Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said it is his responsibility to turn around a miserable Premier League season after a 3-2 defeat to Everton on Sunday (Monday AEDT), which helped the Toffees pull clear of the relegation zone.
Previously goal-shy Everton tore through Spurs’ under-strength backline to net three times before the break through Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and an Archie Gray own goal.
A first win in seven league games takes David Moyes’ men four points clear of the bottom three.
Tottenham’s 12th Premier League defeat of the season leaves them just four points above Everton in 15th and ramps up the pressure on manager Postecoglou.
However, it was chairman Daniel Levy, not the Australian, who felt the fury of the travelling support as they chanted for change at the top of the club.
“This is not about me, but what is about me is I have a responsibility to the players I do have. For me to focus on anything else is abstaining from the responsibility I do have,” said Postecoglou, who was without 10 first-team regulars due to injury.
Everton did bite the bullet to sack Sean Dyche earlier this month and it was like the Goodison days of old for Moyes as he enjoyed a first win of his second spell in charge.
“Really pleased we could give everyone something to shout about,” said Moyes. “We played ever so well in the first half, scored three and could have scored more.”
Ange Postecoglou (R) consoles Archie Gray after defeat at Goodison Park.Source: AFP
Moyes’ homecoming fell flat in a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in midweek, after which the former Manchester United boss said he was aware of the task he faces to preserve Premier League status due to a lack of firepower.
Calvert-Lewin had not scored since September but did not look like a striker short on confidence as he turned Gray and Lucas Bergvall before firing in the opening goal on 13 minutes.
To compound the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and three of Postecoglou’s preferred back four in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, Tottenham were also without club record signing Dominic Solanke.
Captain Son Heung-min stepped in to start as a makeshift centre-forward and should have levelled when he shot too close to Jordan Pickford from Dejan Kulusevski’s cross.
But Tottenham looked likely to concede every time Everton sprang out on the counter-attack.
Calvert-Lewin should have had a second but for a heavy touch that allowed Antonin Kinsky to block before the Czech goalkeeper turned Orel Mangala’s effort onto the post.
David Moyes applauds Toffees fans after Everton beat Tottenham.Source: AFP
Everton had scored just 15 goals in 20 league games prior to kick-off, going goalless in nine of their last 11.
What little inspiration there has been from the Toffees this season has come from Ndiaye.
The Senegal international produced a moment of magic to double the lead as he skipped past the statuesque Radu Dragusin before slotting high past Kinsky.
Gray’s own goal compounded a terrible first 45 minutes for the visitors as their frailty from set-pieces was again exposed when the 18-year-old could only turn Calvert-Lewin’s flick into his own net.
Kulusevski’s classy chip over three scrambling Everton defenders pulled a goal back before Richarlison turned home at the back post in stoppage time.
Postecoglou’s men remain alive in three cup competitions, but Levy has a decision to make on whether the quest for a first trophy since 2008 would be better served by a change of manager.
“We’re still in all four competitions. Our league position is not great to say the least but eventually our players will come back. Significant talent will come back,” added Postecoglou.
“I’ve got great motivation to get through this so when we do get our players back we can get something significant out of our season.”
A Premier League juggernaut has extended its lead atop the table, while its main title challenger has been held at home in a shock result.
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Elsewhere, Newcastle’s winning streak has been snapped in comprehensive fashion in another surprise outcome.
REDS STEADY SHIP TO REIGNITE TITLE CHARGE
Darwin Nunez struck twice in the final minutes as Liverpool got their Premier League title charge back on track with a dramatic 2-0 win against Brentford on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s side were in danger of enduring a third successive league draw after wasting a host of chances at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Of all the candidates to end Liverpool’s wobble, Uruguay striker Nunez would have been low down the list given his struggles over the last two seasons.
But he rode to Liverpool’s rescue with a stoppage-time brace that lifted the Reds’ seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal.
The Gunners can close the gap back to four points with a win against Aston Villa in Saturday’s late game.
But Liverpool will hold a game in hand on Arsenal and have the destiny of the title still firmly in their grasp thanks to the much-maligned Nunez.
Slot had admitted he couldn’t find a way to get the best out of the former Benfica star earlier this week.
The 25-year-old had scored just four goals in 26 games in all competitions prior to his unexpected double in west London.
Slot will gratefully take Nunez’s contribution as Liverpool’s first win in three league games kept them on course for a first title since 2020.
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool had only won one game in four in all competitions, beating minnows Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round.
They had drawn their previous two league games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, while also losing 1-0 at Tottenham in the League Cup semi-final first leg, making this victory essential to steady their nerves.
Brentford kicked off with the joint-best home record in the Premier League, an impressive statistic they underlined by scoring twice in the closing stages to draw 2-2 with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Postecoglou: ‘Spurs need reinforcements’ | 01:11
GUNNERS COUGH UP 2-0 LEAD IN COSTLY DRAW
Liverpool now holds a six-point Premier League lead over Arsenal, who blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners a deserved first-half lead when Emi Martinez failed to prevent his effort crossing the line.
