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      Man Utd stars enjoy well-earned day off after FA Cup heroics as they hit shops and eat lunch with families

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S players enjoyed some downtime with their families and friends after clinching a place in the FA Cup final.Erik ten Hag’s side beat Brighton on penalties at Wembley on Sunday to set up a clash with bitter rivals Manchester City on June 3.
      Aaron Wan-Bissaka went for some food on his day off after the FA Cup semi-finalCredit: Zenpix
      Harry Maguire went to a jewellers on MondayCredit: Zenpix
      Fred headed out for lunch at Cibo with his familyCredit: Zenpix
      And they were given the day off on Monday as several stars were spotted relaxing with their loved ones.
      Club captain Harry Maguire, who was suspended for the semi-final, was snapped outside a jewellers.
      Right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka enjoyed some food in Wilmslow, Cheshire, while defender Brandon Williams also had a bite to eat.
      And midfielder Fred went for lunch with his family at Cibo – sporting a Drake T-shirt confirming “Life is good” for good measure.
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      The Man Utd midfielder wore a Drake t-shirt to the mealCredit: Zenpix
      Brandon Williams also went for a bite of lunchCredit: Zenpix
      Man Utd are preparing for a hectic fortnight as they tackle five games in 16 days.
      Next up for Ten Hag’s men is a trip to North London to take on Tottenham on Thursday.
      A victory against Spurs would all but secure Champions League qualification.
      United sit six points clear of the fifth-placed Lilywhites with two games in hand.
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      The trip to Tottenham is followed by tough fixtures against Aston Villa and Brighton.
      But United’s fixture pile-up has been alleviated by their exit from the Europa League.
      They were dumped out of Europe on Thursday as a dismal 3-0 second-leg defeat saw them lose 5-2 on aggregate to Sevilla. More

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      Aston Villa vs Fulham hit by travel chaos as furious fans struggle to make kick-off and slam ‘shambles’

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      FANS heading to Aston Villa vs Fulham on Tuesday have been hit by travel disruption in Birmingham. West Midlands Railway confirmed that “train services to and from Villa Park are “likely to be severely disrupted”.
      There is travel disruption for fans heading to Aston Villa vs FulhamCredit: Getty
      The chaos is due to a broken rail in the Gravelly Hill area, near Villa Park, with fans heading to the game advised to leave early and consider getting to the game by an alternative route.
      A tweet from West Midlands Railway said: “Train services to and from Villa Park are likely to be severely disrupted this evening.
      “Fans are advised to leave extra time for their journeys and consider alternative means of transport. #AVLFUL @AVFCOfficial @FulhamFC.”
      Some fans were left fuming by the news.
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      One fan wrote on Twitter: “Shambles of a company ! Sick of excuses everyday!”
      Another fumed: “Oh ffs.”
      And a third said: “Seems like every other week it’s f***** getting to the game these days.”
      Aston Villa vs Fulham is scheduled to get underway at 7.45pm.
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      Unai Emery’s Villa go into the clash unbeaten in nine games and sixth-place in the Premier League table.
      Fulham meanwhile have won two on the bounce after a run of five matches without a win in all competitions.
      Marco Silva and Co are six points behind Villa in ninth, having played a game less than Tuesday night’s opponents. More

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      Liverpool ‘make Kalvin Phillips No1 transfer target’ as they line up £35m transfer raid on Man City

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      LIVERPOOL are keeping tabs on Manchester City ace Kalvin Phillips ahead of the summer transfer window, reports suggest.That is according to the Daily Star, who report that the Reds are preparing a £35million bid for Phillips, who has failed to establish himself at City.
      Liverpool are keeping tabs on Manchester City ace Kalvin PhillipsCredit: Rex
      The Merseysiders have turned their attention on the midfielder after dropping out of the transfer bid for Borussia Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham.
      Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is prioritising a signing to boost his midfield amid a turbulent campaign.
      And the England international is keen on moving to Anfield to reboot his Premier League career after a rough stint at the Etihad.
      The 27-year-old joined City last summer following a £50m deal with Leeds.
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      However, Phillips underwent a shoulder operation in September which ruled him out until mid-season, when the 2022 World Cup kicked off.
      The talented No6 still earned an international call-up by Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate and played twice in Qatar.
      But Phillips still ended up being frozen out from City following a break in New York with friends.
      Manager Pep Guardiola wasn’t satisfied with the player’s fitness levels upon his return.
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      Guardiola even criticised him publicly claiming he returned overweight from the World Cup.
      The Spanish tactician then decided to banish him from training because he was out of shape.
      Phillips has only managed to start in two games across all competitions but has never featured in Guardiola’s starting line-up in the Premier League this season.
      The ex-Leeds star has only registered a mere 16 appearances with City so far this term. More

