Estevao beats Yamal in battle of prodigies as Chelsea crush Barcelona

Lamine Yamal and Estevao are both 18, both possess a magical left foot and both are already at home on the Champions League stage. They have another thing in common: Yamal has spent most of his young life being compared to Lionel Messi, pre-ordained as Barcelona’s next legendary figure at only 14 years old; Estevao was dubbed “Messinho” when he first emerged at Brazilian club Palmeiras.

Both have understandably tried to shun the comparison, and yet there were undeniable flickers of a famous Messi goal here at Stamford Bridge. Estevao still had defenders to beat when he received the ball in the inside-right channel 30 yards from goal. What he did next will be remembered for a long time by those who witnessed it, drawing Pau Cubarsi towards him before shimmying around the defender’s legs, holding off Alejandro Balde and crashing a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Cubarsi didn’t fall to his backside like Jerome Boateng did in the face of Messi’s weaving run a decade ago. There was not the same subtlety in the feint, nor the deft dinked finish. But on a night when the two best 18-year-olds in the world took up station on opposite sides of the same pitch, the only flecks of greatness came courtesy of Chelsea’s number 41.

It was the second goal in a 3-0 win which sent a clear message across Europe that Chelsea, the world champions, are contenders in the Champions League – albeit against a 10-man Barca team in the second half. Chelsea are temporarily up to fourth in the standings, at least before Wednesday night’s games, and their target of finishing in the top eight of the league phase is eminently reachable. Barcelona started the night on the same points but their hopes of automatic progression to the knockout stages now look remote.

Mikel Arteta will no doubt have been watching with notepad in hand ahead of the London derby at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Chelsea are Arsenal’s closest rivals in the Premier League, and while it is hard to imagine the team that stuttered to such a flat defeat by Sunderland a few weeks ago putting up a title challenge, victory this weekend would move Enzo Maresca’s side to within four points of the league leaders.

Arteta will no doubt have taken copious notes on Estevao. The Brazilian was direct and threatening with the ball at his feet but his game was more polished than just dribbles to the byline. His decisions in full flow were almost always right, his weight of pass was usually judged to perfection, and he even used his slight frame to hold the ball with his back to goal and set up a couple of telling counterattacks.

By contrast, Yamal showed some of his effortless running with the ball but found very little joy against Marc Cucurella, who was typically dogged in his task. One Cucurella tackle in the box brought roars and chest bumps among the Chelsea defenders. Yamal went missing long enough for his parents to start getting worried, and when he finally found some space around the box, he made the wrong choice, dinking an ambitious pass to nobody in particular when the shot was on.

For all their similarities, there is one obvious difference between Estevao and Yamal. Barcelona and Spain have been flogging their prodigy for a couple of years now, and it has been virtually relentless. Yamal has struggled with a groin injury this season but has still been required to start 12 games, while Estevao has started his last three Champions League games – scoring in each – but has mainly featured from the bench in the league.

That is partly a result of Chelsea’s riches, with a squad that can produce two entirely different but equally talented XIs three days apart. It is also down to Barcelona’s horrendous spate of injuries this season, which has seen Hansi Flick with few options to choose from each week. It might explain a slightly withdrawn Yamal, although he didn’t seem fatigued so much as uninterested by the end here, the spirit knocked out of him by Cucurella’s defending.

Barcelona did make it easy, and Maresca’s plan was clear from the second minute when Enzo Fernandez dropped back into his own half to receive a pass from his defenders. There, he might normally take a touch and consider his surroundings, but instead he hit a first-time pass with pre-planned clarity over Flick’s kamikaze high line, a trench dug within an arm’s reach of the halfway line, and Chelsea repeated the trick over and over again.

Barcelona made a wonderful early chance when Ferran Torres slipped into the box and somehow contrived to bodge his shot wide of the far post with only Robert Sanchez to beat, but that was about the sum of their attacking threat. Chelsea continued their strategy of firing direct passes over the top and they created some clear sights of goal. Enzo twice had first-half goals denied, rightly, first by Wesley Fofana’s handball in the build-up and then by an offside, before Pedro Neto – playing as a No 9 – wasted a huge opportunity when Estevao slipped him through on goal and the Portuguese tumbled off balance before shooting over the bar.

