Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED leapfrogged Tottenham into 13th in the Premier League by beating Leicester.Rasmus Hojlund was left to run in behind and shoot low into the bottom corner from an angle to open the scoring on 28 minutes.Rasmus Hojlund ended his 21-game goal drought by opening the scoring at LeicesterCredit: GettyThe Danish striker had not found the net since December 12 – a run of 21 matches. Alejandro Garnacho saw a goal chalked off for offside but there was no taking his snap-shot finish off him on 67 minutes.And skipper Bruno Fernandes rounded off the comfortable 3-0 win in style in the closing stages. Here’s how SunSport’s Graham Hill rated Ruben Amorim’s men at the King Power…ANDRE ONANA – 6The United goalkeeper was a doubt for the game as he was struggling with an eye injury.But he was passed fit for a match in which he was barely called upon to make a save.It meant he kept up his record of starting every Premier League game since signing for United in the summer of 2023. He did well to deny Leicester skipper Jamie Vardy early on – and again deep into stoppage time.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut the defence in front of him made sure he was not called upon too often.Wayne Rooney launches brutal attack on Man Utd flops and names only two he’d keep MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 7Always alert to danger, as he showed with 15 minutes to go when he stopped Leicester ending their run of six home defeats without scoring a single goal.Seven games is a new record – but the Dutchman’s brilliant clearance from Leicester sub Facundo Buonanotte made sure of the clean sheet.That crowned a performance where he barely put a foot wrong all night.VICTOR LINDELOF – 7 Looked commanding in the early stages, but he got into an early mix-up with Onana which could have led to a goal.However, it went unpunished by a Leicester side severely lacking in confidence when it comes to finding the net.That turned out to be a blip in an otherwise calm and collected performance.Hojlund opened the scoring from a tight angleCredit: AlamyAYDEN HEAVEN – 7 It was a bittersweet night for the 18-year-old who was awarded his full Premier League debut after playing against Real Sociedad in midweek.He had looked controlled and confident at the heart of United’s defence – snuffing out any threat from Leicester in the early stages.But he was worryingly carried off on a stretcher after pulling up off the pitch as he tried to intercept a ball in the United area.Heaven was particularly impressive when he put his body on the line to twice block shots from Leicester striker Patson Daka.Ayden Heaven impressed before his painful injuryCredit: GettyNOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6Moved into the centre-back role after Heaven was taken off injured. Toby Collyer took his place at right wing-back.He found Vardy difficult to deal with at times, as the 38-year-old striker showed he was still capable of worrying defences.But he dealt with the switch relatively comfortably as United held firm at the back.BRUNO FERNANDES – 8The skipper scored an excellent goal late on to crown another outstanding display.He continued his rich vein of form by providing the pinpoint pass for Hojlund to score the opening goal – although he did owe a lot to some atrocious defending from a doomed Leicester City.The Portugal star oozed class and never seemed to stop running. He was rewarded in the 90th minute with his 17th goal of the season.Bruno Fernandes rounded off a superb performance with a fine goalCredit: PAMANUEL UGARTE – 6Solid performance which included a sensational clearance towards the end of the first half when it looked as though goal-shy Leicester might actually find the net.But, in the end, he was subbed with 20 minutes left as Amorim tried to inject some life into what had become a slightly static United performance.The move paid off as United upped their game in the closing stages.DIOGO DALOT – 7Had been relatively effective, but unspectacular until the last minute.He found space on the right, looked up and fizzed across a low pass for Fernandes to finish the game.Dalot produced a real 90-minute display and showed he should not have been allowed the space Leicester somehow managed to give him.ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 7Nice finish after 68 minutes for United’s second goal – and it was his first Premier League goal in over four months. That was also against Leicester – but it was also his last action of the night as he was subbed straight after.He looked to have scored United’s second goal of the night when he collected a pass from Hojlund and found the far corner. But his celebrations were cut short when he saw the flag go up.He had been quiet up until that point, but if he had timed his run better it would have been allowed. That said, Hojlund probably delayed his pass for too long.Alejandro Garnacho got the second with a snap finishCredit: PACHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 6Almost opened the scoring with a superb curling shot that hit the inside of the far post.But it was a frustrating night for the