Category: Football (Soccer)

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández hits form, Newcastle have lost their shooting boots and Brighton rue a chance missed

Late-2024 Liverpool are reminiscent of the late-2019 team that eventually won the club’s first league title in 30 years. Back then, a 3-1 home win against Manchester City put Jürgen Klopp’s side eight points above second place, and nine above City. In 2024, they are nine points above second and 11 above City – with, we hope, no pandemic to interrupt the season. There are eight players from that squad still at Liverpool, and if the football is more measured under Arne Slot, Sunday’s potential knockout blow was achieved in the heavy-metal fashion of a Klopp team. “I knew Jürgen left the team in a very good place,” said the diplomatic Dutchman afterwards.

Match report: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

Match report: West Ham 2-5 Arsenal

Match report: Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa

Match report: Manchester United 4-0 Everton

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.'

• Salah seals dominant Liverpool win over Manchester City in major title race blow

• Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City: player ratings from Anfield

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.

• Manchester United raise member ticket prices to £66 and remove concessions

• Manager wants to focus on performance not results
• Amorim says Rashford ‘can play so much better’

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.”