Red Star Belgrade claimed the first win of their Champions League campaign, coming from behind to thrash Stuttgart 5-1 at the Stadion Rajko Mitic on Wednesday. 

This was only the Serbian SuperLiga leaders' third ever win in the competition, and they had to come from behind to move up to 31st in the standings after five games.  

Ermedin Demirovic opened the scoring for the visitors in the fifth minute, capitalising on some slack defending to net his seventh goal of the season in all competitions.

However, Stuttgart loanee Silas Katompa Mvumpa restored parity six minutes later, driving from midfield before sending a curled effort beyond Alexander Nubel. 

The hosts were ahead just past the half-hour mark through Rade Krunic, who netted his first club goal for over two years, his last coming for AC Milan in the 2022-23 campaign. 

Red Star continued to threaten after the interval and were rewarded in the 65th minute when Mirko Ivanic ghosted in at the far post to head in his side's third. 

Krunic turned provider four minutes later, teeing up Nemanja Radonjic before the Serbian striker notched his second a minute from time with a low left-footed finish. 

Data Debrief: Fifth time lucky

After going four games without a win in the competition, Red Star did not look like a side lacking confidence as they confidently dispatched their Bundesliga opponents. 

Their victory was their biggest across both the Champions League and European Cup when conceding first, while they also inflicted Stuttgart’s joint-heaviest defeat in the competition.

Red Star also scored five goals in a game in the Champions League or European Cup for the first time since a 5-0 win at Dundalk in September 1988, while it was their biggest triumph in the competition since beating Portadown 4-0 in October 1991.

Sturm Graz climbed from the bottom of the Champions League table after Mika Biereth's second-half strike in a 1-0 victory over Girona on Wednesday.

Sturm's Biereth broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, slotting home from close range after Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga had saved a shot from inside the box.

Girona should have scored midway through the first half when Ivan Martin found himself unmarked in front of an unguarded net but he somehow sent the ball over the bar.

That miss characterised familiar struggles for Michel's men in this competition, with last season's surprise package in LaLiga slipping down to 30th in the standings.

Girona have just one win to their name in this season's Champions League, in which Sturm collected their first points of the campaign with this victory.

Data Debrief: Away-day struggles for Girona

Girona have lost all three of their away games in the Champions League without scoring a goal, becoming the first Spanish side to ever suffer consecutive defeats in their first three away matches in the competition.

Goals remain an issue for Michel's side, who have failed to score in three of their five games, only Bologna (four) and Salzburg (four) have failed to score more often in the 2024-2025 tournament.

Wednesday also marked Sturm Graz's first win against a Spanish side in Europe, previously losing five of their six such matches (D1).

Rory McIlroy has been nominated for the 2024 PGA Tour Player of the Year award.

The four-time major winner faces competition from Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele for the accolade, having won his sixth Race to Dubai earlier this month.

Voted for by fellow PGA Tour members, the winner will receive the Jack Nicklaus Award.

McIlroy won the DP World Tour's Dubai Desert Classic, DP World Championship, Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship during an impressive year, in which he also recorded seven top-10 finishes and missed just one cut in 19 events.

Meanwhile, Scheffler claimed his second major title at the Masters, as well as winning Olympic gold in Paris and the FedEx Cup.

Compatriot Schauffele won the first two majors of his career at the US PGA Championship and The Open, while not missing a cut in the 22 PGA Tour events he entered.

Tim Walter has been sacked as Hull City's head coach after just six months in charge at the MKM Stadium.

The German was appointed in May as successor to Liam Rosenior, who guided the Tigers to a seventh-place finish in the Championship last season.

However, Walter has been unable to build on that momentum, winning just three of his 17 league matches in charge.

Tuesday's home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday extended a nine-game winless streak for Hull, who occupy 22nd place in the table, and ultimately spelt the end for the 49-year-old.

"Hull City can confirm we have parted company with head coach Tim Walter with immediate effect," a statement on the club's website read. "Assistant head coaches Julian Hubner and Filip Tapalovic have also left the club.

