If a week is a long time in politics, then 24 hours is an eternity in the hyperbole-filled world of football’s English Premier League – variously described as the richest, most exciting, most talked about and most watched league on the planet.
Indeed, if you’d read any of the analysis before Sunday afternoon’s eagerly awaited encounter between Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City and American-backed Manchester United you could easily, and erroneously, have gathered the impression that City were deep amid a crisis.
A faltering start to the league season, in which City had only fleetingly impressed following a summer of heavy investment in new players would, according to the pundits, soon be made to look even less impressive when United came calling at the Etihad Stadium. David Moyes’s United team had, meanwhile, dealt competently if not spectacularly with a few tough fixtures and were ready to shine, predicted the same narrative.
The pre-match postulating was reduced to rubble after kick-off. City prevailed by 4-1 and produced a performance to make the whole sporting world take notice (there’s that hyperbole again). In the process, they also proved that football, once called “the ballet of the masses”, is often full of more twists and unexpected turns than Swan Lake.
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
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Brief scores:
Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first
Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)
Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out
Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)
Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
Community Shield info
Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)
Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Referee Bobby Madley