Erik ten Hag expects Rasmus Hojlund to keep scoring after Manchester United’s £72million man finally broke his Premier League duck to seal a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa.
United looked destined for a 14th defeat of the season in all competitions when Aston Villa scored twice in the space of six first-half minutes through John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker to take a 2-0 lead in at half-time as boos rang around Old Trafford at the break.
But with INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford watching on after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority stake-holding was confirmed, United rallied in the second half with Alejandro Garnacho scoring twice before Hojlund won it in the 82nd minute.
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According to a recent report from the Mirror, Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly has a big release clause in his current contract that is believed to be worth around £127 million. The defender has been constantly linked with a move away from the Italian giants across the last few years, but no one team has been able to put forward the right sort of terms.
Manchester United have been heavily linked alongside Paris Saint-Germain, but at this stage, it really is anyone’s guess as to who will get the deal done.
At the age of 28 he’s still got a long road left ahead of him at the top level, but even with that being the case, paying over £100 million for one player is quite the statement.
With United clearly not being convinced about forking out that sort of …
Manchester United claimed the derby bragging rights with a 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City last Saturday – concluding a validatory week for their manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
A blistering first-half performance on the counter-attack saw Anthony Martial score what proved to be the winner after Marcus Rashford netted from the penalty spot.
The result came after Solskjaer claimed midweek victory over predecessor Jose Mourinho and his Tottenham side by the same scoreline, handing a huge boost to an Old Trafford reign that was attracting mounting scrutiny.
United have also beaten Chelsea and Leicester City this season, while they remain the only side to take points off runaway leaders Liverpool.
However, Everton sitting 14th in the…
Aston Villa’s Leander Dendoncker has joined Napoli on loan for the rest of the season.
The midfielder moves to the defending Serie A champions as they struggle to retain their title, sitting ninth and 21 points off leaders Juventus.
He has made 15 appearances for Villa this season, scoring once, having joined from Wolves in 2022.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed Manchester United s dreadful defeat to Burnley was not a fair reflection of his players as they were mentally drained 10 days out from a mid-season break.
United are fifth in the Premier League but remain six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea after slumping to a shocking 2-0 loss to Burnley at Old Trafford.
Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez got the visitors goals, while United, after passing up promising first-half chances, scarcely threatened a fightback.
Manager Solskjaer does not want United to wallow in the aftermath of the loss, yet he believes his players are struggling.
They face Watford or Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup on Sunday, before an EFL Cup semi-final second leg against rivals Manchester City who lead 3-1 on aggr…
Lucas Digne scored twice as Everton responded to their Tottenham humiliation with a 5-1 away hammering of Premier League strugglers Burnley on Boxing Day.
Thumped 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday, the pressure was on the Merseysiders to end a five-match winless streak and they all-but achieved the task in the space of 22 minutes at Turf Moor.
Digne s free-kick his second in four matches and a Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty added to Yerry Mina s second-minute opener, before Ben Gibson marked his Premier League debut for Burnley with a goal.
But the Clarets, now three points behind fourth-bottom Cardiff City, never looked like avoiding an eighth loss in 10 matches, which was confirmed through Digne s exquisite second in the 71st minute and a tidy a late Richarliso…
Chelsea have the chance to apply balm to a tumultuous spell in their recent history when they face Liverpool in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
With there seeming little hope of achieving a European place via their Premier League form, the meeting with the Reds takes on added importance for Mauricio Pochettino’s young side.
Here the PA news agency looks at their route to Wembley.
Second round – Chelsea 2-1 AFC Wimbledon
Entering a round earlier than they are used to on account of having no European football, Pochettino’s side faced a shock when their League Two opponents took the lead via James Tilley’s first-half penalty, awarded after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had flown from his goal with a reckless punch at a free-kick. Chelsea replied with a spot-kick …
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes played down his row with team-mate Victor Lindelof after the Red Devils crashed out of the Europa League.
United became the first English top-flight team to fall at the semi-final stage of three different competitions within the same season following Sunday s 2-1 loss to Sevilla.
Fernandes had given United – 2019-20 FA Cup and EFL Cup semi-finalists – a ninth-minute lead from the penalty spot before Suso restored parity 17 minutes later in Cologne.
United were exposed defensively, Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka especially, when Sevilla substitute Luuk De Jong got in between the pair to score the winning goal with 12 minutes remaining.
It prompted a heated discussion as Fernandes vented his frustration with Lindel…
Verdict: Arsenal win
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Arguably the glamour tie of this year s Europa League quarter-finals, Arsenal will host Italian giants Napoli at the Emirates on Thursday night.
Arsenal
Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of a lackluster display in their 1-0 loss away at Everton last weekend, there is no doubt that Unai Emery will be glad to make a return to North London on Thursday night. Now sat outside of the top four in the Premier League and their performances on the road coming under increasing scrutiny, the Gunners have been largely reliant on their form at the Emirates this season. Putting three past French outfit Rennes to book their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals last month, the former PSG boss has seen his sid…
Ashley Westwood was on the brink of retirement at Burnley but the rejuvenated midfielder now wants to play into his forties as he lives the American dream with Charlotte FC.
In April 2022, the distraught 33-year-old suffered a devastating ankle injury as he challenged for the ball with West Ham’s Nikola Vlasic.
For a while Westwood’s 286th Premier League appearance looked set to be the last match he would ever play.
The gruelling journey back to fitness took its toll on the usually upbeat midfielder, who did not play again for Burnley before leaving last January.
Westwood took a calculated gamble by moving to Charlotte, playing in what was their second Major League Soccer season, and could not be happier with the outcome.
“It’s incredible,…