Phil McNulty, a football writer, predicts how the 20 teams in the English Premier League will finish this season. He expects Arsenal to retain their title, Manchester City to be strong contenders despite changes, and Liverpool to aim for a top-four finish with new players and a new manager.
Key Facts
Arsenal won the Premier League last season for the first time in 22 years.
Arsenal added strong players like Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis and won the Community Shield against Manchester City.
Manchester City changed managers from Pep Guardiola to Enzo Maresca and lost some key players.
Manchester City has made big signings, including Elliot Anderson and expects to add more players.
Liverpool finished 5th last season and hired new manager Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool is transitioning after the era of Mohamed Salah but has new promising players.
Chelsea’s new manager Xabi Alonso has Bundesliga experience and faces challenges but could improve this season.
Manchester United is led by Michael Carrick, aiming for Champions League qualification and trophies.
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Lyon and Fenerbahce played the first match of their Champions League qualifying playoff and ended with a 1-1 draw. The second match will happen on August 26 in Lyon, and both teams still have a chance to advance.
Key Facts
The first leg of the Champions League playoff match between Lyon and Fenerbahce ended 1-1.
The second leg is scheduled for August 26 in Lyon.
The match took place at Istanbul’s Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
The article mentions Patrick Vieira becoming Senegal’s new football manager.
Rodri officially joined the football club Barcelona.
Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, and Brandon Nakashima advanced to the last 16 in tennis at Cincinnati.
Christo Popov was eliminated early at the World Badminton Championships.
The article also references other sports news like Lens winning a title and a sale of a stake in Liverpool FC.
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The Sydney Swans AFL club has banned five players for the rest of the 2026 season due to breaking team rules during a hotel stay in Melbourne. This followed a police investigation into a sexual assault complaint linked to the incident, though no charges have been made and no players have been publicly identified.
Key Facts
Five Sydney Swans players were banned for the entire 2026 AFL season.
The players involved are Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon, and Chad Warner.
The ban includes missing a regular-season game and the playoffs.
The players broke team rules after a game by staying out late, drinking, and bringing women to the hotel.
A woman reported an alleged sexual assault to police at the hotel in East Melbourne.
The police investigation is ongoing, with no charges or player identifications yet.
The Sydney Swans stated their sanctions are separate from the police investigation.
Club leaders apologized and emphasized respect and safety for women as core values.
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Rob Gronkowski explained how New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye could improve by playing with new wide receiver AJ Brown. Gronkowski said Brown’s size and skill make him a great target, which could help Maye develop and elevate the Patriots’ offense this NFL season.
Key Facts
Rob Gronkowski praised AJ Brown as a big and skilled receiver who can get open even when covered.
Gronkowski said Maye has never had a receiver like Brown before, which could help Maye improve his passing.
Drake Maye threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns last season with strong quarterback ratings.
AJ Brown joined the Patriots this offseason after leaving the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brown had 1,003 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns last season despite some reported team conflicts.
Brown reunites with coach Mike Vrabel and will play under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel.
The Patriots face tough teams like the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs this season.
Gronkowski believes the Maye-Brown connection could make the Patriots a stronger competitor.
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Five players from the Sydney Swans Australian Football League (AFL) team have been suspended for the rest of the season after breaking club rules about late-night drinking and inviting women to their hotel following a match. Police in Melbourne are investigating an alleged sexual assault connected to the players, but no arrests or charges have been made.
Key Facts
The suspended players are Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, and Riley Bice.
The incident happened early Monday morning at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne.
The players were banned for breaking club rules, not by police action.
Victoria Police are investigating the alleged sexual assault but have not formally interviewed or arrested anyone.
The club apologized to fans, players, and the community for the players’ behavior.
The AFL supports the club’s decision to suspend the players.
Sydney Swans are currently second in the league and headed toward the finals.
Unlike some other sports, the AFL does not have a standard rule to stand down players automatically when accused of serious crimes; each case is handled individually.
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The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Seattle Mariners 22-0, tying the biggest shutout win in Major League Baseball history since 1901. The Brewers scored many runs with several home runs and strong pitching, matching a record set over 100 years ago.
