Guardian writers’ predicted position: 5th (NB: this is not necessarily Paul Doyle’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 5th

Odds to win the league (via Oddschecker): 50-1

The plan

The end may be the best place to start. Leicester will conclude their campaign against Spurs, Everton, Watford and Southampton.

That looks a relatively benign run-in after two successive seasons in which Brendan Rodgers’ side dropped out of the Champions League places by losing three of their last four league matches.

Premier League 2021-22 preview No 9: LeedsRead more

Then ag…

Canada Soccer and its women’s national team players have reached an interim funding agreement for 2022, the sport’s governing body said on Thursday.

The terms of the deal reflect that of the men’s national team, Canada Soccer said, with per-game incentives and results-based compensation. A final collective bargaining agreement is still under negotiation.

Moving the Goalposts | ‘Everything is at stake’: the fight for equal pay in Canadian footballRead more

The women’s national team’s last agreement with Canada Soccer expired in 2021.

“This is about respect, this is about dignity, and this is about equalising the competitive environment in a world that is fundamentally unequal,…

Mauricio Pochettino has brought back goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who was dropped under Gregg Berhalter, in his first roster as the new US men’s national team manager.

Midfielder Gianluca Busio was the other notable addition to the 25-man roster announced on Wednesday for friendlies against Panama on 12 October at Austin, Texas, and Mexico three days later at Guadalajara.

Fast and furious: this is the best version of Christian Pulisic we’ve ever seenRead more

Defenders Antonee Robinson and Miles Robinson and midfielder Weston McKennie were added after being given the September games off to remain with their clubs Goalkeeper Diego Kochen and defender Caleb Wiley were dropped.

Injured players …

Welcome to Deadspin’s IDIOT OF THE MONTH! Ugh! 5. Tommy Tuberville source: AP Everything this man does is stupid, but this one was especially so. The man inexplicably elected by Alabama voters to the United States Senate went on record to defend white nationalists in July, claiming that it was merely “some people’s opinion” that racism was innately tied to the ideology. He quickly retreated from that position, but, jeez, what a moron. Great job, Alabama. 4. Rand Paul source: AP Moving on to another inexplicable member of the United States Senate, Paul had NIL legislation in his crosshairs recently when he mused that college athletes would soon end up more closely resembling rappers than students, what with their newfound ability to be paid for their work. Apparently this second-…

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice won't have to go to trial for allegedly knocking out his then-fianceé in an Atlantic City elevator in February. Instead, he will be entered into a diversionary program, which will likely see him completing community service and going through some sort of educational program aimed at preventing future offenses. Earlier this month, Rice pleaded not guilty to third-degree aggravated assault, and turned down a deal that would have put him on probation for one year and required him to attend anger management classes. Because Rice is a first-time offender, he was eligible for entry into a pre-trial intervention program. Prosecutors agreed that allowing Rice to enter the program was a better course of action than taking the case to trial. This do…

Rejoice, my good friends, for the mighty John Wall, in his profound wisdom, has signed a 4-year, $170 million contract extension with the Washington Wizards. We have come through dark times indeed, but at last we are delivered to a better day. Whew! Here are some things that have happened in the NBA very recently: DeMarcus Cousins became eligible for a super-max extension in Sacramento, and was traded; Jimmy Butler was traded by the Bulls a year or two before he was a mortal lock to become eligible for a DPE super-max extension; Paul George became ineligible for a super-max extension in Indiana, and asked out, and was traded; Gordon Hayward became ineligible for a super-max extension in Utah, and left in free agency. Also! Cousins went to New Orleans and paired up with fellow super-tal…

Say hello to Mr. July 2014, Aaron Hernandez. Oof. This is one of those things that seems absurd right now, but you have to remember, when it was actually getting made and approved, Aaron Hernandez had not been charged with murdering three people. In fact, he might not have even allegedly murdered three people yet. He may have only allegedly murdered two people, unbeknownst to all of us. Florida's football twitter account seems to acknowledge the calendar is legitimate, but rightfully points out how it's just a terrible situation. Hernandez was charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd on June 26, 2013. The next day we learned he was also being investigated for a July 2012 double-homicide in Boston. Maybe someone, somewhere should have remembered that they approved a calendar …

Yes, it is that time of year. (A little late, actually.) We're doing the unveiling of the nominees a little different this year, so pay attention. Erin Andrews
Joked with Bill Cosby.
Turned 31.
Hit by foul ball.
Attacked by tiger.
Snooped in a hotel.
Confirmed the snooping.
Caused kvetching.
Splashed across New York Post front page.
Called 911.
Posed for GQ.
Talked to Oprah.
Went back to work.
Busted that peeper punk.
Seriously, check out that dude. …

Like many of you, I'm largely indifferent to soccer most of the time. But one thing I'm never indifferent to is an opportunity to gleefully hate 31 lesser nations in the spirit of international competition. Yes, that's right. It's time to put on my hater's cap (it's made of 100% hate/poly blend) and offer you, the Deadspin reader, this handy Hater's Guide to the 2010 World Cup. I don't know much about soccer, nor do I know all that much about nations such as Ghana. But that kind of all-encompassing ignorance is PERFECT for breeding a solid batch of hate. Knowledge only serves to spoil the anger and white hot fury. So now, join me as I run through the World Cup draw and make sweeping generalizations about each country, its citizens, its brand of soc…

data-mm-id=”_41ezr2the”>We've already neared the halfway point of the NFL season. And yet it's still seventy degrees where I live. Cripes.Here is the slate of FOX Sunday games this week.1:00 PM ETPhiladelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills – Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura OkminNew York Giants at Detroit Lions – Kenny Albert, Charles Davis, Pam OliverTampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans – Kevin Kluger, Matt Millen, Shane BaconSeattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons – Sam Rosen, Ronde Barber, Sara WalshLos Angeles Chargers at Chicago Bears – Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Shannon Spake4:05 PM ETCarolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers – Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth, Jennifer Hale…