Soccer

MANCHESTER UNITED eased their relegation fears with a 3-2 win over Ipswich.The Red Devils triumphed in a thriller despite playing the second half with ten men.Harry Maguire was Man Utd’s saviour in a 3-2 win over IpswichCredit: ReutersAndre Onana is making a case to be the club’s worst-ever signingCredit: ReutersA major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.United fired back 20 minutes later courtesy of Sam Morsy’s own goal.And they were soon ahead thanks to a strike from Matthijs de Ligt.The Red Devils made things hard for themselves when Dorgu’s evening ended early.The wing-back received a straight red card in the 43rd minute after a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.And there was still time in the first half for Philogene to level the score with his second goal of the game.However, Harry Maguire restored United’s lead minutes after the break.It proved to be the winning goal as Ruben Amorim’s men held firm.BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAnd the Red Devils are now 16 points clear of the drop zone after ending their run of three league games without victory.But who was United’s best player on the night?Erik ten Hag reveals he HAS returned to work and may never go back to management after Man Utd sackingAnd did anyone have a game to forget?Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings…ANDRE ONANA – 2In a season of blunders at least he’s consistent – starting with his role in a fifth minute clanger for Ipswich’s first.But while the chief culprit was Dorgu, Onana was culpable too – he should have stayed back or bellowed it was his ball. He did neither.And a bad start to the half became a shocking finish when he stood rooted as Philogene’s cross curled in. Staking a big claim as one of United’s worst ever buys.MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 7Sometimes you wonder why Bayern Munich let him go. Then again, at others you imagine they couldn’t get him out quickly enough.To be fair to the Dutchman, it is steadily becoming more of the former, and there were more pros than cons to his game here.Most notably, of course, with his first goal at Old Trafford. Hardly a net buster, but better than his attacking team-mates have been managing.HARRY MAGUIRE – 8The most commanding of the United backline once more, although let’s be honest… it has often been a pretty low bar.He caused plenty of chaos at the other end too and it was Maguire’s initial header that pinballed around before his partner De Ligt stabbed them in front.Then, with United down to ten, it was Harry who got his bonce on another Bruno corner to thunder his side back in front.LENY YORO – 6Showed again what an elegant ball player he is…but in the rough-house world of a Premier League defence, doesn’t half look like he needs a good meal.Mind you, Jim Ratcliffe would probably have kittens unless he had the receipt to prove he’d paid for it himself.Still a kid, still new to the Prem and definitely full of promise. Took another step forward here as well, with a couple of powerful clearing headers.DIOGO DALOT – 6Loved by the players, highly rated by the players, but so often the scapegoat for supporters.Think that’s harsh? You should have seen some of his passes. Although to be fair he never goes missing and got his reward by being at the heart of United’s second.Dalot’s tumbling snapshot was more instinctive than his attackers manage and got its reward with De Ligt’s tap-in. More at home when switched right after Mazraoui came on, as well.MANUEL UGARTE – 6Hit his first goal at Everton on Saturday. Given his only other domestic goal was in Portugal four years earlier, expect the next some time in late February 2029.That’s not what he’s here for, though. It’s winning the ball – often with a snarl – and giving it to a playmaker. As he showed most of the time against Ipswich.It’s when he starts trying to spray crossfield passes around that it tends to go awry. Stick to the plan, Manu…BRUNO FERNANDES – 8Been more like the leader United have lacked since he’s started focusing on what he can do with his feet rather than how wildly he can throw his arms in the air and have a tantrum.The man who came to the rescue at Goodison on Saturday did so again here, with another couple of outstanding deliveries.First with the free kick Sam Morsy headed into his own net, and then two corners for both the other goals. Where would United be without him?PATRICK DORGU – 3Or Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, as per official teamsheet. Not many will be getting that on the back of a shirt after his nightmare night.Took only five minutes to claim an assist – just a pity it was for Ipswich, with a shocking mix-up that took Onana out of the game.Could it get any worse? You bet it could…when he saw a VAR-induced red card for his lunge on Omar Hutchinson. The fact he wasn‘t the worst in Red proves how bad Onana was.JOSHUA ZIRKZEE – 7Looked like he’d reached the end of a very short road when he was humiliated and hauled off after half an hour against Newcastle in December. Fair play for the way he’s fought back.No doubting there’s a good player in there – he just manages to keep him well hidden a lot of the time.You couldn’t argue with his work rate, though. Ran himself into the ground after Dorgu was sent off, clearing his box one minute, popping up in the Ipswich box then next.RASMUS HOJLUND – 4At times runs like he’s pulling a training sled…and at others he REALLY labours. On the whole another tough night for the Dane, although he isn’t being helped by a lack of service.But while there have been excuses, a centre forward will always be judged on goals and Hojlund simply hasn’t scored enough.Two in the Prem all season and none in two months…desperately needs the confidence booster a couple more would bring.ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 4On his day he can be as exciting as a young Ryan Giggs.On others he’s more like an out-of-form Antony (anyone remember what an in-form one was like by the way?)In fairness he didn’t get many chances to run at his full-back before he was hauled off as the sacrifice when Dorgu was dismissed.SUBSNOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI (for Garnacho, 45mins) – 6Thrown on when Dorgu walked to keep the numbers up at the back. Showed incredible energy levels again, the distance he covered on that right flank.All in all it was a pretty solid show – although he took a huge chance by rushing in and shoving Liam Delap to the floor in one late set-to.CASEMIRO (for Hojlund, 66mins) – 5Sent on for the final quarter to shore things up when being a man light was starting to impact energy levels.He was more the wise old head filling the gaps and offering an outlet, rather than charging around and launching himself into challenges.LINDELOF (for Yoro, 90 mins) – N/AERIKSEN (for Zirkzee, 90 mins) – N/A More

ARNE SLOT was sat in the main stand at Anfield on a night when Liverpool’s fans started celebrating the title.The moment Alexis Mac Alister swept a shot past Nick Pope for the Reds’ second goal, with Dominik Szoboszlai having scored the first, the sound of “we’re going to win the League” appeared to be sung by virtually every person inside the stadium.Dominik Szoboszlai enjoyed his opener as Liverpool boosted their title gripCredit: RexAlexis Mac Allister drilled the Reds’ second goal on 63 minutesCredit: RexArne Slot saw his Liverpool team stand and deliverCredit: PAApart from Slot, obviously. Although he was probably humming along.Incredibly, Liverpool are now 13 points clear and this gap is certainly unlucky for everyone else.With 10 games left, Liverpool have the cigars out so why don’t the Premier League get on with it and hand over the title now?Slot was banned from the dugout as he served the first of a two-match ban due to the red card he received at the end of the Merseyside derby against Everton for comments made to the officials.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThroughout that game at Goodison Park, Slot was the most  animated we had seen him since arriving in England and over the next day or so, the FA will release the reasons behind the ban and what was said by the Dutchman.Yet Slot, who posed for pictures with the mascots near the tunnel before taking his seat in the stands, looked nice and relaxed throughout – and little wonder.Even though Mo Salah failed to score for the ninth game in succession – yet he did deliver an assist  – the red machine rolled on relentlessly. For Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, it is now just one win in 21 matches against Liverpool and he will be hoping for much better luck in the Carabao Cup final on March 16.Most read in FootballSzoboszlai steered an 11th-minute breakthrough in a comfortable winCredit: RexBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSHowe refused to risk striker Alexander Isak after he picked up a slight groin strain. It was a sensible decision because it would be a disaster if they are without Isak for the final at Wembley.How Mo Salah bamboozled Man City with genius ‘backpedal trick’Instead, Newcastle gave a first Premier League start for injury-hit Callum Wilson, who turns 33 on Thursday, although he missed a good chance to level before half-time.Ultimately, Liverpool were comfortable even though Newcastle did improve in the second half.As you would expect, all the talk before the game was about Salah who is out of contract at the end of this season.Yet in an TV interview early in the day, Salah claimed there was still no news regarding a new deal.Salah also claimed this is his best campaign at the club even though this is the fifth time he has hit the 30-goal mark.The reason, Salah stressed, was he believes he is helping his team-mates play better and gave the examples of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.In under three minutes, Salah thought he had earned himself a penalty but to his astonishment, referee Stuart Attwell felt the Egyptian had fouled Lewis Hall.Newcastle got away with that as left-back Hall initiated the contact with Salah. But red shirts continued to swarm around the visitors in the final third so an early opening goal was inevitable and it came through in-form Hungarian midfielder Szoboszlai.Mac Allister takes the plaudits after his second-half clincherCredit: PADiaz made progress into the area without a proper challenge from Fabian Schar and Szoboszlai made space for himself by moving backwards a couple of yards towards the penalty spot. He then threaded a shot through the legs of both Sandro Tolani and Dan Burn.Although Diaz did some good work to create the goal, this was nothing compared to a dazzling run to create an opportunity for Kostas Tsimikas. Yet the Greek left-back, having replaced Andy Robertson in the team, proved why he has yet to score for Liverpool with a truly terrible finish.Newcastle had a couple of chances before the break and Wilson should have equalised when he was put clean through but he lifted the ball wide when he should have just hammered a shot at Alisson.Liverpool struggled to get out of their area in the second half and both Virgil van Dijk and Wilson needed treatment after a clash of heads.But just as Newcastle saw more of the ball, they were punished in clinical fashion after Sandro Tonali lost possession.Mac Allister collected the ball inside his own half, strode forward to the edge of the area without a proper challenge and exchanged passes with Salah before firing a shot past Pope. And so the knees-up at Anfield truly started.For Slot, with his team having been knocked out of the FA Cup, he will already turn his attentions to PSG and their last 16 Champions League tie in the French capital on Tuesday.It is a truly nasty reward for finishing top of the Champions League table.