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    What Man City must urgently fix as it gets so bad for Pep Guardiola he is left with scratches all over head

    WATCHING Pep Guardiola scratching his head live on television on Tuesday night was the ultimate sign of a manager at his wits’ end.Yes, the Spanish sorcerer was only scraping his head and face.Pep Guardiola caused concern when he appeared covered in scratches for his post-match interviewYou didn’t have to be Monty Python’s Black Knight to declare the cut on his nose “only a flesh wound”.But for a Guardiola side to throw away a three goal lead at HOME inside the final few minutes demonstrated the epic scale of City’s decline and fall.Even a few weeks ago, despite the ongoing off field cloud of the “115” alleged financial rules breaches that is being heard in a central London venue, City were not far from their customary relentless selves.Five straight defeats, including three in the Prem, were capped off by that 4-0 home thumping by Spurs on Saturday – a game that was supposed to be a celebration of the manager signing his new two-year deal.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAnd Guardiola’s admissions that his team are “fragile” and “not stable”, joking that he wanted to “hurt himself” and his general bearing demonstrated just how much has gone wrong, so quickly.Sun Sport looks at the key issues that must be addressed.  No Rodri, no Party The ovation the City fans gave the Spain midfielder as he raised his Ballon d’Or trophy before the Tottenham trauma told its own story.The reality is that Rodri’s absence has left a hole that nobody in the City squad can fill on their own. Most read in FootballNot Mateo Kovacic – currently on the missing list – or John Stones, or Rico Lewis. Nobody.Instead of a solid defensive screen, City have begun to represent a farmer’s stile. A bit of legwork and you are over the top. It has been an open invitation for teams that have a desire to hurt City – as Spurs, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sporting and now Feyenoord have shown.Guardiola has never been shy about his desire to reinvent football, time and again.Perhaps, though, he has to ponder adding to the defensive security of his side by a change of shape. If he has not got one player to do the Rodri role, maybe he needs two in there?Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is out for the next eight to nine months after undergoing knee surgery following after rupturing his ACL against ArsenalGuardiola cut a frustrated figure on the touchline after City’s capitulation extended their winless run to an astonishing six gamesBring up the bodiesGuardiola has not hidden how much he has been hurt by the injury crisis that started before the season kicked off.Oscar Bobb had been earmarked for a key role this term but the Norwegian broke his leg in August and will not return until at least February.Then came Rodri’s season-ending cruciate injury against Arsenal.Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish have made just four Prem starts out of 12 games, Stones three, Nathan Ake only one.And with things already teetering, the calf injury that forced Ruben Dias off after 45 minutes of the Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham feels like the straw that broke the camel’s back.City have conceded 15 goals in the last five games. Dias is the lynchpin of the back line. It’s not rocket science.City miss Kovacic and DiasLegs goneAlan Hansen was famously wrong when he declared “you don’t win anything with kids”.But maybe what we are seeing with Pep’s side is that the Premier League is no country for old men.Six of City’s outfield squad are now 30-somethings – and it is starting to look that way, too.Timo Werner happily accepting the invitation to run legs off Kyle Walker to set up Tottenham’s fourth at the weekend was symbolic of the 34-year-old’s sudden physical limitations. Walker’s pace has always been his super-power. He looks like he has now swallowed Kryptonite.Many City fans celebrated Ilkay Gundogan’s return in the summer after his unhappy year at Barcelona but those cheers have stalled. Gundogan was walking in thick mud as James Maddison gave him the slip at the weekend, while Bernardo Silva has been a pale imitation of his normal self.Guardiola has driven his players relentlessly for eight years. Many of them have been on the journey with him all the way.But it looks as if they have run out of road. Where City used to know they could out-play and out-run sides, that is no longer the case.It did not help that the successive Prem games City lost were against arguably the three of the best footballing sides in the league. All of them are teams that want to have a go.  The fear factor has disappeared and opponents are seeing the vulnerabilities rather than being cowed by the strengths. Spurs’ James Maddison ran the City midfield ragged on SaturdayGuardiola’s current starting XI might have hit the end of the roadGoal glut goneEver since the arrival of Erling Haaland, City have been almost unstoppable.The Norwegian has led the way but he has not been alone.And this season, by contrast, with Haaland having gone off the boil in recent weeks, his team-mates have been unable to fill the void.In their 12 Prem matches so far, City have scored 22 goals – fewer than Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea and the same number as Brentford.By contrast, at the same point last term, they had scored 32 and in 2022-23 it was 33.Haaland’s 12 goal return is only marginally down on the previous campaigns when he had 14 two years ago and 13 last time round.But Phil Foden, whose 14 goals in the second half of last term exceed Haaland’s tally, has yet to find the net in the Prem and defender Josko Gvardiol – whose blunders at the back seem to be on repeat – is second-highest scorer with three.You have to wonder whether Guardiola is now regretting his decision to sanction the departure of Manchester born and bred Cole Palmer and Argentina’s World Cup-winning Julian Alvarez.Palmer has scored 32 in 59 appearances for Chelsea, including seven in 14 games this term, while Alvarez’ free-kick at Sparta Prague was his ninth in 20 for Atletico Madrid.City bagged £124m for the pair. But keeping them would have been priceless.Erling Haaland had gone off the boil in recent Prem weeks before scoring a brace on TuesdayMeanwhile, Cole Palmer has scored 32 in 59 appearances for ChelseaMentality monsteredWhen it mattered, Guardiola’s team ALWAYS knew how to find a way.It looked that way again when Stones headed the injury time winner at Wolves last month.Yet now it all feels very different. A team that is starting to look for self-pity as soon as something goes against them.Those losses at Spurs in the Carabao and then Bournemouth might have been a blip. But three more are a full-scale crisis.The way City turned their toes up in the second half against Sporting was the first real sign of what Guardiola is now admitting is “frailty”.Brighton scored twice in five minutes to sink City at the AmexThen Brighton scored twice in five minutes to turn the game at the Amex on its head, with City suddenly powerless to respond.Against Spurs, the air went out of the City balloon as soon as Maddison scored his first. The mental paralysis was evident.And on Tuesday night, from three up and cruising against Feyenoord, it was a remarkable implosion.Under that sort of pressure, a manager needs his players to stand up and be counted. Too many are folding, seeming to feel themselves incapable of affecting change. And now, looming, is what would be the biggest test of the season yet even in normal circumstances.City have not won in front of a crowd at Anfield since 2003, when Nicolas Anelka stole the points in the last minute.Another defeat would leave them 11 points adrift of Arne Slot’s side. READ MORE SUN STORIESThey know what they face, on and off the pitch. This time it’s the visitors who will have to walk on through the storm, one that is raging around Guardiola and his squad. More

