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      Minus points galore from Anfield nightmare puts schedule-first Dream Team strategy to the test for Man United backers

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      WHILE many neutrals would have enjoyed the perverse entertainment provided by Liverpool’s 7-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday, plenty of Dream Team gaffers would have been wincing as they goals flew in.Erik ten Hag’s troops are popular men in the world of Dream Team and with good reason.
      Prior to Game Week 25, the Red Devils were the highest scoring team in the game having plundered one more point than neighbours Man City collectively.
      However, the massacre of Anfield has taken its toll.
      A rough weekendCredit: GETTY
      David de Gea (£3.9m) is the second-most popular goalkeeper with an ownership of 16.1% and the second-best performer overall but he incurred minus six points when all was said and done this weekend.
      It was a similar story for Raphael Varane (£3.5m), Tyrell Malacia (£3.5m), Diogo Dalot (£3.9m) and Luke Shaw (£4.1m), the latter being the seventh-most selected defender currently.
      Lisandro Martinez (£4.4m) suffered the most damage having been booked before he was substituted in the 76th minute.
      The Argentine World Cup winner endured minus seven points and, needless to say, he is Game Week 25’s worst performer so far.
      It’s a crucial blow for the sizeable chunk of Dream Team bosses backing Man United assets, particularly those who used some of their March transfers to bring in a Red Devil or two prior to this weekend’s match-up.
      The heavy defeat on Merseyside will be the ultimate test of whether tailoring one’s team to the schedule is the best approach.
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      Can Shaw and company make up the ground in the coming Game Weeks?
      Ten Hag’s side face Real Betis over two legs in the Europa League, host Southampton in the Premier League, and welcome to Fulham to Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-finals before the international break.
      In contrast, Liverpool have just two fixtures to fulfil in the same time frame and one of those is a trip to Real Madrid.
      On paper, Man United assets should outscore their rivals this month but Sunday’s result has thrown a spanner in the works.
      While the visiting defenders suffered badly, pretty much every player involved for the hosts cashed in to some degree.
      Mohamed Salah (£8.6m) was predictably the big winner with a 21-point haul with Cody Gakpo (£3.6m) and Darwin Nunez (£5.2m) following up with 13 points each.
      A relentless Dream Team asset
      Dream Team gaffers with De Gea, Shaw and Martinez in their team would probably be wise to trust the process and check back on their net returns in a fortnight.
      If the 7-0 thrashing at Anfield proves to be something of a one-off then it can be stomached.
      If it’s a sign of things to come then that’s a different story but managers should resisting overreacting now as the outlook should be brighter in two weeks’ time. More

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      ‘Make that 8-0’ – Fans all say the same thing after De Jong transfer update just hours after Man Utd’s 7-0 hammering

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have been trolled on social media as top transfer target Frenkie de Jong wants to stay at Barcelona.This comes just hours after United suffered their heaviest ever Premier League loss with Liverpool beating them 7-0 at Anfield.
      Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong has been Manchester United’s top targetCredit: Alamy
      Manchester United have been dealt a blow as Frenkie de Jong wants to stay at BarcelonaCredit: Rex
      The Red Devils have been keeping tabs on De Jong since the summer when the midfielder’s former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag took over.
      Ten Hag wanted to build his midfield around his fellow Dutchman but the 25-year-old opted to stay at Barca and the Manchester giants turned to Casemiro.
      But United are still monitoring De Jong ahead of the summer transfer window and want to pair him up with the Real Madrid legend, who has stood out in the middle of the park.
      Recent reports suggested the Netherlands international is keen to reunite with Ten Hag and partner up with former rival Casemiro.
      Read More on Man Utd
      However, those claims have just been denied with recent updates suggesting De Jong still prefers to stay at Barcelona.
      This poses as a fresh blow to United, who are still licking their wounds after their Liverpool thrashing.
      And some fans decided to pour some more salt on Twitter after hearing that De Jong’s situation remains unchanged.
      One user tweeted: “Make that 8-0.”
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      Another posted: “Not downgrading after yesterday’s result anyways.”
      A third commented: “After seeing that yesterday result. He sure will want to stay.”

      This fan said: “2 back to back L for United fans in less than 24 hours.”
      And that one tweeted: “He will say yes, if Man Utd try 7 times.” More

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      Supercomputer predicts Premier League table after Arsenal comeback but do Liverpool make top four after 7-0 mauling?

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      LIVERPOOL battered Manchester United 7-0 on Sunday to bolster their top four hopes.But our supercomputer still doesn’t think they’re going to make it.
      Liverpool battered Man United 7-0 on SundayCredit: Rex
      The Red Devils were humiliated at AnfieldCredit: Rex
      The Reds have had a difficult season to date, but appear to finally be clicking if Sunday’s Man United mauling is anything to go by.
      Boffins and brainiacs over at bettingexpert have used a supercomputer to predict what is most likely to happen over the rest of the season.
      It takes into consideration things like xG and xA… running a simulation 100,000 times to come up with the most likely scenarios.
      And the supercomputer thinks that Liverpool will come SIXTH – despite putting seven past hapless United.
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      Tottenham currently occupy fourth spot, three points above Liverpool and four ahead of Newcastle.
      Antonio Conte’s side have played a game more than the Reds, however, and two more than the Toon.
      And the supercomputer reckons that Eddie Howe’s men can recover from their goal-shy blip to snatch back fourth.
      Arsenal are also predicted to fend off Manchester City to win the title, following their dramatic two-goal comeback against Bournemouth on Saturday.
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      Pep Guardiola’s side are projected to finish second, with Man United remaining third.
      Brighton are tipped to beat Brentford and Fulham to seventh spot and a Europa Conference League place – with Chelsea tenth.

