Category: Football (Soccer)

Manchester City suffered their fourth successive Premier League defeat for the first time under Pep Guardiola after a 2-0 loss away to Liverpool. During the game Liverpool fans serenaded Guardiola with 'sacked in the morning' chants.

'Maybe I deserve to be sacked, honestly,' the Manchester City manager said. 'Maybe I'm still in the job because we won six Premier Leagues. A lot of titles. Otherwise the hierarchy maybe would be thinking that this does not work.'

When asked on Guardiola's struggles, the Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, said: 'You feel sympathy or empathy with the managers that are in a really bad place. They've either lost many games or they are down at the bottom of the league ... Last season City were eight points behind Arsenal I think in February. No one has to feel empathy or sorry for Pep. Maybe for other managers but not for Pep. He has won so many things and he will be able to bring City back.'

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Hundreds of Manchester United fans gathered in front of Old Trafford to protest against a recent increase in matchday ticket prices. Prices, which previously started at £40 for adults and £25 for children, were raised to £66 per game, with no concessions for children or pensioners. The move comes as part of the co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s efforts to make United more financially sustainable in the face of losses.

Fans outside the ground called the move 'unethical' and directed a number of chants at the ownership. Some Everton supporters also joined their United counterparts while Manchester City and Liverpool fans staged their own protest at Anfield in solidarity to support the Football Supporters' Association's 'Stop Exploiting Loyalty' campaign.

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Ruben Amorim has said he will be judged on Manchester United’s finishing position after Sunday’s 4-0 defeat of Everton lifted them to 19 points, four behind Brighton in the final Champions League berth.

Two goals each from Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee gave the Portuguese victory in his first home league match and afterwards he was asked if Champions League qualification is realistic.

“Amorim, Ruben Amorim, nananananananaaa,” the jubilant Manchester United fans chorused after the impressive Joshua Zirkzee’s second goal. Sung to the melody of KC and the Sunshine Band’s Give It Up, this was the last thing the new manager’s players did: fail to go after any apparent lost cause in case gold could be mined.

It was how Zirkzee struck United’s fourth. From deep in his area, the substitute Luke Shaw headed out. The ball came to Amad Diallo, who rolled it along the right wing into space. Over thundered Marcus Rashford, who failed to connect but, when the ball was passed back to James Tarkowski, there was Diallo harrying. Everton’s captain dawdled, the right wing‑back pilfered possession, sprinted ahead, squared left to United’s centre-forward and he rammed home.

Cole Palmer starred for Chelsea as Aston Villa were overwhelmed, Manchester United thumped Everton and Tottenham drew with Fulham

Here we go.

Maresca has made 10 changes from the midweek win at Heidenheim. Jadon Sancho is the player to keep his place in the lineup.

Pep Guardiola’s struggling team crashed to their latest defeat as Liverpool opened up a nine-point gap

Arne Slot has been speaking to the BBC: “I think what we expect is what you always expect from City. They like to control the ball and possession. Maybe the difference between this [and normal] is [lack of] wingers. We have to wait and see in the first few minutes if they have changed anything in terms of formation.

“A bit of everything today. We’d both like to have the ball. If you’re sloppy [in a game like this] you have no chance. You have to be top on every aspect of your game. We have to be on top of our game in everything.”

Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert became the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties as he inspired a win at Wolves. The home goalkeeper José Sá, who gave away two of the spot-kicks, confronted angry supporters at half-time as the home side’s recent revival was brought to an abrupt halt.

It was a manic afternoon at Molineux which featured four goals in the opening 18 minutes, with Kluivert scoring twice from the spot either side of Milos Kerkez’s goal. Jørgen Strand Larsen had made it 1-1 and then 3-2 but the Dutchman’s third penalty of the game secured the win for the Cherries.