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    Former Premier League star who scored debut goal against Man Utd now set to become president of Georgia

    FEW retired footballers hang up their boots and go on to become the president of their country.But that is the career path one former Manchester City striker is set to embark on.Mikheil Kavelashvili looks set to become the new Georgian presidentCredit: AlamyThe ex-Manchester City midfielder, standing, is the Georgian Dream party’s nomineeCredit: AFPMikheil Kavelashvili spent two seasons at Maine Road between 1995 and 1997, scoring three goals in 28 appearances.He is best-known for netting against Manchester United on his debut in a 3-2 defeat in April 1996.Just weeks after that loss, Man City were relegated from the Premier League. Kavelashvili left for Swiss side Grasshoppers 12 months later and spent most of the rest of his career in Switzerland – aside from a brief stint in Russia. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe forward, who scored nine times in 46 caps for his country, retired in 2006.A decade on from the end of his football career he was elected as a member of the Georgian parliament.And now he has been nominated by Georgian Dream – the country’s ruling party – to be their candidate in the December 14 elections.It puts him in pole position to become Georgia’s next president – which will be confirmed by an internal parliamentary body that contains a controlling majority of Kavelashvili’s party.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThis makes it a near-certainty that the ex-Man City man will be elected.The role of Georgian president is understood to be largely a ceremonial one.Football stars’ weird phobias More

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    Old Trafford to welcome one EIGHTH of entire town’s population when Man Utd host Bodo/Glimt in Europa League

