovan Mitchell, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen, and hired new coach Kenny Atkinson away from the Golden State Warriors.
No such thing as a friendly

England’s women’s rugby union side extended their winning run to 17 Tests on Saturday beating world champions New Zealand 24-12 at Twickenham.
It was England’s second successive win over the Kiwis, having beaten them in New Zealand last year and a timely warning they are in the mood for revenge in next year’s World Cup, having lost to their rivals in the 2021 final.
Any notion the match had been taken as a gentle contest was dismissed by England’s player of the match, Alex Matthews, who told the BBC: “We don’t do friendlies.”
Rolling back the years
Not yet old enough to run out for Kowloon Beavers in Hong Kong’s community game, but getting on a bit anyway, ex-Wales international Gavin Henson put the boots back on this weekend.
The 42-year-old - who won 33 caps for his country - successfully kicked a penalty and a conversion but was unable to prevent boyhood club Pencoed from slipping to a 30-10 defeat to Heol-y-Cyw in the Division Two West Central league encounter.
More than 500 fans turned out to watch the former British and Irish Lions fly-half’s first rugby outing in five years, which Pencoed club president Terry Rees called “amazing”.
A quick 18
No messing around, we’ll dive right into the golf.
Solheim Cup: Short answer. The American women have done something their Ryder Cup counterparts struggle with, winning as a team. They are 10-6 up heading into Sunday’ singles. Europe have not lost since 2017.
Irish Open: Rory McIlroy will take a one-shot lead into the final round at Royal County Down after a two-under-par 69 left him at six-under for the tournament. Hot on his heels is Italy’s Matteo Manassero. Robert MacIntyre is among a chasing pack on three under.
LIV Golf Chicago: Jon Rahm carded a six-under 64 to take a one-shot lead, and moved closer to winning the season points title. Rahm and Joaquin Niemann are the only players who can win the US$18 million bonus that goes with it. Niemann shot a 68 and is three shots back going into the third and final round.


Spurs fans turn on Postecoglou, Newcastle down Wolves, US Solheim win, what happened overnight

Haaland strikes twice, Forest stun Liverpool, what happened overnight in world of sport

Livingstone leads England revival, United beat City, what happened overnight in world of sport

Man City charges date set, Wada cleared in China case, what happened overnight in world of sport

While you were sleeping

Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City came from behind to beat Brentford. Photo EPA-EFE

Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates scoring the winner for Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Photo: EPA-EFE

Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran celebrates scoring his team’s third against Everton at Villa Park. Photo: AFP

England’s Alex Matthews is tackled by New Zealand’s Renee Holmes (right) during at Twickenham. Photo: AP

Davis Cup: Hong Kong’s Wong battles heat, dizziness to level World Group II tie with Ecuador

Coleman Wong celebrates winning a point during his Davis Cup match against Ecuador’s Marcos Lee at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. Photo: Dickson Lee

Ecuador’s Marcos Lee hits a return during his match against Coleman Wong. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong teenager Jack Cheng in action against Ecuador’s Andres Andrade. Photo: Dickson Lee

SCMP Best Bets: Fownes' Jewel can shine bright for punters at Sha Tin

Sport

Football

Premier League, NFL, NBA, golf, rugby, so much sport, so little time. Here’s what you might have missed


Premier League, NFL, NBA, golf, rugby, so much sport, so little time. Here’s what you might have missed.


English Premier League