Manchester United’s woeful start to the season – 14th in the Premier League after the nine games and 21st in the Europa League after three games – is nowhere near good enough for a club of such magnitude and the regular poor showings meant Erik ten Hag was always on borrowed time.
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Now in the wake of the Dutchman sacking, the finger pointing has truly begun.
Is it all ten Hag’s fault? Is it the players fault? It is the owners fault?
Everyone at Old Trafford has been in the firing line since ten Hag was given his marching orders on Monday.
Many former Manchester United stars have come out to express their displeasure with what has been going on at their old club.
One-time defender, now Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, suggested that Australian manager Ange Postecoglou architecting a memorable 3-0 win for Tottenham at Old Trafford last month got the ball rolling on sacking ten Hag.
“I suspect the Tottenham game was probably a catalyst for them to start thinking about a new manager,” Neville said.
“You look at who is available then you try to think of the timing. You are half hoping the manager can turn it around but, 99 times out of 100, the tide is against you and continues to do so.
“Looking at that Tottenham game a few weeks ago I felt I had seen this before. It was a bad day for Manchester United and a bad day for Erik ten Hag.
“It’s got worse from then. On Sunday the missed chances were unacceptable, they should have been two or three up at half-time.
“Overall, the challenges of the results and performances have meant that the owners have decided to sack him. I don’t think anybody will be truly shocked.”
Mourinho red carded in duel with Man U | 02:56
Digging deeper into the causes of the Red Devils woes, Neville believes that the ten Hag era will be defined by the lack of a signature style of play.
Sir Alex Ferguson built a cultural at Old Trafford that Manchester United teams would be tight defensively but electric in attack, ten Hag’s teams did not have those traits.
“I think the lack of identity and style is something that has been a mystery for the last two-and-a-half seasons,” Neville said.
“The recruitment has been awful at times but I believe there are a group of players who can play better than they are.
“Lack of style has been the biggest problem. It is a real struggle watching them play and it hasn’t changed in the last 18 months. That has been as bad as the results.”
Legendary goal scorer Alan Shearer meanwhile placed blame on the club’s ownership – in particular co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
United won the FA Cup final against fierce rivals Manchester City and the unexpected silverware saved ten Hag for the short term, but the club already had plans to move him.
“We were just waiting for it to happen. Even the way he was talking that ‘we’re all on the same page’,” Shearer said.
“Well, they weren’t really on the same page because everyone knew they were talking to managers in the summer.
“If they’re on the same page why on earth are they speaking to managers in the summer? As soon as that came out we all said he was a dead man walking, unfortunately.
“For them then to give him a new contract after that was bizarre really, and to back him with £200 million, and in nearly four months they’ve sacked him. Bizarre.”
Postecoglou: ‘Why would I be happy?’ | 01:00
Things have clearly gone from bad to worse in recent months for ten Hag.
There was the thrashing by Tottenham at home, which followed Liverpool belting them 3-0 at Old Trafford as well, then three painstaking Europa League draws were thrown in before the 2-1 loss at West Ham on Sunday was the final nail in the coffin.
United missed chances at an open goal at London Stadium and their poor finishing came back to bite as they conceded a controversial stoppage time penalty via VAR which Jarred Bowen sent into the back of the net for the winner.
For former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, it was painful to watch and he likened it to seeing a boxer being pommeled by their opponent in the ring.
“It was like a boxer getting hit and knocked down in the third round and never recovering and getting knocked out, knocked down, every single round on the way to the 12th round,” Ferdinand said.
Spurs rollercoaster season continues | 01:03
More than a decade since he ended his 27-year rein as Manchester United boss, the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson still looms large at Old Trafford.
After nearly three decades of stability, ten Hag’s replacement – United goal scoring great Ruud van Nistelrooy – will be the ninth person to take charge since Ferguson’s departure.
The fact no manager has worked out in the last 11 years leads many United fans to argue that the position is impossible because no one could ever replicate Ferguson’s success.
But writing for the UK Telegraph, Liverpool legend turned pundit Jamie Carragher shut down that premise.
“Some are suggesting Manchester United has become an impossible job since Sir Alex Ferguson left, with so many well respected managers struggling and being sacked. Nonsense,” Carragher said.
“For the majority of Ten Hag’s reign, no Premier League manager had so much backing, so much control over transfers and so much patience to prove he was the right man. Most coaches in world football could only dream of such support. Ultimately, he failed to make the most of one of the most attractive posts in football.”
Salah strikes for late draw v Arsenal | 01:17
Carragher continued to also blame the club’s management for not acting swift enough at the end of last season.
“They have wasted three months and £200 million on new players by giving Ten Hag a fresh opportunity. Their biggest lesson might be to act sooner the next time a coach is on a downward spiral,” he said.
“No one will argue against the view the club should have been run much better since Ferguson retired – that is why Ineos wanted to take over – but the reason United have been mismanaged is because a series of coaches have been overindulged, squandering millions on poor signings.
“The lack of judgment at boardroom level has helped managers, not hindered them. They have been able to sink or swim with their own decisions with regard to football matters, paying the price for their own mistakes. Ten Hag is a prime example.”
Many of signings during the ten Hag era came with huge price tags and have massively under delivered.
Brazilian Antony was one of his worst signings.
United paid £85 million for the former Ajax winger – making him the second richest signing in club history – yet he has only played once this season and it was against league one side Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
Midfielder Mason Mount has not worked out after they splashed £60 million on him, striker Joshua Zirkzee – who was bought for £36.5 million – has scored once in 13 games, and defender Matthijs de Ligt has struggled after he was signed from Bayern Munich for £42 million.
Add £70 million for Brazilian midfielder Casemiro and it make for even more dire reading.
That is why former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes the players must take responsibility too.
“In good teams, coaches hold players responsible. In great teams, players hold players accountable,” he said.
Manchester United kept alive their hopes of salvaging a dismal season by qualifying for Europe as Amad Diallo’s rocket inspired a 3-2 win against Newcastle.
Erik ten Hag’s side are battling to secure a seventh place finish in the Premier League, which could secure a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League.
United will qualify for the Europa League if they win the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25.
But if City triumph at Wembley then seventh will be enough for a Conference League spot.
And eighth-placed United are still in the hunt for that place after beating Newcastle to move level on points with the seventh-placed Magpies.
“The foundations are quite fragile” | 00:53
Goals from Kobbie Mainoo, Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford gave United only their third win in nine league games.
However, United’s goal difference is vastly inferior to Newcastle’s, meaning they must better the Magpies’ result in the last game of the season.
United travel to Brighton on Sunday, while Newcastle head to Brentford. Newcastle’s defeat means fifth-placed Tottenham are guaranteed to be in the Europa League next season.
Sixth placed Chelsea won 2-1 at Brighton in Wednesday’s other game to move closer to European qualification after a turbulent campaign.
United embarked on a sheepish ‘lap of honour’ after their final home game of the season.
