Manchester City pull clear, Islam Slimani lifts Leicester

Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Kelechi Iheanacho shone as Manchester City crushed Bournemouth 4-0 on Saturday to provisionally go five points clear in the Premier League.

League debutant Ilkay Gundogan also found the net for Pep Guardiola’s City, who have made their best ever start to a season with eight consecutive wins in all competitions.

Full debutant Islam Slimani scored twice as champions Leicester City won 3-0 at home to Burnley and there were also wins for Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion.

At the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola made four changes to the team that had outclassed Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League, with Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Nolito and Iheanacho coming in.

Jack Wilshere, on loan from Arsenal, made his first Bournemouth start, but it was to prove an afternoon to forget for the England international.

He gave away the free-kick that led to City’s 15th-minute opener, De Bruyne cleverly stroking the set-piece beneath the jumping wall and into the bottom corner.

The Belgian was involved in the hosts’ second goal 10 minutes later, moving Nolito’s pass on to Sterling, who unselfishly teed up Iheanacho — deputising for the suspended Sergio Aguero — to score.

Sterling added a third early in the second half, squeezing a shot over the line after Iheanacho had returned the favour, before De Bruyne set up Gundogan for City’s fourth.

The only disappointment for Guardiola was the late dismissal of Nolito for leaning his head towards Adam Smith.

Everton can trim City’s lead back to two points if they win at home to Middlesbrough in Saturday’s late game.

Liverpool and Chelsea also trail City by five points following the Merseyside club’s impressive 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Friday.

Arsenal are also on 10 points after winning 4-1 at Hull City to register a third consecutive league win for the first time since last December.

Alexis Sanchez claimed his first goal of the afternoon when Alex Iwobi’s shot flicked off him and into the net in the 17th minute.

After Theo Walcott had chipped in to make it 2-0, Robert Snodgrass reduced the arrears with a 79th-minute penalty following a foul on Hull debutant Dieumerci Mbokani by visiting goalkeeper Petr Cech.

But Sanchez made the game safe six minutes later by lashing home after Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic had saved from Walcott and substitute Granit Xhaka added a stunning late goal from long range.

Leicester are three points back in ninth place after Slimani put paid to Burnley at the King Power Stadium.

Algeria international Slimani was making his league debut after his 28 million pounds ($36.4 million, 32.6 million euros) transfer from Sporting Lisbon.

He scored a pair of headers either side of half-time, nodding in a Christian Fuchs free-kick in first-half stoppage time and then heading home from strike partner Jamie Vardy’s flick.

Ben Mee’s own goal from Riyad Mahrez’s cross completed the scoring in the 78th minute.

In the day’s remaining game, West Brom withstood a late West Ham United fightback to claim an entertaining 4-2 win at The Hawthorns.

Nacer Chadli scored twice and helped create goals for Salomon Rondon and James McClean as the hosts raced into a 4-0 lead by the 56th minute.

West Ham replied through a header from Michail Antonio — his fifth goal in four games — and a Manuel Lanzini penalty, but West Brom saw out the rest of the game in relative serenity.

Meanwhile on Friday night, captain Jordan Henderson scored a stunning winning goal as Liverpool ended Antonio Conte’s unbeaten record as Chelsea manager with an impressive 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.

In a dominant first-half display, Liverpool took the lead through Dejan Lovren before England midfielder Henderson curled home a superb effort from distance in the 36th minute.

Diego Costa reduced the arrears in the second half with his fifth goal of the campaign, but Jurgen Klopp’s men held out to register another eye-catching Premier League win.

“We played football like hell,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “It was really nice to watch. In the second half it was a bit more difficult. After their goal, we managed it well.”

Liverpool have also beaten Arsenal and champions Leicester City this season, the only blot on their league record being a surprise 2-0 defeat at promoted Burnley.

Stunning Henderson ends Chelsea's unbeaten start under new boss Conte

A stunning strike from Jordan Henderson helped Liverpool secure a comfortable 2-1 win at Chelsea on Friday that ended the London club's unbeaten start to the season and underlined the growing potential of Juergen Klopp's side.

