Soccer

MICHAEL OWEN was in “floods of tears” after being booed by Liverpool fans as he sympathised with Trent Alexander-Arnold.The Anfield right-back was jeered by his own supporters as he came off the bench in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal.Michael Owen has sympathised with Trent Alexander-Arnold after the ace was booed by Liverpool fansCredit: AlamyOwen was left in ‘floods of tears’ after previously being in the same boatAlexander-Arnold had previously announced he will leave Liverpool on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.The defender is widely expected to pen a lucrative deal with Spanish giants Real Madrid.But his exit has not gone down well with Reds fans.And they made their feelings known with boos and jeers at yesterday’s game on Merseyside.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNow, former Liverpool striker Owen has opened up after also receiving stick from supporters.He scored 158 goals in 297 games during an eight-season spell at Anfield before joining Real Madrid in 2004.Owen then returned to the Premier League a year later with Liverpool’s rivals Newcastle.And just like Alexander-Arnold yesterday, Owen was subjected to boos – leaving him in tears at the final whistle.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSHe told Premier League productions: “For his own people to boo him, it’s a big lump in your throat. I remember sitting in the players’ lounge after playing against Liverpool for Newcastle. Parents, myself, all in floods of tears because I’d just been booed by my own people.“And I struggle to comprehend it nowadays and I’m probably the closest person on the planet who knows what it feels like to be in Trent’s shoes. He’ll be mortified. Andy Robertson pays tribute to ‘best friend’ Trent Alexander-Arnold after he is booed by Liverpool fans“Trent will leave now, it’s his second to last game, maybe his last game, there were people that booed him and you can’t get that out of your head. Despite what’s happened for the last 20 years of his life of pure adulation.“The one thing I remember now is I forget a lot but think they booed me at the end and it just makes you feel absolutely sick for what you did for the club.”Owen became a cult hero during his time at LiverpoolCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe ace ended up being jeered by Reds fans when he returned to Anfield with NewcastleCredit: PA:Press Association More

PETER SCHMEICHEL has slammed Mikel Arteta as a “control freak” who is making Arsenal players “worse”.The Manchester United icon ripped into the Gunners boss before yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.Mikel Arteta has been labelled a ‘control freak’Credit: APThe Arsenal boss has been accused of making his players ‘worse’ and ‘confusing them’Credit: GettyPeter Schmeichel blamed Arteta for Arsenal’s trophy droughtCredit: AlamySchmeichel, who was on punditry duty for ViaPlay at Anfield, blamed Arteta for Arsenal once again falling short of winning something this season.The legendary goalkeeper argued that failures on the pitch and in the transfer market are down to the manager.And despite spending £650million on transfers, Arteta’s only piece of silverware is the 2020 FA Cup that he won with his predecessor Unai Emery’s squad.Schmeichel said: “It’s all on Arteta, all. What I’m saying is that he was employed as head coach. He inherited the team and that team is the only team that he has won a trophy with.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Then it’s his own team now and in the process he’s changed job description so he’s now the manager. “Everything is on him. It’s not recruitment, it’s not the board.”I would urge the viewer whenever they get the opportunity to watch him in the technical area. Arteta is a control freak, he wants his players to play the ball that he wants. He’s directing everything.“You look across to Arne Slot who is so calm. He’s instructed his players in training, instructed the players in the team talk. Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS”Arteta is still playing the game for the players and that would confuse the hell out of me as a football player that you had a coach that wants to direct me for everything I do. “It would confuse me and make me a worse player.”’Those doubts maybe kick in’ – Jamie Carragher hints when Declan Rice will start considering his Arsenal futureArteta cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines yesterday and was seen booting the air in anger while his side trailed 2-0.He then launched a rant after the game when asked what things upset him about Arsenal’s performance.Arteta raged: “A lot of parts, especially defending, the standards that we have and the errors after we gave the ball away.”Very far off it. Really upset, yeah we had a reaction. I hate reaction I like action. I was really, really upset.”What I saw in the first 25 minutes, 35 minutes. Some of the actions… I was killing myself.” More