"First-team coach Andy Dawson will take interim charge while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a permanent successor.

"We would like to thank Tim, Julian and Filip for their efforts during their time at the MKM Stadium and wish them well for the future."

Daniel Jones will sign with the Minnesota Vikings after the embattled quarterback was recently benched and then released by the New York Giants.

Minnesota has gone 9-2 so far with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback and Nick Mullens serving as the backup after the team lost rookie first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy to a season-ending knee injury in August.

Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft, now joins the Vikings’ quarterback room after being benched during New York’s bye in Week 11.

He said he took “full responsibility” for not winning more as the captain of one of the NFL’s signature franchises, but after learning of his new role, Jones asked to be released.

Jones was 24-44-1 as a starter in New York, with his best season coming in 2022. The Giants went 9-7-1 that campaign and won 31-24 at Minnesota in the wild-card round of the play-offs.

He signed a four-year, $160million contract extension before the 2023 season but tore his right ACL in Week 9.

Jones went 2-8 this season as the Giants’ starter and ranks 32nd among 35 qualified quarterbacks with a 79.4 passer rating.

Rubem Amorim acknowledges Manchester United's lack of goals is a cause of concern, but is confident they can address the issue ahead of his first home match in charge.

The Portuguese will lead the Red Devils out at Old Trafford on Thursday for the first time since replacing Erik ten Hag, when his side face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.

United are aiming to get back to winning ways, after they were held to a 1-1 draw by newly promoted Ipswich Town in Amorim's first match at the helm last weekend.

Despite registering just under 60% of possession, the visitors recorded only four shots on target with an xG of 0.8 compared to Ipswich's 1.59 at Portman Road.

"Of course, there is a concern in that, but I think we have to improve as a team," Amorim told reporters ahead of United's clash with the Norwegian side.

"We have quality players that can score so many goals. You can feel in the second half [against Ipswich], we controlled possession of the ball, but were not dangerous.

"We will try to improve as a team - Rasmus [Hojlund] and Rash [Marcus Rashford] and even Bruno [Fernandes] - to score more goals. All these guys need to improve. We can score so many goals."

The United manager also revealed he will rotate his squad as he prepares for his Old Trafford bow.

"We have to do it, especially in this moment, because we have a lot of games," he added. "And, at the beginning of something, they have to feel that they are part of the team.

"They are international players. We will try to rotate and try to win every game - have a clear idea of how to play and everybody needs to be on the same page.

"Everyone has told me it will be a special time. I just want to win the game, just to give that happiness to the supporters.

"Before the match, it will be like a new sensation. But, after the whistle, it will be one more game, and we want to win that match."

Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes says the players must take the blame for Ten Hag's dismissal at the end of last month, but insists he and his team-mates are now looking ahead to life under their new boss.

"If you change a manager mid-season, it is because things are not going as you want and if things are not going as you want, then everyone has to take the blame.

"As I have said before, it is easier to get rid of a manager than 15 or 20 players. But now, our focus is on what the future can bring, and understanding the ideas of the new manager as quickly as possible."

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler does not want to stop his fans dreaming of Champions League qualification following their impressive start to the season.

They have accrued 22 points in their opening 12 matches of the season and currently occupy fifth place in the Premier League, one point behind second-placed Manchester City and level with the respective third- and fourth-placed sides Chelsea and Arsenal.

Their run of form led to a section of fans singing about potentially qualifying for Europe's top tournament during their 2-1 victory over Bournemouth last weekend.

While Hurzeler would not be drawn on the chant, he did not exactly dampen fans' enthusiasm, saying: “I don’t listen so they can sing what they want. 

“I didn’t hear it. I was focused on the game, but I think it is always important to make the supporters proud because in the end, they pay a lot of money, they spend a lot of time to support us, and it’s our responsibility to give them something back.”

There has been surprise from some quarters at the position the club currently occupy, having finished in 11th last term while juggling the Europa League. But not from the manager, who talked up his players following their most recent victory.

