Liam Tharme
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Football Tactics Writer @TheAthleticFC ⚽️ / 2:47 Marathoner / MSc Sports Performance Analysis @chiuni / former @bhafc_academy @cufcgoalkeepers
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Articles by Liam Tharme
Brentford 1 Liverpool 2: What’s changed with Isak and how did Iraola’s side punish 10 men?
This was the kind of win Liverpool need. Trips to Brentford have rarely been straightforward in recent seasons, with Liverpool twice suffering defeat since 2023, but a second-half comeback was enough to secure a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak, lifting Andoni Iraola’s side to fifth in the process. The win did, however, come with caveats.
Premier League live scores: Latest score and goals with Liverpool, Man City in action after Chelsea beat Everton
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Premier League live scores: Latest score and goals with Liverpool, Man City in action after Chelsea beat Everton Follow live with five matches taking place across the Premier League today. Max Mathews and Nancy Froston October 17, 2026 at 4:20 PM GMT+2 Man City and Liverpool are among the sides in action in the mid-afternoon Premier League games. Getty Images Premier League — latest Manchester City and Liverpool are among the sides playing as Premier League action continues.
By Nancy Froston Verified, Anantaajith Raghuraman, Max Mathews Verified, Liam Tharme Verified, Patrick Boyland, James Pearce Verified, Sam Lee Verified, Daniel Taylor Verified
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The New York Times
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How Arsenal are using their full-backs to open up opponents
Remember when Arsenal had a low-block problem? Six of their wins in April and May were by a marginal goal as Mikel Arteta’s side huffed and puffed their way to the Premier League title and Champions League final. The improved cutting edge they are showing this term owes to their full-backs. Arteta opted for Myles Lewis-Skelly (left) and Jurrien Timber (right) as his lateral defenders against Lille, giving rest to first-choice pairing Riccardo Calafiori and Benjamin White.
How did Arteta subs change game for Arsenal? Did Eze or Gyokeres take their chance?
For an hour, it looked like Arsenal would never score. From then on, it looked like their victory over Lille could be by any number. Jurrien Timber started it with a dinked finish, Eberechi Eze then doubled it with a deflected strike, and Bukayo Saka added a third in a seven-minute spell. Mikel Arteta had made changes to his Premier League team, bringing in Eze on the left, Viktor Gyokeres up front and Mikel Merino in midfield.
Paris Saint-Germain have started the season slowly. Are they still Europe’s best side?
The best way to describe Paris Saint-Germain’s start to the season is contradictory. They opened 2026-27 by beating Aston Villa to win the European Super Cup, then lost the French equivalent away to Lens. Despite Kyllian Antonio’s first-half red card reducing Lens to 10 men, PSG struggled to cut through. When their big chance arrived in the 80th minute, Ousmane Dembele skied his volley and Lens saw out the 1-0 win.
Jacob Kiplimo ran the third-fastest marathon in history, a feat that is almost forgotten
Jacob Kiplimo has big dreams. “My target is to get a gold medal in the Olympics,” he says from his training camp in Uganda. And why not? The 25-year-old Ugandan belies his years. The half and full marathon, historically, were for 30-something athletes who could no longer compete on the track. But already Kiplimo is the third-fastest man in history over 26.2 miles, is the men’s world half marathon record holder and, this weekend, returns to the Chicago Marathon to defend his crown.
Fitness influencer apologises, dropped by sponsor for using a bike during Berlin Marathon
A Chinese fitness influencer with over half a million social medial followers has publicly apologised after images emerged of her sitting on the back of a bike in the final kilometres of the Berlin Marathon in September. Yuanyuan Sun, 30, finished the race in 4:53:46, what she said was a personal best, and posed afterwards for photos with the medal.
Harry Kane, England’s striker ‘problem,’ and signs of attacking variety under Tuchel
A double for Harry Kane in England’s 7-0 drubbing of Croatia, the biggest win in Nations League history, took the striker onto 89 international goals. It’s when, not if, he hits a century. Kane scored six times at the World Cup this summer, with 2026 being the third calendar year he has netted double digits for his country (after 16 goals in 2021 and 12 in 2019).
The science behind Cavan Sullivan’s custom Adidas cleats: Foot scans, algorithms and 3D printing
“This is not just some prototype that we’re doing proof-of-concept with,” says Nolan Kim. “This is a fully functional product that’s performing at the highest level.” As he talks, he picks up Cavan Sullivan’s new cleat from the display table. Kim, a computational designer at Adidas, is explaining to The Athletic how the sportswear giant custom-made it for Sullivan. “We’re using 3D printing; that means we don’t have to rely on making moulds or factories to make completely new construction.