Dane. He did little wrong, but the manager had seen enough with 20 minutes left as he decided to make wholesale changes.It was not Christian Eriksen’s best performanceCredit: AlamyRASMUS HOJLUND – 7Took his chance well for the opening goal, some generous work from the Leicester defence allowed him the space he needed.He still had to get past Mads Hermansen in the Foxes goal though – but he remained calm and found the far corner.It was a much-needed strike for the Dane – he had not scored in the Premier League for over three months.SUBSTOBY COLLYER (for Heaven, 51mins) – 6Came on six minutes into the second half due to the bad injury to Heaven. Like Mazraoui, he was tested by Vardy in the second half, but stuck to his task.CASEMIRO (for Ugarte, 69mins) – 6Played his part in an improved second-half display, made a difference when he came on.JOSHUA ZIRKZEE: (for Eriksen, 69mins) – 6Managed to get wound up following a challenge by Leicester defender Wout Faes, but looked a threat when he came on.HARRY AMASS: (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 6 Impressive cameo from 18-year-old when he came on, looked good on the ball.CHIDO OBI: (for Hojlund, 85mins) – N/A Joshua Zirkzee got into a scrap with Wout FaesCredit: PA More

MANCHESTER UNITED chose a night when the heavens opened and the rain tumbled down to end two goal droughts!Rasmus Hojlund scored for the first time since his double downed Viktoria Plzen on December 12 – to end his 22 game wait after a staggering 22 hours and 19 minutes.Rasmus Hojlund ended his goal drought with a strike against LeicesterCredit: GettyAlejandro Garnacho was also on target as Man Utd beat the Foxes 3-0Credit: ReutersBruno Fernandes fired in a late third for the visitorsCredit: PAAnd he was joined by another goal-starved Man United teammate as Alejandro Garnacho ended his four month wait for a goal.He last found the bet against Bodo Glimt in Europe but this was his first Premier League strike since November 10 – 25 games and 24 hours and 11 minutes ago.It sums up Leicester City’s season that his last goal was also scored against the Foxes!Man of the Match Bruno Fernandes wrapped up a cushy win for the Reds with a cracker in the 90th minute to extend Ruben Amorim’s unbeaten run to seven matches, with his 17th goal in all competitions.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSadly for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side their own home goal drought was extended to SEVEN games – the first club in Premier League history to go so long without a goal in front of their own fans.They now appear doomed to relegation, nine points adrift of Wolves.Ten years ago Nigel Pearson’s Foxes were marooned at the bottom of the table for four-and-a-half months between late November and mid-April.But somehow they managed to win seven of their last nine fixtures to finish 14th and survive comfortably – earning the nickname ‘Dogs of War.’Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSHowever even their staunchest fans wouldn’t bet on a repeat from the current bunch.The Foxes fans clearly feel their club has gone to the dogs this season.Sir Alex Ferguson spotted with unlikely TV star pal at Cheltenham again as legendary Man Utd boss bags £65k winner Within 15 minutes, and with the game still goalless, they displayed a banner which stated: “From Dogs of War to Doggy Day Care.”That was a reference to this season when Jannick Vestergaard hit the headlines for bringing his pet pooch – a Eurasier called Brady – to training with him!The home side certainly made a dog’s dinner of defending United’s opener just before the half hour.Not that Hojlund was complaining as he managed to remove the very large monkey which has been on his back since December!Hojlund opened the scoring after 28 minutesCredit: GettyIt marked his first goal for Man Utd since DecemberCredit: GettyHe finally found the net with a large helping hand from some feeble Foxes defending.Fernandes clipped a ball forward and Boubacar Soumare managed to get his feet in a fankle and failed to cut out the danger.That sprang Hojlund who cut in on goal but was helped by Wout Faes who – for reasons best known to himself – decided to initially back off, rather than block the striker’s route to goal.Hojlund couldn’t believe his luck as the Foxes defence parted, allowing him to slam the ball beyond Mads Hermansen into the far corner.Garnacho doubled United’s lead in the 67th minuteCredit: PAHe had only recently had a goal ruled out for offsideCredit: ReutersIt was no more than United deserved.Five minutes earlier Christian Eriksen thought he had given the visitors the lead when he worked a short corner with Fernandes.With no Foxes defender around to stop him the Dane curled a right footer around Hermansen from the corner of the box.However to his frustration the ball bounced off the inside of the far post and back out.Fernandes made sure of the result with a 90th minute wallopCredit: ReutersIt capped a fine performance from the captainCredit: GettyThe second half got off to a miserable start for United when 18-year-old defender Ayden Heaven – brilliant until then – was stretchered off after injuring his knee