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      Supercomputer reveals why Arsenal MUST beat Man City in crunch Premier League title decider

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      THREE draws in three games means Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City is a do or die encounter.A supercomputer has calculated both teams’ chances of winning the title based on the three possible results from Wednesday’s crunch clash.
      Arsenal and Manchester City go head to head on Wednesday nightCredit: Getty
      Arsenal fans are already well aware of it, but a loss would effectively put an end to their title charge.
      Defeat at the Etihad would leave the Gunners with a lowly nine per cent chance of winning the Premier League, according to Opta.
      Even a point at the Etihad makes City strong favourites for the trophy.
      If the game does end all square, Pep Guardiola’s side will have a 72 per cent chance of lifting the title.
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      But a win for the Gunners would put them in the driving seat to win the Prem for the first time since the 2004 Invincibles.
      However, Opta have given Arsenal just a 15 per cent chance of taking all three points back to North London.
      In a huge blow for boss Mikel Arteta, key defender William Saliba is again set to miss out through injury.
      There are even fears the French defender could be out for the remainder of the season.
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      Arteta’s side go into the clash five points clear of City at the top of the table – but having played twice more than their title rivals.
      And recent history in the fixture does not favour the Gunners.
      City have won the last 11 Premier League clashes between the two sides and have not lost to Arsenal at home since January 2015.

      Man City vs Arsenal – all you need to know ahead of the massive Premier League showdown. More

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      Ex-Premier League manager explains why Pochettino should pick Chelsea over Tottenham ‘if he’s got any sense’

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      MAURICIO POCHETTINO should choose Chelsea over former club Tottenham, according to Neil Warnock.Under interim boss Cristian Stellini, Spurs were thrashed 6-1 by Newcastle on Sunday – conceding five goals in the opening 21 minutes.
      Mauricio Pochettino looks set to join ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Neil Warnock has urged Pochettino to steer clear of returning to TottenhamCredit: Alamy
      Stellini was relieved of his duties on Monday as Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy axed the Italian, 48, after just three games in charge.
      Ryan Mason will now take over until the end of the season as Tottenham seek a new permanent head coach.
      And Pochettino has been linked with a return to North London, three and a half years after being dismissed by the club.
      But Chelsea are also on the hunt for a new manager and are reportedly closing in on making the Argentine, 51, the permanent successor to Graham Potter.
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      And while Spurs sit fifth in the Premier League table – 14 points ahead of Chelsea in 11th – Warnock still believes the Blues would be the better option for Pochettino.
      Speaking on talkSPORT about Spurs’ capitulation against Newcastle, he said: “I’m thinking, I’ve never seen anything like it. I couldn’t believe it. No disrespect, but you can’t put somebody like that [Stellini] in charge.
      “I remember when [Antonio] Conte left and I said, ‘You mark my words – you have a listen at what he said – that dressing room’s gotta be decimated. Gotta be gutted’.
      “I wouldn’t envy anybody coming in there now. If Pochettino’s got any sense he’d go to Chelsea [because] all they need is a centre-forward.”
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      Pochettino secured Spurs Champions League qualification four years in a row between 2015 and 2019.
      And Tottenham finished runners-up in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season – behind champions Chelsea.
      Poch also guided Spurs to the 2019 Champions League final where they were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool.
      He was sacked by Levy in November 2019 after five years at the helm – with Tottenham sitting 14th in the Premier League table at the time of his departure.
      He went on to manage Paris Saint-Germain for 19 months, claiming the Ligue 1 title before being sacked at the end of last season.
      The ex-Espanyol and Southampton head coach has been out of work since then, with Manchester United opting to appoint Erik ten Hag ahead of him last summer. More

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      I’m an ex-Chelsea star who gave my all for Ajax but they threw me away – as long as Man Utd icon is there, don’t call me

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      WINSTON BOGARDE has still not gotten over being ditched by Ajax last year.The former Chelsea defender was let go by the Eredivisie giants following Erik ten Hag’s departure for Manchester United.
      Winston Bogarde worked at Ajax under Erik ten HagCredit: Getty
      Bogarde, 52, had assisted Ten Hag for two years in Amsterdam.
      He wanted to stay on under a new manager, but was dismissed following the appointment of Alfred Schreuder.
      Man United legend Edwin van der Sar works as Ajax’s CEO.
      And Bogarde, who won the Champions League alongside Van der Sar in 1995, appears to hold a grudge against his former team-mate.
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      Speaking to Ziggo Sport, he said: “I gave everything for the club and they threw me away.
      “Of course I would like to return, Ajax is a great club, but as long as Van der Sar is here, don’t call me.”
      Schreuder, 50, was sacked in January following a string of poor results.
      Ajax, now under the management of John Heitinga, are third in the Eredivisie – with Feyenoord set to win their first title since 2017 under rumoured Tottenham target Arne Slot.
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      Winston Bogarde was upset by Man Utd old boy Edwin van der SarCredit: Getty
      On what’s gone wrong for his old club, Bogarde added: “The DNA of Ajax is diluted more and more in the club.
      “In the first team I miss certain things that the players can turn to when things go wrong.”
      Bogarde played just 12 times in four years at Chelsea between 2000 and 2004.
      He featured just once after Boxing Day 2000, with the Blues unable to sell him after handing him a lucrative deal.
      The ex-Ajax and Barcelona ace finally left upon the conclusion of his contract in 2004 before announcing his retirement from the game the following year.
      Bogarde returned to Ajax as a coach in 2017, initially working with their academy side.
      He was then promoted to Ten Hag’s staff in 2020.
      Bogarde played just 12 times in four years for the BluesCredit: Getty More

