Premier League

MARCUS RASHFORD has urged Manchester United fans to “trust the process” despite the club’s 7-0 humiliation against Liverpool.The Red Devils were losing by just one goal at half time before their staggering second-half collapse on Sunday.
Rashford has urged Man Utd fans ‘trust the process’Credit: Getty
Many players – most of all captain Bruno Fernandes – have come under fire as a result, despite an impressive season before their trip to Anfield.
But Rashford has urged fans to keep the faith and get behind the team.
He tweeted: “I wish we could play a game today to try and put things right.
“The result is the result, and we can’t see past that! We must not let it define our season.
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“We have to trust the process and stick together.”
Rashford has been United’s star player this season.
In 40 appearances across all competitions, the England international has scored 25 goals and assisted nine.
Many fans and pundits have even claimed that he is currently the best player in the world.
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Last week, Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd said: “You could see there were talented footballers at the club that is wasn’t going to happen for them and I think Marcus Rashford was potentially going to fall into that trap.
“But I tell you what, he’s arguably the best player in the world at this moment in time. He’s been unstoppable.”
Despite his red-hot form, Rashford was unable to write his name on the scoresheet against Liverpool. More

LAURA WOODS totally destroyed a Tottenham fan who called in to talkSPORT to complain about Arsenal’s celebrations.The Emirates went mad on Saturday’s after Reiss Nelson’s 97th-minute winner saw Arsenal complete an amazing comeback against Bournemouth having been 2-0 down.
Laura Woods showed no mercy to a whingeing Spurs fanCredit: Getty
Spurs fan: “You #AFC lot are so cringe!” 🤢Laura: “All I can hear is, ‘waaa waaa!’ Lovely speaking you, enjoy your miserable season.”This #THFC fan v Laura Woods is iconic. 🔥Some top level s***housery here 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/TfBxN8nQD5— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) March 6, 2023

But rival fans are hardly enjoying the feel-good atmosphere around the Gunners as they edge closer to a first Premier League title since the Invincibles in 2004.
Dan, a Tottenham fan, called in to talkSPORT breakfast to take issue with “cringe” Arsenal fans and expose how “lucky” Spurs’ bitter rivals have been this season.
But diehard Arsenal fan Woods was having none of it and, in a clip that’s gone viral, casually dismantled the caller in good-humoured fashion.
With giggling co-host Ally McCoist watching the war of words, Dan said: “Do you know how cringe it is to listen to you lot? Bournemouth have form in this.
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“We were 2-0 down to Bournemouth earlier this season and came back and you lot are the most cringeworthy, desperate try-hard fan base I’ve heard in my life.
“You are the luckiest club I’ve ever came across in the whole of my life. You scored in the eighth minute of six minutes added on and you celebrate like a kid that’s been given a packet of percy pigs.”
Sipping calmly on her drink with a big smile, Woods waited for her chance to respond.
She said: “Dan, you know what I heard there in your wonderful rant? I heard waah, waah, waah. I heard oh God, we lost 1-0 to Wolves at the weekend, what’s the best thing I can do on a Monday morning? I can call up talkSPORT and cry about it.
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“[Your] manager [Antonio Conte] is a ‘born winner’ but he can’t even get Spurs to win? What’s happening, Dan?”
Woods was not done as the pair continued to bicker and Dan once again insisted that Arsenal were lucky.
She hit back: “How’s your luck? Signing Richarlison and he hasn’t even scored yet?”
Woods coolly signed off from the call with one final, piercing line.
She said: “Dan, it’s been lovely speaking to you this morning. Enjoy the rest of your miserable season make sure you call up again later.”
Reiss Nelson sparked wild scenes in North London on SaturdayCredit: EPA
Meanwhile, there was also a late goal at Molineux to compound Spurs fans’ miseryCredit: AFP
Fans on Twitter were left revelling at the hilarious exchange.
One said: “Laura Woods is amazing and that needs no further elaboration.”
Another added: “Fair play Laura Woods. Let him ramble on and then just finished off with the perfect line. One of the best in the business hands down.”
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Another fan said: “Laura Woods committed a violent murder on TalkSport this morning. Poor Spurs fan. What a queen she is.”
While another said: “This is the thing with Laura Woods, she’s a football fan first and foremost. Walking the line between professionalism and tribalism isn’t an easy thing to do without sounding bitter, particularly with a big audience.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Erik ten Hag brought out the hairdryer following his side’s disastrous 7-0 defeat at Anfield.SunSport has learned the Dutchman was “the angriest he’s ever been” following the humiliation at arch-rivals Liverpool.
Erik ten Hag was livid with his Manchester United sideCredit: Rex
No player was spared in a dressing down which lasted several minutes. 
Our insider said: “Ten Hag was livid. After the game he was straight down the tunnel, and as soon as the players got into the changing room he ripped into them. 
“It was the full hairdryer treatment. He explained he can accept defeat but that the way they’d performed was unprofessional. 
“No one individual was singled out. But Ten Hag said everyone, himself included, now needed to learn from it and do a lot better.”
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Despite widespread criticism in the last 12 hours, SunSport understands there are no plans to strip Bruno Fernandes of the captaincy.
The Portuguese star was seen apparently gesturing to come off with his side 6-0 down.
Many United fans were also unhappy with his work-rate while he was also criticised for seemingly pushing the assistant referee. 
But SunSport’s source continued: “Bruno will remain Utd captain.
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“He spoke after the game as well and told his team-mates they had to bounce back.
“He made clear there was still so much to play for and the manager believes Bruno is the right man to lead the team.

