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      Supercomputer predicts Premier League table with incredibly tight title race and Man Utd hitting never-before-seen low

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      PREMIER LEAGUE fans are in for the tightest title race ever, according to our supercomputer.Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are already desperately scrapping for the top spot just nine games into the 2024-25 season.Man City are tipped to win the Premier League on goal difference, according to our supercomputerCredit: APArsenal are set to miss out on a first Premier League title since 2003-04 on a dramatic final dayCredit: GettyMan Utd are set to finish in their lowest position in Premier League historyCredit: GettyChelsea are being tipped to break back into the top four this termCredit: GettyPep Guardiola’s side – who have won the last few titles in a row, and six of the last seven – are back on top after Liverpool and Arsenal played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Emirates.That came after City edged a tight 1-0 win over struggling Southampton 24 hours earlier.And the supercomputer reckons the Premier League title race will now go all the way to the final day.In fact, two clubs are expected to finish LEVEL on points, with goal difference having the final say for only the second time ever.READ MORE SPORT STORIESCity famously won their first Premier League crown in the 2011-12 season on the back of Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp winner to deny Manchester United the crown on the final day.Their superior goal difference saw Sir Alex Ferguson and Co denied yet another gong.And in 2024-25, Man City are expected to do it again – tipped to edge Arsenal thanks to a +57 goal difference, ahead of the Gunners’ +48,The stats suggest both teams are set to finish on 95 points, with Liverpool just falling off in what was expected to be a rebuild year under new boss Arne Slot to end on a still-monumental 88 points.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSChelsea are expected to break back into the top four with 76 points – ahead of Aston Villa (67), Brighton (63) and Newcastle (60) in the final European places.At the other end of the table, Southampton are set to JUST avoid becoming the worst team in Premier League history.Erik ten Hag angry with VAR for ‘interfering’ as West Ham penalty wounds Man Utd Russell Martin’s struggling Saints are tipped to rack up 12 points from their 38 games – just one point more than Derby, who accumulated just 11 points in the 2007-08 season.Ipswich are tipped to head straight back to the Championship with 19 points.And Wolves, despite showing signs of life after their outrageously difficult start to the season, are expected to join them with just 24 points.Forgot the “magic 40-point mark” this season – in fact, Leicester will survive with just 29 points, according to our supercomputer, courtesy of JeffBet.Crystal Palace (34) and Everton (37) will also avoid the drop despite not reaching 40 points.But arguably the biggest story of the season sees Man Utd finish in their LOWEST-EVER position in the Premier League. Erik ten Hag’s struggling squad limped to a 2-1 defeat against West Ham at the weekend to leave them 14th.Southampton are set to finish on the second-worst points tally in Premier League history with just 12 from their 38 matchesCredit: ReutersMan Utd ratings vs West HamTHE LONDON STADIUM was the venue for the latest defeat in a shocker of a season.To be fair, it was a hugely controversial VAR call in the dying moments that handed West Ham a 2-1 win.And the first half from the Red Devils was impressive.Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the players…Andre Onana – 6Very loose with the ball at his feet early on but soon settled.Manchester United conceded from West Ham’s first shot on target, though given Ings’ deflected strike there was little Onana could have done about it.Diogo Dalot – 5Delivered one of the most entertaining missed chances you will see all season – doing so well to clip the ball past Lukasz Fabianski before smashing the ball high and wide of an open goal.Despite that, had little trouble from those in claret and blue attacking down his side until Summerville was introduced. The former Leeds man tested Dalot a number of times with his pace.Redeemed himself a touch with the header back in ahead of Casemiro’s equaliser.Matthijs de Ligt – 6Hard done by in conceding the penalty for what looked a soft challenge on Hammers striker Ings.Restricted West Ham well for the most part but United never looked entirely comfortable at the back and a more potent attack could have caused much more trouble.Lisandro Martinez – 6Struggled at times to deal with the strength and direct nature of Michail Antonio, who tested all across United’s back line well until he was replaced by Ings.Noussair Mazraoui – 5Struggled to keep a handle on both Bowen and former Manchester United man Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the most part and was