And, while it has hardly been a campaign to celebrate, this was a much-needed result as Ten Hag fights to avoid the sack at the end of a season that ranks as one of United’s worst in the Premier League era.
United’s first half dominance was rewarded in the 31st minute when Diallo’s deflected pass found Mainoo completely unmarked thanks to Kieran Trippier’s sloppy marking.
The teenage midfielder looked shocked he had so much time and space as he picked his spot with a low finish from 12 yards.
Much-maligned for his shaky displays at centre-back recently, Casemiro came to United’s rescue as the Brazilian midfielder nodded Dan Burn’s header off the line just inches before it crossed.
It was a warning United failed to heed as Newcastle drew level in the 49th minute.
Bentancur LASHES OUT at early hooking | 00:36
The leaky drainage in the Old Trafford roof, exposed during a thunderstorm in their loss to Arsenal, had provoked much mockery from frustrated fans.
But it was the holes in United’s defence that proved more alarming for Ten Hag as Anthony Gordon was given the freedom of the penalty area to convert Jacob Murphy’s cross with a close-range volley.
Ten Hag’s angst was short-lived as United regained the advantage in the 57th minute when Newcastle could only clear Bruno Fernandes’ corner to Diallo, who lashed a fierce shot past Martin Dubravka from just inside the area.
Hojlund came off the bench to net in the 84th minute with a lethal finish after evading two defenders, but Lewis Hall’s stoppage-time curler from long-range kept United sweating until the end.
Man City close in on 4th straight title | 02:20
At the Amex Stadium, Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead with the 22nd league goal of his superb season in the 34th minute.
Ignoring the boos from the stands, former Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella chipped his cross towards Palmer, who looped a clinical header past Bart Verbruggen.
Christopher Nkunku doubled Chelsea’s advantage in the 64th minute with his third league goal of an injury-plagued first season with the club.
Nkunku finished off Malo Gusto’s cross to leave Brighton deflated and celebrated by blowing up a blue balloon lying on the pitch.
Chelsea defender Reece James was sent off in the 88th minute for kicking Joao Pedro after being knocked over by the Brighton striker.
James will now miss the first three games of the 2024/25 Premier League season, as well as Monday’s game against Bournemouth.
Danny Welbeck’s close-range finish in the seventh minute of stoppage-time came too late to stop Chelsea recording four successive league wins for the first time since October 2022.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side host Bournemouth knowing a draw will be enough to earn a European berth, with fifth place still in play if they win and Tottenham lose at Sheffield United.
A tense sideline exchange between Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp raised fears the Egyptian winger could exit the club, but that might not be the case after all.
Elsewhere, Manchester United’s summer rebuild is reportedly set to spare no-one, including a fabled academy product that’s struggled to shine this season.
Catch up on the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
Liverpool expect Mohamed Salah to at least see out of the final year of his contract at Anfield, according to reports on Monday.
Sky Sports and The Athletic reported Salah, 31, has given no indication that he wishes to leave and Liverpool are not planning to sell.
The Egyptian was involved in a public spat with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the touchline as he prepared to come on as a substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham.
Speaking after the match, Salah said: “There’s going to be a fire today if I speak.”
Liverpool rejected advances from the Saudi Pro League at the beginning of the season, including a reported £150 million ($188 million) bid from Al Ittihad.
However, Klopp will leave the club at the end of the season, sparking speculation over what the future holds for some of his senior players.
Salah and Klopp had a tense exchange on the sideline during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with West Ham. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Gulf Kingdom is expected to be a major player in the summer transfer market to lure more star names to a league that already boasts the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sadio Mane.
Salah has scored 24 goals this season, but his form has tailed off since he was injured at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
As Salah’s goals have dried up, Liverpool’s season has unravelled. The Reds have fallen out of the running for the Premier League title and been eliminated from the Europa League and FA Cup.
Salah has just over 12 months to run on a three-year deal signed in 2022 worth a reported £18 million a year.
Salah has previously been the subject of heavy interest from Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
RED DEVILS TO SPARE NO-ONE AS SUMMER FIRE SALE LOOMS
Manchester United could be in for a huge summer of exits as they plan ahead for a season without the financial benefits of playing in the Champions League.
Unable to finish ahead of Aston Villa for the first time in Premier League history, it means the Red Devils must begin preparing for a Europa League campaign next season, which brings reduced revenue.
According to The Telegraph, that means a whole host of United stars are set to be put up for sale as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos look to make the team competitive once again.
The report states only Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund are off-limits to potential suitors, meaning even the likes of Marcus Rashford could be sold for the right price.
However, Rashford’s weekly wages of £325,000 ($AUD621,000) could prove to be a stumbling block for any interested parties.
The report also claims the Red Devils will be after a central midfielder, a striker and a right-sided centre-back but funds to sign those players must be generated from sales.
Marcus Rashford could be put up for sale this summer ahead of a major rebuild for Manchester United. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Another play who could be out the exit door is Mason Greenwood, who has spent the season on loan with Spanish side Getafe.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault in 2022 but had the charges against him in 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement from the case.
After the Red Devils commenced and completed their own investigation into the matter, it was decided the best way to go proceed was to send the forward out on loan, where he ended up at Getafe for the season.
Greenwood has ten goals and six assists in 31 games for the Spanish club and his form this season has caught the eye of Italian giants Juventus, per The Times.
Juventus have made Greenwood one of their primary transfer targets in the summer but the former England international won’t come cheap, with the article valuing him worth up to $AUD76 million.
Greenwood is wanted by Juventus. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BEST OF THE REST …
Newcastle United face an anxious wait as news of talismanic midfielder Bruno Guimaraes’ £100 million release clause was revealed.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian midfielder’s nine-figure exit fee is only active from the last week of May to the last week of June.
It could spark a wild frenzy amongst some of Europe’s biggest names like Arsenal, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, per Sky Sports.
With Newcastle flirting dangerously close to falling foul of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), it’s expected the Magpies will have to sell a big name in the summer to balance the books.
And Guimaraes may be the one who is forced out the exit door, although reports claim Newcastle will not entertain bids any lower than the £100m release clause.
Bruno Guimaraes has a £100m release clause, but it’s only active for a month. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Guimaraes isn’t the only Brazilian midfielder who could be a hot commodity in the summer window, with West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta set to pique the interest of big clubs.
Paqueta has impressed in his second season with the Hammers and was closely linked with a move to defending champions Manchester City last summer, but it failed to materialise as they swooped for Wolves’ Matheus Nunes instead.
However, the rumours of Paqueta going to the Etihad have not gone away as West Ham face a fight to keep the Brazilian at the club in the summer.
But Paqueta appears content to remain in London, stating he’d “be lying” if he said he wasn’t happy at the club.
“I have enormous respect for the club. I’m very happy here, if I say I’m not, I’d be lying.
“Of course it involves a lot of things that are happening off the field, but I remain focused on doing my best, finishing the season well. I started well, I hope to finish well.
