Premier League

GREAT ESCAPES demand the good, the ugly and the downright bizarre from top flight managers.Only four sides have ever achieved Premier League survival after being bottom at Christmas – West Brom in 2004-05, Sunderland in 2013-14, Leicester in 2014-15 and Wolves in 2022-23.Ivan Juric faces a huge task keeping Southampton upCredit: GettySaints have endured an awful first half of the campaignCredit: PAAnd it was the managers, all with unique and memorable styles, who led them there – Bryan Robson, Gus Poyet, Nigel Pearson and Julen Lopetegui.Doomed Southampton now find themselves needing a similar miracle, turning to Croatian coach Ivan Juric to join the pantheon of unlikely Prem heroes in their battle to beat the drop.But two games into his tenure – a 1-0 loss to West Ham and a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend – and questions will already be asked as to whether he has what it takes.Because to pull this off does not necessarily require tactical masterclasses or brimming CVs.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLInstead, it takes guts, luck and an occasional bonkers moment or method, by hook or by crook, that convinces a fanbase that miracles really can happen.Juric, 49, appeared to have it on paper upon his arrival at the Saints on December 21 following Russell Martin’s sacking.A death metal-loving Croat who grew up hating golf and idolising bands like Metallica and Megadeath, imprinting that upbringing into a successful style of aggressive football.His first press conference was also promising, as he insisted he can pull off “something exceptional” and that he was “really optimistic”.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIt is still early days for Southampton – 19 games left and ten points from safety. They have just six points, one win, 12 goals and 15 losses so far.But Juric is being judged against the likes of Robson, Poyet, Pearson and Lopetegui, and we are still waiting to see where the spark will come from. Ultimately, it starts with the manager.Russell Martin SACKED by Southampton after shambolic Tottenham battering leaves them bottom of Premier League tableHis post-match press conference at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon lasted just over four minutes, and he spent most of it moaning about referees and a lack of opportunity in the January market, all of which was portrayed in a glum, defeatist tone that will not exactly endear himself to the Saints fans.Some will call it calm, others will call it uninspiring. History tells us that supporters and players respond to the weird and wonderful from their men in charge.Pearson was no exception at the King Power Stadium in 2014-15. His Leicester were bottom from November to mid-April after just ten points from their opening 17 games.And yet, the Foxes finished six points off the drop in 14th having secured seven wins from their last nine games. In the middle of all that, Pearson was bonkers yet brilliant.In defence of his side after a defeat by Chelsea in late April, he went on an astonishing press conference rant where he called a journalist an “ostrich”.He also made headlines in February after appearing to strangle Palace midfielder James McArthur on the floor during another defeat, responding with the line: “I’m more than capable of looking after myself.”There was method to the madness, and his Leicester players took to that, as did the fans.Nigel Pearson infamously asked a reporter ‘are you an ostrich?’Credit: NicheThe former Leicester boss appeared to strange James McArthurCredit: Getty – ContributorPoyet was equally as barmy at Sunderland a season earlier, his frantic energy on the touchlines endearing him to the Black Cats faithful on a rollercoaster of a campaign.They were seven points from safety with six games left, albeit with two games in hand, and managed to secure a 14th placed finish with wins in four of their last five, including against Manchester United and Chelsea.Poyet’s infectious charisma and personality saw fans produce banners in the run-in that read: ‘Miracles Happen, Gus’.Gus Poyet was a charismatic figure on the Sunderland touchlineCredit: AFPThe Uruguayan got the Black Cats faithful onsideCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBoth Robson and Lopetegui were more reserved in their approach, but demanded respect and admiration with their stature and past successes.In the end, Lopetegui’s Wolves made light work of their comeback – a run of wins in February and April doing the trick to finish 13th under the guidance of the former Real Madrid and Spain boss.But Man Utd legend Robson – who ironically had Pearson as his assistant at West Brom – was prone to the odd magic, ballsy moment under pressure, including influential January signings Kevin Campbell and Kieran RichardsonHe had taken the job in early November with the Baggies eight points from safety and guided them to an iconic final day, leapfrogging Norwich, Southampton and Palace on Survival Sunday.READ MORE SUN STORIESBefore their final must-win game against Portsmouth – which they eventually won 2-0 – Robson played clips to the players of their best moments of the campaign, and even reportedly turned a blind eye to some nervous squad members taking shots of whisky ahead of kick-off.To make Prem history, touchline mavericks must shine bright. Juric needs to remember that.Bryan Robson famously pulled off the original great escape with West BromCredit: Getty Images – GettyJulen Lopetegui kept Wolves up with ease two seasons agoCredit: Getty More

