Premier League

CASEMIRO is the main man firing Kobbie Mainoo towards superstardom.Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag revealed that five-time Champions League winner Casemiro has taken the teen under his wing as they form a new midfield double act.
Erik ten Hag has revealed that Casemiro has taken Kobbie Mainoo under his wingCredit: Getty
Casemiro almost left United in JanuaryCredit: Getty
Brazilian anchor Casemiro might have gone last month had interested parties dangled the right amount of cash in front of the Red Devils.
He was linked with the Saudi Pro League and Paris Saint-Germain — and few fans would have cared had he gone.
After a fine first campaign following his £60million arrival from Real Madrid he looked out of gas before a hamstring injury at the start of November.
The 31-year-old was injured in the 3–0 Carabao Cup home loss to Newcastle United, the SEVENTH time in 12 games he had been on the losing side as boss Ten Hag’s own second season disintegrated.
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Three months and three wins later, Casemiro has rediscovered the form that according to Ten Hag made him “the cement between the stones” of his side.
He has also become a mentor to Mainoo, 18, playing alongside him in all of those victories against Newport, Wolves and West Ham.
Former Ajax gaffer Ten Hag said: “You see the impact of a player like Casemiro.
“He gives you calmness and composure, he gives options, he sees the critical pass, so he is always a step ahead of his opponent to break lines.
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Mainoo has been in impressive form for Man Utd this season
“So he is very important and we’re happy he’s back. Kobbie Mainoo can learn a lot from it and that togetherness, absolutely there is that bond.
“Kobbie is very coachable, Casemiro has so much experience and Kobbie will learn a lot from him and that can accelerate his development.
Fans praise ‘gentleman’ Kobbie Mainoo, 18, for heartwarming gesture to grief-stricken Man Utd fan’s emotional story
“When they play together I think they can take benefit from each other. Casemiro takes that responsibility, he takes it to him, he is talking to him.
“I see it in the dressing room, I see it on the pitch in games, I see it in training.
“Of course he’s looking at his own game but he’s trying to help and support Kobbie.”
Mainoo, who will make his 14th appearance of the season away at Aston Villa today, emerged in Casemiro’s absence.
He has an old head beside him now but is already playing with a composure beyond his years as one of the young guns who have United firing again.
Along with winger Alejandro Garnacho, 19, and Rasmus Hoijlund — who celebrated his 21st birthday a week ago with his fifth goal in six games in the 3-0 win over West Ham — they are the three amigos of Ten Hag’s recovering side.
United have brought back echoes to Old Trafford of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Class of ’92 side that included the likes of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
What most impresses Ten Hag is how Mainoo and Co have come through a baptism of fire within a side that looked to be falling apart.
Mainoo has enjoyed his Premier League breakthrough this seasonCredit: Getty
A raft of injuries forced the Dutchman’s hand and he said: “It’s easier to integrate young talent into a successful team.
“The conditions where we had to bring in Kobbie Mainoo were not so good that we knew it would be a success.
“I had the confidence because I saw him performing and progressing in spring and summer.
“When I brought him in for the game against Arsenal, I didn’t have any doubts.
“But when he comes into the team there are many things he has to do on his own because when there are a lot of routines in the team it is much easier for him to come in.
“But we were not in that situation and I don’t think this club has been in that situation for a long time.
“So we are building a team that can offer a foundation for young players to come in.
“We have to have a foundation so that we can add quality players to the squad to take the team to the next level.”
Garnacho, like Hojlund and Mainoo, is fast becoming a major influence.
He has been furthering his education on the right wing as opposed to his normal role on the other side.
Ten Hag said of the budding Argentina ace: “Alejandro is so natural, he prefers to play on the left but now he finds his position on the right as well — he is quite fluent.
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“He finds his spaces there but he can do both, which is great. Not every player has those abilities.
“Alejandro can be fluid and play both positions and even in inside positions, he feels very comfortable. He can have a big impact on our game and the end product.” More