It was a similar story for Arsenal’s second as Martinez got a touch to Kai Havertz’s shot but could not keep it out.
Just when Mikel Arteta’s men seemed to be cruising, Villa hit back through Youri Tielemans’ header.
The Belgian midfielder then hit the post with the chance to level for Villa seconds later.
The visitors did equalise 22 minutes from time when Ollie Watkins cushioned in Matty Cash’s cross off the underside of the crossbar.
Arsenal thought they had a late winner, but Mikel Merino’s effort deflected in off Havertz’s hand and the goal was ruled out by a VAR review.
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CHERRIES STUNNER TO SNAP MAGPIES’ STREAK
Justin Kluivert’s stunning hat-trick snapped Newcastle’s winning streak in style as Bournemouth stormed into the Premier League’s top six with a rampant 4-1 win at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
The Magpies were looking to set a club record with a 10th consecutive victory in all competitions but were thoroughly outplayed by the Cherries, who are themselves now on an 11-game unbeaten streak.
Kluivert, son of former Newcastle striker Patrick Kluivert, was the star of the show before Milos Kerkez fired in a fourth in stoppage time.
Defeat leaves Newcastle still in fourth but now just one point clear of Bournemouth in the race for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Bournemouth have never qualified for European competition before and Kluivert said that is the goal for an ambitious squad.
“Why not dream big and let’s see where we can end up,” said the Dutch international.
“Our run is also beautiful and that’s what we showed here today; that we are here to make an impression.” Alexander Isak’s hopes of matching the Premier League record scoring streak of 11 matches also came to an end on a humbling afternoon for the Magpies.
The Swedish striker had struck in eight consecutive games but was barely given a sniff of a chance by a brilliant Bournemouth display.
Andoni Iraola’s men flew out of the traps and never let up to move above defending champions Manchester City in the table.
The visitors should have led inside four minutes when Dango Ouattara’s shot was saved by Martin Dubravka and Antoine Semenyo blasted the rebound over.
Bournemouth had to wait just two minutes more to take the lead when Semenyo’s cut-back was swept into the far corner by Kluivert.
Newcastle were shellshocked in the early stages but looked to have restored some order when Bruno Guimaraes headed in Lewis Hall’s corner.
Yet the home side headed in at half-time behind once more after another classy finish from Kluivert to turn in Ouattara’s pass.
Bournemouth should have been well out of sight before they did finally get the third goal in stoppage time.
Ouattara had a goal disallowed by a VAR review as the ball had gone out of play before the Burkina Faso international prodded home.
David Brooks’s inventive backheel was then denied by a combination of Dubravka and the post.
Bournemouth were robbed of a famous victory in midweek when Reece James’ stoppage time free-kick rescued a point for Chelsea in a 2-2 draw.
This time, though, they were not to be denied of three thoroughly deserved points.
Kluivert took aim from outside the box to complete his second hat-trick of the season.
However, all three efforts this time came from open play after his trio of penalties downed Wolves in November.
The impressive Kerkez, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, then drilled in the fourth to rub salt into Newcastle wounds.
Sam Kerr’s final hopes of having her case thrown out before trial have been dashed.
The former Matildas captain will face trial next month after she was charged with racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.
The Chelsea striker appeared at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court in London on Tuesday night (AEDT) and there were incredible scenes as the 31-year-old left the court surrounded by a media scrum.
Cameras followed Kerr as she exited the courthouse and made a speedy getaway in a waiting black Mercedes Benz four-wheel drive.
Footage from the scene shows Kerr ignored questions from waiting reporters.
You can watch the incident in the video player above.
However, as first reported by The Daily Telegraph, the football superstar from Western Australia was heard muttering two words under her breath.
Video captured by the publication shows she was heard saying “oi ya”.
Sam Kerr made a quick escape. Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
It has been alleged she used insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to a police officer during an alleged incident in Twickenham on January 30, 2023.
A police charge sheet stated the alleged incident unfolded as a police officer responded to a complaint involving a taxi fare.
However, it emerged in April, 2024, Kerr intends to deny the allegation.
The alleged incident occurred after Kerr scored a hat-trick to propel Chelsea to a 3-2 FA Cup victory over Liverpool.
Sam Kerr remained tight-lipped. Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Her legal team in April filed documents with the court that argued she did not intend to racially abuse a police officer.
The trial will take place from February 3.
Kerr looked unfazed about the situation as she left court.
Reporters were heard asking a series of questions, but the footballer remained silent.
“Are you disappointed the trial is going ahead,” one reporter asked.
Another was heard asking, “Do you regret that night out?”
Another reporter was heard asking, “Do you have anything to say at all?”
One person present during the courthouse incident was also head saying: “Don’t push me. Don’t push me.”
Kerr remains one of the highest-profile female footballers on the planet.
