MANCHESTER, England -- Soft goals conceded, David De Gea mistakes and losing games they should not; for Manchester United, Saturday's defeat to Crystal Palace had a feeling of last season about it, rather than pertaining to a new era under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

There was enough in the first two games of the season, which brought victory against Chelsea and a draw at Wolves, to suggest things were moving in the right direction. However, this 2-1 reverse -- Palace's first win at Old Trafford since 1989 -- was a reality check for home fans.

Many streamed out after Patrick van Aanholt's stoppage-time winner, no doubt feeling they had seen it all before; United conceded two poor goals, and at the other end, a lack of creativity restricted the hosts to just three shots on target.

These were the same problems that contributed to a run of eight defeats from 12 games at the end of last season, which followed wins in 14 of Solskjaer's first 17 games in charge. There remains a sense that fans are waiting to find out which version of is the truth: Will the real Manchester United please stand up?

Solskjaer was quick to say after this latest setback that his team are two converted penalties away from sitting at the top of the Premier League table with nine points from nine, but that ignores obvious problems.

United are short of creative options in midfield and prolific scorers up front and this is unlikely to be the last time this season a team visits Old Trafford to defend deep and attack on the break. Neil Warnock pulled it off with relegated Cardiff on the final day of last season and his fellow septuagenarian Roy Hodgson oversaw a similar display as previously winless Palace played things perfectly.

Not that they were without help, for United seemed determined to shoot themselves in the foot. The first goal came from a simple punt up field: Jeffrey Schlupp flicked on after outjumping Victor Lindelof and Jordan Ayew took advantage of Harry Maguire's poor positioning to roll his finish past De Gea.

If that was bad, Palace's winner was even worse. After United finally found an equaliser in the 89th minute through Daniel James' excellent curling finish, Paul Pogba gave the ball away in midfield and the subsequent breakaway led to Van Aanholt rifling a shot that should have been saved at his near post by De Gea, but instead squirmed into the net.

The goalkeeper's form became a problem during that dire run at the end of last season and Solskjaer will hope De Gea's latest gaffe is a one-off, rather than a sign of things to come. After all, the manager has enough on his plate without having to worry about changing his goalkeeper, specifically what is happening at the other end of the pitch.

- Ratings: De Gea error condemns Man United vs. Palace
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United had 77% possession on a warm, sunny day, but could only muster three shots on target and this was not a defeat that was down to heroics from the visiting goalkeeper because Vicente Guaita barely had a save to make. Indeed, he was not even stretched by United's latest penalty fiasco; Marcus Rashford stepped up ahead of Pogba, only to see his spot kick hit the post.

Luck, so often with United last season, deserted them again, but Solskjaer's men also ran out of ideas, having realised it was not possible to counter attack against a team defending so deep. It was entirely predictable, some might argue, and highlighted yet again that, while Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka solidify the defence, there is a lack of invention further forward and the attacking options are weaker after the departure of Romelu Lukaku.

The now-Inter striker split opinion among United supporters, but he averaged a goal every two games and no other player boasts a similar ratio. When Solskjaer turned to his bench in the second half on Saturday, he could only throw on 17-year-old Mason Greenwood.

It is positive that the club has so much faith in such a young player and Greenwood does have enormous potential, but it is a lot to expect a teenager without a competitive senior goal to change a game. He will eventually, but not yet.

Defeat to Crystal Palace is not a disaster -- it is only the third week of the season, after all -- but it did show the problems that remain. One former United player was heard telling a group of fans "we are c--p" as he left the stadium on Saturday evening. While the situation is not quite that bad, the hangover of last season is still causing Solskjaer a headache.

Arsenal's winless run against Liverpool extended to 10 games as the visitors were comfortably beaten 3-1 at Anfield. The Gunners were blown away by Joel Matip's header and a Mohamed Salah brace, before Lucas Torreira netted a late consolation.

Positives

Despite ultimately being on the wrong end of the scoreline, Arsenal's game plan worked for most of the first half. Their defensive capabilities have come into question all too often, but there was willingness to play out from the back against Liverpool's energy. Nicolas Pepe also showed promise; on another day his curling effort could have opened the scoring.

