Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has moved to calm comparisons between Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Arthur Sales, insisting that no player should be seen as a direct replacement for another.
Read: All 16 Confirmed Top Flight Coaches
Ribeiro has been a notable absentee for the Brazilians in recent weeks, sparking speculation among fans over his situation and whether Sales has been tasked with filling the gap. Cardoso, however, dismissed that notion.
“No, no-one should compare any player that will play as a right winger. Whatever position he’s more out or more in, no-one should compare him to players. There’s no players. You cannot now make a copycat of one player that is not in the moment with the team,” Cardoso said.
The Sundowns boss remained coy on Ribeiro’s absence, only adding that clarity would come in due course.
“I don’t think it’s up to me to give an answer to the question of Lucas. For sure, in the proper time, we will know everything that has happened with him,” he explained.
On the form of Brazilian forward Sales, Cardoso was more forthcoming.
“Obviously, Arthur is giving a good answer. I think Arthur is doing well, showing dynamic, showing that he understands what the team wants from that position, bringing his game to help the team,” he said.
Cardoso emphasised that Sales is not a like-for-like replacement, but rather a player with his own qualities that can shape Sundowns’ approach differently.
“As I said, no-one should expect one player to replace another. It’s just one player that plays in the same position that another one was playing. So the game will become different, but we’ll have to use the characteristics that we have from Arthur, that he’s showing himself, that he’s being better and better match after match,” he continued.
“Let’s hope he can stabilise his performance at a very high level because it’s a player that we trust.”
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou reserved special praise for teenage captain Mbekezeli Mbokazi following his standout performance in the Buccaneers’ 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final first leg.
Read: All 16 Confirmed Top Flight Coaches
Mbokazi, just 19 years old, wore the captain’s armband in what was a tense battle against the reigning Betway Premiership champions at Orlando Stadium, and his composure on the big stage did not go unnoticed by his coach.
Ouaddou, though careful not to overpraise the youngster too soon, admitted that Mbokazi’s maturity and quality were of a standard comparable with some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“Let me be very honest. I have to be careful because when you congratulate somebody quickly, I’m afraid that he stops working,” Ouaddou explained after the match.
“But I have to say it as well because as a coach we always make reproaches to the players.
“But when people do good things, it’s good for the mental, it’s good for the self-esteem to say that he did well. This guy, if he continues to work, if he continues to be professional, if he takes care about his lifestyle, everything, I think he has a great future. Because what I have seen again today, it’s just unbelievable.
“It’s performance for big clubs in Europe. And we’re happy to have him all over the planet, a big club in Africa. He’s fantastic. He has to keep working. This is the problem.”
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Two sides that enjoyed somewhat unexpected top-10 finishes last season go head-to-head on Sunday as Nottingham Forest hosts Brentford in the English Premier League.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching Premier League games as they happen, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if it’s not available where you are.
Forest were last season’s surprise package, booking a long-overdue return to European football by finishing in seventh.
While Nuno Espirito Santo’s team has lost pacey winger Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, the Tricky Trees have managed to retain the services of key midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, despite interest from Spurs. New recruits Igor Jesus, Dan Ndoye, Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee should bolster what already looks like one of the stronger squads outside of the established “big six.”
Sunday’s game, meanwhile, sees Keith Andrews’ first competitive game in charge of Brentford, with the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder taking charge following Thomas Frank’s departure for London rivals Spurs.
With club captain Christian Nørgaard and key forward Bryan Mbeumo having also left the club in the summer, and Yoane Wissa looking set to join them amid interest from Newcastle, Andrews appears to have a tough task ahead in matching last season’s top-half finish.
Nottingham Forest takes on Brentford on Sunday, Aug. 17, at the City Ground, with kickoff set for 2p.m. BST. That makes it a 9 a.m. ET or 6 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada, and an 11 p.m. AEST kickoff in Australia.
Igor Jesus has impressed in preseason for Nottingham Forest following his $13 million summer move from Brazilian club Botafogo.
Ritchie Sumpter/Nottingham Forest FC/Getty Images
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford in the US without cable
This match at the City Ground will be broadcast on NBC and streaming service Peacock. To stream the game live, you’ll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account.
Peacock offers two Premium plans, and after recent price increases, the ad-supported Premium plan costs $11 a month, and the ad-free Premium Plus plan costs $17 a month.
How to watch the English Premier League 2025-26 season from anywhere with a VPN
If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the EPL action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds, and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial.
James Martin/CNET
Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)
Livestream Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford in the UK
This opening weekend clash at the City Ground is exclusive to Sky Sports and will be shown on its Sky Sports Plus service. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app. Cord-cutters will want to set up a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.
