Man City Now Set To Part Ways With £61m Star This Window

Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo is 'available' for a transfer this summer following his return from a spell on loan at Bayern Munich, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Joao Cancelo?

Following concerns over his playing time last season, Cancelo was shipped out to Bayern Munich on loan and the German giants had the option to make the deal permanent for over £61 million, as per Sky Sports.

In his time at the Allianz Arena, Cancelo helped Bayern Munich to narrowly seal Bundesliga glory, registering one goal and six assists in 21 appearances, as shown on Transfermarkt.

German outlet Kicker report that Arsenal are keen on Cancelo amid uncertainty over his future at the Etihad, with RB Leipzig defender Benjamin Henrichs and Galatasaray's Sacha Boey also being monitored by the north Londoners this window.

Manchester City would demand a significant fee for Cancelo, who still has four years remaining on his contract at the club. Bayern Munich passed on the chance to sign the Portugal international, which may pave the way for the Gunners to firm up their interest in the coming weeks.

One outlet in Spain claim that Barcelona are also keeping an eye on Cancelo's situation and could initiate a loan bid to try and secure his signature.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that Manchester City would be open to letting Cancelo move on this off-season.

Jones stated: "Cancelo is available. There has been no obvious change in that and he can leave. We can see Kyle Walker has been talked about leaving too. They're kind of open to even that happening, so Cancelo definitely could leave."

Who could replace Joao Cancelo at Manchester City?

Manchester City have been linked with potential targets to replace Cancelo this summer in the event he completes a transfer elsewhere in the duration of the window.

As per Football Insider, the Citizens hold a 'strong interest' in Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi and he 'features highly' on a list of targets that Guardiola could target to bolster the ranks in defence.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi.

In all likelihood, Manchester City will need to fork out a large sum of money to hold any hope of capturing Hakimi, though the outlet claim that they are 'ready to pay' for the Morocco international.

Veteran defender Kyle Walker could also make way for fresh blood amid interest from Bayern Munich; nevertheless, Manchester City are prepared to offer the 33-year-old a two-year contract extension to tie him down in the North West, according to Telegraph Sport.

The former Tottenham Hotspur full-back has a big decision to make surrounding his future, which previously looked to be doubtful earlier this year.

Of course, Manchester City could promote from within to replace Cancelo and there would be no better candidate on the books at the club already to step into his shoes than youngster Rico Lewis, who made 23 senior appearances for his boyhood club last season, scoring once, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite his supreme level of talent, Cancelo looks like he has run his race at Manchester City and is likely to depart for a new challenge should appropriate opportunities arise for him.

CA security team to visit Bangladesh next week

CA chief executive James Sutherland said on Monday that the board is confident the tour will take place given the feedback it has received from its government agencies

Mohammad Isam11-May-2017

Earlier this week, James Sutherland expressed confidence that Australia’s Bangladesh tour will take place•Getty Images

Cricket Australia will send a security team to Bangladesh next week as part of the process to finalise arrangements for the team’s tour in August-September. Nizamuddin Chowdhury, CEO of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, has said CA will take a call on going ahead with the tour based on the report of the security team.”Teams like Australia, England and India have certain standard pre-tour activities,” Chowdhury said on May 6. “Going by that, Cricket Australia will send a team in the middle of this month. They will check the security arrangements and assess other opportunities. These are standard practices that always take place. Only after this visit can their board officially give them the green signal to come here.”CA chief executive James Sutherland said on Monday that the board is confident the tour will take place given the feedback it has received from its government agencies.”We’re just working through all the details,” Sutherland said. “I’m very pleased to be at a stage of really fine-tuning the detail – there are still some things that we need to work through just to lock down on security.”Once our hosts have locked in dates and the schedule, then from us it’s all systems go, subject to any security concerns we might have. From all the research we’ve done and the work we’ve done with [the Department of] Foreign Affairs and others through government agencies, we’re confident the tour will take place.”Earlier this month, BCB president Nazmul Hassan had said that his CA counterpart David Peever had personally assured him of Australia’s participation in the two-Test series during last month’s ICC meeting in Dubai.Australia are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on August 18. The tour will begin with a practice match in Chittagong from August 22 to 24, followed by the first Test from August 27 to 31, also in Chittagong, and the second Test from September 4 to 9 in Mirpur.

