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      Arsenal can fool Liverpool in Super Sunday showdown with ‘musical chairs’ trap Trent Alexander-Arnold must beware of

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      ARSENAL could put their ‘musical chairs’ tactic to good use when they face Liverpool in a huge Premier League clash this weekend.The Gunners will be determined to bounce back from last weekend’s shock defeat to Bournemouth.Mikel Arteta will be busy on the training pitch this weekCredit: AlamyThe Gunners could replicate their ‘musical chairs’ tactic – and Declan Rice will play a pivotal roleCredit: GettyHowever, it will not be an easy task – especially given Mikel Arteta’s growing injury list.Despite being at risk of missing some key players – including Martin Odegaard and potentially Bukayo Saka – Arsenal can go into the match with some confidence thanks to the Spaniard’s tactical prowess.Arteta insisted his team will be “flying” at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.And he could utilise an effective ‘musical chairs’ trick to get the better of Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right side of Liverpool’s defence.Read More in FootballArteta’s ‘musical chairs’ tacticThe Gunners have been using a new system which uses an inverted left-back.New boy Riccardo Calafiori has taken up that role in recent weeks, but he could be replaced with Jurrien Timber or Oleksandr Zinchenko at the weekend due to injury.Arsenal left-back Riccardo Calafiori has been playing an inverted roleGabriel Martinelli has enjoyed a boost in confidence over the last few weeksDeclan Rice plays inside the left channel as a central midfielder, with left winger Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz completing a diamond.Those four players then rotate throughout the match and change positions, moving into the areas where space has been left.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIf Calafiori moves inside, Rice will shift out to the left and make the side of the diamond.The Italian then moves to the base, leaving plenty of space for Martinelli in attack.’If Arsenal lose to Liverpool, they are out of the Premier League title race… the gulf is massive’That would then give Alexander-Arnold a headache in terms of who he should mark.Liverpool will have to find a solution to keep tabs on the four moving players.And the Reds have got to be aware of who’s running and  who’s  staying in their position – which could also confuse midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.Whoever lines up at left-back could cause Liverpool troubleWho marks Salah?From a defensive point of view, Arsenal have to figure out who will be responsible for covering Liverpool’s star man, Mohamed Salah.With Calafiori likely to miss Sunday’s match due to a knee injury, Zinchenko may be in line to start.The Ukrainian has struggled up against Salah in the past which could be a cause for concern.It will be a game of stick or twist for Arsenal, with Gabriel Magalhaes potentially forced to step out onto the left – adding to the diamond.But £105million man Rice will likely cover the position.The midfielder is pivotal when it comes to Arsenal’s in-game formation switch from attack to defence.Arteta usually encourages his team to be brave by attacking with five.But with Salah and Luis Diaz going the other way, they can’t afford to be naive.Mohamed Salah will pose a huge threat to the Arsenal defenceCredit: APLONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal reacts as he encourages the fans prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Credit: GettyDirect David RayaOne of David Raya’s key strengths is his ability to play direct and diagonal passes from the back.Some opposition teams have attempted to catch him out in the pass by pressing high.But the Gunners have been able to play over that press thanks to Raya’s distribution.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat gives the wingers plenty of space to make a run in behind the opposition defence.It also gives Havertz, who is 6ft 4in tall, the chance to act as a target man, causing problems for the centre-backs.David Raya has the ability to skip the press and play direct to the attack More

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      Antony leaves Fenerbahce stadium on crutches after Man Utd star carried off on stretcher in Europa League clash

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      ANTONY left Fenerbahce’s stadium on crutches following Manchester United’s Europa League draw.The Brazilian initially came off the bench on 73 minutes with the game level at 1-1. Antony left Fenerbahce’s stadium on crutchesAntony was stretchered off the pitchCredit: GettyBut Antony was forced off himself just before the final whistle after going down with what looked to be a calf injury. The winger was stretchered off by the physio team and was later pictured leaving the ground on crutches. Antony has struggled for form this season with just five appearances and one goal to his name. Christian Eriksen opened the scoring in Turkey before Youssef En-Nesyri levelled five minutes after the break.READ MORE ON MAN UTDIt means United have drawn all three of their Europa League matches. And under-fire manager Erik ten Hag spoke out following Antony’s unfortunate injury. He said: “It’s really unlucky for him. I feel real compassion for him, when he worked so hard in training.”His training performances are that good that he deserved to come on. When you have to come off so quickly, that is really sad to see.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Hopefully, it’s not too bad, we have to wait 24 hours for what the assessment is.”The forward is now set for medical checks ahead of United’s trip to West Ham on Sunday.Furious Jose Mourinho’s CUTTING dig at referee Clement Turpin after red card vs Man UtdJOSE MOURINHO launched a sarcastic blast at ref Clement Turpin after he was red-carded in his clash with former club Manchester United. The Fenerbahce boss saw his side fight back to earn a point as United tossed away the lead for a third successive drawn Europa League match.Mourinho was sent to the stands after raging against Turpin’s failure to award a penalty against Manuel Ugarte for a challenge on Bright Osayi-Samuel.And Mourinho scowled: “The referee told me something incredible. He said at the same time he could see the action in the box and my behaviour on the touchline.“I congratulate him because he is absolutely incredible. During the game, 100 miles per hour, he had one eye on the penalty situation and one eye on my behaviour on the bench. That’s the explanation he gave me.”That is why he is one of the best referees in the world!”Moment Man United fans attacked hours before match in IstanbulThe match would finish 1-1 in Turkey as the Red Devils slumped to 21st in the Europa League table.It also meant they haven’t tasted a European win for TWELVE MONTHS.Man Utd ratings vs Fenerbahce: Onana saves the day for Red Devils as Lindelof has a stinker MANCHESTER UNITED were held to a 1-1 draw by Fenerbahce on a disappointing night in Turkey.Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock for Erik ten Hag’s side in the first half before En-Nesyri levelled soon after the break.Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands in the second half after a touchline tantrum.But the Red Devils could find a much-needed winner for Erik ten Hag.SunSport’s Emillia Hawkins rates the performances…Andre Onana – 7Made an outstanding double save in the 37th minute to keep two attempts from Youssef En-Nesyri out.His defenders could’ve done much better to prevent Fenerbahce’s goal.Diogo Dalot – 5Failed to track back at times and had his blushes saved in the first half by Ugarte, who made a crucial tackle on Dusan Tadic to prevent a goal.Matthijs de Ligt – 6Made some good blocks during the first half to keep Fenerbahce at bay.Missed a few chances from set-pieces after the break.Victor Lindelof – 4Failed to follow En-Nesyri for Fenerbahce’s opening goal and made no attempt to win the ball.Hauled off in the 54th minute.Lisandro Martinez – 5Like Lindelof, he did not apply any pressure to En-Nesyri for the hosts’ first goal. Poor communication from both.Christian Eriksen – 7Broke the deadlock for United with a great strike into the top-left corner from the edge of the box.Manuel Ugarte – 6Won the ball in the build-up to the first goal and saved Man Utd from conceding with a fantastic last-ditch tackle in front of goal in the 22nd minute.Was lucky to avoid giving away a penalty after the break.Noussair Mazraoui – 6Didn’t look too out of place starting in the No10 position. Played a role in the build-up to the goal, passing the ball to Zirkzee who got the assist.Eventually moved into left-back, allowing Martinez to move central.Marcus Rashford – 5Played out of preferred position and started on the right as opposed to the left.Didn’t make too much of an impact on the game.Alejandro Garnacho – 6Played a key role in the build-up to Erikson’s goal by making a direct run into the box.Challenged Dominik Livakovic a few times and looked lively.Joshua Zirkzee – 5A poor overall performance from the striker despite providing the assist for Eriksen’s opener.Failed to make much of an impact and was hauled off in the 54th minute. More

