England

Salford City co-owner Paul Scholes has been appointed caretaker manager following the sacking of Graham Alexander, the English League Two (fourth-tier) club said on Monday.

Salford is co-owned by Scholes and his former Manchester United teammates David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville, along with businessman Peter Lim.

Scholes, 45, last managed Oldham Athletic in League Two but left in March 2019 after 31 days in charge, citing interference in first team activities from the club's owner.

Radical proposals to change English football backed by heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester United have been met with swift criticism but Football League (EFL) chairman Rick Parry insists he will push forward with the plan.

Marcus Rashford's penalty and a lucky strike from Mason Mount helped England come from a goal down to overcome top-ranked Belgium 2-1 at Wembley on Sunday and climb above them in their UEFA Nations League group.

Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after being brought down by a lunging tackle from England's Eric Dier. It was the Inter Milan striker's 13th goal in his last 11 matches for his country.

Proposals backed by Liverpool, Manchester United and the Football League (EFL) for major changes to the structure of the Premier League were met with swift criticism from England's top flight on Sunday.

Liverpool and United are backing a plan to radically change the Premier League's structure, giving more power to the big clubs, reducing it from 20 clubs to 18 and scrapping the League Cup and Community Shield, the Telegraph reported.

LONDON — Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne hit out at soccer's crowded calendar on Saturday on the eve of their Nations League match against England, the second of three national-team games inside a week.

“I've been playing without a break for two years now. But nobody listens to the players,” De Bruyne, who will captain the team against England at Wembley, told a news conference.

Manchester City will be in a position to sign Lionel Messi if the opportunity presents itself next season, the Premier League club's chief operating officer said.

City were the frontrunners to land Messi's services after the 33-year-old Argentine handed Barcelona an official notice in August of his desire to terminate his contract.

Manchester United's new recruit Edinson Cavani says he is relishing the challenge of playing in the Premier League and is confident he can handle the pressure of wearing the club's iconic No. 7 jersey.

Cavani, who left Ligue 1 champions PSG after his contract expired last season, joined United on a free transfer, penning a one-year deal with an option to extend for a further 12 months.

He will sport the No. 7 jersey previously worn by United greats George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a battle of Tobin Heath and Christen Press against Alex Morgan, of two clubs trying to break into the upper echelon of the Women’s Super League, it was no surprise who created the breakthrough. For the second straight week, Tobin Heath assisted on a goal as the Manchester United Women topped Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday. 

Premier League club Everton have signed a partnership agreement with their Chilean namesakes Everton de Vina del Mar and their Mexican owners Grupo Pachuca.

The South American club, four-times champions of Chile, took the name Everton after the Merseyside club toured the country along with Tottenham Hotspur in 1909.

From one Everton to another.  

MANCHESTER, England — It is 62 years since all four British home nations last qualified together for the finals of a major tournament but after Wednesday's Euro 2020 penalty shoot-out playoff drama, such a prospect is now within reach.

Scotland and Northern Ireland find themselves one game away from qualification for next year's European Championship and the chance to join Wales and England in the delayed finals.

The last time all four made it to a major tournament was the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden.