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      West Ham 2-0 Man Utd LIVE RESULT: Under-fire Ten Hag loses again as Bowen and Kudus sink underperforming United

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have suffered yet another defeat but this time at the hands of West Ham.Lucas Paqueta’s sublime outside-foot pass put it on a plate for Jarrod Bowen to put his team ahead
      And it didn’t take long for Mohamed Kudus to double West Ham’s lead.
      This now means that the Hammers jump above United in the table and Erik ten Hag’s men have lost 13 matches before Christmas – the most in their history since 1930.

      RESULT: West Ham 0-2 Man Utd
      Live stream: discovery+
      TV channel: TNT Sports 1
      West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Soucek, Kudus, Paqueta; Bowen
      Man Utd XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Kambwala, Shaw; Mainoo, McTominay; Fernandes, Antony, Garnacho; Hojlund

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      “Stick together, stick to the plan”
      Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I think it was a decent 72 minutes where we didn’t take our chances. We should’ve gone in the lead but we didn’t and then it was one moment of switching off.”
      Asked about United’s poor record against top opposition, Ten Hag added: “At this moment we are not top, but we have seen last week against the top of this league we were head-to-head. We didn’t score, we had the best opportunities of the game. There we defended very well for 90 minutes, that has to be always our standard like what we did there. You have to bring that to every game on the pitch.
      “In 2023, we won a Cup, we played the FA Cup final, we were third in the league. There were highlights but we are over-performing, but in this moment we are underperforming. There are reasons for it, we have many injuries, so the team will be better if the injured ones return. We have to be calm, stick together, stick to the plan, we have to do it together.”
      Credit: GETTY
      United have got problems
      Paul Scholes: “I felt United were the better team in the first half without really thinking they were going to score a goal. I always felt, against West Ham, they are the type of team that make you fell comfortable, then all of a sudden a quick spark, and you are tow goals down.
      “But United have got problems. Goalscoring is a big issue. That’s four games without a goal. In the second half, I can’t think of a save their keeper had to make.”
      Joe Cole: “It was fantastic. It shows the importance of staying in the game. West ham for large parts were not at it at all. United looked comfortable. Then all of a sudden a tactical switch ,Paqueta moves into the false nine. It was a stroke of genius that turned the game.”
      Credit: getty
      There’s always room to improve
      Jarrod Bowen: “Today’s game is probably where the first goal is most important, they’re a really good side that caused us problems.
      “We had our chances and one thing about us is that we keep chipping and plugging away to get the goal and we got the first goal and then did really well to get the second one as well and not put the game to bed but give us more comfort going into the last 20 minutes.
      “Last few weeks Lucas [Paqueta] had five assists. All of us want to score goals and be the creative spark. We’re enjoying our football and one we knew how important today was to go into Christmas in the top six-seven and all we can do is keep winning games.
      “Scoring goals comes with confidence, if you score a few goals and feel like you’re playing well. That helps for me. What I wanted to do this season was play at a good level and try and churn out those performances week in week out.
      “There’s been ups and downs and games we’ve been disappointed with. It’s been a good start to the season, there’s always room to improve and the quality in the league this season especially in that top 10 it’s probably the best I’ve played in for a long time. We know it’s difficult but all we can do is win our games. If you want to talk about finishing in the top six then these are the games you have to win.”
      Worrying
      Erik ten Hag’s just completed his interview. Was quite surprising to hear him say that Manchester United were very good for the opening 70 minutes.
      FT: West Ham 2-0 Man UtdThe Red Devils pick up their 13th defeat of the season and that’s their most defeats before Christmas since 1930… 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wyDscgfA4P— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 23, 2023

