Rediff.com makes an assessment of the biggest gambles made by the leading Premier League teams this summer.
Son Heung-min sported a shock of dyed yellow hair at the last World Cup in Brazil to stand out from the crowd, but four years on in Russia the South Korean forward is opting for substance over style as he bids to live up to lofty expectations.
Qatar's Akram Afif has been named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year for a second time with Kiko Seike from Japan securing the women's title at the regional body's annual awards ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday.
Tottenham Hotspur opened a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace as their unbeaten start to the season continued on Friday.
Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning penalty for 10-man Manchester United against Arsenal after their hectic FA Cup third round tie finished 1-1 after extra time.
Mason Greenwood's late winner earned Manchester United a 1-0 win at wasteful Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Sunday, breaking the record for the longest unbeaten away run in English Football League history in the process.
A round-up of Wednesday's action in the Premier League
Liverpool's Juergen Klopp has been named Premier League manager of the month after leading the club to three consecutive wins in September, the first time the German has won the award.
Lazio, who had won all four previous games, were held to a frustrating scoreless draw by a Bulgarian side who came to defend.
A summary of Thursday's Europa League quarter-finals second-leg.
Jarrod Bowen converted a last-gasp penalty to lift West Ham United to a 2-1 Premier League victory over Manchester United in a fluctuating clash between two struggling sides on Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min returned to form with two goals in his side's 3-0 defeat of second-tier Preston North End in the FA Cup fourth round and Casemiro also grabbed a brace in Manchester United's 3-1 win over Reading.
A brilliantly-worked goal by Ryan Christie and a Justin Kluivert penalty gave Bournemouth shock 2-0 Premier League win at home to 10-man Arsenal.
Son fires Spurs to 2-0 win over Huddersfield
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United both sealed comeback victories to boost their European qualification hopes.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Pinpoint headed goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson earned Chelsea a 2-0 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Thursday, dealing a blow to Spurs' hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Erling Haaland's double put Manchester City within touching distance of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 Premier League draw by London rivals Fulham on a grey wet Sunday at Craven Cottage as Raul Jimenez scored early for the hosts and William Saliba equalised for the visitors at the start of the second half.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Son Heung-min scored his 100th goal for Tottenham Hotspur as they returned to winning ways with a 3-0 defeat of Leeds United to climb back into the English Premier League's top four on Saturday.
The racist chants took the shine off a great day for Chelsea who have tightened their grip on fourth place.
The 13-year-old Burnley fan who made a racial slur against Spurs' Son Heung-Min will be made to work in conjunction with Kick It Out and Burnley FC in the Community programs.
Manchester City have now won only once in 11 games in all competitions.
Hamburg SV's South Korea forward Son Heung-min scored an early goal to set them on the way to a 2-0 win at lowly Augsburg with his fifth Bundesliga strike of the season on Friday.
IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match played between Brazil and South Korea on Monday.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur bolstered their hopes for a top-four finish and extended Chelsea's miserable run
Leandro Trossard transformed the mood at Arsenal with the winning goal as they recovered from an early setback to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at home.
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Moises Caicedo's blistering second-half strike cancelled out a Bruno Fernandes penalty as Chelsea salvaged a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Tuesday
Brazil shocked and other big upsets at World Cup qualifiers played on Tuesday
IMAGES from English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Manchester City thrashed West Ham United 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday to claim their first back-to-back wins since October.
A summary of Thursday's action in the Premier League.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Tottenham Hotspur endured a night of frustration against London rivals West Ham United but were spared a shock defeat as Son Heung-min salvaged a 1-1 draw with a stunning late equaliser at Wembley on Thursday.
Chelsea's new signing Gonzalo Higuain netted his first two Premier League goals in Chelsea's 5-0 thrashing of Huddersfield Town while Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min struck late for a 1-0 win over Newcastle United as they moved into second place.
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