Zinedine Zidane’s France homecoming sees sublime Michael Olise free kick but flaws remain
Zinedine Zidane’s return to home soil as France manager delivered, even if it failed to produce the UEFA Nations League win against Italy his side craved at the Stade de France. After a cagey opening 55 minutes, Michael Olise sparked the contest into life with a brilliant free kick, sending the ball in off the underside of the bar after a roll-back from Rayan Cherki.
London Marathon organisers decide 2027 two-day event details with ‘paper, scissors, stone’ game
Event organisers have confirmed the details for the two-day London marathon next April after using a game of ‘paper, scissors, stone’ to decide the details. It was announced in June that the one-off event will feature races on both days on the weekend of April 24 and April 25. Each day will feature a mass participation race — a mix of runners who qualified by the ballot, and those running for charity.
London Marathon organisers decide 2027 two-day event details with ‘paper, scissors, stone’ game
Event organisers have confirmed the details for the two-day London marathon next April after using a game of ‘paper, scissors, stone’ to decide the details. It was announced in June that the one-off event will feature races on both days on the weekend of April 24 and April 25. Each day will feature a mass participation race — a mix of runners who qualified by the ballot, and those running for charity.
Tigst Assefa has Achilles surgery after ‘complex rupture’ during Berlin Marathon win
Tigst Assefa has undergone surgery following a “complete and complex” rupture of her right Achilles tendon that occurred during her Berlin Marathon victory. Assefa, 29, won the women’s race on Sunday in a time of 2:11:04, the third-fastest performance all-time and an improvement on her own course record from 2023. Up to the 40 kilometer mark, though, she was on world-record pace.
Berlin Marathon winner Tigst Assefa misses world record by only 68 seconds
Tigst Assefa ran 2:11:04 to win the Berlin marathon, her second major victory of the year. It’s the third-fastest women’s performance ever and an improvement on her course record from three years ago, though for most of the race looked like being a world record run. The Ethiopian athlete, 30, produced a dominant performance behind male pacemakers and decimated the field.
Have Man Utd been unlucky or bad this season? The three problems Michael Carrick needs to solve
It’s been a humbling start to 2026-27 for Michael Carrick and Manchester United. Just five points from as many Premier League matches is the fewest they have garnered at this stage for 12 years, and there was the ignominy of a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, the first time that they have lost at Old Trafford from 2-0 up in more than four decades.
How Brighton’s ruthless pressing and ‘backwards defending’ dismantled Arsenal
To beat Arsenal is one thing. To physically outmatch Mikel Arteta’s side is something else entirely. Brighton & Hove Albion were dominant in their 3-0 win over the Premier League champions at the Amex Stadium. It’s their most impressive result under Fabian Hurzeler and their best demonstration of the tactical principles that the 33-year-old head coach, now into his third season, is building this team upon.
Brighton 3 Arsenal 0: How were the Premier League champions made to look so ordinary?
Arsenal’s turbo-charged start to the new season has come to a shuddering halt. The Premier League champions’ perfect record across all competitions was shredded by a 3-0 defeat at an inspired Brighton & Hove Albion, who celebrated their 125th anniversary (an occasion which saw them wear a special edition shirt) in style. The hosts were simply too intense for Arsenal to handle.
The Brentford Hat-Trick: how headers, fast breaks and long throws dismantled Chelsea
Brentford, particularly when they face top teams, have three main methods of attack: headed shots, fast breaks and long throws. Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea were beaten by all three on Friday night — something of a Brentford hat-trick, all scored in the same Premier League game for the first time. “I love watching us play,” head coach Keith Andrews said in the post-match press conference. For the first 60 minutes, neither side generated any real chances.
How dressmaking helped Jazmin Sawyers win medals: ‘I have to fix problems creatively’
What do long jump and dressmaking have in common? More than you might think, says Jazmin Sawyers, and the 32-year-old knows plenty about both. As a professional long jumper who won Commonwealth Games gold and European Championships silver medals this summer and is a dressmaker in her spare time, Sawyers’ life is a series of runways. “With long jump, I’ve been doing it for so long and I feel I’m experienced enough to know how I should solve certain problems.
Brentford 3 Chelsea 0: Where does this leave the Xabi Alonso rebuild?
Chelsea will limp painfully into the protracted international break with plenty to ponder. A first league defeat at Brentford since the autumn of 1938 will anchor their mood through until mid-October, further draining the optimism that had briefly flared during the early weeks of Xabi Alonso’s tenure. They were blunted at the Gtech Community Stadium, their blur of crosses repelled all night by imposing and organised hosts to ensure they carried little threat.