“But lots of United fans are wondering if he really is the right person, in the long term, to wear the armband.
“Some will struggle to forgive what they saw in the game from a player who should be leading by example.”
Man Utd produced a hideous second half display at AnfieldCredit: Rex
Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures in March More

MANCHESTER UNITED players are set to be brutally punished by Erik ten Hag after their 7-0 hammering against Liverpool. The Red Devils collapsed in the second-half and their no-nonsense manager fumed after the game.
Erik ten Hag is set to come down on his players heavily after the loss to LiverpoolCredit: Rex
Ten Hag used words like “unprofessional” and “unacceptable” to describe his team’s performance as the club suffered its heaviest defeat in 91 years.
He said: “I am really disappointed and angry for our fans, we let them down. As a squad and a team we cannot allow this.
“I saw 11 individuals losing their heads. That is not Manchester United, we have higher standards.
“It is really unprofessional. When you don’t keep the standards you see what can happen.
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“I said in the dressing room it is unacceptable. It is only one game but the defeat is unacceptable for our fans, especially against Liverpool.
“It was really undisciplined.
“You can have set backs but what cannot happen is you don’t stick together, you have to do your job.”
Ten Hag is set to demand a reaction from his players and he began the response by arriving at Carrington at 7am on Monday morning.
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The players were punished, having to report to training early as the inquest began.
This is not the first time Ten Hag has come down hard on the squad, here are five other times he threw the book at Man Utd stars.
Brentford 13km run
In just his second game in charge, United suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Brentford.
The fuming boss made his players undergo an extra practice session that involved them running 13km (8.5 miles) in 33C heat.
Ten Hag chose the distance because Brentford stars had run a total of 13km more than United during the match.
Interestingly, United reportedly ran 99.01km against Liverpool, the lowest since the humiliation by the Bees.
Man Utd lost to Brentford 4-0Credit: AFP
Garnacho’s pre-season telling off
Alejandro Garnacho almost blew his Man Utd career by turning up late for team meetings during pre-season.
The winger was taken on the international tour to Thailand, but he did not play after twice turning up late for team meetings.
Garnacho’s behaviour has improved and he has netted five goals this campaign with him also set to earn a new contract.
He has even been described as a “rascal” by a former coach.
Ten Hag said: “The start of the season was difficult for him. I was not happy with him, but the last weeks I was happy with him – a better attitude, more resilience, more determination.
“Young kids have to grow and to raise their personality. They have to know what the laws and demands are in top football. You have to fulfil every day the high standards.”
Alejandro Garnacho played just once in pre-seasonCredit: Reuters
Ronaldo dropped
Cristiano Ronaldo was axed by Ten Hag after he refused to come off the bench against Tottenham.
The Portuguese hero stormed down the tunnel and left during the game.
Ten Hag punished Ronaldo, demoting him to train with United’s Under 21-team and he left him out the squad for the next match versus Chelsea.
Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off during Man Utd’s win over SpursCredit: Getty
Ronaldo (again) after interview
Ronaldo was dropped after his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, as he slammed the club from top to bottom and claimed he wasn’t respected by Ten Hag.
He never played for the club again as Man Utd terminated his contract.
A defiant Ten Hag sternly said he didn’t lose a wink of sleep over kicking Ronaldo out and insisted without tough rules a mess would be created.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Man Utd after his interview with Piers MorganCredit: TalkTV
Rashford benched for oversleeping
Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score the winner in United’s 1-0 win away at Wolves.
He was surprisingly not included in the starting XI and he revealed afterwards it was due to punishment.
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Rashford admitted to being late for a team meeting because he overslept.
Ten Hag praised Rashford for his response to being penalised, saying: “Everyone has to match rules and values and if you react like this, it is the right answer.”
Marcus Rashford responded to Erik ten Hag’s punishment with a goalCredit: Getty
Man Utd’s upcoming games in March More