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Negatives

Arsenal struggled to cope with Liverpool's high press and found their penalty area bombarded during the early stages, while a diamond formation in midfield led to further exposure in wide areas against full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. At 1-0 down there was still hope, but a calamitous 10 minutes from David Luiz then gifted Liverpool two second-half goals.

Manager rating out of 10

4 -- Emery gave Pepe his first start in place of Alexandre Lacazette, while Granit Xhaka returned to the starting 11 at the expense of Reiss Nelson. A defensive approach was probably the right idea against a lethal front three, but despite a strong final 10 minutes, his side never really managed to get a foothold in the game after the break.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Bernd Leno, 5 -- Could not do much about any of the Liverpool goals. Leno produced some good routine stops, but was ultimately exposed by a poor defensive display against ruthless opposition.

DF Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 4 -- Given a torrid time by Robertson and Roberto Firminho, he never looked comfortable.

DF David Luiz, 3 -- His 250th Premier League appearance will not live long in the memory after he gave away a penalty with a naive shirt pull on Salah and was left eating dust by the same player for Liverpool's third.

DF Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 5 -- Thwarted a dangerous Salah run with a strong, perfectly-timed challenge in the first half and generally demonstrated willingness to put his body on the line, but those efforts were ultimately in vain.

DF Nacho Monreal, 4 -- Made a couple of important interceptions, but this was far from his best display.

MF Matteo Guendouzi, 5 -- Crucial in helping Arsenal get a foothold in a high-tempo first half, but was too focused on Virgil Van Dijk as Matip headed in the game's opening goal.

MF Granit Xhaka, 4 -- Made the lineup after passing a late fitness test, but struggled to cope with high tempo. He did, at least, manage to play the full 90 minutes.

MF Joe Willock, 5 -- Beat Alexander-Arnold with lovely trickery, but that was his only contribution of note. Willock's passing was sloppy and he was shrugged off the ball too easily by Sadio Mane as Liverpool nearly doubled their lead just before half-time.

MF Dani Ceballos, 4 -- Failing to build on a dazzling performance against Burnley, he made little impact and was replaced by Lucas Torreira on the hour.

FW Nicolas Pepe, 7 -- Arsenal's standout performer, Pepe showed pace and promise in his first start for the club. He was unfortunate not to open the scoring with a curling effort and looked dangerous on the counter.

FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 6 -- Unlucky to see a 20-yard lob drop inches wide when the game was goalless, but Aubameyang generally lacked his usual cutting edge and looked unusually hesitant when he found himself clean through later. He did set up Torreira's consolation strike.

Substitutes

MF Lucas Torreira, 6 -- Showed great composure to score in front of The Kop, but did little to change the course of a game that was already over by the time he was introduced.

FW Alexandre Lacazette, NR - Replaced Willock in the 80th minute and showed some attacking intent and signs of positive link-up play.

MF Henrikh Mkhitaryan, NR -- Introduced in place of Guendouzi in the 86th minute, he had no time to make an impact.

Liverpool continued their perfect start to the season, comprehensively beating Arsenal 3-1 to stay atop the Premier League. A first-half header from Joel Matip and a brace from Mohamed Salah after the break saw Jurgen Klopp's men take command, before Lucas Torreira bagged a late salvo for the Gunners.

Positives

Three games, three wins and nine goals. Jurgen Klopp's men have started the season in dream fashion, and after Man City's slip against Tottenham, Liverpool have turned up the heat early on the two-time defending champions.

Salah was at his very best in the second half -- Liverpool are an extremely tough proposition when they have their main man firing on all cylinders -- while another goal for Joel Matip is a bonus. Alongside Virgil van Dijk, now the Reds have two centre-backs that opposing teams need to worry about from set pieces.

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Negatives

Conceding late will leave a sour taste, and goalkeeper Adrian still awaits his first clean sheet. There were nervy moments in the first half -- Adrian's turnover and a poor Jordan Henderson touch to be specific -- but Liverpool were much improved in the second period.