    MANCHESTER UNITED will welcome 12 PER CENT of an entire town’s population for their Europa League clash on Thursday.The Red Devils host Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in Ruben Amorim’s first home game in charge.Bodo/Glimt will bring 6,500 fans to Old TraffordCredit: GettyThe Norwegian club travel to Manchester United in the Europa League on ThursdayCredit: APThe away side, who were beaten twice by Arsenal in 2022, are bringing 6,500 fans to the ground for the huge clash.That is out of the town’s 53,000 population, meaning one eighth of everyone living there will be attending the match.And Bodo/Glimt sporting director Havard Sakariassen is overcome by the magnitude of the occasion.He said: “Personally, the 1990s were the defining years of my life because I was between 15 and 22. Manchester was the coolest place on earth for me because of music and the football team.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”So, for me, drawing United, it’s a cool thing. If you ask the 20-year-old Havard, that would be unreal to go to Old Trafford with Bodo/Glimt.”Of course today I am working with this every day and we have been around the block for some years now, but still to go to Old Trafford is special for me.”We have played many games in Europe but, for the Norwegian football fans, playing against English teams is really special.”The game against Arsenal [in 2022] was really a big game for the club but also for the supporters. The Man United game is maybe even more special because of the history of United.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBodo/Glimt won their first league title in 2020 and are set to clinch their fourth in five years on Sunday providing they beat relegated Lillestrom.They will be underdogs against Man Utd – despite sitting one point above them in the Europa League table.Gary Neville admits he ‘can’t see what’s going to happen’ with Man Utd conundrum as he names likely winners under Amorim But they have earned some big wins in Europe in recent years, most notably their 6-1 thrashing of Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the Europa Conference League three years ago. More

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    Michael Olise risks Uefa punishment after cheeky antics while coming on as sub against PSG

    MICHAEL OLISE could be sanctioned by Uefa over his antics against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.The Bayern Munich star was brought on as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 win.Michael Olise was told to put a shinguard in by the fourth officialCredit: TNT SportsHe put one down his sock but then changed his mindCredit: TNT SportsOlise cheekily threw the shinguard behind him when the officials weren’t lookingCredit: TNT SportsHe then appeared to take to the pitch without wearing a shinguardCredit: TNT SportsOlise risks being sanctioned by UefaCredit: GettyBut he had an issue with the fourth official who spotted that Olise was trying to enter the pitch without wearing shinguards.The winger then fetched his shinguards and put one down his right sock.He then pretended to do the same with his left but quickly threw it behind him towards the dugout when the officials were not looking.Olise, 22, could now be investigated by Uefa as Ifab rules stipulate shinguards must be worn.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIfab Law 4.2 states: “Shinguards – these must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the socks. “Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards.”There have been concerns in recent years over the shrinking of shinguards but Ifab, who are football’s lawmakers, have no plans to regulate shinguard dimensions.They ruled players – or the parents or guardians of youth players – must take responsibility for their own safety on the pitch.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSNew Champions League format is a snorefestBy Dan KingUEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).There is even less jeopardy than before.Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink.A spokesman said: “Players’ legs are all different sizes and there are so many different materials”Ifab’s view is that this is the responsibility of the individual player and not the referee. Where young players are concerned, that responsibility [should be taken by the coach, parents or guardians].”Harry Kane and Bayern Munich team mates take the Audi Q6 e-tron for a drive Bayern’s win puts them back in contention to finish in one of the coveted top eight Champions League places which qualifies them for the next round.Meanwhile PSG have slipped out of the play-off places after picking up just one win in five games. More

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    Hull SACK manager Tim Walters 24 hours after insisting he would not lose his job as they release blunt statement