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      Marinakis ref spat is so poor… the toilet behaviour of the Nottingham Forest chief is undoing all his hard work

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      HOPEFULLY Evangelos Marinakis will not be watching Nottingham Forest’s game at Leicester from home tonight.Or if so, pray he has a Kleenex handy in case that terrible hacking cough suddenly resurfaces and he gets an uncontrollable urge to gob all over the luxury shag-pile.Nottingham Forest Owner Evangelos Marinakis is in hot water for spittingCredit: GettyMore importantly, Forest needs its owner to be in good health.The cigar-chomping billionaire has done wonders for the club in his seven years as majority shareholder.He has turned things around at almost every level, establishing them as a Prem club, integrating the women’s team into the fabric of the business, looking to invest in the Trent Rockets.For a Greek to take a serious interest in cricket is remarkable in itself.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLYet all that admirable effort reviving a football team with a proud history – especially under legend Brian Clough – is being undone by the toilet behaviour of the man at the top.Whether or not 57-year-old Mr Marinakis deliberately spat in the direction of the officials at the City Ground is beside the point.The barely credible excuse that he suffers with a smoker’s cough, forcing him to launch a globule of tobacco-infused phlegm on the floor of the tunnel as he passed by Josh Smith, Tim Robinson and  James Mainwaring, is irrelevant. Marinakis and Forest need to learn to swallow sometimes. Spitting is unpalatable even when players do it.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut in the middle of a match they at least have mitigating circumstances, the players are after all running alive with lactic acid.For a member of the public to do it under little, or no, duress is deplorable.Footballers you didn’t know were related from Premier League icons to Lionel MessiEven more so when it occurs coincidentally after your team has been on the wrong end of a decision or two in a game.Forest had just lost to Fulham last month when Marinakis let fly from the back of his throat as he passed by the men in black after the final whistle.They had seen two penalty appeals turned down, while Fulham won it with a debatable spot-kick of their own.Annoying yes, but no cause is good enough to warrant that kind of reaction.Do it in the street when a copper walks past and see what happens.Forest have enjoyed a stunning rise since the Greek took over in 2017Credit: AFPJamie Carragher is lucky to still have a career in television after letting fly with a large amount of spittle at a mickey-taking bloke sitting in the car next to his in a traffic jam.Mates of mine who support Forest have embraced the commitment and love the passion of Marinakis.It’s never a dull moment with him in charge, they say. But even they are disappointed in this latest episode.Ironically, the larger-than-life character lost his rag when Forest were thumped 5-0 at Fulham last season and he stomped out of Craven Cottage in a huff.I’ve never known Fulham to wind anyone up.Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.Marinakis’ VIP pass was discovered soon after in the privet bush of a nearby house. There wasn’t enough evidence for Hammersmith & Fulham Council to prosecute for littering.But the serial complaining at every injustice is already overshadowing the reconstruction of Nottingham Forest into a formidable football team.If it’s not the owner, then it’s the manager Nuno Espirito Santo, or the coaches giving it to the referees in brutal and undignified terms.All the while unravelling all the positive PR that the club deserves for the cracking job of remodelling Forest as a team capable of pushing for a return to Europe.Marinakis’s behaviour is threatening to undo all his good workCredit: AlamyAnd it’s naive to believe the officials don’t remember. As human beings, the subconscious memory bank will kick into action next time Forest needs the benefit of the doubt.Gobbing off about things you don’t agree with, or simply gobbing in front of other people might make you feel better there and then.But it’s a distasteful business that can leave a nasty stain on a club’s otherwise good character.Incidentally, the City Ground, like all others, is a no-smoking stadium.So isn’t it the perfect place for Marinakis to start kicking the habit anyway?TV gold CapersLegendary man mountain Geoff Capes passed away this weekCredit: GettyFAREWELL Geoff Capes, shot put legend and symbol of childhood in the 70s and 80s.Christmas back then wasn’t complete without the one-time policeman filling the no-man’s land of TV time between festive movies by holding ten car batteries at arm’s length for half an hour.Or perhaps pulling a juggernaut along by rope as he bossed it in the Useless Sport Olympics, otherwise known as World’s or Europe’s Strongest Man.I once got fairly close to England’s 6ft 5in man-mountain  at  the  Crieff  Highland Games when I was 11 and on holiday in Scotland.He was tossing the caber in full kilt regalia and looked every inch the gladiator of his time.Mum even urged me to get his autograph, which he was only too happy to sign on a scrap of paper.But I have always suspected it was more for her than for me.Fifa right this timeLionel Messi continues to rack up the silverware with Inter MiamiCredit: ReutersFIFA have been accused of showing preferential treatment to David  Beckham’s Inter Miami when it comes to next summer’s Club World Cup.There is outrage in the US that the MLS leaders have been given a golden ticket to join the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich at the expanded tournament on American soil.Critics say Miami have only been invited because Lionel Messi is in their squad – you know, arguably the greatest player ever.Columbus Crew, currently second in MLS, have such luminaries as ‘Cucho’ Hernandez – who scored five goals in five years at Watford – and Christian Ramirez, formerly of Aberdeen, on their ‘roster’.Who would you rather pay to see? Not everything Fifa does is completely insane.MOHAMMED KUDUS has already had one ruck with West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui after being subbed at half-time against Brentford.Now he faces a three-game ban for violent conduct, plus further punishment for his actions after the red card incident in the 4-1 debacle at Spurs on Saturday.I can’t help but suspect there is a very talented but highly frustrated young man there who feels he isn’t getting what he deserves in a team that is massively underperforming.West Ham always looked like a stepping stone to bigger things for the ambitious 24-year-old Ghana midfielder.Fans could be heading for another Dimitri Payet or Marko Arnautovic situation unless Lopetegui turns things around soon.Oleksandr Zinchenko gave half his wardrobe away to Shakhtar fansCredit: GettyFANS are revolting at the increasing price of season tickets and it’s all admirable to see…West Ham supporters can release as many black balloons as they like – and hard-pressed punters can wave placards and banners until the cows come home. But I have said it before that only when they make a real stand by getting up out of their overpriced seats and walking out of a game halfway through, or by refusing to renew at the end of the season, will Premier League clubs listen.Liverpool fans did it brilliantly with their 77th-minute walkout some years back when the owners threatened to raise prices to £77 – it stopped the plan dead in its tracks.AFTER his Arsenal side had beaten Shakhtar Donetsk, Oleksandr  Zinchenko made a point of saluting the away fans.The proud Ukrainian practically stripped naked handing over his kit as souvenirs while he and his countrymen recognised the hell that is their war with Russia.READ MORE SUN STORIESNot one Arsenal fan begrudged Zinchenko that touching moment after Tuesday’s Champions League clash.Now tell me sport and politics can’t mix. More