But finally the breakthrough came when Barca slept on a short corner – they have previous for that particular crime in the Champions League. Cucurella’s low cross found Neto and a panicky Jules Kounde bundled the ball into his own net. Ronald Araujo was booked for dissent a few minutes later and was sent off moments before half-time for clattering into Cucurella, so clearly a second yellow that he was marching to the pavilion before Stamford Bridge had finished appealing.

Etsevao added Chelsea’s second midway through the second half as Chelsea dominated, before Liam Delap came off the bench to add the third.

Yamal’s night ended in the 79th minute, trudging off the field and shaking his head as he pulled on a jacket. Estevao’s ended two minutes later to a standing ovation. This was arguably Chelsea’s best performance since the Club World Cup final, on a night when they showed what might be possible this season. But it was also the night when Estevao conjured memories of Messi, and won the battle of the two best 18-year-olds in the world.

Farage ‘categorically’ denies racially abusing fellow pupils at school

Nigel Farage has insisted he “categorically” did not racially abuse fellow pupils during his time as a schoolboy at a top private school.

It comes after more than a dozen former pupils who attended Dulwich College in south London with Mr Farage accused him of making antisemitic and racist remarks in reports originally published by The Guardian.

The Reform UK leader appeared to leave open the possibility he may have made racist remarks without “intent” during an ITV interview on Monday night. When questioned about the claims, he said: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.”

But in a prepared statement given on Tuesday, he denied he had ever made such comments and suggested the claims were politically motivated.

“I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published in the Guardian aged 13, nearly 50 years ago,” he said in the statement.

“Isn’t it interesting: I am probably the most scrutinised figure in British politics, having been in public life for 32 years.

“Several books and thousands of stories have been written about me, but it is only now that my party is leading in the polls that these allegations come out. I will leave the public to draw their own conclusions about why that might be.

“We know that the Guardian wants to smear anybody who talks about the immigration issue. But the truth is that I have done more in my career to defeat extremism and far-right politics than anybody else in the UK, from my time fighting the BNP right up to today.”

Speaking to ITV on Monday night, the Reform leader was asked about claims of alleged incidents of deeply offensive behaviour throughout his teenage years.

“This is 49 years ago, by the way. Forty-nine years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they’re from? No.”

Asked to categorically rule out that he had engaged in racial abuse, Mr Farage said: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.”

As he continued to face questions about the allegations, he replied: “I had just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can’t.

“Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant, personal abuse, genuine abuse on that basis? No.”

When asked again if he engaged in racial abuse at the school, Mr Farage replied: “Not with intent.”

Asked to elaborate, he replied: “No, I have never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.”

Mr Farage added: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground, that you can interpret in the modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes.”

Asked then if this meant he had abused people, Mr Farage replied: “I’ve never directly racially abused anybody. No.”

Lord Mann, the independent advisor to the government on antisemitism, responded: “Nigel Farage’s appalling attempt to shrug off serious allegations of antisemitism and other appalling forms of racism as playground banter is as insulting as it is unbelievable.

“Farage needs to do the decent thing and come clean with the British public about the full extent of his past behaviour and apologise to those who have bravely come forward to share their deeply upsetting and disturbing experiences.

“The British people expect all their party leaders to act with integrity and humility and are unforgiving of those who choose not to. Nigel Farage must confront the seriousness of this situation and apologise in person.”

Jury trials set to be scrapped except for most serious crimes

The government is considering scrapping jury trials except in the most serious cases, according to reports.

Justice secretary David Lammy has reportedly proposed a significant overhaul of the UK’s court system, suggesting that jury trials could be limited to offences such as rape, murder, and manslaughter.

In a memo seen by The Times, Mr Lammy, who also serves as deputy prime minister, asserted that there was “no right” to jury trials in the UK and that such a change would not compromise a suspect’s rights.

The briefing note, circulated this month to other ministers and senior civil servants, outlined that while rape, murder, manslaughter, and “public interest” cases would retain jury involvement, other less severe offences would instead be decided by a judge.

The move comes as the government is yet to respond to recommendations made by Sir Brian Leveson in a review of how to reform the courts system and cut the record-high crown court backlog.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “No final decision has been taken by government.

“We have been clear there is a crisis in the courts, causing pain and anguish to victims – with 78,000 cases in the backlog and rising – which will require bold action to put right.”