FANS have spotted the moment Son Heung-min’s South Korea team-mate Hwang Hee-chan told keeper Jose Sa which way to dive for his penalty.Wolves shot-stopper Sa, 31, saved Son’s spot kick in the 43rd minute of their 2-2 draw at Spurs on Sunday.Hwang Hee-chan was seen pointing to the way Son Heung-min was going to put the penaltyIt ended up paying off as Son went that way and Jose Sa saved the spot kickSon was denied by the Portuguese shot-stopperCredit: GettyWith the score level at 1-1 at the time of the penalty – which was awarded after Brennan Johnson was brought down – the Tottenham captain took his time before stepping up.And as he composed himself, fans could see Wolves striker Hwang, 28, pointing for Sa to dive to his right – as Spurs defender Radu Dragusin tried to get in front of him.But Portuguese keeper Sa took the advice and it paid off as he thwarted the South Korean, who plays with Hwang at international level.Reacting to Hwang’s gesture one fan said: “Hwang Hee-chan did Sonny DIRTY!”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhile another added: “It was Hwang who told Jose Sa that Son would shoot in that direction 😂.”And a third replied: “Radu Dragusin tried his best to stop him.”Tottenham went in front just two minutes after the penalty miss through Johnson.But Jorgen Strand Larsen’s late equaliser piled more pressure on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIt takes Tottenham’s run to one win in seven Premier League games.They are languishing in 11th in the table, seven points adrift of Manchester City in fifth.Tottenham boss Postecoglou REFUSES to answer questions after his team ship another hatful of goals in Liverpool lossBut they are in the Carabao Cup semi-finals where they will play Liverpool – with the first leg taking place on January 8. More

MARCUS RASHFORD returned to the Manchester United squad to face Newcastle.The forward missed the last four matchday squads before being allowed to return by manager Ruben Amorim.Marcus Rashford is back in the Man Utd squadHe has missed Man Utd’s last four matchesCredit: X/ ManUtdHe was first axed for the short trip to Manchester City, with United winning 2-1 after staging a late comeback.Amorim explained his absence was due to tactical reasons, with Alejandro Garnacho also dropped for that match.Garnacho was back the next match, a 4-3 defeat by Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, but Rashford was still absent.The 27-year-old was then left out of back-to-back losses against Bournemouth and Wolves.READ MORE ON MAN UTDUnited struggled without Rashford and though they were beaten by Toon, Amorim decided not to use the Englishman off the bench.The Red Devils were without suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, with another attacking player Mason Mount an injury absentee yet again.Amorim explained it was his decision to exile Rashford as he warned his players about maintaining standards.He said: “We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, push their team-mates up.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.”I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. ‘Not just Marcus’ – Ruben Amorim has theory on who’s behind bombshell Rashford interview and will ‘forget it.. for now'”The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.”If I don’t do that, I will lose myself and I will not lose myself. I know what I am doing.” More

