Sheffield United have played 4,988 league games in their history.

A painful 2-1 loss at Tottenham in their previous game left the Blades on just one point from their first five games back in the Premier League.

However, they had been competitive in every match, briefly drawing level with Manchester City late on, taking a lead into injury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and never losing by more than a single goal.

The size of the task ahead of them was clear, but the displays in the defeats provided cause for a little optimism.

Against Newcastle, more so even than the record margin of the defeat, it was the manner of it that was so concerning.

“We were undone by our organisation. We can’t afford to put ourselves behind in that sort of fashion if we want to compete,” Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Sport.

“A lot of the things I saw in the second half I’ve never seen here. There are certain things that aren’t acceptable, which they know.”

‘Outfought and outrun – that is not acceptable’

Heckingbottom anticipated his team would be competitive and would have demanded they at least match Newcastle for energy and effort.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “You could see moments where Newcastle outfought us and outran us. That is not acceptable.

“We want to compete. There is still a level of competition we expect. We know they have top-class players but there is an expectation from us that we are here to compete.”

Sheffield United made a reasonable start but seemed to lose all belief when Newcastle scored their second goal. The third followed four minutes later and, for much of the second half, the away side were able to cut through the Blades defence whenever they so chose.

The hosts lacked defensive discipline and showed little inclination to try to change that. On the rare occasions they did manage to build possession, they were promptly muscled off the ball by a Newcastle side who remained by far the more eager long after the three points were secured.

“These results are going to come, we expect them, but it is the nature of the performance that we are upset about,” Heckingbottom said.

“No-one wants to see that. The supporters were first class, you could hear them all the way through. It has been a tough week for everyone, we wanted to do our bit to change that but we’ve failed.

“You can’t feel sorry for yourself. We are ready to go tomorrow morning. There are things we have to address from that, we can’t shy away from it, but the good thing is you always have another game.”

Sheffield United have been in mourning following the death on Wednesday of Maddy Cusack, a midfielder from their women’s team who also worked at the club as a marketing executive.

Tributes were paid on Sunday to Cusack prior to kick-off and during the game by supporters.

Despite the team’s record defeat, the Press Association reported it understands Sheffield United have no immediate plans to sack Heckingbottom.

Former Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand, speaking on Sky Sports, said such results cause boardroom alarm.

“It certainly does. Especially when you see the crowd leaving the stadium,” Ferdinand said.

“Lack of quality you can deal with, but I have to say that for a large part of that game, Sheffield United didn’t compete with Newcastle.”

Heckingbottom looks set to be given the chance to put things right and will have to show that this insipid display was an anomaly. Fight and determination are the minimum the Blades require if they are to beat the drop.

Kylian Mbappe went off with a suspected ankle injury as Paris St-Germain returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 with an easy victory over Marseille.

Mbappe could be a doubt when the French champions play Newcastle away in the Champions League on 4 October.

PSG cruised past Marseille after goals by Achraf Hakimi, Randal Kolo Muani and two from Goncalo Ramos.

It lifted them into third spot in Ligue 1, two points behind early season leaders Brest.

Luis Enrique’s side had lost their previous Ligue 1 game 3-2 at home to Nice on 15 September but they never looked back once Morocco full-back Hakimi scored straight from a free-kick.

Hakimi then provided the cross for Muani to score his first goal since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt for £64.2m plus £12.2m in add-ons earlier this month.

Substitute Ramos sealed the points with the third and fourth goals after replacing the injured Mbappe.

Marseille, whose manager Marcelino resigned last week, should have equalised at 1-0 down but Vitinha headed against the bar.

Their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season leaves them seventh in the table, two points behind PSG.

Match of the Day 2 pundits Shay Given and Ian Wright analyse how Newcastle United exposed Sheffield United’s defensive frailties in their 8-0 win at Bramall Lane.

Watch highlights of Sunday’s Premier League action on Match of the Day 2 on BBC iPlayer.

Available to UK users only.

Manchester United are weighing up a move for Atletico Madrid’s Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak, 30, if they decide to show Cameroonian Andre Onana, 27, the exit door after his poor start to life at Old Trafford. (Fichajes – in Spanish)

Liverpool would be willing to accept a big offer for Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara, 32, in January. (Football Insider)

Liverpool are still keen on Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes even though the 25-year-old Brazilian has verbally agreed a new contract at St James’ Park. (Fabrizio Romano via Caughtoffside)

Paul Heckingbottom’s job as Sheffield United manager is safe despite the 46-year-old having seen his side thrashed 8-0 by Newcastle (Talksport)