"There is no surprise [at the progress] or expectations. It is belief in the process and the guys," he said.

"If you see them work everyday, you see an unbelievable work ethic. When you are a man down, you have to stick together and support each other. We can improve on a lot of points but I believe in the process."

Southampton manager Russell Martin, meanwhile, is trying to keep positive ahead of his side's trip to the Amex Stadium and following their 3-2 defeat at home to Liverpool.

"I think there's so much more to come. The fight is there, they're running," he said.

"It's about work, analyse the problems. We have to keep learning and helping the players through it as much as we can. Playing out is what got us to the Premier League and I'm really proud of the players.

Southampton were relegated bottom of the league in 2022-23, which was their most recent season in the Premier League.

Despite currently occupying the same spot, Martin believes that this season is different and that the players are doing their best for him and the club.

"I think the feeling is very different from the last time this club was in the Premier League. There's no lack of fight, they're really trying," he said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brighton – Joao Pedro

Pedro has been directly involved in six goals in his last five Premier League appearances, scoring four and supplying two assists.

The Brazilian forward scored the opening goal in Brighton's 2-1 victory against Bournemouth last weekend and the equaliser against the Citizens in the previous match.

Southampton – Adam Armstrong

Armstrong has scored three goals in his last three home appearances for Southampton, being the last player to net four in the top flight at St. Mary's since Charlie Austin in 2016.

The 27-year-old scored the only goal of the game in Southampton's only victory this season against Everton, which came earlier in November.

MATCH PREDICTION: BRIGHTON WIN

Brighton have won their last two Premier League games, last winning three in a row in September 2023. The Seagulls are also unbeaten in all six of their home league games this term (W3 D3), their longest such run from the start of a campaign since 2015-16 (10 in the Championship).

They are also the only team to be unbeaten when conceding the first goal in Premier League games this season (W2 D2). Meanwhile, Southampton have gone on to lose all eight games in which they’ve conceded first, with only Nottingham Forest also having a 100% loss rate (2/2).

And having been winless in their first seven Premier League meetings with Southampton (D4 L3), Brighton have now won three of their last five against them (D2).

However, Southampton have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games played on a Friday (W4 D2), going down 1-0 at Aston Villa in September 2022. This follows a run of four straight defeats on Friday games, a run which culminated in a 9-0 home loss to Leicester City in October 2019.

The Saints have also scored in all 12 of their top-flight games against Brighton – it’s the most they’ve faced an opponent while scoring every time in the competition, while Brighton have only faced Man City (15) more without keeping a clean sheet.

But Southampton have struggled away from home. They have lost each of their last nine Premier League away games – only once have they lost 10 in a row on the road in the top-flight, doing so between December 1973 and April 1974. The last side to lose 10 in a row in the Premier League were Aston Villa (February 2016 to September 2019).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brighton – 63.7%

Draw – 19.2%

Southampton – 17.1%

Ange Postecoglou is relishing the task of facing the "unbelievable" Claudio Ranieri when Tottenham Hotspur face Roma in the Europa League on Thursday. 

Ranieri came out of retirement earlier this month to take charge of the Giallorossi until the end of the season, returning for a third stint at the club. 

Across his previous two spells, the 73-year-old managed 96 games in all competitions, registering 53 wins, with a win percentage of 55.21%.

His first game in charge ended in defeat, however, with Roma losing against Napoli, as former striker Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal of the game for Antonio Conte's side.

Thursday's meeting will be the first between Roma and Tottenham, and Postecoglou is looking forward to the tie, as well as taking on Ranieri. 

"It's unbelievable. It just goes to show the passion he has for the game, because I'm sure there's more enjoyable, simpler ways to enjoy his life now, but he still has that in him," he said.

"I haven't come across him before, but I'm looking forward to saying hello because it's always nice to actually meet some of these people who have made such a massive impact on football, particularly in my field, management.

"He's always come across as a gentleman. I'm looking forward to meeting him, and it just goes to show that kind of bug for being a manager on the touchline doesn't leave you."