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      Tottenham player ratings: Lucas Bergvall looks a star in the making but Radu Dragusin endures another mixed display

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      TOTTENHAM made it a hat-trick of Europa League wins thanks to Richarlison’s penalty against ten-man AZ Alkmaar. The Brazilian converted from the spot on 53 minutes in an opening goal that eventually separated the sides. Richarlison won the game for TottenhamCredit: PAAnd the visitor’s night got even worse with five minutes to go when David Moller Wolfe was shown a second yellow. Here is how Dan King rated Spurs’ players from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fraser Forster – 7Brilliant save and good rush from line in first half to stop Spurs falling behind. A spectator for most of the second half but made smart stop in last 20 minutes.Archie Gray – 5Unable to team up with fellow teenager Moore in first half to match threat from Tottenham’s other flank and struggled with pace of Ernest Poku.READ MORE IN football Radu Dragusin – 5Another mixed display. Good on the ball one moment, not so much the next. Sometimes looked strong, but then vulnerable, especially when Alkmaar ran at him.Radu Dragusin had another mixed displayCredit: GettyBen Davies – 7Tottenham’s Mr Dependable was their most convincing defender, thanks mainly to good positioning and calmness. Although even he showed signs of tension late on.Destiny Udogie – 6Did a bit of everything in the opening 45 minutes, although as usual his work in opposition half tended to be better. Less adventurous in the second half.Rodrigo Bentancur – 6After a commanding start, was unable to stop Alkmaar from gaining a first-half foothold. Apart from occasional lapses, maintained his authority better after the break.Most read in FootballMikey Moore enjoyed success on the leftCredit: AlamyMikey Moore – 7Missed golden early chance and looked uncomfortable on right. Immediate, massive improvement when switched to left, running at defence and creating chances..Lucas Bergvall – 8Impressive display with everything but a goal. Full of running, composed, and found killer passes that should have become assists. But had to go off injured.James Maddison – 7Skipper for the night had some lovely moments without finding a decisive contribution – until he let Richarlison have the penalty.Timo Werner was hooked at half timeCredit: RexTimo Werner – 5Superb cross for Moore chance but woeful finish when played through by Bergvall told you everything about his confidence levels. Hooked at half time. Richarlison – 6Busy and committed in first half, but ball wasn’t sticking much. Really wanted to take the penalty and converting it should be a morale boost. Lasted just over an hour.SUBSBrennan Johnson (for Werner, half time) – 5Failed to make most of a Bergvall pass. Quieter than usual.Dominic Solanke (for Richarlison, 65) – 6Worked hard without having a sight of goal. Dejan Kulusevski (for Bergvall, 73) – 6Gave the Spurs midfield the legs it needed to see out game.Pape Sarr (for Maddison, 73)  – 6Also brought an injection of energy to dampen Alkmaar hopes of a comeback.READ MORE SUN STORIESWilson Odobert (for Moore, 87) – 6Had two sights of goal but steered second wide from close range.Watch Jose Mourinho’s hilarious reaction after Man Utd keeper Andre Onana’s ‘double worldy’ save More

