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    Ipswich 1 Southampton 2: Saints grab first win since November 2 but stay bottom after relegation six-pointer

    IT IS impossible, surely, that Southampton will dig themselves out of trouble.But at the very least, having secured only their second win of the season and opening three points under new boss Ivan Juric, Saints will not be setting an unwanted Premier League record this season.Paul Onuachu ‘s late winner gave Saints second win of the seasonCredit: PAAribo’s flying volley from a deflected cross came out of nowhere to put Saints upCredit: ReutersLiam Delap equalised in the 31st minuteCredit: GettyOnuachu secured Saint’s first away game of the seasonCredit: GettyIvan Juric and his staff were jubilant, while Kieran McKenna was defeatedCredit: GettyPaul Onuachu stunned Ipswich by grabbing an unlikely 87th minute winner after Liam Delap cancelled out Joe Aribo’s opening goal.As you would expect, Southampton’s fans – having witnessed six successive top-flight losses – were in jubilant mood at the end while Michael Oliver’s final whistle was met with jeers from the home crowd.This means Saints on nine points so are still some way off safety. But over the next few weeks, however bad they might be – and they really are not very good – Southampton will overtake Derby’s embarrassing, record-low tally of 11 points from the 2007-08 season.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIn what has been a terrible season, you can understand why many believed Southampton were going to be crowned worst of the worst.As for Ipswich, this was a really poor result. And, they could not end up getting a complex against south coast clubs. They were leading Bournemouth 1-0 here in December until the 87th minute and they ended up losing 2-1.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut this defeat was even worse as it was against a side Ipswich really needed to beat if they were to have realistic hopes of staying up. Kieran McKenna’s team could still do it, but it will not be easy.Liam Delap talks about joining Ipswich Town The problem is that despite their possession, Ipswich have little goal threat, other than £20million summer signing Delap, and while he has struck nine times, he cannot do everything on his own.The other problem is that Ipswich have bungling keeper Aro Muric in goal for the next month due to an injury to Christian Walton.Muric could have done better for both goals in what was a hugely frustrating day for McKenna with Ipswich having failed to win any of their last five Premier League games.Saints took the lead when Mateus Fernandes’ cross took a heavy deflection off home defender Jacob Greaves and it fell perfectly for Aribo. He had arrived inside the area completely unchallenged, something which will infuriate McKenna.Southampton fans sang ‘can we play you every week’Credit: PAKyle Walker-Peters celebrated with the away endCredit: PASaints, who are on nine points, are still some way off safetyCredit: ReutersAribo’s volley took a bounce before Muric made a terrible attempt to keep the ball out and the Kosovan gave the impression he was trying to usher it into the net.Delap, having wasted one chance to equalise, swept the ball past Aaron Ramsdale after overcoming a feeble challenge from Southampton centre-half Jan Bednarke after a superbly-weighted through ball by Nathan Broadhead.Juric replaced Taylor Harwood-Bells at the break for Jack Stephens but the club skipper – who had not played for nearly two months due to suspension and injury – was on the pitch for just 11 minutes before needing to be replaced by Will Smallbone due to a muscle injury.Ipswich will be disappointed at not testing Ramsdale more in the second half although when they did, Delap fired straight at the England keeper’s feet.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd at the end, disaster struck for the Tractor Boys when Muric could only parry a shot from Kamaldeen Sulemana into the path of Onuachu who was never going to miss.At the end, Southampton’s fans sang “can we play you every week” and little wonder.Kieran McKenna’s side remain in the relegation zoneCredit: Reuters More

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    Everton 4 Leicester 0: Toffees storm to vital relegation six-pointer win after record goal as Tottenham drop to 16th

    ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE created history as David Moyes continued his re-birth of Everton at the speed of sound.But for Ruud van Nistlerooy there was only more misery as Leicester City went down to an eighth league defeat in nine… and on the evidence of this collapse are going down.Everton swept Leicester aside after flying out of the blocksCredit: ReutersAbdoulaye Doucoure found the net with just 10.18 seconds on the clockCredit: AFPOnly 10.18 seconds were on the clock as Doucoure ran on to a whack down-field from Jordan Pickford and waltzed past the wallflowers around him to smash home.The Mali international’s strike was the fourth–fastest ever in the Premier League and the quickest by a home team in the competition.By the sixth minute, Beto had doubled the lead – that blue blur of a start sending the Toffees towards a third successive win for the first time since last April.Beto kept the momentum going two minutes into first-half stoppage time with his side’s third to leave Everton’s fans dancing in the aisles before Iliman Ndiaye tapped home as the clock hit 90.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLMoyes’ entrance as successor to sacked Sean Dyche and a return for a second stint in charge was marked by a 1-0 Goodison Park defeat to Aston Villa.That reverse, a third in a row, left the team that Moyes took over only a point above the drop zone.But they ended this game TEN points clear of third-bottom Wolves before they kicked off their tea-time clash with Villa – and even above Tottenham who drop to 16th – while the Foxes are falling fast again.The Scotsman wouldn’t dream of saying out loud that his return after a dozen years away is now steering the club to safety but he will quietly know that only complete disaster can stop that.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSEven the fact that the squad has been devastated by injury has done nothing to stop lift-off after that first loss on his return.Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out for ten weeks with hamstring trouble, on-loan midfielder Orel Mangala is going back to Lyon after suffering an ACL knee injury and winger Dwight McNeil is still recovering from knee surgery.‘That’s better than Shrek’ jokes Wayne Rooney as Roy Keane reveals Hollywood star people mistake him for in the streets Another striker in Armando Broja, on loan from Chelsea, faces a further six weeks’ absence as well with knee problems.Yet in Beto, the frontman who Dyche never could get a song out of, he has an alternative suddenly showing the power that persuaded the ex–boss to sign him for £26million from Udinese 18 months ago.The 27-year-old had only scored one Prem goal all season, his minutes strictly limited by Dyche’s preference for DCL.Yet here he was loving it under Moyes, running on to James Tarkowski’s pass and beyond Wout Faes to curve the ball around Mads Hermansen as cool as you like.James Garner, making his first start in four months after plenty of injury problems of his own, then delivered a brilliant, high-precision 30-yard pass and Beto again left Faes and Co for dead.Between those goals, the former Manchester United midfielder also hit Hermansen’s right-hand post.All-time quickest Premier League goalsApr 23, 2019: Shane Long (Southampton) at Watford – 7.69 secondsMar 4, 2023: Philip Billing (Bournemouth) at Arsenal – 9.11 secondsDec 9, 2000: Ledley King (Tottenham) at Bradford – 9.82 secondsFEB 1, 2025: ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (Everton) v Leicester – 10.18 secondsJan 18, 2003: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) v Man City – 10.52 secondsJan 31, 2018: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) v Man Utd – 10.54 secondsMar 17, 2001: Mark Viduka (Leeds) at Charlton – 11.90 secondsSep 30, 1995: Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa) at Coventry – 12.16 secondsApr 1, 1995: Chris Sutton (Blackburn) at Everton – 12.94 secondsJan 10, 2004: Kevin Nolan (Bolton) at Blackburn – 13.48 secondsDoucoure should also have claimed his second in the 45th minute but was leaning back when he connected with Vitaliy Mykolenko’s perfect lay–off.All of which tells the story of the Foxes’ first half in which they couldn’t even run for cover.And going forward? Forget it. Veteran Jamie Vardy had been allowed just nine touches when he was replaced by Patson Daka and hour in.Van Nistelrooy would have hoped that the shock 2-1 win at Tottenham last weekend would have inspired his side.READ MORE SUN STORIESYet they were left shell-shocked by that lightning opener and never got over it, Ndiyae adding a fourth in the final minute when Faes and Caleb Okoli ran into each other.Van Nistlerooy, just a dozen games into the job, has won only two of those in the Prem and if he’s not already looking over his shoulder then he should be.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.Doucoure was all smiles after the perfect startCredit: GettyBeto got his second and third Prem goals of the seasonCredit: ReutersIliman Ndiaye could not miss as he scored the fourthCredit: RexRuud van Nistelrooy’s side came crashing back down to earth after the win at SpursCredit: ReutersJamie Vardy touched the ball nine timesCredit: ReutersWout Faes was at the thick of the actionCredit: Getty More