Now TV
Sky’s standalone streaming service Now offers access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for £15 or sign up to a monthly plan from £35 a month right now.
Livestream Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford in Canada
If you want to livestream EPL games in Canada this season, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo. The service has exclusive rights to the Premier League once again and will be broadcasting all 380 matches live.
Fubo
Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the EPL, with exclusive streaming rights to every match. It currently costs CA$27 for the first month, then CA$31.50 a month from then on.
Livestream Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford in Australia
Livestreaming rights for the EPL are now with Stan Sport, which will be showing all 380 fixtures live, including this match.
Stan
Stan Sport will set you back AU$20 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It’s also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Premier League, Champions League and Europa League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log in to your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Watch the Premier League on USA Network from $46 a month
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61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)
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See at Now
Watch the Premier League in the UK from £15 with Now
Now
See more details
See at Fubo
Watch the Premier League in Canada
Fubo Canada
See more details
See at Stan Sport
Watch every Premier League match live in Australia from AU$32 a month
Stan Sport
See more details
Two teams who have recently tasted cup glory meet on Sunday in the first London derby of the new English Premier League season as Chelsea hosts Crystal Palace.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching Premier League games as they happen, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if it’s not available where you are.
Having won the UEFA Conference League back in May, Chelsea followed up that triumph with a win in the Club World Cup, leading many pundits to elevate Enzo Maresca’s Blues into genuine title contenders for the season ahead.
It’s not quite the same optimistic picture south of the river, however. Despite claiming the first piece of major silverware in the clubs history with their FA Cup triumph back in May, it’s been something of a summer of discontent for the Eagles.
German manager Oliver Glasner has openly hinted he may leave the club due to his frustration over limited transfer activity. The club has also been demoted from the UEFA Europa League to the Conference League over a breach of multiclub ownership rules, while star duo Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi both appear on the brink of moves away from Selhurst Park before the current transfer window closes.
Chelsea takes on Crystal Palace on Sunday, Aug. 17, at Stamford Bridge in west London, with kickoff set for 2p.m. BST. That makes it a 9 a.m. ET or 6 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada, and an 11 p.m. AEST kickoff in Australia.
Brazilian youngster Estêvão has shown encouraging signs in preseason for Chelsea after joining up from Palmeiras in a $40 million deal.
Visionhaus/Getty Images
How to watch Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace in the US without cable
This match in west London will be broadcast on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at the NBC Sports website with a valid login. It can also be streamed via Sling TV and other, more expensive streaming TV services.
Sling TV/CNET
Sling TV’s Blue plan includes USA Network making it a great option for those wanting to watch Premier League action. It’s $46 a month and includes more than 40 channels, including sports channels ESPN and FS1.
Read our Sling TV review.
How to watch the English Premier League 2025-26 season from anywhere with a VPN
If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the EPL action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds, and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial.
James Martin/CNET
Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)
Livestream Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace in the UK
This opening weekend clash at Stamford Bridge is exclusive to Sky Sports and will be shown on its Sky Sports Main Event and UHD channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app. Cord-cutters will want to set up a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game.
Now TV
Sky’s standalone streaming service Now offers access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for £15 or sign up to a monthly plan from £35 a month right now.
Livestream Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace in Canada
If you want to livestream EPL games in Canada this season, you’ll need to subscribe to Fubo. The service has exclusive rights to the Premier League once again and will be broadcasting all 380 matches live.
Fubo
Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the EPL, with exclusive streaming rights to every match. It currently costs CA$27 for the first month, then CA$31.50 a month from then on.
Livestream Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace in Australia
Livestreaming rights for the EPL are now with Stan Sport, which will be showing all 380 fixtures live, including this match.
Stan
Stan Sport will set you back AU$20 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It’s also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Premier League, Champions League and Europa League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log in to your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Reports coming out of North Africa claim that a Bafana Bafana attacker is set to follow Mohau Nkota to the Saudi Pro League.
According to WinWin, winger Elias Mokwana is closing in on a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hazem.
Read: Official: Ex-Sundowns Misfit Joins 15th Club
The report claims that the Saudi outfit are set fork out $800,000 (R14million) to sign the Bafana Bafana international.
The 26-year-old was a regular in the Tunisian top-flight last season, making 25 appearances as Esperance secured the title.
Esperance have seemingly already lined-up a replacement for Mokwana, with JS Kabylie winger Kassila Boualia now on their radar.
WinWin report that Boualia has a release clause of €1.4 million (R28.8million), which Kabylie feels gives them a bit of leverage going into negotiations with the Tunisian giants.
However, Bouaila’s current contract with the club expires next year when he could leave the club on a free transfer.
