I can't get over that Grealish pic 😳

Manchester City

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has challenged the club's critics to come up with the evidence if they believe the Blues are breaking Financial Fair Play rules.

Thirteen months after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned City's two-year ban from European competition for breaching Uefa's FFP rules, questions about the club's spending are again being raised.

Guardiola defended City's British record £100m signing of England midfielder Jack Grealish.

The Spanish manager insists the deal was only possible because of the £60m-worth of sales by the club over the past 12 months, including the £11m received from Borussia Dortmund following Jadon Sancho's move to Manchester United.

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Meanwhile, former Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola was in a spiky mood when previewing Manchester City's game at Tottenham.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson on BBC Radio 5 Live:

"I watched every England Euro game on telly and the semis and final there in person."

On being left out of the squad: "It was actually easier because I had an injury towards the back end of the season, so I knew that even though I could've been available, I was available to be selected or to be told that I didn't make the cut.

"If I was fit towards the end of the season and I had 15,16,17 goals and I didn't make the squad, then it would've had a little bit of a bitter taste. I probably would've watched all the games from home and not gone in person.

"The goal is to get back there, there's no hiding behind that. I enjoyed my time there and I feel like I can offer something to the squad that's different to what's there already.

"It puts me in the eyeline of the manager to take note. You're judged on goals as a striker so I feel like 20 goals in a season, it's hard to ignore someone who's giving those numbers in. Ultimately the likes of Kane, Sterling and Rashford will be up around those numbers and those are the guys you're competing with. You have to stay in line with them."

John Arundell: Sad news to hear of the death of Gerd Muller. As a boy growing up he was a legend to watch and made many World Cups a must to watch. He did play in an era of many famous names especially against Holland. RIP Legend.

Image source, Getty Images

Some significant news from the continent...

Bayern Munich and Germany legend Gerd Muller has died at the age of 75.

The striker scored 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany, including the winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands.

Muller also spent 15 years at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, scoring a record 365 goals in 427 league appearances.

"Today the world of FC Bayern stands still," the German club said in a statement.

"The German record champions and entire fan base mourn Gerd Muller, who died early Sunday morning at the age of 75."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson on BBC Radio 5 Live:

"For me, I have to make sure I'm fitter than I was last year in terms of the amount of games I was available to be playing in. My conversion rate was the best it's been in a while, so if I can get more games in then that's going to get me closer to my 20 goal target. That's what I've set for myself this year.

"I usually keep my targets close to my chest, but this year I'm saying with my chest and that's what I want to achieve. At the end of the season if I get 15 goals, I can't be happy with that because ultimately I'm 29 not and the years are going by and I've still not hit 20 goals in this league. As a striker that's something that's grinding me down that I want to do."

West Ham United

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David Moyes is not renowned for his thrilling, attacking style of football.

But under the Scot, West Ham scored three or more goals in 11 league matches last season.

Only the top two of Manchester City and Manchester United did so more often.

Ed Sheeran's Bad Habits pumping out over the speakers at St James' Park.

Is that about Newcastle's defending at times last season?

Newcastle United

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Newcastle kept just two clean sheets at home last season, fewer than any other Premier League side, and conceded 33 goals. Only West Brom let in more.

They have only taken one point from their past five season-opening Premier League fixtures at St James' Park.

Newcastle United

Newcastle and their players enjoy playing against West Ham.

The Magpies have won 22 Premier League matches against West Ham, equalling their best record against any side (Aston Villa and Tottenham).

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel on BBC Radio 5 Live: "There's a lot being written and I hope I don't disappoint when I say it's a very simple scenario. When Daniel Levy wants to sell, he will and if he doesn't, he won't. There's nothing more to that.

"If a player, doesn't matter if it's Harry Kane, didn't matter if it's Luka Modric or Gareth Bale. If a player doesn't turn up for training, they will get a fine. If you don't show up to an appearance, you'll get fined. If you don't wear the proper attire, you'll be fined. Daniel Levy runs a very tight business ship.

"Probably every other club that I played at, players held quite a bit of power and with Daniel that's not the way it works.

"Generally, Daniel Levy doesn't sell within the Premier League, especially his biggest stars and maybe he is working towards a figure for that, but this is what he thrives on. I don't think he's losing one second of sleep over it. In his mind, if he wants Harry Kane to stay, no matter how much Harry Kane tries to leave, he will stay. It is all down to Daniel Levy. He's one of the best in the world for dealing with this kind of situation.

"On a business level, he is the only one that's going to make a decision.

"The way he will look at this is like this: the player signed the contract with us, if I don't want to sell them, I am not going to sell them. Daniel Levy will be looking after the betterment of Tottenham Hotspur not Harry Kane.

"This is all down to one person."

Tottenham Hotspur

In Sunday's evening kick-off, all eyes will be on Harry Kane.

Tottenham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says he has "had a talk" with Kane and "everything is OK".

The striker has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, whose manager Pep Guardiola declared his interest in signing the 28-year-old last week.

Freddie Woodman makes his Premier League debut as he starts in goal for Newcastle.

Martin Dubravka misses out with a foot injury while Karl Darlow is still suffering from the effects of Covid-19.

Callum Wilson leads the attack but the game comes too soon for new signing Joe Willock following his move from Arsenal.

Newcastle XI: Woodman, Krafth, Fernandez, Hayden, Clark, Ritchie, Almiron, Shelvey, Murphy, Saint-Maximin, Wilson.

Angelo Ogbonna starts for West Ham despite being a fitness doubt after picking up a hamstring injury during pre-season.

Manuel Lanzini has recently recovered from a groin problem but is named on the bench.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma, Antonio.

Newcastle signed Joe Willock from Arsenal for £20m during the week but he wasn't registered in time for today's game.

So who will start for the Magpies in their Premier League opener?

Team news is coming right up.

Image source, PA Media

Capacity crowds did return but...

Liverpool have condemned alleged homophobic chanting aimed at Norwich's on-loan midfielder Billy Gilmour at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The Scotland international and Chelsea loanee, 20, was allegedly targeted by some fans during the Reds' 3-0 win.

Liverpool said, external the chant was "offensive and inappropriate".

"We urge supporters to remember the inclusive values of the club and to refrain from using it in the future," the club added.

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Image source, Reuters

After 19 months of empty seats and eerily quiet stadiums, capacity crowds returned in force on the first Saturday of the new Premier League season.

Social distancing measures at sporting venues were lifted following the easing of Covid restrictions in England on 19 July.

"You get the butterflies again," added the Norwegian. "Suddenly it's a game that matters.

"We felt extra responsibility because it's been so long without them. They mean so much to us. To have that love from the fans is so important."

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Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is flying to Italy today to have a medical before completing a £34m move to Roma.

The Serie A club have been in talks with the England international's representatives and struck a deal with Chelsea over the weekend.

Chelsea re-signed Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan for £97.5m on Thursday.

It is understood the deal for Abraham, who was Chelsea's joint top scorer last season, includes a buy-back clause set at £68m.

But that cannot be triggered until the 23-year-old Chelsea academy graduate has completed two seasons with Jose Mourinho's team.