Stories By Harry De Cosemo

• Sport

  Lukaku may be back to his best after a complicated career so far

  Romelu Lukaku has angered a lot of people in recent years. To others, he’s become a bit of a joke. At 30, the Belgian striker is not suffering the sort of decline many others have at a similar point in their careers, but he is also facing questions about his overall legacy and whether he has fulfilled his potential.

• Sport

  Jackson showing signs of becoming a key player for Chelsea

  The spotlight was always going to be on Chelsea’s attack this season. Successful strikers over the last 20 years, since Roman Abramovich arrived to elevate the club into one of the biggest and best in Europe, have been hard to come by.

• Sport

  Dortmund prove a point with victories over Newcastle

  Before Newcastle United came to town on Tuesday, the local press were scathing of the ‘crisis’ developing at Borussia Dortmund. A 4-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker on Saturday was never going to go down well, and the pressure was heavy going into a Champions League tie that could prove crucial for the direction of Group F as a whole.

• Sport

  Szoboszlai’s impact a big part of Liverpool’s reboot

  Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool reached a crossroads in the summer. Expectations around the Reds have skyrocketed since the German arrived in October 2015, and for the first time last season, everybody fell short.

• Sport

  What’s next for Real Madrid and Ancelotti when they part ways?

  Carlo Ancelotti has never discussed his future, but it feels as though the Real Madrid boss’ next move may now be an open secret. Brazil are looking for a new permanent manager and there are heavy whispers that Ancelotti will be that man once his commitments to the Spanish giants are finished at the end of the current season.

• Sport

  Watching Sancho’s career trajectory has been sad and frustrating

  The midst of an international break is perhaps when the sad reality of Jadon Sancho’s career stasis is most profound. During his four-year spell will Borussia Dortmund, Sancho looked every bit a player capable of leading one of England’s most exciting generations of players in many a year.

• Sport

  Zaire-Emery capable of growing into a real star for PSG

  Paris Saint-Germain arrived at St James’ Park purporting to know what to expect. In Newcastle United’s first home Champions League game for 20 years, the noise and fervour were palpable. The French champions, housing the best player in the world in Kylian Mbappe, were favourites on paper, but they had to earn the right to play.

• Sport

  Ivan Toney’s absence may be something Brentford have to get used to

  Few clubs represent the adage that the team is more important than any individual better than Brentford. Their rise up to the Premier League and subsequent solidification in the top flight has been built on a fantastic team ethic and detailed strategy that needs everyone to work in a certain way.

• Sport

  Sean Longstaff’s recent form shows his importance to Newcastle

  In a week when Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United’s £52m Italian midfielder, was under the spotlight, Sean Longstaff did his best to go under the radar. Tonali’s arrival from AC Milan was billed as a seminal moment in the next chapter for Newcastle.

• Sport

  De Zerbi looks the ideal candidate to replace Guardiola

  A year ago on Monday, Roberto De Zerbi entered the fold at Brighton. From the outside, there was trepidation; the Italian was stepping into big shoes after Graham Potter, the mastermind behind the club’s transition from relegation fodder to progressive challengers, headed for Chelsea.

• Sport

  Resolving Guimarães’ form is crucial after Newcastle’s poor start

  There is something not quite right with Newcastle United so far this season. Four games in, they have lost three, as many as they had in 24 matches during the last campaign. Early days it may be, but with the Champions League campaign kicking off next next, Eddie Howe must remedy the situation rather quickly.

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