Ipswich Town legend John Wark has backed goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen to keep his place against Crystal Palace despite a difficult start in the defeat by Liverpool. Scherpen was arguably at fault for both of Liverpool's opening goals as Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak combined to put the Reds 2-0 ahead inside the opening nine minutes.
Xabi Alonso's Chelsea have quickly established themselves as entertainers, with Wednesday's chaotic 6-3 comeback win over Leeds in the Carabao Cup the latest, and most extreme, example. The Blues have scored 16 goals in five games in all competitions, with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro, the latter not involved on Wednesday, all combining to great effect.
Dominik Szoboszlai has praised Alexis Mac Allister after his Liverpool team-mate scored the winner against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, saying "we know each other without actually talking". The Reds came from behind to get their European campaign off to a winning start, with Szoboszlai cancelling out Marcos Llorente's 17th-minute opener five minutes before half-time. The Hungarian has started all four of Liverpool's games this season and Mac Allister has lined up alongside him in the past two fixtures - the 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town and at Anfield on Wednesday.
Journalist Katie Wilson, who covers football in Azerbaijan, joined BBC Radio Manchester's Michael Clarke and Wes Brown on Total Sport to give an insight into Thursday's Champions League opponents Sabah. Wilson said the club's progress should not come as a surprise, despite their relative lack of experience. "The club is only nine years old, they had to go through four qualifying rounds," she explained.
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