      Poor Shaw
      Luke Shaw is speaking now. I’m not sure there’s a player in world football that can look more forlorn and apologetic on camera.
      Quotes coming up.
      He’ll find me
      West Ham goalscorer Mohammed Kudus speaking to TNT Sports: “As an attacker that’s what I’m here to do, to put the ball into the back of the net. Most importantly we got the three points. This is the perfect day for the fans and we wish them a happy Christmas.”
      On Lucas Paqueta: “His vision and passing ability, when he gets the ball I just need to run and he’ll find me. I admire a lot from him.”
      Kudos Kudus
      Mohammed Kudus has just done his post-match interview on the touchline. He’s beaming and thanked fans for their support.
      He was asked about his celebration, in which he sits on the advertising boards and takes a deep breath.
      He’s asked what the meaning behind it was, he responded: “It doesn’t mean anything. I’m sitting down to get a deep breath! I’m tired.”
      Splendid.
      Credit: getty
      Sorry stats
      Manchester United have failed to score in seven of their 18 games. No team has failed to do so more often in the Premier League this season.
      They’ve also lost 13 out of their 26 games this season in all competitions.
      Last goal? That was over six hours ago.
      Credit: GETTY
      The table
      It makes increasingly grim reading for Manchester United fans. They’ve dropped to eight after that defeat, their eight loss of the season.
      The Red Devils are now six points behind arch-rivals Manchester City having played a game extra. A Brighton win would see them relegated to ninth.
      West Ham are now inside the top six with 30 points from 18 matches, two more than today’s opponents.
      Credit: google
      Worries
      As Jermain Defoe has just said, the biggest worry for Erik ten Hag will be that they’ve come up short against a West Ham team who weren’t really at the races. Miles off really.
      What’s next?
      Well, it doesn’t get any easier.
      Manchester United will have to dust themselves down and prepare for the visit of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
      That’s become an increasingly difficult fixture, and will likely see the visitors enter as favourites with the bookmakers.
      West Ham have a London derby against title challengers Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. That’s on the 28th.
      Credit: GETTY
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      FT: And that’s that. West Ham clinch three deserved points against Manchester United in a fairly uninspiring match at the London Stadium.
      United are now of Europe before Christmas. Out of the League Cup. And drifting aimlessly in the Premier League. As for West Ham, they are on the charge and have the Europa League knockout stages to look forward to.
      David Moyes’ side are 15 points better off than at this time last season – and that’s without Declan Rice!
      Credit: getty
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      95: No midweek fixture for Manchester United this week. They’ve had a full week to prepare – what on earth have they been doing?
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      93: So by my count that’s nine goals and one assist in 22 appearances for Mohammed Kudus. Great signing for the Hammers. Don’t want to bring the mood down but losing him to the AFCON will be frustrating for David Moyes and Co.
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      90: The Manchester United fans are leaving the stadium now. There hasn’t been a glimmer of hope since Jarrod Bowen’s opener. They looked a defeated team the second that hit the net.
      Six minutes added time.
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      88: Pablo Fornals replaces the goalscorer Jarrod Bowen. Couple of minutes of rest for the attacker ahead of their next clash against Arsenal on the 28th.
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      85: Double change for Manchester United. Reguilon replaces Kambwala and Eriksen is on for Garnacho. That’ll shift Luke Shaw to centre-back, for what it’s worth.
      Kambwala the bright spot on another difficult day for the Red Devils.
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      83: Marcus Rashford decides to have a crack from distance but it’s nowhere near. There doesn’t look to be a late comeback on the cards, folks. United simply don’t look like scoring – over six hours without a goal now. Their longest run since 1989.
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
      81: That’s the FIFTH assist for Lucas Paqueta in a week. It was also West Ham’s second half in six minutes today. The Manchester United players look shell-shocked, despite not mustering a single effort on target in the second half.
      WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD – KUDUS
      78: GOAL! Game, set and match. West Ham have wrapped up three points at Christmas courtesy of a gift from young Mainoo.
      Mainoo fails to control a simple pass around the halfway line and Kudus pounces. He plays a one-two with Paqueta before turning Evans and firing the ball across Onana and into the bottom corner.
      Credit: getty
      WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UTD
      75: Manchester United urgently need to end this goal drought, but it’ll be a lot more difficult without Hojlund on the pitch. Erik ten Hag took him off earlier, leaving the visitors with no genuine No.9 on the field.
      WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UTD
      73: It was Jarrod Bowen’s birthday earlier this week. What a nice gift for himself. Elsewhere Paqueta goes into the book for kicking the ball away after Garnacho is fouled.

      WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UTD – BOWEN
      71: GOAL! There’s the breakthrough! Jarrod Bowen has the opener at the London Stadium!
      He plays a one-two with Lucas Paqueta, who lifts a sumptuous ball over the Manchester United defence. There’s a touch of fortune as Onana’s block ricochets back to him and he bundles it in.
      Credit: GETTY
      WEST HAM 0-0 MAN UTD
      70: We did have another chance, and it was a pretty good one for the visitors. Shaw drives forward down the left and fires in a cross that’s heading straight to Garnacho. He’s got a tap-in but there’s Zouma with a sliding interception. More

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      West Ham 2 Man Utd 0: Hammers burst Ten Hag’s bubble to leapfrog United in table and inflict their 13TH loss of season

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      JARROD BOWEN and Mohammed Kudus heaped more misery on toothless Manchester United with two goals in six second-half minutes.Erik Ten Hag’s side had the better opportunities before Bowen and Kudus hit them with a deadly combination to send the Hammers leapfrogging over the visitors into sixth place.
      Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring in the 72nd minuteCredit: PA
      The England star has now scored in each of West Ham’s last three gamesCredit: Getty
      United have now failed to score in four consecutive games for the first time since November 1992, the season when Alex Ferguson finally ended their long wait for a title.
      And yet again they looked miles away from being contenders in another disappointing display.
      Bowen went into the game with 10 Premier League goals, more than United’s starting 11 combined.
      And he ended it with 11 more than Rasmus Hojlund, the mega-money signing who was hooked by Ten Hag before the hour.
      Lucas Paqueta created Bowen’s goal with an astute pass and then fed Kudus, who eluded Jonny Evans far too easily before striking the ball into the far corner.
      Until the quickfire brace, though, it seemed David Moyes’ decision to rest half his team for the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat at Liverpool was going to backfire.
      West Ham’s first-choice starting 11 had done little to worry a makeshift United defence, particularly in a first half that was mostly about as appetising as the raw chicken that United allegedly offered guests at a corporate function.
      The club earned a one of out of five hygiene rating as a result, and the football both sides served up was of the same standard.
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      Mohammed Kudus doubled the advantageCredit: Reuters
      Lucas Paqueta has assisted each of West Ham’s last five goalsCredit: PA
      West Ham left back Emerson forced a save out Andre Onana as early as the fifth minute, but after that there was very little excitement in either penalty area for what felt like days.
      Home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola had more to do than Onana, but all his saves were routine until the 35th minute when Antony seized on Mohammed Kudus’ stray pass and played in Alejandro Garnacho.
      But the young Argentine’s finish was weak and Areola kept it out with his right leg.
      Soon afterwards, Garnacho’s attempted cross was deflected over the bar by Lucas Paqueta. From the resulting corner, Areola made a meal of stopping Kobbie Mainoo’s bobbling effort.
      Willy Kambwala made his Man Utd debutCredit: PA
      Man Utd suffered their thirteenth defeat of the seasonCredit: Getty
      United were gaining in confidence and Antony’s tempting fine low cross eluded everyone but Garnacho, but the angle was against him. All West Ham could manage was a Tomas Soucek header from that went wide after a James Ward-Prowse free kick.
      The home side started the second half with a little more intent and Onana made a good save when Bowen headed a Ward-Prowse corner goalwards.
      Ten Hag had seen enough and hooked Hojlund in the 57th minute, in favour of Marcus Rashford.
      Almost immediately, Evans and Onana nearly got each other into trouble and at last the game seemed to be coming to a simmer.
      Kurt Zouma did well to stop a Luke Shaw cross reaching Garnacho and then finally it happened, thanks to an old-fashioned give and go.
      Bowen ran on to Paqueta’s clever, clipped return ball and bundled the ball past Onana and over the line.
      The second goal was United’s own fault. Mainoo failed to collect an Evans pass and Kudus gave the ball to Paqueta. The Brazilian picked out the winger’s run but the Ghanaian still had plenty to do.
      Read more on The Sun
      And Evans let him do it, getting nowhere near Kudus before the West Ham man continued his fine scoring run with a low shot across Onana and into the net
      Edson Alvarez stopped United substitute Facundo Pellistri ending their goalless run with a fine block in stoppage time.
      Erik ten Hag’s side now sit eighth in the Premier League tableCredit: Getty More