The tactical problems that are undermining Frank Lampard and Coventry City
It’s been a nightmare start to the season for Frank Lampard and Coventry City. A 5-0 home hammering by Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday made them only the fifth team in English football history to lose their opening four games of a top-flight season without scoring. On Wednesday, local rivals Aston Villa dumped them out of the League Cup. Coventry are propping up the Premier League, and are the only pointless team in England’s top four divisions.
Why are Crystal Palace struggling to defend?
It has been a difficult start to life in the Premier League for Pierre Sage. The new Crystal Palace manager has seen his side lose three of their opening four games, winning once. They have been without wantaway attackers Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr through injury, but it is their defensive record that is most cause for concern.
Nairobi to host ‘historic’ 2029 World Athletics Championships as London misses out
The 2029 World Athletics Championships will be hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, marking the first time that the event will be staged on the African continent. It means that London will miss out on hosting the event that last came to the British capital in 2017, while the 2031 edition has been given to Munich, Germany. The decision was announced in the Hungarian capital Budapest on Tuesday, after the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships.
World Athletics Ultimate Championships: Was the three-day event a success?
BUDAPEST, Hungary — The curtain came down Sunday on the first edition of the World Ultimate Championships, wrapping up three evenings of a new-look competition designed to modernize track and field. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said he wanted something “high octane” and a “different model,” which was deliberately shorter and featured a more streamlined programme than the nine-day Olympics and World Championships. So, what can be taken away from Budapest?
Kenny Bednarek, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden win 200m titles to complete American sprint sweep
BUDAPEST, Hungary — American duo Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek completed a sprint double at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships, winning their 200m races in world-leading times after claiming the 100m titles on Saturday night. Jefferson-Wooden, who won three sprint golds at the world championships last September, has reaffirmed her credentials with a 21.47s run over half a lap.
Audrey Werro seals 800m final victory over Femke Broeders-Bol and Keely Hodgkinson
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Audrey Werro capped an outstanding unbeaten outdoor season with a 1:55.88s run to win at the World Ultimate Championships. The Swiss athlete ran from the front in her trademark style, leading from the breakpoint at 100m. She split 57.74s at halfway and surged on the back straight in the second lap, before holding off Femke Broeders-Bol (1:56.74s, third) and the fast-finishing Keely Hodgkinson (1:56.26s, second).
Jakob Ingebrigtsen has rebuilt himself and reignited the men’s 5,000m
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Jakob Ingebrigtsen has rebuilt himself, rediscovered winning, and reignited the men’s 5,000m. Only last month did he return to the track after missing nearly a year through a stubborn Achilles injury, which required belated surgery this February.
Why the World Athletics Ultimate Championships is ‘unashamedly’ aimed at TV
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships take place this weekend in Budapest, Hungary. A three-day event which features some of the world’s biggest track and field stars competing for a share of a $10 million prize pot, the Ultimate Championships has, in the words of World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, been “unashamedly aimed at television”. Pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis will be in Hungary, but the highlights are arguably the middle-distance events.
‘It was very scary’: Tara Davis-Woodhall unsure when she will compete again after car crash
Tara Davis-Woodhall, the Olympic and world champion in long jump, is a doubt to compete at the inaugural World Ultimate Championships next week, and the London ATHLOS meet later this month, after being involved in a car crash. The 27-year-old, whose 7.20m personal best is the longest in the event this decade, explained to reporters on a video call that the crash occurred on route to practice. It left her with “a severe concussion” but no life-threatening or life-altering injuries.
Karsten Warholm and how it feels to lose a world record: ‘It was part of me for five years’
Karsten Warholm had the best view in the house to witness the very thing he never wanted to happen: someone breaking his 400m hurdles world record. The Norwegian’s 45.94-second run for gold in the 2021 Olympic final — the first sub-46 finish — had been unmatched until last Thursday at the Zurich Diamond League. Warholm could only watch on, helplessly, as Alison Dos Santos, running one lane inside him, crossed the line in 45.80s to crown himself as the fastest 400m hurdler ever.
Newcastle have a clear tactical identity under Jaissle. De Zerbi’s Spurs are treading water
Newcastle’s 2-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur confirmed more than just Matthias Jaissle’s first victory as head coach. Three weeks after replacing Eddie Howe, this performance and result showed that Jaissle’s side have a clearer and better tactical identity than Spurs under Roberto De Zerbi — who is nearly five months into his tenure. Newcastle were not box office, but they were organised and effective.