We've proven to ourselves we can put up big scores – Cooper

Cooper and Pieter Seelar batted out 79 overs on the fourth day and added a record 288 runs for the sixth wicket to ensure a draw for Netherlands against Hong Kong

Peter Della Penna14-Feb-2017Netherlands batsman Ben Cooper says his overriding emotion was “relief” after he batted through the entire final day of play to ensure his side secured an improbable draw with Hong Kong in the Intercontinental Cup on Monday.Set a target of 507 to win, Cooper was at the crease on 19 at the end of day three with Netherlands 48 for 2; two overs after the first drinks break on day four, they were 105 for 5. Pieter Seelaar joined Cooper and the pair produced a historic 288-run sixth-wicket partnership, batting out the final 79 overs together to deny Hong Kong victory.”For me it was a big relief,” Cooper told ESPNcricinfo, when asked how he felt when the draw had finally been achieved. “It had been the first time I had batted for such a period. I was just relieved and very tired but it was special to have been able to produce that performance and hold on for the draw. It’s been something that the Dutch have been working towards and being able to perform on the four-day game and put those big scores together, we’ve now proven to ourselves that we can. So we can take the forward with confidence into future games.”The pair set several marks during their epic stand. They set the Netherlands record for any wicket in first-class cricket and a sixth-wicket record stand in the Intercontinental Cup. It’s also the highest ever stand in the fourth innings in the competition and the sixth-biggest partnership in the 13-year history of the Intercontinental Cup. Netherlands also set a new mark for most overs batted to save a draw in the fourth innings of an Intercontinental Cup match. Cooper says he was too focused on saving the match to think about the significance of their feat at the time but says he is happy to have been able to have created a bit of history with Seelaar.”It’s a special thing,” Cooper said. “It’s something you don’t think is possible but you just have to apply yourself and when you get in you just have to make the most of it. To be able to set a record along with Pieter Seelaar is something very special. The first job at hand is to bat and to produce for your team. Anything second to that, such as partnership records and personal records, is a bonus.”Cooper batted just short of seven hours to finish on 173 not out and was named Man of the Match for his brilliant rearguard. It was only his second first-class match, with his debut coming 18 months earlier at home against Scotland. Cooper says he worked hard on mental preparation to deal with the duration required to bat, in spite of his lack of four-day experience.”It’s a tough one because there’s not a whole lot of four-day cricket around for Netherlands but I guess you just have to back your training,” Cooper said. “You go to training and mentally prepare there. I try to bat as long as I can at training to simulate batting for an extended period in a four-day competition. But I guess it’s just a mental thing. You prepare yourself mentally to fight it out and you know you’ve got time so you don’t have to chase so many balls outside off.”Cooper on Pieter Seelaar’s rise as an allrounder: I’m very happy for him to have ticked that off and to have proved that he is a batsman and not just a bowler•Panda Man

Just as remarkable as Cooper’s innings was that of Seelaar, who ended on 138 not out. Coming into the match, Seelaar’s highest score for Netherlands in first-class cricket was an unbeaten 81 against a Zimbabwe XI that came nearly seven years ago. His only other half-century in 40 innings prior to arriving at the crease on the final day was an unbeaten 75 against Canada in 2013. Cooper paid tribute to his partner, saying that the squad was especially pleased for Seelaar to reach his maiden first-class century, especially after he has put in a lot of hard work to turn himself into an allrounder when he began his Netherlands career as a specialist left-arm spinner batting at No. 11.”I think his reaction when he scored his hundred, and the celebration he had, was enough to say how relieved he was,” Cooper said. “I backed him all the way. He’s a class batsman although he may not have been recognised before. But I’m very happy for him to have ticked that off and to have proved that he is a batsman and not just a bowler.”The 1467 runs in the match made it the third-highest scoring game in Intercontinental Cup history, though Cooper says the pitch was playing slightly uneven towards the end to keep the task a challenging one for him and Seelaar. The second new ball was taken in the first over after tea, but Hong Kong failed to make a breakthrough. Cooper says he and Seelaar began to believe they were close to finishing the job when Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat brought himself on as a part-time option in the 101st over, the eighth bowler used for Hong Kong, followed shortly afterward by Nizakat Khan as the ninth.”I think as a team you get that mental victory to know you’ve pushed their main bowlers nearly to their limits and they’ve now had to start using their part-time bowlers,” Cooper said. “That little mental victory does lift you and push you a little bit more. You think it can’t be too much longer until you completely break them and it could be the match saved.”To be able to fight back and hold on for a draw had added significance for Netherlands because it was Hong Kong who had knocked them out of the Desert T20 Challenge in Dubai in January. Netherlands are hoping to take a momentum boost from the final day into the pair of WCL Championship 50-over matches between the sides scheduled for Thursday and Saturday. Netherlands are currently level with Papua New Guinea at the top of the WCL Championship table on 12 points while Hong Kong is third on 11 points.”There’s always that little bit in the back of your head that you may not have played your best cricket previously at the Desert T20,” Cooper said. “But it’s a whole new game, a whole new opportunity to go out and prove yourself and luckily enough we were able to prove ourselves toward the back end of the four-day game and come out with a draw. To come out with a draw from where we were is a great feeling.”