Liverpool largely dominated the encounter and took a 2-0 lead after Dejan Lovren was left unmarked to steer home the opener and Henderson bent the ball into the top corner from 30 metres to put the visitors in command at halftime.

Chelsea fought back after the break when Diego Costa sidefooted home from close range after 61 minutes but there was little further goalmouth action as Liverpool comfortably held on.

The win moved Liverpool level with Chelsea on 10 points after five games and prevented the Londoners from going top of the table.

"We played football like hell," said Klopp, whose side have now played Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea away from home in their opening fixtures.

"It was really nice to watch. In the second half it was a bit more difficult. After their goal, we managed it well."

Liverpool were sharper from the start than Antonio Conte's Chelsea, who seemed content to sit deep and invite pressure from the visitors, who happily set up camp in the hosts' half in the opening stages.

Daniel Sturridge threatened after only two minutes, curling a shot from the edge of the area that slipped from keeper Thibaut Courtois's grasp and almost trickled over the line, but it was not long before Liverpool grabbed the lead.

Typically of a sluggish Chelsea performance, Liverpool opened the scoring by catching the hosts napping at the back.

A free kick found its way to Philippe Coutinho and his deep cross found four Liverpool players unmarked at the far post, with Lovren applying a cool side-footed finish past Courtois.

Rather than prompt a Chelsea response, the hosts seemed to retreat further into their shell, making sporadic forays upfield but rarely threatening Liverpool's goal.

Henderson's stunning second arrived after 36 minutes and was a fully deserved reflection of Liverpool's first-half dominance.

Kiev to host 2018 UEFA Champions League final

Kiev's Olympic stadium will host the final of the 2018 Champions League, the head of Ukraine's soccer federation said on Thursday.

The 70,000-capacity stadium, which hosted the final of the 2012 European Championship, will be confirmed officially following a meeting of UEFA officials in Athens but Andriy Pavelko, head of Football Federation of Ukraine, announced the news on his organisation's website.

"The historical decision for the Ukrainian football was taken in Athens," Pavelko said.

"The final of the Champions League is the common win of every Ukrainian citizen. Now we can greet each other with this feast of football to be held in Kiev.

"This is an incredible event that will take its place in the history of the country," Pavelko added. "We will do all possible for this final to become exemplary."

Real Madrid get late win in Champions League

Title holders Real Madrid fought back at the death for a 2-1 comeback victory against Sporting Lisbon at the start of the new Champions League campaign, while English champions Leicester City cruised 3-0 past Club Brugge in their debut.

Cristiano Ronaldo curled an 89th-minute free-kick into the top right corner against his former club and Alvaro Morata stole the winner four minutes into stoppage time to reverse Sporting's lead from Bruno Cesar.

Leicester won in Belgium from Mark Albrighton and Riyad Mahrez' double; and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City trounced Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-0 with the help of a hat-trick from Sergio Aguero.

But the third English club in action on the night, Tottenham Hotspur, lost 2-1 at home against Monaco.

Real had a hard time against Sporting from the outset, and the visitors' lead shortly after the restart came as no surprise, Cesar scoring into the far left corner after a clumsy defensive attempt from Real captain Sergio Ramos.

Ronaldo was denied by the left post from point-blank range late in the game but then did better on the free-kick to spare Real blushes. The whites continued to attack and even got an improbable winner from Morata against a shocked Sporting team.

But first place in this Group F went to Borussia Dortmund who returned from a one-year absence in the elite event with a 6-0 triumph at Legia Warsaw. Mario Goetze, Sokratis and Marc Bartra put Dortmund 3-0 up after 17 minutes. Raphael Guerrero, Gonzalo Castro and Pierre-Emerick got the other goals.

Leicester had a dream start thanks to sloppy Brugge defending, with Albrighton tapping home in the fifth after defender Han Vanakan headed a long throw-in over the hands of his goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle.

Mahrez made it 2-0 just before the half-hour mark with a classy free-kick into the top left corner, and then also converted from the penalty spot in the 61st after Butelle brought down Jamie Vardy.