“What they say (about Manchester City) is everything from last window. Now, it’s time to finish the season and wait for what will happen.”
After mounting a surprise title tilt last season, with Granit Xhaka enjoying one of his finest campaigns for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta still believed he could find an upgrade in the centre of the park – and he splashed a Premier League-record £105m for Declan Rice.
Now, Rice is becoming an integral cog in the engine room as the Gunners remain firmly in the mix for the title.
What impresses Arteta most about Rice? “The way he dominates key aspects of the game,” replied the manager.
“First of all, it’s the way he reads the game, his intelligence, his decision-making on and off the ball, when to pass the ball, how to pass it, where to look, how to execute, and the timing of that, which is very, very relevant, especially in his position.”
He’s only growing more and more connected with his teammates. He could be the key to going one better than last season and finishing with the coveted trophy.
Although the Gunners rounded out the first half of the season with a disappointing defeat at the Emirates to West Ham, it doesn’t take away from what’s been yet another dazzling run for Arteta’s side.
Declan Rice has looked worth every bit of Arsenal’s major investment. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA (3rd, +15 GD, 39 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Douglas Luiz
Plenty of expert predictions for this season had Villa finishing well out of the title race. Manchester United great Gary Neville predicted a sixth-place finish, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had them out of the top six. It’s fair to say precious few predicted a genuine title challenge, but that’s what Unai Emery’s men have served up. A staggering 15-game win streak on home soil came to an end just before Christmas, though they salvaged a draw with a 97th-minute equaliser against Sheffield United.
Villa’s inability to beat a number of lower-table teams this season — see Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Bournemouth and now Sheffield United — is their biggest blemish this season.
Three of those four games also came away from home, so if Villa are serious about a top four finish they must find a way to take maximum points when expected, especially against those who are struggling.
Ollie Watkins continues to turn in several all-action displays up front, contributing nine goals and six assists to date this season.
But the player most vital to Villa’s transformed fortunes is Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz who orchestrates every deadly move from midfield.
Luiz’s box-to-box displays have been something to behold as he breaks up opposition attacks only to drive the team up the field and thread the needle with aplomb.
Douglas Luiz is the midfield lynchpin driving Aston Villa forward. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
BOURNEMOUTH (12th, -5 GD, 25 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dominic Solanke
Last season was a shemozzle, a mess, a rollercoaster (but not the fun kind). Remember the 9-0 thumping from Liverpool that saw Scott Parker sacked in August? Then came an ownership takeover, a slump to last place in March, before a late-season resurgence to finish 15th under Gary O’Neil, who probably deserved to win manager of the season.
They embarked on a stunning spending spree in the off-season, with a whopping net spend of €126.19m – sixth in the Premier League and in front of Liverpool and Newcastle United. Then they sacked manager O’Neil before the season began. The new owners had high expectations – but while there’s been some promising signs, things haven’t been smooth sailing. They were 19th and winless after nine games (three points), but have since turned things around impressively to rack up 22 points from the next nine games (W7 D1 L1).
After a 6-1 defeat to Man City they could have fallen apart, but instead they’ve been one of the form teams in the league to soar out of the relegation battle.
The big difference from last season has been Solanke’s form, with the ex-Liverpool striker hitting 12 league goals in 18 games – more than last campaign’s top scorer Philip Billing (7) managed in a full season. If he stays at Bournemouth (amid interest from Tottenham and West Ham), the Cherries could even threaten a top-half finish.
Dominic Solanke is enjoying an absurd goalscoring run. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRENTFORD (14th, -3 GD, 19 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Bryan Mbuemo
It was always going to be a tall task spending half a season without star striker Ivan Toney, but Brentford have managed to survive.
Toney was banned from playing until early January after breaching the FA’s gambling rules, meaning the Bees had to rely on other sources for goals.
Cameroonian winger Bryan Mbuemo has largely shouldered the burden and has a club-leading seven Premier League goals to his name.
However, Brentford — and this will be a constant theme for a lot of these teams, so bear with us — have been crippled by serious injuries throughout the season.
Kevin Schade, who turned his loan move to Brentford into a permanent one in the summer, was meant to help share the goalscoring duties but has been out of action since late September with no return date set in.
Star defender Rico Henry is out for the season while right back Aaron Hickey has also been sidelined for several months among others.
The Bees’ form this season has also been quite patchy, winning just one of their first eight games before four victories in their next six. But they’ve now lost four in a row and six of their last seven, seeing them slide towards the relegation zone.
With Toney due to return in mid-January, it could be the boost Brentford need to kickstart their season once again.
Brentford have struggled without their star striker Ivan Toney this season. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON (8th, +5 GD, 30 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Pascal Groß
After the lofty heights of a sixth-place finish last season, high expectations had been set for the Seagulls in the 2023/24 campaign.
But a bright start in which Brighton won five of their opening six games is in the distant past, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side have tasted victory just three times in the following 12.
Although De Zerbi’s great entertainers have been kept scoreless just once this season, they have scored two or more goals just five times since a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in late September.
What is most alarming about Brighton this season is the number of goals they’ve shipped, which stands at 33.
For reference, 16th-placed Nottingham Forest and 18th-placed Luton Town have conceded 34.
Part of this is no doubt down to a backline crippled by injuries.
Star left back Pervis Estupinan had been out for some time before marking his return to action with a screamer against Tottenham, while Tariq Lamptey and Adam Webster have also spent time on the sidelines.
De Zerbi has also switched between Jason Steele and summer signing Bart Verbruggen in the goalkeeper position, offering little consistency in a crucial part of the field after Roberto Sanchez’s exit to Chelsea.
One shining light of consistency this season has been German stalwart Pascal Groß, who continues to be a vital cog in De Zerbi’s Brighton machine.
Another bright spot for Brighton is the goalscoring prowess of Joao Pedro, who joined from Watford for a club-record fee of £30 million.
And despite all of the things that have gone awry for the Seagulls this season, they’re still just three points away from the Europa League spots.
Joao Pedro (centre) leads the goalscoring charts for Brighton. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BURNLEY (19th, -20 GD, 11 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Josh Brownhill
Burnley won the Championship last season at a canter but life in the Premier League has most certainly not been kind.
There was plenty of intrigue as to whether Vincent Kompany’s brand of football at Turf Moor would hold up against the best England has to offer and so far, the answer has been a resounding no.
Kompany took a significant risk going into the season with the youngest squad in the Premier League with an average age of 24 years and 170 days.
So far, it is a risk that has not paid off as Burnley sit 19th and have conceded the second-most goals in the league.
Burnley lost 11 of their first 13 games, achieving a win and a draw over fellow relegation candidates Luton Town and Nottingham Forest respectively.
But apart from that, there hasn’t been much to sing about on the terraces of Turf Moor although a much-needed 2-0 victory away at Fulham will give Kompany’s troops a needed lift going into the second half of the season.
Skipper Josh Brownhill has been one of the few shining lights in this Burnley team, providing a wiser head in a team brimming with young and eager minds.
