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Premier League hits and misses: Man Utd lost without Rasmus Hojlund as Bukayo Saka stars again for Arsenal | Football News

Man Utd lost without Hojlund

Any staff would really feel the affect of shedding the Premier League’s most in-form striker – however that does not excuse Manchester United for being outplayed at dwelling by Fulham.

Without Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford was requested to guide the assault and was just about nameless, ending the sport with 0.05 anticipated targets (xG) from two photographs.

Omari Forson was equally ineffective and was changed early within the second half – however the reality he was handed a primary senior begin regardless of Antony being out there reveals how far the £86m signing has fallen in Erik ten Hag’s estimations.

In equity to the forwards, United’s midfield struggled to maintain maintain of the ball, not to mention create possibilities – whereas they had been commonly overpowered by Fulham’s counter-attacks.

United’s ineffectiveness in entrance of objective was summed up by the truth that, without Harry Maguire’s two possibilities – his objective from shut vary and a free header he powered over the bar – they completed with an xG of simply 0.63.

The momentum created by an unbeaten begin to 2024 has been extinguished in a single limp 90 minutes and Ten Hag – watched at Old Trafford by INEOS’s Sir Dave Brailsford – as soon as again has inquiries to reply.
Joe Shread

Saka main Arsenal’s title cost

Bukayo Saka’s beautiful type continued with one other objective in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Newcastle. He is the primary Gunners participant to attain in 5 consecutive Premier League video games since Olivier Giroud in 2015. He is the youngest since Jose Antonio Reyes a decade earlier.

The 22-year-old continues to scale new heights. His general numbers for the season now stand at 16 targets and 12 assists in 34 appearances in all competitions. For the fourth marketing campaign in a row, he has crushed his mixed complete for the earlier 12 months.


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And this time he has executed it with three months to spare.

Newcastle struggled to comprise him from the outset on the Emirates Stadium. When his objective arrived, it was one other magnificence, rifled low into the nook from an inconceivable angle after a trademark change of path outfoxed Tino Livramento to create house for the shot.

There had been loads of different eye-catching moments, certainly one of them being the chic first contact to manage an extended go by David Raya shortly after half-time, which was adopted by a driving run by midfield and ended with a wonderful probability for Kai Havertz.

His good performances are powering Arsenal’s title cost and that’s no imply feat given he’s nonetheless six months shy of his 23rd birthday. The hope for Mikel Arteta is that his greatest is but to come back.
Nick Wright

Karius returns however Newcastle’s defensive disaster continues to spiral



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Loris Karius is floored as Sven Botman’s personal objective provides Arsenal an early lead

Loris Karius made his return to the Premier League on Saturday. Some thought it’d by no means occur however nearly six years on from his final begin within the competitors for Liverpool – and a 12 months on from his one different look for Newcastle within the Carabao Cup ultimate – he was handed one other alternative, due to Martin Dubravka falling sick and Nick Pope remaining sidelined with damage.

It was a chastening night. This Newcastle staff gives little safety to their goalkeepers proper now. Karius could have been inspired by a few early saves from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. But it was simply an omen of what was to come back. Eddie Howe mentioned afterwards he assumed Newcastle would journey out the early storm and then come into the sport. It lasted all the first half.

Sky Sports’ Pete Smith joins James Green on the Emirates Stadium to replicate on Arsenal’s complete victory over Newcastle.

From set-pieces or open play – the place Newcastle had been pinned again and unable to alleviate the strain with any possession of their very own – Karius’ penalty space was nearly consistently underneath menace. The stand-in stopper could have executed higher with a few the targets – Jakub Kiwior’s specifically – however Howe’s process of restoring the foundations of this defence is a process which matches means past one participant or place.

Newcastle have now shipped 23 targets in eight Premier League video games since Boxing Day – and in most of these video games they’d the again 4 which took them to the joint-best defensive file final season.

With over every week till their subsequent Premier League sport there’s time for Dubravka to get well and Karius could not get one other shot. His status eternally linked with that Champions League ultimate defeat to Real Madrid. But he was not the one responsible on the Emirates for Newcastle’s newest heavy loss.
Peter Smith

Traore rewards Silva’s boldness

Watch Paul Merson’s response to Fulham’s 97th-minute winner

There had been 77 minutes on the clock when Fulham boss Marco Silva despatched on Adama Traore instead of Harrison Reed. An attacker for a defensive midfielder. It appeared a daring change for a aspect main at Old Trafford. But it was handsomely rewarded.

Traore had carried a menace on the break even earlier than the Harry Maguire effort that introduced Manchester United stage within the 89th minute. But it was as the hosts pushed for a winner, relatively than a leveller, that the 28-year-old actually exploded into life.

Having moments early carved out an opportunity for the wonderful Rodrigo Muniz, Traore picked up the ball deep in his personal half, motored away from Christian Eriksen and Maguire, and teed up Alex Iwobi for the 97th-minute objective that clinched a well-known win for the Cottagers.

Traore’s game-clinching introduction summed up the bravery of Fulham’s efficiency. In the primary half, and regardless of having not received an away sport within the Premier League for the reason that opening day, they seemed extra like the house aspect as they tore into the hosts.

It continued after the break. As Manchester United floundered, Fulham continued to throw our bodies ahead. Even when United started to point out indicators of enchancment, Silva eschewed defensive adjustments in favour of 1 supposed to kill the sport.

Maguire’s objective ensured they needed to do it the laborious means. But kill the sport it did, Traore’s position within the winner underlining the deserves of boldness as an alternative of a backs-to-the-wall method.
Nick Wright

Man City on the march again as Foden continues to shine

With Liverpool not in Premier League motion this weekend, this was Manchester City’s probability to place the strain firmly again on their title rivals by closing the hole to 1 level again. Pep Guardiola’s aspect made laborious work of it, however they did what champions do.