Spurs come into the encounter on the back of an impressive 4-0 victory over Manchester City last Saturday, inflicting Pep Guardiola's fifth defeat in as many matches. 

Postecoglou's side have also impressed in Europe, winning their last seven home matches in the Europa League without conceding, while also scoring 19 goals themselves. 

Spurs have endured an up and down start to the campaign, with consistency in results failing to transpire, particularly in the Premier League thus far. 

While Postecoglou acknowledged there had been some difficult moments this term, he lauded his players for some of the outstanding football they have played this season. 

"You'll see the same Spurs you see every game. It's about going out there and trying to play our football and try and be the best we can be," Postecoglou said. 

"Sometimes, that doesn't work out and hasn't worked out for us in a couple of games this year. We know that and it's something we need to kind of improve.

"At the same time, it's been more good than bad. If you are looking for likely outcomes, I'd say good but we have had the flat spots that we are working through.

"I don't discount the football we have played either. We've played some outstanding football. For me, it is about progress.

"I keep saying that we're a better side than we were last year and we want to keep improving and if we keep improving, the areas where there are gaps, we will slowly overcome."

Max Verstappen claimed that he would have won his fourth world title "much earlier" had he been driving for McLaren instead of Red Bull. 

Verstappen clinched this year's championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last Sunday, finishing fifth, a place ahead of title rival Lando Norris, which was all he needed to do. 

He joined Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel on four world titles, with only Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton (both seven) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five) winning more.

Verstappen has won eight races this season, the latest of which came in a stunning wet-weather performance at Interlagos to all but end Norris' hopes of challenging him. 

Should he fail to win another race, he will be the F1 champion with the fewest victories in a season since 2012, when Vettel only needed five race victories to triumph.

But his season did not come without its struggles, despite winning seven of the first 10 races of the season. 

Prior to his win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, he had gone nine races without a pole position and 10 without a win, his worst streak since the penultimate round in 2020, when he went 17 qualifying rounds without a pole and 11 consecutive races without a victory. 

He said after clinching the crown on Sunday that he was "very proud" of retaining the championship as "for 70 per cent of the season we didn't have the fastest car, but actually we still extended our lead".

This was seemingly on his mind after McLaren's chief executive, Zak Brown, stopped to congratulate the Dutchman on his title win midway through an interview. 

The Dutchman quipped "like you said, before I could only win it in the fastest car. This year has been a little bit different!", in apparent reference to comments made by Brown earlier this year. 

Brown said in an interview with F1's Beyond the Grid podcast back in May that Verstappen "would not be able to win the world championship today in any other car other than the Red Bull."

But speaking later on to Dutch media as his title celebrations continued, Verstappen was quoted by De Telegraaf as saying: "Things like that only motivate me.

"If people are critical and think that I can only win in the best car, then I prove the opposite," Verstappen said. 

"If I don't get credit for this now, then I don't know what else I can do. Would I have become champion in the McLaren? Yes! And much earlier too."

Up next for Verstappen is the Qatar Grand Prix, where he has the chance to make even more history in the competition. 

Should he finish fourth or higher, he will become only the third driver in Formula 1 history to break the 3000 points barrier (2989.50 currently), something only Hamilton (4847.50) and Vettel (3098) have achieved.

Crystal Palace’s point away to Aston Villa shows that the club are on the “right pathway” after a difficult start to the campaign, so says head coach Oliver Glasner.

Despite leading on two occasions against the Villans, the Eagles have just one victory in the Premier League this season (D5 L6); their joint-fewest after 12 games of a single campaign in the competition.

While Palace have failed to replicate the form they showed at the start of Glasner’s tenure at Selhurst Park, he is confident that they can build on their latest result when they welcome Newcastle United to south London this weekend.

"I’m very proud of the team's performance. We’re missing some key players in attack, but we still scored two amazing goals,” Glasner said.

"I’m very proud how they played together, worked together, fought together and believed in getting a point here. Overall, it was a good performance for us, and we go home very pleased with the point.