The Foxes top Group G ahead of Porto and Copenhagen who drew 1-1 with Hector Herrero scoring for the hosts and Andreas Cornelius for the Danes.

In Group C, City needed just eight minutes to go ahead against Gladbach, with Aguero slotting home Aleksander Kolarov's low cross at the near left post.

Aguero also made no mistake from the spot 20 minutes later - after missing two penalties in the play-offs - when he sent Yann Sommer the wrong way after Ilkay Guendogan was brought down.

He completed his hat-trick in the 77th, and Kelechi Iheanacho wrapped up matters as City drew level on three points with Guardiola's former club Barcelona who crushed Celtic 7-0 Tuesday.

Spurs opened their Group E campaign at Wembley - where they now play their home games in the event - and were two goals down against Monaco within half an hour from Bernardo Silva's long-range blast and Thomas Lemar.

Toby Anderweireld pulled one back with a header on the stroke of half-time but Spurs fought in vain for the equalizer, with Harry Kane wasting the best chance.

The other group game saw Leverkusen waste a 2-0 lead from Admir Mehmedi and Hakan Calhanoglu after 15 minutes in a 2-2 draw with CSKA Moscow, who rebounded from Alan Dzagoev in the 36th and Roman Eremenko two minutes later.

In Group H, ex-champions Juventus and Europa League winners Sevilla produced a goalless draw while Olympique Lyon are the first leaders from a 3-0 over Dinamo Zagreb from Corentin Tolisso, Jordan Ferri and Maxwell Cornet.

Sotiris Papagiannopoulos on trial with Swansea

Reports in Sweden this afternoon are suggesting that 26 year old Greek-Swedish centre back Sotirios Papagiannopoulos, who plays for Swedish club Östersunds FK (the same club the Swans signed Modou Barrow from), arrived in Swansea this morning to undergo a trial with the club.
The 6ft 3″ defender is reported as being both quick and strong having played all his football in the Greek Premier League for PAOK and the Swedish Allsvenskan.

Apparently it is not the first time the Swans have expressed an interest in the right-footed player and Östersunds FK’s chairman is reported as saying that for the time being the player is being assessed with a view to a permanent move in the January transfer window.

He aroused interest from the Swans when he played for Östersunds FK v Everton in a friendly back in March of this year.

Only time will tell if anything comes of the trial but at least the club appear to be looking to move on players of interest ahead of the transfer window, rather than leaving it to the last chance saloon.

If he does sign for the club, then all I will say is good luck to whomever prints the name on the shirts!!

Lionel Messi breaks record as Barcelona hit Celtic

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as rampant Barcelona thrashed Celtic 7-0 for their biggest ever Champions League win to kick off the 2016-17 campaign on Tuesday.

Luis Suarez had a brace, and Neymar and Andres Iniesta were also on target at the Nou Camp for Barca who shrugged off a surprise weekend league defeat there against Alaves.

Bayern Munich hammered Russian newcomers Rostov 5-0 for a competition record 13th straight home win, with new German sensation Joshua Kimmich getting a brace.

Visiting Arsenal stole a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain who wasted a host of chances in a game both sides ended with 10 men.

Only seven games were played Tuesday as the Champions League debut of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City's helm, against Borussia Moenchengladbach, was postponed because of heavy rain in the English city and will now be played Wednesday night.

City are in the same Group C as Guardiola's former club Barca who needed just three minutes to open the scoring against Celtic, Messi firing into the far right corner.

The visitors could have levelled in the 24th when Ter Stegen brought down Dembele but then made amends by saving his weak spot kick.

Messi poked home for 2-0 three minutes later after a fine one-two with Neymar, who then got the third with a curling free-kick in the 50th.

The score was 5-0 10 minutes later as substitute Andres Iniesta volley home Neymar's cross and Messi slide into Suarez' pass to complete his hat-trick. Suarez added the final goals in the 75th and 88th.

"The scoreline is bitterly disappointing," admitted Celtic manager Brendan Rogers, while Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic tweeted: "Not a bad way to start this season's Champions League."

