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      in Soccer

      Man Utd predecessors Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho show under-fire Solskjaer the dangers of big loss to Liverpool

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      THE heat is on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer again and he could do without a clash with bitter rivals Liverpool.But as his predecessors have shown, after Kopping big defeats, the writing is on the wall.
      Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under huge pressure going into Sunday’s clash against LiverpoolCredit: Getty
      Solskjaer is under huge pressure at Old Trafford with the Red Devils failing to win any of their last three Premier League games.
      Last week’s 4-2 defeat against Leicester has left the club in sixth spot after eight games played.
      And should United lose against Jurgen Klopp’s side, they will trail the Merseyside outfit by seven points.
      Here SunSport takes a look at how David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho’s fared against the Reds in their last season in charge of United.

      DAVID MOYES – Man Utd 0 Liverpool 3 – March 16, 2014
      Steven Gerrard hit two penalties, missed a third, and United had Nemanja Vidic sent off as David Moyes’ side fell well short.
      Luis Suarez added another in the 84th minute to hand Liverpool a first win at Old Trafford since 2009.
      Moyes was axed a month later.
      LOUIS VAN GAAL – Liverpool 2 Man Utd 0 – March 10, 2016
      A penalty from Daniel Sturridge and a Roberto Firmino strike put Jurgen Klopp’s side in control of the Europa League last-16 tie.
      Philippe Coutinho’s effort ensured a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture — and saw United crash out 3-1 on aggregate to turn up the heat on chief Louis van Gaal.
      A month later, after winning the FA Cup but finishing fifth in the Premier League, Van Gaal was gone.

      Jose Mourinho was sacked by the Red Devils after losing against the Reds at Anfield in 2018Credit: Reuters
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      JOSE MOURINHO – Liverpool 3 Man Utd 1 – December 16, 2018
      Two goals from sub Xherdan Shaqiri helped usher manager Jose Mourinho closer to the Manchester United exit.
      The Portuguese boss was fired just two days after the Swiss star sent Liverpool top, adding to Sadio Mane’s opener.
      Paul Scholes says that Man Utd ‘were all over the place’ in the first half against Atalanta More

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      in Boxing

      ‘Grab him, rough him up, push and shove him’ – How Anthony Joshua can beat classy Oleksandr Usyk and win titles back

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA, a month after losing his three heavyweight titles, is now in California attempting to find out how he can beat Oleksandr Usyk in their return fight next year.Joshua has been on a tour of selected gyms picking the brains of some of America’s top trainers and fighters in the hope they can advise him on how he can win back his WBA, IBF and WBO belts from the outstandingly brilliant Usyk.
      Anthony Joshua was completely outclassed by Oleksandr Usyk last monthCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      He has already visited Canelo Alvarez and his trainer Eddy Reynoso, as well as Virgil Hunter, who masterminded double world champion Andre Ward’s immaculate unbeaten career.
      And if those exceptionally talented guys cannot work out the best strategy for him on how to get the better of Usyk, nobody can.
      We must give AJ credit for swallowing his pride and publicly accepting he was tactically brain-dead when comprehensively outpointed by Usyk on that disastrous night at Spurs’ ground.
      Boxing trainers are rather like Premier League football managers — they are constantly under pressure and face the sack as soon as things start to go wrong.
      Robert McCracken, who has trained Joshua from day one, has quite rightly been fiercely criticised for not having a Plan B when Usyk took control in the early rounds.
      At the moment there is no suggestion that Joshua is about to part-company from the man who helped him win Olympic gold and turned a novice into a multi-millionaire champion of the world.

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      But there is a distinct possibility of major changes to the personnel who will be working in his corner.
      Eddie Hearn does not try to hide that Joshua’s performance last month was woeful and said: “The tactics weren’t right and he underperformed — but why?
      “AJ will always look at his preparation and see how he can improve. If that means bringing people in he will do it.”
      Joshua is 32 and not even the legendary Eddie Futch, who trained five world heavyweight champions  — Smokin’ Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe and Trevor Berbick — would have been able to significantly change his style before he clashes again with Usyk in March or April.
      Malik Scott tried to turn Deontay Wilder into a smooth fighting machine before his trilogy battle with Tyson Fury.
      Wilder worked beautifully behind his jab for the first two rounds but as soon as Fury floored him in the third he reverted to type — swinging and missing wildly with his dynamite right and leaving himself wide open.
      The legendary Eddie Futch trained five world heavyweight champions during his careerCredit: Getty
      You do not have to be a Futch or a Manny Steward to know exactly what it would take for Joshua to restore his reputation and gain revenge over Usyk.
      He simply has to fight ugly and jump on the Ukrainian from the start — grab him, rough him up, push and shove him around to eliminate his  superior skills and tire him out.
      Ray Arcel, the New Yorker considered the greatest trainer of all time, coached a total of 20 world champions, including Roberto Duran.
      He died at 94, 27 years ago — but his philosophy lives on.
      Arcel once said: “The secret of being a boxing trainer is to know and understand the individual you are working with.
      “I don’t care how much ability  you’ve got as a fighter, if you can’t think you are just another bum in the park.”
      I have no idea what Joshua was thinking on September 25, but his mind seemed to be many miles away from White Hart Lane.
      The late Ray Arcel is considered the greatest trainer of all time and coached 20 world championsCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Newcastle takeover: Finance minister appears to confirm new owners PIF are NOT independent from Saudi government

