Premier League

GARY NEVILLE and Jamie Carragher have been left shocked with the amount of defending Jack Grealish has been doing against Tottenham.The England star made the £100m switch to Manchester City in 2021 and was signed to deliver goals and assists.
Jack Grealish produced three notable pieces of defensive work against SpursCredit: Getty
But goal contributions have generally been hard to come by for Grealish.
And in the two games against Spurs his defensive work has been highlighted.
After the game at the Etihad Stadium last month, Patrick Davidson asked Grealish about a tackle he made on Son Heung-min.
The winger responded: “I know what you’re talking about but it’s never a good sign when that’s the highlight of a winger’s match!”
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Regardless, Grealish is still keeping up with his duties tracking back and produced three notable pieces of defending in the first half in North London.
And it didn’t go unnoticed from the Sky Sports duo.
After making one fine tackle on Dejan Kulusevski, Neville said: “We’re going to be showing Jack Grealish’s defensive work again I think at the moment, three times he’s been forced to charge back.”
Grealish then went down injured later on in the half and commentator Martin Tyler also referred to his defensive work.
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He joked: “It’s probably all that defending he’s been doing.”
Despite Grealish’s hard work, he could do nothing to stop England colleague Harry Kane from opening the scoring and becoming Spurs record goalscorer in the process.
But fans have been reacting to his new-found role on social media.
One said: “If Jack Grealish makes one more tackle Pep’s gonna turn him into a left back.”
A second responded: “Jack Grealish is our best defender this game and I’m not even joking.”

A third chimed in with: “Jack Grealish’s defensive work rate is unreal for a winger.”
Another said: “Grealish defensive work rate against spurs… it moves me.” More

EVERYONE has severely underestimated the size of Liverpool’s problems. Unfortunately, so did the manager.Jurgen Klopp, a brilliant football coach, increasingly looks like someone who has run out of answers and basically, run out of steam.
Jurgen Klopp needs to fix Liverpool’s messCredit: AFP
Liverpool have been woeful since the World Cup breakCredit: PA

Not since 2011 under Roy Hodgson has a Liverpool team looked in such a mess and over this next month, it will need something extraordinary to get the club back into shape. 
You can understand why Klopp was at a loss to explain how his team started off so pathetically by gifting Wolves – who in fairness played very well – two goals in the first 12 minutes.
You can understand why Klopp remains cheesed off with owners FSG for not giving him the huge sums of cash compared to other clubs.
Equally, Klopp also has to understand that he has been given a bit of money in the last 12 months.
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Instead, he chose to refresh the team’s attack when it was blindingly obvious that central midfield was the number one priority.
Liverpool bought Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, along with a few others, in deals which could cost up to £200m.
But you only have to look at the last three away Premier League losses – 3-0 at Wolves, 3-0 at Brighton and 3-1 at Brentford – to see the urgent issues are elsewhere than attack.
At his pre-match press conference, Klopp jokingly said he did not want to speak about Chelsea’s transfer spending because his lawyer was not around.
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At his post-match press conference at Molineux, Klopp chose not to answer a question from a journalist who has a long history of covering Liverpool.
The German, who has enjoyed thousands of positive stories written about him over his seven-and-half years, claimed he did not like an article written by this reporter.
But it seems Klopp may have been thinking about another piece in the week, written by a different journalist.
Also, Klopp’s refusal to answer the question was edited out of the press conference video for the club’s official YouTube channel.
So that sums up Liverpool right now. A bit confused and all over the place.
Incredibly, they have already conceded more goals than last season’s 26.
On Saturday, Liverpool were a mess from the start and could have conceded two even before Joel Matip’s fifth minute own goal which came after Hwang Hee-chan attempted to square the ball.
Craig Dawson smashed in the second seven minutes later after yet more terrible defending.
And despite a better performance from Liverpool in the second half, Ruben Neves delivered a classy third after Adama Traore tore down the right.
Liverpool’s next run of games is potentially disastrous.
In seven days it’s the Merseyside derby against Everton, followed by a trip to Newcastle and then an away game at Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Klopp, at the very least, needs all his injured players back – even though that may not be enough.
Here, we look at the problems Klopp faces around the squad.
GOALKEEPERAlisson is not having his best season but clearly not the worst performer by any means.
DEFENCE
What a complete mess, as summed up by this shocking display. Virgil van Dijk has not been great this season, but they are still better with him in the team.
With Ibrahima Konate also injured, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip faced Wolves and could not have played any worse. Matip suffered his worst game for the club.
Andy Robertson has not been at his best, as proved when he failed to cut out a free-kick which led to the second.
As for Trent Alexander-Arnold, he will do well to get into the next England squad.
MIDFIELD
A complete disaster area. They need not just one or two new players, but three. A proper reset. The players are either too old or too young.
Fabinho was ill for the trip to Wolves but that was no miss as his form has dropped off a cliff. Jordan Henderson, too, has struggled.
Stefan Bajcetic looks a cracking prospect and was Liverpool’s best player even though he lost a tackle ahead of the third goal – but he is 18. Harvey Elliott is a talent but is nowhere near the finished product.
James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out of contract in the summer. 
ATTACK
Liverpool were always going to miss Sadio Mane. Mo Salah has been off the pace since signing a new contract.
Roberto Firmino, out of contract in the summer, has not played since November due to his fitness but he could still accept a new deal and Liverpool probably need him to stay.
Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have been injured, Darwin Nunez remains raw while Cody Gakpo is yet to impress since coming from Holland.
VERDICT
Liverpool have won just three of their 10 competitive games since the World Cup – while they managed seven wins out of the 10 matches before Qatar.
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So as Klopp said, you can no longer blame last year’s 63-game season as they should have had time to recover physically.
As for Klopp sorting out this shambles, it is now a case of if he can do it, rather than when.
Jurgen Klopp and his coaching staff looked dejected as their side lost to WolvesCredit: Getty
The loss at Wolves was Liverpool’s third in a rowCredit: Reuters More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans were left frustrated after Jordan Ayew escaped a red card despite “choking” Fred.A brawl broke out after Crystal Palace star Jeffrey Schlupp bundled Antony into the advertising board.

Jordan Ayew appeared to raise his hands on Fred
Manchester United fans questioned why the striker escaped a red card
Casemiro and Antony squared up to Schlupp which led Ayew to intervene.
There was pushing and shoving from several players but the Palace striker appeared to raise his hands on Fred.
United fans have accused Ayew of “choking” the Brazilian and have questioned why he was not sent off when Casemiro received his marching orders for a similar offence on Will Hughes.
One said: “Either rescind the red card based on the full footage or ban Ayew retrospectively for a much worse offence (effectively punching Fred). Joke decisions.”
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Another added: “How is Casemiro getting a red when Ayew was literally about to choke slam Fred 😂”
A third said: “They should appeal to expose the poor decision and double standards. Ayew strangling Fred looks worse!”
Another commented: “If they sent it Casemiro then should have sent off Ayew as well for doing the same thing to Fred & maybe another five or six players! Absolute nonsense!”
Erik ten Hag also complained about the inconsistency of referee Andre Marriner, who reviewed the incident on the VAR monitor before making his decision.
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The Red Devils boss said: “The player from Crystal Palace takes a big risk by this foul – that he get badly injured – by pushing him over the line.
“Everyone is reacting, Crystal Palace players and Man United players, and not only Casemiro.
“There was one of the players, he did even worse than Casemiro.
“You have to be consistent.” More