      Meanwhile, at the bottom – Southampton, Everton and Bournemouth are tipped for the drop.
      It’s claimed that Saints have a 67.5 per cent chance of going down, despite beating Leicester 1-0 on Saturday.
      Bournemouth closely follow on 67.3 per cent after their Emirates collapse.
      Everton then have a 60.9 per cent chance of going down, with Nottingham Forest having the next highest odds on 31.1 per cent.

      Everton are tipped for the dropCredit: Alamy More

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      David De Gea releases statement after ‘disastrous’ 7-0 defeat at Liverpool but refuses to apologise as fans slam stopper

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      MANCHESTER UNITED star David De Gea has released a statement following his side’s 7-0 hammering by Liverpool. The Red Devils collapsed and conceded six times in the second-half, but the goalkeeper did not apologise to fans.
      David De Gea has released a statement after the humiliation at LiverpoolCredit: Rex
      De Gea tweeted: “I know these messages don’t sit well on such a day.
      “This was a disastrous moment for us and these results shouldn’t happen, especially with the journey we are all on.
      “We have a duty to this club, a responsibility to represent the badge but we have many opportunities to look ahead, many games coming fast and we have to lock our focus on these.”
      De Gea was among the shocking performers during the game and fans reacted badly to his statement.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      One supporter wrote: “Poor again today. More than one goal from in or around your six-yard area. Not good enough.”
      Another said: “Delete this it’s adding more embarrassment.”
      A third joked: “Great performance today David without your one save it would have been 8-0.”
      Pundit Roy Keane also slammed De Gea on Sky Sports, citing an award he received before the 3-1 win over West Ham in the FA Cup last Wednesday for keeping his 181st clean sheet, a club record.
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      The ex-United captain said: “De Gea was getting presentations last week, I wonder if he gets a presentation tonight, letting in seven goals like that.”
      However, many jumped to the defence of the Spanish stopper and blamed the team in front of him, saying: “He saved us many times and kept us in the game. It happened. It was embarrassing.

      “Let’s not get pointing at each player when it was an 11-man circus for 90 minutes. We will be back.”
      De Gea has kept 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, the joint-third most.

      His future at Man Utd remains in some doubt with his contract expiring at the end of this season.
      Although the club and the player are reportedly in talks over an extension. More

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      Man Utd flops look glum as they’re dragged to training early just hours after 7-0 battering at arch-rivals Liverpool

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’s stars reported for training just hours after being thrashed 7-0 at Anfield.A number of glum faces were seen arriving at the club’s Carrington HQ.
      Casemiro pictured arriving for Manchester United training on Monday morningCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Alejandro Garnacho arrived with his hood over his headCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Diogo Dalot pictured behind the wheel of his Ferrari as he reported for dutyCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Fred, who started in midfield against Liverpool, took a sip of a drink on his way inCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Sunday’s embarrassing 7-0 loss to bitter rivals Liverpool was United’s worst defeat in almost a century.
      Boss Erik ten Hag vowed after the game that his team will “bounce back” – and getting back to work in training is the perfect way to start putting things right.
      Sky Sports claimed the players were dragged in early, with some arriving before 9am.
      The 4-0 defeat at Brentford earlier in the season prompted boss Ten Hag to order his players into training for extra running.
      Read More on Man Utd
      And MEN say Ten Hag himself had already been onsite for two hours before the players arrived on Monday.
      Midfield general Casemiro, plus Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho, all showed no expression as they came through the gates at Carrington on Monday morning.
      The dreadful defeat at Anfield left United’s already slim title hopes in tatters, with the Red Devils now trailing leaders Arsenal by 14 points.
      But the good news for Ten Hag and Co is they have the opportunity to instantly respond.
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      The Red Devils return to action on Thursday with the Europa League Round of 16 first leg against Real Betis at Old Trafford.
      Another home game against lowly Southampton follows on Sunday, before the return clash with Betis.