Bayern dominated possession against the Russian newcomers Rostov but it took a 26th-minute penalty from Robert Lewandowski to break the deadlock.

Thomas Mueller drilled home the second on the stroke of half-time off David Alaba's low cross from the left. Kimmich tapped in for 3-0 in the 53rd and headed home on the hour before Juan Bernat wrapped up matters in the 90th as Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed a winning debut as Munich coach in the competition.

"Things are going well and I want to continue like this," Kimmich, who has also scored in the Bundesliga and for Germany in the past 10 days.

Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid, said: "We want to be competitive until the end. The first step is to win the group."

Atletico Madrid, Bayern's conquerors in last season's semis, also won in the other Group D game, 1-0 at PSV Eindhoven. Saul Niguez smashed home the winner in the 42nd as Atletico keeper Jan Oblak then saved a penalty from Andres Guardado.

In Group A, PSG took just 42 seconds to take the lead against Arsenal with newly signed Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi not looking good as the completely unmarked Edison Canavi nodded home Serge Aurier's right-wing cross.

Cavani should have had a hat-trick by half-time as he wasted two other major chances, and Angel di Maria saw his blast saved by David Ospina before the Gunners levelled out of the blue from Alexis Sanchez with 12 minutes left.

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud and Marco Varrazzi of PSG got their marching orders in stoppage time.

The other group game between Basel and Ludogorets also ended 1-1, with Renato Steffen cancelling out the Bulgarians' lead from Jonathan Cafu with 10 minutes left.

In Group B, newly-signed Poliand international Arkadiusz Milik struck twice as visiting Napoli came from behind to beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1. The hosts had led from Denys Garmash but then had Serhiy Sydorchuk sent off for diving twice.

Benfica led Besiktas from Franco Cervi's 12th-minute goal but Talisca curled home a stoppage time equalizer against his own club who had loaned him off to Turkey in summer.

Groups E-H open Wednesday, with holders Real Madrid hosting Sporting Lisbon.

Rumelu Lukaku scores 11-minute hat-trick to seal victory

Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku's longest goal drought in English football came to an end in dramatic fashion on Monday as a hat-trick saw Everton defeat Sunderland 3-0 in their Premier League clash.

The 23-year-old — who hadn't scored for his club in 13 matches dating back to March — scored all three in 11 minutes of the second-half to lift his side into third in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Manchester City.

"I think it was all about fitness levels. I'm happy for the team," Lukaku told Sky Sports.

"That is a realistic target. If we play like we did in the first half we will be 13th or 14th. The players are not stupid — they know what they can do."

Moyes for his part said the new players he had brought in would take time to settle but that wasn't a good enough excuse for their performance.

"I was really disappointed, especially with the last 30 minutes," said Moyes.

Lukaku had the best chance of a frenetic first-half where both sides showed a willingness to attack but conjured up few opportunities.

The Belgian frontman, though, might have done better than heading it straight at young Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, the England Under-21 international still reacting brilliantly to tip the thunderbolt header over the bar.

Koeman made one change at the break taking off an under-performing Ross Barkley and sending on Spanish winger Gerard Deulofeu.

Sunderland were again on the back foot at the start of the second-half.

They lifted the pressure temporarily when central defender Lamine Kone — scorer of a brace when the 'Black Cats' trounced Everton 3-0 to ensure they remained in the Premier League in May — rose above Phil Jagielka but Maarten Stekelenburg was equal to the task of saving his 52nd minute header.

Sunderland escaped a minute later when the lively Deulofeu broke free but his whizzing shot was blocked by Jack Rodwell, only for the ball to work its way out to Seamus Coleman.

The Irish international's cross shot sneaked across goal and although Lukaku got an outstretched boot to it it wasn't enough to direct it into the net, the ball trickling wide of the post.

However, he made no mistake on the hour mark as unmarked he headed Idrissa Gueye's cross past Pickford -- Deulofeu the inspiration behind the goal having won the ball midway in his own half from Wahbi Khazri and bringing it deep into Sunderland territory.

The outstanding Gueye then went close after Lukaku scuffed his shot before Lukaku saw the crossbar deny him a second in the 63rd minute.