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      Man Utd ratings: Onana makes fantastic double save but is let down by poor defensive display from Lindelof

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      MANCHESTER UNITED were held to a 1-1 draw by Fenerbahce on a disappointing night in Turkey.Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock for Erik ten Hag’s side in the first half with a composed strike into the top-left corner.Andre Onana made a huge double save to keep United ahead in the first halfCredit: ReutersVictor Lindelof failed to challenge Youssef En-Nesyri for the ball before the striker scoredCredit: EPABut the Red Devils quickly found themselves under pressure.Andre Onana pulled off an outstanding double save to keep his team ahead just before half-time.However, things quickly fell apart after the break when some poor defending led to Youssef En-Nesyri equalising.Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands by the referee, furious his side were denied a penalty.Read More in FootballAnd United were unable to restore their lead and now sit 21st in the Europa League group stage table.SunSport’s Emillia Hawkins rates the performance.Andre Onana – 7Made an outstanding double save in the 37th minute to keep two attempts from En-Nesyri out.Onana stepped up to make two huge saves in quick successionCredit: APHis defenders could’ve done much better to prevent Fenerbahce’s goal.Most read in Europa LeagueDiogo Dalot – 5Failed to track back at times and had his blushes spared in the first half by Ugarte, who made a crucial tackle on Dusan Tadic to prevent a goal.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMatthijs de Ligt – 6 Made some good blocks during the first half to keep Fenerbahce at bay.Missed a few chances from set-pieces after the break. Probably Man Utd’s best defender on the night.Jose Mourinho makes cheeky dig at the referee after being sent off against old club Manchester UnitedLindelof failed to impressCredit: ReutersVictor Lindelof – 4 Failed to follow En-Nesyri for Fenerbahce’s opening goal and made no attempt to win the ball.Hauled off in the 54th minute.Lisandro Martinez – 5 Like Lindelof, he did not apply any pressure to En-Nesyri for the hosts’ first goal. Poor communication from both.Christian Eriksen – 7Broke the deadlock for United with a great strike into the top-left corner from the edge of the box.The midfielder has now provided a goal involvement in every Europa League game this season for United.Manuel Ugarte – 6 Won the ball in the build-up to the first goal and saved Man Utd from conceding with a fantastic last-ditch tackle in front of goal in the 22nd minute.Was lucky to avoid giving away a penalty after the break.Noussair Mazraoui – 6 Didn’t look too out of place starting in the No10 position. Played a role in the build-up to the goal, passing the ball to Zirkzee who got the assist.Eventually moved to left-back, allowing Martinez to move central.Noussair Mazraoui played in the No10 position before moving to left-backMarcus Rashford – 5 Played out of preferred position and started on the right as opposed to the left.Didn’t make too much of an impact on the game.Alejandro Garnacho – 6Played a key role in the build-up to Eriksen’s goal by making a direct run into the box.Challenged Dominik Livakovic a few times and looked lively.READ MORE SUN STORIESJoshua Zirkzee – 5A poor overall performance from the striker despite providing the assist for Eriksen’s opener.Failed to make much of an impact and was hauled off in the 54th minute. More

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      Fenerbahce 1-1 Man Utd LIVE RESULT: Jose Mourinho SENT OFF in frenetic Europa League clash that ends level