Tottenham Handed Major Boost In Pursuit Of £26m Star

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Roger Ibanez, with AS Roma set to lower their asking price, according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham have already started work on bringing in a new defender, with it recently being reported they have submitted a £19m bid for Galatasaray's Victor Nelsson, although they may have to slightly increase their offer to tempt the Turkish side into a sale.

Personal terms with Nelsson have already been agreed, meaning a move may not be far away, however the Dane is not the only defender Spurs have their eye on, with journalist Rudy Galetti reporting they are "tracking" Villarreal's Pau Torres.

Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou reportedly does not view Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez as valuable assets, with the duo poised to depart this summer, meaning the manager may be tasked with bringing in multiple new centre-backs.

Another player who has been linked with a switch to north London is Roma's Ibanez, with reports from Italy previously detailing the Italian club are set to demand €40m (£34m) to sanction his departure in the upcoming window.

However, the defender has made it clear he wants to leave, and the Serie A side have now lowered their asking price to €30m (£26m), in what could be a real boost for Tottenham.

The 24-year-old is popular in the Premier League, and AS Roma may be forced into making a sale before the end of June, as they need to make sure they abide by Financial Fair Play rules.

Is Ibanez joining Tottenham?

Considering Tottenham only want to spend €20m (£17m) on the Brazilian, Roma's current asking price may still be considered too high, however they may be able to use Roma's ongoing financial situation to lower the price even further.

The opportunity to sign the centre-back for a cut-price fee would surely be attractive to the Lilywhites, considering how well he performed in the Serie A last season, averaging two interceptions per game, the second-highest figure in the entire league.

AS Roma centre-back Roger Ibanez.

Hailed as "untouchable" by manager Jose Mourinho, the Roma star ranks in the 82nd percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and in the 81st for non-penalty goals, indicating he also poses an attacking threat.

Even if Tottenham have to fork out £26m for Ibanez, he could be a quality addition to the squad, and it is very good news that Roma have lowered their asking price before the window has even officially opened.

Ref Makes Big Mistake As Man City Draw 1-1

Referee Artur Soares Dias may have made a big mistake in the Manchester City game last night in the build-up to Kevin De Bruyne’s equaliser.

Why did Man City’s goal not get disallowed vs Real Madrid?

It was a thrilling first-leg encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night as Real Madrid played host to Pep Guardiola and co.

Meeting in the Champions League semi-final, both teams showed flashes of brilliance as the game ended 1-1. Indeed, Vinicius Junior scored a stunner in the first half to fire Madrid into the lead, but City gave their hopes of making the final a massive boost when De Bruyne rifled home an equaliser in the 67th minute of the game.

However, it seems as though that goal should have potentially been disallowed as the ball appeared to have crossed the line shortly before Man City had it in the back of the net.

Indeed, as seen in these images shared on ESPN, it looks as though the ball may have gone out – and so play should have been immediately stopped.

When speaking to the press after the game, Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti seemed furious about the incident as he said: “It was out. It’s not me saying it, the technology does.

“It surprises me. They’re small details, but the referee wasn’t attentive. The players deserved more cards on the pitch, not [me] off the pitch.”

However, it’s since been reasoned that VAR could not actually intervene with this incident as too much time had passed after the incident took place.

Rule expert Christina Unkel explained on CBS Sports: “There’s two points to remember with VAR in the protocol and process on this. Can VAR check for a ball going outside before a goal? The answer is yes. But the most important point here is at what part can VAR become involved?”

“There is no set amount of time before a goal we go back to check. Instead, it’s really predicated by the possession and who has possession of the ball. We can debate, we can have the question to whether the ball left [the field].

