Premier League

RUBEN AMORIM has delivered his most ominous verdict yet on Marcus Rashford’s future.Amorim sidelined the England striker yet again as crisis-hit Manchester United slumped 2-0 at Wolves on a bruising Boxing Day.Marcus Rashford was again not involved in Man Utd’s squadCredit: ReutersRuben Amorim gave a huge hint over what’s next for RashfordCredit: AFPThe 27-year-old Mancunian revealed that he was ready for a “new challenge” after not being included in the squad for the Manchester Derby and has now been left out of the following three matches.Amorim appeared to make an Old Trafford exit even likelier for the one-club man with his assessment of the situation following Thursday’s defeat at Molineux.Asked if Rashford had “shown him anything different” since being left out, the Portuguese boss said: “If he’s not here… you can make your mind (up).”The 10-man Red Devils dropped to 14th after their latest set-piece nightmare saw them concede directly from a corner for the second time in eight days.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAmorim added: “It’s always the same reason. “We have to be same professionals, same guys, winning or losing. “Losing, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end”.Before the game Amorim confirmed that, whatever happens in the long term, Rashford is keen for now to regain his place at struggling United.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe stressed: “It’s my decision. He wants to play. He is trying. Yes, it’s my decision, only my decision.”No, I spoke with a lot of players individually during training so I’m trying to do things my way. And it’s the only way I know.Ruben Amorim explains why Marcus Rashford is still exiled at Man Utd despite ‘wanting to play’ “If I don’t do that, I will lose myself and I will not lose myself. I know what I am doing.”Rashford appears to have accepted he might have to move on to rejuvenate his career.He told journalist Henry Winter: “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”But he stressed: “When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’.”You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.”If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse.”I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person.”When I leave, I’ll make a statement, and it will be from me.”However, none of the speculation stopped Rashford sharing a joyful family photo as he enjoyed a Christmas Eve meal.Fans reacted positively to what appeared to be a snap from a pub or restaurant – with menus on the table for the 18 people pictured.READ MORE SUN STORIESRashford added the words: “Family time – Happy Christmas everyone 🎄.”Replies from supporters included: “We love you Rashy ❤️.” and “Merry Christmas GOAT ❤️.”Rashford faces an uphill task to win round AmorimCredit: Getty More

WOLVES landed a shock Boxing Day knockout as Manchester United’s struggles continued.The 2-0 defeat means Ruben Amorim has won just two of the seven Premier League games he has taken charge of.Bruno Fernandes was sent off for two yellow cardsCredit: ReutersAndre Onana was beaten directly from a Matheus Cunha cornerCredit: GettyUnited find themselves 14th in the table and today were not helped by Bruno Fernandes’ red card and Andre Onana letting one in direct from a corner.Here is how SunSport rated the performances…ANDRE ONANA: 4He needed to make an agile save from Jorgen Strand Larsen in the first half, but badly misjudged the flight of Cunha’s corner for the opening goal – his claim that he was obstructed by Matt Doherty was rejected.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLENY YORO: 5Recalled but booked after only four minutes for a foul on Cunha, so he was walking on eggshells and was tested by Wolves throughout. Subbed just after the hour mark.HARRY MAGUIRE: 6The England defender did his best to keep United in the game when they were under pressure for long periods – at least he helped to stem the tide until the dying seconds and had a header on target in stoppage time.Most read in FootballLISANDRO MARTINEZ: 6 Teamed up well with Maguire to stop Wolves from winning this more easily, he stood his ground and produced some important challenges in the latter stages before Wolves caught him on the break with the last action of the game.OLD TRAFFORD STADIUM VT YOUTUBE masterNOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI: 5Tenacious and determined, but was one of several players given a torrid time by the best player on the pitch – Cunha.MANUEL UGARTE: 5Dispossesed too easily at times, struggled against a lively Wolves attack and was eventually taken off as one of Amorim’s subs following Fernandes’ red card.KOBBIE MAINOO: 5Looked a threat early on, created some good openings, but he was booked after the break as United looked short on ideas. Faded and was subbed.DIOGO DALOT: 6 Brought a tremendous save from Jose Sa in the first half in what was a rare bright spot for United – but he had no major influence on a poor team display.AMAD DIALLO: 5Lacked awareness of his team-mates sometimes and looked a shadow of the player who turned the Manchester derby around less than two weeks ago.BRUNO FERNANDES: 3Sent off early in the second half for a second yellow after a challenge on Nelson Semedo, but the captain had cut a frustrated figure before that.RASMUS HOJLUND: 5Became visibly annoyed at times at a lack of service from his team-mates, he had no joy up front and was subbed with 10 minutes left.SUBS: Casemiro (for Mainoo, 63 mins): 6Christian Eriksen (for Ugate, 63 mins) 6Antony (for Yoro, 63 mins) 6READ MORE SUN STORIESAlejandro Garnacho: (for Amad, 79 mins) 5Joshua Zirkzee: (for Hojlund, 79 mins) 5 More

