Will Unwin

‘Match his movement, stay patient’: just how do you stop Erling Haaland? Very few have worked out how to contain Manchester City’s striker. As past opponents attest, there are no easy solutions No coach has found a way to stop Erling Haaland in his past 12 matches, the striker scoring in each and 22 times in all competitions for club and country. Pep Guardiola knows most about the Norwegian’s talents and jokingly suggested a plan to keep him out: “Four centre-backs.” There are no straightforward answers, especially as so many have tried and failed. On Sunday Aston Villa and Unai Emery will be tasked with formulating a strategy to keep Haaland quiet. Not that the Manchester City player is particularly perturbed by not being involved for much of a match. His touches are infrequent but very often telling. The focus generally against Haaland is preventing the ball from reaching him but with City’s array of creative talents, that is easier said than done. Continue reading...

‘Match his movement, stay patient’: just how do you stop Erling Haaland?

Aaronson and Rodon punish woeful West Ham as Leeds race to victory If Nuno Espírito Santo had considered a relaxing cruise after being sacked by Nottingham Forest, he finally got to enjoy the feeling by watching his West Ham defence look all at sea while the driving rain was his ocean spray. Two lapses in concentration within the opening quarter of an hour gave Leeds victory and further highlighted that the Hammers are in a relegation battle. West Ham sit second bottom of the Premier League nine games into the season, and their only win came against their current head coach. They had the majority of the ball at Elland Road and were eventually rewarded with a late consolation goal from Manuel Fernandes, but the stuttering start under Nuno continues, thanks to early close-range strikes from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon. Continue reading...

Aaronson and Rodon punish woeful West Ham as Leeds race to victory

Thank you. One for the ages

I am even in the city of his birth

‘Match his movement, stay patient’: just how do you stop Erling Haaland? Very few have worked out how to contain Manchester City’s striker. As past opponents attest, there are no easy solutions

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Fatty steaks and coffee with maple syrup: Erling Haaland lets us in on life at home Manchester City forward shows he is a dab hand in the kitchen as he launches his YouTube channel

Really proud to announce I am now the Guardian's dedicated Erling Haaland correspondent

Nottingham Forest confirm Sean Dyche as third head coach of chaotic season * Former Everton manager brought in on contract to 2027 * Dyche will be in dugout against Porto on Thursday Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean Dyche as their third head coach of a tumultuous season. The former Everton and Burnley manager will hope to stabilise the club after the winless 40-day reign of Ange Postecoglou and, before that, the dismissal of Nuno Espírito Santo. The Fulham manager, Marco Silva, and the former Manchester City head coach Roberto Mancini were also considered but Forest opted for the experience of Dyche. He has signed a contract to 2027. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest confirm Sean Dyche as third head coach of chaotic season

Sean Dyche is a pragmatic choice for Forest and can bring quiet to the chaos | Will Unwin Manager inherits a group of players that suits him and has a track record of creating camaraderie in his squads Sean Dyche was often spotted at the City Ground while out of work. The Nottingham Forest job has been of interest to him for a long time, and not only because he lives close by. The circumstances in which the role has become available are not ideal for an incoming head coach but his appointment is the pragmatic choice in ludicrous circumstances. Ange Postecoglou was never the right man, inheriting a squad that did not suit his style and did not adapt quickly enough, though it did not help that he told the players their previous achievements meant nothing. His tenure will go down in history for all the wrong reasons. Dyche, on the other hand, has plenty of respect for what was achieved at Forest under Nuno Espírito Santo and is far more aligned with that conservatism than with what was witnessed under Postecoglou. Continue reading...

Sean Dyche is a pragmatic choice for Forest and can bring quiet to the chaos | Will Unwin

Tchaouna thunderstrike ensures Burnley take three valuable points against Leeds When Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna were scholars in the Rennes youth team, they were probably not fantasising about playing for Burnley, but the two have reunited at Turf Moor where the club and French duo are living out their Premier League dream. Their goals downed Leeds and offered further proof the Clarets have a chance of staying in the Premier League. The result means Burnley have defeated the two teams that came up with them from the Championship at home and have collected all of their seven points at Turf Moor. They showed they have improved since promotion, epitomised by a goal-of-the-season contender from Tchaouna to add to his old mate’s opener. The two joined forces more than a decade ago, before reaching their teenage years, in north-west France, moving up the ranks to the first team before separating to add Lazio and Chelsea to their collective CVs. Continue reading...