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      Man Utd legend Paul Scholes slams ‘NAIVE’ Erik ten Hag for away-day struggles and claims ‘you can’t afford to do that’

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      PAUL SCHOLES has criticised Manchester United’s tactics under Erik ten Hag away from home.United have struggled away to top sides throughout ten Hag’s reign and only managed to win once away from home against the top ten last season.
      Scholes has condemned Ten Hag’s approach in past away gamesCredit: Getty
      Ahead of United’s early kick off against West Ham he slammed ten Hag as being “naive” away from Old Trafford.
      He said: “They struggled last year in the big games last year and I also felt last year that it was naïve going to good away grounds and playing with one holding midfielder and the rest being attacking. 
      “That is the way he (Ten Hag) wants to play, but when you go to big teams in England, you can’t afford to do that. 
      “He’s really struggled to get the balance right and they come to West Ham today, it’s another big game because you can guarantee they will be super organised – they are difficult to play against but they also have the brilliant forward players that can cause you trouble.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      United lined up against West Ham today with Bruno Fernandes as the deepest midfielder, allowing Scott McTominay to make runs into the box.
      Scholes said he’s a fan of McTominay having the chance to get ahead of Fernandes.
      He said: “I prefer out of the two between (Scott) McTominay and (Bruno) Fernandes, McTominay to go forward more because he scores goals and then Bruno is able to control the game better.”
      United and West Ham were separated by just a point going into today’s game.
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      And it’s looked like that in a game that was an absolute stalemate until Jarrod Bowen’s opener.
      United have been devoid of creativity and the decision to play McTominay further up has not paid dividends. More

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      West Ham fans moan ‘that man’s face has taken a BATTERING’ as Tomas Soucek left with black eye after Man Utd collision

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      WEST HAM fans were up in arms after Tomas Soucek was left bloodied and bruised against Manchester United.The midfielder received lengthy treatment in the first half after suffering a cut around his eye.
      Tomas Soucek suffered a nasty cut under his eyeCredit: Getty
      He was patched up and was able to continue playing but he sported a nasty-looking black eye.
      Soucek came off worst in an aerial duel with United star Bruno Fernandes, although he appeared to make contact with his own team-mate Lucas Paqueta.
      He was cut under his left eye and it is not the first time the Czech has been in the wars while at West Ham.
      One Hammer pointed that out, saying: “I want to see a side by side or what Soucek looks like now and what he looked like before he joined us because that man’s face has taken a battering😭”
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      Another added: “Soucek won’t live to see 60 because he put his life on the line for this club.”
      A third wrote: “Poor Tomas Soucek rarely gets through a game without a black eye or a swollen/cut face.”
      Another commented: “Death, taxes and Soucek getting a cut to his face. I just know his mrs hates football.”
      Fortunately for Hammers fans they soon had something to cheer as Jarrod Bowen put them ahead before Mohammed Kudus sealed a 2-0 win.
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      Soucek, 28, was on the receiving end of a horror injury just last month while on international duty.
      He was involved in a tussle for the ball with Southampton star Jan Bednarek and ended up on the floor, with the defender following through and accidentally kicking the midfielder in the face.
      The Hammers star was left bloodied and pictures of him on the plane leaving Poland revealed the brutal scars he suffered from the kick.
      Remarkably, Soucek managed the full 90 minutes and finished the match with bandaging around his head. More