She became the first female footballer to appear on the front cover of the global FIFA (EA FC) video game and has been publicly supported by teammates and even Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Kerr will be hoping for smoother sailing in 2025 after a rollercoaster 2024.
It was a rare piece of good news for Kerr, who spent the entire year on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at training with Chelsea teammates in January.
The horror injury saw Kerr miss Australia’s ill-fated Paris Olympics campaign where the Matildas were unable to make it out of the group stages.
Kerr and Mewis announced their engagement in November, 2023.
Since Mewis’ move to Women’s Super League club West Ham, the pair have lived together in London.
When Kerr will finally get back on a football field remains unknown.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham needed extra time before seeing off non-league Tamworth 3-0 in their FA Cup clash on Monday morning (AEDT).
Tottenham, currently 12th in the Premier League, are 96 places above Tamworth, who sit 16th in the fifth-tier National League.
The supposed gap in quality was rarely apparent as Tottenham’s dismal display took them to the brink of a historic humiliation.
A part-time team whose players work day jobs alongside their football careers, Tamworth matched their highly-paid and supposedly superior opponents for long periods on the Lamb Ground’s sloping artificial pitch.
They should have caused one of the FA Cup’s greatest upsets in normal time but their missed chances proved crucial.
Nathan Tshikuna’s extra-time own goal and late strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson sent Tottenham into the fourth round.
Tottenham last won a major trophy in 2008, but the under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou boasts he always wins silverware in his second season at a club.
Having beaten Liverpool 1-0 in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday, Tottenham remain in contention for a domestic cup double despite a troubled season.
“They made it hard for us, with the surface it was about us staying calm and being persistent. In the end, we got the job done,” said Postecoglou, whose team travel to Aston Villa in the fourth round.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Greek-Australian Head Coach Ange Postecoglou gestures on the touchline during the English FA Cup third round football match between Tamworth and Tottenham Hotspur at The Lamb Ground in Tamworth, central England on January 12, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /Source: AFP
MAN UTD PROGRESS
Ten-man Manchester United beat Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round.
Defeated 2-0 by Arsenal in the Premier League in December, FA Cup holders United exacted revenge on their return to the Emirates Stadium to extend their revival after last weekend’s impressive draw at Liverpool.
Ruben Amorim’s troubled side took the lead through Bruno Fernandes, who smashed a superb strike into the far corner from the edge of the area in the 52nd minute.
United defender Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second booking after fouling Mikel Merino nine minutes later.
Gabriel Magalhaes grabbed Arsenal’s equaliser in the 63rd minute, the Brazilian defender swivelling to hit a low shot that took a hefty deflection off Matthijs de Ligt.
But Arsenal wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead when Harry Maguire’s soft challenge on Kai Havertz was ruled a penalty.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, gestures during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United.Source: Getty Images
The furious United defender and teammate Manuel Ugarte were involved in a melee with several Arsenal players before Altay Bayindir saved Martin Odegaard’s spot-kick.
Havertz missed a host of chances to win it and the German was culpable again in the shootout as his effort was saved by Bayindir, setting up the much-maligned Joshua Zirkzee to stroke home the decisive kick.
“We deserved to pass through this round because we all suffered together and showed character,” said Amorim, whose side host Leicester in the fourth round.
“A few weeks ago Joshua was in a difficult moment, now he was a game-changer. Life has these beautiful things.” It was another painful result for Arsenal after Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle in the League Cup semi-final first leg and last weekend’s damaging league draw at Brighton.
“In a thousand games like this you lose one,” said Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who hasn’t won a trophy since 2020.
“It’s unbelievable. We deserved to win the game by a mile. But the reality is we are out and the only thing that’s going to be judged is that.”
Manchester City dashed the dreams of Salford’s former Manchester United star owners with an 8-0 FA Cup rout on Saturday, while Liverpool cruised into the fourth round with a 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley.
Chelsea were among the other big winners with a 5-0 demolition of Morecambe. Brentford were the only Premier League side to fall to lower-league opposition as Plymouth, who sit bottom of the Championship, stunned the Bees 1-0 thanks to Morgan Whittaker’s late winner.
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League Two Salford have risen through the non-league ranks since investment from David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt began in 2014.
Scholes, Butt and director of football Giggs were in attendance at the Etihad but were denied a night to rival their best during glorious playing careers at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola made wholesale changes as Erling Haaland was afforded a rest. Jeremy Doku opened the scoring after just eight minutes before youngsters Divin Mubama and Nico O’Reilly made it 3-0 before half-time.
Jack Grealish scored his first City goal for over a year from the penalty spot, while Doku also netted from the spot.
But James McAtee, who had only scored once for City previously, earned man-of-the-match with a 20-minute second half hat-trick.
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There was never any hint of an upset at Anfield either despite Arne Slot making eight changes for Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk and led by example after being criticised for his display in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last weekend.
Slot had warned the Premier League leaders that a trip to Anfield would be Accrington’s “Champions League final”.