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Fenerbahce’s thrilling Europa League tie has ended level – but the major talking point of the night is Jose Mourinho receiving a red card!Christian Eriksen’s sublime strike initially put the Red Devils ahead before En-Nesyri levelled up the score in Istanbul.And in typical Jose Mourinho style, the Portuguese legend got sent off for shouting at the fourth official.RESULT: Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdTV channel: TNT Sports 2Live stream: discovery+Fenerbahce XI; Livakovic; Muldur, Djiku, Soyncu, Osayi-Samuel; Amrabat, Fred, Szymanski; Tadic, En-Nesyri, Saint-MaximinMan Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Lindelof, Ugarte; Garnacho, Eriksen, Rashford; ZirkzeeFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium with our live blog below…Mourinho on Uefa Jose Mourinho claims he wants to manage a struggling Premier League club next – so that he doesn’t have to compete in Europe, believing that Uefa have a vendetta against him.I think the best thing I have to do, when I leave Fenerbahce, is that I go to a club that doesn’t play Uefa competitions.If any team in the bottom half in England needs a coach in two years I’m ready to go.There is no point appealing (the red card) since the Roma vs Sevilla Europa League Final there is no point.Jose MourinhoCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedMore Mourinho praiseFenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho praised his players for going above and beyond against Manchester United despite a number of absences.Probably in England people will speak about two or three Man Utd players that didn’t play, you don’t know how many of ours didn’t play because as a start, we have four players off the Europa League list, and then we also had injuries and had to finish the game with a centre-back playing right-back and a right-back playing left-back.We had to do a crazy puzzle, but our performance was extraordinary. I couldn’t ask for anything more from the players.I know English media will say Manchester United didn’t play well but I think it would be fair to say we did an extraordinary match and we were better than them. A good result for Manchester United.Jose MourinhoTNT SportsCredit: RexCopy linkCopiedMourinho on resultFenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho praised his players’ performance against Manchester United and suggested his former team was lucky to leave Istanbul with a point.They [Man Utd] got a point against us. Not us against them.We played amazing. I was telling the players, ‘If we play like this in the Turkish league we’ll destroy everything’.Because of course we played against a team that is in a superior level than us. Of course the Premier League has more quality, more intensity, more pace, more everything.I think my boys did an amazing match.Jose MourinhoTNT SportsCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedMourinho addresses red cardFenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho delivered a vintage post-match interview after his red card against Jose Mourinho,I don’t want to speak about it.He [the referee] told me something incredible. He said that at the same time he could see the action in the box and my behaviour on the touchline.I congratulated him because he’s absolutely incredible.His peripheral vision during the game – 100mph – he had one eye on the penalty situation and he had one eye on the bench and on my behaviour. That’s the explanation he gave me. That’s why he’s one of the best referees in the world.I watched the incident, I don’t speak about the incident.Jose MourinhoTNT SportsCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedMourinho dismissal in picturesFenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho was sent off in the 59th minute of the Europa League clash with Manchester United.Mourinho protested for a penalty after Bright Osayi-Samuel was brought down inside the Manchester United area from a late challenge by Manuel Ugarte.The incident took place after Osayi-Samuel had offloaded the ball but the ex-Chelsea, United and Tottenham boss had a things or two to say.That led to his dismissal and the Portuguese tactician watched the rest of the game from the stands.Credit: GettyCredit: GettyCredit: GettyCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedEuropa League tableManchester United have dropped to 21st place after their winless streak extended to three matches.United wasted a lead for the third game in a row after hosting Twente and travelling to Porto.The Red Devils are four points away from the top eight and automatic qualification for the Last 16.More below:Copy linkCopiedFinal word from Dave Kidd in IstanbulWell, that was manic – after tossing away yet another lead, Man Utd have gone a full year without winning in Europe.This was chaotic, as every United away trip seems to be – even without Jose Mourinho’s red card for a second-half tantrum.There is precious little sense of gameplan from Erik ten Hag, especially with square pegs in round holes – it was unsurprising that Manchester United finished strongly once their players were all playing in the right positions.Credit: EPACopy linkCopiedView from Dave Kidd in IstanbulThey stepped into ‘Hell’ and came face to face with the old devil himself. But Manchester United escaped from Jose Mourinho’s lair with a point in another night of European mayhem.Amid the chaos, Mourinho was red-carded, Andre Onana pulled off a ridiculous double save and Erik ten Hag survived another tactical brainstorm despite Youssef En-Nesyri’s header cancelling out Christian Eriksen’s openerHaving conceded 17 goals on their previous five trips overseas, this was actually a pretty respectable effort from Ten Hag’s dysfunctional team – who have now drawn three out of three in the Europa League and face a battle to avoid a humiliating early elimination.They have now failed to win in European competition for an entire year, since a 1-0 home win over Copenhagen. Istanbul