CRYSTAL PALACE are hoping Roy Hodgson pulls off a shock result against Chelsea on Monday — to save them a managerial headache.Hodgson, 76, has been backed to carry on despite fans turning on him and chairman Steve Parish but that will become a hard task if they lose.
Crystal Palace are swaying towards Steve Cooper as their next bossCredit: AFP
There’s an outside chance the Eagles try and swoop for Gareth Southgate after the EurosCredit: AP
Parish is swaying towards a move for Steve Cooper, 44, to be next manager but the Eagles would rather wait until the summer when other candidates are free.
Cooper is available after leaving Nottingham Forest but he has been considered before and overlooked.
Palace would rather look at Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca at Lille, who may move at the end of the season. He was fancied by the Selhurst Park club before.
There is even the long-shot possibility of a move for Gareth Southgate once England complete their 2024 campaign.
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Short-term solutions are not ideal for Palace, who have been searching for answers without finding one.
Julen Lopetegui has also been considered but he would demand a big budget in the summer and be allowed to pick the players he signs. 
The former Wolves boss is also in the frame for the Bayer Leverkusen job if Xabi Alonso quits at the end of the season.
Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna is also fancied but comes with a £4million compensation figure and has not managed in the Premier League.
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Even Hodgson admits Palace’s current nightmare run is the toughest of his career — because of the fans’ anger.
Palace have won just two of their last 14 games in all competitions and sit just five points above the bottom three.
Crystal Palace star Joachim Anderson has to be pulled away from fans after fierce confrontation following Brighton loss
Paulo Fonseca is one option for Palace this summerCredit: AFP
The Londoners hope to keep faith with Roy Hodgson for the rest of the seasonCredit: Alamy
Hodgson said: “It’s the toughest period in my career for one reason and that is that the fans have turned so much against us and they are the people we cannot afford to turn against us.
“If we are to win games, if this team is going to do it, they are not going to be able to do it if the fans are going to be constantly up in arms about everything.
“On the other hand, it joins other periods in my life where I have been happier and more content, of course.
“It’s not been that long, it is really a three-game period that has turned the fans and that has made life very difficult and very uncomfortable.
“But the bright spot for me has been the training sessions because of the way the players have been working to try and get us out of this situation.
CRYSTAL PALACE LAST FIVE RESULTSALL COMPETITIONS:

Brighton 4 Crystal Palace 1 (Prem)

Crystal Palace 3 Sheffield United 2 (Prem)

Arsenal 5 Crystal Palace 0 (Prem)

Everton 1 Crystal Palace 0 (FA Cup)

Crystal Palace 0 Everton 0 (FA Cup)

“One can only do the things one can do to change things and ask the fans to stay with the team, because we need your assistance as we are in a very weakened situation.
“The players who have not played many games in the Palace first team will need a lot of encouragement.
“They will need a sympathetic eye and not an ultra-critical eye.”
With Michael Olise out for two months and Eberechi Eze sidelined for the next few weeks, Palace’s attacking options are diminished.
Hodgson tried but failed to sign a forward during the January window.
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The former England boss said: “We were interested in a forward.
“Had the right person come along and we had a bit of luck it would have been done. But you’ve seen how few clubs were able to get attackers in the window.” More

KALVIN PHILLIPS has opened his heart on his “stressful” 18-month Manchester City hell.And he admits: I had to leave to save my England Euros dream.
Kalvin Phillips has opened up on Pep Guardiola’s ‘overweight’ comment at Man CityCredit: Getty
Phillips is hoping to regain his fire at West Ham while securing his Euro spot with EnglandCredit: Rex
In his first big interview since a January loan to West Ham, the Three Lions midfielder, 28, also reveals:

 He lost his “fire” as he spent most of his time sitting on the bench.
City boss Pep Guardiola shattered his confidence by blasting him for being just THREE POUNDS overweight.
His mum was so upset she stopped coming to games.
 England pal Declan Rice sold West Ham to him and he feels  “alive”  again.