Tchaouna thunderstrike ensures Burnley take three valuable points against Leeds

The big one

More innocent times

Air of disquiet at Tranmere as results dry up on pitch and investment stalls The relationship between Rovers’ trust and the club owners Mark and Nicola Palios is fractious, while the team continue to struggle in League Two

This is very good by @will-unwin.bsky.social for @sport.theguardian.com on how a disused marquee in a car park is an apt symbol for modern-day Tranmere Rovers, a club stuck in the middle, wondering what the future holds.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

I am at the first ever meeting of Tranmere and Barnet. What a time to be alive

The Scanlon brothers: from a Midlands primary football side to Gibraltar teammates James is at Manchester United, Luca with Burnley and both are making a mark on the international stage as teenagers

Had a sit down with the Scanlon brothers - Man United’s James and Burnley’s Luca - discuss sibling rivalry and international football as teenagers.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The garden looks lovely too

The Scanlon brothers: from a Midlands primary football side to Gibraltar teammates James is at Manchester United, Luca with Burnley and both are making a mark on the international stage as teenagers

Had a sit down with the Scanlon brothers - Man United’s James and Burnley’s Luca - discuss sibling rivalry and international football as teenagers.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Sesko eases pressure on Amorim as Manchester United avoid Sunderland slip Ruben Amorim will be pleased the only storm Manchester United had to navigate was provided by the skies. The head coach witnessed a rare comfortable victory to alleviate the pressure on him for a fortnight at least. Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko scored their first home Premier League goals for the club, although having joined two years apart it indicates some of the problems Amorim has been dealing with. Apart from a brief scare on a penalty that never was, life was straightforward for United as they secured a third win and first clean sheet of the season in the downpours and gales but, like the Old Trafford roof, the hosts did their job. Continue reading...

Sesko eases pressure on Amorim as Manchester United avoid Sunderland slip

Late Dier penalty for Monaco pegs back Manchester City after Haaland double It was all Manchester City’s fault that they did not leave Monaco without all three points. A piece of late mindlessness from Nico González gifted Eric Dier the chance to level and earned a draw for the hosts. It should have been so much easier for City after Erling Haaland proved their such a thing as a sure bet in Monte Carlo, as his double looked to have secured victory on a subdued night in the principality. Instead Jordan Teze was afforded too much space for the first equaliser and Dier could not turn down the opportunity. There is plenty of time to make up for the dropped points but it was a frustrating match for City who dominated from start to finish but never gave themselves a sufficient cushion that would see themselves over the line. Continue reading...

Late Dier penalty for Monaco pegs back Manchester City after Haaland double

Jazzy

‘They have no doubts about their style of play and are robust enough to be able to get wins against anybody.’

Crystal Palace are now the only undefeated side in the Premier League this season, and are unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions.

@maxrushden.bsky.social
@will-unwin.bsky.social

Here for the dramatic setting

A new stadium for me

😱 Arsenal pulled off a dramatic turnaround at St James' Park.

🦅 Crystal Palace beat Liverpool to become the only unbeaten team in the league.

😫 Calamitous Manchester United were put to the sword by Brentford.

@maxrushden.bsky.social @barryglendenning.bsky.social @will-unwin.bsky.social

Any questions for the panel?

@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@will-unwin.bsky.social
Nedum Onuoha

👀👇

Last time I was here, Man City lost 2-1 in 1998

Liverpool’s late shows are a lot of fun but Slot will know it is not sustainable | Will Unwin While they do keep finding a way to win, blowing leads and a lack of ruthlessness are not signs of a successful season The feeling of euphoria that comes with a late winner is addictive, as Liverpool have found out, but it is not a sustainable plan. Virgil van Dijk was the fifth player to settle a match in dramatic fashion in as many games for the Premier League champions this season but his 92nd-minute goal against Atlético Madrid was only the fourth-latest in the team’s series of extraordinary climaxes. Jan Oblak was left helpless in the Atlético goal after his teammates had staged a glorious fightback from 2-0 down and shown a dogged determination to hold on. It had a familiar ring: Rio Ngumoha downed Newcastle in the 100th minute and Mohamed Salah slammed home a penalty in the 97th to break Burnley hearts, having scored in the 94th minute against Bournemouth to seal that 4-2 victory. The more crushing blow for Bournemouth had been delivered by Federico Chiesa in the 88th minute. A relatively early winner at home to Arsenal came in the 83rd minute. It indicates Liverpool are battle-hardened, fit and mentally strong. It is, however, not viable over what could be a 60-match season. Continue reading...

Liverpool’s late shows are a lot of fun but Slot will know it is not sustainable | Will Unwin

The last three matches I’ve done have included 90+ minute winners. And they say nurses have it tough.

At Anfield

Salah on the spot as Liverpool break Burnley hearts in stoppage time Ninety-three minutes of hard work from Burnley had frustrated Liverpool but, for the second match running, the Clarets threw away a point in injury-time when Hannibal Mejbri needlessly handballed, allowing Mohamed Salah to continue the Premier League champions’ perfect start. It was not a deserved victory, despite Liverpool’s dominance. They had all the possession but failed to find a way through until the 95th minute when the Egyptian forward fired home from the spot. Continue reading...

Salah on the spot as Liverpool break Burnley hearts in stoppage time

At Turf Moor. I was very excited to see the debut of a new signing and, thankfully, Luis Florentino is on the bench for Burnley. Look forward to seeing what he can do.