Manager rating out of 10

7 -- Klopp has his team at the top of the table and, after winning the Champions League last season, Liverpool supporters can dream of a first league title since 1990. The players followed their manager's game plan to perfection and, against what looks to be a serious top-four contender, Liverpool were dominant.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Adrian, 6 -- One run and slide outside his area nearly ended in disaster but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's lob went wide. Adrian made some important saves, notably a good breakaway stop on Nicolas Pepe, but his play with his feet continues to worry, even if there was no repeat of his Southampton howler. He has done an admirable job, but Alisson's return cannot come soon enough.

DF Trent Alexander-Arnold, 7 -- After bursting onto the scene last season with 12 Premier League assists, the 20-year-old picked up his second of this campaign with a beautiful inswinging corner for Matip's header. Is there a better set-piece taker in Europe than the 20-year-old?

DF Joel Matip, 8 -- The Cameroon international's dramatic turnaround at Anfield continues. Matip, who scored one goal in 31 games last season, netted his second in four games this campaign, following his equalizer in the Community Shield.

DF Virgil van Dijk, 7 -- Steady as always and a real leader at the back. Van Dijk had a comfortable day and although it was not his flashiest performance, dealt well with the threat of Arsenal's heralded front three.

DF Andy Robertson, 7 -- Always a threat in attack, Robertson has become one of Liverpool's most important players. He did not find any joy in terms of end product, but did a fine job going forward and in defence.

MF Georginio Wijnaldum, 7 -- All-action and all-energy is his trademark and Wijnaldum had the Liverpool team ticking from midfield. Moreover, at times he showcased some real moments of skill.

MF Jordan Henderson, 6 -- He was a driving force, but had to be bailed out by Adrian after a fluffed touch in the 34th minute and later missed a tackle on Torreira ahead of Arsenal's late consolation. Henderson must avoid those isolated mistakes if he wants to hold on to his starting place.

MF Fabinho, 7 -- Good in the advanced midfield role, Fabinho survived an early mistake and improved as the game wore on. He played the pass that led to Salah's second goal, although the Egyptian did most of the work, leaving Luiz in the dust.

FW Sadio Mane, 6 -- Mane has been in blistering form, but it did not seem to come off for him on Saturday, as he had attempts saved and blocked, while a wide-open header went sailing over the bar.

FW Roberto Firmino, 8 -- No goals or assists but the Brazilian striker was integral to Liverpool's success. He picked out Salah with a brilliant pass to draw the penalty for the second goal and Firmino did his usual work in terms of drawing attention and proving a threat.

FW Mohamed Salah, 9 -- Slotted his penalty with authority and then absolutely bamboozled Luiz for his second goal, losing the Brazilian defender with a quick turn before flying in from the right to expertly finish low into the far corner. Salah is back to his best in the early part of 2019-20. Is the Ballon d'Or in his future?

Substitutes

MF James Milner, 6 -- Came on for Wijnaldum and picked up where the Dutchman left off in terms of running. Never afraid of making a tackle, either.

MF Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, NR -- Came on for Mane and didn't do too much. It is just good to see him back on the pitch after his injury-ruined 2018-19.

MF Adam Lallana, NR -- Only on for four minutes, replacing Firmino.

England 67 and 156 for 3 (Root 75*, Denly 50) trail Australia 179 and 246 (Labuschagne 80) by 202 runs

Josh Hazlewood beat Joe Root's bat by a lick of paint with a ball that buzzed outside off stump just inside the last hour of yet another dramatic day of this Ashes series. The hint of a smile at the corners of Root's mouth spread into a nonchalant grin as he eyeballed the fast bowler who was following up his leather-bound assault with a little verbal one.

The pair were locked in battle, just as their respective sides were, playing out a scene that had seemed so very unlikley just hours earlier at the start of play on day three of the third Test at Headingly.

Root and Joe Denly - two England batsmen needing big scores as much as any - had dug in and turned the match on its head, a recurring theme in a series that has seen momentum swings , twists and turns throughout. The pair put on a 126-run partnership, Denly reaching his second Test fifty, and Root unbeaten on 75 at the close.

The 67 all out England coughed up in their first inings had heaped more pressure on England's batting lineup and these two hadn't escaped - far from it. Questions swirled over the influence Root's role as captain and his move one place up the order to No. 3 was having on his battting performance and Denly was struggling to establish himself as a Test player in his sixth match.