in a collision with Patson Daka.And there was more frustration when Hojlund set up Garnacho who cut inside Luke Thomas to beat Hermansen with a left footer.However he had strayed offside and his goal famine continued.But his perseverance paid off after 67 minutes when he finally broke his duck.United suffered an injury blow with impressive new defender Ayden HeavenCredit: PAThe centre-back was stretchered off in worrying scenesCredit: PAAgain Fernandes was at the heart of it as his initial pass was blocked by Victor Kristiansen.However the Portuguese skipper was first to react and knocked the rebound back to Garnacho who beat Hermansen at his near post.Leicester thought they were finally going to end their agony with a consolation goal 15 minutes from the end when Vardy set up sub Facundo Buonanotte in front of a gaping goal.But somehow Matthijs de Ligt slid in to block and frustrate the hapless Foxes.And Fernandes rubbed salt in gaping wounds when he added a third for United just before full-time.READ MORE SUN STORIESDiogo Dalot got round the back of the Foxes defence and squared to Fernandes who drilled the ball beyond Hermansen from the edge of the box.Leicester have now gone 10 and a half hours without scoring at home – it may be some time before they manage to break that particular record on this form!Man Utd ratings vs LeicesterMANCHESTER UNITED leapfrogged Tottenham into 13th in the Premier League by beating Leicester.Rasmus Hojlund was left to run in behind and shoot low into the bottom corner from an angle to open the scoring on 28 minutes.The Danish striker had not found the net since December 12 – a run of 21 matches.Alejandro Garnacho saw a goal chalked off for offside but there was no taking his snap-shot finish off him on 67 minutes.And skipper Bruno Fernandes rounded off the comfortable 3-0 win in style in the closing stages.Here’s how SunSport’s Graham Hill rated the Man Utd stars. More

MATHYS TEL confronted raging fans in the away end after Tottenham’s sucker-punch loss at Fulham.Spurs travelled to their London rivals on Sunday hoping to win for just the second time in their last five games.Mathys Tel confronted angry Spurs fans after the defeat to FulhamHowever, Fulham hit Tottenham with a late double as goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon sealed a 2-0 result at Craven Cottage.The result leaves Spurs 13th in the table, level on points with Everton, West Ham and Manchester United.But the latter can move three points clear with victory over Leicester tonight.While Tottenham’s hopes of making a late surge for a European place are all-but-over.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe pressure is now building on Ange Postecoglou, who has won just 10 of his 29 league matches this season.And Spurs fans in the away end at Fulham let rip at full-time.They lambasted their team’s lack of fight and energy.But even the most ardent supporter would not have expected January loan signing Tel to attempt to make peace.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThe striker crossed the hoardings and walked into the stand while being berated from all sides.Tel, who could join Spurs in a permanent move from Bayern Munich for £55million this summer, tried to calm things down as he confronted vocal fans.The Tottenham team take the INEOS Grenadier 4×4 for a spinThe striker is on loan from Bayern Munich and could join permanently this summerCredit: ReutersThe Frenchman could be heard telling them they “need to be together.”But the star ended up walking off defeated as supporters told him things “are not good enough.”Speaking after the match, boss Postecoglou admitted he shared the pain of the fans.He said: “I get their disappointment. It’s unacceptable to see 15 league defeats.“It’s nowhere near good enough, nowhere near the level we need to be and I understand the supporters’ frustrations with that.“Today wasn’t so much about performance, it was just another day when we let a game get away from us that we shouldn’t have.“We weren’t played off the park and I felt that up until the point they scored, we were the team that was getting on top.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We had a couple of good chances to go 1-0 up and that would have put the pressure on them, but it’s happened too many times this year.“We’ve given the opposition a lift into the game by conceding soft goals.” More

