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MANCHESTER, England: Improving Manchester United’s defensive weaknesses, especially when it comes to set-pieces, has become a priority for new head coach Ruben Amorim, whose meticulous planning has been hampered by his team’s failure to deal with corner kick dangers.

Nottingham Forest needed just 90 seconds to score from a corner at Old Trafford late on Wednesday night as United suffered a 3-2 defeat and showed Amorim’s side had learned little from their 2-0 midweek defeat at Arsenal when both goals came from the spot.

“When this happened it was my fault, because I was responsible. We tried to do it in the best way, we worked a lot in this area because we saw it at Arsenal and it was really difficult,” Amorim told a news conference.

“At the beginning of the game (against Forest), you suffered with the first movement, it was really difficult to inject energy into the team, but then we managed to equalise and finally in the second half the same thing happened.”

United’s lack of height and strength at the back was exposed at free kicks and corners and Amorim reshuffled his team in the second half, bringing on centre-back Harry Maguire at 3-2 when he feared he would concede again.

“We put Harry Maguire on because of the set-pieces, to have more control over who wins the first ball. The only way to attack Nottingham is on the counter-attack, to try and win the first and second balls. When Harry is in the middle of the pitch he wins all the first balls,” said Amorim.

However, by then the damage had already been done.

United’s defence were careless in allowing Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic space, who rose above Lisandro Martinez to head home.

Martinez and goalkeeper Andre Onana were then at fault for Forest’s third goal in the 54th minute, a header from Chris Wood that should have been dealt with.

“Everyone is aware of the importance of set-pieces today, they are huge, a way to make a difference for you and your opponent. We did well today,” said New Zealand forward Wood.

Amorim insists he will stick to his principles, despite his shaky start at Old Trafford.

“This is happening to a lot of clubs and we need to keep trying to do the same thing in order to improve the team, because all this will change,” he said.

MADRID: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with Kylian Mbappe’s performance during their 2-0 La Liga win over Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 25-year-old France captain scored Real’s second goal eight minutes after Jude Bellingham converted a penalty in the 30th minute.

Mbappe is now the club’s top scorer in the league this season along with Vinicius Jr who also scored eight goals.

After a lackluster performance in Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at the hands of Liverpool, which included a second-half penalty miss, Mbappe came into full force against Getafe to score his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.

“He’s active, dangerous and scores great goals which is very important to control the game. That’s what we want from him.

“The fans understand more about the team and the players. They continue to support Mbappe after Anfield because it’s the right thing to do,” said Ancelotti.

The defending La Liga champions are now just one point behind leaders Barcelona with one more game to play.

LIVERPOOL, England: Liverpool can go one step closer to winning the English Premier League title for the second time in 35 years against fragile Manchester City on Sunday as Ruben Amorim eyes a chance to win his first Premier League (EPL) game as Manchester United manager.

The clash between the top two sides at Anfield offers Arsenal, who face West Ham, and Chelsea, who host Aston Villa, the chance to close the gap.

Arne Slot’s Reds head into the weekend full of confidence after beating Real Madrid 2-0 to go top of the Champions League table.

Liverpool have also rarely made mistakes in the EPL, jumping eight points clear after just 12 games.

All three teams enjoying a lead of eight points or more at this stage in the EPL season ended the campaign as champions.

City is in a critical position.

Winless in their last six games, the English champions are physically and mentally “fragile”, according to manager Pep Guardiola, who is having the worst spell of his career on the sidelines.

“It has been, is and will be a difficult season for us. We had to accept it in many circumstances,” he said.

Even at their best in a glorious era under the Catalan, City have failed to conquer Anfield, with their last victory in front of home fans coming in 2003.

Amorim did not give up after watching Manchester United struggle to a 1-1 draw at bottom side Ipswich in his debut in charge last weekend.

“We will suffer for a long time,” said the Portuguese coach. “It will take time, but I know we have to win the game.”

Troubled club Everton’s visit to Old Trafford offers the Red Devils the perfect opportunity to reinject the challenge under their new boss.

The Toffees (10) are one of three teams to have scored less than United’s 13 goals in the EPL this season.

Sean Dyche’s men are just two points above the relegation zone and have not beaten United away from home since 2013.

United, who are 12th, will need to make the most of their home advantage to move up the table a bit with tough visits to Arsenal and City awaiting in two of their next three league games.

Aston Villa another team struggling with form. A 0-0 draw with Juventus in midweek extended their winless streak to seven games in all competitions.

Unai Emery’s men remain well placed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League in their first campaign in Europe’s elite club competition in four decades.

But their fatigue in Europe began to affect their challenge at the domestic level. Villa have only picked up seven points from their last seven league games to drop to eighth place.

Ahead of them is a tough visit to Chelsea, who have excelled in Enzo Maresca’s debut season.

The Blues sit third, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference and could end the weekend as Liverpool’s closest challengers if City fail to end their losing streak at Anfield.

Arsenal bounced back with comprehensive wins over Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon and will move into second place for at least 24 hours if they win at West Ham tomorrow night.

LONDON: Henrique Hilario is set to end his 18-year career with Chelsea by leaving the club to join Thomas Tuchel in the England national team.

The goalkeeper joined the Blues in 2006 as a reserve goalkeeper behind Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini.

He spent almost a decade as a reserve goalkeeper before retiring in 2014 after being part of Premier League and Champions League winning squads.

Two years after hanging up his gloves, Hilario returned to Chelsea under Antonio Conte as assistant goalkeeping coach.

He was then promoted two years later by Maurizio Sarri and remained in that role including under Tuchel.

But the German manager – who replaces Gareth Southgate as Three Lions boss – will take Hilario with him to Wembley.

Tuchel, 51, who will start his job on January 1 after signing an 18-month contract, is using the free time to organize his coaching staff.

He also convinced current Chelsea performance analyst James Melbourne to join him.

Hilario and Melbourne will welcome former Blues coach Anthony Barry, who will be number two behind Tuchel.

PORTO: Cristiano Ronaldo once again signaled his retirement after scoring twice for Portugal.

Ronaldo, 39, one of the greatest players in football history, has scored more than 900 goals in his career.

The Portuguese forward, who has represented Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, is now with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner took his international tally to 135 goals in 215 appearances after netting twice in Portugal’s 5-1 win over Poland in the UEFA Nations League yesterday.

After the match he insisted that his focus remains on football, with retirement depending on his level of motivation by the age of 40.

“I just want to enjoy it. Plans for retirement? If it’s in another year or two, I don’t know. I’ll be 40 soon.

“I still want to enjoy it as long as I feel motivated to continue. When the day comes when I no longer have the motivation, I will retire,” Ronaldo said.

According to Ronaldo, he has no intention of becoming a coach once his playing career is over.

“I don’t see myself as a team manager, it’s not in my plans. My future is outside of football, but only time will tell,” he said.