Tottenham 0-1 Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shows tactical prowess as Marcus Rashford makes it six straight wins January 13, 2019 Talk of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s perfect start to life as Manchester United manager has tended to be accompanied by caveats. Easy run of fixtures. Class players. Made to look good by what preceded him. Barring the latter, none of those points hold true any more after a 1-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley which showed Solskjaer [...]
Arsenal’s slump in form is making Unai Emery’s omission of Mesut Ozil harder to justify January 13, 2019 Nothing fortifies a manager’s decision-making like wins, and when you are on a long unbeaten run you can do much as you please. Change formations week to week? Sure. Leave it late to take the points? No problem; never in doubt. Freeze out the club’s top earner, indeed one of the best paid players in [...]
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces biggest test yet as Manchester United boss when his side visit Tottenham January 10, 2019 After a week in the sun, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be dropped back into the harsh, cold reality of the Premier League on Sunday, where he can expect to face his biggest managerial test yet. While Manchester United have been enjoying a warm weather training camp in Dubai, this weekend's opponents, Tottenham, continued their fine [...]
Trevor Steven: Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat is a blow but Jurgen Klopp is right to focus on the Premier League and Europe January 8, 2019 It’s been a difficult start to 2019 for Liverpool but their FA Cup defeat by Wolves on Monday was nothing more than unfortunate. They came into the match on the back of two high intensity games against Arsenal and Manchester City, even if they did thump the former 5-1. Jurgen Klopp had decisions to make [...]
Wayne Rooney arrested in US for public intoxication and swearing January 6, 2019 Former England football captain Wayne Rooney was arrested before Christmas for "public intoxication and swearing", court filings revealed this evening. Rooney, who now plays for Major League Soccer's DC United, was arrested in Virginia on 16 December. A spokesman for Loudoun County Sheriff's Office confirmed Rooney was taken into custody "on a charge of public [...]
FA Cup talking points: Giantkillings, QPR arrest their slump, Watford avoid Woking slip-up, Blackpool’s plight and 7-0 thrashings January 6, 2019 Where else to start than with the upsets? They are what makes the FA Cup such a unique competition, and as ever the first involvement of Premier League sides brought some giant killings. Oldham and Newport County led the celebrations today after beating Fulham and Leicester respectively, while Accrington Stanley, Gillingham, Barnet, Bristol City and [...]
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool: Leroy Sane winner keeps Premier League title race alive in epic clash at the Etihad January 3, 2019 It was described as the biggest game of the season and for once that lived up to its billing. October’s last meeting – a drab 0-0 draw which featured a league-low 13 shots – was quickly forgotten last night as Manchester City and Liverpool set about producing a high-tempo, high-octane display befitting the best two [...]
Maurizio Sarri has not had the instant impact Chelsea expect of new managers with the club one point worse off than last year January 3, 2019 Chelsea's blueprint for success under Roman Abramovich's ownership has been dependent on new managers and signings having an immediate impact, with the high turnover of personnel a trade-off in the pursuit of instant results. But after a promising start, those instant results have begun to desert manager Maurizio Sarri, with the Blues one point worse [...]
Manchester City are ready to halt the Liverpool juggernaut and get their Premier League title defence back on track January 2, 2019 It was at this stage last season that Liverpool ended Manchester City's unbeaten run in the Premier League with a 4-3 win at Anfield. Until then City had looked unstoppable, but they came undone when visiting Anfield on 14 January and have been unable to beat Liverpool in three attempts since. Thursday night's trip to [...]
Cardiff City v Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to spark happy new era at old stomping ground December 20, 2018 When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer parted ways with Cardiff City in September 2014, the Norwegian could not have envisaged the circumstances of his return. Solskjaer, in his own words, “stepped aside” at Cardiff due to a “difference in philosophy” with owner Vincent Tan, but the brutal reality is that he had failed during his nine-month spell [...]