Everton got their 2020-21 Premier League campaign off to a fine start yesterday as they secured a rare win away to Tottenham, Dominic Calvert-Lewin's header proving the difference. The 1-0 victory augurs well for the hopes of Carlo Ancelotti's side this season, with his trio of midfield recruitments - Abdoulaye Doucouré, Allan and James Rodríguez - looking particularly impressive. However it was a dismal start to the season for an out of sorts Spurs and José Mourinho. Matt Doherty featured heavily on his Tottenham debut after his recent move from Wolves, but in his column this morning Ken Early has suggested the next few weeks in north London might not be much fun. In the day's earlier kick-off West Brom were given a rude awakening on their return to the top-flight as they were beaten 3-0 by Leicester at the Hawthorns, Jamie Vardy scoring twice from the spot. Tonight Sheffield United meet Wolves (6pm) before Brighton take on Frank Lampard's big-spending Chelsea (8.15pm).
Dominic Thiem has broken his Grand Slam duck, the 27-year-old beating Alexander Zverev in an epic five-set US Open final overnight in New York. The Austrian has also become the first player to come from two sets down to claim the title in 71 years, as he won 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 in four hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Afterwards, he told 23-year-old Zverev: "We started to know each other back in 2014 and developed straight away a great friendship, and 2016 our rivalry started. We made great things happen on the court and off the court. I wish we could have two winners today. We both deserved it. You're going to make it, 100 per cent, make your parents proud."
Leinster became Pro14 champions for the third season on the bounce on Saturday - this time unbeaten - thanks to a comprehensive 27-5 victory over Ulster at the Aviva Stadium. It was a surreal occasion in Dublin, with Leo Cullen's side parading the trophy around an empty ground, and attention now turns to this weekend's Champions Cup semi-finals. Afterwards, Cullen said: "Saracens on their day, we know the threats that they have, they've had some changes but they still have such quality throughout their team, some world class players in there so we need to make sure we're peaking week on week basically at the moment." Meanwhile Ulster boss Dan McFarland has suggested his side will have learned a lot from the defeat ahead of a daunting trip to Toulouse on Sunday: "It's nicer to go into these games winning than it is losing. But that's sport, unless you're wearing blue, then you are going to lose some games. We've had a number of tough games so far so we can say we're battle hardened, for sure."
Ballymun Kickhams will meet Bally Boden St Enda's in this year's Dublin SFC final after they finished fast to win a pulsating affair with Kilmacud Crokes in Parnell Park yesterday, running out 1-18 to 2-12 winners. Seán Moran was there for a fixture which reached a fractious conclusion.
It was a day to remember for Dermot Weld at the Curragh yesterday as he secured a ninth victory in the Irish St Leger courtesy of Search For Song, equalling the record of Vincent O'Brien in the process. Meanwhile Shale gave Donnacha O'Brien another Group One victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, with brother Joseph also tasting Group One glory after Thunder Moon landed the Goffs National Stakes.
Elsewhere Sam Bennett has extended his Green Jersey lead over Peter Sagan on Stage 15 of the Tour de France. Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar took the stage but his compatriot Primoz Roglic retains his tight grip on the green jersey.
And Lewis Hamilton is one victory short of Michael Schumacher's record of 91 after his commanding win in yesterday's inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix, on a hectic afternoon in Mugello.