has provided plenty of fire-pit nights for United both here at Fenerbahce, where they were once thumped 3-0 under Sir Alex Ferguson, and at Galatasaray, venue for their original ‘Welcome To Hell’ trip back in the 90s.So despite Ten Hag fielding a full-back as a ‘false ten’ and dropping Rasmus Hojlund, they ended up relieved to avoid defeat. Mourinho, of course, is never knowingly upstaged and the tantrum he chucked when Bright Osayi-Samuel was denied a second-half penalty earned him a place in the stands.He speaks plenty of languages, the Special One. And two of them are ‘foul’ and ‘abusive’. With Bruno Fernandes suspended after his red card in Porto, Ten Hag opted to play full-back Mazraoui as his No10 – to the bafflement of many.And despite his winner against Brentford on Saturday, Hojlund was benched. Ten Hag rarely does the obvious thing. But not in a good way.Credit: RexCopy linkCopiedFenerbahce vs Man Utd statsFenerbahce dominated 52 per cent of possession against Manchester United.Fener registered a total of 10 shots, half of which were on target.United, on the other hand, produced 12 shots, five of which were on target. More below:Copy linkCopiedFT: Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdManchester United’s winless streak in the Europa League has been extended to three matches.United picked up their third successive draw and also wasted a lead for the third straight match.The Red Devils went up against former manager Jose Mourinho, who also experienced a night to forget.The Manchester giants opened the scoring after just 15 minutes with Christian Eriksen.Alejandro Garnacho drove the ball forward down the left and played it inside the penalty area where Noussair Mazxraoui flicked it for Joshua Zirkzee who played it back for Eriksen to blast a shot past Dominik Livakovic.Fener missed a glorious chance with Tusan Tadic in front of open goal but the ex-Southampton star was stopped by a perfectly-timed tackle by Manuel Ugarte.Youssef En-Nesyri was then denied by a stunning double save from United goalkeeper Andre Onana.However, the hosts got their equaliser in the second half with En-Nesyri on 49 minutes.The striker picked up a pinpoint cross from Alain Saint-Maximin and headed it past Onana after some dreadful defending by Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof, who didn’t even jump.Mourinho then turned back the clocks as he went wild on the bench when Fenerbahce were denied a penalty after a late challenge by Ugarte on Bright Osayi-Samuel.That led to a red card for the ex-Chelsea and Tottenham boss who watched the rest of the match from the stands.Credit: EPACopy linkCopiedFT: Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdPeep!That’s full-time in Istanbul!!!Copy linkCopied90+3 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdChanceMan Utd ace Eriksen takes on the free-kick which is headed out where Mazraoui is waiting but his shot goes all the way up to the noesbleed seats.Copy linkCopied90+2 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdYellow cardFenerbahce ace Muldur booked for a rough tackle on Amad.Man Utd earna free-kick in a promising position down the right.Copy linkCopied90 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdSubstitutionFenerbahce respond with Hakan coming on for Szymanski.Five more minutes of stoppage time to go.Copy linkCopied88 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdSubstitution Another injury for Man Utd manager Ten Hag who brings on Amad to replace Antony.The winger is in so much pain he required a stretcher to take him off the pitch!Copy linkCopied87 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdAntony signalling to the bench that he needs to come off. Amad to come on now.Not far away from full-time and Fenerbahce are now the ones that have a lot to thank their goalkeeper for.Copy linkCopied85 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdMan Utd ace Antony goes down and it looks like he’s in a lot of pain.United physios enter the pitch, the winger is hurting a lot it seems.Probably stepped heavily during a challenge.Copy linkCopied84 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdChanceAnother shot by Man Utd star Garnacho is saved by Livakovic.Copy linkCopied83 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdChanceMan Utd earna free-kick in a dangerous spot down the left and Eriksen delivers a clever curling shot that almost surprises Livakovic, who palms it away with his right hand.Copy linkCopied80 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdWe are in the final 10 minutes of the match and tempo has really slowed down.Man Utd not showing many signs of ending their winless drought…Copy linkCopied79 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdSubstitutionFenerbahce make a triple change as Dzeko, Kahveci and Ismail come on for En-Nesyri, Tadic and Saint-Maximin.Copy linkCopied78 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdMan Utd look a lot more dangerous with Hojlund up front.Mazraoui now plays at left-back with Dalot on the other side, Lisandro Martinez at centre-back and Eriksen at No10.Copy linkCopied76 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdChanceMan Utd ace Hojlund drives the ball forward and tries a shot from the edge of the box, but it lacks power and Livakovic picks it up with ease.Copy linkCopied75 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdView from Dave Kidd in IstanbulJose Mourinho is never knowingly upstaged – after a bravura press-conference performance yesterday the former United boss has been sent packing from his technical area after Bright Osayi-Samuel was denied a penalty.It was a decent shout – followed by some apparently indecent shouting.Do not be surprised if they manage to smuggle him back into the dugout in a laundry basket, which was one of his tricks while banned during his Chelsea days.Copy linkCopied73 Fenerbahce 1-1 Man UtdSubstitutionMan Utd boss Ten Hag introduces Antony who replaces Rashford.Copy linkCopied More

