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Sutton's predictions: Man Utd v Ipswichpublished at 11:01 BST
11:01 BST
Well done to Ipswich for their start. It took them 11 games to get the first win under Kieran McKenna the last time they were in the Premier League and they've got off to a great start already.
Under Gary O'Neil they have got a bit about them - they've got players who can get them up the pitch, they have got pace with Daizen Maeda and Emersonn looks a bit of a handful.
I think they could cause United one or two problems but it's unthinkable that Manchester United could lose their opening two games of the season. Their start was an absolute stinker - they were very flat against Hull.
With respect, it was an open goal start for the season for them, with Hull then Ipswich - two promoted sides - and it would be bordering on catastrophic for Michael Carrick if they lose again.
I remember the days when United used to beat Ipswich 9-0 but I don't think it will be nine and I think Ipswich will score. I think Ipswich will score first but United will come from behind to win - panic over, Carrick's the king again.
Man Utd v Ipswich: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 12:58 BST 29 August
12:58 BST 29 August
Chris Adams BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United will look to bounce back from defeat by one newly promoted side when they take on another at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Ipswich Town the visitors.
The surprise 2-0 reverse against Hull City on the opening weekend was just Michael Carrick's third loss in 18 games across his two spells as the club's head coach, and it came despite United having 71.7% possession.
It was their biggest share of possession in a league game since September 2023, but there are just eight recorded examples of United having more of the ball in a Premier League defeat.
Carrick, who gave competitive debuts to summer signings Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, said improvements were needed but added: "We'll stay calm, in our bubble... it's one game."
Rashford back in the reckoning
His side's problem at the MKM Stadium on Saturday was not a new one: how to break down a low block. In the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, it's been a familiar frustration for the United faithful, who witnessed substitute Marcus Rashford don the number nine shirt in his first appearance for the club since December 2024.
Despite only coming on at half-time, no United player created more chances than Rashford's four. Only Chelsea's Morgan Rogers, with five, created more chances overall across the opening matchweek.
The Red Devils have lost their opening two games of a Premier League season just twice; in the inaugural 1992-93 season – when they drew their third match at home to Ipswich and went on to win the title – and in 2022-23 under Erik ten Hag, results which prompted the purchase of Casemiro.
Historically, it's a fixture that favours United. They recorded the competition's joint-highest win with a famous 9-0 home victory in March 1995, the start of a seven-game unbeaten streak against Sunday's opponents.
Tractor Boys up and running
After returning to the top flight at the first attempt, last season's Championship runners-up got off to a flyer with a last-gasp win at home to Sunderland on Saturday.
It was an impressive start against a side competing in this season's Europe League, especially given the upheaval at Portman Road this summer, which saw ex-Manchester United first-team coach Kieran McKenna depart unexpectedly before Gary O'Neil took the reins.
The Blues, with the benefit of parachute payments from their 2024-25 relegation, had the third-biggest net spend of any side in the division going into the opening weekend, and O'Neil's starting line-up against Sunderland blended four of McKenna's promotion winners with seven new signings.
One of those summer arrivals, Brazilian forward Emersonn, scored on his Premier League debut. The last player to score in his first two appearances in the top flight for the Tractor Boys was Adam Tanner in January 1995.
Ipswich are looking to start a top-flight season with two wins in a row for just the fourth time in 28 attempts. The outcome of the previous three campaigns in which they recorded back-to-back early wins could barely be more stark.
Should the visitors trail at half-time, they might fear the worst given United haven't lost any of their past 400 home league games when leading at half-time (W365 D35). The last team to beat them when behind at the break? Ipswich Town, with a 2-1 win in May 1984.
O'Neil on Palacios, ambition and new signings published at 15:29 BST 28 August
15:29 BST 28 August
Marissa Thomas BBC Sport journalist
Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
O'Neil began with a team news update: "We're hoping Florentino [Luis] will be back around it. He's still got a bit of work to do but he's improving well. Azor [Matusiwa] will still miss the game, he's not quite back. Jack Taylor will still be out and Jaden Philogene won't make the game either. Hopefully we will get some better news next week but this week he will miss out. Really pleased with where the group is at, we're in a good place."