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      Eagle-eyed fans spot Julian Alvarez copying idol Lionel Messi with eerily similar goal in Club World Cup final

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      JULIAN ALVAREZ perfectly replicated a Lionel Messi goal during Manchester City’s Club World Cup final against Fluminense on Friday.City cruised to a 4-0 win over the Brazilian side to clinch their fifth trophy of the year.
      Julian Alvarez scored with his chest in the Club World Cup finalCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi scored a similar goal in the 2009 Club World CupCredit: Getty

      Alvarez opened the scoring just 40 seconds into the match in unusual fashion.
      After Nathan Ake’s shot rattled the post, the ball fell straight to the 23-year-old on the edge of the six-yard box.
      He quickly adjusted his body before deflecting the ball in with his chest.
      However, some fans were quick to point out the major similarities between Alvarez’s finish and a goal scored by Messi in the 2009 Club World Cup.
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      The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also scored from close range with his chest during a match against Estudiantes de La Plata.
      Barcelona went on to win the competition that year, much like Man City did this term.
      Fans took to social media to react, with one person tweeting: “Julian Alvarez just recreated Lionel Messi’s chested goal in the Club World Cup! Same country-man. Same competition. Same manager. Same type of goal.”
      Another wrote: “Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez scoring with their chests in a Club World Cup final!”
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      Man City won the Club World CupCredit: Getty
      A third fan added: “Julian Alvarez scoring a goal with his chest in a Club World Cup final, reminds me of Messi.”
      While a fourth simply said: “It’s uncanny!”
      Man City doubled their advantage in the 28th minute after Phil Foden’s shot was deflected in by Fluminense defender Nino.
      Foden all-but sealed the win with another goal in the second half before Alvarez got on the score sheet again in added time. More

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      Frustrated Man Utd fans call Erik ten Hag decision to bench Marcus Rashford ‘criminal’ as England star debuts new hair

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans have slammed Erik ten Hag after he left Marcus Rashford on the bench against West Ham.The England star missed out on a place in the starting line-up for the fourth consecutive match.
      Marcus Rashford sported a new look at London StadiumCredit: Alamy
      Alejandro Garnacho missed a great chance to put Manchester United 1-0 upCredit: Reuters
      Rashford last started a game against Newcastle and was slammed by fans and pundits alike for his lack of effort in the 1-0 defeat.
      Alejandro Garnacho was brought in for the following match as the Red Devils beat Chelsea.
      The youngster has started every match since but some United fans feel it is time for Ten Hag to stop benching Rashford.
      One supporter criticised the United boss saying: “Watching Garnacho start over Rashford is just criminal.”
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Another added: “This Alejandro Garnacho over Marcus Rashford experiment has to stop. It’s enough.”
      A third wrote: “There’s no reason Garnacho should be starting over Rashford.”
      And another commented: “I don’t care what form Rashford is in, I don’t care how good the bicycle kick was. Garnacho is awful in the final third and needs benching.”
      Garnacho was criticised by some for his wastefulness in the final third after he squandered a brilliant opportunity to put United 1-0 up at London Stadium.
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      The winger was put through on goal by Antony but fired straight at goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, and it proved costly as United lost the game 2-0.
      It is the type of chance Rashford would usually gobble up but instead the 26-year-old had to watch on from the dugout.
      All eyes were on the forward ahead of kick-off however thanks to his new haircut, with Rashford dying his hair orange.
      The England forward did eventually come off the bench early in the second half, replacing Rasmus Hojlund – who again failed to end his Premier League goal drought. More

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      I was signed by Erik ten Hag for Man Utd… his tactics were to blame for my struggles