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      Tottenham 1 AZ Alkmaar 0: Richarlison maintains 100 per cent Europa League start after penalty row with James Maddison

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      RICHARLISON maintained Tottenham’s 100 per cent Europa League start – but only after winning a penalty ROW with captain James Maddison.On an evening when Tottenham’s teenage trio shined, it was the returning Brazilian that proved the match-winner despite a bizarre on-field argument with his teammate.Richarlison announced his return to the Spurs side with a goalCredit: PAThe Brazilian made no mistake from the spot after stepping up to take a second-half penaltyCredit: ReutersJames Maddison was brought down in the box in the opening 45 minutes, only for VAR to overturn the callCredit: ReutersOn his first start of the season, having recovered from a calf strain, the No.9 striker scored a Panenka-style spot-kick that broke the AZ Alkmaar resistance.Yet after summer signing Luca Bergvall had been decked by Maxim Dekker, Maddison negotiated at length with Richarlison, 27, and actually took the ball OFF the disappointed South American.Moments later, it was back in Richarlison’s hands and with a steely gaze, he managed to poke fun at goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro with a straight-down-the-middle strike on 53 minutes.Maddison, who wore the skipper’s armband for the night following the absence of Son Heung-min, did not bear any grudges with the episode.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd the England playmaker was the first to rush over and hug Richarlison, who did his pigeon-dance celebration that was a hallmark of the 2022 World Cup.In a year in which he revealed his mental health struggles, this was a welcome sight for him and everyone connected with the player.His coolly-taken goal means it is now three wins out of three and Spurs are on course to qualify for the top eight spots in this revamped, money-grabbing new format.Postecoglou made NINE changes to the side that thrashed West Ham 4-1 on Saturday and that selection gamble did not backfire.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSTNT Sports host Becky Ives leaps off Tottenham Hotspur Stadium roof on live TV as she screams ‘to dare is to do’Spurs ratings vs Alkmaar: Kids Bergvall impresses on rare start but Dragusin has uncomfortable nightTOTTENHAM made it a hat-trick of Europa League wins thanks to Richarlison’s penalty against ten-man AZ Alkmaar.The Brazilian converted from the spot on 53 minutes in an opening goal that eventually separated the sides.Here is how Dan King rated Spurs’ players from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.Fraser Forster – 7Brilliant save and good rush from line in first half to stop Spurs falling behind. A spectator for most of the second half but made smart stop in last 20 minutes.Archie Gray – 5Unable to team up with fellow teenager Moore in first half to match threat from Tottenham’s other flank and struggled with pace of Ernest Poku.Radu Dragusin – 5Another mixed display. Good on the ball one moment, not so much the next. Sometimes looked strong, but then vulnerable, especially when Alkmaar ran at him.Ben Davies – 7Tottenham’s Mr Dependable was their most convincing defender, thanks mainly to good positioning and calmness. Although even he showed signs of tension late on.Destiny Udogie – 6Did a bit of everything in the opening 45 minutes, although as usual his work in opposition half tended to be better. Less adventurous in the second half.Rodrigo Bentancur – 6After a commanding start, was unable to stop Alkmaar from gaining a first-half foothold. Apart from occasional lapses, maintained his authority better after the break.Mikey Moore – 7Missed golden early chance and looked uncomfortable on right. Immediate, massive improvement when switched to left, running at defence and creating chances..Lucas Bergvall – 8Impressive display with everything but a goal. Full of running, composed, and found killer passes that should have become assists. But had to go off injured.James Maddison – 7Skipper for the night had some lovely moments without finding a decisive contribution – until he let Richarlison have the penalty.Timo Werner – 5Superb cross for Moore chance but woeful finish when played through by Bergvall told you everything about his confidence levels. Hooked at half time.Richarlison – 6Busy and committed in first half, but ball wasn’t sticking much. Really wanted to take the penalty and converting it should be a morale boost. Lasted just over an hour.SUBSBrennan Johnson (for Werner, half time) – 5Failed to make most of a Bergvall pass. Quieter than usual.Dominic Solanke (for Richarlison, 65) – 6Worked hard without having a sight of goal.Dejan Kulusevski (for Bergvall, 73) – 6Gave the Spurs midfield the legs it needed to see out game.Pape Sarr (for Maddison, 73) – 6Also brought an injection of energy to dampen Alkmaar hopes of a comeback.Only full-back Destiny Udogie and Maddison – a half-time sub against the Hammers – retained their places.Three teenagers were given a run-out – Bergvall, Mikey Moore and Archie Gray – and what a special occasion this was for them all, playing in a European clash under the lights in front of a packed home crowd.What a dream start it could have been for the 17-year-old forward Moore on his first appearance in the starting XI in N17.The left-wing cross on five minutes from Timo Werner was delivered perfectly but the header from close range by the academy graduate, who had wriggled free of his marker, was wasted.Later on, though, he would be serenaded by the Tottenham faithful for his industry and work-rate with that old Harry Kane song: “He’s one of our own…”Richarlison and Maddison clashed over who would take the second-half penaltyCredit: GettyThe pair hugged it out after the Brazilian had tucked it awayCredit: PAOne of the other youngsters given a go was the blond-haired, 18-year-old Bergvall, a £8.5million recruit, whose night was unfortunately cut short due to a knock.On 27 minutes, the Swedish midfielder’s beautiful outside-of-the-boot ball dissected the AZ defence and this could have led to the opening goal of an otherwise tedious first half.The problem was the lovely pass fell to Werner and the German loanee – not the most prolific of strikers – produced a typically tame finish that the AZ goalkeeper easily saved.Werner’s wastefulness was punished and he was hooked off at half-time for Brennan Johnson, who had a half-chance to score inside a minute of coming on.AZ – who had a first-half header by Alexandre Penetra brilliantly saved by back-up goalkeeper Fraser Forster – had some chances but were unable to breach the home defence.There were several times that Tottenham gave away the ball and lived dangerously and they were lucky that the electric Ernest Poku did not punish them – and that Forster’s concentration did not falter.The Dutch side’s night got worse when David Moller Wolfe received a second yellow for a silly foul and watched the rest of the match from inside the bowels of the stadium.Maddison cleared up the penalty row in his post-match interview, telling TNT Sports: “Initially we both wanted to take it. I am a senior player, I was the captain today, I was going to take the penalty.READ MORE SUN STORIES”hen a little thought in my head, when I was stood there, I had a little conversation with myself. Richy has come back from an injury, it can be difficult, especially for a striker.”I knew that last year as well when I had a long injury. It took me a while to get my first goal. That gives you confidence.” More

