A crunch clash at Anfield, depleted Palace and Huddersfield teams, and the start of a crucial run for FulhamIt is a marker of how far Manchester United have fallen to see that when Gary Neville set about choosing his combined XI for Liverpool and Manchester United on Monday Night Football, he included just three outfield United players. The only player he picked with conviction was Anthony Martial at left wing, admitting Eric Bailly would not be in if Joe Gomez was fit and laughing that his selection of Paul Pogba alongside Naby Keïta and Gini Wijnaldum was “just an opportunity to get a United player in”. Nobody would argue that Liverpool are the better side, and have been for a...
The fact the protest scheduled for the Wolves game was postponed because it could ‘jeopardise the potential sale’ by Mike Ashley shows how much Newcastle supporters want changeApologies if this may sound terribly cynical, but when Mike Ashley announced that he was closing in on a deal to sell Newcastle United, possibly even severing his ties before the end of the month, it wasn’t easy knowing whether to take it at face value bearing in mind his track record for being – and I will couch this as politely as possible – slightly careless with the truth.Ashley does, after all, have previous when it comes to blurring the facts for his own means and, by his own admission, there have...
Chelsea are fragile before meeting Manchester City, Manchester United at home to the bottom club no longer looks a walkover and will it be same old for Saints despite a new manager?It is far too early for any “I’m Sarri I haven’t a clue” headlines but the past few weeks have given a more accurate impression of the job Chelsea’s manager faces. Their defeat by Wolves was sloppy, particularly given they looked comfortable at 1-0 up, and with an evisceration by Spurs still fresh in the memory Sarri is presented with his first real bump in the road. The odds on things improving this Saturday, when Manchester City visit Stamford Bridge, are unpromising but Sarri has always been aware this...
After seven years of forlorn job hunting Macclesfield’s new man in charge lost his first game on penaltiesSol Campbell’s deep interest in interior design is said to incorporate a penchant for symmetry, so it seemed thoroughly appropriate the former England centre-half began his managerial career where his playing days ended.St James’ Park witnessed his final, half-fit hurrahs and more than seven years on it staged his debut in the technical area as Macclesfield took Newcastle’s Under-21s to a penalty shootout in round two of the Checkatrade Trophy. With the score 1-1 after 90 minutes, League Two’s bottom side lost 5-3 on penalties. Related: Sol Campbell makes it tricky for himself but it should not have been this hard | Daniel...
The Merseyside and north London derbies did not disappoint whilst Wolves might need to change tactics and personnel Related: Spurs face FA inquiry after fan throws banana skin at Arsenal’s Aubameyang Related: The Dozen: the weekend’s best Premier League photos Related: European round-up: PSG drop points for first time in Bordeaux draw Related: Manchester City’s Georgia Stanway inflicts first WSL defeat on Arsenal Continue reading...