A mammoth 86 league positions behind Liverpool in the 92-team English league system, Stanley held out for nearly half an hour before Diogo Jota was left with a simple task to tap in from Darwin Nunez’s low cross.
Alexander-Arnold then stepped forward to double the lead with a sumptuous hit into the top corner from outside the box.
“I could talk for hours about that (goal), unbelievable,” said Slot said. “The biggest compliment Trent could get was the reaction of everyone after the Manchester United game.
“Every player around the world, maybe except for a few, has a bad game and that is completely normal, but the moment Trent has one, everyone has an opinion about it.”
Jayden Danns made it 3-0 before Federico Chiesa netted his first Liverpool goal after an injury-hit start to his time in England.
Joao Felix was the star of the show for Chelsea as he got a rare chance to deputise for Cole Palmer.
The Portuguese international and Tosin Adarabioyo both scored twice, while Christopher Nkunku made up for missing an early penalty by netting his 13th goal of the season.
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Only Liverpool have taken more points at home than Brentford in the Premier League this season, while Plymouth had not won away from home all campaign.
Yet against the odds Argyle, who sacked former England captain Wayne Rooney 12 days ago, held out and hit Thomas Frank’s men with a sucker punch when Whittaker blasted in from outside the area nine minutes from time.
“I have pride in everybody, and I’m pleased for the supporters. It’s a big day for us,” said caretaker Plymouth boss Kevin Nancekivell.
“The FA Cup brings that romance and we’ve put a little bit of history in it today by getting the win.” High-flying Nottingham Forest continued their excellent season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Luton.
Brighton were 4-0 winners at Norwich as Georginio Rutter struck twice. Bournemouth shrugged off the loss of strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal to long-term injuries this week to roar back from 1-0 down to hammer West Brom 5-1.
Leicester went one better by hitting QPR for six in an eight-goal thriller at the King Power.
Wolves’ bright start under new boss Vitor Pereira continued as early goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes secured a 2-1 win at Bristol City.
Nottingham Forest’s stunning season continued with a 3-0 victory at Wolves on Monday to give manager Nuno Espirito Santo a winning return to Molineux.
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England international Morgan Gibbs-White and the in-form Chris Wood struck before half-time to take Forest to within six points of leaders Liverpool, who they host in their next Premier League game.
Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi rounded off the scoring in stoppage time. Defeat leaves Wolves outside the relegation zone only thanks to goal difference as they suffered a first defeat under new boss Vitor Pereira.
Forest remain third in the table but move level on points with Arsenal. Even if a shock title challenge proves beyond Espirito Santo’s men, they are building up an impressive cushion in the race for Champions League football next season.
They are five points clear of fifth-placed Newcastle and six in front of struggling champions Manchester City in sixth.
A top-four finish would guarantee a return to the continent’s elite competition for the first time in 45 years for the two-time European champions.
However, fifth could also be good enough depending on how English clubs fare in European competition this season.
Gibbs-White savoured his return to the club where he spent the early part of his career.
In front of the watching new England manager Thomas Tuchel, the midfielder did his case for further international recognition no harm with a cool finish from Antony Elanga’s pass.
Forest’s unexpected rise from battling relegation until the final day of last season into Champions League contenders has been build on a solid defence and Wood’s purple patch.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Molineux on January 06, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The New Zealand international turned in Callum Hudson-Odoi’s low cross for his 12th goal of the season to double the visitors’ lead just before half-time.
Wolves pressed and probed for a way back into the game after the break but were toothless in the absence of talisman Matheus Cunha through suspension.
Mats Sels was forced into one brilliant save to deny Jorgen Strand Larsen to preserve a ninth clean sheet of the season and fourth in a row.
That solidity is familiar to Wolves fans from Espirito Santo’s time in charge of their club between 2017 and 2021.
The Portuguese coach led Wanderers from the Championship into Europe for the first time in 39 years.
Now after troubled spells at Tottenham and Saudi club Al-Ittihad, he is recreating that magic to leave Forest fans in dreamland.
It was a Wild West shootout that would have made John Wayne proud.
The Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur opened the new year in spectacular fashion at CommBank Stadium, putting on a five-goal thriller that ultimately ended in a 3-2 win to the Bulls.
This match had everything you could want from a football game—thrilling goals, gilt-edged chances, desperate defence and a red card that inspired a spirited comeback.
A double to emerging winger Jed Drew had Macarthur ahead 3-1 at halftime, but a 52nd-minute red card awarded to Wanderers defender Dean Pelekanos for taking out Ariath Piol while the striker was one-on-one with the keeper, seemed to galvanise the home side, who got back to within one goal three minutes later via a deflected goal to Anthony Pantazopoulos.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Wanderers had the better of the closing half-hour, peppering the Macarthur goal. However, the Bulls’ defence rallied, blocking multiple shots to deny Western Sydney a late equaliser.
“I thought the character and fight in the term was superb,” Wanderers assistant coach Nahuel Arrarte said post-match.
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“Their ability to continue to push forward, even when we went down to 10 men shows the character in the group.