thrown around by Michail Antonio at times.Having looked soft at the back he also offered very little going forwards down the left.Casemiro – 6Started strongly dominating in the middle but struggled to wrestle that back when West Ham picked up.Was denied a first half goal by Fabianski’s superb save but got one eventually as he refused to give up and made sure the ball.Christian Eriksen – 5Some flashes of creativity in the first half but could not help United keep control in the second after West Ham perked up.Marcus Rashford – 4Entirely absent throughout the hour he was on the pitch. Played down the right he was easily managed by Emerson Palmieri who had little of note to do before the winger went off.Bruno Fernandes – 7Caused huge problems for West Ham and created plenty of chances which his teammates put to waste.Fernandes made a fine run to meet a Casemiro cross but headed over the bar and had to watch both Garnacho and Dalot pass up huge chances after his good work to set them up – especially the latter, a wonderful looped ball to cut out the entire West Ham defence.Alejandro Garnacho – 5The young winger should have had two goals inside the opening eight minutes. One chance was rattled against the bar before a poor finish sent the second wide of the far post.He continued to cause trouble down the left but faded as the game went on and crucially gave the ball away in the build-up to Summerville’s goal.Rasmus Hojlund – 5Drew a couple of saves from Hammers keeper Fabianski but neither looked too difficult.The Dane was rather comfortably dealt with by West Ham’s central defenders and never looked too much of a threat.SubstitutesAmad Diallo – 6Added some life and threat to a forward line which had offered little after the break and lifted a clever ball over to Dalot in the build-up to Casemiro’s goal.Joshua Zirkzee – 5Claimed an assist but did not know a lot about it and struggled to have an impact from there on.Victor Lindelof – n/aUnused subs: Altay Bayindir, Manuel Ugarte, Jonny Evans, Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher.And it won’t get much better for them for the rest of the season, either, with the Red Devils on course to end up 12th with just 50 points from their 38 games.Man Utd’s worst-ever finish came last season, when under-fire Ten Hag led them to eighth.United ended up seventh in David Moyes’ disastrous few months at the club after succeeding Fergie.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Red Devils have also finished sixth three times (2016-17, 2018-19 and 2021-22).But they’ve never finished in the bottom half… until this season, it would seem. 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      Mario Balotelli arrives to join 12th club of rollercoaster career on free transfer and end footballing exile

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      PREMIER LEAGUE icon Mario Balotelli is on the verge of joining Serie A side Genoa.The 34-year-old has been without a club since leaving Turkish outfit Adana Demirspor four months ago.Mario Balotelli is on the verge of joining GenoaCredit: GettyThe striker arrived in Italy on Sunday nightCredit: XHe greeted fans outside his hotelCredit: XTo prepare for his return, Balotelli has trained individually over the last few months.And now he is ready for what could be his final stint in football.The striker has agreed to pen a seven-month contract with struggling Italian side Genoa.He will join the club as a free agent until the end of the 2024-25 campaign.Read More in FootballTransfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims he only wanted to join Genoa following extensive talks with manager Alberto Gilardino.Balotelli arrived at Hotel Melia in Genova late on Sunday night.The former Italy international appeared thrilled as he met with a group of supporters.His medical is expected to take place on Monday morning.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSGenoa will be the 12th club of Balotelli’s professional career.He made his debut with local side Lumezzane in 2006 before sealing a move to Inter Milan.Mario Balotelli shows off skills in brilliant gameThe striker then went on to play for Manchester City, AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia, Monza, Adana Demirspor and Sion.He was also capped 36 times by the Italian national team and scored 14 international goals. More

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      Inside Madrid’s Beverly Hills where Mbappe moved into Gareth Bale’s house with £10m mansions and 17 artificial lakes