Key Facts
The Brewers won 22-0 against the Mariners on Tuesday night.
This score ties the largest shutout win in MLB since 1901.
Christian Yelich, David Hamilton, Luis Lara, and Jake Bauers hit home runs.
The Brewers scored 22 runs, matching their franchise record for most runs in a game.
Kyle Harrison pitched five strong innings, allowing only two hits.
The team scored nine runs in the eighth inning alone.
David Hamilton had a career-high four RBIs (runs batted in).
Garrett Mitchell got four hits in the game.
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The Milwaukee Brewers won a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners with a score of 22-0, tying the modern record for the largest shutout in baseball history. Key players, including Christian Yelich, David Hamilton, and Luis Lara, hit home runs, and the Brewers matched their franchise record for most runs in a game.
Key Facts
The Brewers beat the Mariners 22-0 on August 18, 2026.
This score ties the biggest shutout in modern baseball history (since 1901).
Previous 22-0 wins were by Pittsburgh in 1975 and Cleveland in 2004.
Christian Yelich, David Hamilton, and Luis Lara each hit three-run home runs.
Jake Bauers hit a two-run home run and scored the team’s first run.
Kyle Harrison was the winning pitcher, allowing only two hits over five innings.
Luis Lara hit his first career home run during the game.
The Brewers improved their record to 78 wins and 48 losses with this win.
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The New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys had a joint practice session marked by multiple fights and heat-related issues. Saints wide receiver Ronnie Bell was taken off the field after overheating, and Cowboys linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected for fighting during the practice.
Key Facts
Ronnie Bell of the Saints was carted off the field due to overheating during practice.
The practice had several fights, including a major confrontation between Cowboys linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku and Saints center Erik McCoy.
Ezeiruaku was ejected for punching, his second ejection in training camp for fighting.
Saints coach Kellen Moore said the team got the work they needed despite the disruptions.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was unhappy with the practice, calling it sloppy and chaotic.
Heat and high humidity contributed to the difficult practice conditions.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Quincy Riley left practice early with injuries.
There was a jersey mix-up where both teams wore white, causing confusion on the field.
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Auburn University added Tray Taylor, a smaller wide receiver, to its football team. Despite his size, Taylor has shown strong performance in previous teams and could help Auburn’s wide receiver lineup.
Key Facts
Tray Taylor is a new wide receiver for Auburn Tigers.
He is 5-foot-6 and weighs 150 pounds, smaller than most players in his position.
Taylor played for Coastal Carolina and Troy before joining Auburn.
Last year at Troy, he caught 30 passes for nearly 500 yards and scored three touchdowns.
He also ran the ball 10 times for 52 yards and scored once.
Taylor has experience returning kicks and punts from his time at Coastal Carolina.
He was a second team JUCO All-American in 2023 after catching 39 passes for 850 yards and nine touchdowns at Tyler Junior College.
Auburn needs receivers after Duke Smith was dismissed and Cam Coleman transferred to Texas.
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Dabo Swinney, head coach of the Clemson Tigers football team, has faced a decline in his team’s performance after years of success, including two national titles. The Tigers struggled in the 2025 season, losing several key games and finishing with a losing record, leading to a drop in Swinney’s ranking among college coaches.
Key Facts
Dabo Swinney led Clemson to national championships in 2016 and 2018.
Clemson made four national championship appearances in five years during the late 2010s.
The Tigers started the 2025 season ranked No. 4 but lost three of their first four games.
Clemson finished the 2025 season with a 7-6 record, the worst for Swinney since 2010.
The team lost the Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State at the end of the 2025 season.
Clemson has had fewer College Football Playoff appearances recently, with only one in the last five years.
Brent Venables, Swinney’s former defensive coordinator, led the Oklahoma Sooners to the College Football Playoff recently.
This is the first season in 15 years that Clemson did not start the season ranked in the top 25.