Tottenham 0 Newcastle 2 – Elanga, Wissa shine for Jaissle, De Zerbi struggling to shape team
Goals by Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa gave Newcastle United their first win under new coach Matthias Jaissle and condemned hosts Tottenham Hotspur to their second defeat in as many games to start the Premier League season. After a goalless first half, the game sprang to life just past the hour left when Elanga scored his second goal in two games after controlling a header from Amar Dedic, and finishing on the turn.
Athlos, women’s track venture, cancels New York meet and plans to ‘align with athletics calendar’
Athlos, the women’s-only track league founded in 2024, has announced the cancellation of its annual New York meet in October. The first international Athlos meet is scheduled to go ahead as planned in London, England, on September 18 and will be broadcast by the BBC, the national broadcaster, but the event at Icahn Stadium, Manhattan, on October 2 has been postponed.
Alison dos Santos breaks men’s 400m hurdle world record with 45.80s run at Zurich Diamond League
Alison dos Santos has broken the men’s 400m hurdles world record at the Zurich Diamond League, running 45.80s to beat Karsten Warholm’s mark from 2021. Dos Santos, running from lane six, took 0.14s off the time that Warholm ran for gold in the Olympic final five years ago. Warholm of Norway was second in 46.69s, nearly a second back on the Brazilian, with Ezekiel Nathaniel from Nigeria in third (47.50s).
Champions League draw: Predictions, key games, star players and surprise packages
Club football’s most prestigious competition is almost here again. The draw for the league phase of the 2026-27 edition of the Champions League took place in Monaco this evening, with some glorious-looking fixtures in store over the next few months, beginning with matchday one on September 8-10. With the draw fresh in their minds, The Athletic’s experts break down what they are looking forward to seeing, who might flourish or fail, and make their top-eight predictions.
World record holder Sabastian Sawe withdraws from Berlin Marathon due to injury Original
World-record holder Sabastian Sawe has pulled out of next month’s Berlin Marathon with an injury, event organisers have confirmed. The Kenyan ran 1:59:30s in London this April to set a historic marker in the distance and had been set to take to the roads again in Germany to defend his title. Neither the type of injury, nor the status of Sawe’s fitness, have been made public. “We would have very much liked to see back in Berlin,” race director Mark Milde said in a press release on Thursday.
The rise of Audrey Werro, the 800m track star with a 43-year-old world record in her sights
Nobody in athletics has developed quite like Audrey Werro over the past 12 months. On Thursday, the Swiss athlete headlines the women’s 800m race at the Zurich Diamond League, the very meet at which she announced herself to the world last year. Werro, then 21, left the Letzigrund stadium in August 2025 as a Diamond League champion, only the second Swiss athlete to win the final meet of the season (after long jumper Simon Ehammer).
Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-3 at Chelsea: Dynamite in attack, problems to solve at the back
Xabi Alonso called it a “performance to build for the future”. The 3-2 win for Chelsea under their new manager, away to west London neighbours and rivals Fulham on Monday, was a performance of brilliance and blunder. Let’s start with the good. The system works, at least in attack. Using the England internationals as dual ‘No 10s’ (attacking midfielders) behind striker Joao Pedro proved decisive, as all three scored and Palmer ran the game.
Fulham 2 Chelsea 3: How did new signings and Palmer give Alonso a flying start? Is Sanchez a problem?
Chelsea’s Xabi Alonso era has started with a bang. A riotous West London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage delivered five goals, a hatful of chances, some thrilling attacking football and some very porous defending (and goalkeeping), before the visitors ultimately prevailed 3-2. Alonso will have been delighted by a debut goal for Morgan Rogers and a return to form for Cole Palmer, but alarmed by how easily Fulham were able to slice through his side at times.
Keely Hodgkinson pulls out of Zurich Diamond League showdown with Audrey Werro
Keely Hodgkinson has withdrawn from the women’s 800m at the Zurich Diamond League this Thursday, event organisers confirmed via email on Monday afternoon. “Unfortunately, the body isn’t quite ready to race again after the European Championships, we’ve made the decision to skip this race and get ready for the next one,” the British athlete said in a statement provided by Weltklasse Zurich.
How Hull exposed Man United’s weaknesses: A low block, aerial domination and quick attacks
For an opening-game upset of the season, Hull City’s win at home against 20-time champions Manchester United was rather convincing. And while the phrase ‘tactical masterclass’ is thrown around more often than it should be, the game plan that Sergej Jakirovic devised — and his team executed — manifested exactly as planned. Let’s start with the shape. Hull had just 29 per cent possession and set up in a 5-4-1 without the ball.