“I think we're on the right pathway, getting a point here at Villa is a good result for us. And now we want to improve our performance to take the win against Newcastle, because this will be necessary.”

The latest round of fixtures concluded at St. James’ Park, though Newcastle faltered at home to West Ham, with Tomas Soucek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on target either side of half-time.

The Magpies have now lost two of their last three Premier League home games (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 20 league matches (W13 D5), leaving them 10th in the table and four points behind the top four.

And Newcastle boss Eddie Howe lamented his side’s inability to put away their chances against the Hammers, while also citing the manner in which his side conceded both goals.

"I don't think anything takes me by surprise in the Premier League. We know every team has qualities. We were the dominant team at half-time and the game would have been very different if we had equalised before the end of first half,” Howe said.

"We know we made individual mistakes for both goals. It was disappointing from our perspective. Very uncharacteristic from us because we've defended well in recent weeks.

"At the end we had players out of position, so I didn't like the way we looked at the end. But up until that 60-minute mark, I thought we were the dominant team.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Crystal Palace – Jean-Philippe Mateta

While Mateta has failed to hit the heights of last season for the Eagles so far this term, the Frenchman’s assist against Aston Villa will give him confidence about returning to home soil.

All five of his goals for Crystal Palace in all competitions this season have come in home games. Since Glasner’s first game in charge of the Eagles in February, Mateta has scored 16 goals in just 13 starts at Selhurst Park in all competitions.

Newcastle – Anthony Gordon

After failing to make the desired impact against West Ham last time out, Gordon will be keen to add to his two Premier League goals this season.

The England international has created more chances (24) than any other Newcastle player this season, and has two goals in six appearances against Crystal Palace, one for the Magpies and one during his time at Everton.

MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN

While Newcastle are favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, after winning their first four Premier League away games against Crystal Palace, they have won just one of their last nine visits to Selhurst Park in the competition (D5 L3).

After being unbeaten in eight Premier League away games against London sides between October 2022 and October 2023 (W4 D4), Newcastle have also now lost six of their last eight visits to the capital (W2), shipping at least two goals in seven of those games.

Newcastle have lost three of their last five Premier League games (W2), as many as they had in their previous 17 combined (W9 D5).

However, the Magpies have kept 14 clean sheets in their 26 Premier League games against Crystal Palace. Only against Aston Villa (19) and Arsenal (15) have they recorded more in the competition, while it’s their highest percentage of clean sheets against sides they’ve faced 20 or more times (54%).

Crystal Palace won this exact fixture 2-0 in April, last winning consecutive league meetings with Newcastle between 1971 and 1972 (a run of three).

But the Eagles have just one win and eight points from their 12 Premier League games this season, their lowest points haul at this stage since 2018-19 (also eight), and fewest wins since 2017-18 (also one). This will be the first time they’ve played a Premier League match while starting the day in the bottom two of the table since December 2017 (2-1 v Watford).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Crystal Palace – 33.6%

Draw – 26%

Newcastle – 40.4%

Wayne Rooney says Plymouth Argyle's under-18 side would have performed better than his first team during their humiliating 6-1 defeat by Norwich City.

The former England captain suffered his heaviest defeat with the Pilgrims, who are just two points outside the relegation zone having failed to win an away game all season.

Plymouth, who were missing the likes of skipper Joe Edwards, goalkeeper Connor Hazard and Morgan Whittaker through injury, recorded an xG of 0.62 compared to Norwich's 3.15.

The visitors also enjoyed just 27.5% of the possession, and Rooney pulled no punches in his assessment of the performance at Carrow Road.

"We were nowhere near good enough," he said. "We are down to the bare bones with injuries, but that is no excuse.

"But if players want to come in the team and stay in the team, then they need to perform better than that. I could probably put the under-18 team out there, and they wouldn't concede six goals.

"I'm very disappointed, angry, frustrated and the next 24 to 48 hours are not going to be very nice for the players, but we need to get to the bottom of why this is happening."