      Three victories would quickly erase the damaging memories from Anfield and build on the good work Ten Hag has done since arriving at Old Trafford.
      United are also in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with a good chance of adding another trophy to the Carabao Cup triumph from last month.
      They will host Fulham at Old Trafford.
      And Ten Hag already has his players hard at work ahead of a crucial run in to the end of the campaign.
      He said on Sky after the Liverpool defeat: “I said in the dressing room it’s not acceptable, their performance, it’s clear.
      “But it’s only one game, though a big defeat, unacceptable, and especially for our fans, especially against Liverpool.
      “We will bounce back.
      Read More on The Sun
      “This team is strong enough to go, reset itself, and we will bounce back.
      “I know my players, they are good characters, and they can bounce back and they will do.”
      Jadon Sancho emerged from the Anfield drubbing with his credibility intact after being an unused subCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      David De Gea shielded his face as he arrived at trainingCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Victor Lindelof pictured reporting for dutyCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke More

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      Wayne Rooney’s son Kai says he’ll be playing for Man Utd in 10 years – but they’re not his favourite team

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      WAYNE ROONEY’s son Kai believes he will be playing for Manchester United in 10 years time.The 13-year-old, who joined United’s academy in 2020, hopes to follow in his dad’s footsteps by becoming a club icon.
      Rooney spent 13 years at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
      Kai believes he will be playing for Man Utd in 10 years
      He told SY Football: “In ten years hopefully I will be playing in the Premier League for Man United… that’s where I see myself but I’ve got to make it happen with the hard work and everything behind the scenes.”
      Kai also revealed that his dad is his biggest inspiration, adding: “I know it’s a a bit boring but probably my dad as he’s helped me though some of the hard times and taught me a lot about the game, even just being in the car listening to him as a manager talking to all the players.”
      Rooney joined Man Utd in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford.
      He is still the club’s all-time top scorer, having scored 253 goals in 559 appearances.
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      Despite his dad’s incredible Man Utd legacy, Rooney’s son does not actually support the Red Devils.
      Instead, he supports Everton.
      Kai added: “I support Everton. I know people might expect me to support Man Utd but it’s my dad’s team and I am from there.

      “I have a love for Man Utd as well but my team is Everton.”
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      Rooney kicked off his glittering career with the Toffees in 2004 after graduating from the club’s academy.
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      He returned to Goodison Park after leaving United in 2017.
      The 37-year-old is now managing DC United in the MLS. More

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      Arsenal set for £5.9million windfall with Mikel Arteta’s first-ever Gunners transfer set to quit club

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      ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta’s first ever signing is set to be sold in the summer transfer window, reports suggest.The Gunners’ sporting director Edu is already in the process of trimming the first-team squad and raise funds ahead of next season.
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could see his first ever signing leave in the summerCredit: Getty
      Arsenal loanee Pablo Mari has stood out at Monza and may command a £5.9m feeCredit: Getty
      According to Football London, Pablo Mari, who is currently on loan at Monza, poses as a highly likely candidate to depart from the Emirates.
      And the Gunners appear set for a £5.9million windfall from a possible deal involving Mari.
      An agreement is highly likely but talks will only take place if Monza avoid the drop.
      However, Raffaele Palladino’s side appear safe as they are currently 10th with 14 points separating them from the relegation zone.
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      Therefore, Mari is among the Arsenal loanees that could command a transfer fee in the summer along with Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun and Nuno Tavares, who currently play at Lille, Reims and Marseille respectively.
      The Spaniard was Arteta’s first ever signing back in January 2020 when he arrived on loan from Flamengo.
      The centre-back signed a permanent deal six months later but failed to break into the Spanish tactician’s line-up and was shipped out on loan at Udinese in January 2022.
      The 29-year-old stayed at the Stadio Friuli for six months and was then loaned out to Monza where he has since been going from strength to strength.
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      Mari hit the ground running upon his arrival at the Stadio Brianteo in August.
      The defender’s momentum was cut short in October when he fell victim to a deadly knife attack in a supermarket near Milan that left one dead and five others injured.
      The ex-Manchester City player underwent surgery and had two muscles repaired.
      But Mari returned to action less than two months later after the incident and has since continued to impress in Palladino’s backline. More

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      Man Utd ‘want Tammy Abraham to solve striking woes but transfer could be scuppered due to £71m Chelsea clause’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are interested in Roma star Tammy Abraham but the transfer could be scuppered due to a Chelsea clause, according to reports. The Red Devils are expected to be in the market for a striker this summer and they have been tracking the man with seven goals this season.
      Tammy Abraham is wanted by Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
      Claims from The Athletic suggest that Man Utd scouts have been in regular attendance at the Stadio Olimpico.
      However, Chelsea also have an interest in bringing their former striker back to the club.
      When Abraham was initially sold to Roma for £34million, then Blues director of football Marina Granovskaia negotiated a £71million buy-back clause.
      Chelsea also have to be told if another club comes in for the English striker, meaning they have first refusal on him.
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      Any decision could be influenced by what they decide to do with Romelu Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Inter Milan.
      Roma are battling financial fair play rules after breaching regulations in the 2020/21 campaign.
      They supposedly “may have to consider sacrifices” but don’t have to sell Abraham, with an agreement not possible for under £70million.
      That means he will still be a cheaper option for United than Napoli ace Victor Osimhen, who is valued at over £100million.
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      Jose Mourinho’s side sit fourth in the Serie A table and qualification for next season’s Champions League will strengthen their position when it comes to trying to keep Abraham.
      The centre-forward enjoyed a fine first season in Italy, netting 27 goals in 53 appearances to help his team win the Conference League.
      But the 25-year-old, who became a father for the first time last week, has seen his goals dry up this term.
      He since missed out on earning a place in England’s World Cup squad. More