Paris St-Germain have not held any secret negotiations with Kylian Mbappe, 24, over his future and no meetings are currently planned despite the France striker’s contract expiring next year and Real Madrid’s longstanding interest. (Le Parisien – in French and subscription required)

Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande is happy at Sporting Lisbon despite interest in the 19-year-old from Arsenal and Manchester City. (O Bola – Portuguese)

Everton are set to revive their interest in Belgium midfielder Adnan Januzaj with Sevilla willing to sell the 27-year-old to the Blues in January. (Fichajes – in Spanish)

AC Milan’s English defender Fikayo Tomori, 25, turned down a move to Paris St-Germain during the summer. (Calciomercato – in Italian)

Aston Villa remain in talks with striker Ollie Watkins, 27, over a new contract. (Express & Star)

Alvaro Morata scored twice as Atletico Madrid ended Real Madrid’s 100% start to the La Liga season with a fine victory over their city rivals.

Antoine Griezmann then made it 2-0 with another header, before Toni Kroos’ fine low strike halved the deficit.

But Morata sealed Atletico’s victory when he rose highest to meet Saul Niguez’s ball in after the break.

Victory moved Atletico up to fifth in the table, while Real are third – behind leaders Barcelona and Girona – after dropping points for the first time this season.

Atletico had only won one of their past 14 La Liga Madrid derbies before this match, but stunned their bitter rivals with two goals in the opening 18 minutes and then defended resolutely thereafter.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has been in inspired form since joining Real in the summer, cut a frustrated figure throughout, culminating in a yellow card for a poor challenge on Angel Correa in stoppage time.

The 20-year-old scored six goals in his first six appearances for the club in all competitions, but this result means he tastes defeat for the first time as a Real Madrid player.

After every weekend of the Premier League, BBC football pundit Garth Crooks gathers his thoughts and gives you his Team of the Week.

Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa): The save by Martinez from Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson was so important and at a crucial time in Sunday’s match. Robert Sanchez was also showing good form in the Chelsea goal but was eventually, like so many of his Chelsea team-mates, found wanting when Ollie Watkins’ effort went through his legs from a tight angle at the near post. Watkins shouldn’t be scoring from there.

Martinez meanwhile pulled off the save of the match, with Ben Chilwell clean through. The Argentine managed a superb one-handed save that secured Villa the points. When your team is struggling – and Chelsea are – you need your keeper to pull you out of the mire. The only difference on the day between the two teams was the keepers.

Kieran Trippier (Newcastle): This was an impressive victory by Newcastle. They were involved in a goalless draw and a titanic tussle in the Champions League against AC Milan in midweek and dealt with the fixture extremely well.

To then go to Bramall Lane and be 3-0 up after just 36 minutes and 6-0 after 70 suggests just how far the Magpies have come since their ascent to the top flight and how far Sheffield United need to improve if they have any chance of staying in the Premier League.

Sheffield United never laid a glove on Newcastle. It was like a battle-hardened team playing a side just coming to terms with the division. As for Newcastle’s captain Tripper, his leadership knows no bounds.

James Tarkowski (Everton): Crisis, what crisis? Not if Everton keep playing like that. The urgency with which Tarkowski raced back to defend an attack in their win at Brentford was expected, but to nudge the ball expertly away from the oncoming Keane Lewis-Potter, who was about to tap the ball into the net, was a turning point in the game.

Brentford had already equalised and looked like they had Everton on toast. Had it not been for an outstanding all-round display by Tarkowski, Everton would have been nursing another defeat. The former Brentford defender didn’t mind celebrating his well-taken headed goal against his old club either. That’s always a good sign. I never understood players who scored against their old club and thought it was somehow a betrayal.

Jonny Evans (Manchester United): I overheard a conversation recently where an Arsenal supporter said how surprised he was to see Evans come on against his team a few weeks ago and I must say so was I. However, he went on to suggest that Evans was, at the tender age of 35, no longer good enough for Manchester United.

Well the point of view couldn’t have been further from the truth. Evans was the star performer against Burnley. The Northern Ireland international had a headed goal disallowed, played the most exquisite pass to Bruno Fernandes to volley home and helped United keep a clean sheet.

I’m not entirely sure what Arsenal fans know about top-class centre-backs anyway. The last ones they had were Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Sol Campbell and they all played into their thirties.

Kyle Walker (Manchester City): City demolished Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League in midweek and had no trouble at all doing the same with Nottingham Forest a few days later.

The desire by Walker to yet again get in behind the opposition defence and then watch a 40-yard pass from Rodri fall out of the sky onto his foot for the perfect volleyed lay-off for Phil Foden to finish was football at its finest.