But the pair came together after England had stumbled again to 15 for 2 in their second innings chasing a lofty target of 359, set when Australia resumed on 171 for 6 and Marnus Labuschagne, who was not out on 53, proceeded to reach 80 and top score for the tourists for the third time in as many innings as he guided them 246 all out.

In reply, England lost thier openers cheaply, Rory Burns to a Hazlewood delivery he should have left but which he prodded to David Warner at first slip and Jason Roy to a gem from Pat Cummins which zeroed in on off stump. It looked like Australia, who lead the series 1-0 would have retained the Ashes by the end of the day.

But some dogged batting from Root and Denly frustrated Australia's bowlers, as demonstrated in that exchange between Hazlewood and Root, which didn't end there. Hazlewood followed up immediately with another ball that beat Root's bat moving away slightly off the seam, and then a length ball that had the batsman shouldering arms and copping another earful.

It was an intense and important spell from Hazlewood, who had taken 5 for 30 in England's first innings. Nathan Lyon kept Denly on his toes in the next over, with a big appeal for a catch at short leg which came off the pads, an appeal to the DRS for leg-before which was sliding down and an attempted run out - all of which Denly survived.

Hazlewood struck on the third ball of his next over though, pummelling Denly with a short ball that hit the glove and looped to Tim Paine behind the stumps. Denly had faced 134 balls for his 50 and 21 more without adding to his score but he had produced an innings sure to boost his confidence and secure his place for now, his delicious pull through midwicket off Hazlewood for four midway through the second session one for the highlights reel.

Likewise, Root went a long way towards answering his critics after scoring consecutive ducks in his previous two innings with his 57 at Edgbaston his only knock of note in this series before now. He is still far from Mark Butcher's unbeaten 173 which allowed England to chase down 315 against Australia at Headingley in 2001, but the England captain will have his sights set on producing something special at his home ground.

Denly's exit brought in Ben Stokes, who scored fifty in the first Test and was Man of the Match with an unbeaten 115 in the second, bolstering England's hopes this time around.

Australian skipper Paine, in trying to keep his troops' pumped up late on the third day, yelled from behind the stumps: "We'll get two more tonight boys, two more in the morning". They didn't get the former. They will need the latter and much, much more.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Lance Kendricks has been suspended one game for violating the NFL's policy on substances of abuse, the league announced Saturday.

Kendricks, 31, has been on the roster bubble as the Patriots have had an open competition among several players as they attempt to fill the void created by Rob Gronkowski's retirement.

The Patriots had signed Kendricks to a one-year deal on July 24. He spent the previous two seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Kendricks is eligible to participate in all remaining preseason practices and the team's final preseason game Thursday against the New York Giants. He will be eligible to return to the Patriots' active roster on Sept. 9, following the team's Week 1 game versus Pittsburgh.

Kendricks played 24 snaps and had one catch for 11 yards in the Patriots' win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.

In a Week 2 preseason win over the Tennessee Titans, Kendricks also played 24 snaps and had one catch for 28 yards. He had been penalized for holding in the end zone in that game, resulting in a safety.

Veteran tight end Benjamin Watson, who also is vying for a roster spot, is suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

The National League batting leader is back for the New York Mets.

Jeff McNeil was activated off the 10-day injured list ahead of Saturday's home game against the Atlanta Braves, where he will be available off the bench.

McNeil went on the IL on Aug. 14 after suffering a hamstring strain when trying to beat out an infield grounder.

The Mets' leadoff hitter told reporters on Saturday that the hamstring "feels normal" and that he expects to be in the lineup on Sunday.

McNeil is batting an NL-best .332 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs.

He rejoins the team in the midst of a pivotal series against the division-leading Braves. The Mets entered Saturday's matchup 10 games back from the Braves and two games back from the wild card.

In a corresponding move, the Mets designated Aaron Altherr for assignment.

LOS ANGELES -- Hyun-Jin Ryu is reaching unfamiliar territory with his workload and, whether as a direct correlation or sheer coincidence, has struggled in recent starts, allowing 11 runs over his last 10 innings. In hopes of mitigating potential fatigue, the Los Angeles Dodgers are considering the possibility of either skipping one of Ryu's upcoming turns through the rotation, lengthening the amount of days between starts or shortening his outings moving forward. "I'll have that conversation with Hyun-Jin," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "and we'll see what's best for him."