The real answer is, this actually would not have been captured in the window and the time frame for when VAR could have gone back to take a look from when De Bruyne scored that goal. Specifically, because there was a turnover in possession.

“Even if this was out, it would not have been reviewed by the VAR leading to the goal.”

And so, while this may not have been an error on behalf of VAR – as Ancelotti suggests – it still doesn’t change the fact that referee Soares Dias and his officials still should have been able to spot the ball going out in the initial passage of play.

With the tie so tight, this mistake could have a huge impact on who makes the Champions League final this year.

Liverpool £180k p/w Star Is Performing Well In New Position

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is showing 'encouraging signs' in his new role under Jurgen Klopp, says journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest news involving Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Alexander-Arnold has been used in an inverted full-back role against Arsenal, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest for Liverpool recently, enabling him to step into the midfield area and influence play, resulting in the 24-year-old claiming four assists in his last three matches, as per Transfermarkt.

As per The Liverpool Echo, Reds manager Klopp spoke to the media about his usage of Alexander-Arnold in this position, saying:

“In each position he played for us, Trent was always a super-important player. This now slightly advanced role suits him in the moment really well.

“It's good, it’s a challenge for everyone else to cover the spaces when we lose the ball theoretically, but with him there we didn't lose that many balls, which was helpful as well."

WhoScored has shown the impact of the positional switch on his performance levels, as Alexander-Arnold has recorded a match rating of 7.88/10 vs Arsenal, 8.47 vs Leeds United and 7.44 against Nottingham Forest, respectively.

The £180k-a-week ace has adapted well to the tactical tweak by Klopp and has impressed his Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk with his ability to foray into central areas.

As cited by The Liverpool Echo, Netherlands international stated: "It's a work in progress but we all like it. We all have to be able to change in times and sometimes Trent has to drop, whereas sometimes he has to go higher."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist O'Rourke thinks that the change in role for Alexander-Arnold can only have a positive impact at Anfield moving forward.

O'Rourke said: "So this new role looks like it might suit him, it gets him further up the pitch where he can maybe create things for other people as well. It's still a work in progress, I think.

"Obviously, it's pretty new to Liverpool and obviously to Alexander-Arnold. A lot of time still to perfect it as well. Encouraging signs for Jurgen Klopp and everyone connected with Liverpool."

Should Trent Alexander-Arnold be deployed in this role for the foreseeable future?

It's hard to argue against the possibility of Alexander-Arnold being utilised permanently there for the foreseeable future, given that his license to roam has afforded him more frequent opportunities to express his creative qualities.

There has been a lot of criticism directed at the defender's ability to actually defend this season but his quality going forward has been undeniable with over 3.7 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (via FBref).

Furthermore, when done correctly, you only need to look at reigning Premier League champions Manchester City to see how successful operating with inverted full-backs can be.

Of course, there is an adaptation process to get used to that can go wrong if the left and right flanks aren't appropriately covered from a defensive perspective; nevertheless, playing in this style also helps to isolate attackers one-on-one with the opposition defence, which isn't a position many would feel comfortable in against the likes of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo or Luis Diaz, for example.

With Klopp seemingly in a mood to test drive new tactical theories ahead of next term, he may have found one that could be massively beneficial to Liverpool in the long run.

Spurs Could Form "Monster" Duo By Signing £53m Titan

Tottenham Hotspur may well still be focused on securing a top-four berth come the end of the season, although the major priority for chairman Daniel Levy will be to find a permanent successor to Antonio Conte in the dugout.

Any new managerial arrival at N17 will likely be keen to put their stamp on things by making notable acquisitions this summer, with recent speculation having suggested that one potential target that the club are already looking at is Sporting CP starlet, Manuel Ugarte.

According to reports in Portugal earlier this month – via Sport Witness – the Lilywhites are reportedly interested in even making an 'official proposal' for the 22-year-old, with the midfielder said to have a release clause of around €60m (£53m) in his existing deal.

A more recent update from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that if the north Londoners are to press on with the signing of the Uruguayan international, it will be "later in the window and not now".

Either way, it does appear that the Montevideo native is of interest to those at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with it set to represent a real coup if the Premier League side can snap up the 6 ft sensation ahead of next season.

Would Ugarte be a good signing for Spurs?