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      REAL MADRID stars of past and present live the high life in La Finca – guarded by round-the-clock security and infrared cameras. Los Blancos new boy Kylian Mbappe is the latest star to buy digs in the luxurious area known as Madrid’s Beverley Hills.Kylian Mbappe has moved into a £9m mansion formerly owned by Gareth BaleCredit: Solar PixLa Finca is an exclusive gated complex east of MadridThe community is gated and has 24-hour securityCredit: PROMORA/YOUTUBEThe properties are specially designed to accommodate for the rich and famousCredit: Netflix / I am GeorginaMbappe has moved into a lavish £9million mansion formerly owned by Gareth Bale. The development is located in the Pozuelo de Alarcon suburb to the west of the city. Former Galacticos including Zinedine Zidane, Iker Casillas, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all owned properties in the up-market area. Gated and featuring 24-hour security, La Finca is the obvious choice for the modern Madrid star seeking privacy from a watching world.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLFeaturing bunker-style guard houses and checkpoints, the area is guarded by infrared cameras and a huge perimeter fence.The only way to gain access to La Finca is by an invitation from a resident.A real estate source told The Athletic: “Residents can go for a run and nobody can even get close to them.”The worst that can happen is they trip over a rabbit.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMbappe’s move from Paris to Madrid sees the 25-year-old become one of the world’s highest-paid players.And he put his first paycheck to good use, splashing out on an eight-bed mansion formerly owned by ex-Madrid winger Bale.Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe features in advert for ‘Chinese Instagram’The 8-bedroom mansion – which comes with its own golf putting green – had been on the market for two years after the Welshman moved to Los Angeles. It features a huge swimming pool and cinema room, as well as a mini football pitch and basketball court. The state-of-the-art property is typical of La Finca, which has fast become a haven for Madrid’s elite to escape city life. The only way to access the community is by invitation from a residentCredit: Promora La FincaArchitect Joaquin Torres, who designed the house, told The Athletic: “It has bright open spaces, build quality, and a lot of care with the details.”La Finca makes [footballers] feel secure – they buy luxury brand watches and cars, so obviously it’s the same in real estate.”La Finca is split into three different areas, spread across 100 sprawling hectares.The residential community is built around pine forests and includes 17 artificial lakes.How Kylian Mbappe’s incredible seven-year body transformation propelled skinny teen into world’s best playerBy Etienne FermieKYLIAN MBAPPE has entered his physical prime as he has FINALLY rubber-stamped his free transfer move to Real Madrid.The 25-year-old has grown from a boy to a man in Ligue 1, first with Monaco and then with current side Paris Saint-Germain.Mbappe debuted for Monaco as a skinny 16-year-old in 2015.He even featured as a scrawny youngster against Tottenham at the old White Hart Lane that year, before fans realised what an icon he would become.The following season, Mbappe really rose to superstardom as Monaco reached the Champions League semi-finals.In a throwback snap shared earlier this week, an 18-year-old Mbappe could be seen chatting to a reporter after grabbing a Champions League brace against Borussia Dortmund in April 2017.Read more on Mbappe’s incredible rise on and off the field.Mbappe’s new pad is located in the most exclusive of the three areas, Los Lagos I.His teammate Jude Bellingham lives just down the street with mum Denise.While ex-Madrid players Toni Kroos and Eden Hazard are located just minutes away. There is an on-site David Lloyd health club, featuring facilities for swimming, rock climbing, tennis, and a stunning gym.La Finca also boasts a golf course, should the Frenchman tire of the private area available in his own garden. Former Madrid star Jese Rodriguez lived in La Finca and hit the headlines in 2014 after a fire at his property.Despite the negative headlines that accompanied the blaze, the area has only grown in popularity since – especially with those playing for Spain’s biggest club. READ MORE SUN STORIESA real estate source told The Atletic: “Athletes are good for selling sports gear, but not for selling houses.”La Finca is a paradise and we want it to remain a paradise.”Mbappe joined Madrid over the summer after his contract at PSG expiredCredit: Rex More

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      Arsenal fan spotted eating BROCCOLI at the Emirates as supporters say ‘game’s gone, utter woke nonsense’