Walker has started the season for club and country like a dream. I said last week the City captain is my early candidate for footballer of the year and we’re only in September. More candidates are sure to follow but Walker’s the only one on my list so far.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): What a cracking finish by Fernandes. I was keen to see how United might react after their Champions League defeat in midweek against Bayern Munich.

Admittedly they were playing Burnley, who are finding their time in the Premier League somewhat challenging, but this was about nerve and bottle for United as much as it was about performance. United stood up to the test and deserved the victory.

The tackle by Casemiro on Luca Koleosho, who showed some fabulous footwork as he entered the box with the ball at his feet, was sensational. All credit to referee Tony Harrington who was quite right to wave away any appeals.

Yves Bissouma (Tottenham): The mere fact that this lad struggled to get a regular game under Antonio Conte is more a reflection on the high-profile Italian manager than it was on the Mali international. Bissouma has been a revelation for Tottenham so far this season and played against Arsenal with the sort of passion you expect from a midfield player in a north London derby.

The player’s ability to engage the opposition and at the same time cover ground has been outstanding. A draw against Arsenal was probably a fair result but the Gunners couldn’t have screamed if Tottenham had come away with all three points.

Anthony Gordon (Newcastle): This is a different player for Newcastle than I saw for Everton. Not only does Gordon look a better player in the colours of the North-East club, his performance in midweek against AC Milan in the Champions League proved it.

Gordon started on the bench for Newcastle against a Sheffield United side in desperate need of points – hardly surprising bearing in mind how hard he worked in Milan. But, having come on for the injured Harvey Barnes after just 12 minutes, Gordon practically ran the show in what turned out to be an 8-0 romp. I wasn’t convinced by Gordon’s transfer to Newcastle but manager Eddie Howe obviously saw something I didn’t.

Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton): Brentford may have only lost one of their previous 18 home league games but that didn’t cut any ice with Everton. The nod down by Tarkowski was precise but the finish by Doucoure for Everton’s opening goal was superb.

I’ve seen the Mali international sky opportunities like that before but not on this occasion. It would appear a masterstroke by manager Sean Dyche to move Doucoure further up the field where his height and presence is clearly proving to be a problem for the opposition. It certainly did against Brentford.

Phil Foden (Manchester City): We are six games into the season and Foden has only scored one goal for City. You wouldn’t have thought so the way he struck his shot to put the league champions ahead against Nottingham Forest. City at this stage looked imperious.

However the reaction by Rodri on Morgan Gibbs-White, and Ederson’s extraordinary and unnecessary response to a perfectly reasonable attempt by Taiwo Awoniyi to place the ball over the oncoming Manchester City goalkeeper, was not just temperamental but juvenile.

I sincerely hope City are not becoming prima donnas. They might be the best team in Europe but that doesn’t mean the opposition can’t tackle them. It also means that on occasions those tackles will hurt and you might get your hair ruffled.

Son Heung-min (Tottenham): This was an impressive Tottenham performance against their north London rivals. To go behind twice away at Emirates Stadium having had the most shocking penalty decision awarded against you takes some steel and Son displayed plenty of it.

Since the departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, I detect a maturity in Son’s game I haven’t seen before – I also see a better team player this season. Both of Tottenham’s goals were brilliantly taken by Son. Spurs didn’t sulk over the awarded penalty either but had every right to make a fuss. The rule is a joke and must be scrapped. Read why I think the rule is destroying football in the Crooks of the Matter below.

The Crooks of the Matter

How have we got here? Football fans suffered VAR, with its intrusive searchlight, going about the match looking for incidents that no-one else had seen – and certainly weren’t clear and obvious – for two seasons before some semblance of order was restored. It had the vast majority of us incandescent with rage and had fans chanting exactly what they thought of the technology.

We now, for some inexplicable reason, have to suffer a rule change where if the ball strikes a player’s hand or arm, whether its intentional or not, is a penalty. What was wrong with the original handball rule in the first place?

I can’t remember a player, coach, manager or football fan stating that they were dissatisfied with the original rule. Why are football’s bureaucrats interfering with the same rules that have successfully served the industry for generations?

They have now created such a febrile atmosphere at grounds. Referees are now compelled to stop the game every time the ball strikes a player’s arm regardless of the speed the ball is travelling or whether the player can get his arm out of the way or not.

Players are now asking for penalties regardless of whether a player has gained a material advantage while referees are taking an age to make a decision. Surely if a referee is having to take any time to make up his mind there must be sufficient doubt not to give the penalty at all.

When elder statesmen like Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson make it clear that he has no interest in winning football matches based on bogus penalty decisions, we begin to understand the depth of feeling among some managers about this ridiculous rule. It’s time that more managers spoke out and saved us from this absurd nonsense.