However, he was not to be denied five minutes later as Yannick Bolasie found space down the left, cut to the byline and crossed to an unmarked Lukaku who made no mistake with his header.

Two minutes on and Lukaku raced clear after being found by a superb sleight-rule pass by Kevin Mirallas, and the Belgian striker slotted it nonchalantly past Pickford for his hat-trick.

Former international Burkina Faso's soccer player dies during French Cup tie

Former Burkina Faso international Idrissa Ben Derme has died after a suspected heart attack in a French Cup third-round tie.

The 34-year-old, who made three appearances for Burkina Faso in 2010, collapsed early in the second half playing for amateurs AJ Biguglia against Furiani-Agliani in Corsica on Sunday

"Despite the arrival of rescuers he could not be revived. We think of his wife and daughter and will, without fail, be by their side," the sixth-tier club said in a statement on Monday.

Derme moved from Etoile Filante of Ouagadougou to Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova and then on to France.

Apostolos Vellios: First Nottingham Forest goal was very special

A first Nottingham Forest goal for striker Apostolos Vellios did, for a while, look as though it could have given us all three-points at Aston Villa as the Greek international had initially put Forest ahead at Villa Park.

In the end Aston Villa hit back with two-goals in as many minutes later in the match before Henri Lansbury scored late on to give Forest a share of the points in the closing minutes.

Vellios' first goal since his £1m arrival from Iraklis Thessaloniki was one the former Everton striker said was a 'special moment' for him responding to questioning from the BBC about that goal by saying.

'Yes, it was a special moment for me to score my first goal. I am very happy also as the goal helped us take an important point from an away game.'

The 24-year-old had the 3,000 travelling Forest fans on their feet with his goal adding he was happy to give something back to the fans, who were praised for the number in which they travelled an the support given that helped the Reds to an important point.

'The fans were brilliant. All of them helped us and this was an important point for us.'

Next up Forest are travelling again with a match at Rotherham's New York Stadium on Wednesday.

When this comes around Philippe Montanier will have Vellios (who will be looking to add to his maiden goal) to call upon again but he's admitted he feels Britt Assombalonga will again sit out for Forest.

Since being forced off against Wigan on 20th August the striker hasn't been available with Montanier unsure, at least not giving much away at this stage, when he'll be back.

'I don't think Britt will be fit. I am not sure how long Britt will be out, perhaps it will be very quick but at this moment it is a little early for him.'

Wawrinka wins 2016 US Open

Stan Wawrinka has won the 2016 US Open, besting top seed Novak Djokovic in four sets on Sunday. The match was competitive at the beginning, but Wawrinka made fewer mistakes and ultimately bested Djokovic for just the fifth time in 24 meetings between the two, winning 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

It's the first US Open title for Wawrinka, who also owns wins at the Australian Open and the French Open. That leaves Wimbledon as the lone Grand Slam unconquered by Wawrinka. His win over Djokovic can definitely be considered an upset, given Djokovic's historical dominance in the head-to-head, his place as the top seed and his strong play at the US Open over the years.

Djokovic had fewer unforced errors in the first set -- 10 of them to Wawrinka's 20 -- but he also hit fewer winners. That all balanced out in such a way that the opening set went to a tiebreak, which Djokovic won handily with Wawrinka only winning a single point. Officially, the first set ended, 7-6(1).

In the second set, the momentum shifted in Wawrinka's direction. Djokovic committed 14 unforced errors and Wawrinka converted on two of his three break point attempts. Djokovic missed out on three break attempts in the set, which ended, 6-4, in favor of Wawrinka.

Things did not improve for Djokovic there. He committed just eight unforced errors, but he only hit eight winners to Wawrinka's 18. The set was competitive, but Wawrinka took a 2-1 lead in the match after winning it, 7-5.

Djokovic quickly fell in a 3-1 hole in the fourth set, but started to fight back with multiple break point attempts to get things back on serve. Unfortunately for him, he came up short and couldn't bury the shots he needed to, and Wawrinka held to go up 4-1. Both players then held, and Djokovic was serving to stay in the match, down 5-2.