Under Sir Brian’s recommendations, juries would be reserved to hear the most serious cases, while other cases would be diverted to magistrates’ courts or to the proposed Crown Court Bench Division for trials to be heard by judges.

Last Thursday, The Guardian reported that the government would seek to limit jury trials for thousands of cases.

Courts minister Sarah Sackman KC had told the paper: “For me, the priority is swift justice, fair justice, over prioritising a defendant’s right to choose where that trial is heard.”

Proposals to curb jury trials have faced opposition from legal professionals, including from the Bar Council, which argued “there is no need to curtail the right to a trial by jury – from both a principle and practical position”.

In his review, Sir Brian said reform of jury trials was “merited” to address problems, particularly with lengthy or complex trials.

“Reform to address these concerns will be likely to have positive impacts in terms of efficiency, by reducing the open caseload, and, in addition, in terms of financial savings,” he said.

Martin Lewis reveals how energy billpayers can claim back hundreds

Keir Starmer’s ‘6-7’ gag shows he does have a human side after all!

Prime minister Keir Starmer should ignore that advice to never work with children or animals. The video of his visit to Welland Primary School in Peterborough on Monday is the first time in many months that the world has seen the natural charm of the man behind the politician.

He knew what the girl meant when she said she was on page 67 of the book she was reading. He joined in the “6-7” call-and-response, which was very much on the outer edge of my cultural hinterland.

It is, as far as I understand it, a TikTok meme, Your Honour, from a song by Skrilla about a basketball player who is 6ft 7in tall. It has come to mean “I don’t know,” as in “six, seven, whatever”, accompanied by a juggling hand gesture that even the prime minister recognised.

Starmer was literally down with the kids, sitting at a low table, at ease with the silliness.

Schools are always risky territory for politicians. David Cameron was photographed reading with a girl who had her head on the table – a picture that sparked thousands of caption competitions. Boris Johnson posed in front of a shelf of children’s books with titles including The Twits, Betrayed and Resistance. Longer ago, Gordon Brown narrowly escaped embarrassment when a pupil asked him what 13 squared was; but luckily he knew the answer – after buying himself half a second by repeating the question.

But Starmer came across as pleasant, cheerful and playful. “That was a bit wild,” he said as he emerged from the classroom. The teacher with him seemed amused, noting that the children usually “get into trouble” for doing the “6-7”. The prime minister offered a moment of contrition: “Sorry about that,” while the teacher reassured him, “It’s absolutely fine.”

Starmer then subverted this quintessentially British exchange by protesting: “I didn’t start it, Miss.”

Well, call me a softy, but I thought he came across well. I am neither a teacher nor a parent of school-age children, and although I am told by those who are that the “6-7” thing is extremely annoying, I think banning it shows a lack of imagination on the part of school authorities. So I found Starmer’s gentle mischief, in fact, rather attractive.

He even seemed genuinely friendly with Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, who accompanied him on the visit and appeared to enjoy the childish antics. He should be on good terms with her, of course, as she fought a stalwart campaign for him as Labour’s deputy leadership candidate, but it was refreshing to see two senior politicians so relaxed and comfortable in each other’s company.

The official message of the visit was largely lost, needless to say. Starmer and Phillipson were promoting the extension of free school meals for all children in families on universal credit – benefiting 500,000 more children, but not until next September.

The unintended message, however, was priceless: the prime minister is not just a bureaucrat with a strangulated public speaking voice – he can also be a decent, affable and mildly humorous human being.

When I explained to a Labour MP in Westminster that I was writing a positive article about the prime minister, they were surprised and asked what had brought this on. When I explained, they looked delighted and said: “I’m sure a grateful nation will turn towards him as a result.”

Well, maybe not. But it is worth noting, as the prime minister faces the relentlessly negative estimation of journalists and public opinion, that he can do “human” after all.

Cruise through Cajun Country on this unforgettable Louisiana road trip

A circular route from New Orleans takes you north along the Mississippi through Louisiana’s River Parishes to Baton Rouge. Loop through Lafayette and Houma on Highway 90, before returning to New Orleans. Whilst the 300-mile road trip can be done in a week, a fortnight or more best suits the southern laidback spirit to truly discover treasures along the way.