PREM club accountants face PSR D-Day tomorrow – with the threat of a points deduction hanging over them.Under League rules, all clubs that have posted aggregate losses over the previous two seasons must hand in their 2023-24 accounts by close of business.Clubs including Chelsea face a nervy wait with PSR deadlines tomorrowCredit: AlamyLeicester have already won a legal battle against sanctionsCredit: GettyPrem lawyers will then go through the numbers to decide if charges for breaches of Profitability and Sustainability Rules are due – with a decision made and published by January 13.And the biggest scrutiny is likely to be on the figures supplied by Leicester after the Foxes – already in the drop zone – won a huge legal victory to avoid being sanctioned before the season started.Clubs are limited to “allowable losses” – once spending on infrastructure, the youth and women’s teams and community projects is taken off – of a maximum £105m over three seasons.That sum is reduced by £22m for each season a club has spent in the Championship.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut it ensures an anxious time for fans of a number of top flight clubs until Prem chiefs confirm charges in the middle of next month – with the rules ensuring that any punishments MUST be applied this term.Last season saw Everton and Nottingham Forest both hit with points deductions for breaches in the 2022-23 season.Everton, who had already been deducted six points for a £19.5m breach over the three years to June 2022, had two more points knocked off for posting losses of £16.5m – although Prem lawyers argued that the Goodison club was responsible for a further £6.5m sum in “interest payments”.Forest, who were only in their season in the top flight, were docked four points for busting their £61m loss limit by £34m.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe City Ground club, the success story of this campaign and who will end the year with a six-point buffer in the race for a Champions League spot, admitted in March that they were on course for PSR losses of between £12m and £17m, despite finally being able to include the £47m sale of Brennan Johnson to Spurs in their calculations.But the previous losses meant they entered the season already £9m OVER their 2023-24 loss limit of £83m.Everton points deduction explainedNottingham Forest are hoping to avoid another points hitCredit: GettyEverton are also keeping their fingers crossed after doing plenty of business in the summerCredit: GettyForest are understood to be confident their end of season fire-sale, including the £20m departure of Greek keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to Newcastle, will enable them to get in under the threshold for a charge, but it is likely to be touch and go.Likewise at Everton, who sold Ben Godfrey to Atalanta for £10m and Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa for £9m in the final days before the official June 30 end of last term.The Toffees, now under new ownership, were looking at a loss of around £90m for the previous two campaigns and were once again sailing close to the PSR wind.Those sales were part of an end of season transfer merry-go-round which also saw Everton pay £9m for Villa’s Tim Iroegbunam, Chelsea sell Ian Maatsen to Unai Emery’s men for £37.5m and buy youngster Omari Kellyman for £19m.Those deals led to Prem chiefs warning clubs that they must not use loopholes in the rulebook to avoid PSR penalties and that they are duty bound to act “with utmost good faith” towards the competition and rivals.There were arguments that charging each other potentially inflated fees – with incoming transfers “amortised” over contract lengths while sales can be lodged at full book value – to get round PSR provisions was a breach of that undertaking.Chelsea, who contentiously received the green light to sell two hotels on the Stamford Bridge site for £76m to sister company BlueCo 22 Properties, also owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, were perilously close to the maximum loss limit last season.A season without any European football knocked a £50m black hole in their anticipated income but the hotel sale is likely to see them clear the PSR hurdle for last term.READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever the biggest cloud is hanging over Leicester, who successfully argued they were not under Prem jurisdiction because they had been relegated to the Championship.Promotion brings them back under the Prem auspices and the Foxes posted cumulative losses of £124m for the final three seasons before they were demoted, with last term likely to have seen their numbers take another hit. More

AN incredible throwback photo of England centre-back Joe Gomez alongside a Hollywood superstar has re-emerged on social media.But can you guess who it is?Joe Gomez (front left)played against a Hollywood actor (front right) as a childCredit: Instagram @manhattankickersfcGomez now plays for Liverpool and EnglandCredit: EPALiverpool man Gomez played against the actor in question during his time at Charlton as a youngster.The Addicks’ academy faced New York-based soccer school Manhattan Kickers in a friendly.Before the match, both teams lined up for a photograph.And England centre-back Gomez crouched down next to someone who would go on to star in Hollywood blockbusters such as Wonka, Dune and Little Women.Read More in FootballIf you haven’t guessed already, the 27-year-old posed next to Academy Award nominee Timothee Chalamet.Fans were left mind-blown after discovering the little-known crossover, with one person writing: “This is delightfully random.”Another commented: “Would have never predicted this crossover in a million years.”While another said: “Need more on this what…”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSGomez played against Timothee ChalametCredit: ReutersChalamet, who most recently starred as Bob Dylan in new biopic A Complete Unknown, also stunned fans last week by revealing his favourite football team.In an interview, the 29-year-old revealed that he used to follow the Saint-Etienne team bus on his bike in the 2000s.’Such a pity’ – Major broadcaster ENDS Premier League coverage as fans are left heartbrokenHe said: “Yeah, that’s true. Chased the team up there. Bafetimbi Gomis, Dimitri Payet… it was that generation of Saint-Etienne players.”[I’m a] big Saint-Etienne fan, probably the team I support most in the world; better than the New York Knicks (basketball).” More

