LONDON: Arne Slot said the best-performing team, Nottingham Forest “deserves” to be treated as Premier League (EPL) title contenders as he prepared Liverpool for their visit to the City Ground early Wednesday morning.
Third-placed Forest have handed Liverpool their only defeat this season and they can move three points behind the favourites if they win their seventh consecutive game this midweek.
Forest were just outside the relegation zone last season and their current position comes as a huge surprise.
However, Slot, when speaking at the pre-match press conference today, said Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad must be treated like serious contenders.
“I always say the best way to see the league standings is in the middle of the season, and that’s now, so if Forest are with us, with Arsenal, Chelsea, (Manchester) City and all the others, they will definitely be competing with us and the other teams,” said the Dutchman.
“And they deserve to be treated like this if you see the way they play, if you see the results achieved. So it will be very challenging to get a good result tomorrow.”
Forest, who have not conceded a goal in the Premier League since mid-December, beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in September.
Although Slot said it was due to their performance, the result was not a surprise at the time.
LIVERPOOL, England: Troubled English Premier League (EPL) club Everton sacked manager Sean Dyche early this morning, a few hours before the FA Cup third round match against Peterborough.
Speculation over Dyche’s future has intensified with reports suggesting Everton’s new owners, US-based Friedkin Group, have been talking about a potential successor since completing a £400 million takeover last month.
Everton said in a statement that Dyche “has been relieved of his duties as manager of the men’s senior first team with immediate effect” after two years in charge, as the process of appointing a new boss begins.
The Toffees are once again struggling to avoid relegation from the EPL after winning just once in their last 11 matches, with the sole victory coming against relegation candidates Wolves last December.
Everton Under-18 head coach Leighton Baines and captain Seamus Coleman took charge of the team on a temporary basis against third-tier Peterborough in the FA Cup as the Liverpool club search for a permanent replacement for Dyche.
Former Manchester United and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who now manages Turkish club Fenerbahce, has been linked with Everton recently.
Mourinho has experience working under the Friedkin Group at AS Roma, although the Italian club fired him less than a year ago.
David Moyes, who managed Everton between 2002 and 2013, former England manager Gareth Southgate, Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola have also been tipped as possible replacements for Dyche.
Everton have won just three of their 19 league games this season and are stranded in 16th place, with just one point separating them from the relegation zone.
Dyche has been in charge of Everton since January 2023 and has kept them in the top flight despite a number of issues, including a points deduction last season for breaching the EPL’s profit and sustainability rules.
Dyche, who is in the final year of his contract at Everton, is the sixth manager to lose his job in the Premier League this season.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo refuses to be lulled by his team’s success in joining the English Premier League title race after recording a sixth consecutive victory.
Forest defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 at Molineux Stadium early this morning, leaving them just nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who will visit them next week.
Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels performed brilliantly in the first half and the sharpness of his attacking line, who completed every accurate attempt, ensured the victory for the visitors.
“It was great. We worked hard to achieve what we have. Today was a tough game. Wolves had chances and Matz Sels was brilliant to make sure we didn’t fall behind.
“I’m very proud of the players’ effort and their determination to be up front and score goals.
“It’s a tough competition. We will always face strong opponents. We have to stay humble. We haven’t achieved anything yet, we have to keep working until the end and it could end in a beautiful moment,” said Nuno.
The Portuguese manager said he would remain grounded despite his team’s performance which saw them collect 40 points from 20 matches, equalling Leicester City at the same level in the 2015-16 season when they won the English Premier League.
Chris Wood scored his 12th league goal of the season, with Morgan Gibbs-White and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi also on target as Forest won.
It is the first time Forest have won six consecutive league games since 1979, when they were under Brian Clough.
MANCHESTER: Manchester United, managed by Ruben Amorim, lost for the ninth time in the English Premier League this season last Monday.
The 2-0 defeat to Newcastle was the fifth in eight league games under the Portuguese coach.
United are now just seven points above the relegation zone. Their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League or other European competitions next season have now turned into a mission to avoid relegation to the Championship League.
The 39-year-old has now made his worst start at Old Trafford in 103 years.
United’s players were seen to have failed to adapt to the 3-4-3 formation implemented by the former Sporting manager.
United also collected their lowest points in a year since 1989 (51 points), and lost three consecutive home games for the first time since 1979.
Six defeats in December were United’s highest total in a month since September 1930 – and conceded 18 goals to equal the worst record set in March 1964.