Ryu, a frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award for most of the season, is already up to 152 2/3 innings, his highest total since contributing 192 as a rookie in 2013. Over the last four years, while dealing with severe injuries to his shoulder, elbow and groin, Ryu accumulated only 213 21/3 innings.

The 32-year-old left-hander was charged with four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 17 and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees on Friday, increasing his ERA from 1.45 to 2.00. Prior to suffering his fourth loss against the Yankees at Dodger Stadium, Ryu had surrendered only seven earned runs in 77 2/3 innings at home all season.

Ryu stated that he is "healthy."

"I don't feel any fatigue at the moment," he said through a translator. "Our team does a great job of giving me extra days of rest, so I actually feel fresh."

Roberts generally agreed, acknowledging that Ryu has had a hard time commanding all of his pitches but adding that his velocity remains on par. The Dodgers will have four off-days in their first 19 days of September. Roberts would like to ensure that his top three starters -- Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Ryu -- remain on a regular schedule through that, though the days off make it easier to skip their turns.

Rookies Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin can help fill in. Julio Urias, extended to about three innings and set to return from suspension on Sept. 1, and Rich Hill, who threw a 27-pitch bullpen session in his return from an elbow injury, can also help fill the gap.

Roberts, speaking prior to Saturday's game against the Yankees, said Ryu has "done a good job of keeping himself strong, so I don't think fatigue is the reason he hasn't thrown the ball well."

Triple European champion clocks 10.96 to book her world champs spot, with Rosie Clarke, Elizabeth Bird and Sophie McKinna also among Doha-bound athletes

Dina Asher-Smith secured another national title and world championships spot in style as she broke her own championship record to win the 100m on a sunny and hot first day at the Müller British Athletics Championships.

Clocking 10.96 into a -0.9m/sec headwind, the triple European champion was left pleased with her performance but frustrated with the conditions as her earlier impressive time of 11.03 into an even stronger headwind of -2.0m/sec during the semi-finals saw her sub-11 second streak of 2019 come to an end.

In still conditions her times would equate to 10.87 and 10.89, not far off her own British record mark of 10.85.

“In the first race I saw 11.03 and obviously I was happy to have won and it’s a really strong time considering the headwind, but I was playing a game with myself so I was like ‘damn it!’,” she said with a smile, having had an aim to dip under 11 seconds for all of her races this year. “Then the second race, I was just going for the win.

“I crossed the line and was happy to have won but to see it get rounded down to a championship record considering the headwind again was great news for me because it means I’m in better shape than a month out from Berlin last year.”

Behind her, Asha Philip again proved her strength as a championship performer as she ran a season’s best of 11.29 to secure silver and will now chase the IAAF World Championships qualifying time of 11.24.

It was a fine return for the four-time British champion, who struggled with injury after the IAAF World Relays.

“I’m so happy I got top two,” she said. “The fact that I performed when I needed to, I’m really happy about that.

“I’ve got semi automatic qualification because I haven’t got the time yet but with one more week, I’m sure I’ll get it.”

Daryll Neita claimed bronze in 11.30, as Kristal Awuah was fourth (11.40) and Jodie Williams fifth (11.45).

Two more Doha places were booked in the women’s 3000m steeplechase as Rosie Clarke retained her title in 9:46.66 as she beat Elizabeth Bird in an exciting finish, with Bird just behind in 9:46.95 to also secure her world championships vest.

Aimee Pratt was third in 9:53.24 as the top three finished well clear of the rest of the field.

After two silver and three bronze medals, Sophie McKinna won her first British outdoor title with a best throw of 17.97m to also secure her spot on the team for Doha.

All five of her valid throws were over 17.62m and would have been enough to win, as Amelia Strickler was second with 17.09m and Divine Oladipo third with 16.38m. In between racing in the 100m hurdles heats and final, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson threw a best of 12.60m, while Paralympic bronze medallist Sabrina Fortune threw 12.26m.

Johnson-Thompson went on to run 13.57 (-1.6m/sec) for fourth in a hurdles final won by Cindy Ofili in 13.09, as the Olympic fourth-placer remains on the hunt for a world championships standard.

