How set-piece coaches are changing Premier League football
When Chelsea poached Aston Villa’s set-piece coach Austin MacPhee this summer, it wasn't just a standard addition to the dugout.
They were investing in a part of the game that has become increasingly specialised, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joseph Kan’gethe.
Clubs are realising that set pieces need their own full-time experts instead of a quick five-minute drill at the end of training sessions.
The stats back up the hype.
The more interesting question is what these specialists actually change on the training ground, and whether those changes translate into a measurable advantage on matchday.
2026/27 Premier League betting tips: Alexander Isak or Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot, and a bold Tottenham prediction
Read on as we chew the fat over the Premier League Golden Boot winner for the 2026/27 campaign as well as napping some other decent ante post fancies - all courtesy of Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher.
Inverted and overlapping full-backs betting value in the Premier League
A team’s attack can look completely different depending on the full-back’s role, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joseph Kan’gethe.
Tucking inside changes the numbers around midfield, while overlapping gives the attack another route down the flank.
For bettors, understanding that difference matters when analyzing markets such as corners, team goals, player shots and assists.
An inverted full-back gives the team another passing option in midfield and can leave the winger with more room on the flank.
An overlapping full-back can stretch the opposition and give the team another route to the final third.
ATP Tour news: Montreal Masters delivers shocks aplenty
The North American hard court season is well underway, with last week’s Washington Open swiftly followed by the Canada Masters 1000.
The event, which alternates between Toronto and Montreal, has yielded first-time Masters champions in its last four editions and has not experienced home hands on the trophy since 1958.
This time in Montreal, those who prefer adventure over familiarity have been rewarded, as a combination of top players withdrawing and several shock results have formed one of the most unlikely spectacles imaginable.
Sports News Blitz writer and tennis fan AJ Becker takes a closer look at the stories behind four of the most striking surprise results.
A Beginner's Guide to NFL Same Game Parlays
An NFL matchup can be viewed in more than one way.
Some fans follow the final score while others pay closer attention to how a quarterback performs or how a running game develops or even which players may have a bigger role. It’s this sort of complexity that makes football one of the most exciting sports to follow.
Getting familiar with how those components work together can make the process of understanding same game parlays easier before exploring different NFL betting options.
Everton’s forward line could be the key to a stronger 2026/27 season
Everton scored just 47 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, with 27 of them coming from Everton’s attacking players.
Beto converted the most with eight goals last season, but Moyes and his recruitment team have been busy in the summer window looking to add more quality ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Sports News Blitz writer Dylan Grady looks into the additions to Everton’s forward line, and how they could help the Toffees put away more chances.
Premier League analysis: Is David Moyes’ time at Everton running out?
David Moyes’ Everton side go into the 2026-27 season after finishing in a mediocre 13th place, picking up just one win in their final eight games.
Is this a sign of things to come for the Toffees?
Sports News Blitz writer Dylan Grady looks ahead to the potential season for Everton and what life could look like with under-pressure manager David Moyes.
2026/27 Premier League betting tips: Best title race and relegation bets ahead of the new season
The 2026/27 Premier League season is now just a few weeks away, and the excitement is tangible.
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from the Premier League outright markets - courtesy of Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher.
Premier League analysis: Managers with the clearest tactical ideas – Alonso, Maresca, Arteta and more
Every successful team has a recognisable way of playing, but only a handful of coaches enforce a tactical identity that remains consistent regardless of the opponent, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joseph Kan’gethe.
A tactical identity shapes how a team builds attacks, presses, defends, and creates chances, giving players a system they can rely on in different match situations. This analysis compares five different managers whose teams reflect those principles in different ways.
Chelsea analysis: Five talking points ahead of Xabi Alonso’s first season in charge
Few clubs will be under a bigger spotlight this season than Chelsea, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joseph Kan’gethe.
After yet another summer of change, the Blues have handed Xabi Alonso the keys to a new era, with supporters hoping the former Real Madrid boss can restore them to the summit of English football.
From summer signings and tactical ideas to the absence of European football, several factors could shape how Chelsea progress under the Spaniard.
With a new campaign approaching, here are five talking points worth watching ahead of Alonso’s first season in charge.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket on Saturday, August 8
There was finally a bit of wet weather about this week, proving that Sports News Blitz racing tipster Jeff Mexico’s naked high street rain dances are finally working.
