TL;DR

Isak demands Liverpool move; Havertz out injured; MLB/ESPN/NBC overhaul streaming and rights.

Highlights

• Newcastle’s Alexander Isak demands Liverpool transfer, citing “broken promises”; Newcastle holds out for £150M, Isak absent from squad 1.
• Arsenal forward Kai Havertz suffers knee injury, sidelined indefinitely; club weighing new attacking signings before window closes 6.
• Mohamed Salah wins third PFA Player of the Year after 29 goals, 18 assists in Liverpool’s title season 11.
• Colts name Daniel Jones starting QB over Anthony Richardson for 2025; Richardson moves to backup 3.
• Cowboys, Micah Parsons remain at contract impasse; Parsons not practicing, season opener vs. Eagles in two weeks 2.
• MLB media rights overhaul: Apple exits, NBC/Peacock to air Friday/Sunday games, ESPN acquires MLB.tv and launches $40 streaming bundle with NFL/RedZone 1314.
• Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber and Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani tied at 44 home runs; Yankees hit nine HRs to tie franchise single-game record vs. Rays 910.
• Cubs sweep Brewers in doubleheader, cut NL Central deficit to seven games, improve wild-card prospects 20.
• Angel Reese returns from back injury for Sky; Indiana Fever lose Sophie Cunningham for season, deepening guard shortage 1617.
• Real Madrid win La Liga opener under Xabi Alonso on Mbappé penalty; multiple summer signings debut 18.
• Notre Dame names redshirt freshman CJ Carr as starting QB; Texas’ Arch Manning undecided on 2026 NFL Draft, opens as Heisman favorite 78.
• Microsoft and NFL extend partnership to deploy AI tools on sidelines and in scouting league-wide 15.

Commentary

The Premier League transfer window remains active, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak publicly pressing for a Liverpool move and training separately amid a standoff. Newcastle’s high valuation could see both club and player unsettled for the Liverpool fixture, affecting early-season lineups and odds 1. Arsenal’s loss of Kai Havertz to a knee injury has the club considering late attacking signings, making their forward rotation and transfer activity a key watch for fantasy managers and bettors 6.

In the NFL, the Colts have committed to Daniel Jones as starting quarterback, relegating Anthony Richardson to backup status and shifting the outlook for Indianapolis’ offense 3. The Cowboys’ unresolved contract talks with Micah Parsons—who remains out of practice—inject uncertainty into Dallas’ defensive projections and futures markets 2. Microsoft ’s expanded AI integration on NFL sidelines and in scouting could speed up in-game analysis, potentially impacting live betting and player evaluation 15.

MLB’s media rights are undergoing significant changes: Apple is out, NBC/Peacock will air Friday and Sunday games, and ESPN is launching a $40 streaming bundle that includes NFL and RedZone 1314. These shifts will alter how fans and bettors access live baseball and football. On the field, Schwarber and Ohtani are tied atop the NL home run leaderboard 9, while the Yankees’ nine-homer game 10 and the Cubs’ doubleheader sweep 20 are notable for playoff and fantasy implications.

In basketball, Angel Reese returns for the Sky 16, but the Indiana Fever’s guard depth is further depleted with Sophie Cunningham’s season-ending injury—both relevant for WNBA DFS and betting 17. Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso era starts with a win via Mbappé’s penalty 18, and Notre Dame and Texas have clarified their quarterback situations, with Arch Manning’s draft decision still pending 78.