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    Newcastle 1 Fulham 2: Toon dealt major blow in Champions League hunt as visitors battle from goal down to snatch victory

    NEWCASTLE completely blew it and threw away the lead to lose to Fulham.Eddie Howe revealed his “desperation” to take the club back to the Champions League pre-match but those hopes suffered a crushing blow with this 2-1 loss.Fulham dealt Newcastle a severe blow to their Champions League hopesCredit: GettyNewcastle ace Jacob Murphy opened th scoring for NewcastleCredit: RexFulham star Raul Jimenez equlised against NewcastleCredit: ReutersFulham star Rodrigo Muniz turned the match on its headCredit: ReutersAnd a second-straight home defeat was the worst possible preparation for the Magpies ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Arsenal.However, Fulham’s second-half fightback has them dreaming of Europe once again after Rodrigo Muniz came off the bench to win it.Newcastle looked to be cruising to an eighth league win out of nine after Jacob Murphy had given them a half-time lead.Instead, a sloppy display after the break cost them as Raul Jimenez levelled before the Brazilian’s late dagger through the heart.Read More on FootballIt had all started so well for the Magpies and things could have been much different if top scorer Alexander Isak had his shooting boots on.Murphy’s early cross would usually have been bread and butter for Isak, but the in-form Swede’s air-kicked attempted volley let the visitors off the hook.Fulham, though, still failed to clear properly and within seconds another ball was whipped in that Bruno Guimaraes headed over.Isak’s next meaningful involvement was being the victim of a clothesline after cutting past Joachim Andersen, earning the Danish centre-half the game’s first booking.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAntonee Robinson soon joined him for tugging back Guimaraes to stop a breakaway and when Anthony Gordon blazed after a one-two with Joelinton frustration was starting to grow.Finally, in the 28th minute, we had the game’s first shot on target when Bernd Leno saved Fabian Schar’s effort.Footage resurfaces of what Eddie Howe said about England job as he is tipped to succeed Gareth SouthgateAdama Traore headed wide as Marco Silva’s men provided a warning of their own but the deadlock was almost broken in spectacular fashion when Sandro Tonali’s thunderous 30-yeard half-volley smashed the back off the bar.And the woodwork was still shaking when the goal eventually came moments later as Gordon charged forward down the left and his low cross deflected straight into the path of the onrushing Murphy to slam home.Now the whole place was rocking as the Toon smelt blood, and full-back Tino Livramento found himself through for a second but was denied by a great save courtesy of Leno’s leg.It remained just Murphy’s goal at the break with the away side still yet to test Martin Dubravka.However, within moments of the restart, Emile Smith Rowe twice forced the Slovakian keeper into action.Calvin Bassey headed over as their fast start continued and almost the whole of St James’ held its breath before letting out a sigh of relief when Jimenez’s low shot towards the bottom corner was deflected just the wrong side of the post.Fulham comebackA goal was coming, the whole of Tyneside could feel it, and it deservedly went the way of Fulham following a brilliant counter just after the hour.The West Londoners charged forward in numbers after stealing possession deep in their own half as the Toon defence desperately tried to backpeddle.Traore found Robinson from the left at the back post as the skipper put it first time back into the box for Jimenez to pull the trigger and find the net, albeit with the help of a deflection of Murphy, to wrongfoot Dubravka and make it all-even.Suddenly, the usually bouncing black and white cauldron had turned into an arena of nerves, and the game remained on a knife edge.Isak, who had been off it all day, almost produced a spark of magic when he curled one off the angle of the post and bar from the edge of the area.But, the late twist was to come up the other end courtesy of a former Middlesbrough man.Andreas Pereira swung a free-kick into the near post that fellow sub Muniz flicked past Dubvravka to win it.READ MORE SUN STORIESFulham are now back looking up the table after bouncing back from last week’s loss to Manchester United.While Howe must lift his troops to defend their 2-0 advantage against the Gunners and seal a date with destiny at Wembley. More