Staying up this season will be a mammoth task but with Kompany’s remarkable leadership skills, don’t count out the Clarets just yet in the fight for survival.
Vincent Kompany has a massive job on his hands to keep Burnley in the Premier League. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA (10th, +2 GD, 25 pts): F
Mid-season MVP: Cole Palmer
If Chelsea fans thought last year would be the worst of it, well, can only provide our condolences.
A fresh start under new manager Mauricio Pochettino as well as several of the players becoming more familiar with the Premier League had Blues fans hoping for the world.
Instead, they’ve been delivered an atlas.
Chelsea managed to ship off $AUD435 million worth of talent (per Transfermarkt) elsewhere including Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) and Mason Mount (Manchester United) to name just four.
But the players brought in — at an estimated total expense of $756 million — have simply not lived up to the billing.
Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo was the most expensive of the lot, joining Chelsea from Brighton for an eye-watering $187 million.
Yet the Ecuadorean continues to struggle to live up to his price tag and doesn’t look at home in Pochettino’s system.
Sure, Pochettino has been dealt a somewhat rough hand with injuries as skipper Reece James continues to spend more time off the pitch than on it while the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are sidelined for some time.
Yet for a team that has been so expensively assembled and one of Chelsea’s grand stature, just six wins from 17 league games is simply not good enough.
One summer signing who has looked sharp since arriving is Cole Palmer, who looked to be a seriously risky piece of business at $76 million.
But the Manchester City youth product has delivered several crucial performances for Pochettino’s side and is cold as ice when stepping up to take penalties.
Despite Palmer’s emergence, it cannot be ignored that Chelsea are a serious risk of failing to qualify for European football for a second-straight season.
And if that happens, it’s safe to say Chelsea’s answer will be to throw more money at it and hope it fixes itself.
Despite heavy investment in the summer, Chelsea are still struggling badly. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRYSTAL PALACE (15th, -9 GD, 18 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Eberechi Eze
After Roy Hodgson steered the club away from relegation at the end of last season, Crystal Palace rewarded him with a one-year extension.
It’s taken just 19 games for Hodgson, a boyhood Palace fan, to have the Eagles once again nervously looking over their shoulder at the drop to the Championship.
After just two defeats in the first eight games, Hodgson’s troops have suffered a massive nosedive in form.
Palace have lost seven of their last 11 fixtures, with only one win — against 19th-place Burnley — in that run.
The main issue crippling Palace is their inability to find the back of the net, with their tally of 19 goals the third-lowest in the league: only Burnley (18) and Sheffield United (15) are worse.
Talk is heating up about the Palace top brass eyeing up a move for Steve Cooper, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, as a mid-season replacement for Hodgson.
It could be what the team needs if it is to surge up the table and unlock the attacking talent it possesses.
The dynamic duo of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze is one of the league’s most exciting on paper, but largely due to injuries they have not been able to share the field.
If those two can start to fire, Palace theoretically should pull away from the danger zone.
Roy Hodgson has overseen a worrying run of form at Crystal Palace lately. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EVERTON (17th, -1 GD, 16 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dwight McNeil
It’s worth starting with the obvious: Everton copped a Premier League-record ten-point penalty for financial breaches last month that dropped them to 19th and level on points with the bottom-placed team. Without it, they’d be in the top half of the table right now. But the players have responded brilliantly to that hefty blow, beating Newcastle and Chelsea comfortably in recent weeks to climb out of the relegation zone. They are doing so even after recording a €42.30m transfer profit in the off-season – one of only four teams to receive more than they spent. After narrowly avoiding relegation in recent seasons, the points penalty has ignited a fire in their collective belly and they look set to push well clear of danger.
The key marker of improvement behind Everton’s resurgence is their defensive record, a hallmark of Toffees boss Sean Dyche.
Everton have conceded just 25 goals this season, a figure equal with heavyweights like Newcastle and Manchester United.
Although Everton have improved as a collective, one star who looks especially rejuvenated under Dyche is winger Dwight McNeil.
The winger burst onto the scene at Burnley during Dyche’s tenure and the two are once again getting the best out of each other, with McNeil constantly whipping in dangerous crosses that have opposition backlines scrambling.
Despite a 10-point deduction, Everton have not been feeling sorry for themselves. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
FULHAM (13th, -8 GD, 21 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: João Palhinha
After losing talismanic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi club Al-Hilal in the summer, serious questions were going to be asked about Fulham and Marco Silva this season.
Would they have the same goalscoring credentials? Will Silva tweak his team’s style of play to mitigate the loss of Mitrovic?
Could they actually replace Mitrovic and achieve the same results?
In short, no.
Summer signing Raul Jimenez and Willian lead the club’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League with just four to their names, followed by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Alex Iwobi who have three each.
However, Fulham somehow managed to score 16 goals in the space of four games, including back-to-back 5-0 wins at home over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.
Throw in a recent 2-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Burnley and you start to see why Fulham are just a very, very odd team this season.
One man crucial to Fulham’s hopes of a comfortable mid-table finish this season is defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, who almost joined Mitrovic out the exit door but to German giants Bayern Munich instead.
Palhinha could have easily downed tools given the move of a lifetime didn’t come off, but the opposite is true.
The Portuguese start leads the league in tackles by a massive margin and will be crucial to Fulham’s efforts in the second half of the 23/24 campaign.
Fulham are all but certain for a comfortable midtable finish. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL (1st, +23 GD, 42 pts): A+
Mid-season MVP: Mohamed Salah
They’re scoring goals for fun, have the best defensive record in the league and if it weren’t for an egregious officiating error, would be undefeated.
Oh, and they’re sitting in first place too.
It’s been some start to the season for Liverpool who have won 12 of their 19 league games so far.
Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah has been pivotal to Liverpool’s success this season thanks to his 12 goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
The new-look Reds midfield has also impressed, especially summer arrival Dominik Szoboszlai.
Despite all of the Reds’ success this season, they have not been without their flaws.
Liverpool have had to come from behind to either win or draw on eight occasions this season and of those eight games, a goal has arrived in second-half stoppage time.
One side of that argument plays into Jurgen Klopp’s previous comments about his players being “mentality monsters”.
On the other hand, it is an unsustainable trend that could come back to bite Liverpool dearly.
Of course, the biggest question that faces Klopp’s side is how they will cope without Salah when he takes off for the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Given he has been involved in 19 of Liverpool’s 39 league goals this season, his absence takes away the team’s best goalscoring threat.
But Klopp is one of the best managers in the world for a reason and will have devised a plan to make up for Salah’s absence.
Just how well that plan works will likely prove the difference between winning the Premier League and falling agonisingly short yet again.
Mohamed Salah is vital to Liverpool’s title hopes. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
LUTON TOWN (18th, -13 GD, 15 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Ross Barkley
They’ve got no money, the smallest ground in the league, and it’s fair to say they were given no chance of survival. From the start of the season, they showed they were up for the fight. But the big question was always around whether they had enough quality.