On new signing Exequiel Palacios and whether he will feature on Sunday: "Yeah, I'm sure you'll see him on Sunday. He's a talented boy and has obviously had some huge success over the past few years [with] club and national level. An incredible signing by the football club."
O'Neil added: "[After] the work that went in from everybody all summer to try to attract people to the project and what we are trying to build, you can feel the belief around the place just constantly growing and constantly improving."
On what the new signings show about the club's ambition: "The ambition that this place has, the support that they give coaches and the direction of travel, is something that, as soon as it came around, I knew I wanted to be part of."
O'Neil continued: "To attract some of the players that we have - proven Premier League players in Issa [Diop] and Sasa [Lukic], and some players from all around the world - I'm really grateful for the owners' backing. I know they are committed to making this club as special as they can."
O'Neil said it has been a "fantastic summer for the club" and he wants the fans to "carry the excitement" with them for as long as they can.
On a loan deal being agreed for Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham, O'Neil said: "No update, as far as I am aware. Sounds like you're further along with that than I am. Nothing to report on that."
He added the club are "hopefully not finished" in the transfer window and are "still working hard to try to improve the group".
O'Neil described Sunday's opponents Manchester United as "one of the most talented groups in the country" and "an incredible force", and said Old Trafford is "always a special place to go that always tests you".
The Englishman said his side will "scrap and fight and give everything they have got" against the Red Devils.
Wark rates Ipswich's start to seasonpublished at 13:20 BST 28 August
13:20 BST 28 August
Media caption,
Ipswich Town legend John Wark has praised his former side's start to the 2026-27 season after back-to-back wins in their opening games.
The Tractor Boys started their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 win over Sunderland and then beat Leicester in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
When asked how he would rate Ipswich's first week, Wark said: "First game, eight, the second game, six and a bit but to have two wins is fantastic.
"You can't get any better can you? But I think the performances were slightly different. I know there was a lot of changes.
"Sunderland were not bad but they really didn't have much of a scorer. Only way they were going to get a goal was a free-kick but I just think we deserved to win. We played a lot better against them. The Leicester game was quite easy I thought, although we didn't play well."
Ipswich move to take Villa's Abraham on loanpublished at 10:48 BST 27 August
10:48 BST 27 August
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich are progressing with a move to take Tammy Abraham on loan from Aston Villa.
The striker is poised to leave Villa Park with Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson closing in on a £65m move to the West Midlands side.
That would also mean Ollie Watkins is expected to join Al-Hilal for about £51m as Villa completely revamp their forward line.
Villa had been open to letting Abraham go despite only signing him from Besiktas for £18.25m in January.
Abraham was happy at Villa and preparing to fight for his place, but is now likely to move to Portman Road. It is due to be a straight loan, with no option or obligation for Ipswich to buy the 28-year-old.
He had scored three goals in 17 appearances for Villa, having previously played for them on loan from Chelsea to help them back into the Premier League in 2018-19.
Ipswich have spent about £150m on 12 summer signings since returning to the Premier League.
Abraham will offer support and competition to £24m record signing Emersonn after his arrival from Toulouse this summer.
Ipswich make superb start with hope of more to comepublished at 16:43 BST 26 August
16:43 BST 26 August
Graeme McLoughlin BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor
Image source, Getty Images
As first weeks of the season go, Ipswich Town's could not have gone much better.
Gary O'Neil named six debutants in his starting line-up against Sunderland (seven if you include the returning Julio Enciso) and one of the big takeaways from the opening-day win was that this did not look like a new team trying to find its feet under a new manager.
A few days later, despite making nine changes, O'Neil's side progressed relatively smoothly into round three of the Carabao Cup at the expense of a Leicester side who finished above them in the Premier League two years ago, and who Town failed to get the better of during six meetings under former boss Kieran McKenna.