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      Fenerbahce 1 Man Utd 1: Red Devils now 12 MONTHS without a win in Europe as fiery clash sees old boss Mourinho sent off

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      THEY stepped into ‘Hell’ and came face to face with the old devil himself. But Manchester United escaped from Jose Mourinho’s lair with a point in another night of European mayhem. Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands as he faced his old sideCredit: EPAChristian Eriksen opened the scoring for Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyAmid the chaos, Mourinho was red-carded, Andre Onana pulled off a ridiculous double save and Erik ten Hag survived another tactical brainstorm despite Youssef En-Nesyri’s header cancelling out Christian Eriksen’s opener.Having conceded 17 goals on their previous five trips overseas, this was actually a pretty respectable effort from Ten Hag’s dysfunctional team – who have now drawn three out of three in the Europa League and face a battle to avoid a humiliating early elimination.  They have now failed to win in European competition for an entire year, since a 1-0 home win over Copenhagen on October 24, 2023. Istanbul has provided plenty of fire-pit nights for United both here at Fenerbahce, where they were once thumped 3-0 under Sir Alex Ferguson, and at Galatasaray, the venue for their original ‘Welcome To Hell’ trip back in the 90s. READ MORE ON MAN UTDSo despite Ten Hag fielding a full-back as a ‘false ten’ and dropping Rasmus Hojlund, they ended up relieved to avoid defeat.  Mourinho, of course, is never knowingly upstaged and the tantrum he chucked when Bright Osayi-Samuel was denied a second-half penalty earned him a place in the stands. He speaks plenty of languages, the Special One. And two of them are ‘foul’ and ‘abusive’.With Bruno Fernandes suspended after his red card in Porto, Ten Hag opted to play full-back Noussair Mazraoui as his No10 – to the bafflement of many. Most read in Europa LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd despite his winner against Brentford on Saturday, Hojlund was benched. Ten Hag rarely does the obvious thing. But not in a good way. Manchester United vs Fenerbahce: Player Ratings (1)Mourinho had been in typically mischievous form at his pre-match press conference, claiming a potential Premier League winners medal with United for the 2017-18 season when his side finished runners-up behind Manchester City – who are facing 115 League charges of financial wrongdoing.   The Sukru Saracoglu Stadium was packed and raucous well before kick-off.When United were in possession, the shrill whistling of the home crowd perforated eardrums. But it was Fenerbahce who set the early pace – especially their former Newcastle box-of-frogs Allan Saint-Maximin – all nutmegs, shoulder drops and slalom runs at the United defence.  Former QPR man Osayi-Samuel skinned Lisandro Martinez but shot into the side-netting. This was no stereotypically negative Mourinho team. And Rashford had just been booked for a foul on Sebastian Szymanski when, against the run of play, United fashioned a fine counter-attacking goal. Manuel Ugarte won possession, Alejandro Garnacho sprinted down the left and Mazraoui fed Joshua Zirkzee, who cut back for Eriksen to thump his shot into the corner of the net. Furious Jose Mourinho’s CUTTING dig at referee Clement Turpin after red card vs Man UtdJOSE MOURINHO launched a sarcastic blast at ref Clement Turpin after he was red-carded in his clash with former club Manchester United. The Fenerbahce boss saw his side fight back to earn a point as United tossed away the lead for a third successive drawn Europa League match.Mourinho was sent to the stands after raging against Turpin’s failure to award a penalty against Manuel Ugarte for a challenge on Bright Osayi-Samuel.And Mourinho scowled: “The referee told me something incredible. He said at the same time he could see the action in the box and my behaviour on the touchline.“I congratulate him because he is absolutely incredible. During the game, 100 miles per hour, he had one eye on the penalty situation and one eye on my behaviour on the bench. That’s the explanation he gave me.”That is why he is one of the best referees in the world!”Rashford ought to have doubled the lead soon after, cutting inside from the right but screwing his shot just wide of the far post. But United were still having to defend with guts and with desperation – especially when Ugarte produced an outstanding sliding block to deny Dusan Tadic from close range.Mourinho was doing his conkers at this – and soon started berating the fourth official after Zirkzee went down injured. It was becoming a frustrating night for the old rogue – especially when Andre Onana decided to channel the spirit of Gordon Banks with an astonishing double save to deny En-Nesyri. First, the Moroccan centre-forward’s downward header was met with a gob-smacking tumbling stop, then the Cameroonian keeper leapt to his feet to push away a second nodded effort after Tadic had teed up En-Nesyri again. The striker grinned as if he had just fallen victim to a strange optical illusion. And perhaps he had. United led at the break but then they had often done so during their shocking recent run of European trips. Man Utd ratings vs Fenerbahce: Onana saves the day for Red Devils as Lindelof has a stinker MANCHESTER UNITED were held to a 1-1 draw by Fenerbahce on a disappointing night in Turkey.Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock for Erik ten Hag’s side in the first half before En-Nesyri levelled soon after the break.Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands in the second half after a touchline tantrum.But the Red Devils could find a much-needed winner for Erik ten Hag.SunSport’s Emillia Hawkins rates the performances…Andre Onana – 7Made an outstanding double save in the 37th minute to keep two attempts from Youssef En-Nesyri out.His defenders could’ve done much better to prevent Fenerbahce’s goal.Diogo Dalot – 5Failed to track back at times and had his blushes saved in the first half by Ugarte, who made a crucial tackle on Dusan Tadic to prevent a goal.Matthijs de Ligt – 6Made some good blocks during the first half to keep Fenerbahce at bay.Missed a few chances from set-pieces after the break.Victor Lindelof – 4Failed to follow En-Nesyri for Fenerbahce’s opening goal and made no attempt to win the ball.Hauled off in the 54th minute.Lisandro Martinez – 5Like Lindelof, he did not apply any pressure to En-Nesyri for the hosts’ first goal. Poor communication from both.Christian Eriksen – 7Broke the deadlock for United with a great strike into the top-left corner from the edge of the box.Manuel Ugarte – 6Won the ball in the build-up to the first goal and saved Man Utd from conceding with a fantastic last-ditch tackle in front of goal in the 22nd minute.Was lucky to avoid giving away a penalty after the break.Noussair Mazraoui – 6Didn’t look too out of place starting in the No10 position. Played a role in the build-up to the goal, passing the ball to Zirkzee who got the assist.Eventually moved into left-back, allowing Martinez to move central.Marcus Rashford – 5Played out of preferred position and started on the right as opposed to the left.Didn’t make too much of an impact on the game.Alejandro Garnacho – 6Played a key role in the build-up to Erikson’s goal by making a direct run into the box.Challenged Dominik Livakovic a few times and looked lively.Joshua Zirkzee – 5A poor overall performance from the striker despite providing the assist for Eriksen’s opener.Failed to make much of an impact and was hauled off in the 54th minute.Andre Onana produced a thrilling double saveCredit: APMourinho could only laugh at the goalkeeper’s heroicsCredit: TNT SportThe Red Devils stars hailed Onana as United led at the breakCredit: ReutersAntony had to be taken off on a stretcher near the endCredit: EPAMourinho had slapped Onana on the back in the tunnel at half-time but within four minutes of the restart, the United keeper was powerless to stop Fenerbahce equalising. Saint-Maximin delivered the deep cross from the left and En-Nesyri, with another downward header, managed to avoid another miracle and beat Onana at the third time of asking. In the stands, the drums were thudding, the punters were bouncing and United knew they were up against it on foreign soil yet again. Ten Hag responded by abandoning the Marzaroui ‘false ten’ experiment – bringing on Hojlund and Casemiro for Zirkzee and Victor Lindelof in a major reshuffle. Then came Mourinho’s ejection from his technical area – the Fenerbahce boss raging at an unrequited penalty appeal when Ugarte upended Osayi-Samuel. It was a decent shout followed by some indecent shouts from Mourinho, who was sent packing to the stands after a lengthy exchange of opinions with ref Clement Turpin. Would he be smuggled back into the dugout in a laundry basket, one of the tricks he used to defy a touchline ban during his Chelsea days? Rashford then skewed an excellent close-range chance and Mazraoui, despite reverting to left-back, had a long-ranger turned over the bar. READ MORE SUN STORIESWith United’s players now playing in their correct positions, they began to get the upper hand. Matthijs De Ligt should have scored with a header, Hojlund forced a save.Then Antony was carted off on a stretcher late on, to add to Ten Hag’s injury woes as it finished a stalemate. His mood worsened when Fenerbahce did not get a penalty as Manuel Ugarte challenged Bright Osayi-SamuelCredit: TNT SportsReferee Clement Turpin brandished the red card for the Special OneCredit: EPAHe was spotted sulking in the standsCredit: TNT SportsMourinho ended up sitting on a staircaseCredit: TNT SportsEriksen blasted into the top corner in styleCredit: APYoussef En-Nesyri headed Fenerbahce level just after half-timeCredit: EPAOnana could not produce another memorable save to prevent the equaliserCredit: ReutersErik ten Hag’s experiment didn’t work as plannedCredit: EPA More