In their first 12 games, they had six points and had scored just 10 goals. It felt like they probably deserved more – they gave Man Utd a huge scare and came within inches of beating Liverpool.
But they turned things around after that. Since then, they’ve scored 10 goals in six games and racked up nine points!
After being all-but-written-off in pre-season, they’re mounting a genuine run at avoiding relegation.
The Hatters have now won both games since captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, including a genuine ‘six-pointer’ over Sheffield United.
Ex-PL defender Stephen Kelly told BBC Radio: “Sometimes it can be a horrendous moment like that that galvanises you as a group of players.
“Quality-wise I don’t think Luton are there when it comes to the Premier League and they can’t compete with the finances. But they compete with hard work, energy and desire.”
Maybe the magic touch of quality comes from Barkley, who has slotted in perfectly after joining from French first-tier team Nice in the off-season.
The former Everton and Chelsea midfield star is shining in a deeper role, picking up the ball deep and driving forward. His long balls and ability to draw in defenders has been crucial for Luton’s attack. The 30-year-old is undergoing a career resurgence – and it might just carry the Hatters to survival.
Ross Barkley is enjoying a career resurgence at Luton Town. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER CITY (4th, +22 GD, 37 pts): A-
Mid-season MVP: Rodri
The status that comes with winning four Premier League titles in a row explains why this season so far feels a little below par for Manchester City.
It’s been a rather bizarre season for Pep Guardiola’s side, who found themselves in fourth at the halfway mark of the 23/24 season.
Some things remain relatively normal: Erling Haaland leads the golden boot race with 14, City are the league’s highest scorers with 43 and have conceded the third-fewest goals (21).
But there’s a feeling City, for the first time in a long while, might be a little vulnerable.
The absence of star Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has no doubt played a major role in that sentiment, while Haaland’s recent injury has lightened the load on opposition backlines.
Yet there’s one alarming stat which suggests those two aren’t the vital pieces to City’s title charge.
Instead, it’s Spanish midfielder Rodri.
Granted he’s not going to provide the mind-boggling assist and goal numbers De Bruyne and Haaland provide.
But from the three games City have not had Rodri available, they have lost all three: a 2-1 loss to Wolves as well as 1-0 defeats to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
City also could and perhaps should have a better defensive record, if not for the 4-4 and 3-3 goalfests against Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.
In fact, City have conceded goals in the 90th minute and beyond for three of their four draws this season, pointing to a serious concentration issue that has crept in for Guardiola’s side.
However, there’s always a sense of inevitability with City given they know exactly when to peak during the final run-in and simply cannot be counted out until it’s mathematically impossible.
Manchester City have not won when Rodri has been absent. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
MANCHESTER UNITED (7th, -4 GD, 31 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Bruno Fernandes
Let’s start with the positives. They’re seventh on the ladder and still in top-four contention. Bruno Fernandes is putting together a season for the ages when it comes to playmaking (more on that below). But it’s fair to say there are still big problems.
Ten times this season, Manchester United have conceded more than one goal in the space of 10 minutes or less. This month alone that has included two in five minutes (Villa), two in six (West Ham), two in five (Bournemouth).
Then there’s the attack. United have scored just 21 goals this season, which is the equal-third fewest of any team in the Premier League.
Before their impressive comeback win over Aston Villa, United’s forwards had scored a combined four league goals from open play in 18 games. The team had gone over 420 minutes without scoring before Garnacho’s opening goal against Villa. Big-money signing Rasmus Hojlund’s goal in the game was his first in the league … in his 15th appearance!
“Too many people talk about the strikers at Man Utd,” Garnacho said after the game.
United fans will be hoping their forwards can finally find some form and shut up the critics.
Thankfully, they’re getting plenty of service from Fernandes, who keeps creating chances at a remarkable rate. His expected assists this season stands at 6.47 per understat, while his actual assists is just three. If his teammates can stop missing so many chances, United can still make something of this season.
Bruno Fernandes is providing chances but his United teammates are struggling to finish them. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
NEWCASTLE (9th, +12 GD, 29 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Anthony Gordon
It was always going to be a difficult ask for Newcastle to build on the wild ride all the way to the Champions League they enjoyed last season.
And so far, that’s exactly what it’s proving to be.
A 5-1 win over Aston Villa and an 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United are distant memories as Eddie Howe’s side limped its way to the halfway mark, losing four of their last five games.
The depth of Eddie Howe’s squad has been tested beyond belief as the addition of a European schedule has placed plenty of strain on a playing group desperately short on depth.
Couple that with lengthy injury spells to key players like Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes and Sven Botman to name three and it’s easy to understand why the Magpies are suffering this season.
There’s also been the unwanted distraction of marquee summer recruit Sandro Tonali’s suspension for gambling, robbing Newcastle of a player deemed pivotal to their domestic and European hopes.
But amid all the doom and gloom in the Toon, winger Anthony Gordon has been a shining light.
Gordon wears his heart on his sleeve and it’s his relentless energy that has resulted in vital goals for Newcastle.
The 22-year-old has six league goals to his name but, most crucially, has started 17 of 19 games.
Having guided Newcastle back to the Champions League last season, Howe’s job is extremely likely to be safe despite the team’s struggles this season.
But given it is the first sustained period of on-field woes, it will be extremely intriguing to see how patient Newcastle’s Saudi ownership are.
Newcastle are struggling to emulate the highs of last season. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (16th, -12 GD, 17 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Morgan Gibbs-White
It wasn’t anything close to the transfer extravaganza prior to their Premier League return last year, but Nottingham Forest still decided to loosen the pursestrings and bring a raft of stars to the City Ground, including star wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga.
Despite the high-profile additions, Forest boss Steve Cooper couldn’t quite get them firing when he needed to and as a result the cult hero was sacked.
Looking at Forest’s results this season and it’s hard not to see why club owner Evangelos Marinakis lost patience with Cooper.
Things appeared reasonably bright for the Reds at the start of the season having lost just four of their opening 11 games and even then, those defeats were to Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
But after a surprise 2-0 win at home against Aston Villa, the wheels fell off for Cooper and his team.
Four straight losses — including a 5-0 humiliation away to Fulham which resulted in Marinakis hurling his matchday accreditation into the front garden of a home near Craven Cottage — cranked up the pressure on Cooper.
A 1-1 draw against Wolves only proved to be a brief stay of execution, as a 2-0 loss to Tottenham the following week brought an end to Cooper’s time at the club.
Former Wolves boss Nuno Esperito Santo has now arrived and although he tasted defeat amid controversial circumstances in his first match in charge, Forest looked a brighter side in a 3-1 win away to Newcastle.
Although Forest may privately harbour aspirations bigger than just survival, Nuno’s remit will no doubt be to avoid the drop.
Dynamic forward Morgan Gibbs-White will be vital to achieving this aim, as will the goalscoring prowess of Kiwi striker Chris Wood.