“To be honest, I haven’t looked at it [the red card decision] . . . but while it played a part [in the loss], there are certain aspects of our game that we still need to improve if we want to be a top team.”
The Bulls now sit in second place on the A-League men’s ladder, leapfrogging the Melbourne Victory who played out a nil-all draw with Auckland earlier in the day, while Western Sydney sit seventh, one point outside the top six.
DREW PROVES THE DIFFERENCE
Despite playing just 66 minutes of the match, Jed Drew was a clear choice as Player of the Match.
The son of former Parramatta Eels hooker Brad Drew continued his stellar season, scoring the two goals which ultimately gave his side victory. While his first strike was a decent effort off a deflected cross, his second was an absolute stunner.
After receiving the ball on the right flank 20 metres out from goal, Drew turned Wanderers defender Jack Clisby inside out before curling the ball into the net from an extremely tight angle.
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The 21-year-old has been a revelation for Mile Sterjovski’s side chalking up five goals and five assists in nine games this season and must surely be in contention for a Socceroos shirt.
“I definitely think he has the potential to do it,” Sterjovski said when quizzed on Drew’s Socceroos chances.
“He’s got the quality to do it, it’s just about being consistent.
“To play at the top level . . . you have to be consistent and do those sorts of things week in and week out.
“With the form he’s in, he definitely deserves a look in [with the Socceroos].”
Drew wasn’t the only Bulls young gun to shine, though. Piol produced a magic moment, putting the Bulls ahead 2-1 in the 26th minute with an individual effort that saw him sprint 40 metres down the right flank before effortlessly flicking the ball past Western Sydney keeper Lawrence Thomas.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 01: Juan Mata of Western Sydney Wanderers celebrates after scoring a goal during the round 11 A-League Men match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur FC at CommBank Stadium, on January 01, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MATA FINALLY SCORES
With Dylan Scicluna injured, Alen Stajcic opted to give marquee signing Juan Mata just his third start of the season. The FIFA World Cup winner repaid his manager’s faith when he put his side on level terms in the 23rd minute by tucking away a low cross from Josh Brillante.
While the former Chelsea and Manchester United star was replaced by Nicolas Milanovic after 56 minutes, he can be satisfied with the shift he put in against Macarthur.
It has only taken eight Premier League games for Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim’s time in charge to turn into a nightmare.
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The former manager of Portuguese side Sporting CP has created an unwanted slice of history in becoming the first Red Devils manager in 103 years to lose five of their first eight league games in charge.
Those five defeats have come in the space of month.
United have not suffered such a low since 1962.
Their 2-0 loss at Old Trafford to Newcastle to finish off a drama-filled 2024 – which has included the high of an FA Cup triumph and the lows of sacking Erik ten Hag and sitting 14th on the Premier League table at year’s end – was also their three straight home defeat.
That has not has not happened for 45 years.
Those statistics make for incredibly grim reading but their recent woes have been lumped onto the shoulders of ten Hag and the club’s directors off the pitch.
Amorim is yet to see a transfer window, so the squad is full of players that were brought in to be a part of ten Hag’s vision.
But now, the finger is being pointed at Amorim for his role in their latest horror show, and he is already feeling the pressure after Newcastle scored both their goals in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
It was the sort of move teams pushing for a top four berth do at this time of the year when the workload is heavy.
Strike early, make a big blow and then allow the game to peter out because the scoreboard is under control.
Which is exactly what Newcastle did and they showed why they have won four straight Premier League contests, without conceding a goal, to climb into fifth place, three points shy of fourth placed Chelsea.
United on the other hand were a shemozzle.
Club great Gary Neville called them “the worst pound-for-pound team in the country” in his commentary on Sky Sports and Amorim shocked the Premier League in his post-match interview by admitting that their “focus is on survival”.
“I think [the team] is a little bit lost in this moment, so it’s a little bit embarrassing to be a Manchester United coach and to lose a lot of games,” Amorim said. “But we have to cope with difficult moments in the life of everybody, so it’s a hard moment.
“I think people are tired of excuses in this club and I think sometimes I talk about relegation because of that.
“We have to acknowledge our position the way you see the league, that everybody can beat everybody, so we have to win games and to focus on surviving. I think our club needs a shock, you know? It needs a shock and we have to understand that.”
United sit seven points above the relegation places at the halfway mark of their Premier League campaign with a trip to Anfield to face league leaders and fierce rivals Liverpool awaiting them next.
Amorim’s words are a startling change of tone from the 39-year-old who less than two months ago said United fans may think he is the “new Sir Alex Ferguson” if he pulled off a victory in his final home game in charge at Sporting, a Champions League tie against Manchester City.
He claimed a 4-1 triumph that night, and also tasted victory in his first Manchester Derby, but those highs feels like a lifetime ago.
The “shock” Amorim speaks of indicates that rock bottom is still yet to come.
“It’s worrying times for Manchester United and Amorim,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“He knew it was a big job but l think it is far bigger than he ever imagined.”