Yomif Kejelcha regains half marathon world record with 56:51s run in Buenos Aires
Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha broke the half marathon world record with a 56:51s run over 13.1 miles in Buenos Aires, Argentina, taking back a record that he held between October 2024 and March this year. He won by more than two minutes in a 1-2-3 for Ethiopia, as Tadese Worku came second and also broke the hour mark (59:18s), while Bereket Nega finished third in 1:00:17s.
Every Premier League Sunday, writers from The Athletic will give their views on the weekend talking points so far and join the discussion in the comments. Here they discuss the strength of the new teams, the players who have stood out so far, the bad starts for Spurs and Manchester United, how the summer is going at Liverpool and Manchester City and what to look out for today. Let us know your views and what else you noticed on the opening weekend.
What went wrong for De Zerbi at Brentford? How good is Sangare? What else do Spurs need after £250m spend?
Tottenham Hotspur have spent significantly this summer but Roberto De Zerbi’s side were comprehensively beaten by Brentford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Spurs have committed to spending nearly £250m on transfers already this summer, with a deal worth up to £85m for Savinho agreed with Manchester City and one for his team-mate Omar Marmoush progressing too.
Why did Man Utd lose the physical battle and game to Hull? Who stood out in shock win?
Manchester United fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Hull City in their opening game of the Premier League season. It was a remarkable start for newly-promoted Hull. After an even opening quarter of an hour, a corner in the 17th minute fell to the feet of Semi Ajayi, who fired into the back of the net to give his side the lead. Hull doubled their lead in the 38th minute, with Nobel Mendy meeting a free-kick with his head and nodding home.
Premier League live scores: News and analysis with Hull leading Man Utd 2-0
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Premier League live scores: News and analysis with Hull leading Man Utd 2-0 Follow live as the opening round of the Premier League season continues. Max Mathews and The Athletic Live Team August 22, 2026 at 9:17 AM EDT Manchester United are trailing Hull 2-0 in the early game. Premier League Week 1 — Latest The opening weekend of the Premier League season continues today with five games taking place. Hull City are enjoying a shock 2-0 lead over Manchester United in the early game.
By Max Mathews Verified, George Ramsay Verified, Laurie Whitwell Verified, Nancy Froston Verified, Patrick Boyland, Liam Tharme Verified
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The New York Times
Verified
Audrey Werro runs 800m meet record in Lausanne Diamond League win, Femke Broeders-Bol lowers Dutch national record
Audrey Werro won the women’s 800m on home soil at the Lausanne Diamond League, holding off Femke Broeders-Bol to win with a meet record time of 1:55.33s. Werro surged smartly at 500m to cover a move by world champion Lillian Odira, 18, and had enough of a gap on the field in the home straight to win by eight hundredths. Broeders-Bol closed hard in second place, showing immense speed endurance to lower her own national record to 1:55.41s and jump three places on the all-time list to 18th.
How Yankuba Minteh plays, what he’d offer Liverpool and his similarities with a young Salah
Minteh injured his right leg in Brighton & Hove’s 3-0 friendly win against Roma this month, keeping the 22-year-old out until at least October. Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is also a target but Liverpool’s offer points to a side willing to trust Minteh’s talent and potential. Their interest goes back to the summer of 2024, when Minteh was at Newcastle United, who were dealing with profit and sustainability issues.
Arsenal vs Coventry live updates: Premier League opening game latest score as Saka doubles champions' lead
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Arsenal vs Coventry live updates: Premier League opening game latest score as Saka doubles champions' lead Follow live as Premier League champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry in the season opener. Max Mathews and Ed Mackey August 21, 2026 at 3:37 PM EDT Bukayo Saka made it 2-0 to Arsenal in the 23rd minute. Getty Images Score: Arsenal 2-0 Coventry Arsenal are leading Coventry 2-0 in the first game of their Premier League title defence.
By Ed Mackey, Max Mathews Verified, Tom Burrows Verified, Liam Tharme Verified, James McNicholas Verified, Stuart James Verified, George Edwards
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The New York Times
Verified
New York City marathon 2026: Conner Mantz, Sifan Hassan make comebacks, defending champions return
The elite fields for the 2026 New York City marathon have been announced. American record-holder Conner Mantz set to make his injury comeback in the men’s event, while the women’s field is headlined by Olympic champion Sifan Hassan. Last year’s men’s winner Benson Kipruto and women’s champion Hellen Obiri will also attempt to retain their respective titles.
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