Liverpool survived a scare to get their Champions League campaign off to a winning start as they came from behind to beat Milan 3-2 at Anfield last night. The hosts took an early lead through Trent Alexander-Arnold before quickfire goals from Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz gave the Rossoneri a 2-1 lead at half-time. Liverpool rallied after the break however, with Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson sealing all three points. Manchester City are also up and running after they beat RB Leipzig 6-3 at the Etihad. Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick for the visitors to keep them in a lively tie but last year's beaten finalists kept their noses in front throughout, with Jack Grealish scoring on his Champions League debut. Elsewhere a late Rodrygo strike gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win away to Inter, PSG were held 1-1 away by Club Brugge, Ajax thrashed Sporting 5-1 in Lisbon while Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland gave Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 win at Besiktas. Tonight the Europa Legue begins with Celtic in action away to Real Betis and West Ham taking on Dinamo Zagreb (5.45pm). Later in the evening, Leicester host Napoli (8pm). In the Europa Conference League, Tottenham take on Rennes (5.45pm).
It has been a positive few weeks off the pitch for the Ireland women's football team, with Sky announced as a standalone sponsor and the news both they and the men's team will receive the same amount in match fees going forward. However this morning Mary Hannigan has suggested it is now time to see some progress on the pitch. She writes: "It's debatable how useful Fifa rankings are in assessing progress, but for what it's worth, Ireland have fallen a place to 33 since Pauw took over from Colin Bell two years ago this month. And even though the FAI gave her a new two-year deal in February of last year, that's not the trajectory they would have anticipated when they appointed someone with a chunky international CV."
In his column this morning Ciarán Murphy has reflected on the tears which flooded after Novak Djokovic missed the chance to secure all four Grand Slam titles, as he was beaten in the US Open final by Daniel Medvedev. Djokovic was savouring rare warmth from the crowd in defeat - something Tyrone would never do. He writes: "The day a Tyrone footballer describes getting the love and respect of his fellow Gaels in defeat as the happiest day of his life, is the day that will prompt the county to withdraw from the All-Ireland championship altogether."
Ireland's Garry Ringrose is on the comeback trail - again - as the new rugby season approaches. And as he builds towards his latest return from shoulder surgery, he is ready to put the disappointment of missing out on Lions selection behind him - with Warren Gatland's South Africa snub not a complete surprise. He said: "I was disappointed, like anyone. I wasn't naive to the fact that I didn't have the best year in the lead-up to it. It was unlucky I guess, probably a couple of years' worth of injuries squeezed into the one season but that's just kind of how it goes."
America at Large: Horrific allegations likely to cost $100 million pitcher his career
Darragh Ó Sé: Mayo fail to do the basics right when it really matters
Club Bruges hold Paris Saint-Germain as French club’s stars fail to shine
Ciarán Murphy: Come off it Novak, you wouldn’t see Tyrone seeking popularity
Today's America at Large column looks at the allegations made against the LA Dodgers' $102 million pitcher Trevor Bauer, after a woman filed for a temporary domestic violence restraining order him earlier this year, alleging the 30-year-old had sexually assaulted her at his home in Pasadena. This comes after the Dodgers made him baseball's highest paid just seven months ago.
And Gordon Elliott enjoyed his first winner since returning from his six-month suspension yesterday, in the form of evens favourite Fancy Foundations at Sligo.