FANS blasted Andre Onana as Manchester United conceded directly from a corner for the SECOND time in eight days.It peaked a crazy start to the second period for the Red Devils as Bruno Fernandes had just seen red for his second silly booking.Matheus Cunha saw his corner float in over Andre OnanaCredit: GettyOnana was humiliated for the Wolves opener as he reacted too lateCredit: AFPCunha celebrated his surprise goal in a dramatic few minutesCredit: GettyMatheus Cunha swung over a corner that went straight into the far corner as the struggling hosts went in front on 58 minutes – with Hee Chan Hwang then clinching a 2-0 win in stoppage time.Matt Doherty and Santiago Bueno had appeared to box Onana in.And as the United keeper focused on those two Wolves players, he neglected Cunha’s corner sailing over him and into the net.Stand-in Red Devils’ stopper Altay Bayindir suffered the same humiliation days earlier in last week’s 4-3 League Cup quarter-final defeat at Tottenham.READ MORE TOP FOTBALLBut there was little sympathy for Onana from fans after his Boxing Day blunder in the Premier League.One posted: “I’ve no more words for Onana” while another posted: “Abysmal.”A third just put: “Our two keepers conceded from straight corners in one week.”United have now let in ten set-piece goals this term.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEven more amazingly, that’s eight such goals breached in the past seven games under new boss Ruben Amorim.And former United captain Harry Maguire even admitted opposition teams are targeting dead-ball situations against the Red Devils.Man Utd star Joshua Zirkzee ex-girlfriend Celina Kerr looks stunning at photoshoot He said: “Set plays are so important in football matches and they decide games.”A lot of the games when they are tight and they’re 50-50 are decided by the first goal and the first goal has been a set play far too many times against us and it’s disappointing.”I think teams now are obviously probably maybe targeting our area of set plays.”The strange thing is I don’t think we are conceding many chances from them. “They’ve had a few set plays tonight and we’ve dealt with them really well then they’ve gone and scored from one.”Asked how United can fix the set-piece problem, Maguire added: “Work, work, work more on the training pitch. “It’s hard work. Keep the belief and things will change, I know that. “We have players who can defend the box well and it will change, we’ve just got to stick together.”Wolves boss Vitor Pereira amazingly revealed he planned for his team to score directly from a corner.He said: “Of course we analyse every match and try to understand the spaces we can explore.”United defensive legend Rio Ferdinand was more stunned than most.READ MORE SUN STORIESFerdy normally has plenty to say about big incidents but this time he could only post: “No comment.”A fan responded to the former England star’s message with: “Seriously we haven’t learnt anything in these past weeks on set pieces. This is becoming annoying.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Jaap Stam reckons Cole Palmer has the potential to become the world’s most expensive player.Palmer was again the shinning light for Chelsea as they were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by Fulham in a Boxing Day Christmas cracker.Cole Palmer has been tipped to cost £200mCredit: GettyJaap Stam is still hopeful Palmer will one day play for Man UtdCredit: GettyHe opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season by dancing around three defenders and rolling it into the bottom corner.The goal was his 26th of 2024 and it broke Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s record of most Premier League Blues goals in a calendar year – 25 in 2001.Palmer is also well on his way to improving on the 22 Prem goals he managed last season and Stam thinks he could soon be worth £200million.He even remains hopeful the ex-City star will one day play for the Red Devils as he grew up in Wythenshawe as a boyhood United fan.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLStam told SportLens: “Seeing the potential of Palmer and him being just next door, you do wonder how Man Utd missed out on him, or maybe they did try and couldn’t get a deal over the line.”It would still be great to see him at Man Utd and being a fan of the club he would probably like that to happen as well.”However, in his current form there might not be any clubs who can afford him. “He might one day be worth £200million the way he is going.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe record for the most expensive signing ever goes to PSG when they signed Neymar from Barcelona in 2017 for £198m.Palmer’s team-mate Enzo Fernandez holds the Prem record when joining Chelsea for £106m last year.Cole Palmer reveals he failed PE in hilarious interview as fans tell Chelsea star to consider going into comedyAnd Jack Grealish’s £100m move from Aston Villa to Man City is the highest amount ever paid for an English player.The time to get Palmer was when Chelsea swooped in the summer of 2023 and signed him from City for £40m. More

