England

Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho hasn’t always seen eye to eye with his most expensive player, Paul Pogba — of this, there is no secret.

Mourinho has benched the Frenchman in the past and transfer rumors swirled around the powerhouse midfielder before the close of the summer window. 

Pogba is still arguably the best player Manchester United has, so Mourinho is a bit stuck with him for now. But that doesn’t mean he has to enjoy it.

We told you Tuesday was going to be great. We were right.

Perhaps the most anticipated match of the entire Champions League group stage helped kick things off as the UCL returned in earnest on Tuesday — and Liverpool vs. PSG more than lived up to expectations. 

Tottenham is tired. How much of it is the World Cup? How much of it the complete lack of rejuvenation by way of transfers? How much of it is the media incessantly telling us that Tottenham’s tired (although Son Heung-min told us as much too)? How much of it is the dopey-looking faces of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen? I just don’t know. 

Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg did it. The Danish midfielder achieved the kind of hit that we all dream of — the one that’s smacked so clean that it doesn’t spin, it just arrows its way on a straight course into the corner. It’s the kind of pure strike that'll undoubtedly give way to someone commenting, “So what?! I do that every Sunday in my Men’s League!” and that’s because they have absolutely zero understanding of what’s just happened here.

Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-1 with relative ease on Saturday. The Reds look like one of the best teams in England, if not Europe, right now after winning five straight to start the season. But a Roberto Firmino eye injury could put a damper on the high-flying start for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

(Warning: The images below are graphic. Proceed with discretion.)

Manchester City had little trouble with Fulham on Saturday. The Citizens scored less than two minutes into each half and cruised to a 3-0 win. One enchanting piece of Bernardo Silva control summed up Manchester City’s dominance.

Leroy Sané, David Silva and Raheem Sterling all scored for Pep Guardiola’s side, but the team’s loveliest piece of play came from the diminutive Portuguese maestro. 

Liverpool was pretty good last year, if you’ll recall. Jurgen Klopp’s side reached the Champions League final and only Manchester City had fewer losses in Premier League play. 

This year, the Reds look even better.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was reminded the hard way that fame and fortune does not make you immune to the law.

The Frenchman, who captained his country to World Cup victory this summer, pleaded guilty to a drunk-driving charge on Wednesday. He will have to pay a $65,000 fine and is banned from getting behind the wheel for 20 months.

Manchester United and England defender Luke Shaw carried his fine form into England’s friendly against Spain today while delivering a truly gorgeous assist to the put the Three Lions up early, but the 23-year-old was subsequently stretchered off in the 53rd minute after being knocked unconscious following a collision with Spain’s Dani Carvajal.

Shaw has started all four of Manchester United’s Premier League matches this season, and it was his finely taken goal that gave the Red Devils all three points against Leicester back in August.