Yesterday's results & headlines

The 2026-27 Premier League season kicked off in dramatic fashion on Sunday, and no storyline was bigger than Alexander Isak's return to St James' Park as a Liverpool player. Newcastle raced into a fourth-minute lead through Anthony Elanga, finishing off William Osula's assist, and the hosts thought they had snatched a huge opening-day win when substitute Joe Willock struck within seconds of coming on. But Liverpool would not be denied: Cody Gakpo levelled after the break from a Ryan Gravenberch assist, and Dominik Szoboszlai converted a stoppage-time penalty in the 96th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw in a breathless finish on Tyneside.

Across the country, Brighton produced the result of the day, thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex in a nightmare start for Unai Emery's men. Victor Lindelof's own goal and a close-range Maxim De Cuyper finish set the platform before Jack Hinshelwood struck twice inside two first-half minutes to put the game beyond doubt. Villa's afternoon worsened further when João Gomes was sent off on his league debut five minutes before the interval.

Manchester City needed a late twist of their own to open the Enzo Maresca era with a win, coming from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Etihad. Marcus Tavernier had given the Cherries a shock 26th-minute lead, but City struck twice in the closing stages, with Josko Gvardiol's 90+1 winner — set up by Rayan Cherki — completing the comeback.

Elsewhere, all eyes were on the transfer front, with Isak's British-record £125m switch to Liverpool finally rubber-stamped after a summer-long saga, while Real Madrid confirmed the arrival of Denzel Dumfries and Nathan Ake completed a move to Fenerbahce as clubs raced to tie up business before deadline day.

Today's fixtures & previews

Football

The Premier League's opening round wraps up tonight with a west London derby as Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage, kicking off at 20:00 BST on Monday Night Football. It is a night of fresh starts for both clubs: Xabi Alonso takes charge of Chelsea for a competitive fixture for the first time, while Alvaro Arbeloa begins life as Fulham boss following Marco Silva's departure. Chelsea have won six of their last eight visits to Craven Cottage but were beaten there in January, meaning back-to-back defeats at the same venue would be unprecedented for the Blues since 1979.

Horse racing

It's a solid Monday card for UK racing with three meetings. Musselburgh stages six flat races from 14:15 to 16:45 on good, good-to-soft-in-places going, headlined by the Irish EBF Maiden Stakes and the Watch On Racing TV Handicap. Brighton runs a six-race flat card from 14:30 to 17:00, while Windsor hosts its regular Monday evening flat meeting from 17:13 to 19:48.

Tennis

Qualifying week for the US Open begins in New York, with mixed doubles action and singles qualifying underway. British interest includes Jack Draper in men's singles qualifying, plus doubles specialists Henry Patten, Neal Skupski and Lloyd Glasspool all in mixed doubles action, though Emma Raducanu will not feature after withdrawing from the hard-court swing with a stress fracture.

Betting tips & odds analysis

Player news & injury updates

Isak completes British-record Liverpool move

Alexander Isak's protracted transfer saga finally concluded this month with a British-record move to Liverpool, reported at around £125-130m. The Sweden striker missed Newcastle's early pre-season fixtures amid the dispute before the switch was completed, and he was an unused option as Liverpool visited his old club on the opening weekend.

Rodri targeting late-August return

Manchester City's Rodri underwent successful minor back surgery after Spain's World Cup triumph and is expected to return before the end of August, according to reports, though he was not risked for the win over Bournemouth. His continued absence leaves Enzo Maresca light in central midfield for the visit of Bournemouth and beyond.

Fulham light in defence for Chelsea visit

Alvaro Arbeloa will be without suspended centre-back Joachim Anderson and injured captain Tom Cairney for tonight's derby, though summer arrivals Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios — both following Arbeloa from Real Madrid — give the Cottagers fresh attacking options. Chelsea, for their part, are missing only the suspended Wesley Fofana.

Villa suffer Gomes blow

Aston Villa's difficult start to the season was compounded by João Gomes' first-half red card on his league debut against Brighton, meaning Unai Emery's midfielder will now serve a suspension as Villa look to regroup after Sunday's 4-0 defeat.

Raducanu sidelined for US Open

Emma Raducanu will miss the US Open after being diagnosed with a stress fracture, ending her hard-court swing early. British hopes at Flushing Meadows rest instead with Jack Draper, who begins his campaign in qualifying this week.