He did manage to hold his serve, but he was still down a couple breaks and Wawrinka was serving for the win. Djokovic fought hard, and got to deuce, but Wawrinka wound up winning regardless.

Going into Sunday's match, Djokovic and Wawrinka had met 23 times previously. Djokovic had won 19 of those matches, including their most recent meeting. But Wawrinka owned a 2015 win over Djokovic in the finals of the French Open, so pressure was never going to be a factor on Sunday.

Ultimately, this is just another chapter in the underrated rivalry between Djokovic and Wawrinka.

Angelique Kerber adds US Open in stunning year

Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber began her reign as world No.1 by battling past a determined Karolina Pliskova 6-3 4-6 6-4 to win the US Open final on Saturday.

Kerber, who officially takes over from Serena Williams as the world's top ranked player on Monday, won five of the last six games - after trailing 3-1 in the third set - to overpower the 10th-seeded Czech in a gripping decider at Flushing Meadows in New York.

The 28-year-old German began the grand slam year beating Serena Williams to lift the Australian Open title and celebrated again on Saturday when she became the first German to win the US Open in 20 years.

Second seed Kerber fell onto her back when a wilting Pliskova hit a forehand into the net to end two hours and seven minutes of compelling high-quality tennis.

"It's just amazing," a beaming Kerber, told an adoring crowd after being handed the winner's cheque of $US3.5 million ($A4.58 million).

"I won my second grand slam in one year. That's the best of my career.

"Actually just incredible.

"When I was a kid I was always dreaming to be the number one player in the world and win grand slams and today is the day I won my second grand slam here, especially in New York. I'm the number one player on Monday.

"All the dreams came true this year."

Kerber admires compatriot Steffi Graf, but is blazing her own trail.

Comparisons, though, are inevitable after Kerber became the first German to win the US Open since Graf claimed the last of her five Flushing Meadows crowns in 1996.

"She was always my idol and I told her so many times," said Kerber, adding that Graf had sent her a text wishing her luck. "For me it's really important to go on my own way."

Pliskova, who arrived at Flushing Meadows with the reputation of grand slam under-achiever having never before been beyond the third round of the major, shed that label by making it all the way to the final and taking on back-to-back world No.1s.

After beating top ranked Serena Williams in the semi-finals to end the American's record-equalling 186 consecutive weeks stay at the top of the rankings, the big-hitting Pliskova, who has led the WTA Tour in aces the last two season, attacked in the final but could not break down the tireless German's defence.

"You cannot compare those two (Serena Williams and Kerber)," explained Pliskova. "The game is totally different. The persons as well. Serena is going for every shot.

"With Angie, you cannot wait for mistakes. She doesn't give you anything. I have to be the one who is aggressive.

"I beat very good players. It was always my goal to pass the third round and I made it to the final."

Manchester City edge United in derby clash

Pep Guardiola got one over his old rival Jose Mourinho as Manchester City won a derby clash against Manchester United 2-1 to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The victory on their rivals' home turf maintained City's 100 per cent start to the season and inflicted a first defeat on United

City's Kevin de Bruyne was at his scintillating best and returned to haunt Mourinho, his former manager at Chelsea, by opening the scoring when he met a flicked header from Kelechi Iheanacho.

He then created City's second goal when his shot deflected off the post into Nigeria striker Iheanacho's path.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic reduced the deficit just before the break after City's new goalkeeper Claudio Bravo dropped a high cross, one of several errors during an unconvincing debut.

City held firm to wrap up the points and hand Guardiola first blood in the latest instalment of his simmering rivalry with Mourinho.

"We were the team trying to change the result," a defiant Mourinho told reporters. "We had the courage and the honesty and the dignity to go and chase with pride."

Arsenal enjoyed much of the possession against Southampton but lacked a cutting edge and needed Santi Cazorla's late penalty to take all three points after Jose Fonte was harshly 

penalised for tangling with Olivier Giroud.

"He did very well to score because he felt a heavy mental weight for the team," Arsene Wenger told reporters.

