Sunday’s briefing: Farke questions Man City tactics and Lionesses hit eight

Daniel Farke suggested Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down with a “fake injury” during Leeds’ defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

Georgia Stanway scored a hat-trick as England made a triumphant return to Wembley with a 8-0 thrashing of China.

Mikel Arteta has revealed the online petition in response to Arsenal’s pursuit of Noni Madueke this summer increased his determination to make the move work for the former Chelsea winger.

Farke questions City tactics

After City bossed the first half at the Etihad Stadium, leading through Phil Foden’s goal just 59 seconds in before Josko Gvardiol doubled the advantage, momentum shifted entirely in the second as half-time substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin got Leeds back into it.

The score was still 2-1 to City when Donnarumma called for the physio, with Guardiola immediately gathering his players around him as he sought to adjust to a change of shape from the visitors.

“It is within the rules,” the German said. “It is smart. If I like it, if it is in the sense of fair play, if it should be like this, I keep it to myself and I leave it to the authorities to find solutions for it. It is within the rules.

“I asked the fourth official at this point if you want to do something and he said, ‘No, our hands are tied, we can’t do anything’.

“If we don’t educate our players in football, what to do in terms of fair play, sportsmanship, if you just try to bend the rules to your advantage and you can do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is nothing I personally like but if it is within the rules I can’t complain about it.”

Lionesses hammer China at Wembley

Stanway’s treble, a quickfire double from Beth Mead and further goals from Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo secured a comfortable 50th win in charge for boss Sarina Wiegman.

England were playing their first match at the national stadium since retaining their title at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

It was the third instalment of the four-match homecoming series, with England narrowly beaten by Brazil in their first friendly after the Euros before bouncing back against Australia.

They will round off another memorable 12 months – and continue the build-up for next year’s World Cup qualifiers – with a final match against Ghana at St Mary’s on Tuesday.

Arteta was determined to sign Madueke

Madueke will make his first return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday since he made the switch across London and a hostile reception is expected for the 23-year-old.

England attacker Madueke initially experienced opposition from Arsenal fans in July when the move was first speculated as #NoToMadueke trended on social media and sparked an online petition signed by 4,000 people, but it only strengthened Arteta’s desire.

“If anything it gave me more conviction and more will to help him,” Arteta said.

“And do everything we possibly could to make his relationship work and to prepare everything around him in the best possible way.

“I think that lasted a short period of time and immediately we had completely the opposite reaction which I think he valued, respected and it was like fuel to him. It did not affect him.”

What’s on today?

Crystal Palace host Manchester United in the first of five Premier League matches.

Later Aston Villa play Wolves, Nottingham Forest play Brighton and West Ham host ailing champions Liverpool.

Leaders Arsenal go to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in the day’s final fixture.