Concerns about whether Amorim is up to the task are growing with each loss.
Perhaps the low point of the Newcastle loss was making a substitution 33 minutes into the match to fix a severe blunder in the set up of the team.
Striker Joshua Zirkzee was sent to the bench, but he initially opted for the dressing room to hide from the embarrassment, in favour of Kobbie Mainoo to bolster his struggling midfield.
The move did pay off as United played better with the 19-year-old England international on the pitch, but Zirkzee was cheered off by sections of Old Trafford in what was an awful look for the club.
“A sure sign of an ongoing implosion, the tactical first-half sub,” The UK Telegraph’s senior sports writer Thom Gibbs wrote.
The issues in midfield were caused however, by Amorim’s decision to start an ageing pair instead of their younger counterparts.
“Casemiro and Eriksen in midfield are like mannequins. Little one-two around them, it’s so easy,” Neville said.
“They’ve been two fabulous players throughout their careers but the last thing either of them wants to see is the other next to them. All you want around you is legs. They shouldn’t be playing a game together in the Premier League. They really shouldn’t.”
United’s players are battling with the adjustment to Amorim’s tactics which stand in stark contrast to ten Hag’s.
The Portuguese manager regularly opts for three at the back with a clear focus on high pressing and possession, in contrast to the Dutchman’s preference of four defenders supported by two defensive midfielders.
Rashford’s supposed reluctance to press has been part of his exclusion from the team under Amorim, and it was alleged by UK radio station talkSport that part of the reason Amorim’s negotiations with Liverpool broke down was because of his devout commitment to his tactical philosophy.
That dedication has brought him unstuck at United so far with it often looking like he is trying to fit square pegs into round holes.
“Amorim was culpable. He picked the wrong team, in the wrong formation. His trademark 3-4-3 was unlocked,” the UK Independent’s senior football correspondent Richard Jolly wrote after the Newcastle loss.
“It was a manager with a well-planned strategy against one trying to impose his blueprint on players unsuited to it.
“In midfield, United’s indiscipline came at a cost. Lacking their midfield ball-winner Manuel Ugarte and captain Bruno Fernandes because of bans, they were weak, but weakened by the system and managerial choices.
“The pensionable pair of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro were pitted against the trio of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton: far more athletic, featuring two classy passers.
“United were outnumbered, out-thought, overrun, overcome.”
Based on the results, and Amorim’s comments, it is clear a clean out is on the cards in the upcoming January transfer window, as well as in the summer.
United have undergone that process many times since Ferguson’s reign ended, and their recent history shows it is no certainty to work.
Their upcoming transfer targets remain unclear and coming to Old Trafford is now a far harder sell than almost ever before.
The current squad is the result of a clean-out with Neville believing that the United team from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final game as manager in 2021 to be better than the current XI.
“I sent through that team this morning of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s last game in charge. They’re playing against Watford a few years ago and you’re thinking that Manchester United team is not good enough, we all accepted at the time it wasn’t good enough,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“But that was David de Gea in net, who’s a better goalkeeper than the one that United have currently got, it was Lindelof, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and Shaw, which is a better defensive line than the one that they have currently got.
“It was Matic and McTominay in midfield, which is not brilliant, but it’s better than Casemiro and Eriksen, and it was Sancho, Rashford, Bruno and Ronaldo up front, which is a better forward line than the one that’s currently there.
“So that’s the concerning thing, when you feel that you’ve got to a point whereby the team can’t get any worse, and then you get further investment into the tune of £455m, and you see that this current team that’s played today, and at Wolves, I think that they’ve got a lot to do.
“That is being very, very kind because I don’t think this group of players that are playing at this moment in time are of the quality that the ones that Ten Hag has had, Ole’s had, Jose Mourinho’s had, or Louis Van Gaal, they weren’t good enough for Manchester United in those periods.
“But they were better teams and better squads than the one that currently is in this club.”
The 21 goals United have scored in 19 matches this campaign, which is the fifth lowest in the league helps prove Neville’s point.
Last season, their run to FA Cup glory kept United’s spirits alive, but with a third round clash at Arsenal after their trip to Liverpool, their hopes of keeping that flame alive are dwindling.
The Europa League may have to be their beacon of hope with United sitting seventh – the top eight automatically progress to the knockout rounds – with two league matches remaining, at home to Scottish heavyweights Rangers and away to Romanian outfit FCSB.
But it appears that 2025 could start with more pain for Amorim’s team.
Falling behind early, hitting the lead, missing a penalty, conceding late, more injury blows, boos from the fans, it has became an all too familiar tale for Tottenham.
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The ever-repeating script played out once again in a 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Wolves as the scrutiny on Ange Postecoglou intensifies.
The visitors, who are unbeaten with two wins and a draw since Vitor Pereira took over as manager, opened the scoring in the seventh minute with Hwang Hee-chan curling home a superb strike from the top of the box after a brilliant set play from a free kick.
