1
Amorim’s tough task off the pitch
Manchester United’s selection was something of a surprise, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho left out of the squad completely and Ruben Amorim further raising eyebrows by saying the decision had been made after analysing “everything – training, performance, engagement with teammates”. It was only something of a surprise, however, because the XI was posted on Facebook by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News at 10.23pm on Saturday night, a little over 18 hours before kick-off. “Interesting an XI has already leaked this evening,” he wrote. “Teams have leaked out of United for years but the current regularity, brazen manner of it and apparently public identity of the source make it more of an issue.” Amorim’s twin tasks are to create a successful team and a disciplined club where nobody threatening the collective to promote their individual agendas. Despite this welcome result, he has a lot to do on both fronts. Simon Burnton
2
City’s incompetence is shocking
In the Premier League Manchester City have now dropped 10 points from winning positions, precisely as many as they dropped across last season, and the same number they have dropped on average in each of the last five seasons (though they peaked at 16 in 2022-23, the average is brought down by a ludicrous record in 2021-22, when the only time they dropped any points from winning positions at all was in drawing, having twice led, against Liverpool in April, their 31st league game of the season). As Bernardo Silva pointed out post-match, a decent team with a corner in the last few minutes of a game they are narrowly leading, leaving defenders back to act as insurance, should not be conceding a penalty just a few seconds later. The shock of their recent run is not that City are lacking quality, it’s that they lack competence. SB
3
Robinson may attract January suitors
The contrasting fortunes of two left-backs contributed to an enthralling spectacle at Anfield. A first-minute knee injury and 17th-minute red card, with a deflection on Fulham’s opening goal in between, made it an afternoon to forget for Liverpool’s Andy Robertson. Antonee Robinson, on the other hand, produced a performance that left Marco Silva facing questions over whether he manages the best left-back in the Premier League. “I’m the Fulham manager, of course I’m going to say yes,” he replied. “But January is coming up and I don’t want to go in that direction again.” Robinson provided two fine assists at Anfield and, without being hyper-critical, could have had two more when exploiting the space against Arne Slot’s bold three-man defence. His athleticism and adventure combined with a commanding defensive display against Mohamed Salah, who had scored in seven successive league games for Liverpool before Fulham’s visit. Despite Silva’s attempts to steer clear of January transfer talk, it could be unavoidable. Andy Hunter
4
‘Wily old fox’ Gueye thwarts Arsenal
Idrissa Gueye is 35 but he remains a vital presence in the Everton midfield. It helps, clearly, to have Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucouré flanking him, sharing the workload, perhaps even doing some of his running for him, but it’s Gueye who controls the structure. He not only maintained a 91% pass completion rate but also carried the ball when necessary and drew fouls to ease pressure. “Gana with his understanding,” said Sean Dyche, “he’s a wily old fox. He knows the script: he’s played for lots of different clubs.” His heatmap from Saturday’s draw at Arsenal shows he didn’t have a touch in, or even that near, the opposition box, but more vital is the hotspot in his own half to the left of centre, where he played a huge role in negating the threat of Martin Ødegaard and limiting his link-up with Bukayo Saka. Jonathan Wilson
5
Taylor is Ipswich’s latest to level up
For Ipswich, victory at Wolves brought another priceless three points, this time with the bonus of denting a relegation rival, as well as another slice of history. Jack Taylor, who was playing for Peterborough in League One 18 months ago, became the latest player to have scored in the top four divisions of English football in the Premier League era, a select club his captain, Sam Morsy, joined after equalising late on at Southampton in September. “There are 10 or 11 players in history [who have done it] and we’ve got four of them, so I think that is testament to the group,” said Ipswich’s head coach, Kieran McKenna. He wants to strengthen the right flank in January but his disciplined side are stacked with players determined to seize their chance. Six of their starting lineup at Molineux represented Ipswich in League One. Five years ago Taylor was in non-league with Barnet. Ali Al-Hamadi was in League Two with AFC Wimbledon as recently as last January. “The group has been on an incredible journey, every single individual has got their story,” McKenna said. Ben Fisher