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      SAUDI ARABIA’S finance minister has blown a huge hole in the claims that Newcastle’s new owners are independent of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Premier League chiefs authorised the £300million takeover by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund after receiving ‘assurances’ the government would not control the club.
      Amanda Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi are part owners of NewcastleCredit: Getty
      Bin Salman is chairman of the Public Investment Fund and the Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP
      But that argument appeared to be invalidated by Mohammed Al-Jadaan, a close ally of MBS and the kingdom’s chief financial officer.
      In an interview with CNBC, he initially insisted: “This is a PIF investment.”
      But when asked about the decision by Prem clubs to draft new rules to temporarily prevent Toon from agreeing sponsorship deals with Saudi companies for above market value, Al-Jordaan seemed to admit to a closer link.
      Al-Jordaan, a leading voice on the government’s Vision 2030 development strategy, said: “This is one investment among many.
      “But if people are worried about competition among clubs, particularly now we have invested in one of them, I would say that is a good sign there is a potential serious competitor coming their way, which is good for the whole football community.
      “We do sponsorship not only with clubs that we bought — we sponsor different clubs and different events.
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      “There will be plenty of opportunities for sponsors and for clubs.”
      Ex-Roma boss Paulo Fonseca is waiting to hear back from Newcastle after impressing in an interview to replace Steve Bruce.
      But Lucien Favre, Eddie Howe, Steven Gerrard, Roberto Martinez and Frank Lampard all remain in the running. More

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      in Soccer

      Arteta insists he was NEVER going to sell Emile Smith Rowe with kid out to show Aston Villa what they are missing

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      EMILE SMITH ROWE is out to show Aston Villa exactly what they missed out on at the  Emirates tonight.Arsenal’s exciting young playmaker was the subject of two unsuccessful bids from Villa boss Dean Smith in the summer.
      Mikel Arteta admits there was ‘communication’ with Aston Villa over Emile Smith Rowe but never a chance Arsenal would sell the midfielderCredit: Getty
      England U-21 winger Emile Smith Rowe has been in superb form as the Gunners turn around their slow start to the Premier League seasonCredit: Getty
      And Mikel Arteta insists there was never any chance of him selling the jewel in his Gunners’ crown, who has now committed to a five-year contract.
      Arteta admits he was surprised when Villa came in with a £25million offer for 21-year-old Smith Rowe in July.
      And he was positively stunned when they returned with an improved £30m bid in spite of beating the Gunners to £38m Emi Buendia from Norwich.
      The Gunners boss said: “Any club has the right to make an inquiry about a player and if they believe they have the financial power to get him, they are entitled to make a bid.
      “There was communication between clubs regarding Emile and we made it really clear he was not for sale.
      “I was never worried he could leave because he is a big part of our future and what we’re trying to do as a club.
      “He is really happy where he is and I’m delighted to have him in my team.”

      Yet Spaniard Arteta was nevertheless impressed by Villa’s cojones in trying to lure away one of England’s brightest young talents.
       And he admitted: “For sure they are showing the right ambition to take the club to a different level.
      “I really like Dean Smith, first of all as a person and also because everything I have heard from him is so positive.
      “He is building a team and a club with different ambitions and credit to him — and also to the owners for giving him the time and the credit to do that.
      “He’s doing a really good job and this will be a difficult game for sure, because we haven’t got the results we wanted against them recently.
      “We have seen how they have improved their squad and the way they have played in the last few seasons, and we know the type of game we need to beat them.”
      “I was never worried he could leave because he is a big part of our future and what we’re trying to do as a club.”Mikel Arteta on Emile Smith Rowe
      Arteta is unhappy that Arsenal are having to play on Monday and Friday nights this week due to TV schedules.
      He said: “I hope that doesn’t affect our preparation times.
      “It’s very strange to be asked to play on these days when we have no European football and also difficult to understand.
      “We can give our opinions but in the end we have no say on these matters.”
      And he was also displeased at the way his team lost their way against Crystal Palace on Monday night after taking an early lead.
      In the end they needed a 95th- minute equaliser from sub Alexandre Lacazette to rescue a 2-2 draw and he warned they cannot make the same mistakes this evening.
      Arteta added: “After hitting the level of performance that we produced in the first part of the Palace game, we needed to go for the second goal and play with the same fluidity.
      “It’s not about taking more risks, it’s about continuing to do the things that are working and on Monday we stopped doing that.”
      Manager Mikel Arteta is puzzled by Arsenal playing Monday and FridayCredit: Getty
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta previews upcoming match against Aston Villa More

