Author: Rickii

“They are anxious, sometimes afraid on the pitch,” Amorim said of his players. “We have to cope with that.”

On Friday, United’s Portuguese boss said “we are starving for leaders on the pitch” as he praised defender Harry Maguire for bouncing back from difficult times.

“We need the leaders to step up to help the other guys and I’m the most responsible person here to improve the performances,” he added.

“You can see the players are trying, sometimes too anxious, too afraid to play football because this is a difficult moment and we will help the players to be better.”

United, who are 23 points behind Liverpool having played one game more, have not won at Anfield since January 2016 when Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the game.

Meanwhile, United have failed to score on the past five visits, with their last goal at the venue coming in December 2018.

Despite his team’s worrying form, Amorim said better times were coming for United and their fans.

“I will do my best,” he said. “I am giving everything to help the club and we are going to succeed. I know it is hard to understand that in this moment, but we are going to succeed.”

Four teams have been relegated in the Premier League era having been in United’s current 14th position at the turn of the year. Leeds were the last two seasons ago.

Of course, it might not come to that but on the evidence of events at Old Trafford, it might need an injection of new players when the transfer window opens on 1 January.

Except, money is in short supply at a club that lost £113.2m in the financial year to June 2024.

“We don’t have that possibility in January if we don’t take some players [out],” said Amorim. “You know the situation better than me.

“It is not that I am arriving here and know I can spend money changing the team.”

Selling players might be an option.

But what is the market for Casemiro, a Brazilian legend at Real Madrid but now a passenger in the Premier League with 18 months of his contract left?

Or Joshua Zirkzee, signed in the summer from Bologna for £36.5m on a five-year deal but who lasted just 33 minutes of this shambles before he was replaced by Kobbie Mainoo to huge applause from the home fans.

“It was a very difficult moment,” said Amorim. “He is a human being.”

Zirkzee returned to the bench to a more appreciative response after a trip to the dressing room but how does Amorim find a worthwhile place in his squad for the Netherlands international.

And then there is Marcus Rashford. The England forward returned to the matchday squad after a four-game absence but remained on the bench as United lost their fourth successive game in all competitions and their third in a row in the league, during which time they have not scored a goal.

Amorim said he was not making a point – but if Rashford can’t get a place in this team, his coach really cannot have a high opinion of him.

“I think about the team, you think a lot about Marcus,” he said afterwards. “I just want to win the game.”

Guardiola’s side host Everton on Boxing Day, before a trip to Leicester on 29 December and a home match against West Ham on 4 January.

Given all three opponents are in the bottom seven, it offers City a chance to improve on an appalling recent record of four points from eight games, which Guardiola acknowledges has left their lofty European ambitions in doubt.

“The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City,” he added.

“Now we are at risk, of course we are. Definitely.”

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United finished in the Premier League’s top four from the 2005-06 season to 2008-09. At least three of them also occupied the top four spots for 15 successive campaigns until 2012.

But United have spent five out of the past 11 seasons outside the Champions League. Arsenal spent six seasons out of the competition before returning last term. Liverpool missed out all but one year in seven from 2010, while Chelsea are in their second successive campaign outside Europe’s elite.

This term the threat to City comes from unexpected sources. As well as Forest and Bournemouth, Aston Villa are ahead of City, while Newcastle, Fulham and Brighton are also within a couple of points.

“There are a lot of contenders,” said Guardiola, whose side have lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions. “For every club it is so important and if we are not winning games, we will be out.

“If we don’t qualify it is because we don’t deserve it, because we were not prepared and because we had a lot of problems and didn’t solve them.”

Manchester United could let Marcus Rashford leave on loan, Chelsea interested in Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel, Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Zubimendi on Manchester City’s January transfer list.