L’Atletico Madrid aurait un intérêt pour Federico Chiesa. Il est clair que le directeur sportif Andrea Berta est depuis plusieurs saisons obsédé par l’idée de faire venir son compatriote au club. Maintenant, il semble que les conditions soient réunies pour que Chiesa débarque au Metropolitano.

La Juventus, quant à elle, a besoin de renflouer ses caisses et, contrairement aux années précédentes, elle est prête à ouvrir la porte à un départ de Chiesa. Les Italiens auraient déjà fixé le prix de l’international italien à 70M€, une somme tout à fait abordable, d’autant plus si le transfert de Joao Félix se confirme.

Cependant, le principal obstacle actuel réside dans la forte concurrence pour Chiesa. En effet, Chelsea et Liverpool ont également placé le joueur en tête de leur liste de priorités. Cette compétition accrue pourrait rendre la tâche plus difficile pour l’Atletico Madrid dans sa quête de recruter Chiesa.

Chiesa est un joueur talentueux et polyvalent, capable d’évoluer à différents postes sur le terrain. Son style de jeu dynamique et sa capacité à marquer des buts en font une cible attrayante pour de nombreux clubs européens. Son arrivée à l’Atletico Madrid pourrait apporter une nouvelle dimension à l’équipe, renforçant ainsi ses chances de succès dans les compétitions nationales et internationales.

L’Atletico Madrid semble déterminé à faire de Federico Chiesa son grand objectif pour la saison estivale à venir. Avec le soutien d’Andrea Berta, le club espère pouvoir s’assurer les services de ce talentueux joueur italien. Cependant, la concurrence avec des clubs tels que Chelsea et Liverpool pourrait rendre cette tâche plus ardue.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe jokes that “he can’t even remember the goalscorers” after they thrashed Sheffield United 8-0 in the Premier League.

REPORT: Sheffield United 0-8 Newcastle

Watch highlights of Sunday’s Premier League action on Match Of The Day 2 on Sunday 24 September at 22:30 BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app.

Available to UK users only.

L’Olympique de Marseille est à la recherche d’un nouvel entraîneur après le départ de Marcelino. Malgré une performance convaincante sous la direction intérimaire de Jacques Abardonado lors du match contre l’Ajax, le club phocéen explore différentes pistes pour trouver le candidat idéal. Parmi les noms qui reviennent avec insistance du côté de la Commanderie, celui de Roberto Donadoni, ancien sélectionneur de l’équipe nationale italienne, est désormais évoqué.

Roberto Donadoni, ancien milieu de terrain de l’AC Milan, possède une expérience significative en tant qu’entraîneur. Au cours de sa carrière, il a dirigé plusieurs équipes italiennes telles que le Genoa, le Napoli, Cagliari, Parme et Bologne. Son passage en tant que sélectionneur de la Squadra Azzurra entre 2006 et 2008 a également marqué les esprits.

Les dirigeants olympiens sont particulièrement intéressés par le profil de Donadoni en raison de son expérience et de son succès passés. Sa connaissance du football italien et son parcours varié en tant qu’entraîneur font de lui un candidat attractif pour le poste vacant à Marseille.

Bien que Jacques Abardonado assure actuellement l’intérim sur le banc de l’OM, il est clair que la direction du club cherche un entraîneur sur le long terme. Donadoni a été proposé à Pablo Longoria et Javier Ribalta, qui étudient attentivement cette option. Leur objectif est de trouver un entraîneur capable de guider l’équipe vers de nouveaux succès et de renforcer la stabilité du club.

La performance encourageante de l’Olympique de Marseille lors du match contre l’Ajax a montré que l’équipe possède un potentiel prometteur. Cependant, pour atteindre ses objectifs ambitieux, le club sait qu’il doit trouver un entraîneur expérimenté et compétent. Roberto Donadoni semble correspondre à ces critères et pourrait apporter son expertise et son style de jeu à l’OM.

Il est important de noter que rien n’est encore officiel et que les discussions sont en cours. Les négociations entre les parties concernées détermineront si Donadoni sera le prochain entraîneur de l’Olympique de Marseille. Les supporters du club attendent avec impatience l’annonce officielle et espèrent que cette nouvelle direction permettra à l’équipe de retrouver sa gloire passée.

L’Olympique de Marseille explore différentes options pour trouver son futur entraîneur. Roberto Donadoni, ancien sélectionneur de l’équipe nationale italienne, est l’un des noms qui reviennent avec insistance. Son expérience et son succès passés font de lui un candidat attractif pour le poste. Les discussions sont en cours et les supporters attendent avec impatience l’annonce officielle. L’arrivée d’un nouvel entraîneur pourrait marquer le début d’une nouvelle ère pour l’OM.