Premier League
MANCHESTER UNITED’S DEFENSIVE STRATEGY FRUSTRATED US, SAYS JÜRGEN KLOPP
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bemoaned Manchester United’s defensive tactics and a controversial VAR call as the European champions’ 17-game winning run in the Premier League came to an end in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford’s controversial goal handed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s struggling Red Devils a 1-0 half-time lead, but they could not hold out for a much-needed victory as substitute Adam Lallana levelled five minutes from time.
Liverpool move six points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, but Klopp still felt his side missed an opportunity to inflict more pain on a United side sitting 13th in the Premier League.
“Pretty much everything went against us. Our own performance in the first half as well,” said Klopp, who was left baffled by the VAR decision not to rule out Rashford’s goal for a foul on Divock Origi by Victor Lindelof in the build-up.
“I was 100 per cent sure VAR will ove-rrule it,” he added. “The ref let the game run because he has VAR but then VAR says then ‘it is not clear’ so we could say it is not a foul. It’s a clear VAR issue in how we deal with it in the moment.”
The two most successful sides in English football could not have come into the game in more contrasting form.
However, United answered Solskjaer’s calls to rise to the occasion as his switch to a 3-5-2 formation restricted the league leaders to precious few chances.
“When we come here this year, last year and the year before, they just defend. It’s not criticism, it’s just a fact,” added Klopp.
“The quality they have, (when they) set up like that, it’s really difficult. It’s no excuse, we needed to do better.
“We are a good team and it’s normal people think about how they stop us.”
United had not scored in their two previous matches prior to the international break, but finally produced a moment of quality going forward to take the lead, even if fortune was also on their side for the goal to stand.
After Lindelof and Origi’s coming together, Daniel James’s cross perfectly picked out Rashford to prod past Alisson.
“No chance,” said Solskjaer when asked if he thought it was a foul by Lindelof. “It’s not basketball, he touched him but it’s not a clear and obvious error. I don’t think it’s a foul.”
United are now off to their worst league start in 33 years as a point leaves them still just two points above the relegation zone, but Solskjaer is hopeful holding the league leaders proves to be a turning point.
“I’m disappointed I can’t sit here and talk about a win, but the performance is very positive,” he said. “One point today is the start of something. We need to start winning games.”
Liverpool’s frustration only grew before half-time when Sadio Mane outmuscled Lindelof to turn in what he thought was an equaliser, only for VAR to this time rule the goal out for a handball by the Senegalese.
Klopp sprinted down the touchline at the half-time whistle, but was unable to change the pattern of the game after the interval as Liverpool continued to dominate possession without creating many chances.
Their lack of a cutting edge was not helped by the absence of Mohamed Salah, who was missing because of an ankle injury.
However, Lallana, who had played just 10 minutes in the Premier League this season prior to coming off the bench 20 minutes from time, was in the right place at the right time to make a telling contribution in the title race as he tapped home at the back post from Andy Robertson’s cross.
-AFP
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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