The Full Time Report — Episode 113: City cruise, Europe takes shape, and Villa turn the page

Manchester City left Selhurst Park with a 4–1 win, Rayan Cherki scored twice, and the result was more competitive than the scoreline suggests. The episode then follows Friday’s Europa League league-phase draw for Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland, before turning to Aston Villa’s public reset around Ollie Watkins and Nicolas Jackson.

Crystal Palace started quickly, but Erling Haaland’s first-half header gave City the lead. Rayan Cherki then scored twice after the break, while Palace’s goal came through an unfortunate Gianluigi Donnarumma own goal from a Yeremy Pino free-kick. Haaland added his second late on. 1

Pierre Sage said Palace had produced 60 to 65 good minutes and felt the score became heavy after the 3–1. Enzo Maresca highlighted Cherki’s work without the ball, not only his two finishes. 1

Palace also lost Jean-Philippe Mateta to a hamstring injury expected to keep him out for about four weeks. 1

UEFA’s Europa League draw gives Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland eight league-phase opponents each. Bournemouth will host Milan, Viktoria Plzeň, Sturm Graz and Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and travel to Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Celta and Lillestrøm. Crystal Palace will host Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznań and Hoffenheim, and travel to Lyon, Salzburg, Jagiellonia and Beşiktaş. Sunderland will host AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, Jagiellonia and Levski Sofia, and travel to Milan, Anderlecht, Lech Poznań and Torreense. 2

The league phase starts in September and runs across eight matchdays. The draw supplies the glamour fixtures, but the travel and the Thursday-to-Sunday turnaround may shape the Premier League stories just as much.

Aston Villa accepted a reported £50m offer from Al-Hilal for Ollie Watkins. Unai Emery said Watkins apologised after refusing to play against Brighton, and described their goodbye as a hug with “a small tear”. Villa’s next attacking chapter is Nicolas Jackson, with reports putting the move at an initial £47.5m and up to £65m with add-ons. The reporting differed on whether the formal confirmation had arrived by Friday night, so the episode keeps that distinction clear. 34

Emery also discussed new midfielder Leon Goretzka and the challenge of replacing Watkins’ movement rather than simply replacing his name on the team sheet. Friday’s press-conference roundup records Emery saying he hoped Goretzka could feature on Monday. 5

Xabi Alonso said Chelsea are close to their plan of reducing the squad while improving its quality. The club still had 36 senior players listed in Friday’s report. Chelsea’s interest in Lamine Camara remained interest, while the report said Manchester City had not made direct club-to-club contact over Enzo Fernández. 6

Manchester United completed the signing of Sweden winger Monica Jusu Bah from BK Häcken for just under £400,000 on a four-year deal. Brentford completed El Hadji Malick Diouf from West Ham in a deal worth up to £40m, and Southampton brought back former captain James Ward-Prowse. 57

Sunderland manager Regis le Bris called the Milan fixture “iconic” and said the club wanted to be proud of its return to Europe while remaining competitive. He would not comment on reports linking Sunderland with Jack Grealish. 8

Fabian Hürzeler said Yankuba Minteh remained committed to Brighton after Liverpool bids were rejected. David Moyes said Everton were not in a hurry to sell their best players amid interest in Iliman Ndiaye. Oliver Glasner expected Forest to make at least one more signing but would not comment on Daniel Muñoz. 5

The practical thread is simple: Friday’s results and draws changed the shape of the season, while the transfer window is still changing who has to carry it.