Alicia Barrett was second in 13.40 and Yasmin Miller third in 13.40.

Naomi Ogbeta was delighted to have retained her title in the triple jump as the European finalist leapt 13.87m for victory ahead of Angela Barrett with 13.22m and Mary Fasipe with a PB of 13.07m.

The women’s hammer saw a different British champion for the first time since 2010, with Jess Mayho gaining gold with a throw of 64.79m.

Annabelle Crossdale was silver medallist with a 61.95m PB and Pippa Wingate the bronze medal winner with 58.85m.

“I’m just so happy to get on the top of the podium,” said Mayho, who last year secured silver behind British record-holder and eight-time British champion Sophie Hitchon, who has called an early end to her season.

“I’m never normally speechless but today was just so good. It maybe wasn’t the series I wanted but with championships, it just takes one throw and that’s what I did today.”

With English discus record-holder and seven-time British champion Jade Lally watching from the stands with her one-month-old baby, Scotland’s Kirsty Law won the title with a throw of 54.23m. Amy Holder secured silver with 54.00m and Shadine Duquemin got bronze with 53.23m.

The women’s 800m had looked set to be one of the most competitive events of the championships in terms of depth and the heats were won by European and Commonwealth medallist Lynsey Sharp in 2:04.05, as she eased down at the end of the race, plus Hannah Segrave in 2:03.83, Alex Bell in 2:02.81 and European indoor champion Shelayna Oskan-Clarke as she came through to pip Adelle Tracey, 2:02.28 to 2:02.39.

In the 1500m heats, Sarah McDonald won heat one in 4:20.63 and double European under-23 champion Jemma Reekie heat two in 4:18.72.

World 4x400m medallist Zoey Clark went quickest in the 400m heats, running 52.18 in heat two ahead of European under-23 relay medallist Yasmin Liverpool with 52.49 and multiple world relay medallist Perri Shakes-Drayton in 53.13, as they both also booked their places in the final thanks to their times.

Clark and Shakes-Drayton’s fellow London 2017 relay silver medallists Laviai Nielsen and Emily Diamond won their respective heats in 52.45 and 52.46, while world indoor relay bronze medallist Amy Allcock won heat four in 53.49.

European bronze medallist Meghan Beesley was among the 400m hurdles heats winners as she clocked 57.05. Jessica Turner (56.49), Lauren Thompson (57.76) and Jessie Knight (57.44) also won their heats, while European indoor relay medallist Lina Nielsen was disqualified but then reinstated, securing her spot in the final thanks to her runner-up time of 58.22 behind Thompson in heat two.

Welsh Commonwealth Games hurdler Caryl Granville looked in a strong position ahead of the final hurdle in heat three but she pulled up and did not finish.

Click here for a men’s events report.

Photo finish sprint verdict goes to Ojie Edoburun over Adam Gemili and Zharnel Hughes at the British Champs in Birmingham

The men’s 100m on day one of the Müller British Athletics Championships was so close to call that the winner, Ojie Edoburun, did not know he had won for a few moments after the race. The 23-year-old was given exactly the same time of 10.18 (-1.9m/sec) as Adam Gemili and Zharnel Hughes but after a short, tense delay he was given the verdict over his more favoured rivals.

Hughes is the fastest British sprinter this year with 9.95, while Gemili has run 10.04 but Edoburun, whose season’s best is 10.08, turned the form book on its head to win gold.

“I was getting ready to say ‘well done, Adam’. But it came up as me being the winner and it was such an emotional moment,” said Edoburun.

A brilliant junior talent, Edoburun won the European under-20 100m title in 2015 and under-23 title in 2017 but has struggled to make an impact in the senior ranks. However, he says a change of coach to Steve Fudge together with an emphasis on sports psychology to iron out demons and improve his pre-race confidence have helped him move on to a new level.

“People often think seeing a sports psychologist is a sign of weakness but I think it shows you are doing something to become stronger,” he explained.

On the evidence of Saturday’s 100m at Alexander Stadium, he has a point and will now go to the IAAF World Championships in Doha along with fellow automatic qualifier Gemili aiming to at least make the final.

Harry Coppell led some fine performances in the field with an IAAF World Championships qualifier of 5.71m in the pole vault which lifts him to equal fourth on the UK all-time rankings. Read more and view a video interview here.