JOSE MOURINHO is the shock favourite to replace Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager.Amorim, 40, has endured a nightmare spell since taking over from Erik ten Hag in November. Ruben Amorim threatened to quit as Manchester United managerCredit: ReutersJose Mourinho is the shock early favourite to take over should his compatriot leaveCredit: GettyBut following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham at Old Trafford – an all-time record-equalling ninth home loss of the season – Amorim dropped a major bombshell.The Portuguese boss threatened to QUIT if he is unable to turn the horror show around at United, who sit 16th in the Premier League table on 39 points with two games to go. And should Amorim walk away, Mourinho is top of the bookies’ odds to come in.According to Betfair, the Special One is a staggering 4-1 favourite to make a stunning return to Old Trafford and take over from his compatriot.READ MORE ON MAN UTDMourinho, 62, was United boss from May 2016 until December 2018, winning the League Cup and Europa League in 2017 before things turned sour.United did not win another trophy for six years until the 2023 League Cup under Ten Hag, while Mourinho’s only silverware since has been the Conference League with Roma in 2022. The likelihood of Sir Jim Ratcliffe bringing in the current Fenerbahce boss seems slim, especially given his past history with the club. Second on the list is Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna at 7-1.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordThe Northern Irishman – who was a coach under Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United – is still held in high regard despite being unable to avoid relegation with the Tractor Boys. And third with Betfair is 8-1 Gareth Southgate.The former England boss has been out of management since leaving his role with the Three Lions after the Euro 2024 final.In October, he ruled himself out of any dugout jobs for at least 12 months – but may have turned his back on football for good.Southgate – who is writing a book, been a technical observer for Uefa and gave the BBC’s Richard Dimbleby Lecture – said: “I won’t coach in the next year, for sure. I’m certain of that.“I need to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time, you need to give your mind time.”[Could I return to) club football? Depending on what role that is. I have been fortunate to have worked with fantastic players. You got to have excitement, passion to go to work every day.”Man Utd ratings vs West Ham as Ugarte awful and Mainoo invisible in latest horror showMANCHESTER UNITED dropped to 16th in the Premier League after suffering an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to West Ham at Old Trafford.Ruben Amorim named a strong team for United’s return to domestic duty, but not even Amad Diallo could save the day.United gave fans a lively start, but reverted back to factory settings after the visitors took the lead inside 27 minutes.West Ham picked off United against the run of play, before former Man Utd star Aaron Wan-Bissaka came back to haunt his old club.The full-back fed a clever ball through to Mohammed Kudus, who thrashed a low cross into the six yard box for Tomas Soucek to tap home.United got caught cold again and were the masters of their own undoing, after Kudus pounced on Manuel Ugarte’s mess up to set up Jarrod Bowen, who doubled West Ham’s lead in the 58th minute.Apart from some bright moments from Amad, this was another awful performance from the home side, as West Ham became the SIXTH team to the double over United this season.The Red Devils haven’t haven’t won a Prem game since their 3-0 win at Leicester on March 16, which incidentally was the last team West Ham beat in February.Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated every Man Utd star’s performance at Old Trafford…Thomas Frank was linked with the United job when they looked to find Ten Hag’s successor and the sterling job he has done at Brentford means he remains in contention at 9-1. Ex-Barca boss Xavi (10-1), Marco Silva (11-1), Brendan Rodgers (12-1), Mauricio Pochettino (12-1) and Unai Emery (12-1) are all on the list.And currently at 14-1 is Carlo Ancelotti.The Real Madrid boss looks destined to leave the Bernabeu this summer after the early Champions League exit and Barcelona set to win LaLiga. And if the iconic veteran does not take the Brazil gig, he could bring some much-needed trophy-winning experience and aura to the Old Trafford dugout. Betfair Spokesperson Sam Rosbottom: “Manchester United’s season all rests on next week’s Europa League final, for Ruben Amorim defeat must be unthinkable given how disastrous this season has been, especially since he took charge.”If Spurs win, there could be some questions about his future at Old Trafford, especially after he admitted over the weekend he may walk if things don’t improve early next season. “Looking at who could take over, a return for Jose Mourinho could be on the cards, with the special and experienced one leading the betting at 4-1.Read More on The Sun”Former United first-team coach and current Ipswich manager, Kieran McKenna is also popular in the betting and is the second favourite at 7-1. “While there’s also interest in the likes of Gareth Southgate at 8-1 and Brentford boss Thomas Frank at 9/1, two managers they have been linked heavily with before.”Mourinho won the Europa League with United in 2017Credit: AFP or licensorsGareth Southgate could be in line to return to management with United a year after leaving the England jobCredit: PAKieran McKenna is second favourite with the bookiesCredit: GettyCarlo Ancelotti looks set to be available in the summerCredit: EPA More