Best planned for early spring, when Louisiana jumps to its feet with music festivals and parties, or in the calmer autumn months when food festivals, gumbo cook-offs, and fall colours light up the oak-lined avenues. Here’s what not to miss en route…

New Orleans gives main character energy, even though the state capital, Baton Rouge, sits just 80 miles west along the river. Start the journey here with a day (or night) lost in the French Quarter, where lacy iron balconies and pastel facades are the backdrop to Jackson Square street performers and jazz music on every corner. Grab a coffee and oh-so-light powdered sugar beignet at Café du Monde, to fuel exploration of the city’s great cultural institutions, such as The National WWII Museum or the evocative Historic Voodoo Museum. Ride the St. Charles Streetcar past moss-draped oaks and stately mansions in the Garden District, or explore the city by foot to find your own adventure.

For a quirky day trip, drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway – the world’s longest continuous bridge over water, according to the Guinness World Records – to find Abita Mystery House in Abita Springs; a curious folk-art installation of animated miniature towns and oddities from the mind of local inventor, John Preble.

Follow the Mississippi River north towards Baton Rouge, with a few stops en route. Explore Houmas House Estate and Gardens: once one of the largest sugar plantations in the country, visitors can now dine at one of the many restaurants and take guided tours showcasing the extensively-restored manor house and expansive gardens. Whitney Plantation, about 30 miles downriver gives a heartbreaking and evocative account of enslavement, and visiting these two plantations gives a sense of how both sides lived.

Baton Rouge emerges like a stately figurehead, rocking on the porch at the top of the Great River Road. A hub for art, music and politics, Baton Rouge is also a food mecca with fine dining, soul food, and the Red Stick Farmers Market – filled with homemade goods on the weekend. The gothic inspired Old State Capitol museum wouldn’t look out of place in a medieval fairytale, whilst climbing the current State Capitol building’s tower unravels views of the Mississippi river snaking through the landscape below.

Drive 55 miles westward, and find yourself in Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge – halfway along Interstate 10. The conservation area protects over 15,000 acres of hardwood forest and swamp habitat; spot alligators paddling through the bayous riverways, bird watch for woodpeckers, wrens and warblers, or just take in the impressive scenery.

Follow the sound of zydeco music down the Interstate to the dance halls of Lafayette. The heart of Cajun and Creole country, Lafayette is the ultimate place to tap your feet to this blend of French accordion and Afro-Caribbean beats. Louisiana’s French history is very much alive, as French conversations linger in the porchlight or come to life in Vermilionville folk museum, the re-creation of a 19th-century Acadiana village. Lafayette is also a food lover’s paradise. Try spicy boudin sausage from a roadside meat market, feast on gumbo as dark as a bayou at dusk, or savor po’boys and crawfish étouffée stew at a local café.

U.S. Highway 90 takes you southeast to the coastal wetlands of Houma. If you like it spicy, make a stop off in New Iberia and follow the pepper-scented air to Avery Island, home to the world’s only Tabasco factory and the botanical Jungle Garden of conservationist and hot sauce founder, Edward Avery McIlhenny.

As you travel further south, sing along with the southern leopard frogs on a guided swamp tour, spot another alligator, or drop into Houma’s Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum to hear the story of shrimpers, oystermen, and how this slice of coastline has been shaped by cultural, industrial and ecological events.

With a suitcase full of memories and joie de vivre, head back to New Orleans. Every mile offers a detour worth taking; from the turbulent history and uplifting music, to watery labyrinths and astounding swamp wildlife. A Louisiana road trip invites you to slow down and enjoy a journey into the true Deep South.

For more travel inspiration and information visit Explore Louisiana

Streeting gives major pre-Budget speech amid leadership speculation

Wes Streeting has made a major eve-of-Budget speech arguing that his party needs to do more to tackle child poverty amid speculation that he is planning to make a bid to become leader.

Sources close to the health secretary denied that the speech to Barnardo’s and the King’s Fund was a leadership bid, but the issue of child poverty has become a touchstone for the Labour Party.

Speaking at a conference in London, Mr Streeting discussed his own childhood, where his family faced poverty in London’s East End.

While listing the achievements of the party in government on child poverty, including free school breakfasts for primary school children, he insisted more needs to be done.