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    Everton make history as Abdoulaye Doucoure scores incredible record-breaking goal after just 10.18 seconds vs Leicester

    EVERTON made history with their record-breaking goal after just TEN SECONDS against Leicester.Abdoulaye Doucoure wasted no time putting the Toffees in front in the huge relegation six-pointer. Abdoulaye Doucoure gave Everton the lead against Leicester in the opening secondsCredit: GettyHe latched on to Jordan Pickford’s long ball upfieldCredit: GettyThere were just 10.18 seconds on the clock when the ball crossed the lineCredit: AFPFrom Everton’s kick-off, James Garner passed the ball directly back to Jordan Pickford.The goalkeeper then punted the ball upfield, where Doucoure pounced on some woeful Leicester defending to chest the ball down, run past the Foxes statues and slide the ball past Mads Hermansen.Incredibly, the official scoreboard had still not even come on the screen on the Premier League’s feed of the match.The official time of the goal was 10.18 seconds.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThat made the super speedy strike the fourth-fastest goal in Premier League history.But it also was the fastest goal scored by a home team since the league’s reformation in 1992. Shane Long still holds the all-time record, scoring for Southampton at Watford with 7.69 seconds on the clock in 2019.Philip Billing found the net after 9.11 seconds for Bournemouth at Arsenal in March 2023.Most read in FootballBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesAnd the other player to break the ten-second barrier was Ledley King’s goal against Bradford, putting Tottenham in front after 9.82 seconds.Not only did the Doucoure goal etch his name into the record books, but it also gave Everton the perfect start against Leicester.‘That’s better than Shrek’ jokes Wayne Rooney as Roy Keane reveals Hollywood star people mistake him for in the streets David Moyes knew a win would move his side nine points clear of Leicester in the relegation battle.On six minutes, the dream start got even better when Beto beat the offisde, got in behind and buried his finish.And the Guinea-Bissau striker, 27, grabbed his second of the afternoon and third of the season in the league just before half-time, keeping his composure in front of goal after Garner’s delightful through ball.Iliman Ndiaye capitalised on more woeful play at the back from Leicester to roll in an easy fourth and wrap up the points as the clock hit 90. Beto scored twice before half-time to make it 3-0Credit: Reuters More

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    Fans in stitches after spotting where Bournemouth sit injured stars on match-day as crocked players watch Liverpool game