"It's a relief because we missed many chances and they had one or two opportunities having thrown everything forward."

Laurent Koscielny's overhead kick had earlier cancelled out Petr Cech's own goal.

Tottenham's Son Heung-min scored either side of halftime as Spurs rediscovered the fluid attacking football that made them such an irresistible offensive threat last season to outclass Stoke.

"What was most important was that we started a very difficult run of seven games in 20 matches with a win," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. "It was the perfect result for us."

Two first-half goals from Michail Antonio put West Ham United in control against Watford, but the hosts drew level when Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney hit a quickfire double at the end of the first half and Etienne Capoue and Jose Holebas completed a remarkable comeback with second-half strikes.

Crystal Palace got their first win of the season as they beat Middlesbrough 2-1, while Bournemouth beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 and Burnley and Hull City drew 1-1.

In the late game, Roberto Firmino scored a double as Liverpool comfortably beat champions Leicester City at Anfield.

Late strike seals Bayern Munich win at Schalke

German champions Bayern Munich needed late goals from Robert Lewandowski and Joshua Kimmich to secure a scarcely deserved 2-0 win at Schalke in the Bundesliga.

Bayern played poorly for long spells before improving late on and Lewandowski struck the winner with just nine minute remaining.

A fine pass from Javi Martinez set up the Pole for a clinical finish and Kimmich guaranteed the points in added time.

Schalke were playing at home in the league for the first time under coach Markus Weinzierl and produced an impressive performance despite losing.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar struck the bar with their best chance.

The defeat is Schalke's second in two matches while Bayern Munich top the table with a 100 per cent record under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Main challengers Borussia Dortmund travel to RB Leipzig in Saturday's late game.

After their opening day disappointment at Eintracht Frankfurt, Schalke came into the match fired up and were boosted by Matija Nastasic returning from a long-term injury in central defence.

Newcomer Rahman Baba joined him at full-back while summer signings Benjamin Stambouli, Nabil Bentaleb and Yevhen Konoplyanka strengthened the midfield.

Bentaleb and Stambouli both held their own in the centre against Xabi Alonso and teenager Renato Sanches who was deemed fit for Bayern after an injury of his own.

But it was winger Konoplyanka who threatened with an excellent run on the left flank and Huntelaar narrowly failed to force the ball home as Manuel Neuer and David Alaba scrambled to clear.

Previously Alaba had also blocked a goal-bound header from Goretzka as Schalke gradually came into the game after a slow start.

Bayern had controlled early proceedings without putting Ralf Faehrmann's goal under danger until the 24th minute.

Thomas Mueller found space on the left and crossed to Lewandowski who guided a shot just wide.

After the break Bayern failed to raise their level and it took a wonder-save from Neuer to keep them level just before the hour.

Huntelaar pounced on a loose ball and strode forward to shoot from 25 yards only for the Germany keeper to somehow touch his rocket onto the bar.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti introduced Costa and Arturo Vidal for Franck Ribery and Alonso while Huntelaar's game ended with a head injury, replaced by Olympic silver medallist Max Meyer.

Costa made an immediate impact as he sidefooted over from the edge of the box when he really should have scored and then crossed for Lewandowski to inexplicably fire over an open goal at the back-post.

But Schalke were clearly wilting from their efforts and Bayern sensed blood. Martinez strode forward into the midfield and split the defence with a superb pass - this time Lewandowski made no mistake.

Lewandowski poked wide when he may have added a second but set up Kimmich to cap a fine breakaway in injury time to secure all three points.

Serena Williams loses, Angelique Kerber into US Open final

Angelique Kerber can celebrate deposing Serena Williams as world No.1 with a second grand slam title when she contests the US Open final.

Williams 186-week reign atop the rankings is over after she lost her semi-final to Karolina Pliskova 6-2 7-6 (7-5) at Flushing Meadows.

The 10th-seeded Czech moved into her first grand slam final, where she'll meet Germany's Kerber, who accounted for Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3.

Lefthander Kerber, who leads the WTA for most main draw match wins this season at 53-14, clinched victory with a backhand that actually landed just beyond the baseline but went unchallenged by Wozniacki.