He said: “All of that support – from a loving family, outstanding teachers, and the welfare state – are what allowed me to beat the odds, make it to one of the world’s best universities, and to sit around the Cabinet table as part of the most working-class Cabinet in history.

“But it isn’t enough for a few of us to beat the odds. My mission is to change the odds for everyone. That’s why I entered politics, it’s why I’m a Labour MP, and it’s the thing that motivates me above all else.”

It comes as Rachel Reeves is expected to bow to pressure in Wednesday’s Budget to lift the two-child cap on benefits at a cost of more than £3bn.

There has been growing pressure on the government to scrap the cap, long blamed for keeping children in poverty, with more than 100 Labour MPs earlier this year signing a letter to Rachel Reeves urging her to do away with the limit amid concern over falling living standards in Britain.

Speaking about his own childhood, Mr Streeting said: “In recent years, progress has stalled when it comes to improving the life chances and opportunities for kids from working-class backgrounds like mine.

“Indeed, when I think back to my childhood, however tough we had it, it is nothing compared to the lives of children whose challenges confront me in my constituency surgeries today.

“I grew up in poverty in a single-parent household. Life wasn’t easy. But the welfare state put food in our fridge, money in the electric meter, and helped my mum with costs like school uniform.”

Asked about the two-child benefit cap, Mr Streeting said the “moral argument” for tackling child poverty is “an argument that needs to be won”.

“The chancellor will set out where we are and her decision tomorrow, I would just say this, especially in a room full of people who I think would agree with me, that the two-child limit has been a terrible policy has trapped children in poverty.

“This is a contested view in our country, and that is why, in my speech, if anything, it was a rallying cry to everyone that we have to win the moral argument.

“And we have to win the pragmatic argument for tackling poverty, and we cannot let this conviction among some of our fellow citizens that we should just walk by on the other side, when there are children suffering, when there are families struggling”, he said.

Mr Streeting added: “This is an argument that needs to be won. It’s an argument that is not just an argument to government. It is an argument about what kind of country we want to be, what kind of society we are.”

There has been speculation that Mr Streeting will attempt to oust Sir Keir as prime minister after the Budget after an attack briefing on the health secretary by sources in Downing Street earlier this month.

The health secretary was forced to hit back at claims that he wants to take on Sir Keir after several reports suggested the prime minister’s position could be challenged ahead of next year’s local elections in May.

The health secretary told Sky News earlier this month that he does not understand “how anyone thinks it’s helpful to the prime minister”, and ruled out launching a bid for the top job after the Budget at the end of this month.

The PM has been subject to months of rumours that he could be replaced as Labour continue to tank in the polls under his leadership.

Liverpool parade suspect breaks down in tears as jury sworn in

A man accused of driving a car into crowds at Liverpool FC’s victory parade broke down in tears ahead of the start of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Paul Doyle, 54, appeared emotional as he denied four amended charges relating to the crash in Liverpool city centre in May.

Wearing glasses and a black suit, he then placed his head in his hands and cried as potential jurors were brought into a packed courtroom ahead of jury selection for the trial.

Doyle is charged with a total of 17 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, three counts of wounding with intent, affray and dangerous driving. He denies all the charges.

Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC told seven men and five women sworn in as jurors that the trial was on events connected to Doyle’s “alleged conduct at the Liverpool FC parade”.

He said: “The incident, as you may already be aware from general public knowledge, occurred in a busy city centre setting and has been the subject of public attention.”

He told the jurors that their decisions must be based solely on the evidence put before them in the court, and warned them against carrying out their own research. “Don’t let your inquisitiveness get the better of you,” he added.

The jurors were sent home shortly before midday, and were told the case would resume with the prosecution expected to open the case on Wednesday morning.

Merseyside Police said 134 people were reported injured after a Ford Galaxy Titanium collided with crowds as they were leaving the Premier League title-winning parade, which featured an open-top bus with the club’s players and attracted one million people.

The crash took place on Water Street just after 6pm on 26 May.

Doyle is charged with a total of 31 offences relating to the incident. Before the jury was sworn in on Tuesday, he was rearraigned on four counts that were amended to reflect medical evidence. He entered not guilty pleas to all four.

The charges relate to 29 victims, aged between six months and 77 years old.