“It’s also my fault. I don’t think this team has improved. The team has lost its direction at the moment.
“It’s a shame to be Manchester United manager and lose so many games. But we have to deal with this situation,” Amorim said after the defeat at Newcastle.
Not only that, United also recorded the worst statistics in the league this season in terms of goals, attempts completed, attempts on target, clean sheets, goals conceded and errors leading to goals conceded by the opposition.
If these statistics under Amorim had started at the start of the season, United would be 17th on seven points after eight games, only ahead of newly promoted Ipswich by goal difference.
LONDON: Enzo Maresca gave a warning to all Chelsea players to improve their performance after Noni Madueke was dismissed.
Madueke, and summer signing Renato Veiga, were dropped from the squad for the defeat at Fulham.
Maresca revealed both players were not injured but were not on the list due to technical decisions. The Blues manager has criticized Madueke’s training phase twice this season.
As the former Leicester manager prepares to re-list Madueke and Veiga for the clash against Ipswich on Monday, he warned the players to improve their performances.
“There are times when we just make decisions, nothing more than that. Is he available for the Ipswich game? Yes, of course.
“Competition needs to be fiercer but not only for Noni Madueka, also for Renato Veiga who is not in the squad for the same reason.
“There was no other reason, it was just a technical decision,” said Maresca.
Madueke featured in 16 of his previous 17 Premier League games, scoring five goals and providing three assists – but failed to find the target after the win over Southampton.
His place at Stamford Bridge looked bright after Mykhailo Mudryk was suspended for doping.
MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim took full responsibility following the heartbreaking 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth late last night which saw thousands of fans head for the exits long before the final whistle.
Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo scored to keep United in 13th place in the league, the first time they have been bottom at Christmas in Premier League history.
“It’s my responsibility to train them,” said Amorim.
“Of course we want to improve. At the moment, everything is too difficult, a club like Manchester United losing 3-0 at home, it’s really difficult for everyone.
“Of course the fans are also really disappointed and tired. You can feel it in the stadium and I understand that, but we have to deal with it.”
Conceding goals from set-pieces has been a theme of United’s lacklustre season and the issue came to a head again late last night when Huijsen headed home from a corner kick in the 29th minute.
It was the 17th goal conceded by United from a set-piece in the EPL in 2024, the most by them in a calendar year in the league’s 32-year history.
“Not conceding a goal to the opponent and then a set-piece made us nervous, everyone in the stadium, I felt it from the first minute. There was a lot of anxiety, that’s normal because of the context and it was really disappointing,” said Amorim.
United had 23 attempts to Bournemouth’s 10, but were unable to finish, with captain Bruno Fernandes firing a powerful shot just wide of the net late in the first half.
Amorim said the team’s struggles were largely “mental.”
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur survived a Manchester United comeback to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup with a 4-3 home win.
Ange Postercoglou’s team comfortably led 3-0 after 54 minutes of action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium through two goals from Dominic Solanke and one from Dejan Kulusevski.
However, the hosts were punished by a mistake by their goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, which allowed substitutes, Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo, to close the gap for United.
There were still 20 minutes left in the game when Diallo made it 3-2 and United came close to equalising several times before Son Heung-min beat goalkeeper Altay Bayindir with an 88th-minute corner kick.
Jonny Evans still managed to close the gap in injury time but Tottenham ensured United’s comeback did not prevent them from meeting defending champions Liverpool in the semi-finals.
Arsenal face Newcastle United in the other semi-final.
“Leading 3-0 we should have handled the game better, stalled the game but we made things difficult ourselves, but the important thing is we won and advanced.
“That’s football, we’re united. Mistakes are part of football, we try, show passion and do the job,” Solanke said.
Postecoglou’s team had previously led 2-0 before losing 4-3 to Chelsea in their last home match, seemingly repeating the situation against United.
But this time Spurs made sure they did not waste that advantage and moved closer to a first trophy since the League Cup in 2008.
Tottenham’s injury-plagued squad was still capable of dominating Ruben Amorim’s United, who made five changes to the squad that stunned Manchester City on Sunday.
Solanke put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute when Bayindir failed to clear Pedro Porro’s attempt and the Spurs striker finished.
Bruno Fernandes had several chances and Rasmus Hojlund’s effort went wide, but Tottenham comfortably controlled the game and extended their lead when Kulusevski added a goal after the break.
Solanke made it 3-0 after breaking through United’s defence and scoring his second goal in the 54th minute.
United finally found their target when Fernandes intercepted Forster’s pass and the ball reached Zirkzee to finish.