RUBEN AMORIM showed his class by giving a young Manchester United fan an once-in-a-lifetime tour around Carrington in his car.The Red Devils manager has only been in charge since mid-November.Ruben Amorim gave a young fan a tour of Carrington in his carCredit: TIkTokThe Man Utd supporter was delighted with the once-in-a-lifetime experienceCredit: TIkTokBut he has already endeared himself to the United faithful with a new style and high hopes for the future.Results are yet to go Amorim’s way, with the gaffer already losing five of his 10 games at the helm.Yet that hasn’t stopped fans from cheering him on from the stands ahead of tonight’s crunch clash with Newcastle.And some have even showed their support for the Portuguese boss at United’s Carrington training base.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne youngster decided to give Amorim a boost by waiting outside the ground all day.The kid even created a custom card welcoming the tactician to the club.And his day was made when Amorim stopped to say hi after a tough day of training.The manager appeared delighted when he was given the gift.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBut the young fan’s wildest dreams came true when United’s boss made a classy gesture.Incredibly, Amorim opened the passenger door to his Porsche Taycan sports car before offering the supporter a tour of Carrington.Fury as Sir Jim Ratcliffe cuts ties with charity helping Man Utd legendsThe kid hopped in before they went whizzing off together back into the training ground.Amorim sped around Carrington to give the fan his once-in-a-lifetime tour.And afterwards he dropped the youngster back off at the entrance before making his way home.Other fans were quick to praise Amorim’s amazing gesture.One said: “Ruben is a class act.”Another declared: “What a classy gesture.”READ MORE SUN STORIESOne noted: “Lovely Amorim, you have my respect.”Another added: “I want him to succeed so bad.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans have been left stunned by a shocking stat relating to the club’s attackers.The Red Devils currently sit 14th in the Premier League table with just 22 points from 18 games.Man Utd have struggled for goals this seasonCredit: ReutersAnthony Elanga has registered 20 goal contributions since leaving Old TraffordCredit: AlamyThey have a negative goal difference having scored just 21 and conceded 24 shots.And new head coach Ruben Amorim – who replaced Erik ten Hag in November – is yet to improve results.Amid the club’s poor run of form, the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford have all failed to hit their stride.In fact, they have all managed fewer goal contributions than ex-Red Devil forward Anthony Elanga since he joined Nottingham Forest 16 months ago.Read More on Man UtdSince joining Forest in August 2023, Elanga has registered 20 goals and assists.In comparison, Garnacho has managed 15, Rashford and Hojlund both have 14 and out-of-favour winger Antony has just two.Fans have been left stunned by the stats, with one person taking to X to write: “That’s not shocking. We never should’ve sold him for so cheap. Luckily we do have a buyback clause.”Another commented: “That’s because pretty much every player improves once they leave United.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSGoal involvements since Elanga left Man Utd in August 2023Alejandro Garnacho has managed 15 goals/assists since August 2023Credit: Getty”Whether it’s the scrutiny that comes with the shirt or being dragged down by the club itself it happens too often to be a coincidence.”A third said: “My favorite was people saying ‘Elanga wasn’t United standard’ brothers look around. None of our forwards are.”Manchester United Player Ratings vs WolvesWhile another wrote: “He was definitely better than Antony and Sancho. And only 20 years old when leaving United.”Elanga spent a season under the management of Ten Hag at Man Utd.In 26 appearances across the 2022-23 season, he provided just two assists without scoring.Man Utd next face Newcastle tonight at Old Trafford.Marcus Rashford has 15 in 16 monthsCredit: GettyRasmus Hojlund has also struggled for formCredit: Getty More

NEAL MAUPAY fired at savage dig at Everton as he once again trolled his parent club.The French wind-up merchant is still a Toffees player but is on loan at Marseille this season.Neal Maupay has fired another dig at EvertonCredit: GettyEverton have won just one of their last ten games and they slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park yesterday.Maupay took to social media after the game to taunt the club, tweeting: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.”His post wound-up supporters, including boxer Tony Bellew, who replied: “P****.”Another hit back, writing: “Next time you play Everton you’re going to get snapped. That will pipe you right down.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMaupay continued trolling as he replied to the fuming fan: “See you in the Champions League next season.”Before jokingly correcting himself: “*Championship.”More supporters reacted: “He is a menace.”A second added: “This guy is a part-time footballer, trolling is his main job.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMaupay joined Everton two years ago and managed just one goal in 32 games.The 28-year-old is desperate to permanently end his horror spell on Merseyside and he has taken aim at the club several times.Fuming West Ham assistant Kevin Nolan has to be held back from Neal Maupay in tunnel rowWhen he joined Marseille on loan with an obligation to buy in the summer, the striker posted a clip from the film The Shawshank Redemption of the main character breaking out of prison.And when footage emerged of Everton fans abusing their own players on their way home from a defeat, Maupay wrote: “Imagine another job where it’s normalised to get abuse like this. Hanging around at a train station to scream at men who are trying their best.”While on loan at Brentford last season, Maupay was dubbed the Premier League “biggest s***house”.He irked the likes of Kyle Walker, James Maddison and Emiliano Martinez with various taunts from mocking celebrations to starting a war of words on the pitch.Maupay has now taken his old tricks to Marseille, recently posting a snap of him drinking from a water bottle to joke it was Lyon’s tears after a win against their rivals.Neal Maupay is no stranger to winding people upCredit: AFPHe was dubbed a ‘s***house’ after mocking James Maddison’s celebration last seasonCredit: Rex More