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Tucker Kraft, a tight end for the Green Bay Packers, has returned to full team practice after recovering from a knee injury. His teammate Zaire Franklin praised Kraft’s competitive spirit and impact on the team as he prepares to play again soon.
Key Facts
Tucker Kraft tore his ACL in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season.
Kraft recently returned to full 11-on-11 practice drills with the Packers.
He successfully caught multiple passes, including a touchdown, during practice.
Teammate Zaire Franklin praised Kraft’s energy and competitiveness.
Kraft was the Packers’ third-round draft pick in 2023 from South Dakota State.
In 2024, Kraft had 50 catches, 707 yards, and 7 touchdowns across 17 games.
In 2025, before the injury, he averaged 15.3 yards per catch, the highest for any tight end that year.
Kraft may not play in preseason games but is expected to be ready for the regular season opener against the Vikings.
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During a joint practice between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys, Saints wide receiver Ronnie Bell was taken off the field due to heat-related issues. The practice included several fights between players, resulting in the ejection of Dallas linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku for throwing punches.
Key Facts
Ronnie Bell was affected by heat and was carted off the field during practice in Oxnard, California.
The weather was in the high 70s Fahrenheit but felt hotter due to high humidity caused by El Nino.
Multiple fights occurred during the practice, including between the Saints offense and Cowboys defense.
Dallas linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku fought with Saints players and was ejected for punching.
Ezeiruaku had been ejected before in the previous season for a similar incident.
Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys helmet into the air during one altercation.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer plans to discuss the ejection with Ezeiruaku but values players standing up for themselves.
Ronnie Bell has played 28 games in the NFL with the 49ers and Saints, with 10 catches for 113 yards and four touchdowns.
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The Athletic ranked college football coaches into tiers for 2026, placing Ohio State's Ryan Day in Tier 2 despite his strong record and a national championship. Coaches with multiple titles like Kirby Smart and Curt Cignetti are in Tier 1, while Clemson's Dabo Swinney also dropped to Tier 2 due to recent weaker performances.
Key Facts
Ryan Day has an 82-12 coaching record and won a national championship with Ohio State.
The Athletic ranked Day in Tier 2, not the top tier, because Ohio State has very high expectations and resources.
Kirby Smart, Georgia’s coach with two championships, is in the top tier.
Curt Cignetti moved Indiana to their first championship in 2025 and is also in Tier 1.
Dabo Swinney of Clemson, with two titles, fell to Tier 2 due to a recent poor season (7-6 record) and fewer playoff appearances.
Ohio State finished the 2025 season with only two losses and is ranked No. 1 heading into 2026.
A second national title for Day could move him to the top coaching tier.
Swinney and Day share the same tier despite different career highlights because of recent team performance trends.
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The Cleveland Browns recently saw both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders play in a preseason NFL game. Watson performed better and is currently favored to be the team's starting quarterback for the regular season.
Key Facts
Deshaun Watson played the first half against the Chicago Bears, completing 10 of 16 passes for 126 yards.
Watson led two scoring drives during the game: a 50-yard field goal and a 14-yard rushing touchdown.
Shedeur Sanders played the third quarter, completing 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Sanders is scheduled to start the Browns next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
ESPN insider Daniel Graziano says Watson is currently the favorite to start Week 1 for the Browns.
Watson has not played a regular-season game since October 2024 due to two Achilles injuries.
Sanders played eight games last season with mixed results: 1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
If Sanders does not perform well in the next game, Watson is likely to keep the starting job since he has more experience.
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The Dallas Cowboys are having a calm preseason training camp compared to past years. Changes in team management and fewer contract disputes have helped focus attention on the players and their performance on the field.
Key Facts
The Cowboys signed well-known players like pass rusher Von Miller.
Star player Quinnen Williams signed a contract extension.
Wide receiver George Pickens is playing under a franchise tag without usual salary conflicts.
Owner Jerry Jones has changed his approach to avoid past contract drama.
Reporters are focusing more on the team’s gameplay than off-field issues.
The Cowboys have a strong offensive lineup, including CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott.
The defense improved with new player Caleb Downs, praised by Jerry Jones and known as a top safety.