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      FORMER Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst has sensationally blamed Erik ten Hag for his struggles while on loan at United last season.The Dutch forward was a surprise signing from Burnley following a successful 2022 World Cup with Holland.
      Weghorst won the Carabao Cup with United and reached the FA Cup finalCredit: Getty
      He managed just two goals and three assists in his 31 appearances for United and the club opted not to make the deal permanent.
      Instead, he joined Bundesliga club Hoffenheim and has four goals and one assist in 14 games for his new team.
      Despite his poor scoring record for United he has defended his involvement with the side.
      In an interview with The Mirror he said: “[When I signed] They were super successful months in which we hardly lost. I was also very important for the team, as both a focal point of play and hard-working link between midfield and attack.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      “Only my goals were lagging behind. That gnawed at me and was the reason why I lost my starting place.
      “The Premier League is by far the toughest league in the world, with the best defenders. But we were rarely the dominant side creating chances. And the way we played was also different from what I was used to.”
      He has, however, admitted that he should have notched more goals: “In Germany and Turkey, the teams always played for me. I was the end of the line, while at United I mainly had to ensure that others could excel. I think I managed that very well. But whichever way you look at it, I would have liked to score much more often.”
      Weghorst was on loan at Besiktas when United came knocking, and he admitted that the call from the Red Devils felt like a dream.
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      Weghorst had an excellent World Cup with HollandCredit: Getty
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      He said: “Things went very well at Besiktas and I was enjoying myself immensely there.
      “One evening my agent, Simon Cziommer, called me. I was already in bed, rocking my daughter Daantje to sleep. But I answered the call and Simon said ‘there are two clubs interested in you.
      “First he told me a story about Brentford – and then he suddenly shouted ‘Wout, United want you!’ I dropped the phone and burst into tears.”
      He said a close relationship with Besiktas’ sporting director allowed him to switch from the Turkish league to the Red Devils: “My relationship with Besiktas’ sporting director was very good and I explained to him that it was my boyhood dream to play for Manchester United.
      “He said he understood, but Besiktas kept coming up with more and more financial offers. I won’t mention any amounts, but believe me when I say that I lost a lot to make the transfer possible.”
      Weghorst explained that his emotions came to the fore when he watched his new club play for the first time against Manchester City: “I entered that magical stadium for the first time in my life and when I sat down in my seat, looked around and took in the chanting of the fans, it hit me hard.
      “That was the moment when I realised this is my club now. Then I watched one of the greatest football matches on earth. Of course, I had dreamed about this as a young boy. But to see it actually happen made me shiver.” More

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      Man City WILL wear gold 2023 Fifa World Champions badge on shirts despite Liverpool being banned after 2019 victory

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      MANCHESTER CITY will be allowed to wear the 2023 FIFA World Champions badge on all three kits this season following their Club World Cup victory.Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to a 4-0 win over Fluminense in the Club World Cup final on Friday.
      Man City won the Club World Cup on FridayCredit: Getty
      They will now be allowed to wear the Club World Cup badge on their shirtsCredit: Getty
      As a result they added a fifth trophy to this year’s impressive haul, having already won the treble and UEFA Super Cup.
      And the Cityzens will now be able to show off their latest achievement with a special badge.
      Club World Cup champions are allowed to wear a gold badge on their shirts until the next winner is crowned.
      Man City will be doing so with immediate effect, meaning they will complete a small kit change ahead of next Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Everton.
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      However, Liverpool were banned from making the change after they won the Club World Cup back in 2019.
      The Reds defeated Flamengo 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Roberto Firmino.
      But they had to wait until the following season to wear the badge.
      Premier League rules at the time stated that kit changes could not be made during the season.
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      However, the ruling was later changed and Chelsea were given permission to wear the badge immediately after winning the competition in 2021.
      Following City’s 4-0 win over Fluminense, Guardiola admitted that it was time to “close the chapter”.
      He said: “We had the feeling we would close the chapter, we won all the titles, there’s nothing else to win.
      “I had a feeling the job was done, it was over.
      “Enzo [Maresca] helped us to win the treble, Mikel [Arteta] in my staff, all the players from day one. Vincent [Kompany] to Kyle [Walker] as captains, all the players helped us to achieve something incredible to be here and to play this tournament.
      “Now it’s Christmas time, buy another book and start to write it again. The last eight years, it’s over.” More