Tim Duckworth won the British long jump title last year by one centimetre from Dan Bramble and this year the duo enjoyed another titanic battle with an even closer result.

Both men jumped 7.92m but Duckworth also had a 7.91m to his name and took gold on countback as Bramble took silver and Feron Sayers took bronze.

“I went 8.00m last year and Dan went 7.99m so I think he’s starting not to like me,” joked Duckworth, who is poised to compete in the decathlon at the IAAF World Championships in Doha.

Tim Duckworth beat Dan Bramble by 1cm to win the 2018 British long jump title and the battle for the 2019 crown was even closer with both men jumping 7.92m. #MullerBritishChamps pic.twitter.com/TBU9b4tMnw

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) August 24, 2019

Javelin thrower Harry Hughes finished his rollercoaster, injury-hit season on a high note with a 75.11m victory. The 21-year-old opened his season with 80.32m – the first 80-metre throw by a British athlete for seven years – but he then injured his left heel at the England Championships in June, causing him to miss the European Under-23 Championships.

After six weeks on the sidelines, he was unable to compete in July but kept himself in good shape and returned in Birmingham on Saturday to win the national title by five metres from Joe Dunderdale in tricky, blustery conditions for the throwers.

“I’ve only done British champ once before,” said Hughes. “And that was two years ago when I was injured. I threw 66 metres and came sixth and didn’t want to be there at the time as I wasn’t in the right mindset.

“So it feels great to be here and to be in really good shape and to be confident and to finish the season on a high.”

The men’s high jump saw Allan Smith win with 2.25m from from runner-up Chris Baker and bronze medallists Tom Gale and William Grimsey – the minor medallists all jumping 2.22m.

“I came into this ranked fourth which is pretty unheard of for myself coming into the British Champs,” said Smith. “I’ve turned my season around slightly to having a season’s best of 2.19m coming into this and coming away with 2.25m and coming first so I’m really happy about that.”

Another in-form Scottish athlete in Birmingham, Andrew Butchart, was always in control in the 5000m and he surged clear with a kilometre to go to clock 13:54.27 to win from Marc Scott. After a recent spell of training at altitude in Font Romeu, Butchart looks in great form and now races in Zurich on Thursday before beginning his final countdown to Doha.

In the rounds, Charlie Da’Vall Grice, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman won their 1500m heats ahead of Sunday’s much-anticipated metric mile final. In the 800m heats, winners included Elliot Giles, Kyle Langford, Guy Learmonth and Alex Botterill – the latter beating Jamie Webb to the line.

The 400m heat winners, meanwhile, were Matt Hudson-Smith, Dwayne Cowan, Cameron Chalmers and Rabah Yousif.

Reports from the women’s events in Birmingham are here.

Harry Coppell soars up the UK all-time rankings and qualifies for Doha with 5.71m vault at the Müller British Athletics Championships in Birmingham

It was quite a competition for Harry Coppell. Despite warm conditions and a swirling wind, he took gold with 5.71m – a PB, qualifying mark for Doha, stadium record and ‘Müllerlicious performance of the day’.

The 23-year-old is a former world youth champion and on the first day of the British Championships in Birmingham on Saturday he came of age as he improved his best of 5.61m to jump from ninth to equal-fourth on the UK all-time rankings.

Pole vaulter Harry Coppell qualified for Doha and soared up the UK rankings with a 5.71m win at the #MullerBritishChamps today. He chats to AW about his brilliant day… pic.twitter.com/z4N6kqyDGA

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) August 24, 2019

“This wasn’t quite out of nowhere, but everything had to come together on the day and it did,” said Coppell, who beat Jax Thoirs (5.56m) and Adam Hague (5.46m) to take the gold.

“Hopefully I can get an Olympic qualifier (5.80m) too as I was quite close here. I had a couple of attempts at it but then pulled out as it’d been a long competition as it was warm and I’d wasted lots of energy in early jumps today.”

Maybe he can achieve that height at the IAAF World Championships in Doha. “It feels amazing achieving the standard for Doha,” he added.

See the rest of the men’s news from day one in Birmingham here and a report from the women’s events here.