NONI MADUEKE was axed for Chelsea’s London derby defeat to Fulham.Blues boss Enzo Maresca revealed that the England man had been dropped from the squad due to a “technical decision” rather than injury.Enzo Maresca axed Noni Madueke from Chelsea’s side to play FulhamCredit: AFPMadueke was not injuredCredit: GettyFulham stole their first Stamford Bridge win in 45 years thanks to late goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson, who had cancelled out Cole Palmer’s superb opener.The winger’s absence was all the more bizarre given that Maresca had to name two goalkeepers and three academy graduates on the bench to make up the numbers.Asked about Madueke’s absence, the Italian simply said: “Technical decision.”Madueke attended the game and sat with other team-mates not in the squad behind the home dugout.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMaresca has already dropped and publicly criticised Madueke, 22, for his attitude and training level this season.Speaking after the former PSV Eindhoven man grabbed a goal and an assist at Southampton, having been dropped for the previous game against Aston Villa, Maresca said: “He can do much more.”The moment he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit and the reason why he was not playing is because I do not like the way he trained.”He has to understand that he has to train good every day. He has to be ambitious.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAs far back as August, before Madueke had made a Premier League appearance for Maresca, the Blues boss said: “I really like Noni.”The only problem with him probably is that he has to understand he needs to be consistent during the week; every training, every training, every training.”But he is a good player and he is doing well with us.”Madeuke arrived from the Netherlands in January 2023 and has 15 goals in 66 Blues games. Maresca slams Madueke’s ‘ambition’ and fumes ‘I do not like the way he trained’ after Chelsea star’s goal and assist More

BRUNO FERNANDES saw red for the third time this season.The Manchester United captain, 30, picked up his first yellow card in the goalless first half for a cynical trip on Wolves dangerman Matheus Cunha.Bruno Fernandes was sent off 90 seconds into the second half at WolvesCredit: ReutersFernandes could have no complaints after catching Nelson Semedo while already on a yellowCredit: Amazon Prime VideoThe challenge came immediately after giving possession awayCredit: Amazon Prime VideoAnd then just 90 seconds after the break, he flew into a late tackle on compatriot Nelson Semedo.The Portuguese playmaker was clearly frustrated at giving away possession.And his temper boiled over as he caught Semedo’s standing leg with his studs, sending the right-back tumbling to the floor. Referee Tony Harrington deemed the poor challenge worthy of a second yellow card, subsequently brandishing the red and sending Fernandes for an early bath.READ MORE ON MAN UTDThe decision could not be checked by VAR because the ref did not award a straight red. The dismissal followed Fernandes’ red cards against Tottenham on September 29 and then Porto on October 3 just four days later. Fernandes became the first United player to be sent off three times in one season for 16 years… and it is still only December. In 2008-09, Nemanja Vidic’s three red cards including both home and away against rivals Liverpool in the Premier League. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFernandes’ tally of three is more than any other top-flight footballer this term – with Jack Stephens and Edson Alvarez locked as the only two to receive two. Admittedly, the ex-Sporting star’s first ever United red card against Spurs for a high challenge on James Maddison was overturned on appeal so he did not serve a domestic suspension. ‘Bruno Fernandes red card was huge VAR error’ in Man Utd loss to Spurs | Whistleblower, Mark HalseyBut the lack of discipline from the player who is supposed to be the leader on the pitch will be a major concern for new boss Ruben Amorim.Especially because the red card immediately sparked the drab Molineux clash into life – and all in the home team’s favour.Just a minute after going down to ten men, United had a lucky escape.Jorgen Strand Larsen headed in Semedo’s cross but the flag went up and a lengthy VAR check proved the striker was marginally offside.Wolves did take the lead on 58 minutes, though.Cunha’s inswinging corner flew directly all the way in, over a flapping Andre Onana and into the top corner to break the deadlock.Then Hwang Hee-Chan grabbed a second for Wolves in the 99th minute as they leapfrogged Leicester out of the relegation zone – while United’s travelling fans booed their flops off at full-time.Fernandes’ first yellow came when he fouled Matheus CunhaCredit: GettyHe knew he was in trouble as soon as he made contact with SemedoCredit: PAThe dismissal was the United skipper’s third of the seasonCredit: PAThings went from bad to worse following his sending offCredit: ReutersWolves ran out 2-0 winners at MolineuxCredit: GettyFernandes was sent off for this challenge on James Maddison – but it was later rescindedCredit: GettyHe also saw red against Porto just four days after the Tottenham early bathCredit: ReutersNemanja Vidic saw red three times in the 2008-09 seasonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More