Premier League

Man Utd ‘Hold Talks’ With former Barcelona Boss As Ten Hag Is ‘One Match’ From Sack

Barcelona are poised to sack coach Xavi Hernandez just weeks after he made a U-turn and decided to stay at the club, Spanish

Man Utd have held talks with former Barcelona boss Xavi as Erik ten Hag is increasingly close to being sacked at Old Trafford, according to reports.

The Red Devils have made a terrible start to the new Premier League season with Ten Hag’s side currently 12th after eight matches.

Man Utd have won just three of those eight games and that has piled pressure on the Dutchman to turn around their fortunes.

Ten Hag’s side did win their first match back after the international break in a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday, which slightly eased the heat on the Man Utd boss.

But now the Daily Mail claim that the Man Utd hierarchy have been holding talks with former Barcelona boss Xavi as they line up a replacement for Ten Hag.

The Daily Mail reports:

‘Mail Sport understands that intermediaries have made contact with the former Barcelona star twice in the last few months.

‘A four-man delegation led by chief executive Omar Berrada flew out to Barcelona last Thursday, although United sources say that a number of high-level meetings have taken place in the Catalan capital recently because co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been there to support Ineos Britannia sailing team in their battle with New Zealand for the America’s Cup.

‘But it has also fuelled speculation that Xavi could be a contender if Ten Hag is axed after two-and-half years in charge.

‘Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy would be an obvious short-term replacement – and Xavi has also made it clear that he doesn’t want to coach in Spain again.

‘United sources maintain that Ten Hag remains their manager and the club have no plans to make a change as he prepares to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday.

‘United declined to comment on Tuesday, saying they refuse to engage in speculation over the manager’s future ‘

And former Man Utd chief scout Mick Brown – who remains well-connected at Old Trafford – insists that Ten Hag is “always one defeat away” from being sacked.

Brown told Football Insider: “Just winning a few games won’t be enough and he’ll know that.

“You can win three games on the bounce, but one shock defeat and that pressure will be back.

“Every time you lose a game at Manchester United, you’re under the kosh. That’s always been the case. You’re always one defeat away.

“So it’s good to win games, and he needs to win games, that’s the only way he’ll be able to keep his job, but even that might not be enough.

“They’ve got a good run of games coming up, but that only increases the pressure.

“We’ve been in this position before where they get all three points from a game and look like they can push on, but then they lose again.

“All it takes is one loss for the crowd to turn and all of a sudden a decision has to be made.”

Premier League

‘I Don’t Need Him’ – Amorim Shows Man United’s Defender Exit Door

Having picked up their first Premier League win under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United‘s focus is starting to turn towards the January transfer window.

Amorim’s men thumped Everton on Sunday to move into the top-half of the Premier League table. The Portuguese coach will be handed the chance to bring in reinforcements in just under a month’s time.

United are expected to be one of the busier top-flight sides in the transfer market, given their awful season and Amorim’s recent appointment. Despite scoring four goals against the Toffees, a striker may well be high up Amorim’s list of targets.

Amorim’s Amad demand
Amad starred as United thumped Everton on Sunday, but club chiefs have a decision to make with his contract expiring in the summer. Boss Amorim has firmly stated his position, with the winger set to be a key part of his plans.

“He is really big in talent, but small in size. He did a great job but he also has to improve. He was really good again. You could feel it in the end of the game he was really, really tired,” Amorim said.

“So we have to manage that and increase his physical ability. I’d like to take credit for [Amad’s pressing], but that’s him. He’s like that. He’s smart. He’s explosive.”

A new striker appears to be high on Amorim’s list of targets for the January transfer window. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the current senior forwards on the books at Old Trafford.

But it appears Amorim may be ready to cut ties with Zirkzee, with Ruleta Sport reporting United are ‘on the trail’ of Victor Osimhen. It is said they have offered the Dutchman and a fee to Napoli in exchange for Osimhen.

Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres is thought to be Amorim’s top target, though the manager believes they may demand too much. As a result he is ‘testing the waters’ for Osimhen, with Zirkzee thought to not be a good fit for Amorim’s style of play.