Phillips confesses even the high of being part of City’s squad that won the Treble, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa World Club Cup was undermined after THREE starts across all five competitions.
And he declared: “I definitely wouldn’t have been at this summer’s Euros if I hadn’t moved in January.
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“I spoke to England boss Gareth Southgate about a few teams a month before the January window and he influenced me to stay in the Premier League rather than go abroad.
“I thought West Ham was the right place to go. You see the quality of the players with England, they are playing week in, week out.
Awkward moment Michail Antonio told of Kalvin Phillips West Ham loan live on Sky Sports as fans say ‘can’t hate the guy’
“I wanted that same feeling of playing regularly, otherwise there was definitely a chance somebody else would play instead of me and that would be gut-wrenching.
“I wanted to give myself the best chance of making the Euros.”
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Signed by City in July 2022 from Leeds in a £45million deal, Phillips admits there were “down days” when he felt: “I really can’t be bothered today . . . just the same thing. Go in, train, go home and not have anything to be excited for. It was stressful.”
Guardiola’s overweight jibe after he returned from Qatar 2022 was his lowest point.
He said: “After the World Cup was probably the toughest, when Pep came out and said I was overweight. He was right to do so but there are different ways to go about it.
Phillips’ mum stopped watching Man City games because he was constantly benchedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Declan Rice convinced Phillips to make the move to West HamCredit: Getty
“Pep was frustrated I didn’t come back into training early but it was just a miscommunication between the people at City and myself.
“Pep wanted me to come in the day after we finished the tournament and be involved in friendlies and stuff. I never got that information because if he asked me to be there, I would have.
“It was just a misunderstanding, he was very frustrated with me coming back 1.5kg over my target weight.
“It took a big knock on my confidence and how I felt at City. My family were not happy about it, either. Especially Mum.”
Lindsay Crosby could not bear seeing her son left out so often.
Phillips said: “She got frustrated, she didn’t come to watch as much because she didn’t like watching football without me playing.”
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On Sunday, Phillips will be reunited with Rice, the man who convinced him to switch to East London and who returns to the London Stadium with his new Arsenal side after his £105m summer move.
Phillips added: “I spoke to Declan about West Ham and he said it’s a massive family club and that’s what I’m all about. I want to feel like I’m at home. West Ham was the club I wanted.” More

ERLING HAALAND took his Prem tally to 52 goals in 53 games — but claims Manchester City cannot win the Treble again.His double gave the champs a 2-0 victory over Everton to send them to the summit.
Erling Haaland played down Manchester City’s Treble chancesCredit: X / footballontnt
The striker was back amongst the goals against EvertonCredit: Getty
But 146 minutes later, Liverpool regained top spot with a 3-1 win over Burnley.
Asked if they can land a second straight Treble this season, Haaland replied: “No, we won’t do that.”
The goals were the Norwegian striker’s first since November after being sidelined with a foot injury.
After firing his team to a tenth straight win in all competitions, the 23-year-old added: “It was good to be playing again and an amazing feeling to win.
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“I’ve been practising with my right foot, I should have scored one like this at Brentford, so it shows improvement.
“We always work hard as a team, so a fantastic performance. It was a good win.
“People will try and destroy our game, but we are a good team, we’ve been on a good run, that’s ten in a row.”
Asked what it was like being injured, he said: “It’s been horrible. I really don’t like it, but it makes you appreciate going into training and getting a bit nervous before games.
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Haaland has been in terrific goalscoring form this season
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“It makes your mind think a bit differently.”
Liverpool’s victory at Anfield restored their two-point cushion — although Pep Guardiola’s City have a game in hand.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp was booked for dissent — along with Burnley chief Vincent Kompany — but claimed that had the controversial blue sin-bin cards been in use today it would have been “the wild west.”
Klopp declared: “It was emotional, definitely.
“Imagine the referee had a blue card available in this game? It would have been the wild west.
“There were so many yellow cards today. I had no clue why Vincent got his.
“I lost it in that situation so fine, give me a yellow card. As long as I don’t get a blue one and have to sit somewhere for ten minutes!”
On the title race he added: “It’s every week. You add in Tottenham, Aston Villa and Arsenal, obviously, they are all in the mix.”
My dad was a Premier League star but my career went different way after leaving Man City… I ended up on Love Island More

FANS were left “gutted” after Rhys Norrington-Davies suffered a freak injury just four games after returning from a 14-month layoff.The Sheffield United defender, 24, picked up a serious hamstring problem before the 2022 World Cup.
Rhys Norrington-Davies suffered a freak injury having only just returned from 14 months outCredit: Rex
The Sheffield United star looked distraught as fans admitted they were ‘gutted’Credit: Rex
He had been set to star for Wales in Qatar, having been born to Welsh parents in Saudi Arabia.
But Norrington-Davies was instead forced to spend 14 agonising months on the sideline as United won promotion back to the Premier League.
He finally returned to action last month in a huge boost to Chris Wilder.
His presence back in the Blades XI was seen as a big shot in the arm for United’s survival hopes.
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However, the left-back looks set for more injury misery after limping off during Saturday’s game at Luton Town.
United triumphed 3-1 at Kenilworth Road to give their relegation fight some hope.
But Norrington-Davies was forced off the field after picking up a new problem.
It occurred during a freak collision with the advertising board after sliding off the pitch.
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The defender appeared visibly upset and distraught as he went to the dressing room.
And fans rushed to Twitter to wish him a speedy recovery.
Mouse invades the Etihad pitch during Man City vs Sheff Utd
One said: “Got to feel for Norrington-Davies, more than a year out injured and now looks like another lengthy one. Lad was in tears.”
Another declared: “Really hope it isn’t as serious as it looked.”
One noted: “Feel for him, from his reaction it’s a recurrence of the original injury.”
Another added: “Gutted for Norrington-Davies.” More

THEY don’t call them The Entertainers for nothing!Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are giving Kevin Keegan’s vintage Magpies a run for their money – and the Premier League is a whole lot more fun because of it.

Goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar won the game for NewcastleCredit: Reuters
Guimaraes celebrates with fans after netting Newcastle’s winnerCredit: PA
Anthony Elanga scored his fifth Premier League goal of the seasonCredit: Reuters

Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes produced a couple of belters either side of Fabian Schar’s brilliant half-volley, to grab all three points in a five-goal thriller.
Forest responded twice with goals from Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi and were a fraction away from grabbing a third equaliser through Morgan Gibbs-White in stoppage time.
But the Geordie’s clung on to clock up a fourth top-flight away win on the spin for the first time since 2003.
Amazingly their 24 Premier League games have now produced a league high 90 goals – while they have leaked a staggering 25 goals since Martin Dubravka replaced Nick Pope in December!
They climbed to seventh with this win while Forest remain perilously close to the drop zone after suffering their 11th 3-2 defeat since they were promoted.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had spanked Newcastle 3-1 on Boxing Day in his second game in charge.
And they almost carried on where they had left off at St James’s Park within five minutes.
Nuno Tavares cut the ball back to Gibbs-White who dragged his shot inches wide when he really should have hit the target.
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How he was made to regret that miss because five minutes later Newcastle seized the lead with a goal straight from the Toon Training Ground.
Sean Longstaff rolled a short corner out to Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon deliberately blocked off Elanga.
That gave the England full-back time and space to pick out Guimaraes who volleyed home brilliantly with the outside of his right boot to leave Matz Sels gasping.
It was the Portuguese midfielder’s second goal of the season and his first since Newcastle’s 8-0 drubbing of Sheffield United.
The one thing you can be guaranteed where the Magpies are around is goals.
Forest should have equalised when Nicolas Dominguez exposed Dan Burn’s lack of pace with a brilliant pass to send Elanga sprinting clear.
But the Swedish international crashed his shot off Martin Dubravka’s legs.
However the former Manchester United winger made amends with a goal which exposed all of the Geordies’ failings.
Gibbs-White broke through the visitor’s press way too easily and had time to pick out Elanga on the right flank.
It was another mismatch with Burn, who should really have conceded a professional foul and settled for a booking.
Instead, he allowed Elanga to outpace him again and Dubravka completed the comedy of errors by racing outside his box in a futile attempt to clear the danger.
Elanga arrived first and, having had his mind made up for him, rolled the ball through the keeper’s legs from 25 yards and into the empty net.
Newcastle bossed possession at the City Ground
Guimaraes ran the show in midfield
However Forest are vulnerable from set-pieces and they proved it as Newcastle regained the lead two minutes before half-time.
Trippier’s deep free kick was missed by Burn, Sven Botman nodded the ball back into the mix and Fabian Schar showed a striker’s instinct to finish expertly with a perfect half-volley.
It was the Swiss stopper’s third goal on the road in his last two away games after his double at Aston Villa.
But again the Gerodies couldn’t protect their lead as Forest levelled for a second time six minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Tavares found Callum Hudson-Odoi who worked a 1-2 with Dominguez before shooting from the edge of the box.
The ball deflected wickedly off teenager Lewis Miley, leaving Dubravka wrong-footed and helpless as it landed in the back of his net.
The relentless pace of the match continued after the break.
The match was pretty even throughout
Antony Gordon covered plenty of ground as Toon battled to victory
Awoniyi buried the ball beyond Dubravka but had strayed offside. Then the big striker beat Botman to a long punted clearance from Sels and went down as Dubravka’s flailing arm appeared to trip him.
But VAR Tony Harrington was having none of it and agreed with Anthony Taylor’s onfield decision to let the Geordies off the hook.
Elanga was not so fortunate however when he was punished for a bit of a brain fart moment which handed Newcastle the lead again.
His attempt to pick out Gibbs-White at the edge of his own box was pounced on by Guimaraes and the Brazilian smashed the ball beyond Sels from 18 yards.
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It was the third time the Magpies hit the front and Nuno sent on Divock Origi for Awoniyi and new signing Gio Reyna for Yates in an attempt to claw it back yet again.
But this time Newcastle held out …. just!

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