Manchester United are considering sanctioning a loan exit for England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, in January. (Sun), external

Three Saudi Arabian clubs, Al Ahli, Al Ittihad and Al Qadsiah, have all expressed an interested in signing Rashford. (Talksport), external

English midfielder Dele Alli, 28, is hoping to revive his career in Italy with Serie A side Como after announcing his departure from Everton. (Telegraph) , external

Chelsea are interested in signing Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, 27, from Borussia Dortmund. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Newcastle and Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes, 27, and Real Sociedad and Spain’s fellow midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 25, are Manchester City’s top January transfer targets. (Team Talk), external

Manchester United are monitoring River Plate’s 17-year-old Argentine midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who has a release clause in his contract of about £38m. (Give Me Sport), external

Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon, 17, will join Manchester United from Cerro Porteno when he turns 18 in July. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, 26, who has been linked with a move to Manchester City, is close to agreeing a new contract at AC Milan. (Football Insider), external

Real Madrid have shortlisted Liverpool and Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk, 33, as one of the possible replacements for Austria defender David Alaba, 32, and Brazil centre-back Eder Militao, 26. (Football Transfers) , external

Bayern Munich and Canada left-back Alphonso Davies, 24, who has attracted interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid, is open to a potential transfer away from the German club to Liverpool. (Caughtoffside), external

Paris St-Germain are interested in Bournemouth’s Ukraine international defender Illia Zabarnyi, 22. (L’Equipe – in French), external

English striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 27, whose contract at Everton expires in June 2025, is a January transfer target for Fiorentina. (Gianluca Di Marzio) , external

Brazilian club Palmeiras have sent an initial proposal to Fulham over the signing of Brazil midfielder Andreas Pereira, 28. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca wants to keep Spanish striker Marc Guiu next month but will listen if the 18-year-old wants a loan move. (Standard), external

Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei, 21, is planning to leave Chelsea in January, with Serie A his most likely destination. (Fabrizio Romano) , external

Southampton have sacked manager Russell Martin after a 5-0 thrashing by Tottenham on Sunday left them nine points off Premier League safety.

Martin, 38, guided the Saints to promotion last year in his first season in charge, beating Leeds United in the play-off final at Wembley.

But the loss against Spurs was Southampton’s 13th in the league this campaign from 16 games.

Their only win this season was against Everton in November, while the St Mary’s club have scored a league-low 11 goals.

“Going into the start of the season, we all knew the challenges that we would face this year as we readjusted to life in the top flight, competing in the best and most competitive league in the world,” said a Southampton statement.

“However, the reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations.

“We have all been on the same page in recognising the urgency of needing results to improve.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the pitch over the last 18 months.

“Everyone connected with Southampton FC will always have fantastic memories of last season, especially the play-off final win in May.”

Southampton Under-21s manager Simon Rusk will take interim charge of the senior side and his first game will be a Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Wednesday.

Martin’s dismissal comes on the same day as fellow top-flight strugglers Wolves decided to sack manager Gary O’Neil.

He added: “The positive is we’ve come away defensively strong and didn’t concede. We had great energy, good commitment, but I thought we lacked quality in the final third.

“In the Champions League, if you get a clean sheet and take a point away from home and you’re not very happy, that shows how the team has progressed.”

Celtic now have nine points, with a home tie against Young Boys to follow in January, followed by a trip to Aston Villa.

Another win should be enough to see them into knockout round, while less than that might still see them into February’s next stage.

“This group and team is gaining confidence at this level,” said Rodgers, who confirmed the hip problem that curtailed right-back Alistair Johnston’s game did not look overly serious.

“We needed to do more, but we know that. That’s cool. We know it was an opportunity for us, but you have to show that little bit more.”

The consensus seems to be yes – but with difficulty.

There are several aspects to Arsenal’s set-pieces that make them extremely difficult for opponents to defend. The first is excellent delivery.

“Delivery is key, movement, blocking the goalkeeper. The ball is played over that first player [at the near post] and it’s perfection,” former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said on Match of the Day while analysing Declan Rice’s delivery for Jurrien Timber’s opener.

Speaking on Football Daily, Izzy Christiansen noted how many of Arsenal’s corners were delivered right on top of United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was surrounded by ‘blockers’.

And on Match of the Day, Amorim seemed to concur, adding: “They put a lot of players near the goalkeeper and it’s almost impossible to fight for the ball.”

Speaking to Amazon after full-time, Rice said: “We keep at it [set-pieces] all the time, we never get bored. With repetition you end up scoring goals.

“When you go up for a corner it’s a chance to score a goal, not a chance to relax and chill.”

Variety is key as well. Arsenal kept United guessing, with their first goal coming from a front-post delivery and their second via a corner sent to the back post.