Bournemouth troubled their opponents all through and nearly got here near scoring a late equaliser, however it was City who prevailed ultimately – as is so usually the case. Since their final defeat towards Aston Villa in December, they’ve received extra league matches and earned extra factors than another aspect within the high flight. What’s extra, they’ve already picked up extra away victories in all competitions than they did throughout the entire of their treble-winning marketing campaign.



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Phil Foden’s 24th-minute strike was the distinction on the south coast

With the spectacular Phil Foden to depend on, who’s to say City can’t march their technique to one other treble? The England worldwide was a pleasure to look at towards Bournemouth. As effectively as scoring his 16th of the season, no participant created extra possibilities, had extra photographs, or received possession extra instances than the 23-year-old on the south coast.

There have been some solutions in latest weeks that City are exhibiting indicators of vulnerability on this title race, however that is a weak argument. City had 58 factors and had been 5 behind leaders Arsenal at this stage final time period. They are one level higher off this time round and successful when not on the high of their sport.

They stay firmly within the hunt and are able to pounce. Foden is main the cost, however the very best is but to come back from the remainder of Guardiola’s star gamers. And that is a terrifying prospect for these hoping to derail them.
Dan Sansom

Glasner overcomes first impediment with minimal fuss



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Oliver Glasner made a successful begin at Palace

It was no secret that Oliver Glasner needed to come back to the Premier League. He turned down gives from massive German golf equipment to seize the chance of managing Palace. This was all the time on the playing cards, all the time the following cease for those that know him effectively.

Though the Austrian joked Palace chairman Steve Parish “didn’t tell me to win the Premier League”, he’s critical a couple of aspect he felt had not but reached their full potential.

It is an thrilling prospect having a supervisor who has received the Europa League and has bought groups into the Champions League.

He took cost of his first Palace coaching session solely on Wednesday and referenced the well-known American illusionist as he mentioned: “I’m no magician. I’m not David Copperfield.”

But judging by his first 90 minutes in cost, the Selhurst Park devoted will probably be assured of extra miracles being labored by the amiable 49-year-old.

Glasner had a gathering with league officers by which he checked to see the place his naturally expressive nature on the touchline may get him into bother, however right here there was no cause to get carried away. He oversaw an expert job with minimal fuss.

Some in SE25 could not have identified a lot about their new supervisor previous to this week, however for now these supporters haven’t any proof to doubt him after this good begin.
Ben Grounds

Walls closing in on Kompany’s Burnley



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Of the 5 situations a aspect has didn’t file a shot on course in a Premier League sport this season, three have been by Burnley – additionally towards Liverpool in December and Arsenal in February

Vincent Kompany insisted his struggling Burnley aspect would present loads of “fire in the belly” as they seemed to bounce again from their thrashing towards Arsenal. But the Clarets have now received simply as soon as of their final 13 matches, with time working out to kickstart the turnaround they should keep afloat.

Their prospects sustained one other massive dent at Crystal Palace as Kompany noticed his aspect’s cussed resolve following Josh Brownhill’s dismissal evaporate throughout a nine-minute spell.

The Belgian appeared to gesture an apology to the travelling followers on the ultimate whistle, however it was to not be learn as the towel being thrown in.



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Chris Richards heads in Palace’s opening objective

“It’s not about apologising [to the fans],” mentioned Kompany, whose aspect had a late comfort chalked off.

“You do your work actually laborious day-after-day so it isn’t about apologising. It’s straightforward to provide the primary pump whenever you’re successful 12 video games in a row and we made a giant effort of being humble throughout that and it is the identical now.

“There’s 250,000,000 who play soccer on the planet so the percentages of entering into the Premier League is so small as a participant. Smaller than staying up, so the idea will stay.”

Burnley are eight factors from security and have lost, and conceded three targets, in every of their final 4 away video games. Only in November 2009 have they conceded three or extra targets in additional successive away matches within the Premier League. Kompany will not be about to surrender the struggle however the partitions are closing in.
Ben Grounds

Dunk taking part in his means into England XI

Lewis Dunk is quick turning into the best choice to fill England’s troublesome left centre-back place.

The Brighton captain led by instance of their draw with Everton, scoring an injury-time header on his 400th league look for the membership.

Called as much as Gareth Southgate’s final two squads, though having to tug out of November’s fixtures as a consequence of damage, Dunk has the expertise, management and type at home stage to drive his means into the beginning again 4.



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Lewis Dunk heads in Brighton’s late equaliser towards Everton

The 31-year-old’s composure on the ball will swimsuit England’s possession-based fashion, whereas his menace from set-pieces may be an asset for England – who’ve usually benefitted at corners.

Should he keep away from damage throughout the the rest of the season, then Dunk is the reply for Southgate on the again.
David Richardson

Torres withdrawal clouds near-perfect day

It was a largely good day for Aston Villa. Three factors, 4 targets and some unbelievable soccer for the Villa Park devoted to lap up.

Yet there was a worrying second after half-time when Pau Torres didn’t emerge. He was changed by Calum Chambers, with worries rife within the stands their influential centre-back had suffered a recurrence of his latest damage points.

Torres began his first Premier League sport for two months final weekend at Fulham. It was no coincidence Villa received that sport and battered Forest within the first half, with Torres orchestrating issues on the coronary heart of their defence.

“He had a small pain, hopefully not injured,” Emery mentioned in his press convention. “We decided not to take a risk with him. He was progressively feeling worse but not feeling really injured.”

Villa are already without Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos and Tyrone Mings by damage. You can see why Emery is taking a risk-free method to Torres. They can’t afford to lose him.
Lewis Jones

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