Premier League
Like Mourinho and David Moyes, Solskjaer brought down by ‘noisy neighbours’ Man City
Curious, but it is true. Man City pushed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer towards the Manchester United exit door, just like they did with Jose Mourinho and David Moyes
Alas, Ole is no longer at the wheel. There’ll be a caretaker driver, then an interim drive and then a full-time driver.
But before you let the inner workings of Manchester United baffle you too much, bask in the knowledge that Manchester City have once again played a key part in the downfall of one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successors.
Sure, the Blues didn’t land the final blow, having shown the sort of restraint at Old Trafford two weeks ago that escaped Watford entirely on Saturday, when Claudio Ranieri’s team streamed giddily forward to score twice in injury time and romp to a 4-1 win over the beleaguered Reds.
Nevertheless, once you suffer a particularly chastening derby day defeat, things are only ever heading one way – as the examples below demonstrate.
March 25, 2014: Manchester United 0-3 Manchester City
Any notion of the United of David Moyes playing like Fergie’s boys had long since left the building by the time title-chasing City made the short trip across town for a re-arranged midweek derby.
In a sequence that was echoed in the final days of Solskjaer, United had been resoundingly beaten 3-0 by Liverpool on home turf nine days earlier and there was little doubt over the outcome after Manuel Pellegrini’s side led inside the first minute through Edin Dzeko.
The Bosnian striker volleyed a second after half-time and Yaya Toure lashed in a late third to ensure the scoreline at least partly reflected City’s total dominance.
What happened next
There were two last defiant flickers of life, as United racked up four-goal wins against Aston Villa and Newcastle United in their next two league fixtures.
But, not for the last time, Pep Guardiola proved to be a nuisance as his Bayern Munich dumped the Reds out of the Champions League. By the time United lost at Moyes’ former club Everton on April 20, they had no mathematical chance of returning to Europe’s top competition.
The reality of lost revenue brought out a seldom seen ruthless streak in the Glazer regime and Moyes was gone within a month of his derby humbling.
November 11, 2018: Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United
Jose Mourinho might have classed United’s second-place finish in 2017-18 among his finest coaching achievements but mere simpletons everywhere just noticed City had put together a record 100-point haul, broken a stack of records and finished 19 points clear.
There was already a nine-point gap by the time the Reds headed to the Etihad Stadium in November 2018 and a rampant start from City sought to banish them from the title picture.
David Silva’s 12th-minute opener was all Guardiola’s side had to show for a dominant opening 45 minutes, but Sergio Aguero crashed a trademark finish high past David de Gea to give them breathing space.
Anthony Martial pulled one back from the penalty spot against the run of play, but Ilkay Gundogan crowned a dazzling 44-pass move to put a bedraggled United out of their misery.
What happened next
Mourinho lasted a little longer than Moyes did after his last derby loss, but it was a slow and painful denouement.
A 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace followed the November international break and Young Boys were set to leave Old Trafford with the same scoreline until a last-gasp Marouane Fellaini winner.
That was Mourinho’s penultimate United win, as draws with Southampton and Arsenal followed. Valencia then beat them in the Champions League and Liverpool ransacked them 3-1 at Anfield to end Jose’s lengthy residence at the Lowry Hotel.
November 6, 2021: Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City
Although the scoreline was a touch more moderate, City’s win to leave Solskjaer on the brink had plenty in common with the wounds they inflicted upon Moyes and Mourinho.
In terms of being completely and comprehensively outplayed on home turf, it somehow outstripped the 2014 game. If Phil Foden had scored instead of clipping the outside of the post late on, City’s display would have had the definitive final flourish Toure supplied.
Bernardo Silva’s goal concluded a 27-pass move where every player touched the ball, in an echo of Gundogan’s effort. To borrow the famous commentary line from the 6-1, this was United not just beaten… humiliated.
What happened next
Unless you spent the weekend under a rock, you know all about what went on at Vicarage Road – slapstick defending, a Harry Maguire red card and all the other good stuff.
But perhaps most significant is what happened in the two weeks beforehand. Or, more accurately, what didn’t as United left Solkajaer in situ despite City putting the writing on the wall as emphatically as they did on everyone’s favourite Carlos Tevez poster.
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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