    HULL CITY have sacked head coach Tim Walter after just 18 games.Walter took charge of the Tigers at the end of May and signed a three-year deal upon his arrival in East Yorkshire.Tim Walter has been sacked by Hull CityCredit: GettyHowever, he was dismissed by club chiefs with immediate effect on Wednesday.Walter’s assistants, Julian Hubner and Filip Tapalovic, have also left.A blunt official statement from Hull read: “Hull City can confirm we have parted company with head coach Tim Walter with immediate effect.”Assistant head coaches Julian Hübner and Filip Tapalović have also left the club.”First-team coach Andy Dawson will take interim charge while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a permanent successor.”We would like to thank Tim, Julian and Filip for their efforts during their time at the MKM Stadium and wish them well for the future.”The 49-year-old leaves having won just three of his 18 league and cup games in charge.Hull’s winless run extended to nine games on Tuesday following a 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFans were left furious at full-time with hundreds chanting: “We want Walter out.”The Tigers dropped into the Championship relegation zone as a result of the loss.Prior to the match, club owner Acun Ilicali incredibly insisted he would NOT sack Walter even if they lost.He told the BBC: “He will be in the job. If we lose tonight, he’s going to be in the job.”Walter was appointed in May to replace Liam Rosenior, who was sacked after finishing seventh in the Championship table – just outside the play-off places.Ilicali claimed he made the decision to dismiss Rosenior due to differences in their visions for the club’s future. More

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    Johnny Fisher vs Dave Allen: UK start time, live stream, TV channel, full card as Big John’s son defends unbeaten streak

    JOHNNY FISHER looks to defend his 12-fight unbeaten run as he takes on fellow Brit and formerly retired Dave Allen.The Romford Bull enters the bout less experienced than Dave Allen but with huge potential, 11 knockouts, and a perfect record thus far.Johnny Fisher poses after claiming a first-round TKO victory against Alen Babic – he fights Dave Allen on the Fury-Usyk 2 undercardCredit: GettyDave Allen holds a 23-6-2 record with 18 knockouts – taking part in more than twice as many fights as Fisher. Nonetheless, Fisher, son of TikTok star Big John, has only completed two rounds in 2024 winning both of his previous two fights with first-round knockouts.Allen also won his previous two fights, claiming victories over Amine Boucetta and Jake Darnell via points.The fight is set up to be part of a blockbuster card headlined by Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2.When is Johnny Fisher vs Dave Allen?Fisher’s clash with Allen will take place on Saturday, December 21.The bout will be held at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.The all-Brit clash is part of a stacked card for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2.Fight times will be confirmed a week before the fight but the main card, including Fisher vs Allen, begins 7pm UK time.What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?Fisher vs Allen will be available worldwide on DAZN Pay-Per-View.TNT Sports and Sky Sports are also expected to broadcast the fight.The first PPV cost £19.99 and although it hasn’t been announced, it is expected to be the same price point.However, SunSport is offering LIVE COVERAGE of the entire event with our rolling blog.Full cardOleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury, for Usyk’s WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight titlesSerhii Bohachuk vs. Israil MadrimovMoses Itauma vs. Demsey McKeanJohnny Fisher vs. Dave AllenDennis McCann vs. Peter McGrail, for McCann’s European super bantamweight titleIsaac Lowe vs. Lee McGregor More

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    Former Premier League star sees plans to open new pub right outside stadium REJECTED for bizarre reason

    FORMER Premier League midfielder Scott Arfield has seen his plans to build a pub in Glasgow rejected by the local council.The 35-year-old wanted to convert a former bookies into a pub next to Ibrox Stadium, the home of his beloved Rangers.Scott Arfield’s plans to build a pub next to Ibrox have been rejectedCredit: Willie VassThe old bookies, situated next to the stadium, is the proposed site and has been abandoned for two yearsCredit: Andrew BarrBut his proposal was turned down due to the potential impact on neighbours and bin storage concerns.An appeal was subsequently launched on behalf of the ex-Rangers ace – who now plays for Bolton – which claimed the venue would serve as a “mini fan zone” on match days.Councillors were split on whether to grant permission but the proposal was rejected after planning review committee chairman, Cllr Ken Andrew, SNP, made the decisive vote.Glasgow Live claim Cllr Andrew wanted more clarity over a number of issues including noise impact and waste storage.Read More in FootballA noise impact assessment was provided but officials said environmental health staff found it to be “quite inadequate”.The appeal suggested Arfield’s plan would “upgrade and repair” the property – which has been empty for over two years.It was also argued that the opening hours could be limited to Ibrox matchdays and ticketed events to ensure minimal impact on local residents.And it said the opening of the pub would create jobs in the area and waste would be handled within the property by a private removal firm.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe bar was considered to be a “major boost” for the local economy by Cllr Imran Alam, Labour.He said: “The building has been lying empty for a couple of years now.Rangers legend Scott Arfield reveals what happened during ‘goosebumps’ moment he bumped into WWE superstar in a lift”We know what happens when buildings stay vacant for a long time, they become rundown and impossible to renovate and improve.”Cllr Thomas Kerr, Conservative, appeared to agree and said: “I think the economic benefits outweigh any of the possible concerns that have been raised by officers.”Two neighbours objected to the initial application due to concerns.One claimed “anti-social behaviour” already takes place in the area on matchdays due to alcohol consumption.Arfield spent five years with Rangers between 2018 and 2023.During that time he scored 43 goals in 233 appearances.Before joining the Scottish giants, the midfielder played for Burnley and Falkirk.READ MORE SUN STORIESAfter leaving Ibrox he spent a year in the MLS with Charlotte FC.He now plays for Bolton in League One. More