"It's just incredible. It's a great day," Kerber said.

"To be here in the final for the first time, that means a lot. To be No.1 in the world, it sounds amazing."

Kerber will become the second German to top the women's rankings, following Steffi Graf.

"For me, it's just amazing to be after Steffi the next number one player in Germany," said Kerber, who at 28 will become the oldest player to reach No.1.

The changing of the guard as women's top player also safeguarded Graf's share of the record for most consecutive weeks at the top.

The derailing of Williams' bid for a record-setting seventh US Open title kept the American stalled at 22 grand slam singles titles - tied with Graf for most in the Open era.

Kerber, who beat Williams in the Australian Open final for her first slam and fell to the same player in the Wimbledon title match, has one unfinished piece of business - getting even with Pliskova, who beat her in last month's Cincinnati final.

"I will try to take the revenge against her," said Kerber, who holds a 4-3 career edge over the big-serving Pliskova.

Pliskova's victory completed a Williams family double having also beaten Serena's older sister, sixth-seeded Venus, in the fourth round.

Williams clutched at her left hamstring occasionally in the second set and double-faulted to end it.

But a clearly annoyed Williams refused to use fatigue as an excuse for her loss and instead blamed her sluggishness more on left knee problems that limited her mobility.

"OK, I'm not going to repeat myself. I wasn't tired from yesterday's match," said Williams. "If I can't turn around after 24 hours and play again then I shouldn't be on tour.

"I have been having some serious left knee problems. I wasn't tired. Fatigue had absolutely nothing to do with it.

"I wasn't able to move the way I wanted to move."

Marinakis being investigated by UEFA over match-fixing allegations in Greece

European football's governing body UEFA is investigating the Greek match-fixing allegations surrounding the man who has been trying to buy Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Marinakis denies the charges and in a statement published on the Olympiacos website claimed public prosecutor Stamatis Daskalopoulos was biased against the perennial Greek champions and the case was politically motivated.

"The prosecutor's proposal will be judged by the Athens Appeals Court in the coming months," he said.

"I expect a fair judgement by an impartial, independent and free judiciary."

Kei Nishikori upsets Andy Murray at US Open

Andy Murray lost his way, seven consecutive games and eventually his riveting five-set US Open quarter-final against Kei Nishikori after a loud noise from a malfunctioning sound system interrupted a key point.

Whether or not the gong-like sound, and chair umpire Marija Cicak's let ruling, was the reason that Nishikori wound up coming back to win 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5 on Wednesday, it 

surely will be what's most remembered about the back-and-forth four-hour match.

After all, Murray's extended discussions with Cicak and another official about the unusual episode came during a stretch in which he dropped 12 of 14 points.

He went from a lead of two sets to one, plus a break point at 1-all, to ceding the fourth set and trailing 2-0 in the fifth.

"I could have won the match for sure," said Murray, the No.2 seed and 2012 champion at Flushing Meadows.

Murray acknowledged a brief dip in play, but preferred to focus on other reasons for allowing the sixth-seeded Nishikori to reach a grand slam semi-final for the first time since he was the US Open runner-up two years ago.

"I broke serve enough times," Murray said. "I just didn't hold serve enough. That was the difference."

Perhaps.

But Murray complained about the ruling right away, gave away the next three points to lose the game, then brought it up again with Cicak at the ensuing changeover, saying something similar had happened earlier and play had continued.

"Exactly the same thing," Murray exclaimed. "And I told you."

He also spoke to a tournament supervisor about it, pleading his case and saying, "That's not fair."

That same type of noise came from the speakers again at 4-1 in the fourth set. It also had happened during a women's match Monday night between Ana Konjuh and Agnieszka Radwanska.

The US Tennis Association said Wednesday that a "digital audio sound processor" was at fault and would be replaced before the night session.

Nishikori will face the winner of Wednesday night's quarter-final between 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro and No.3 seed Stan Wawrinka.

The other men's semi-final Friday is No.1 Novak Djokovic against No.10 Gael Monfils.