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      I was the ‘next David Beckham’ but I retired at 28 to own a chain of bars in Spain and run my own bespoke flooring firm

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      A FORMER Premier League star branded ‘the next David Beckham’ retired at 28 to run restaurants in Spain. David Bentley, now 38, stopped playing in 2014 and admitted it was because he had lost his love for the sport.
      David Bentley started his career at Arsenal after coming through the youth teamCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But his big break came at Blackburn Rovers, where he scored 13 goals in three seasonsCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      He started his career in the Premier League at Arsenal, where he came through the youth set-up, before having his breakthrough at Blackburn Rovers.
      After scoring 13 league goals at Blackburn, Bentley earned a £15million move to Tottenham Hotspur.
      He also broke into the England team under Steve McClaren in 2007, where the then-manager compared him to Three Lions legend Goldenballs.
      But he struggled at Spurs and after a series of loan moves, including to West Ham and Russian club FC Rostov, he quit football.
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      He’s now a shareholder of the Sala group, which owns bars and restaurants in Spain and Gibraltar.
      Fans say they have spotted Bentley serving drinks in Marbella, but the ex-Spurs star also runs his own bespoke flooring company, GFF Contracts – a far cry from his former footballing days.
      Bentley admitted to The Athletic in 2020 that he could’ve stayed playing football and made more money, but didn’t.
      He said: “I’ve got more money than when I started. If I’ve got £100, I’m alright.
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      “I loved football but then it ran its course.”
      Bentley spent three years in Spain with his family before moving back to the UK, becoming involved with the Chigwell branch of the La Sala chain.
      Another former footballer involved with the Sala chain is Stephen Carr, who also opted to move in a different direction after 17 years in the top flight.
      Ex-Tottenham star Carr was offered a job as a coach but decided instead to enter the world of business, saying: “As a coach, you’re in early and home late so you need to have a real desire and hunger.
      “If you don’t love it enough, you should never get into it.”
      Despite Bentley being referred to as the next Beckham, it seems all the pair now have in common is the name David.
      Bentley moved to Tottenham for £15million but it never worked outCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Bentley celebrates his only goal for Arsenal, in an FA Cup tieCredit: AFP More

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      Klopp hints at Trent Alexander-Arnold position tweak as he reveals forgotten loan transfer ace could start at right-back

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      LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has hinted at Trent Alexander-Arnold’s position tweak and suggested a future star could play at right-back.The 24-year-old has been on the receiving end of much criticism this season from pundits and fans for his defensive weaknesses.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold has been drifting into midfield in recent gamesCredit: Sunday Times
      Recent matches against the likes of Arsenal, Leeds and Nottingham Forest have seen Alexander-Arnold play a different role that has coincided with the team being unbeaten in all of those games.
      The right-back has fantastic ability with the ball at his feet, so his manager has tactically shifted his job and he now drifts into midfield.
      When Liverpool have possession, Alexander-Arnold goes into a deep-lying central midfield position and Ibrahima Konate has been drifting wider to fill the gap, forming the look of a three-man defence.
      Klopp previously resisted calls to move Alexander-Arnold into midfield but it appears he has now given in after he has been targeted by opponents this term.
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      The German has suggested that he could continue to use him in the hybrid role and youngster Conor Bradley could be a big part of the future if he does.
      The 19-year-old right-back has impressed out on loan at Bolton Wanderers and he is set for chances with his parent club next season.
      Klopp revealed: “For sure he’s a contender [to feature next year].
      “The plan at the moment is to bring him back and keep him, but we will see. We are in constant contact.”
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      Bradley has already made his Liverpool debut, playing four times since his Carabao Cup debut versus Norwich in September 2021.
      He made two further appearances in the competition before adding one FA Cup appearance and a Champions League debut against AC Milan.
      Bradley has helped Bolton win the EFL Trophy this season and nearly secure a play-off spot in League One.
      Conor Bradley has impressed at BoltonCredit: Getty More