    FANS were left in stitches after spotting where Bournemouth’s injured stars were sat inside Dean Court this afternoon.A few crocked Cherries stars watched their team-mates lose 2-0 to Premier League leaders Liverpool from a seemingly hidden separate stand.Fans were stitches after spotting where Bournemouth’s injured players were sittingCredit: ReutersSeveral players were spotted looking on from a seemingly makeshift boothBournemouth were without nine players against the Reds on Saturday, with Andoni Iraola still in the midst of an injury crisis.However, Evanilson, Julian Araujo, James Hill, Marcos Senesi and Alex Scott all watched on from inside the Vitality Stadium.But instead of sitting up in the stands behind fans, or in a directors box, the players were spotted looking on from a seemingly makeshift booth.Eayle-eyed viewers saw all five players sitting on old blue furniture in an additional setting area, high behind the corner flag.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe stand looked as though it was makeshift and relatively out of sight.It resembled a balcony seat in a theatre stall.One fan wrote X: “Bournemouth have got so many injured players that they have had to build a temporary stand for them all!”While a second said: “The fact that Bournemouth have a whole booth of injured players and they’re still jugging like this is crazy.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFull-back Araujo sported a grey tracksuit with trainers, while Senesi wore a white hoodie, as everybody looked glumly on.And with reason, too.Liverpool star Cody Gakpo incredibly reveals how close he came to joining Premier League strugglers but left transfer up to fate Liverpool were awarded a controversial penalty after Lewis Cook was deemed to have tripped Cody Gakpo inside 27 minutes.Mo Salah converted the spot-kick – his 20th Prem goal of the season- past Kepa Arrizabalaga after VAR confirmed Darren England’s decision.Sublime Salah then sealed all three points for the visitors after bending one into the top corner in the 75th minute.It was the Egyptian’s 177th Prem goal, going level with sixth-placed Frank Lampard in the all-time top scorers’ charts.It was Bournemouth’s first Prem defeat since Brighton’s 2-1 triumph in November 23.Arne Slot’s men established an ominous nine-point lead over Arsenal at the Premier League summit. More

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    ‘He’s better as a footballer than in bed’ – Ex-porn star Claudia Bavel slams Iker Casillas as ‘selfish and stingy lover’