Downs is expected to play in the nickel position, adding strength to the defense.
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Islam Makhachev won the UFC Welterweight Championship fight against Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision. Carlos Prates, who may be Makhachev’s next challenger, criticized Makhachev’s fighting style as boring and said he learned ways to defend against Makhachev’s takedowns.
Key Facts
Islam Makhachev won the main event at UFC 330 against Ian Machado Garry.
Makhachev won by unanimous decision after five rounds.
Makhachev controlled most of the fight with seven takedowns out of 15 attempts.
Carlos Prates attended the fight and later criticized Makhachev’s grappling style as boring to watch.
Prates said he prefers striking (punching and kicking) over grappling (wrestling on the ground).
Prates believes he is better at kickboxing than Makhachev.
Prates signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC and is next in line for a title shot.
Prates lost to Ian Machado Garry in a previous fight in April 2023 by unanimous decision.
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Bill Belichick has chosen Billy Edwards Jr. as the starting quarterback for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. Edwards, who has played for multiple colleges, including Maryland and Wisconsin, will compete for the position after recovering from a knee injury.
Key Facts
Bill Belichick is the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.
Billy Edwards Jr. was named the starting quarterback.
Edwards previously played at Maryland, Wake Forest, and Wisconsin.
At Maryland in 2024, Edwards completed 65% of his passes, threw for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.
Edwards suffered a left knee injury while playing for Wisconsin last year, limiting his playtime.
Edwards is 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds, with a history of scoring rushing touchdowns (13 career rushing TDs).
Miles O’Neill, a younger quarterback from Texas A&M, was the other candidate for the starting job.
Belichick needs good results this season as he works to improve the team’s performance after a 4-8 record last year.
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Frank Gansz Jr., a football coach known for his work with special teams, died at age 64. He coached in the NFL, college football, and the United Football League, most recently for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Key Facts
Frank Gansz Jr. was 64 years old when he died.
He was the special teams coordinator for the St. Louis Battlehawks since February.
Gansz coached special teams for NFL teams including the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens.
He played college football as a defensive back at The Citadel.
He began coaching as a graduate assistant at several colleges before moving to professional teams.
Gansz also coached at UCLA and SMU, mentoring notable players like kicker Kai Forbath.
Former players and coaches praised him for teaching both football skills and life lessons.
He was the son of Frank Gansz Sr., former Kansas City Chiefs head coach.
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The Indiana Fever won an exciting overtime game against the Atlanta Dream, breaking the WNBA cable viewership record with 2.6 million average viewers and a peak of 4 million. Star players Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard played key roles, and the Indiana Fever extended their winning streak to four games.
Key Facts
The game was between the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever.
Indiana Fever won the game 95-91 in overtime.
The game set a new WNBA record for cable TV viewers, averaging 2.6 million and peaking at 4 million.
Kelsey Mitchell scored a critical 3-pointer for Indiana to tie the game near the end of regulation.
Caitlin Clark scored 26 points and had 9 assists; she was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Indiana Fever won their fourth consecutive game and are close to third place in the WNBA standings.
Atlanta Dream dropped one spot below Indiana but both teams are aiming for the playoffs.
Both teams played again shortly after, with Indiana visiting Toronto and Atlanta playing Las Vegas.
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Von Miller, a well-known NFL player, signed a one-year contract worth $5.5 million with the Dallas Cowboys. Miller, who grew up in Dallas, said playing for his hometown team feels like a "dream within a dream" as he approaches the final season of his career.
Key Facts
Von Miller signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys for $5.5 million.
The Cowboys have a strong defense but wanted another player to pressure the quarterback.
Miller has played 15 NFL seasons with teams including the Broncos, Bills, Rams, and Commanders.
He has 138.5 career sacks, which ranks ninth all-time in the NFL.
Miller has earned eight Pro Bowl selections and won two Super Bowl rings.
He was the Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos.
Despite being 37 years old, Miller had nine sacks last season and remains productive.
Playing for Dallas lets Miller end his career in his hometown.
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