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      in Soccer

      Dad, 53, comes out of retirement to play in goal for son’s football team…but they lost 40-0

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      A DAD who stood in as a keeper for his lad’s footie team did not quite save the day — he let in 40 goals.But Adi Bunn, 53, insists he made 60-to-70 stops as his side crashed to defeat.
      Adi Bunn admitted he ‘lost count of the score’ as his side crashed to the humiliating 40-0 loss without scoring themselves.
      The tour company boss was playing for Sawtry Reserves FC after his centre-back son Archie, 17, pulled out following his virus jab.
      The team, in the fifth division of the Peterborough and District Football League, was also missing its keeper as he was at a university open day.
      Sawtry could field only eight players, and that included manager Dave May.
      But they refused to cancel the fixture with highfliers Peterborough Rangers — though by half-time they were 19-0 down.
      The result on Saturday meant on average there was a goal every 2min 15sec.
      Adi, from Huntingdon, Cambs, said: “We expected a spanking and that’s what we got. I lost count of the number I saved. Our physio said it could have been 60 or 70.

      “I seemed to be on the floor or diving through the air all the time. By the end, I was feeling aches and pains. I lost track of the score.”
      Yet Adi added: “If you lose 40-0 or 1-0, it doesn’t make much difference, you’ve still lost. Yet it hasn’t dented my confidence. We never gave up and avoided getting a £60 fine by refusing to play.
      “With the extra players, Peterborough were able to just play through us.”
      Boss Dave, 46, said: “We started with seven players for the first 20 minutes as one lad was late.
      “But with about 20 minutes to go, two players were injured so we were down to six. It was one of those days when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.”
      And Dave added: “The only positives were that none of my players moaned, the sun was shining, and at least it didn’t get to 50.”
      Sawtry’s opponents are top of their division in the 16th tier of the English game.
      Player-manager Dwayne Rankin got 13 goals, Tiago Dias 11, Chris Brown seven and Cameron Guest six while Daniel Neto, Carlos Djalo and Morgan Bartle hit one each.
      Dwayne said: “Fair play to them for keeping going.”
      Adi’s son Archie said: “I love playing alongside dad — but I’m glad I wasn’t there to see him concede 40.”
      In 2012, Wheel Power FC beat Nova 2010 58-0 in the Torbay Sunday League.
      The tour company boss was playing for Sawtry Reserves FC after his centre-back son Archie, 17, pulled out following his virus jab
      The team, in the fifth division of the Peterborough and District Football League, was also missing its keeper as he was at a university open day
      Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno shows off his power saves in training More

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      in Soccer

      Britain’s top football cop warns return of standing and alcohol could WRECK the English game after Euro 2020 shame

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      BRITAIN’S top football cop says the return of standing and booze is a toxic mix that could wreck English football.Chief Constable Mark Roberts was already concerned by the upsurge of hooliganism that saw the Euro 2020 final at Wembley turned into a war zone.
      Football’s top cop fears ‘safe standing’ and booze allowed in seats is a recipe for disasterCredit: AP
      Chief Constable Mark Roberts is concerned at the rise of hooliganism within the game – even before the reintroduction of ‘safe standing’ and alcohol in the standsCredit: Alamy
      The Government approved trials of ‘safe standing’ from the start of 2022.
      It is also expected former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch will recommend the ban on fans drinking booze at their seats is lifted for lower-division clubs.
      Roberts, head of football policing for England and Wales, said: “We know it’s easier for people to mask themselves and chant racial abuse, throw pyrotechnics or behave in other anti-social ways if they are standing.
      “It will change the atmosphere in a ground as well, as we know it will likely be males between 16 and 55 who want to stand more than women, families or older fans.
      “That change will not be for the better.
      “It’s going to make things a lot more challenging – to put the top hat on it and allow people to drink in the stands would be ludicrous.”