The addition of the former Famalicao ace would certainly provide some extra steel to Tottenham's midfield this season, with Ugarte having been hailed as a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig in recent times.

The eight-cap menace has also received notable praise from journalist Dave Hendrick who dubbed him an "absolute monster", while also suggesting that the midfield maestro is a "ball-winning machine".

That has been evidenced by the fact that the promising titan has averaged 3.9 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game from 29 Primeira Liga appearances, while also averaging 4.8 tackles per game during the Champions League group stage – the most of any player in the competition.

As writer Raj Chohan previously noted, the highly-rated ace has served as an in-house "replacement" for ex-teammate Joao Palhinha, with the latter man having since proved "one of the signings of the season" after joining Fulham last summer, as per Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir.

Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte

It would certainly be a mouthwatering prospect to have Ugarte lining up alongside current Spurs star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the centre of the park next season, with the latter man also described as a "warrior" by journalist Nubaid Haroon.

The Denmark international has had an "amazing season" thus far – according to ex-England number one, Paul Robinson, having also showcased his ball-winning prowess after averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game from his 30 top-flight appearances.

The 27-year-old also offers a real composed presence on the ball as he has an average pass accuracy rate of 89%, with Ugarte also sharing that quality in possession as has averaged 91% for the same metric in the league this season.

To have such a solid midfield partnership at their disposal next season would certainly bolster Spurs' chance of kicking on under their next long-term manager, with any new appointment set to relish having two 'warriors' to call upon.

Newcastle Plot Swoop For 20 y/o Ace With "Bags Of Talent"

Newcastle United were linked with a move for Hugo Ekitike last summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's continued pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Huge Ekitike?

The Northern Echo's Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson has claimed that Newcastle could look to rekindle their interest in the Paris Saint-Germain loanee this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies have been long-term admirers of the young centre-forward but, after a struggle to secure a deal, turned their attention to Alexander Isak last summer.

However, Newcastle could be set to reignite their interest in the player after it was revealed the player is unhappy with the Ligue One Champions due to a lack of game-time, although PSG do have an option to buy Ekitike for £25.5m from his parent club Stade de Reims this summer.

Will Newcastle sign Hugo Ekitike?

There is no doubt that after a taste of the success that could be achieved at the North East club this season, their Saudi billionaire owners will be willing to invest further to strengthen the squad to ensure they can continue their pursuit of trophies and dominance.

Eddie Howe and sporting director Dan Ashworth are likely to be backed heavily in the summer transfer window if the Magpies can secure Champions League football over their remaining eight games, allowing the manager to add depth in the most influential positions on the pitch.

Indeed, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson have been thriving equally in front of goal over this season, however, the departure of Chris Wood in January has prompted an opportunity to further bolster the attacking threat, especially with Wilson a year into his 30s at this point too, so he won't be able to keep up this form forever.

As a result, the signing of Ekitike could be the perfect move for Howe to continue his development and rebuild of an already highly-competitive squad, to give them the very best chance of continuously competing within the top six and Europe too.

hugo-ekitike-premier-league-west-ham-transfers-psg

Despite only earning eight starts under the management of Christophe Galtier with PSG this season, the 20-year-old has scored three goals, registered three assists and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 shots on goal per game, proving that he is taking full advantage of the few opportunities he gets in the team.

When Newcastle were in contention to sign Ekitike last summer, Ligue One journalist Lee Davey gave an insight on the striker's development over his breakthrough season in 2021/22:

"I really do feel that it could be one of the signings of the summer. I just hope that it works out for him because he’s a good lad, he’s a good kid, he’s got bags of talent, and I really think he’s going to bring a lot to the Newcastle team."

Over his first season in the Reims senior side, the goal-hungry forward found the net 11 times and delivered five assists in 27 appearances – with a goal contribution tallied up every 91 minutes played on average, proving that the potential is there for him to become a prolific goal-scorer and valuable asset if developed well.

With that being said, a move for Ekitike this summer could be a great opportunity for Howe to bring in another raw talent that can polish up his skills and develop into a player who can become Wilson's successor in years to come.

Chelsea’s £13m-Rated Dud Let Potter Down Vs Aston Villa

Just when it looked as though Graham Potter had turned a corner with Chelsea following a month when the club remained unbeaten and qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals, a defeat against Aston Villa firmly piles all the pressure back onto him again.

