Wayne Rooney was included in Manchester United’s starting line-up to face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford this afternoon – with Alex Ferguson expected to watch him.

Crystal Palace 3 Sunderland 1

Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli all made their debuts, but there was no place in the squad for Gareth Bale as Tottenham began their Barclays Premier League campaign at Crystal Palace.

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete is optimistic a compromise can be reached to prevent a strike from Serie A players on the weekend of September 25-26.

Italian players’ association president Sergio Campana wants the suspension of football in the country to last for up to a year to allow for a proper solution to the problems of violence to be found.