6
Van Nistelrooy cosies up to Almirón
Newcastle are desperate to sign a right-sided forward next month but the current occupant of that role, Jacob Murphy, issued a reminder that he is not too shabby after all by scoring twice in this 4-0 demolition of Leicester. “We defended bad,” said Ruud van Nistelrooy after suffering his first defeat in three games since becoming Leicester’s manager. His side also offered negligible attacking threat, something that perhaps explains why the Dutchman showered Newcastle’s Miguel Almirón with pre-match press conference praise and then singled out the right-sided Paraguay forward, an unused home substitute, for a brief chat at the final whistle. While Eddie Howe hopes to sell Almirón in January he is desperate to keep the excellent Sandro Tonali. With Bruno Guimarães shifted further forward, Tonali controlled midfield as Howe’s inconsistent players limbered up for Wednesday’s pivotal Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Brentford. Louise Taylor
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7
Settled Forest’s continued growth
Anthony Elanga believes Nottingham Forest have the squad and the understanding that means they can “100%” compete to qualify for Europe this season after climbing to fourth place with Saturday’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa. The winger, who came on as a substitute to score the stoppage-time winner, pointed to the organisation of pre-season, when Nuno Espírito Santo made key signings early and was able to lay down his patterns of play. This contrasted with the previous two summers when Forest’s chaotic signings made it difficult for the team to settle. “I think the difference this season is the fact that we made the signings early on and we all had a pre-season,” the former Manchester United player said. “Nuno got to have a proper pre-season because that’s made a huge difference. He got his ideas in early. And we have bought into them and I think that’s shown from the attitude of the players today.” Peter Lansley
8
Sarr soothes those who miss Olise
Any Crystal Palace supporters still pining over Michael Olise’s departure to Bayern Munich in the summer may finally have something to get excited about. Two goals from Ismaïla Sarr – who inherited Olise’s No 7 shirt following his arrival from Marseille – capped a sparkling display from the Senegal forward in the 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Brighton as Oliver Glasner’s side moved further away from trouble. Having struggled to force his way into the reckoning at the start of the campaign, the 26-year-old has started Palace’s last seven games and is beginning to fulfil his vast potential. “We knew that we can’t replace Michael but Ismaïla has his own qualities,” said Glasner. “We knew that when we get him into the right areas that he will get chances and score goals. He’s getting better and better but now is not the time for him to relax – now he shows why we signed him.” Ed Aarons
9
Maresca sticks to his script
Enzo Maresca’s insistence that his team are not Premier League title contenders has been regurgitated ad nauseam throughout the football media recently. The Chelsea manager was sticking doggedly to his guns, slightly ludicrously, after negotiating a tricky date with Brentford. “There are many things we can do better,” he said. “The reason we are not ready to compete is because if you see the goal we concede, it’s a throw-in for us [on] 90 minutes. The team ready to compete [for the Premier League] uses that ball in a different way.” His logic is looking increasingly questionable and if they keep this up, Chelsea may even be top by Christmas. Then, surely, Maresca would have to concede he is just very good at his job: including being smart enough to feed the media a convenient line to latch on to, while he gets on with making his team better. Luke McLaughlin
10
Is the tide turning for Postecoglou?
Tottenham looked ready to capitulate at Ibrox on Thursday night when Rangers were pushing for a second goal and the crowd was roaring the home side on. Instead of folding, though, Ange Postecoglou’s triple substitution led to Spurs taking a grip of themselves and equalising via Dejan Kulusevski’s exquisite finish. Now they have this relentless, ruthless thrashing of Southampton under their belts, and a potentially calamitous December is looking more agreeable. Djed Spence took 36 seconds to produce a world-class assist for James Maddison, too, and will get another Premier League start before long. It may be premature to say the tide has turned, but at least Tottenham can approach another difficult week in upbeat mood. What of Southampton? Russell Martin appeared to diagnose the problem during a humiliating first half. They were a shambles, and relieving Martin of his duties late on Sunday night did not feel unfair. LM