      Tanked-up fans, many also fuelled by cocaine, were blamed for the shameful scenes at Wembley in July.
      Roberts added: “Excessive drinking will lead to bad and violent behaviour.
      “I go to games as a fan and safety has to be taken seriously. 
      “If things get worse, it will also have an effect commercially.
      “If violence becomes routine again, then it will be damaging for the sport.”
      Fans storm Wembley security barriers and break into stadium More

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      in Soccer

      Quick-thinking nurse and doctors saved Newcastle fan’s life after cardiac arrest

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      THESE are the heroes who saved the life of a Newcastle United fan who suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premiership match.The man, in his 70s, suddenly collapsed in his seat, but a quick-thinking nurse and four doctors rushed to help.
      These are the heroes who saved the life of a Newcastle United fan who suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premiership matchCredit: Action Images
      They gave him CPR and then cut off his clothes to attach defibrillator pads to shock him back to life.
      Nurse Ruth McDonald, 62, was one of the first on scene at the clash with Tottenham at St James’ Park.
      Referee Andre Marriner stopped play in the first half for 20 minutes after Spurs ace Sergio Reguilon alerted him to the drama.
      Ruth of Hebburn, South Tyneside, said: “I could see something was happening and people were frantically trying to get help.
      “Some of the fans around him had already laid the man flat. I took over the CPR and we delivered the first shock.”
      Dr Tom Prichard, 34, a United season ticket holder, also ran over with his pal Dr Matt Anderson.

      Dr Prichard, who works in A&E at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It alI happened so quickly.
      “There was an elderly gentleman lying on the seats in cardiac arrest.
      “An intensive care doctor arrived and a cardiologist, and we were able to bring him back again.
      “When I was walking back to my seat and 10,000 fans were chanting ‘Hero’ at me — that is one of the best moments of my life.”
      Nurse Ruth added: “It was a real team effort.”
      Tottenham went on to win 2-3.
      The stricken fan — named only as George by club bosses — was yesterday recovering in hospital.
      His son Paul Smith said: “He seems OK. I wish to thank every single person who helped him. It could have been a totally different outcome without them.”
      Tom Pritchard, pictured middle in the grey jumper, was given a standing ovation after his heroic intervention
      Nurse Ruth McDonald, top right, was one of the first on scene at the clash with Tottenham at St James’ Park
      Nurse Ruth said ‘It was a real team effort’
      Tottenham’s Reguilon makes ref Andre Marriner aware of the incidentCredit: Getty
      Heartwarming moment hero doctor is given standing ovation for saving Newcastle fan’s life after Spurs game halted More

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      in Soccer

      Gay Premier League footballer is in therapy as he fears abuse from fans if he chooses to come out

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      A GAY Premier League footballer has had therapy because he is so frightened of coming out, telling pals: “I will be crucified.”The ace revealed he has sought professional psychological help amid fears of how rival fans will react.
      A gay Premier League star has had therapy because he is so frightened of coming out, telling pals: ‘I will be crucified’
      He said: “It’s 2021 and I should be able to be free to tell everyone who I am.
      “But there are some fans on the terraces for whom it is still very much the 1980s.
      “I want to be open with people because it’s who I am and I am proud. But the truth is I will be crucified.”
      The star admitted he is riddled with doubt, saying: “When I play, I feel like the fans may guess and they are judging me.
      “Am I coming across as camp? Can they tell from the clothes I wear off the pitch? It has had a terrible effect on me mentally. It’s terrifying.”
      The top-flight British star has spoken to campaigner Amal Fashanu — niece of ex-Norwich star Justin, who came out in 1990 and took his own life in 1998.

      Amal, who fronted an award-winning documentary about her uncle, has set up a charity dedicated to helping tackle homophobia and racism within the sport.
      She is also a keen advocate for improved mental health services for professional footballers.
      Last year, it emerged two Prem stars had come out to close family and friends.
      But in an open letter to the FA, one said he was “too scared” to do so publicly.
      Amal has now introduced the pair to each other, and they are in regular contact over WhatsApp and online.
      She told The Sun: “In 2021, when we have never been so woke as a society, it feels like it should be the perfect time for a top-level player to come out.
      “But the reality is that homophobia, especially online, is more prevalent than ever. We need to protect these players.
      “I am in constant dialogue with the FA about what can be done but, unfortunately, it’s an unprecedented situation so it’s hard to put in place measures for a situation that hasn’t yet occurred.”
      In March, Amal is hosting a star- studded gala in London to raise awareness around the subject.
      Both gay players have been invited — and have said they will attend. For more information on Amal’s charity, please visit

      Amal told The Sun: ‘The reality is that homophobia, especially online, is more prevalent than ever. We need to protect these players’
      Ex-Norwich star Justin Fashanu came out in 1990 and took his own life in 1998Credit: Getty
      Premier League star says ‘I’m gay but I’m afraid to come out’ in anguished letter More