England

In the build up to Manchester United’s top-of-the-table Champions League Group F clash with Villarreal at El Madrigal, caretaker manager Michael Carrick revealed that his revolution would be a subtle one; blink and you just might miss it.

“Obviously I’ve worked closely with Ole for a long time now and we do have very similar beliefs,” the defeatist inside Carrick said. “We did as players and we certainly do as coaches and manager so, yes of course, I’ve got my own personality to Ole, but it’s very similar.”

Sunday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe featured two sides that are struggling to keep pace with the top of the Süper Lig, but it’s always a monumental occasion when the European side of Istanbul clashes with the Asian. 

The scene at Galatasaray’s NEF Stadium was electric before kick-off, with players entering the pitch to one of this season’s greatest tifos. If there’s a contest going on without a reference to Squid Game these days, did a contest really even take place?

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City moved back to second in the Premier League after a stylish 3-0 win over Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as Pep Guardiola's side responded to convincing Chelsea and Liverpool wins with a reminder of their class.

Champions City dominated possession from the start against an Everton side that struggled to get a foothold in the game, but created few real openings in the opening half hour.

Chelsea kept pace with Arsenal at the top of the Women’s Super League (the two sides will clash on Dec. 5 in the FA Women’s Cup final at Wembley) by destroy second-to-last Birmingham City on Sunday in an entirely one-sided game.

Chelsea controlled 76% possession and outshot the visitors 25 to two at Kingsmeadow, with Sam Kerr scoring a first-half hat trick and providing one assist while Fran Kirby recorded a brace. 

The pick of the goals was scored in the fourth-minute by Kirby, who saw the keeper off her line and provided a delicate chip from 18 yards out.  

Manchester United sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday, a day after a fifth defeat in seven Premier League games left the Old Trafford club seventh in the standings.

Following is a fact-box on the highs and lows of the Norwegian's time at the club:

HIGHS

Dec. 19, 2018

Appointed United's caretaker manager to replace José Mourinho for the rest of the season, marking a return to the club where he won six league titles and the Champions League as a player.

Christian Pulisic is in fine scoring form as the American has scored for club and country in the last eight days. This Pulisic goal vs Leicester during Chelsea’s 3-0 victory was his first Premier League goal since opening day in August.

Pulisic Goal Vs Leicester City

Chelsea had a dominating performance against the Foxes with first-half goals from Antonio Rüdiger and N’Golo Kanté to give the Blues an early lead.

Thomas Tuchel decided to change things up front for his team in the 62nd minute with Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech coming on.

NBC has won a bidding war and retained the U.S. Premier League TV rights after major competition from broadcasters like ESPN and CBS. The American broadcaster announced a six-year extension with the EPL on Thursday.

It’s not uncommon, watching a European soccer match, to hear a British announcer repeatedly misname a Black footballer. It happens so often now I’m surprised EA Sports hasn’t decided to add the mistakes to its FIFA video games. After all, if it’s in the game, it’s in the game, right?

But what’s happening now with British and French media goes far beyond a broadcaster being unable to quickly discern a player on the pitch. What’s happening now is journalists being unwilling to take the time to discern who is in a photo before publishing it as an accused rapist.

LONDON — Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema grabbed a stoppage-time equalizer as the Women's Super League leaders salvaged a 1-1 draw at north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Spurs had looked on course to hand Arsenal their first defeat of the season but were denied by Netherlands international Miedema, who towered above the defence to head home from a corner in the 92nd minute.

It just had to be…