    A FORMER porn star and Only Fans model photographed on a date with Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has crushed the former goalkeeper by claiming he was better on the pitch than in bed.Claudia Bavel, who made her X-rated film debut as a teenager and now earns around £17,000 a month from Only Fans, also branded the ex-Spain international “stingy” in a warts-and-all TV interview.Claudia Beval has slammed Iker Casillas after they were romantically linkedCredit: https://www.instagram.com/imclaudiabavel/Pictures of Casillas and the OnlyFans model were published last weekCredit: RexClaudia is a former porn actress and modelCredit: https://www.instagram.com/onlybavel/The 28-year-old revealed Casillas had been giving her the cold shoulder since the photos were releasedCredit: https://www.instagram.com/onlybavel/Claudia said he was ‘better as a footballer’ than a loverCredit: https://www.instagram.com/onlybavel/The 28-year-old revealed Casillas, 43, had cold-shouldered her since paparazzi photos of them together in Barcelona were published by Spanish magazine Diez Minutos earlier this week as she refuted speculation she had tipped off photographers about their tryst.Casillas, who announced his retirement from professional football in August 2020 after a heart attack just over a year earlier while he was training with last side Porto, responded to the publication of the photos by ironically claiming they were “very enlightening” and “spectacular” but refusing to confirm he and the model were an item.Claudia admitted she was a “little sad” about his reaction as she revealed he was no longer answering her WhatsApp messages but still liking her Instagram posts.She opened up on their relationship in an interview with Spanish TV channel Telecinco programme De Viernes.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLShe said they had got to know each other on social media about 18 months ago, saying: “My relationship with Iker Casillas began initially as one of friendship.“When we began meeting in person we had an open relationship initially before we reached a point where we closed it.“Iker knows what is behind those photos. I feel a little bit left out.”Claudia, whose X-rated films are still available to watch for free online, went on to reveal the pair told each other “I love you”.Most read in FootballShe then sensationally revealed Casillas had confessed to her he wanted to have more children when his two kids with Spanish journalist ex-wife Sara Carbonero were older and asked if she would like to be their mum.Claudia said: “He asked me if I wanted to be a mother and whether I wanted to have children with him.Meet the new Wags of the Premier League season, from a Belgian interior designer to a Portuguese model“I told him that because of my work I perhaps didn’t want to be and he told me that his idea was that, when his children were 15 or 16, he wanted to be a father again.”In a low blow for the retired goalie’s reputation between the sheets, the pretty brunette added with a smile on her face: “If you ask me what Iker was like as a lover I would say better as a footballer.”Calling him “stingy and not at all generous” she went on to recall an incident when she told Casillas she fancied a glass of wine and he responded by telling her to go to the supermarket herself to buy a bottle.Claudia revealed she had met him every month since their first meeting in May last year after several months of exchanging messages.She finished the interview with a direct message to him by saying: “I don’t understand why you didn’t answer my last message.”I don’t understand why you give me likes and still follow me on social media and I don’t understand why you say that in the photos of us together that were published you don’t see anything.”She also gave show bosses audio WhatsApp recordings which were aired on the programme including one in which Casillas told her she was “delicious” after seeing photos she sent him.Her Spanish TV revelations and her slights about his performance between the sheets and penny-pinching make it unlikely their relationship is going to go anywhere but downhill from now on. But they are already helping to boost her number of social media followers.Claudia defines herself online as a “content creator and ex-adult film actress”.She already had nearly 250,000 followers on her ‘official’ Instagram account where she shows off her curves in a range of figure-hugging outfits before the publication of the photos of her and Casillas, taken around 10 days ago before they made a visit to a winery with former Real Madrid players Luis Figo and Michel Salgado.She has another 16,000 followers on a second account where she has published more daring selfies and a link to her OnlyFans page where she describes herself as a model and influencer and adds: “My bad hot side wants you at my links.”Spanish journalist Javier Hoyos had claimed recently he had spotted the pair enjoying a passionate kiss during a dinner date at an upmarket restaurant near the Costa Brava resort of Blanes in May last year, which Claudia confirmed yesterday was their first date.Neither of them had confirmed they were seeing each other before Claudia opened up on their relationship, but asked about him a few weeks ago in another interview, she replied: “We are two single people.”It is the first time Casillas, popularly dubbed Saint Iker for his ability to produce miraculous saves, decided to date an OnlyFans model but not the first footballer partner for Claudia, who has enjoyed a brief romance with Spain-born Senegalese international Keita Balde who is currently playing in Turkey.Shortly after he split from his former wife, who he famously kissed on air during a post-match interview after Spain won the 2010 World Cup before they officially became partners and the parents of two children now aged ten and eight, Casillas was linked to a Malaga-based Spanish singer.She denied she was the retired goalie’s new squeeze by posting a photo of her with her boyfriend and raging: “I hope whoever is trying to cause damage through false information pays.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHe was linked late last year to former Miss Spain Maria Jose Suarez and before that to another model Ana Martin as well as a journalist called Ana Quiles although he denied any romance with her.Casillas made 510 appearances during his 16 years with Real Madrid before signing for Porto and is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in footballing history.Claudia had 250,000 followers on Instagram before the photos were releasedCredit: https://www.instagram.com/onlybavel/Claudia revealed he and Casillas first started seeing one another in May last yearCredit: https://www.instagram.com/imclaudiabavel/She admitted she was a ‘little sad’ at being blanked by the World Cup winnerCredit: https://www.instagram.com/imclaudiabavel/Claudia added that Casillas was ‘stingy and not at all generous’Credit: https://www.instagram.com/onlybavel/ More

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    F1 star banned from releasing NUDE calendar as team chief says X-rated pictures are ‘not on’