Morgan Gibbs-White (left) is one star who is set to play a big role in keeping Forest up. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SHEFFIELD UNITED (20th, -32 GD, 9 pts): E
Mid-season MVP: Gustavo Hamer
The Blades have lacked a cutting edge (sorry) up front, but they’ve also been sliced apart defensively. They’ve got the worst offensive and defensive record in the league by some distance. In fact, after 19 games, they hold the second-worst defensive record in Premier League history. Their 47 goals conceded is second only to Barnsley 1997-98 (50 conceded).
But to be fair, expectations were low this season, especially when they sold two key players in Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and Sander Berge to rivals Burnley. At times they have been a shambles that feels more like a bunch of individuals than any sort of united team. They’ve lost two games 5-0 and another 8-0, sacked a manager and need a miracle to avoid relegation. It’s been a sorry season.
Hamer, a 15 million pound signing, has been a rare shining light. He struck an absolute screamer on his Premier League debut and has impressed with his workrate on and off the ball. He is creative and courageous – which sometimes results in gifting possession to the opposition too frequently – but he has the kind of intensity and drive to win that is infectious. At least, Sheffield fans will hope so, otherwise it will be straight back to the Championship for the Blades.
Sheffield United are favourites to be relegated. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TOTTENHAM (5th, +11 GD, 36 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Ange Postecoglou (we had to!)
From leading the league in October, to managing to find a way to score goals after losing arguably the club’s greatest-ever striker Harry Kane, and most importantly playing an attractive style of football, it’s been one hell of a start to the season for Spurs. They’ve faced a major injury crisis that’s about as bad as any team in the league, and took out two of their star signings (and most important players overall) James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
At the same time, they’ve been struck down by suspensions – like Cristian Romero, who sums up their season with his two red cards followed by a big injury.
Sure, they had a poor November, but overall the first half of the season has been more than impressive.
They lost 14 games last season. At the mid-point of this season, they’ve lost five.
And if Postecoglou thought he had already undergone a brutal test with a casualty ward at capacity as well as constant suspensions, he’s got a nightmare scenario in the very near future.
He’s about to lose star midfield duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr to the African Cup of Nations as well as club captain Heung-Min Son to the Asian Cup.
But the Australian boss has never shied away from a challenge and he won’t be about to do so now.
Perspective is also needed when viewing Postecoglou’s achievements amid the brutal hand he has been dealt when it comes to the unavailability of several of his first team stars.
When he’s had everyone free to play, we’ve seen just how good this Tottenham team can be.
Postecoglou has enjoyed a true rollercoaster of a Premier League season and we’re only at the halfway mark. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WEST HAM (6th, +3 GD, 33 pts): B
Mid-season MVP: Jarrod Bowen
Prior to the season, the big question surrounding West Ham was about how they would navigate life without talismanic midfielder and captain Declan Rice after his £105 million move to Arsenal.
Granted, a direct replacement of Rice’s quality was just about impossible.
But thanks to the summer additions of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, Rice’s absence is not as keenly felt as first feared.
Hammers boss David Moyes also began the season as one manager tipped as a likely chance of getting sacked and, for a brief period this season, it looked like that could have eventuated.
A run of five defeats in seven games heaped pressure on the Scot, but in typical Moyes fashion, he managed to turn the ship around.
Since that run, West Ham have lost just once — a rogue 5-0 hammering at the hands of Fulham — and have won six of their last eight to rocket up from 12th place all the way to sixth.
Pivotal to this uptick in form is the dynamic trio of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
Paqueta leads the league in the most through balls with 19, ahead of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard, and has five assists to his name.
After a slow start, Kudus has found his feet in the Premier League and has four goals in his last six league games.
But it is Bowen who has been the real shining light of West Ham, with his 11 goals to date proving vital.
His pace and ability to stretch opposition backlines is crucial to the Hammers hitting teams in transition and, as it stands, should be considered a lock for England’s squad at EURO 2024.
Jarrod Bowen is in sensational form for West Ham this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WOLVES (11th, -4 GD, 25 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: Matheus Cunha
When Julen Lopetegui resigned on August 8, many Wolves fans would have been forgiven if they feared the worst going into this season.
The relatively underwhelming appointment of Gary O’Neil — who was sacked by Bournemouth not long after the end of the 2022/23 season — did little to allay those fears.
Despite the initial fears, Wolves fans backed O’Neil to the hilt and that bond has strengthened over the course of this season.
The highs have been very high for Wolves so far, with home wins against the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City giving the Molineux faithful plenty to sing about.
But the one thing that has tightened the bond between Wolves fans and O’Neil is the fact the club has been on the wrong side of an alarming number of VAR calls.
It began in the first match of the season when Wolves were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic.
Wolves also had two penalty calls go against them in the 3-2 defeat to Fulham, with O’Neil even claiming referee Michael Salisbury told him he made a mistake in awarding one of the penalties.
It led O’Neil to state his team had lost seven points as a result of VAR’s ineptitude, but it also helped create a siege mentality amongst the entire club.
To an extent it’s paid off, with Wolves sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone and only six points off seventh, the position which qualifies a team for the Europa Conference League.
Matheus Cunha, who joined on a permanent deal in the summer, is a big reason for Wolves’ improvement this season as are the goals from Hwang Hee-Chan.
Cunha’s four goals and five assists goes some way to explaining the attacking threat he provides for O’Neil’s team and will look to continue to be a nuisance for the opposition.
Manchester City won the Premier League for the fifth time in six seasons after second-placed Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, taking a first step to a possible golden treble of trophies.
But earlier on Saturday, Manchester United and Newcastle were left on the brink of qualifying for next season’s Champions League after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.
And Everton scored a late – LATE – equaliser in a massive boost to their bid to avoid relegation.
United’s 1-0 victory at Bournemouth, combined with Liverpool’s failure to beat Villa, left Erik ten Hag’s men and Newcastle within touching distance of ensuring top-four finishes.
Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal.Source: AFP
Fourth-placed United and Newcastle, in third, are both three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, who have only one game left.
Newcastle can seal their spot with a draw or win against Leicester on Monday or Chelsea on May 28.
United take their turn at securing the lucrative top four place against Chelsea on Thursday and Fulham next weekend, with Liverpool now likely to have to settle for a place in the Europa League.
At the Vitality Stadium, United took the lead in the ninth minute through Casemiro’s acrobatic bicycle kick from close-range.
“We are nearly there, but we are not there. I don’t care what happens in Liverpool, it’s about us,” Ten Hag said.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the defeat.Source: Getty Images
At Anfield, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was watching from the stands as he served a touchline ban following his recent rant about referee Paul Tierney.
Villa wasted a 22nd-minute penalty when Ollie Watkins fired wide after the striker was brought down by Ibrahima Konate.
Despite Watkins’ miss, Unai Emery’s team went ahead in the 27th minute through Jacob Ramsey’s volley from Douglas Luiz’s cross.
