The paperback of ‘States of Play’ is out now in the US 🇺🇸 www.barnesandnoble.com/w/states-of-...

Amid the cynicism of the modern game, and even how the World Cup is used, there is a glorious purity to this week of games and the idea of qualifying There’s nothing like it, such stakes produce incredible football - and it only happens every four years www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

International breaks can turn people off but there's little in football like the final week of World Cup qualification. And there's never been a night like 17 November 1993. Piece from 2020 where I spoke to many involved www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

In my free Monday newsletter today: whether Liverpool made the unFerguson and unBoot Room sentimental decision in not letting Salah go Also: - a re-energised Guardiola - Andrews' fine work - questions of Howe - Arsenal positive and negative Sign up here: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

For anyone in or near Gibraltar on Friday, I’ll be speaking about ‘States of Play’ at the literary festival. Tickets here: www.buytickets.gi/events/gibun...

City have been very good but this feels weirdly worse for Liverpool than the bad run (which this of course now revives). It feels less explainable, and like a new set of problems have just come up.

Amorim: "We need to be more aggressive. The three points were there. The space was there. We were too comfortable... the game was there to take."

Amorim: "We have a lot of problems. I know people see results and think we are improving."

Thomas Frank: "On any other day, we win it."

A game hard to make sense of. Felt United had general superiority in play, and should have really wrapped up a win. Spurs should impressive resolve amid personnel absences, but have obvious (and fixable) issues. Felt it was more dictated by a United complacency - then response.

I know it's sung ironically (although, at this point, for some, is it!) but singing "champions of Europe" for a winning a European competition that isn't the European Cup/Champions League leaves me shaking my head.

Striking how Spurs sort of just... stop beyond the United halfway. United have so much more to hurt them with.

United finding their feet a bit, after I think they were surprised by Spurs' formation.

In my newsletter today Also: - how a position type spread - some of Madrid squad put out by Alonso - more player welfare/calendar tension re Fifa Sign up here: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Wolves have approached Middlesbrough over Rob Edwards.

Honoured to be nominated for @thefsa.bsky.social writer of the year, given the work they do You can vote for me or any of the other fine writers on the list below - with a shout to fellow @the-independent.com nominee (different category!) @adamclery.bsky.social www.surveymonkey.com/r/fsa-awards...

In my newsletter today, everyone talks about how good the data that Brighton and now Hearts use is, but with little explanation as to *why* it's so good I spoke to some of the few who know, as Jamestown Analytics are now a major force Sign up here: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Disrupting a social media break from a two-week holiday in Japan (recommendations welcome) to say it’s an honour for my book ‘States of Play’ to be shortlisted for the prestigious William Hill sports book of the year - especially given the list of nominees

Video piece There’s already one big change from Manchester United last season, and it’s how they’re flooding the opposition box youtu.be/2F8khVVk0IY?...

Video piece: the Salah issue, what’s happening, and what next youtu.be/R-kQ9I2GWk4?...

My newsletter will still be sent both Fridays with BIG discussions - including why exactly Brighton’s data is so good for recruitment - but taking a break for two Mondays Sign up here www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

I complete a run of THREE successive @liberopodcast.bsky.social before a two-week break This week, with @rorysmith.bsky.social and @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social on Postecoglou, coaching choices and the main character energy of Premier League managers pod.fo/e/3415bc

On my free Monday newsletter today - what's eating Salah? Why is it going badly? Also how United exposed a particular issue that rival clubs have noticed in Liverpool, and Forest's latest thinking Sign up here: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Once lampooned, Maguire is a model of perseverance, a quality United needed at Anfield They got the luck that has deserted them in other games, amid positive signs Liverpool created so much but the whole still isn't right www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Once lampooned, Maguire is a model of perseverance, a quality United needed at Anfield They got the luck that has deserted them in other games, amid positive signs Liverpool created so much but the whole still isn't right www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

First time Amorim has successive Premier League wins at Manchester United - which may be psychologically significant as much as anything, especially given where it came.

Of Liverpool's five fit major signings (Leoni, who looked good, now injured), only one of them has looked even close to settled, and he's on the bench.

Entertaining if slightly shapeless match. United matching the intensity of their first half against Chelsea, and look so much better than, say, the Brentford game two weeks ago

No midfields please, we're Britain's two biggest clubs.

Forest want Silva, but Fulham would want £10m www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Postecoglou sacked

Given the expectation to win immediately, and given a squad built for the total opposite of his preferred ideology, you really have to wonder why Postecoglou took this job

Having surveyed some of the reaction to this, I find it incredible people think Roy Keane was some duffer workhorse, as opposed to the best midfielder in the world - which is absolutely what he was bsky.app/profile/migu...

A very pointed final line in a statement from the UK Football Policing Unit on the Maccabi story “if the government want a role in regulating football events that could be termed ‘events of national significance’, then they need to bring forward legislation”

Football's "end of history" moment For 16 years, Guardiola's "positional" game was THE best practice in a homogenised sport Now it's not As everyone including Pep looks to individual magic, set pieces, counters, there's new uncertainty about what next www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The idea of a team’s “moment” and the debate around Arsenal Discussed on the new @liberopodcast.bsky.social with me, @rorysmith.bsky.social and @jonawils.bsky.social pod.fo/e/33ee10

Enjoyable purely as a film - watching it as a current working journalist, who was utterly consumed by this at the time (and did a thesis on the media coverage), I have questions about certain decisions Full piece on @the-independent.com closer to release! bsky.app/profile/migu...

Media screening

High-profile players have been privately complaining about how so much of the game is now "duels" www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Football's "end of history" moment For 16 years, Guardiola's "positional" game was THE best practice in a homogenised sport Now it's not As everyone including Pep looks to individual magic, set pieces, counters, there's new uncertainty about what next www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Tuchel says he'll speak to omitted stars before November, as he admits he felt "nervous" before Latvia about qualifying Also leaves Germany out of an admittedly on-the-spot pick of his favourites www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Harry Kane and the key sporting trick of wiping failure He says he doesn't even think of the penalty against France, and is focusing on 100 England goals www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

I think Tuchel's management of Bellingham has been admirable. It sends a new message on stars, and if it is indeed about squad standards/"intimidating" teammates, good to try shape behaviour now (as he did with Neymar) rather than June www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

England are the first European team to qualify for 2026 and while there are still issues to solve - including the management of Bellingham - it does reflect how they are part of a small group of top sides, in what is currently a thin field www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Now an ironic: "Our support is f**king shit" bsky.app/profile/did:...

The England fans not too happy with Tuchel's comments about atmosphere "Thomas Tuchel, we'll sing when we want" "Are we loud enough for you" Now: "Tuchel give us a wave"

Riga

Tuchel warns Rashford he's not out of a precarious moment yet as he urges him to make right decisions and keep consistency www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

On the latest @liberopodcast.bsky.social, me, @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social and @jonawils.bsky.social discuss Jude Bellingham and England, the country’s relationship with stars and why Real Madrid are the best vehicle for them pod.fo/e/33cc5a

Quite a day for football's soft power in Egypt. Trump shaking hands with Man City owner Sheikh Mansour as he talks about how his state has "limitless cash" and then Infantino appearing at the end of the photo of world leaders.