WHAT a difference a week makes.Seven days ago, United were basking in the success of Erik ten Hag’s first trophy at Wembley after beating Newcastle United 2-0 in the Carabao Cup Final. 
Bruno Fernandes has been wearing the captain’s armband for UnitedCredit: Getty
The Red Devils suffered a 7-0 defeatCredit: Reuters
A week later – United have been humiliated 7-0 at Anfield by their greatest rivals Liverpool.  
It’s hard to know where to start really. United have had an excellent season and are certainly on the right path under Ten Hag.  
They sit comfortably in the Champions League places and have a trophy in the bag – something most supporters would have snapped your hand off for following early back-to-back Premier League defeats to Brighton and Brentford.  
Up until the Carabao Cup win United had received plenty of praise, and rightly so.
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They went on an incredible run of form, particularly at home, and beat Barcelona in decent fashion over two legs in the Europa League play off.  
There is though, a softness to them that somehow still exists.
In the previously mentioned Brentford encounter United conceded four. At City it was six, and yesterday, seven! 
I think the earlier batterings were due to Ten Hag tweaking and finding out what his ‘best’ and most reliable starting XI was.
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The game at Liverpool on Sunday came down to a bit of tiredness but also a lack of quality in depth.  
While Raphael Varane and Casemiro have been excellent signings, they can’t do it all on their own.
Varane looked weary as he sometimes does, while Casemiro appeared to be carrying a knock.  
But they had to play, given what United has on the bench. Marcel Sabitzer has been a welcome addition, but Scott McTominay simply isn’t good enough.
After that, there’s not a lot of options other than Fred who tends to start next to Casemiro. 
So squad depth and quality is definitely something that will be addressed in the summer window.
Tut there’s a way to lose, and what we saw from Bruno Fernandes – the Manchester United captain – was unforgivable, and serious questions should be asked about his suitability for the role.  
The Portuguese star was at his petulant best, throwing his arms in the air, feigning injury, not trying, being unprofessional, even half-heartedly pushing the linesman.
It was pathetic and a disgrace to the badge.  
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ten Hag give the armband to someone else for the next fixture if Harry Maguire doesn’t start.  
Fernandes was visibly frustrated throughout the gameCredit: Getty
It acts as a reminder to United fans, of the work that still needs to be done.
The ownership issue needs to be resolved as quickly as possible, and the players who aren’t required beyond this season should start making plans for life away from Old Trafford.  
Let’s be clear, that the defeat was the fault of all the players, not just Fernandes.
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But, as captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world, and with a huge global audience, the manager and supporters are entitled to expect better.  
Hopefully United get back on track this week against Real Betis in the Europa League and the Liverpool defeat was the last in a line of capitulations.   More