Premier League

GARY NEVILLE has predicted when Erik ten Hag will be sacked should Manchester United’s dire start to the season continue.The Red Devils lost 2-1 to West Ham yesterday to leave them 14th in the Premier League after nine games.Gary Neville reckons the manager could lose his job next weekendCredit: GettyErik ten Hag’s side sit 14th in the league and only two teams have scored fewerCredit: AlamyNeville shared his thoughts on the controversial penalty decisionCredit: RexMan Utd wasted several huge chances in the first-half before the Hammers won it with a controversial penalty.The defeat has left Neville “worried” and he claimed the boss’ position could become untenable if they lose to Chelsea next Sunday.He told his Sky Sports podcast: “Ten Hag is asking for trouble. 14th in the league nine games in – nine games is nearly 25 per cent of the season gone.”It will be a big worry for everybody at the club because of the performance levels. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”United should have been up 2-0 but they lost. “They are 14th, they’ve spent a fortune. I was quite clear at the end of last season that if they are in that same position in the league after the first few months there will be a lot of questions being asked.”They’ve got a game in midweek (Leicester in the Carabao Cup) but it will all come down to next weekend’s game against Chelsea. “Anybody that is half decent, that can play and have quality can beat this United team and they are in danger.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”I don’t think there can be another defeat next weekend at Old Trafford. “It’s getting to that point where there is a real worry, I’m worried. Erik ten Hag angry with VAR for ‘interfering’ as West Ham penalty wounds Man Utd “The results, the lack of goals and the lack of performances are stacking up week after week.”These are the players that have been recruited over the last couple of seasons mainly. “It’s a sobering time. It’s getting to the point whereby it will become unbearable the pressure in the next week or two around Ten Hag purely because of the position in the league. “They’re 14th. You can’t be 14th in the league after nine games.”Only Crystal Palace and Southampton have scored less goals than Man Utd’s eight goals in the Prem this season.Neville slammed United’s attackers, ranting: “It must be getting to a point now where the defensive players and the coaching staff must be saying to this is unacceptable. It’s unacceptable to miss chances like that. “Goalkeepers and defenders get killed for mistakes, but their comes a point you are missing chances like United did and it harms you, you invite trouble.”On the controversial penalty awarded to West Ham, Neville claimed on-field ref David Coote did not want to go against Michael Oliver on VAR.The pundit explained: “It’s not right that one, every team gets a bad decision, but that one is not right.”The interesting thing for me is that when Coote went over to the screen, he must have watched it, it felt like eight times.”He does not think it is a penalty, he is not having this.”I think the pressure of being sent over to the screen by a dominant referee, nobody likes to upset their superiors. READ MORE SUN STORIES”If you are young in the office and someone senior makes a call, you don’t really want to tell them that they are wrong.”I think it was a bit of that because I don’t think Coote was anywhere near thinking that was a penalty.”Why NOBODY is the right man to replace Erik ten Hag at Man UtdSunSport’s DAVE KIDD says Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd is up… and explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace him.THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.Thomas Tuchel would also have been a popular and gettable option – but England got in there first.Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.So, yes, getting rid of Ten Hag is the easy part. More

ARSENAL twice squandered the lead against Liverpool as they dropped two crucial points in the title race.Bukayo Saka fired the Gunners into an early lead, tearing Andy Robertson apart before blasting past a helpless Caoimhin Kelleher.Arsenal twice led against Liverpool at the EmiratesCredit: EPAMo Salah rescued a point for the Reds with his late levellerCredit: EPAVirgil van Dijk headed the Reds level before Mikel Merino put his new side back in front with an emphatic bullet header of his own.But Mo Salah rescued a point for Arne Slot’s men on the counterattack with nine minutes left. And the stats prove the 2-2 draw was a very fair result.That is because both sides managed nine shots in the match – with Liverpool edging their attempts on target by four to three. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLLiverpool had 55 per cent of the ball with 16 tackles to Arsenal’s 17 and 14 fouls apiece.Arsenal, however, will regret only managing one corner in the match.Of course, Gunners players and fans alike were furious they did not get a second right at the end. Gabriel Jesus clearly knocked the ball off Kostas Tsimikas, who desperately tried to kick it again before it went out of play knowing he had made the last touch.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd given Arsenal’s propensity to score from set pieces, they were understandably apoplectic to see the controversial goal-kick decision.By that time, though, star man Saka had been taken off.Jamie Carragher and Theo Walcott have awkward ‘Thierry Henry moment’ live on Sky Sports after Arsenal vs LiverpoolThe England winger was an injury doubt but worked hard to get fit – and his return to the starting XI was a welcome bonus for Mikel Arteta.Saka managed 41 touches in his 85 minutes on the field and completed 15 of his 23 passes. His two shots – one less than Salah – resulted in the opening goal and he drew two fouls from the men in black. But Saka did his defensive work, too, succeeding with his one tackle and winning seven of his nine duels. Interestingly, his heat map showed a similar pattern to team-mate Kai Havertz with much of their action down the right channel. Saka produced a Thierry Henry-style celebrationCredit: APSaka – who celebrated with a cool shrug of his shoulders as he became the youngest Arsenal player to 50 Premier League goals – said: “I try to keep the keepers guessing. “I think it was a nice finish, I haven’t seen it back yet but it felt nice. “He has every record Thierry Henry so it’s nice but of course you wanna win the game but I have to be happy with this. “Everything is Thierry Henry-ish. If you score it’s Thierry Henry, if you assist it’s Thierry Henry. “I’m feeling good. I felt I could finish the game but the gaffer took me off.”Salah powered into the bottom corner for 2-2Credit: GettyThe average positions from both sides also made interesting reading.Saka was the most reserved of the Gunners attackers, with Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli operating further forward.Leandro Trossard and Merino virtually had the same spot in the left high No8 position alongside Declan Rice, who covered every blade of grass in a typically-industrial performance.Arsenal’s makeshift back four was made up of Thomas Partey, Ben White, Gabriel and Jurrien Timber – who kept it narrow as an organised unit.However, by the end of the game after two key injuries, the defence was even more unrecognisable as Partey and White were joined by Jakub Kiwior and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly. READ MORE SUN STORIESFor Liverpool, though, Salah was the furthest forward – and made the most of the Timber going off to exploit the weakened left side of the Arsenal back line, exposing the space to score the final goal. Ryan Gravenberch was the deepest-lying midfielder, behind Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones, who completed 41 of his 42 passes in midfield. More