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      FANS have been left baffled after an Arsenal supporter was seen eating broccoli in the stands.Prior to the Gunners 2-2 draw with Liverpool, most people at the Emirates would have been enjoying a pre-match pie or pint.An Arsenal fan was seen eating broccoli at the EmiratesCredit: XThe supporter was OnlyFans star Leah RayCredit: XShe also brought along a booster seat to get a better viewCredit: @LeahRayAFCLeah is close pals with influencer Astrid WettCredit: Paul EdwardsBut one fan has gone viral as she was seen munching on broccoli while sat in her seat.Social media was left shocked, with one saying: “Game’s gone, utter woke nonsense.”Another joked: “Probably more entertaining than watching Arsenal.”More reacted: “I’ve seen it all now.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe fan in question turned out to be Arsenal supporter and OnlyFans star Leah Ray.She responded to a comment about her bizarre packed lunch, writing: “Can’t even eat broccoli in public anymore. Vegetables > Pukka Pies.”Leah, 21, has 475,000 followers on TikTok and is close pals with her Chelsea equivalent Astrid Wett.The pair released a song together to cheer on England at Euro 2024.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSLeah eating broccoli was not her only unusual move yesterday after she posted snaps of her with a booster seat and binoculars inside the Emirates Stadium.But she is not the first to bring veg into the ground as a fan was once spotted with a bag of carrots also against Liverpool in 2017.Arsenal player ratings vs Liverpool: Saka brushes injury fears aside with sublime showing but Trossard quietLast night’s draw with Liverpool leaves Arsenal five points behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.Liverpool impressed at Arsenal, but it was a match Jurgen Klopp probably would’ve wonBy Jordan DaviesON the face of it, Liverpool continue to go from strength to strength with Arne Slot’s tenure still in its infancy.Away at Arsenal as title contenders — with a formidable record at the Emirates having won four of their last six there — the Reds fought back, not once, but twice to earn an impressive point to remain four clear of the Gunners.Nine games in, Liverpool have seven wins, 22 points collected and sit in second in what is one of the club’s best ever starts to a Prem campaign.Nothing to sniff at there, and that is without mentioning three straight wins in the Champions League and a 5-1 Carabao Cup third-round thumping of fellow top-flight side West Ham.So to even attempt to pick flaws in Slot’s start with a run that solid would come across needlessly pedantic, deliberately nit-picky.But, and there is a but, given the standards Liverpool have set in these early months, it needs to be said: this draw in North London was a massive missed opportunity.And to go one step further, maybe this is a game Jurgen Klopp would have found a way to win?It has been a long time since Arsenal have gone into a game feeling so vulnerable defensively with world-class centre-back William Saliba missing through suspension.Full-back Riccardo Calafiori was also out injured, usual right-back Ben White began the game at centre-half and midfielder Thomas Partey started on the far right side of the defence.And then, in a chaotic second half, both Jurrien Timber and Gabriel limped off, forcing Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to swap around his back line THREE times by the 76th minute.And yet, despite all of that, a Liverpool side boasting attacking talents like Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were hardly making the home fans sweat with a peppering of the Arsenal goal.It was not until a Klopp-style counter-attack from back to front in the 81st minute did the visitors properly test the home defence.But even that finish was a tame one — Salah tapping in past David Raya into an almost empty net.And with nine minutes left plus seven minutes injury time, the expected onslaught for another, to nick all three points — the tally-ho approach — never came.Not Klopp’s heavy metal style, more pleasant folk music with a ukulele in a country pub.You get the impression that Slot was delighted with this outcome.For large parts, Liverpool were defensively sound, gave very little away and snuck away back to Merseyside with a point tucked under their arm and a bloody nose avoided.Yet it was in these sorts big blockbuster matches that Klopp and Liverpool thrived over their nine-year romance, full of excitement, thrills and last-gasp wins that earned them a Prem trophy in 2019-20 and plenty more down-to-the-wire chases with Manchester City.And with Arteta’s Arsenal on their knees — quite literally in some cases — and hanging on for dear life, these are the moments in title races that require a bit of crazy, not caution.A Klopp team of the past would have gone completely and totally Kloppy, throwing men forward at will, blasting their opponents away and forcing the ball into the net through passion and thunder alone, regardless of how open it left them at the back.Slot is not this sort of coach.He is measured, considerate, calm. Good qualities, but not always needed in do-or-die matches that ultimately determine where you finish in May.It is hard to say if this will come back to haunt Slot, who still insists on avoiding any use of the phrase ‘title contenders’ despite clearly being title contenders.With Aston Villa and Manchester City visiting Anfield over their next five Prem outings, we will see whether the Dutchman can loosen the leash and let his team grab games by the scruff of the neck instead of playing it safe.Because as we have seen in this league, going for broke often rewards you — just ask the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola.Fortune favours the brave.Slot needs to discover his own version of that if he is to truly emulate Klopp and transform this Liverpool side into one capable of seizing moments when they matter most. More

