Man Utd’s worst home start since 1930 as Declan Rice underlines Arsenal importance – Carabao Cup hits and misses | Football News

Man Utd home form leaves Ten Hag with nowhere to turn

Outdated Trafford is not the place it was once. In additional methods than one.

The leaky roof made a well timed look as Gary Neville criticised the working of the membership in his post-match evaluation of Sunday’s derby defeat to Metropolis. “We’d like Daniel Radcliffe, not Jim Ratcliffe,” he mused.

After 5 defeats of their final eight residence video games, it does really feel like Erik ten Hag must conjure up some magic to show issues round at Man Utd. Their residence type hasn’t been this dangerous after 10 video games since 1930.

It is also the primary time United have misplaced successive residence video games by three targets or extra since October 1962.

Final season’s success was constructed on residence type. Simply two defeats, each within the early levels of Ten Hag’s tenure, ensured the worry issue returned to Outdated Trafford. That is a distant reminiscence now although.

Even within the 5 video games they’ve received, there was a component of fortune in all however one. That was in opposition to a Crystal Palace facet that had made wholesale modifications within the Carabao Cup third spherical.

Followers come to the stadium anticipating disappointment now. With greater than 20 minutes to go of Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle, Neville might sense the temper of the supporters.

“You may simply begin to hear the conversations within the crowd: ‘Lets nip off? Lets beat the site visitors?’,” the previous United captain stated on co-commentary.

When issues obtained robust final season, Ten Hag and his gamers might at all times fall again on their residence type. Now there may be nowhere to show. A season that promised a lot is popping right into a nightmare.
Zinny Boswell

Rice return shows his importance to Arsenal – and how West Ham are moving on

Declan Rice was centre of consideration on the London Stadium regardless of beginning the sport on the bench. His absence solely confirmed his already-established significance to Arsenal since his summer time arrival, whereas West Ham went some method to demonstrating how they’re shifting on with out their talisman and captain.

The Gunners appeared quick on drive in the course of the park with Jorginho ineffective, Fabio Vieira was on the fringes till his injury-time help and Kai Havertz – clearly missing confidence – could not get into the sport.

However that was partly because of the feistiness of the West Ham gamers, who have been determinedly hounding down Arsenal in possession and bodily in tackles as they appeared to nick the ball away. Edson Alvarez was relentless, Lucas Paqueta made extra tackles than anybody on the pitch, whereas Rice’s previous associate Tomas Soucek was dominant within the air.

This was a recreation which confirmed why Arsenal want Rice – but additionally how West Ham are shifting positively into a brand new period with out him.
Peter Smith

Nunez’s magic shines through again

On Wednesday evening, those that might nonetheless see via the torrential downpours witnessed the nice facet of Darwin Nunez.

Solely on the pitch for 28 minutes, he scored a shocking winner for Liverpool at Bournemouth, and supplied the build-up to what might have been the third with some beautiful footwork on the half-way line.

During the last seven days, we have seen the nice, the dangerous and the ugly from the Uruguayan – most notably his scintillating 25-yard run to current an open aim in opposition to Toulouse final Thursday, earlier than lacking the goal altogether.

However he nonetheless ended up on the scoresheet in that recreation, in addition to Sunday’s routine win over Nottingham Forest.

On the south coast, he confirmed solely the nice facet and, but once more, what an asset he will be for Jurgen Klopp this season.

Not solely is he a handful, each to the opposition and at occasions himself, however that is the third recreation of this marketing campaign already the place he has made an important contribution on the scoresheet – after netting each in opposition to Newcastle in August, and the second to place Liverpool again forward in opposition to West Ham in September.

You have a look at the choices the Reds had in reserve in assault even once they received the league in 2020, when Divock Origi was their highest-scoring ahead behind the Salah-Firmino-Mane triumvirate.

Nunez is on a unique planet. And he may not be a reserve an excessive amount of longer ought to he persist with these sorts of showings.
Ron Walker

James fitness will be key for Chelsea

It confirmed the significance of Reece James that the second Chelsea doubled their lead on the evening in opposition to Blackburn, Mauricio Pochettino instantly eliminated him from the pitch.

The appropriate-back had a really productive hour on his first begin in almost three months, wanting energetic down the flank and at occasions their principal aim menace from open play, whereas additionally as strong as ever in defence.

There are such a lot of methods he will probably be pivotal to this Chelsea facet, and it’s important they do all they will to maintain him match for the remainder of the season.

“The plan was to verify how he felt at half-time,” stated Pochettino. “quarter-hour after that he began to really feel drained.

“The temptation is to ship him out for 90 minutes. However we should be cautious how we handle him. The plan is to go little by little with him.

“Once they’re your captain you want them to remain match. He’s an incredible participant, among the best footballers on this planet.”
Simeon Gholam

Resurgent Everton expose Burnley’s flaws

After years of wrestle, the grins could slowly be returning to the faces of Everton supporters.

5 wins throughout seven video games in all competitions have lifted the Toffees 5 factors away from the drop zone within the Premier League and into the final eight of the Carabao Cup.

The one unhappy notice from Wednesday evening’s routine 3-0 victory over Burnley was that former chairman Invoice Kenwright was not there to see it following his demise on the age of 78 final week.

Kenwright was remembered pre-match and his gamers paid a becoming tribute by easing into the following spherical – and exhibiting that this might maybe be greater than a season of scratching round. Fulham at residence subsequent within the Cup appears a really first rate draw.

The defence has stiffened up, not that it was overly examined by a meek Burnley, thoughts you, with former Clarets centre-half James Tarkowski doing extra work in and across the opposition field than his personal, powerfully heading within the opening aim after which helping the second for Amadou Onana with a cushioned header.

Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison have been threats on the wing, whereas Dominic Calvert-Lewin highlighted as soon as once more how precious he’s when match, along with his physicality typically too sizzling for Burnley to deal with because the guests appeared weak enjoying out from the again. Beto, who changed Calvert-Lewin late on, was a livewire, too, organising Ashley Younger’s strike in stoppage time.

Everton are on the up, with Burnley very a lot heading in the other way. The facet that have been a lower above within the Championship final yr might very effectively find yourself again there subsequent yr in the event that they hold dicing with hazard on the again and can’t discover a innovative up high.
David Ruse