Roberto Firmino and James Milner, set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, came on for their Anfield farewells in the closing stages.
And it was Brazilian forward Firmino who rescued a point with his close-range finish in stoppage-time.
“We would have loved to make it exciting for another week, but we will make the Europa League our competition. I am not that spoiled,” said Klopp.
It was another tough day for Liverpool.Source: Getty Images
For Liverpool’s local rivals Everton, dreams of European football have long been replaced by the need to avoid relegation.
Yerry Mina’s last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Wolves boosted the Toffees’ hopes of avoiding playing in the second tier for the first time since 1954.
Sean Dyche’s men fell behind after 34 minutes when Adama Traore’s shot was pushed out to Hwang Hee-chan, who netted from close-range.
Mina bundled in Everton’s leveller nine minutes into stoppage-time to leave them fourth bottom, two points above the relegation zone.
Third-bottom Leeds would go above Everton with a win at West Ham on Sunday, while second-bottom Leicester would also leapfrog Dyche’s team if they beat Newcastle on Monday.
Yerry Mina of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring the late equaliser.Source: Getty Images
Tottenham’s season to forget hit a new low with a 3-1 home defeat against Brentford.
Ryan Mason’s side took the lead through Harry Kane’s 28th league goal this season, but a Bryan Mbeumo brace and Yoane Wissa’s late strike left them floundering in eighth place.
Frustration has mounted throughout the final weeks of a troubled season for Tottenham and fans hung banners outside the stadium pointing the finger of blame at owners ENIC, while chanting for chairman Daniel Levy to resign.
It was another disaster for Spurs.Source: Getty Images
Fulham and Crystal Palace shared a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Joel Ward of Crystal Palace celebrates with a teammate after scoring his team’s second goal.Source: Getty Images
Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season as Manchester City beat Fulham to return to the Premier League summit, with Newcastle and Manchester United winning to close in on a top-four finish.
Liverpool maintained their unlikely pursuit of a Champions League place by beating Tottenham 4-3 in a thriller but Southampton and Leeds are staring into the abyss.
City’s 2-1 win at Craven Cottage left Pep Guardiola’s men a point clear of long-time leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand.
The defending champions, chasing their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, were ahead in the third minute when Haaland scored from the penalty spot after Julian Alvarez was fouled.
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Haaland scores 50th as City go top | 01:41
Haaland’s 34th Premier League goal of the season equals the competition record held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer — set in the days of 42-game campaigns.
The Norwegian is the first player to reach a half-century of goals across all competitions in a single English top-flight season since 1931.
“Before Winston Churchill was Prime Minister? Wow. Sounds a long time ago. Congratulations to Erling,” said City boss Guardiola.
Fulham equalised in the 15th minute through Carlos Vinicius but Alvarez restored City’s lead nine minutes before half-time.
Treble-chasing City, on top for the first time in 10 weeks, have won their past eight league games and are unbeaten in their past 18 matches in all competitions.
They are red-hot favourites to retain their title, taking full advantage of Arsenal’s stumbles — the Gunners are winless in their past four matches.
Arsenal host struggling Chelsea on Wednesday [AEST], with City at home to West Ham the following day.
“It’s important but Arsenal will play,” said Guardiola.
“Important is the West Ham game, it’s a game in hand. After that we’ll be top of the table and it will be more real.”
TOTTENHAM AN ‘ABSOLUTE SHAMBLES’ AS LIVERPOOL STEAL IT LATE
In the later kick-off, Liverpool hit managerless Tottenham with a three-goal blitz in the first 15 minutes but the visitors stormed back and Richarlison scored an improbable equaliser in the 93rd minute.
Just when it seemed that Spurs had grabbed a dramatic point Diogo Jota won the game, leaving the Reds in fifth spot, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United having played a game more.
“We got away with it thank to Diogo Jota — it makes it spectacular and everybody goes home buzzing,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky.
Gary Neville, meanwhile, launched into Tottentham in Sky’s post-game coverage, declaring chairman Daniel Levy is under “massive pressure” to turn things around.
“At 3-3 it doesn’t excuse that first half hour,” Neville said.
“You can say well done for coming back but you can also say you’re a shambolic mess and that shouldn’t happen. It’s happened three times in a week – five down to Newcastle, two down to Man Utd and three down against Liverpool. You’re not learning. It can happen once but not three times in a week.
“ … They are all over the place. Spurs are an absolute shambles at the back.”
Diogo Jota of Liverpool scored the game-winning goal. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NEWCASTLE SCORE CRUCIAL WIN AS MAN UTD FANS MARCH
Elsewhere, Callum Wilson came off the bench to score twice as third-placed Newcastle fought back to beat Southampton 3-1 and edge their opponents towards relegation.
The England forward was left out of Eddie Howe’s starting line-up despite scoring twice at Everton in midweek but produced the perfect response.
He cancelled out Stuart Armstrong’s first-half opener and then helped himself to a second after Theo Walcott’s own goal had given the Magpies the lead.
The win keeps Newcastle two points ahead of Manchester United but Southampton are anchored at the foot of the table, six points from safety with just four games to play.
Man U & Magpies consolidate top 4 spots | 01:35
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United edged in-form Aston Villa 1-0, courtesy of a first-half goal from Bruno Fernandes.
“We look from game to game and next we have Brighton so we need to work hard again,” Ten Hag told the BBC.
“We need to show passion again and not worry about the table. We are totally in control (in the race for the top four). It’s all about us and it’s in our hands.”
The match came just two days after Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Jim Ratcliffe submitted their third, and what are expected to be final, offers to buy United from unpopular American owners the Glazers.
Other parties are interested in minority investment, and it was reported that Joel and Avram Glazer could remain stakeholders under one deal being proposed by British billionaire Ratcliffe.
Manchester United fans hold a banner which reads ‘Full Sale Glazers Out’. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
A group of United fans marched to Old Trafford in protest against the Glazers, with a giant banner reading “Full Sale Only”.
Colombia midfielder Jefferson Lerma scored twice in four first-half minutes as Bournemouth moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone with a 4-1 home win over Leeds, who remain in deep trouble.
Leandro Trossard inspired Arsenal as the Premier League leaders restored their five-point lead.
Erling Haaland hasn’t given up hope that Manchester City can catch the Gunners, while Liverpool are back to square one after a dismal defeat at Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are bouncing back – and likely saving Graham Potter’s job, while there was plenty of refereeing controversy across the weekend.
Here’s the biggest Premier League Talking Points!
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Gunners go wild at the Cottage | 00:43
TROSSARD ALREADY AN ARSENAL BARGAIN
If Arsenal lift their first Premier League title since 2004, the £21 million ($38m AUD) invested in signing Leandro Trossard will prove one of the bargains of the season.
Trossard already looks a shrewd acquisition by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta after his three assists inspired Sunday’s 3-0 win at Fulham.
Arsenal only swooped for the Belgium forward after their bid for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhailo Mudryk was usurped by a bigger last-minute offer from Chelsea.