CHELSEA missed the chance to pull clear in the race for Champions League football as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game as the Blues produced a limp performance at the Emirates.Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea produced a limp performance as they lost 1-0 to ArsenalCredit: AFPThe Blues struggled to create chances at the EmiratesCredit: GettyChelsea were without several key men including Cole Palmer.And they struggled to create chances against Arsenal with a threadbare subs bench to boot.But who was Chelsea’s best player in North London?And did anyone have a game to forget?Here, SunSport’s Andy Dillon delivers his Chelsea player ratings…Robert Sanchez – 7Back in goal as the in-out, twists and turns of the Chelsea keepers this season rolls on. Within ten minutes he had passed the ball straight to Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and gave his side a massive scare. Then he made a spectacular one-handed save off team-mate Levi Colwill. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSBeaten within 20 minutes by a surprise header from a corner. Great instinctive second half save from Mikel Merino again with one hand and was Chelsea’s best player. ‘I spent ages just looking at him’ – Playing vs Cristiano Ronaldo is my career highlight says star-struck Chelsea aceBoss Enzo Maresca said he had given Sanchez time out recently to rest his head. None of this will have helped stressed levels.Wesley Fofana – 5Getting back up to speed after a lengthy injury lay off. Slotting in at right back as part of the three man defence. Was so lucky to get away without any punishment when he put his boot down hard on the back of Declan Rice’s leg. The Arsenal midfielder even got his backside out to show ref Chris Kavanagh the rapidly appearing red raw studs marks. And again when he went in late on Leandro Trossard. Cautioned for show of petulance throwing a ball onto the pitch.Benoit Badiashile – 5Seemed off the pace and wasteful with his passing and shaky under pressure. Coming back from a long injury lay off into a team which while winning has looked unconvincing. Maybe using Tosin with his more experienced brain might have been a better choice for a tough away London derby?Or even switching Colwill to the left hand centre back role might have made life a little more comfortable for Chelsea? Did make one or two decent tackles though in the second half.Levi Colwill – 5Almost scored an own goal though it would have been a harsh one on him. Then maybe through frustration followed through on Trossard and got a booking. Possibly as a final warning from the ref that he wouldn’t take much more rough stuff from Chelsea who had been quite physical. Does look more at ease on the left side of defence than in the middle where he was here.Levi Colwill struggled at the backCredit: GettyMarc Cucurella – 6Booed by the Arsenal fans at every touch. Maybe a back handed compliment as he can be quite dangerous on the front foot.Has been a prolific scorer for Chelsea with the inverted full back system but didn’t get much chance to go forwards as he often does with positive effect. Can go to ground easily but was clearly cynically fouled by Odegaard in the second half as the needle cranked up between these two teams.Reece James – 6Drafted into midfield as part of the reshuffle in Cole Palmer’s absence. Played there recently against Copenhagen in the Conference League and scored a cracker. Played some neat passes forwards and is clearly a class player and was called up to the England squad on Friday as a sign of that despite being carefully managed by Chelsea following a run of hamstring injuries.Moises Caicedo – 6Is becoming a key figure at the heart of the Chelsea team. Is hard to get past but also made a couple of stray passes in a first half particularly in which the visitors did not seem to have their heads in the game. With the £115m price tag though he needs to be taking control of games in the Rice does for Arsenal at times.Moises Caicedo was involved from the startCredit: ReutersJadon Sancho – 5Has not made the impact he would have hoped for after being given a chance to rejuvenate his career on loan from Manchester United. There was even talk of an England recall during some of his better spells. But he is not exactly playing his way into Chelsea begging their rivals to sell him permanently to them in the summer.Enzo Fernandez – 6Showed fight at least but in a weird way with silly spats, notably after a clash with Gabriel which left the Arsenal centre back on the deck. He stood over the Brazilian and clearly mouthed something uncomplimentary. It riled up Arsenal and their fans. At least that is the spirit of the old Chelsea though which the fans admire.Christopher Nkunku – 5Anonymous for the first half. It is hard to see where this £50 million player fits in. He has complained of lack of game time but when given some has not made significant impact to make his manager rethink. Did not last the 90 minutes and cannot say he made much of an impression.Christopher Nkunku made little impact on the gameCredit: ReutersPedro Neto – 5ALWAYS up against it as a so-called ‘false nine’. Neither Arsenal nor Chelsea have fit, recognised strikers at the moment and it shows on both sides. Too often outmuscled by Arsenal’s more imposing defensive players. Although he is playing out of position. Must be said that he spends a lot of time complaining and it’s a waste of precious energy.SubsTyrique George (for Sancho 76 mins) – 6Given a big task to drive at Arsenal when the game was already up.Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (for Nkunku 76 mins) – 6Tried to get a few runs going but despite scoring in midweek was kept on the bench.Romeo Lavia (for James 82 mins) – N/AHis return from injury will be a big boost for the Blues. But he just has to remain fit.Tosin Adarabioyo (for Badiashile 86 mins) – N/AMalo Gusto (for Fofana 86 mins) – N/A More