Your weekly dose of goals, gossip, and general football madness from across the English game
Well, what a week to round off preseason and ease into the new campaign. While everyone else was deciding whether August counts as “back to school” season (it does, obviously), English football delivered drama, heartbreak, and enough transfer madness to make your head spin. From Wembley magic to Bavarian beatdowns, here are a few stories that piqued our interest.
1. Crystal Palace Make History at Wembley – Community Shield Glory!
The biggest story of the week belonged entirely to Crystal Palace, who lifted their first-ever Community Shield after beating Liverpool 3-2 on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw at Wembley on August 10th. This was Palace’s debut appearance in the traditional curtain-raiser, and they made it count in spectacular fashion. After their maiden FA Cup triumph earlier this year, Oliver Glasner’s side are really making a habit of these historic firsts. There’s something beautifully romantic about Palace finally getting their moment in the sun – it’s the kind of story that reminds you why football can be absolutely magic when it wants to be.
2. Harry Kane’s Painful Reunion as Bayern Demolish Spurs
August 7th brought the kind of preseason friendly that wasn’t remotely friendly, as Bayern Munich absolutely demolished Tottenham 4-0 at the Allianz Arena. The headline maker was Harry Kane, who scored against his former club but also missed a penalty in what can only be described as the most Harry Kane performance imaginable. Thomas Frank’s first defeat as Spurs boss was a proper reality check, with Bayern’s teenage talents getting in on the act alongside their established stars. Kane may have broken Spurs hearts when he left, but this felt like adding insult to injury.
3. Emirates Cup Brings Mixed Fortunes for Arsenal
Arsenal’s home preseason concluded with contrasting results in the Emirates Cup. Wednesday saw them lose 3-2 to Villarreal despite Viktor Gyökeres making his first start, with former Gunner Nicolas Pepe scoring against his old club (and having the class not to celebrate, fair play). But Saturday brought redemption with a convincing 3-0 victory over Athletic Club, giving Mikel Arteta’s side some confidence heading into their Premier League opener. New signing Christian Norgaard grabbed his first goal in the Villarreal defeat, while the Gyökeres experiment continues to generate excitement among the Emirates faithful.
4. Benjamin Sesko: Manchester United’s Latest Blockbuster Signing
Manchester United pulled off one of the transfer coups of the summer, beating Newcastle to the signing of Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko for a fee that rocketed him into United’s all-time top five most expensive signings. At 6ft 5in and nicknamed “The Beast,” Sesko represents exactly the kind of physical presence Erik ten Hag has been craving. United fans will be hoping he forms a devastating attacking partnership with their other new arrivals – because if there’s one thing United love, it’s an expensive striker who promises to solve all their problems.
5. Florian Wirtz: Liverpool’s Record-Breaking Statement
Liverpool absolutely smashed their transfer record to land Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz in a deal that could reach £116m with add-ons. The German maestro had contributed to more than 120 goals during his time at Leverkusen, making him one of the most coveted talents in world football. For a club that’s often been seen as shrewd rather than extravagant, this represents a seismic shift in approach. Arne Slot clearly means business as he builds on last season’s title triumph.
6. Transfer Merry-Go-Round Reaches Peak Madness
This week saw the transfer window reach its traditional chaotic peak. Mohammed Kudus moved across London from West Ham to Tottenham for £55m, while João Pedro joined Chelsea from Brighton for a potential £60m. Meanwhile, Kyle Walker made the surprising move from Manchester City to newly-promoted Burnley, proving that football really is a game where anything can happen. The numbers being thrown around are enough to make your average person’s eyes water, but hey, that’s modern football for you.
7. Preseason’s Final Flourishes
As preseason drew to a close, clubs across the country were putting the finishing touches on their preparations. Chelsea continued their impressive form with victories over Bayer Leverkusen (2-0) and AC Milan (4-1), while various Premier League sides wrapped up their summer tours with mixed results. There’s something both exciting and terrifying about these final preseason games – they’re supposed to mean nothing, but they’re also your last chance to get things right before it all kicks off for real.
8. Carabao Cup Draw Sets Up Intriguing First Round
The Carabao Cup first round draw provided its usual mix of David vs. Goliath encounters and local derbies. With matches set for the week commencing August 11th, Championship sides like Birmingham and Sheffield United will be looking to navigate their way past lower league opposition. It’s the kind of cup competition that can provide magical nights for smaller clubs and embarrassing exits for bigger ones – exactly as it should be.
The Bottom Line
What a week to close out the preseason chapter. Crystal Palace’s historic Community Shield victory was the story that had everything – penalties, drama, and a club finally getting their moment in the spotlight. Meanwhile, the big guns continued their big spending, with Liverpool and Manchester United showing they’re not messing about when it comes to backing their managers.
The contrast between Palace’s fairy tale and Bayern’s demolition of Spurs perfectly encapsulated football’s ability to provide both dreams and nightmares in the space of a few days. Harry Kane’s bittersweet return to face his former club was the kind of subplot that scriptwriters would reject for being too obvious, yet here we are.
As we head into the real business of the new season, the stage is set. Palace have their historic triumph to build on, Arsenal are trying to convince everyone that this is their year (again), and somewhere in Manchester, they’re probably already planning which striker to bring in in January.
The beautiful game is officially back, and if this week was anything to go by, we’re in for an absolute belter of a season.
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