Monday cannon fodder: enjoying launchpad hostility

Premier League/England

Alexander-Arnold: Firmino is ‘priceless’ to Liverpool - Football365
Roberto Firmino is hailed by his teammate after his outstanding match-turning display for Liverpool against Newcastle.

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City can learn and refocus after humbling | Football | The Guardian
Despite losing 3-2 to Norwich City, Pep Guardiola is not pressing the panic button.

Bournemouth win over Everton to be ‘launchpad’ for season - Howe
Eddie Howe hopes Bournemouth’s first home win of the season can be “a launchpad for better things”.

England: Gareth Southgate says team will plan how to respond to racism - BBC Sport
Gareth Southgate says England players will meet to “prepare” how to react to racism before their Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria on 14 October.

Europe

Champions League is back – but don’t expect a real match until February | Jonathan Wilson | Football | The Guardian
The group stages of the Champions League have become predictable.

Neymar: Can Brazil forward regain PSG fans’ support after hostility against Strasbourg? - BBC Sport
Neymar was booed in his first Paris St-Germain appearance of the season and has angered the club’s ultras, so where does he go from here?

Henrikh Mkhitaryan on target for Roma as Sevilla go top | Football | The Guardian
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in a 4-2 win against Sassuolo while Joan Jordán kept Sevilla’s unbeaten start in Spain going.

Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti shocked by state of dressing rooms at stadium - BBC Sport
Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti says he is “shocked” and “dismayed” by the state of the dressing rooms following renovation work to the Stadio San Paolo.

MLS/Americas

Zlatan takes LA Galaxy teen Efrain Alvarez under his wing – ProSoccerTalk
The 17-year-old Galaxy attacker has yet to choose permanently between representing Mexico or the United States.

Chicago Fire sell controlling stake to Joe Mansueto | Pro Soccer USA
A new era is set to begin for the Chicago Fire, with Joe Mansueto buying a controlling stake in the club.

Other

Tyrone Mings: ‘My best development came from enjoying my football’ | Football | The Guardian
Tyrone Mings has set up two academies in which enjoyment is the priority.

Rudi Gutendorf: World record-holding manager dies aged 93 - BBC Sport
Manager Rudi Gutendorf, who holds a Guinness World Record for coaching 55 teams in 32 countries across five continents, dies aged 93.