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    Gary Neville called out by ex-UFC star for fight after ‘Twitter beef’ between pair & he also wants Cristiano Ronaldo

    FORMER Man Utd stars Gary Neville and Cristiano Ronaldo have been called out by former UFC star Darren Till.Till – who enters the boxing ring to face Tommy Fury in January – alleged that he’d previously engaged in “Twitter beef” with Neville, 49.Gary Neville has been ‘called’ into the ring by a social media foeTommy Fury’s next opponent former UFC star Darren Till wants to fight Neville nextCristiano Ronaldo was bizarrely called out by Till tooRonaldo and Neville won multiple trophies together during their six corresponding years at Manchester UnitedDespite never revealing his intent to either box or step foot in the MMA cage, Neville has found himself at the heart of a callout from The Gorilla.Till, who supports Liverpool, featured on Speaking to Norske Bettingsider where he was asked who he’d love to fight next after Fury.He said: “Gary Neville because me and him have had a Twitter beef. He doesn’t like me. Got a little bit of beef with Gary.”I don’t hate the guy. But yeah, it’d probably be Gary Neville or Cristiano Ronaldo.READ MORE SPORT NEWS”Because he seems like a big, tough fellow, Cristiano. I’d like to see his speed and his power. Seems like a very explosive man.“He’s obviously ripped to the gills, isn’t he? You know, he doesn’t drink Coca-Cola or anything like that. I need to take a leaf out of his book.”Ronaldo, 39, seems to be a fan of both boxing and MMA and was recently embroiled in an X exchange of his own with UFC Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.The five-time Ballon d’Or winner explained how he thought Topuria “speaks too much” when talking to former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou at a PFL event last month.Most read in BoxingFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBut Till will need to deal with Tyson Fury’s youngest brother before he sets his sights on fighting any former Man Utd players.Till is set to face the former Love Island star, 25, at the Co-Op Live in Manchester on January 18 in what will be his first-ever professional boxing bout.Tommy Fury and Darren Till clash at Misfits Boxing press conference He defeated Mohammad Mutie earlier this year in an exhibition fight.Fury and Till went toe-to-toe at a launch press conference earlier this month with security forced to step in. Till had threatened to kick Fury in the face if he was losing the fight. He said: “At the end of the day, I can’t beat you, I’ll just kick you in the face in there.”How about that? I’m a proper fighter, not a boxer. I don’t walk in a room like this and see boxing and go, ‘s***.’ I walk in, no one here is a threat to me”.Fury’s famously volatile dad John responded by chucking water at Till – sparking wild scenes on stage.Former UFC star Till hurdled insults at the Fury’s earlier this monthTommy Fury also blasted TillBefore John Fury drew criticism for his part to playThe 31-year-old Liverpudlian was quick to burst on to the scene in the UFC after signing with the MMA organisation back in 2015.He racked up wins over Donald Cerrone and Stephen Thompson before suffering the first defeat of his career against Tyron Woodley back in 2018. READ MORE SUN STORIESAfter that, the Brit only won once inside the Octagon – a decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum in 2019. Last year, Till decided to part ways with the UFC off the back of three straight defeats. More