To add to the moans and groans of the home fans, the first goal created an unwanted slice of history for Spurs.
It was the 15th time in 2024 they have conceded the opening goal of a Premier League game at home, the most ever in a calendar year.
Things looked back on track as Rodrigo Bentancur header from a corner and Brennan Johnson’s classy finish from a pass from Dejan Kulusevski put Tottenham in front at half time.
It could have been a two goal advantage however, as Johnson was brought down in the box minutes before his goal but Son Heung-min’s penalty was saved, and it proved to be costly.
Tottenham looked spent in the second half and they paid the price in the 87th minute when Strand Larsen smashed the ball into the roof of the net from a ridiculously tight angle to equalise, and create more unwanted records for Spurs.
They are now winless in five straight home Premier League matches, the first time since October 2008 when they failed to win eight straight times at home before manager Juande Ramos was sacked.
Reds hammer West Ham in 5-0 rout | 00:45
At present, Tottenham sit 11th on the table with 24 points from 19 outings.
They have won once in their last seven matches, and a dealing with an injury crisis at the back.
All those factors are why The UK Telegraph’s football news correspondent Matt Law wrote that “watching Spurs should come with a health warning even for the club’s young fans”.
Meanwhile, The Times’ James Gheerbrant believes Postecoglou is now stuck in an awkward position in his Tottenham tenure.
“Right now, they either win in style or fold under duress, an unhappy binary for any team, and one which leaves them in the bottom half at the year’s end, and their head coach Ange Postecoglou in an uncomfortable limbo,” he wrote.
“At the start of 2024, Tottenham were fifth in the Premier League, Postecoglou’s win rate stood at 60 per cent, and the energy around his project felt buoyant. The past 12 months have featured a slowdown in results and a dissipation of that positivity.
“A significant cluster of injuries and absences has hurt them this season, providing some partial mitigation for their poor form, and what must be beginning to feel to Postecoglou like a relentless inundation of bad news…”
Postecoglou made the bold call to play Radu Dragusin despite the centre back clearly not being match fit after sustaining an ankle injury in Spurs’ Boxing Day loss at shock second-place sitters Nottingham Forest.
It is an example of things going from bad to worse with Postecoglou justifying the decision to send the Romanian onto the pitch by saying “we had no choice. If Radu doesn’t play I don’t know who plays”.
First choice centre back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have been sidelined with injury for Tottenham’s past six matches in all competitions, while other option Ben Davies has been out of action since their trip to Bournemouth earlier this month.
As a result, 18-year-old Archie Gray, who has mainly been a midfielder or right-back during his young career, has been trying to hold the fort in the central defensive positions alongside Dragusin, and even with the support of midfielder Yves Bissouma when Dragusin went down at Forest.
To add further pain, left back Destiny Udogie also picked up a hamstring injury and Bentancur’s late booking rules him out of Saturday’s match at home against Newcastle.
The selection headaches make for “fragile foundations”, as Postecoglou famously said of the club after their fans were cheering for their side to lose to Manchester City in the penultimate match of last season to prevent rivals Arsenal from winning the league, that only grow the Australian’s frustrations.
Souttar ruptures achilles in big blow | 02:40
“It doesn’t feel like we’re getting a smooth run at anything,” Postecoglou said post-match. “As soon as we get one back we lose one. We have to get through it. There’s still a hell of a lot for us to play for. With what’s on the horizon, we have to give the players all the support we can to perform at their best.”
Speaking on Sky Sports post-match, former Tottenham and England striker Darren Bent expressed his belief that most of Tottenham’s issues stem from what is happening at the club during the week, rather than on match day.
Bent, who scored four goals from 13 appearances at international level, is adamant that Spurs’ current playing group’s conditioning is not at the level required for Postecoglou’s high octane style of play.
“The medical department, surely Ange is saying ‘what is going on here?’ because I do feel for him in that regard, that he’s getting so many injuries, but they’ve got to look at that,” Bent said.
“You can’t keep having the same players breaking down with the same injuries.
“When you look at the way that they play, the intensity that they play at, clearly they’re not training at the same level that they’re playing at cause that’s where the injuries come from.
“Usually, if you train a lesser tempo and you’re expected to go out on a Saturday and play at this Angeball pace that’s 100 miles an hour, you’re going to break down all the time.
“Also, the recovery situation. They have players that keep getting the same injury has got to be a concern as well, van de Ven, we know how quick he is. He changes the whole dynamic of the back line, but you can’t keep having the same injury, hamstring, over and over and over again. At some point, someone’s got to go. You know what, he may be ready now but let’s give it another two weeks, three weeks, just to make sure.”
In the same panel discussion on Sky Sports, former Tottenham midfielder and manager Tim Sherwood agreed with Bent that more of the heat needs to be directed towards Spurs’ medical staff.
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Sherwood, who captained Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995, also believes that Postecoglou needs greater support from the club in the form of spending more money to build greater squad depth in the upcoming January transfer window.
