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The Week in Football: England Hit Seven, City Appeal and Plymouth Go Top – 5 October 2026

England scored seven in Croatia, Manchester City’s financial case entered its next stage, and Plymouth used Saturday to climb to the top of League One. Club football is nearly back, with City heading to Anfield and a few European nights worth putting in the diary.

England Give Croatia a Very Long Saturday

England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scored twice each, with Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers completing the scoring. Bellingham also supplied three assists, which is a fairly efficient way to spend an international break.

It was England’s biggest Nations League win and Croatia’s heaviest defeat. After losing to Spain at Wembley the previous weekend, Thomas Tuchel’s side gave supporters something considerably more enjoyable to discuss.

Kane now has 89 goals in 124 England appearances. If he plays against Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday 6 October, he will draw level with Peter Shilton’s men’s record of 125 caps. Most players would be pleased to reach either number. Kane is working through both.

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Anthony Gordon Discovers Heading

Among the more unusual numbers from the Croatia win was Gordon’s recent habit of scoring with his head. According to England’s official statistics, he has scored two headers in his last two international appearances, having scored none across 248 club appearances for Everton, Preston, Newcastle and Barcelona.

That is a remarkably specific skill to save for national duty. A few club supporters might be wondering where those headers have been hiding.

He has also been directly involved in a goal in five consecutive England appearances. A productive few weeks, whichever part of his head or feet he chooses next.

City’s Verdict Is In. The Appeal Is Next.

The Premier League published the independent commission’s findings on 29 September. City were found guilty of all charges concerning serious financial breaches over nine seasons, from 2009/10 to 2017/18, and most of the charges concerning failure to cooperate with the investigation.

The findings included commercial arrangements used to inflate revenue and reduce costs, misstated accounts, and breaches of spending limits. City continue to deny wrongdoing. They lodged an appeal on 1 October, arguing that the decision contains errors of law, principle and fact.

The punishment remains a separate part of the process. There is a published finding and an appeal, but no confirmed sanction to turn into a points deduction or a rewritten honours list.

City’s next Premier League match is Liverpool away on Sunday 11 October, with kick-off at 4.30pm BST. Liverpool supporters have had years to prepare what they think of the case. This is unlikely to be the afternoon they keep it to themselves.

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Plymouth Make Their Saturday Count

Plymouth won 2-0 at Leyton Orient and went top of League One. With the international break reducing the EFL programme, Argyle still had a league match to play and came home with three points.

There is plenty of season left, but a win away from home followed by a look at the table with your club sitting first is a good weekend. Plymouth supporters had a long journey back from east London and a rather better reason to check their phones.

October’s European Nights Are Getting Closer

The return of the Premier League is followed by some sizeable European fixtures. Here are three dates worth keeping clear. All kick-off times below are UK time.

Arsenal v Lille: Tuesday 13 October, 8pm

Arsenal host Lille at the Emirates before travelling to Munich the following week. A home European night offers the chance to build some momentum before a much more demanding away trip.

Liverpool v Villarreal: Tuesday 20 October, 8pm

Villarreal visit Anfield in the Champions League league phase. Liverpool have the City game first, then another evening under the lights to look forward to. For anyone planning something new for the match, our Liverpool clothing and gifts are here.

Bayern Munich v Arsenal: Wednesday 21 October, 8pm

Arsenal’s trip to the Allianz Arena is sixteen days away. Bayern away tends to make its own case for attention, and this one should occupy a fair amount of the conversation before kick-off. Have a look through our Arsenal collection if you are planning ahead for the European run.

For now, England have one more match to finish, the club shirts are nearly back out, and Anfield has a week to prepare its welcome for City. There should be plenty to talk about.

Sources checked on 5 October 2026

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