But, while Mudryk is still adapting to the Premier League, Trossard has hit the ground running at Arsenal after four years’ experience of English football with Brighton.
The 28-year-old’s latest display of creativity and intelligence paved the way for the Gunners to record a fifth successive league victory and move them a step closer to the title.
With 11 games left, Arsenal have a five-point lead over second placed Manchester City and Trossard was happy to play his part.
“A perfect win for us. I’m really happy with it. I always try to contribute. Today it went my way,” he said.
“Same as last week. Eleven finals for us. We’ll take it game by game. Today we did a great game.”
Arteta was full of praise for the star man, saying: “He got three assists and could have scored two. I think he was really impressive.
“Not only that, he had an injury three days ago which could have taken a week, or another 10 days, but he was really willing to come back early and the doctors and medical staff did a lot of good work.
“It makes a big difference in the team. We needed him today and his contribution was superb.”
Gabriel Jesus also made a welcome return from injury off the bench, and will play a crucial role in their title bid. But Trossard has helped to lift Arsenal in Jesus’s absence – showing that they won’t be overly reliant on the Brazilian moving forward.
Premier League wrap: Reds stumble | 03:38
‘NOTHING IS DECIDED’: DEFIANT HAALAND EXPECTS CITY CHARGE
Erling Haaland has warned Arsenal that Manchester City still believe they can win a fifth Premier League title in the last six seasons.
Haaland scored the second half penalty that sealed a gritty 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, briefly moving the champions within two points of Arsenal.
Although Arsenal reopened their five-point advantage less than 24 hours later, the City striker is convinced there will be more twists before the title race is decided.
Pep Guardiola’s side face a crucial clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on April 26.
And Haaland is determined to ensure his debut season in English football, which has so far produced 34 goals for the Norwegian in all competitions, ends on a high note.
“With this gap, we just have to focus on ourselves,” he said. “We have them (Arsenal) at home and a lot of games left to play still.
“Nothing is decided yet. This is England. This is what I’ve been watching my entire life.
“I enjoy every single second of it. It’s good to be in the middle of it.”
Bournemouth deliver huge upset over Reds | 01:37
LIVERPOOL’S ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ PROBLEM
Trent Alexander-Arnold admitted Liverpool did not play with enough desire during their miserable 1-0 defeat at lowly Bournemouth on Saturday.
Philip Billing’s first-half goal punished sloppy Liverpool defending as the Reds crashed back down to earth after last weekend’s historic 7-0 rout of arch rivals Manchester United.
Mohamed Salah missed a second-half penalty to compound Liverpool’s frustration against a team who started the day at the bottom of the table.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have dropped to sixth place, six points behind fourth placed Tottenham, and right back Alexander-Arnold was concerned with the lethargic way Liverpool approached a key contest.
“This is the time of the season when everyone knows what they are fighting for and obviously Bournemouth are in a relegation battle,” he said.
“They are fighting for survival. But every team in the league is fighting for something.
“I think looking back on it now, they probably wanted it more than us and that is something that is unacceptable and we need to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”
Sam Kerr dinks the keeper with cute chip | 00:33
RELIEF FOR CHELSEA … BUT ‘NOT GETTING CARRIED AWAY’
The pressure is finally easing on Chelsea manager Graham Potter after the club claimed three-straight wins in the space of a week, shaking off a dismal run of just one win in 11 prior matches.
The Blues beat Leicester 3-1 and had another two goals ruled out for off-side, with their finishing the crucial difference over the misfiring Foxes.
Potter said after the team’s Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund midweek: “Has the weight been lifted off my shoulders? Yes, in some ways.”
But, he said, “I’m not getting carried away.”
Chelsea’s top four dream still seems improbable – they are 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, albeit with a game in hand.
But there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Premier League record signing Enzo Fernandez continues to develop into the midfield superstar that Chelsea believed he could be, bagging a brilliant assist for Kai Havertz to score a goal of the season contender.
Mykhailo Mudryk added his first assist against the Foxes, with the Ukrainian winger finally finding his feet after a slow start at the club – and even showing positive signs when shifted to a central striking role.
Potter said: “He’s a young player that hasn’t that much experience, so each game he’ll get better and better. Mykhailo’s attitude is fantastic, I love his approach.”
Mudryk celebrates a goal that was subsequently ruled out for off-side – but his improvement is a very positive sign.Source: Getty Images
In another positive sign, Chelsea showed adaptability during the game, with Potter expertly reshaping the team mid-match. He started with three at the back, then shifted to 5-3-2 at halftime before moving to a back four in the final 20 minutes. The bold decision to bring off Joao Felix at halftime was crucial, with Conor Gallagher helping to stifle James Maddison’s influence in the middle of the park.
There’ll be no getting carried away at Stamford Bridge, but with struggling Everton this weekend, the opportunity for further improvement is clear.
Ten Hag hammers refs over Casemiro red | 01:54
REFEREE DRAMA STRIKES AGAIN AND AGAIN
It was a weekend full of refereeing controversy.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was furious after Casemiro’s yellow card for a wayward tackle on Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz was upgraded to a red card after a review on the pitch-side VAR monitor.
“Casemiro played over 500 games in Europe and never once got a red card. Now he has two in the Premier League,” United manager Erik ten Hag said. “His absence is not the issue. We will deal with that. This game was influenced by the referee.”
Ten Hag was also upset at missed penalty calls in United’s draw with the bottom-placed Saints.
“Well, what I think is the inconsistency (means) players don’t know any more what is the policy,” Ten Hag said.
“I think it’s all across. I mean, you see yesterday, Leicester-Chelsea, then VAR is not coming on the line.
“Today it’s coming on the line and then it’s two penalty situations, but they don’t come on the line.
“I think especially the first one was for me clear and obvious handball, so what is the policy?”
Slater: Erik ten Hag ‘has a valid point’ | 06:00
Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui was furious after being denied a ‘very clear penalty’ in their 2-1 loss to Newcastle. When the game was still goalless, Newcastle keeper Nick Pope bodychecked Raul Jimenez – but was not given a penalty and red card by referee Andrew Madley, who was a significant distance away. He was not even instructed to review the video footage.
“For me it is a very clear penalty for us,” Lopetegui told Sky Sports.
“We are very unlucky with the referees. We were very unlucky in [the FA Cup match at] Liverpool and today too. It is a pity for us.”
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp said: “Pope is incredibly lucky …
“It’s no doubt it’s a foul. And because he’s not trying to play the ball it would be a penalty, a red card and a ban for him. That’s how important this decision was … What a big mistake.”
Aston Villa coach Unai Emery was also frustrated after his side drew 1-1 with West Ham, with the Hammers rescuing a draw thanks to Said Benrahma’s penalty. West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta went down under minimal contact from Villa’s Leon Bailey.
Emery said: “I watched it and I respect the referees 100 per cent. But my opinion today is that it is a very soft penalty.”
There is always refereeing drama, but this week was simply next level.