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut if they get past PSG, and bearing in mind they have a Cup final against Newcastle and the title has been effectively sealed, there will be genuine talk of a Liverpool treble. 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JAKE O’BRIEN stooped to conquer and grab the equaliser that extended Everton’s unbeaten run to seven games.In first-half stoppage time, O’Brien was among the burly Toffees defenders who failed to deal with a long throw and was then unable to stop Yoane Wissa giving Brentford the lead.Jake O’Brien flies in for Everton’s equaliserCredit: ReutersCarlos Alcaraz celebrates Jake O’Brien’s levellerCredit: PABut the towering right back took advantage of poor defending at the other end to head home with 13 minutes left.David Moyes’ side deserved the point after having much the better of the second half.And they could have had all three if Beto had not fluffed his third good chance of the evening in the dying minutes.Yet the Bees will also feel that they missed a big opportunity to put themselves right back in the mix in the top half of the table where every point counts.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThomas Frank’s side have now failed to win any of their last six home matches, having been brilliant at the Gtech earlier in the season.In the first half, they looked like the team which had more to play forWhatever Moyes says about the old-fashioned 40-point mark, you won’t need that to stay up this year and Everton took a good half hour to get going.Wissa’s goal was fitting reward for the Bees’ first-half superiority.Most read in FootballYoane Wissa arrived to head the breakthrough for the BeesCredit: PABEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSYet they could have been two goals down.For all the silky skills of Kevin Schade and Mikkel Damsgaard, and despite a number of decent openings, the hosts had not forced Jordan Pickford into a meaningful save before Beto fluffed two big chances.Dream Team Transfer Recommendations for Gameweek 26The first was comedy gold.When Jack Harrison attempted a through ball on the break, Bees defender Ethan Pinnock slipped and, in the process, accidentally impeded Beto.The striker regained his feet, ran on but then could only produce a tame shot that Brentord goalkeeper Mark Flekken blocked.Moments later, Charly Alcaraz’s header sent Beto clean through on goal. Again, his shot was too close to Flekken, who deflected it just wide.Wissa finally tested Pickford and then scored in the next phase of play.Everton’s great big defenders allowed Schade’s long throw to bounce, Bryan Mbeumo headed against the bar from close range and Wissa reacted quickest to nod in from on the goalline.In the opening minute of the second period, Brentford almost gifted an equaliser but Schade cleared from inside the six-yard box after Harrison’s corner had hit Kristoffer Ajer.Wissa celebrates putting Brentford in front in first-half stoppage timeCredit: PAThe visitors finally began to enjoy some sustained possession in the hosts’ half, without creating a proper chance.Wissa had a goal ruled out for offside after Keane Lewis-Potter opted to pass rather than shoot after Damsgaard’s luscious pass.It proved costly – but only because Brentford substitute Paris Maghoma’s first contribution was to allow O’Brien to equalise.Everton broke and Vitalii Mykolenko sent in a cross towards the back post. O’Brien lost Maghoma far too easily and stooped to head the ball across Flekken.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt could have been even better. But when Beto broke clear again his shot across Flekken was not hard or well-directed enough, and the Brentford goalkeeper saved once more. More

PATRICK DORGU owes his new team-mate Harry Maguire a drink.And while they’re at the bar, Andre Onana should probably be buying a couple for the England defender too.Man Utd bounced back to win a thriller against IpswichCredit: RexThe Red Devils secured a 3-2 victory despite playing the second half with 10 menCredit: ReutersMaguire was the Manchester United match-winner for a second straight home game – nodding in the decisive goal just after half-time.But that only came after Dorgu and Onana had done their utmost to keep Ipswich in the game during a calamitous first half.The new £25 million full-back handed Jaden Philogene an opening goal on a plate after an early mix-up with his goalkeeper.And to compound his misery on his first Prem start at Old Trafford, the Dane got a red card just before half-time for an X-rated tackle on Omari Hutchinson.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMinutes later Onana stood rooted to the spot as Philogene’s cross shot into the box trickled past him into the corner to level the game up. In the end it didn’t matter as – just like he did in the FA Cup earlier this month – Maguire used his head to come to United’s rescue.But Ruben Amorim must be wondering why this team have to do everything the hard way.Even by the standards of this nightmare season, it was a shocker of a start by United.