It started in May, and Jeff has gradually removed his clothing with every little jig.
This week he reached his undergarments, a red one-piece union suit with a drop seat, beloved by 19th century gold prospectors.
After a rather clumsy version of the running man at the Green Lanes Shopping Centre in Barnstaple, his arse popped out of the drop seat, the heavens opened and rain finally fell.
African players at Manchester United: A history
Manchester United have drawn passionate support from across Africa for decades, and over the years, a succession of African players have pulled on the famous red shirt at Old Trafford.
With Virgin Bet ZA among those backing the sport's growing relationship with the continent, here is a look at the African players who have represented United across three distinct eras, from the treble years to the modern day.
Frankel’s dominance over Bow Echo in mile ratings “worth reiterating”
Ratings experts Timeform have stressed Frankel’s dominance on ratings among milers this century, with comparisons between the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt and Bow Echo being drawn.
The Hundred 2026 – Men’s competition betting tips: Best bets and value picks for week three
The race for the knockout stages is beginning to take shape in The Hundred 2026 men’s competition. At the start of week three, Welsh Fire take on a resurgent Southern Brave before Sunrisers Leeds host London Spirit at Headingley on Tuesday.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s cricket betting expert Himanshu Sharma breaks down the best bets, value plays, and key angles.
Formula 1 2026 mid-season review: The biggest winners, losers and surprises so far
The 2026 Formula 1 season has reached its halfway point, and the first campaign under the sport's new regulations has already delivered plenty of storylines.
Mercedes have emerged as the class of the field after getting the new rules right from the start, while 19-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli has established himself as the championship favourite in just his second season in Formula 1.
Ferrari have also taken a significant step forward, Red Bull have struggled to keep pace with their rivals and Aston Martin have endured a disappointing first half of the year despite high expectations.
With 11 races complete and 12 still to come, here's a look at the biggest talking points from the 2026 season so far.
Roberto Mancini's return feels right - but can he restore Italy to its former glory?
The Italian Football Federation has had a week of drama worthy of EastEnders, with Andrea Pirlo blocked from becoming head coach, Pep Guardiola declining the opportunity, Paolo Maldini’s resignation, and finally Roberto Mancini's reappointment as the next head coach of the Azzurri.
Former Manchester City manager Mancini has brought success to Italy before at Euro 2020, but is he truly the right person to get Italy’s national team back on track and give the country something to be truly proud of?
Sports News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi delves into this particular move and whether the FIGC have made the right move to revive Italian football.
Red Bull appoint former Mercedes talent chief Gwen Lagrue to lead Junior Programme from 2027
Oracle Red Bull Racing have confirmed the appointment of former Mercedes talent chief Gwen Lagrue as the new head of the Red Bull Junior Programme from 2027.
Lagrue will take over leadership of one of Formula 1's most successful young driver academies, succeeding Helmut Marko, who has overseen the programme for more than two decades.
During his time at Mercedes, Lagrue played a key role in identifying and developing young talent, including current Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Argentina over World Cup incidents
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Argentine Football Association (AFA) following several incidents during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the display of a politically charged Falklands banner after their semi-final victory over England.
The Argentinian Football Association is facing disciplinary proceedings for alleged breaches across multiple matches, including using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature (Article 13), team misconduct (Article 14), discrimination and racist abuse (Article 15), and breaches relating to order and security at matches (Article 17).
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Newmarket, Goodwood and Thirsk on Saturday, August 1
It’s the final day of the Goodwood Festival and Sports News Blitz’s racing expert Jeff Mexico has completed his gallon-a-day Pimms challenge and is ready to vomit up some more cracking tips.
ITV have five races from the West Sussex course, including the feature cavalry charge that’s the Stewards’ Cup. They’ve also snuck in the Summer Handicap from Goodwood and Summer Cup from Thirsk, so the northerners don’t miss out.
Joao Pedro hat-trick seals chaotic 6-4 Chelsea win in Xabi Alonso's debut
Chelsea began the Xabi Alonso era with an entertaining victory after beating Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 in a remarkable pre-season friendly in Sydney on Tuesday, July 2.
Joao Pedro was the star of the show, coming off the bench to score a nine-minute hat-trick as the Blues recovered after falling behind three separate times.