Town's rise and Leicester's demise is such that, for the time being, they are rivals no more. Ipswich have left them a long way behind.
In 22-year-old striker Emersonn, Ipswich not only have a first Brazilian to play for the club but they have a rough diamond that has that crucial first goal in his new colours early doors. In the aforementioned Enciso, they may have a player who can potentially win matches from nowhere, as his captain Dara O'Shea has alluded to.
O'Neil has been quick to praise the role that O'Shea and other senior members of the playing squad have played in terms of helping the new faces settle. He has also made it clear that not everything has pleased him since kick-off last Saturday and that there is more to come from his squad. This is an exciting prospect before two mouth-watering fixtures on the immediate horizon.
With Manchester United reeling after an opening-day loss to Hull and Liverpool nowhere near the level Andoni Iraola wants them to be longer term, Ipswich can approach both heavyweights with real hope of adding to their early-season points tally.
Jeremy: Ten of the eleven who started were with us last season - and it showed. We were far too slow and lacking in drive and energy. The subs and moving Sindre Walle Egeli into the middle made a big difference.
Beardo: We were sluggish and off the pace in the first half. The press was not working as players were not tight enough and we needed to commit an extra player to it, we didn't, so they had an overload and they simply played through us. The Foxes really deserved to be in the lead at half-time. The introduction of Leif Davis was the changing point. Suddenly there was more urgency, a driving force and players started to look to run in behind a very high back line that had consistently played us offside all night.
Edward: We need another striker, Chuba Akpom did good build-up play, but his shooting is terrible. He had two or three amazing scoring opportunities and scored none!
Henry: Really happy how Gary O'Neil has settled in the club and, with all the money spent this summer, it was a really good start to the season and now the cup.
'I'm up for the fight' - Egeli on competition for placespublished at 10:43 BST 26 August
10:43 BST 26 August
Image source, Getty Images
Ipswich Town forward Sindre Walle Egeli spoke to BBC Radio Suffolk after scoring in the club'sCarabao Cup second-round winagainstLeicester City: "It was a tough match against good opposition, but we got there in the end. It was a big win. They might play in League One but they are Championship level, their players are very good.
"We had to do a lot of running but we took the transitions well. We knew that if we worked hard on the press, we would get there eventually.
"It was nice to get 90 minutes. I've been working hard over pre-season so the fitness was there. I think I played quite a good game and I'm happy to also get a goal."
On working under Gary O'Neil: "It has been great working under the new manager. He has really kicked me on. He works well with all of the players.
"It is difficult to say what he has done for me, it is just the confidence really. I think he believes in me so I just want to do everything in training sessions and in matches to show why he has confidence."
On whether there were any discussions about him going out on loan this season: "There hasn't been any talks about that. Obviously there is a lot of competition, but you cannot just run away from the competition.
"I want to compete with my team-mates and hopefully get as many Premier League minutes as possible. I'm up for the fight."
When is the EFL Cup third-round draw?published at 07:00 BST 26 August
07:00 BST 26 August
Jonty Colman BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
The third-round draw for the 2026-27 Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday, 26 August following the conclusion of Preston North End vs Everton.
Nine Premier League clubs taking part in European football join the 23 first-round winners from across the English Football League.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Brighton and Crystal Palace will enter the competition at this stage, as the top eight Premier League clubs from the 2025-26 season plus Crystal Palace as Conference League winners.
It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of the third round tie between Preston North End and Everton, kicking off at 20:00 BST.
Unlike the opening two rounds of the competition, the third round draw is not regionalised.
However, before the match at Deepdale there will be a pre-draw determining which of the Champions League and Europa League clubs will play at home or away in round three.
In order to avoid potential scheduling issues, the eight Champions League and Europa League clubs cannot be drawn against each other in round three.