    FORMULA ONE star Valtteri Bottas is set to be banned from releasing nude photos. The 35-year-old has re-joined Mercedes ahead of the new season as a reserve driver.Valtteri Bottas will have to ditch his nude calendarsThe Mercedes reserve driver is no stranger to stripping offCredit: @valtteribottasBottas’ calendar was called ‘Botass 2024’Credit: SplashToto Wolff wants to keep him ‘authentic’Credit: RexBottas is no stranger to stripping off, having shown off his bum in ‘cracking’ Netflix documentary Drive to Survive and he has posted snaps of himself swimming naked in a river online.The Finnish icon also released a nude calendar last year, hilariously titling it “Botass 2024”.All cash made was donated to Prostate Cancer Research and he reportedly raised £121,000 for the good cause.But Bottas now needs to keep his kit on as Mercedes chief Toto Wolff suggested it is time for him to reign it in.READ MORE IN F1He told R365: “We are Mercedes, so maybe the nude calendar is not on anymore.“So we have said that, but we need to keep him authentic.”Wolff added with a smile: “If he wants to keep the ugly mullet, then he should.”Bottas’ Mercedes return is a homecoming for the veteran, who twice came second in the standings to team-mate Lewis Hamilton in 2019 and 2020.Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSHe has spent the last three seasons with Alfa Romeo and Sauber respectively, going from wearing nothing to scoring nothing across the whole of last term.George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are on the grid for Mercedes.Valtteri Bottas hits the tattoo parlour to get inked The Italian is set to debut at the Australian Grand Prix and become the third-youngest driver in Formula One history at 18 years and 203 days oldF1 2025 gridHere are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season:Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Liam LawsonFerrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis HamiltonMercedes: George Russell and Kimi AntonelliMcLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriAston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance StrollWilliams: Alex Albon and Carlos SainzSauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel BortoletoAlpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack DoohanRB: Yuki Tsunoda and Isack HadjarHaas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon More

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    Diogo Dalot hails Ruben Amorim’s ‘worst ever Man Utd team’ speech as a positive turning point in struggling season