“Sometimes they front-load the front post but then go to the back post, and sometimes they’ll have Gabriel in the middle. The key for Arsenal is being able to mix it up,” Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards said.

Keown argued that United didn’t make it difficult enough for Arsenal to score from corners.

“[United] are in a zonal system, no-one is picking up and it’s far too easy for Arsenal. They’re just passengers, it’s just naivety,” he said.

Opponents have used a man-to-man marking system but without much joy either. Some fans are complaining on social media that Arsenal’s use of blocks and subtle pushes is going unpunished.

“As coaches, when we prepare these strategies, you know what the opposition are going to do,” former Everton manager Martinez said on Amazon.

“The uniqueness of Arsenal’s work is that they always find a little trick that makes things impossible to defend if the delivery is right.”

Controversy over the human cost of building the infrastructure required for the 2022 tournament in the gulf state’s extreme summer heat has hung over the event for years.

In 2021, it was revealed that 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had died in Qatar since it won its bid to host the World Cup in 2010.

The Qatari government said not all the deaths recorded were of people working on World Cup-related projects, and that many could have died from old age or other natural causes.

During the event, organisers said the number of migrant workers who died on World Cup-related projects was “between 400 and 500”.

Qatar introduced labour reforms from 2017, with more protection for workers, a minimum wage, and the dismantling of the controversial ‘kafala’ sponsorship system, but there have been long-standing concerns over the implementation of the changes.

Despite generating a record £6bn from the World Cup, Fifa resisted calls from campaigners, players’ unions, fan representative groups and some European football federations for a £350m compensation fund for the families of workers who were injured or who had died, instead committing instead to the legacy fund.

Hayes also said she is looking forward to testing herself against England manager Sarina Wiegman for the first time.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Sarina. I love Sarina,” she told BBC Sport’s Jo Currie.

“We had a great relationship when I was at Chelsea. She’s someone I really look up to, and someone who’s done an amazing job for football in this country and for the Lionesses. So I look forward to giving her a hug on Saturday and saying ‘hi’.”

Hayes also spoke in support of another of her former Chelsea players, Sam Kerr, who recently announced she is expecting her first child with her partner, West Ham and USA midfielder Kristie Mewis.

Kerr and Mewis were abused on social media following their announcement, with Chelsea deleting a congratulatory post because of homophobic comments.

“I think Sam’s going to be an amazing mum,” said Hayes. “When Harry [Hayes’ son] used to come to the training ground, he always gravitated towards Sam with her natural warmth.

“It’s not shocking to hear the abuse they suffered, but I know she’s tough enough to move past that and she’s not someone who expects an easy ride with anything. I just think, for those of us in the women’s game, we’ve just come to expect that.

“It doesn’t make it right, and it is unacceptable, but one where I know Sam will manage that and put all her energy into making sure her and Kristie hopefully go through the pregnancy with no bother and bring their baby into the world.”

Tottenham have appealed against the length of Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-game domestic ban for a racist slur made about team-mate Son Heung-min, saying the Football Association punishment is “severe”.

Spurs say they accept the guilty finding by an independent regulatory commission, which also fined the player £100,000 and ordered him to take part in a mandatory face-to-face education programme.

It came after he was charged by the FA in September for comments made while appearing on TV in his home country of Uruguay in June.

Bentancur, who denied the charge, is currently suspended from domestic matches until 26 December.

He will miss Premier League matches against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea among others, plus Spurs’ League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, but is available for Spur’s Europa League matches.

The Uruguay midfielder will remain suspended domestically while the appeal is heard.

When charging the Uruguay international the FA said it was “an alleged breach of FA rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview”.

The FA said this constituted an “aggravated breach as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin”.

The commission said such a breach “requires an immediate suspension of 6-12 matches”.

In the media interview in question, asked by a presenter for a Tottenham shirt, Bentancur replied: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

He later apologised on social media and said his comments were a “very bad joke”.

Bentancur also said sorry to South Korea forward Son, who said he would “not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive”.

Spurs said in a statement: “We can confirm that the club has appealed against the length of Rodrigo Bentancur’s FA suspension, issued earlier this week.

“While we accept the guilty finding against Rodrigo by the independent regulatory commission, we believe the subsequent sanction is severe.”