When the draw takes place, the first eight fixtures decided are the ones involving clubs in the Champions League and Europa League. The remainder of the draw will be an open draw as usual.
Due to clashes with opening weeks of the Champions League and Europa League seasons, the third round will be played across two different weeks. They are the weeks commencing Monday, 7 and Monday, 14 September, 2026.
Ipswich 3-1 Leicester: What O'Neil saidpublished at 23:19 BST 25 August
23:19 BST 25 August
Media caption,
Ipswich Town boss Gary O'Neil speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk: "It's a tough game to prep because you can tell they are obsessive with what they do with having the ball, with their structure. It means they're weak in other areas, so we were able to hurt them without the ball. When we had the ball we could hurt them quite easily. Should've scored two or three more. But it does test you, the way they play, you have to be humble, you have to be hard-working, you have to stick at it because they are obsessive in how they play, how they keep the ball but we were good.
"We made a lot of changes, so I must say I leave the ground this evening really happy with what the boys produced because it would be easy to lose. I'm sure the club has lost football matches like it in the past. I'm sure there will be other clubs across the country that have lost tonight, so for us to make that many changes and get back-to-back wins within three or four days is a big achievement for the group with how early we are in the season."
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How did O'Neil fare on his Ipswich managerial debut?published at 14:11 BST 25 August
14:11 BST 25 August
Image source, Getty Images
Premier League history was made before a ball was even kicked this season as a record nine clubs started the campaign with new managers.
Gary O'Neil got his first taste of action as Ipswich manager after succeeding Kieran McKenna, who stepped down from his role to spend more time with his family after managing the team for four-and-a-half years.
So how did he fare on an eventful first weekend of the 2026-27 campaign?
Ipswich have backed McKenna's successor with big money in the transfer market, £150m on a dozen signings, and O'Neil was rewarded with a vital victory against Sunderland.
O'Neil may just be the beneficiary from lessons learned during Ipswich's last spell in the Premier League, when it took them 11 games to get a win and they went down with a whimper with just 22 points.
He will have been delighted with the impact of Julio Enciso, who he worked with at Strasbourg, and his early partnership with Brazilian striker Emersonn. The pair combined superbly for the latter's opening goal.
There is plenty still to work on, but O'Neil looked in the mood to enjoy his cup of tea and bar of chocolate while watching Match Of The Day on Saturday night.
'Why be involved if you aren't going to try to be the best?'published at 10:03 BST 25 August
10:03 BST 25 August
Media caption,
Ipswich forward Chuba Akpom says the club will be "ambitious" when it comes to cup competitions this season, while also focusing on staying in the "best league in the world" following promotion.
The 30-year-old scored two goals and registered one assist last season, as then boss Kieran McKenna guided the Tractor Boys back to the top flight.
Akpom replaced Emersonn in the 66th minute of Ipswich's 2-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday, after spending over 11 years away from the Premier League.
"It had been a long time," Akpom told BBC Radio Suffolk. "It was nice to come on at the weekend and be on the pitch when the winner was scored. It was a good step for me.
"I've taken a look at my career over the past few seasons and it has been quite eventful, so to end up back in the Premier League is amazing. Usually you don't spend so much time away and end up coming back.
"I always had that drive in me to get back here. It is the best league in the world, it is back in the country where I was raised and it is just a fantastic feeling to be here. It is an honour."
On facing Leicester City in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday (19:45 BST), Akpom said: "You have to go for it in every game, whether that be a friendly or a cup match.
"Why be involved if you aren't going to compete or try to be the best? If it was in my hands, I would love to get to the Carabao Cup final this season and finish in the top half of the Premier League - that's why we are here.
"We are ambitious. We want to achieve certain things. Everyone should think alike. That's definitely the goal for me."
Listen to Akpom's interview with BBC Radio Suffolk's Brenner Wolley above or click play on the newest The Blue Hour podcast below. You can also listen to both on BBC Sounds.
Image source, BBC Sport