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      When is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw? Date, TV channel, FREE live stream and ball numbers

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      IT’S almost that time again when football fans cross their fingers and hope for a kind tie as the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw takes place THIS WEEK!Chelsea will need to beat Newcastle for a second successive time in just a matter of days to put their name in the hat.Chelsea humiliated Barrow in the previous roundCredit: APManchester United fired seven past Barnsley during the fourth roundCredit: GettyUnder-fire Manchester United host Leicester at Old Trafford for a spot in the quarters.Injury-hit Arsenal make the trip to Preston with the last-8 firmly in their sights.But the pick of the bunch sees Tottenham welcome Carabao Cup serial winners Manchester City to North London.SunSport can tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming draw.Read more on Carabao CupWhen is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw?The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will take place THIS Wednesday, October 30.It is scheduled to begin after the conclusion of Tottenham vs Manchester City – which kicks off at 8:15pm GMT.Meaning that the draw is likely to proceed from 10:15pm GMT.What TV channel is the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw on and can it be live streamed?The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will be shown LIVE on Sky Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK.Subscribers can live stream the draw via NOW TV and the Sky Sports app.Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all the action.How can I watch the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw for FREE?For football lovers who do not have a Sky Sports subscription, the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will be shown for FREE via the official Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.When will the Carabao Cup quarter-final ties take place?The Carabao Cup quarter-final ties will be played in the week commencing Monday, December 16.Most read in FootballFixtures will likely be on Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday, December 18.What are the ball numbers?The Carabao Cup ball numbers will be confirmed on the date of the draw.Carabao Cup fourth round schedule/resultsTuesday, October 29Southampton vs Stoke City – 7:45pm Brentford vs Sheffield Wednesday – 8pmWednesday, October 30Brighton vs Liverpool – 7:30pm Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace – 7:45pmManchester United vs Leicester City – 7:45pmNewcastle United vs Chelsea – 7:45pmPreston North End vs Arsenal – 7:45pmTottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City – 8:15pm More

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      Cole Palmer’s reaction to being compared to Zola will make you feel old as fans say ‘he actually said that out loud?’

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      COLE PALMER left fans in disbelief after openly admitting that he only knew of Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola through a video game.The 22-year-old put on a fantastic display as Chelsea earned a 2-1 win over Newcastle at the weekend.Cole Palmer left fans shocked with his admission about Gianfranco ZolaCredit: Sky SportsPalmer was compared to Zola following his impressive performanceCredit: GettyHe drew comparisons to Blues icon Zola – who was at Stamford Bridge for the match – as a result.But asked about the Italian at full-time, Palmer was forced to admit that he’d never actually seen him play.He told Sky Sports: “I know he’s an icon on FIFA so he must have been good.”I didn’t really watch him play but everyone says he was a great player.”Read More in FootballFans were shocked by the midfielder’s admission, with one person taking to social media to write: “Jesus wept. He actually said those words out loud?”Another commented: “‘Icon on FIFA’ cringed just reading that.”A third said: “Respect the honesty tbh.”While another quipped: “I feel old.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSZola heaped praise on Palmer before the match at Stamford Bridge.He said: “When he receives the ball he already knows what he wants to do next.Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca lauds Cole Palmer as the type of player supporters ‘pay to see’ “It’s a quality only a few players have.”Palmer played a crucial role in the build-up to Chelsea’s first goal, sending a stunning pass through to Pedro Neto on the left, who squared the ball across the box to goalscorer Nicolas Jackson.He then scored the winner just after half-time.Chelsea player ratings vs NewcastleCOLE PALMER was once again the star of the show.His perfect pass for Neto set up Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal and then he scored the second in a 2-1 win over Newcastle.He was class – but not all the Chelsea players were.Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the players at Stamford Bridge…Robert Sanchez – 3/10Pretty poor in all honesty.A liability in terms of distribution, and while a decent shot-stopper, he consistently seems to be a big question mark in this Chelsea eleven.Malo Gusto – 3It looks as though Chelsea may have to choose between Gusto and Reece James to start on the right with themFailed to impact the game much attacking-wise, and was bettered by Lewis Hall who crossed for Alexander Isak’s equaliser.Wesley Fofana – 6Picked up a knock early on and played the rest of the game with a strapped-up knee.Nonetheless, gave as good as he got against the powerful Alexander Isak for large parts of the game, and made some crucial blocks and tackles throughout.Levi Colwill – 6Was fortunate to get away with a clumsy tackle on Bruno Guimaraes early in the first half, but was still fairly solid.For a man with such an impressive passing range, it felt like he couldn’t quite put it to use today.Seemingly prevented Alexander Isak from levelling with his aura alone…Reece James – 2Playing as a left-centre back it’s hard to see how Chelsea will get the best out of what could be one of the finest attacking wing backs in the world.He didn’t look comfortable in that position, and let Alexander Isak run away from him for Newcastle’s equaliser.He came up with two crucial blocks in the second half to deny Isak from making it two or three, before giving him a golden chance to do so which was not taken.Romeo Lavia – 7Followed up a brilliant performance in the loss to Liverpool with another good showing in the middle of the park here.Starting to look like a bargain with performances like these if he can stay fit, as he claimed the assist for Cole Palmer’s fine finish.Moises Caicedo – 7Effective in breaking up play for the Blues, and it was a solid showing from a midfield player who has been so good this season.Steps into challenges nicely at just the right time, and is becoming a dependable figure in the same mould in which N’golo Kante and Claude Makelele were in their time here.Noni Madueke – 5Quiet in the first half, but better in the second as he looked to trouble Lewis Hall more.Was outshone by Pedro Neto on the opposite flank this time out, before being swapped out for Mykhailo Mudryk.Pedro Neto – 8So much pace down the left-hand side which was utilised perfectly to leave Livramento in the dust to set up Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal.Could have had a goal early in the second half as he rattled the post with a header after leaping like a salmon.Cole Palmer – 9Started the game well with a cracking finish which VAR ruled out, only to cook the Newcastle defence a matter of moments later with an incisive pass for Neto to set up the opener.Newcastle simply could not handle the midfield man, who lit up Stamford Bridge early in the second half to claim his sixth goal of the season.Nonchalance personified, cool Cole showed why he will attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony tomorrow night, and why he can win it in coming years.Nicolas Jackson – 8A superb first-time finish opened the scoring for the Blues, and the Senegalese forward did well with the little service he had in the first half – often needing to drop deep to pick up the ball and link up the play.14 goals in his last 14 Premier League games – leave the Didier Drogba comparisons at home, this is a superstar in his own right.SUBS:MYKHAILO MUDRYK (NONI MADUEKE, 67) – 5Had a big chance to add a third to Chelsea’s tally after replacing Madueke, but his left-footed strike was saved by Nick Pope, who didn’t have to move.ENZO FERNANDEZ (ROMEO LAVIA, 72) – 5Didn’t add anything which Lavia wasn’t already giving, but ultimately wasn’t given much time to really impact the game.MARC CUCURELLA (MALO GUSTO , 78) – 5Individually, didn’t have a lot of time to show what he’s made of, but Chelsea look like a better team with him in the side.He plays the inverted left-back role well, allowing Chelsea to get the most out of their right-side.CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU ( NICOLAS JACKSON, 78) – 6Had a half-chance late on, which wasn’t taken as he dilly-dallied on the ball on the edge of the box.Thought he had won a penalty on the stroke of the 90th minute after going down under pressure from Dan Burn, but it was ruled out by VAR.Click here to read more on Chelsea. 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      Fans convinced VAR who gave penalty against Man Utd was ‘checking his fantasy team’ as real reason behind pic emerges