    DIOGO DALOT has revealed that Ruben Amorim’s “worst-ever” condemnation of his Manchester United side was the best thing he could ever have said.Not that he enjoyed it at the time.Diogo Dalot has revealed that Ruben Amorim’s ‘worst-ever’ comment was a reality checkCredit: GettyThe OId Trafford boss accidentally smashed a dressing room telly then did the same to his players’ egos in a brutal put – down after the 3-1 home defeat by Brighton two weeks ago today.Yet since then United have won three games in a row for the first time this season.The last of those was a 2-0 Bucharest defeat of FCSB to finish third in the Europa League table and an automatic place in the competition’s last 16.Amorim was devastated by that Seagulls loss and there were fears his damning verdict that United had hit a history-making all-time low might have crushed the squad spiritREAD MORE FOOTBALL NEWSFor he had already admitted that relegation was a “possibility.”Instead there has only been a positive response and Dalot puts that down to the manager’s damning words, declaring: “I don’t want to hear that.“So the message for me is the next training session I have to show that I don’t want to belong to the worst Manchester United team in history. “You can analyse it as something negative. But I analyse it as something positive because I want to change the situation.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“My teammates also. We showed that we want to change this.”Dalot is now under his fourth full-time manager since signing from Porto for £19m in 2018.Ruben Amorim says Man Utd are a better team with Marcus Rashford but he has to change Amorim followed Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho who bought him – all sacked.The trajectory since Dalot arrived has been ever downward, despite Ten Hag’s successes in the League Cup then the FA Cup – to the point that Amorim delivered that brutal condemnation 15 games after replacing the Dutchman.The Portugal international can only applaud the manager for his honesty and his desire to reverse the fortunes of a club that lurches from one crisis to the next – on and off the pitch.The 25 year old stresses : “Obviously he is a passionate guy.“He was as a player and now he’s as a manager as well, and I think it’s what this club needs.“Speak to all the fans they always show this desire of wanting the best for the club. That’s what he wants.“So if we want to win, if we want to go to where this club belongs, we need to be there and follow.”Following has been traumatic during Amorim’s 18 games so far through a tactical re-education.Dalot believes Amorim is ‘what the club needs’Credit: RexGoing into Sunday’s meeting with Crystal Palace, Dalot says: “It’s no coincidence when we say that some things take time.“It can sound like an excuse that when we have more time to train, we will get better.“We will get better when we have more time to train, but you can see already that we are getting better. We are improving.“Football is always unpredictable, but what you can see is that we are trying to be more consistent about it, trying to win more games.“ It doesn’t mean that things will be lovely until the end of the season, but that’s where we want to go.“We are really positive about it. We know that this storm that everybody is talking about, it will go away.“But we need to suffer as a team, as a club, fans have to be together with us and I’m sure that they will rise again.” I analyse it as something positive because I want to change the situation.DalotAmorim, like Dalot’s first boss, now has the chance to take United into the Champions League, despite the club’s lowly and embarrassing Prem position, via Europa League success.Triumph within Europe’s elite may for now be only a memory of the glory enjoyed by Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson but it is still one that for the defender  and his team mates is an inspiration going forward.He insists: “The message I want to pass is that we really know what it means to win a European cup at this club.“We want to win the Europa League. We know how much winning will help the development of this club.”Even three wins in a row means something after the nightmare that saw Amorim implode as Dalot looks forward to fans singing about looking on the bright side of life again.He says: “It’s massive not just for us but as a club, but for the fans. “I think obviously you go to Old Trafford on Sunday, the atmosphere is already different because you feel that we are winning games.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It’s much easier to work, much easier to train when you are winning, and that’s where we want to go.“And with Ruben. And yes, we are right behind him.”Man Utd ratings vs FCSB as Mainoo shines in new role but one team-mate strugglesKOBBIE MAINOO ran the show as Manchester United marched on in the Europa League in Romania.SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson has given his ratings of the United players against FCSB…Altay Bayindir – 6He was often a bystander during the game despite the hosts often getting up the pitch.Did show that he needs to work on his ball control with his feet with a few sloppy clearances.Noussair Mazraoui – 7Battled well at times as he took up the third centre-back role.Did very little wrong throughout the match.Matthijs de Ligt – 7Solid showing from the Dutchman in Romania who provided the muscle in the backline.Lisandro Martinez 70′ – 6Did well to help out in defence and keep the ball moving forward.Although, he should never have been allowed to take a decent free-kick opportunity in the first half that he blazed over.Diogo Dalot – 7Out on the wing, Dalot struggled to have a good impact on the game and was caught out on occasion when needing to defend.But proved crucial as he netted the opening goal with a tap in after making a good run at the back post.Toby Collyer 45′ – 6Made up one-half of Man United’s academy midfield duo and looked composed throughout the clash.He did not let the occasion get to him, as he showed plenty of strength when required.Harshly hooked at half-time.Kobbie Mainoo – 8Excelled in a slightly more advanced role to Collyer in the midfielder.Mainoo set up the opener with a cracking low cross to Dalot before scoring himself with a composed finish.Tyrell Malacia 45′ – 5Provided plenty of width in the left-wing-back role and whipped in a couple of decent crosses.Was replaced at the breakChristian Eriksen 70′ – 6Forced a decent save inside 20 minutes and linked the play between the midfield and final third.Fell off during the second half and was replaced by Casemiro.Bruno Fernandes – 6Had a couple of moans at the referee in the first half and was largely quiet.Benefitted from the changes at the break as he had more natural attackers to link up with.Rasmus Hojlund 80′ – 5The misfiring striker put in plenty of effort as he was often making runs.Had a decent chance with his head but failed to get enough power on it to trouble the goalkeeper.SUBSAmad Diallo 45′ – 6Added a bit more threat on the wing after replacing Malacia.Alejandro Ganracho 45′ – 7Almost made an instant impact as he latched onto a loose ball but his effort hit the wrong side of the post.Picked up an assist with a decent pass to Mainoo.Leny Yoro 70′ – 6Slotted into the backline to help see out the game.Casemiro 70′ – 6Dropped deep into the midfield and gave himself as an option for defenders to pass to do move the ball forward.Joshua Zirkzee 80’ – 5Did not get much of an opportunity to grab a goal. 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