Premier League
Liverpool and Man Utd legends set for showdown 
The two rival clubs are due to take part in a charity fixture in aid of the Manchester United foundation with legends from each club dusting off their boots to play a part
Liverpool and Manchester United’s fierce rivalry has been at the forefront of English football for decades.
And while the Merseyside club currently retain the bragging rights over their old foes down the M62, previous generations of United stars are hoping to get one over on the Liverpool legends of yesteryear as the two teams are set for a charity showdown.
A selection of United legends are set to go head to head with a batch of Liverpool’s former stars in a clash at Old Trafford on May 21 for the crown of ‘Legends of the North’.
All profits from the match will be donated to Manchester United Foundation in what promises to be a great spectacle.
United will even have one of the club’s biggest legends in the dugout for the fixture – though it won’t be Sir Alex Ferguson.
Instead, managerial duties have been passed over to their former ‘Captain Marvel’ Bryan Robson, who made more than 400 appearances for the Red Devils in a 13-year spell, scoring just one shy of 100 goals.
“It’s always exciting playing against Liverpool; even in legends games that rivalry is still there,” Robson said. “But, it is also about raising money for Manchester United Foundation, which really helps to encourage and educate young
people in communities across Greater Manchester.”
John Shiels MBE, chief executive of Manchester United Foundation, said: “These matches are a fantastic opportunity for fans to see legends of the game back in action, but more importantly, it’s the chance to make a difference to young people in our communities who have really suffered during the pandemic.
“More children than ever are living below the poverty line – in Manchester and Oldham the number of children living in poverty has increased by 53% and 84% respectively from 2016 to 2021 – and this is likely to increase again due to the rise in living and energy costs.
“Many children are also suffering with their mental health, so your support through events like this is vital to help Manchester United Foundation deliver life-changing programmes and really make a difference to their futures.”
While no players have yet been confirmed for either side, there are likely to be some big names in display.
Liverpool legends already have a huge warm-up clash lined up in the form of a Barcelona XI taking place next month, featuring the likes of Steve McManaman, Patrik Berger, Vladimir Smicer and John Aldridge.
Fan favourites such as Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher have been involved in previous fixtures and Istanbul heroes Luis Garcia and Jerzy Dudek are expected to play a part.
Given Steven Gerrard will be leading his Aston Villa side in the Premier League season finale the following day, it is unlikely the former Reds captain will be involved.
Manchester United had a wealth of talent on show when they thumped Bayern Munich 5-0 in the treble reunion fixture back in 2019, with David Beckham, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, the Neville brothers and Paul Scholes all in the squad, as well as former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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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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