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      EAGLE-EYED fans believed they spotted a VAR official keeping track of his fantasy team during Super Sunday.The official’s phone was visible to TV viewers during West Ham’s 2-1 win over Man Utd and Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool. West Ham won a late penalty against Man Utd in a decision that left Erik ten Hag fumingCredit: RexFans noticed the VAR official had an app up at Stockley Park – with some claiming it was his fantasy teamCredit: .The Hammers were awarded a controversial spot-kick late in the contest at the London Stadium. Referee David Coote initially gave nothing after Matthijs de Ligt came together with Danny Ings in the area.But, after VAR had a closer look, Coote was directed to go to the monitor and review his decision.As the video refs debated contact between De Ligt and Ings, fans noticed one official had his phone mounted on a stand.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd many were convinced he was tracking his fantasy team on the official Premier League Fantasy app. Later, during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, a screenshot of the phone began circulating widely on social media after it was spotted again.A fan claimed on X: “One of the VAR was playing FPL on his mobile.”Another gasped: “Premier League VAR official with the Fantasy League up on his phone. This is unbelievable. He can make decisions to influence his FPL team.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd a third commented: “Surely a conflict of interest?!”Following Super Sunday, ESPN’s refereeing expert Dale Johnson clarified the situation. Gary Neville predicts exact date Erik ten Hag will be sacked as he rants Man Utd ‘can’t be 14th after nine games’ He revealed on X: “This is the Premier League Match Manager app, not Fantasy Premier League. “There are, of course, no personal devices in the VAR hub.”A fuming Ten Hag raged against “injustice” following the controversial decision. The under-pressure United boss said: “Three times this season we feel injustice.”Unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty.Man Utd ratings vs West HamTHE LONDON STADIUM was the venue for the latest defeat in a shocker of a season.To be fair, it was a hugely controversial VAR call in the dying moments that handed West Ham a 2-1 win.And the first half from the Red Devils was impressive.Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the players…Andre Onana – 6Very loose with the ball at his feet early on but soon settled.Manchester United conceded from West Ham’s first shot on target, though given Ings’ deflected strike there was little Onana could have done about it.Diogo Dalot – 5Delivered one of the most entertaining missed chances you will see all season – doing so well to clip the ball past Lukasz Fabianski before smashing the ball high and wide of an open goal.Despite that, had little trouble from those in claret and blue attacking down his side until Summerville was introduced. The former Leeds man tested Dalot a number of times with his pace.Redeemed himself a touch with the header back in ahead of Casemiro’s equaliser.Matthijs de Ligt – 6Hard done by in conceding the penalty for what looked a soft challenge on Hammers striker Ings.Restricted West Ham well for the most part but United never looked entirely comfortable at the back and a more potent attack could have caused much more trouble.Lisandro Martinez – 6Struggled at times to deal with the strength and direct nature of Michail Antonio, who tested all across United’s back line well until he was replaced by Ings.Noussair Mazraoui – 5Struggled to keep a handle on both Bowen and former Manchester United man Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the most part and was thrown around by Michail Antonio at times.Having looked soft at the back he also offered very little going forwards down the left.Casemiro – 6Started strongly dominating in the middle but struggled to wrestle that back when West Ham picked up.Was denied a first half goal by Fabianski’s superb save but got one eventually as he refused to give up and made sure the ball.Christian Eriksen – 5Some flashes of creativity in the first half but could not help United keep control in the second after West Ham perked up.Marcus Rashford – 4Entirely absent throughout the hour he was on the pitch. Played down the right he was easily managed by Emerson Palmieri who had little of note to do before the winger went off.Bruno Fernandes – 7Caused huge problems for West Ham and created plenty of chances which his teammates put to waste.Fernandes made a fine run to meet a Casemiro cross but headed over the bar and had to watch both Garnacho and Dalot pass up huge chances after his good work to set them up – especially the latter, a wonderful looped ball to cut out the entire West Ham defence.Alejandro Garnacho – 5The young winger should have had two goals inside the opening eight minutes. One chance was rattled against the bar before a poor finish sent the second wide of the far post.He continued to cause trouble down the left but faded as the game went on and crucially gave the ball away in the build-up to Summerville’s goal.Rasmus Hojlund – 5Drew a couple of saves from Hammers keeper Fabianski but neither looked too difficult.The Dane was rather comfortably dealt with by West Ham’s central defenders and never looked too much of a threat.SubstitutesAmad Diallo – 6Added some life and threat to a forward line which had offered little after the break and lifted a clever ball over to Dalot in the build-up to Casemiro’s goal.Joshua Zirkzee – 5Claimed an assist but did not know a lot about it and struggled to have an impact from there on.Victor Lindelof – n/aUnused subs: Altay Bayindir, Manuel Ugarte, Jonny Evans, Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher.”It was so difficult to see. Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes.”That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on field referee.”The Premier League was forced to clarify its position in a statement released on X. READ MORE SUN STORIESIt read: “The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review.”The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.” More

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      Gary Neville predicts exact date Erik ten Hag will be sacked as he rants Man Utd ‘can’t be 14th after nine games’

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      GARY NEVILLE has predicted when Erik ten Hag will be sacked should Manchester United’s dire start to the season continue.The Red Devils lost 2-1 to West Ham yesterday to leave them 14th in the Premier League after nine games.Gary Neville reckons the manager could lose his job next weekendCredit: GettyErik ten Hag’s side sit 14th in the league and only two teams have scored fewerCredit: AlamyNeville shared his thoughts on the controversial penalty decisionCredit: RexMan Utd wasted several huge chances in the first-half before the Hammers won it with a controversial penalty.The defeat has left Neville “worried” and he claimed the boss’ position could become untenable if they lose to Chelsea next Sunday.He told his Sky Sports podcast: “Ten Hag is asking for trouble. 14th in the league nine games in – nine games is nearly 25 per cent of the season gone.”It will be a big worry for everybody at the club because of the performance levels. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”United should have been up 2-0 but they lost. “They are 14th, they’ve spent a fortune. I was quite clear at the end of last season that if they are in that same position in the league after the first few months there will be a lot of questions being asked.”They’ve got a game in midweek (Leicester in the Carabao Cup) but it will all come down to next weekend’s game against Chelsea. “Anybody that is half decent, that can play and have quality can beat this United team and they are in danger.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”I don’t think there can be another defeat next weekend at Old Trafford. “It’s getting to that point where there is a real worry, I’m worried. Erik ten Hag angry with VAR for ‘interfering’ as West Ham penalty wounds Man Utd “The results, the lack of goals and the lack of performances are stacking up week after week.”These are the players that have been recruited over the last couple of seasons mainly. “It’s a sobering time. It’s getting to the point whereby it will become unbearable the pressure in the next week or two around Ten Hag purely because of the position in the league. “They’re 14th. You can’t be 14th in the league after nine games.”Only Crystal Palace and Southampton have scored less goals than Man Utd’s eight goals in the Prem this season.Neville slammed United’s attackers, ranting: “It must be getting to a point now where the defensive players and the coaching staff must be saying to this is unacceptable. It’s unacceptable to miss chances like that. “Goalkeepers and defenders get killed for mistakes, but their comes a point you are missing chances like United did and it harms you, you invite trouble.”On the controversial penalty awarded to West Ham, Neville claimed on-field ref David Coote did not want to go against Michael Oliver on VAR.The pundit explained: “It’s not right that one, every team gets a bad decision, but that one is not right.”The interesting thing for me is that when Coote went over to the screen, he must have watched it, it felt like eight times.”He does not think it is a penalty, he is not having this.”I think the pressure of being sent over to the screen by a dominant referee, nobody likes to upset their superiors. READ MORE SUN STORIES”If you are young in the office and someone senior makes a call, you don’t really want to tell them that they are wrong.”I think it was a bit of that because I don’t think Coote was anywhere near thinking that was a penalty.”Why NOBODY is the right man to replace Erik ten Hag at Man UtdSunSport’s DAVE KIDD says Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd is up… and explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace him.THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.Thomas Tuchel would also have been a popular and gettable option – but England got in there first.Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.So, yes, getting rid of Ten Hag is the easy part. More