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThe Tractor Boys last scored at Old Trafford way back in 1992 but they were handed a goal gift-wrapped and on a plate within four minutes.There was absolutely no danger as Dorgu looked to shepherd a hopeful ball forward back to his goalkeeper.Erik ten Hag reveals he HAS returned to work and may never go back to management after Man Utd sackingJaden Philogene put Ipswich ahead with just minutes on the clockCredit: ReutersPatrick Dorgu’s error saw the Tractor Boys take an early leadCredit: GettyBut the Dane never looked and he pushed his back pass beyond the helpless Onana.Jaden Philogene – who had trotted after the ball forward more in hope than expectation – could not believe his luck as he walked it into an empty net.The two United players looked at each other accusingly – but it was hard to blame Onana for this one.It was the easiest goal the £20 million winter signing from Aston Villa will ever score.And what a boost for Kieran McKenna on his return to Old Trafford.Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Maguire saves the day after Onana makes case to be WORST ever signingMANCHESTER UNITED eased their fears of the drop in a topsy-turvy relegation six-pointer with Ipswich.The Red Devils triumphed 3-2 despite playing the second half with ten men.A major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.Then, after United had recovered to lead 2-1, Dorgu saw a straight red card for a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.Philogene scored again to level it before the break only for Harry Maguire to nod in to be United’s saviour.But who was United’s best player on the night?Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings…Sam Morsy’s own goal in the 22nd minute saw United fire backCredit: PAJoshua Zirkzee’s pressure paid off as the visitors fired into their own netCredit: GettyThe Ipswich boss spent five years in a variety of roles on the coaching staff and was well regarded – before leaving to take charge at Portman Road in December 2021.Given they have lost seven of their 13 league games at home this season, you could forgive the home faithful for fearing the worst.Yet United showed some spirit by fighting back with Alex Palmer making a flying save to deny Maguire an equaliser.In the end the Red Devils needed a helping hand of their own to get level.Bruno Fernandes fired a curling free-kick into a crowd of players and Town skipper Sam Morsy nodded into his own net.Matthijs de Ligt put United ahead moments laterCredit: GettyHis goal sent Old Trafford wildCredit: ReutersFour minutes later they had turned the game on his head as Fernades sent over a corner that was met by Maguire.His header was saved by Palmer, who also pushed out the rebound from Diogo Dalot but Matthijs De Ligt was on hand to fire the loose ball into the roof of the net for his first goal at Old Trafford.The keeper who arrived from West Brom in the transfer window could count himself unlucky but at least he kept his team in it by saving from Dorgu minutes later.It looked as though it was going to be straight-forward from there as Ipswich struggled to stay in the game.But nothing is every straight-forward for United these days.Dorgu’s game went from bad to worse with a red card before the breakCredit: GettyThe new wing-back will now serve a three-game banCredit: EPADorgu’s challenge on Omari Hutchinson on the touchline near the dug-outs looked nasty but was not even considered worthy of a yellow card by ref Darren England.However he was told by the VAR to go and have another look and the more he looked, the more obvious it became that it was a clear red.The £25 million January signing’s first Prem game at Old Trafford had been nothing if not eventful. Not one he will want to tell the grandchildren about.Amorim did a quick reshuffle – throwing on Noussair Mazrouai for Alejandro Garnacho – and they were still composing themselves when the visitors levelled.It was another pantomime goal and Philogene’s hopeful ball into the box evaded everyone – including Liam Delap – and Onana as it rolled into the corner.There was still time in the first half for Ipswich to bag a secondCredit: RexPhilogene netted against as the sides went in levelCredit: GettyWhat must the United boss have been thinking as he made his way back to the dressing room at half-time? Yet again his team had hit the self-destruct button.Clearly he got something right though as his team began the second half in determined mood and restored their lead within a couple of minutes of the re-start.Yet again – for the sixth goal in succession – it came from a Fernandes set piece as the skipper curled over a corner.Maguire got above Philogene and planted his downward header beyond the despairing dive of Palmer.Harry Maguire put United back ahead minutes into the second halfCredit: ReutersIt proved to be the winning goal as United held out for victoryCredit: GettyIpswich had plenty of time to find a way back in again but were restricted to long range efforts with Jack Taylor slicing an effort wide.Another promising moment saw Jens Cajuste’s low cross just evade Philogene – who was hunting for a hat-trick.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut – believe it or not – despite being a man down, United got through the second half without too many scares, much to the relief of the Old Trafford faithful.There had been more than enough of those in the first half. 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