Yesterday's results & headlines

Doncaster's Betfred St Leger Festival got under way on Thursday and delivered a strong opening card ahead of today's Cup showpiece. Musical Times took the Betfred May Hill Stakes, Waardah landed the Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes, and the well-backed Night In Vegas struck in the Weatherbys £300,000 Two-Year-Old Stakes, while Speed Of Sound got the afternoon rolling in the Carrie Red EBF Fillies' Nursery Handicap. It sets up a bumper four days at the Yorkshire track running through to Sunday's St Leger itself.

On the football side, this week's Carabao Cup third round continued to generate headlines. Crystal Palace eased into round four with a 3-0 win over Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park, Jorgen Strand Larsen scoring twice either side of a Daichi Kamada finish. At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland saw off fellow top-flight side Hull City 1-0 thanks to a delightful late dink from Chemsdine Talbi, and Newcastle United needed an 81st-minute Joe Willock winner to edge past Millwall at The Den.

The transfer story of the week broke on Tyneside, with Lewis Hall understood to have agreed a new, improved five-year contract at Newcastle that contains no release clause — a deal that leaves Manchester United's long-standing interest firmly parked for now.

Today's fixtures & previews

Racing: Doncaster Cup day

Friday is day two of the St Leger Festival and the pick of a five-race ITV card. The Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed) kicks the feature action off at 13:15, followed by the Betfred Leger Legends Classified Stakes at 13:50. The card's centrepiece, the Group 2 Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup, is off at 15:00, with the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap following at 15:35.

Racing: Chester

Chester stages a seven-race flat card running from 13:37 to 17:03 on the tight, turning Roodee circuit, a track that historically rewards horses drawn to race prominently.

Football

There's no Premier League action today, but England's Women's Under-20s are in FIFA U20 Women's World Cup Group B action against Brazil, kicking off at 14:00 at the Bielsko-Biała Stadium in Poland. Domestically, attention turns to Saturday, when Premier League football returns with newly promoted Hull City hosting Chelsea, Crystal Palace facing fellow promoted side Ipswich Town, and champions Arsenal making the long trip north to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, kick-off 20:00. Liverpool host Fulham at Anfield on Saturday afternoon looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Betting tips & odds analysis

Player news & injury updates

Arsenal sweat on Saliba, Timber doubts

William Saliba remains Arsenal's biggest concern, with his back problem expected to keep him sidelined beyond the international break. Jurrien Timber trained with the group this week but remains a doubt, while Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera were both assessed for knocks before Sunday's win over Chelsea and are expected to be available again once domestic action resumes.

Liverpool's returning trio

Liverpool expect Joe Gomez back in full training next week, with Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa also due to rejoin the group during the international break — a welcome boost to Arne Slot's options as the fixture list thickens.

Lewis Hall ties down his Newcastle future

Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle is understood to be a "huge admirer" of Lewis Hall and regards the left-back as central to his plans. The club's new five-year contract, thought to be free of any release clause, is designed to close the door on Manchester United, who explored a move over the summer without success and may return in a future window.

Brentford opens talks with Schade

Brentford have started negotiations over a new contract for Kevin Schade, whose form has again attracted admiring glances from elsewhere in the top flight, underlining the west London club's determination to keep hold of key assets after previous high-profile departures.