“He’s going to stick to what he’s doing. What he knows best and that’s playing this way. He just needs a little bit of help in the transfer market in January, I’d suggest,” Sherwood said.
“I’m not sure what sort of quality of players they can bring in, or get some players back. Udogie gets injured today, another hamstring, so something must be happening.
“I thought in the world of sports scientists, that was all eradicated but it seems to be increasing. I don’t think they’re overtrained, players these days, I think they’re undertrained.
“I don’t know what goes on day-to-day at the training ground, but to continually pick up muscle injuries, there must be something they need to look at.”
As for how Postecoglou is managing this incredibly difficult stretch, Sherwood believes he is simply doing what he can.
“I don’t think he’s running out of ideas because he’s got clear ideas of how he wants to play. I think what he is struggling with is the depth of the squad. He’s not being able to rest his squad,” Sherwood said.
“I made a point during the game of, they’ve got the two centre backs missing, Micky van de Ven and Romero, and Vicario, the goal keeper.
“Other than that, it’s a full strength side.
“What the problem is, is when he wants to make the changes, he doesn’t have the quality off the bench to make the changes, and everyone is having to play all of the minutes, all of the time.
EPL powerhouses fail to fire | 02:11
“He’s trying to rest them. He’s trying to juggle it up to keep them fresh.
“Talk about sharpness in the final third, they haven’t got a problem scoring goals. We all know they can score goals. It’s trying to keep the opposition out.”
Tottenham fans have recently protested against club chair Daniel Levy for his reluctance to spend more to build a deeper squad.
It will fascinating to watch in the January transfer window how proactive Spurs are, but before any reinforcements can be brought on, Levy will be demanding better from the existing troops.
“Levy had a face like thunder in the stands and may well fear the worst ahead of a run of games that include Newcastle United next, Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and a trip to Arsenal,” the UK Telegraph’s Matt Law wrote.
“The way things are going, Spurs might not even be particularly confident about their FA Cup trip to Tamworth.”
Souttar suffered the injury in the final moments of Sheffield United’s 2-0 loss to Burnley in the Championship on Friday morning (AEDT).
The 26-year-old was sent for scans which confirmed the worst.
The incident occurred after Souttar took a heavy touch and lunged to clear the ball. It was immediately clear he was in discomfort and had to be helped off the pitch at Bramall Lane.
“He is absolutely gutted,” Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield after their 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Monday morning.
“Devastated for him, he loved it here.
“He has been a great player to work with; great personality, great character.
“Big disappointment to lose the big fella because he has been incredible.”
Sheffield United and Australia’s Harry Souttar.Source: Getty Images
It is the second serious injury setback for the towering centre back in three years. In November 2021, Souttar ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee during a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Sydney.
Remarkably, he returned to action with former club Stoke City just before the World Cup in Qatar 12-months later, playing a starring role as the Socceroos stunned the world with a run to the round of sixteen.
“Thanks to everyone at Sheffield United,” Souttar said on his Instagram account.
“Amazing club with great people.
“Unfortunately, that’s me out for a while but I wish everyone at the club all the best for the rest of the season and beyond.
“Once a blade always a blade.”
This latest injury is a cruel blow. Souttar moved to Sheffield United on loan after struggling for game time at Premier League battlers Leicester City.
Wilder had placed significant trust in the 6-foot-7-inch centre-half, with Souttar starting 21 of Sheffield United’s 23 matches in the second-tier Championship before his injury.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
His absence also creates a significant headache for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.
With four crucial matches remaining in the third round of World Cup qualifying, the Socceroos currently sit second in Group C. Maintaining that position will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The Socceroos face Indonesia in Sydney in March before an away game against China five days later. A clash with current group leaders Japanin Perth and a trip to face regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia awaits in June.
Popovic will now have to fill a Souttar sized hole in the heart of his defence for all those fixtures.
He’s also unable to call on 21-year-old centre back Alessandro Circati, who ruptured his ACL during a training session with Italian Serie A side Parma in late September.
It leaves Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles and Hayden Matthews as the most likely options moving forward for Popovic.
Burgess is starting regularly for Ipswich Town in the Premier League while Rowles is doing the same with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
However, both are left-footers and it remains to be seen how that could impact any potential partnership.
Kye Rowles celebrates scoring a goal against Lebanon with Jackson Irvine.Source: Getty Images
Matthews is right-footed and continues to grow in stature at Sydney FC.
The 20-year-old only signed his first professional contract earlier this year, but Popovic not only handed Matthews his Socceroos debut during the last international window in November but named him in the starting side in their last start 2-2 draw with Bahrain.
Souttar will be desperately hoping the Australians can navigate the next four fixtures and secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup.
Even a 12-month recovery should see him back on the park with six months to go before the tournament gets underway.
The defender has left Sheffield and headed back to Leicester to start rehabilitation.
He is contracted to the Foxes until the end of the 2028 season giving him time to rebuild his career once back to full fitness.