The back three couldn’t counteract the threat Villa striker Ollie Watkins posed, and he duly scored a delightful lob over Kepa Arrizabalaga in the first half, continuing his recent fine form in front of goal and Potter found his team 1-0 down at the break.

John McGinn added a screamer in the second half and the game finished 2-0, with Chelsea clinging on to tenth position in the league.

There were many terrible performances, with Mykhaylo Mudryk underperforming once again. He received a Sofascore rating of just 5.8/10 which saw him miss a glorious chance in the first half, taking just 21 touches and winning only one duel.

Much more is expected from the January signing, especially with the vast sum spent on him, however he wasn’t the only one to let Potter down last night.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was another player who majorly disappointed and will have the manager scratching his head.

How did Ruben Loftus-Cheek perform against Aston Villa?

Statistically speaking, he was the second-worst Chelsea player after the aforementioned Mudryk as his performance was only worthy of a 6.2/10 rating via Sofascore.

The Englishman didn’t even last the full game, being substituted on the 57th minute and despite completing 93% (41/44) of his passes and taking 61 touches, there wasn’t much else to be pleased about.

He failed to deliver an accurate cross, had zero shots, won just one duel and lost possession a staggering 14 times in under an hour, proving he was off the pace severely, and it certainly cost Chelsea the chance of securing something from the game.

The £13m-rated man's performance was heavily criticised by Spencer Millman, who said: “He is playing loftus cheek who shouldn’t be anywhere near this team.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Chelsea

This clearly suggests the player isn’t strong enough to be considered for the starting XI, and it appeared so today, with the 27-year-old being bossed around the park by a Villa side who were evidently up for the challenge more so than the Stamford Bridge outfit.

It looks as though European football next season is slipping away from them, and with the money Potter has spent in January, that extra revenue will be essential.

Man United: Bruno Fernandes was a ‘disgrace’ v Liverpool

Manchester United suffered the worst defeat in their history since Boxing Day 1931 as the Red Devils lost 7-0 to Liverpool on Sunday.

It was a remarkable victory for the hosts who tore up the form book and completely demolished their fierce rivals to boost their top-four hopes.

It is hard to find any positives at all on what was a dismal day for Erik ten Hag’s men, just a week on from their Wembley triumph where they lifted the Carabao Cup.

They were by far the better side in the capital seven days ago and United certainly came into this match as favourites.

They had been a resurgent outfit under their Dutch head coach but this will undoubtedly be put down as a reality check. Ten Hag’s team have worked incredibly hard of late but this is beyond damaging and a result that could take some time to get over.

Who was Man United’s worst player against Liverpool?

There were a number of notable poor performances from those in white at Anfield on Sunday evening with Luke Shaw “nowhere near good enough” in the words of Gary Neville on Sky’s live commentary.

The outspoken pundit got stuck into a number of United’s players, although reserved the fiercest of attacks for none other than Bruno Fernandes.

On his day, the Portuguese is one of the finest in the division but his childish play-acting didn’t help his teammates at all this weekend.

Dubbed “a disgrace” by Neville during the 90 minutes, his evening was perhaps best summed up by the way he threw himself to the deck after being brushed away by Ibrahima Konate.

At one point it even looked as though the stand-in skipper wanted to be substituted, gesticulating to his manager in exasperation that he wasn’t being hooked as Anthony Elanga replaced the out-of-sorts Marcus Rashford.

That was a moment which left Neville in disbelief. Speaking on commentary, the former right-back said: “The second half has been an absolute disgrace, a shambles. They have not been epitomised more than Bruno Fernandes, who has been embarrassing – a shambles – in this game.”

Then, during the post-match analysis, he said: “I’ve had enough of him waving his arms around, blaming his teammates. That wasn’t a captain’s performance. I think Erik ten Hag will deal really strongly with him in the next 24/48 hours”.

Those words were echoed by Roy Keane too, who noted: “Some of his body language today was disgraceful. His body language, not running back. You would not be happy with him.”

Away from the mental side of the game, Fernandes failed to provide much with the ball at his feet, as the attacking midfielder won just three of his nine duels.

It was a lightweight display from the 28-year-old who also lost possession of the ball on 15 occasions. It was hardly a surprise, therefore, to see that he only completed 67% of his passes while failing to complete any of his four attempted crosses.

It was a horrendous afternoon for United, not least for Fernandes who now needs to take a long hard look at himself in the mirror. It is one thing not performing, but to winge and throw your arms around in disgust is another.

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