Shaw hint dropped
United boss Amorim has admitted that Luke Shaw wants more game-time. The defender has spent much of the season sidelined with calf and knee injuries, making only three appearances in total.

All of those have come from the bench, including in the win over Everton. And Amorim has revealed that with the January window on the horizon, Shaw is keen to have a bigger role.

The United boss said: “Luke Shaw wants to play more, but we have to control it; we have to rotate the team. In the future, we will have a different system; you can see more of a starting XI.”

Premier League

Real Reason Why Arsenal Are Above Chelsea In Premier League Table

From The Vault: Five Classic Games At West Ham

There have been significant changes at the top of the Premier League table following this weekend’s action.

Liverpool now lead the way by nine points following yet another statement win under Arne Slot, this time at home to Manchester City as goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah sealed a deserved 2-0 win.

A fourth Premier League defeat in succession for Pep Guardiola’s side means they have slipped out of the top four altogether by virtue of an inferior goal difference to Brighton.

As a result, Arsenal and Chelsea are now the nearest challengers to the Merseyside outfit as the London pair sit second and third respectively after winning by three-goal margins at the weekend.

The Gunners beat West Ham United 5-2, whilst the Blues overcame Aston Villa 3-0 at Stamford Bridge with Cole Palmer scoring the pick of the goals.

Those results left the pair with identical records. Both have now won seven games, drawn four, lost two, scored 26 goals and conceded 12 in the Premier League this season.

Interestingly though, Arsenal sit above Chelsea in the table and it’s not because ‘A’ appears in the alphabet before ‘C’.

No, the reason is due to a Premier League ruling with regard to separating teams level on points, as the first method to split them should be goal difference, followed by goals scored, followed by which team collected the most points during matches between the two sides.

If those first three methods cannot separate them then the team that scored more away goals during their head-to-head matches is the fourth criteria.

Premier League

Kluivert’s Penalty Hat-Trick Makes History, Brentford Thrash Leicester

Justin Kluivert scored the first ever Premier League hat-trick of penalties as Bournemouth won 4-2 at Wolves on Saturday and Kevin Schade also scored three in Brentford‘s 4-1 victory over Leicester.

Nottingham Forest moved into the top six thanks to a 1-0 win over Ipswich, while Newcastle were denied by Daniel Munoz’s 94th minute equaliser for Crystal Palace in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

Kluivert made history at Molineux to curtail Wolves’ mini-revival.

The Dutchman opened the scoring, Jorgen Strand Larsen replied for Wolves before Milos Kerkez made it 2-1 for the visitors inside eight minutes.

Kluivert made it 3-1 just 10 minutes later and completed his hat-trick 16 minutes from time after Evanilson also set a record by winning a third penalty.

Strand Larsen pulled another goal back for Wolves, but Gary O’Neil’s men slip back into the relegation zone.

Brentford continued their stunning home form to thrash the Foxes in front of Leicester’s in-coming manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Facundo Buonanotte had put the visitors in front in west London.

But Brentford roared back to make it six wins and one draw from seven home league games this season.

The German had only scored two Premier League goals since joining the Bees in 2023 but matched that tally in 24 minutes to put the home side in front before half-time.

Schade then rounded off the scoring to show Van Nistelrooy the scale of the task that awaits him ahead of his first game in charge at home to West Ham on Tuesday.

Chris Wood’s emphatically struck penalty was enough to get Forest back to winning ways and leave Ipswich still in the bottom three.

Palace edged out of the relegation zone on goal difference thanks to late drama against Newcastle.

Marc Guehi, who had been the subject of multiple bids from Newcastle during the transfer window, put the Magpies in front early in the second half with an own goal.

However, the England defender redeemed himself as from his cross Munoz powered home a header at the back post.

Runaway leaders Liverpool host Manchester City in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.

The Reds enjoy an eight-point lead over the defending champions, who are winless in six games.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is also targeting his first Premier League win on Sunday when lowly Everton visit Old Trafford.