Forster once again gifted United an easy goal when his shot was intercepted by Diallo for the visitors’ second goal.
However, United’s comeback was blocked by Spurs captain, Heung-min, who deflected a corner kick straight into Bayindir’s goal.
Substitute Evans’ goal was too late for United to find another goal.
DOHA: Real Madrid are a better team than they were a month ago but must be wary of Pachuca’s “quality”, said manager Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against the Mexican club early tomorrow morning.
Since suffering a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League, Madrid have won three and drawn one of their last five games in all competitions.
Madrid are third in La Liga with 37 points from 17 matches, one point behind leaders Barcelona, who have played one more match.
Pachuca defeated Egyptian club Al-Ahly 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw to qualify for the Intercontinental Cup final.
However, Ancelotti did not underestimate the challenge of their opponents.
“I think we came into this match better than a month ago. We are highly motivated and excited to bring home the Intercontinental Cup again,” said Ancelotti ahead of the clash at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
“Every game is a trap, if Pachuca qualify it’s because they have something. We have to respect them for the quality they have. Finals are often a special feeling and a worry before the game,” he said.
“They have their own character, it’s a very important match for them. They have a clear system, they are a very dynamic team. I expect an entertaining match.”
Regarding injuries, Madrid will not take any risks with striker Kylian Mbappe.
The 25-year-old France captain, who was substituted in the first half of Madrid’s 3-2 win at Atalanta in the Champions League last week, was confirmed to have suffered a left thigh injury and missed Saturday’s 3-3 La Liga draw at 13th-placed Rayo Vallecano.
“Kylian’s situation is simple, he trained yesterday and had a good feeling. Today is important where he will evaluate his feelings,” said Ancelotti.
“If he’s good, he’ll play, but if there’s even a small risk, he won’t play.”
MANCHESTER: Manchester United added to the misery of defending Premier League champions Manchester City when late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo gave Ruben Amorim’s side a 2-1 victory at the Etihad.
Amorim’s first Manchester derby looked set to end in victory for Pep Guardiola’s City when Josko Gvardiol’s 36th-minute header put the hosts ahead.
However, Diallo sparked United’s comeback when the young Ivorian won a penalty kick that was converted by team captain Fernandes two minutes before the end of the game.
Diallo once again surprised City when he received a long pass and beat goalkeeper Ederson from a difficult angle.
City have now lost eight of their last 11 matches in all competitions, with just one win recorded.
They remain fifth in the Premier League on 27 points from 16 matches, nine points behind leaders Liverpool who have played one match less.
United, who briefly climbed to 12th on 22 points, slipped back to 13th when Tottenham thrashed Southampton 5-0 at St Mary’s.
Fernandes, who missed a golden opportunity to equalise before Diallo won a penalty, praised the United winger’s performance.
“He’s been really good, he’s done some great things, I think he’s got a lot more to do. When he’s like this, it’s hard to stop him,” Fernandes said of Diallo’s performance.
Meanwhile, Diallo said his team’s determination to win the Manchester derby sparked United’s comeback.
“In the second half, we put pressure, we wanted to win, this is a derby. We proved that we can win every game and we are happy to have done it today,” Diallo said.
MANCHESTER: Paul Pogba is expected to return to Manchester United after his contract was terminated by Juventus following a doping scandal, former Red Devils striker Louis Saha has said.
The 31-year-old left Old Trafford to join Juventus in 2022 after scoring 39 goals in 233 appearances for United.
He arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 for a then world record transfer fee, but failed to live up to expectations.
After a year in Turin, Pogba failed a doping test and was given a four-year ban, which was later reduced to 18 months when his appeal was upheld.
This means the World Cup winner with France could resume his career in March, but he is currently without a club.
Former United star Saha said his compatriot would return to Old Trafford to join a training session with Ruben Amorim’s squad.
“I’ve heard rumours that Paul Pogba will be offered the chance to come back and train with Man United in the New Year, and I think it’s the best opportunity for Paul.
“He needs to get back to his best as soon as possible, and training with great players will help him. I think he will be excited to be back at the club.”
“I also think Paul Pogba is still a special player. When you think about midfielders, Pogba has unique qualities.
“I think United’s squad lacks strength in midfield, and they don’t have the skilled players who can dominate from box to box, so he will add strength to United,” said Saha.
Last month it was reported that clubs from Major League Soccer, the Saudi Pro League and the English Premier League were interested in Pogba’s services.