Richard Jolly

Valverde caps superb night for Real Madrid’s understudies as Guardiola gets it wrong Real Madrid 3-0 Manchester City: Seasoned winners Real have been on a lacklustre run of late but were back in vintage form as Fede Valverde scored his first career hat-trick

Fede Valverde had three goals in 75 Champions League games. Then he got three by half-time in a seminal, spectacular display to leave Manchester City on the brink of elimination. A great night for Arbeloa, a terrible one for Guardiola. On Real Madrid 3-0 City:
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Useless and luckless Igor Tudor is Spurs’ figurehead of failure – it’s time to go The Atletico Madrid humiliation should be the death knell of the dismal Igor Tudor reign, writes Richard Jolly, after hanging his young goalkeeper out to dry

Should Tottenham remove Igor Tudor after 17 minutes? Or leave him there for a bit longer? An awful night in Madrid showed they need (another) new manager and increased their problems:
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Why latest chapter in Man City and Real Madrid rivalry is different to the rest The latest instalment of a long-running Champions League rivalry lacks the stardust and stakes of previous clashes, with neither side at their peak in Europe this season. Richard Jolly explains why

Real Madrid against Manchester City, yet again. But whereas this fixture used to produce a Champions League winner, it might not this season:
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Tottenham lose all remaining dignity in abject defeat to Atletico as Tudor faces axe Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham: Kinsky was subbed within 17 minutes as utterly hapless Spurs shipped four first-half goals in Champions League last-16 demolition

Tottenham put the mad into Madrid, losing their balance, the ball and the dignity on a harrowing night for the hapless Antonin Kinsky and a horrible one for the hopeless Igor Tudor. On Atletico Madrid 5-2 Spurs:
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The Champions League is irrelevant for Spurs but Atleti are their alternative reality In another world, Tottenham and Atletico would be comparable, but the north London club’s downward spiral has rendered this last-16 clash essentially meaningless

Tottenham return to the Metropolitano, the scene of their Champions League final, tonight, worrying more about the Championship, facing Atletico for the first time in 63 years when they they might have been England's answer to Atletico:
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The unanswered Liverpool question that will define Arne Slot’s reign The Dutch manager will reach a century of games in charge of the Reds, but expectations are high and the pressure is on ahead of the last 16 meeting with Galatasaray

Arne Slot brings up 100 games in charge of Liverpool against Galatasaray. He could do so with the most wins in those first 100 games - though that win percentage was rather higher earlier in his reign. On Slot, Liverpool and Galatasaray:
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Arsenal forced to call on big guns to see off Mansfield in FA Cup tie for the ages Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal: The Premier League leaders were made to work hard for a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals but a superb Eberechi Eze goal made the difference

Arsenal needed goals from a pair of summer signings who cost a combined £116m to see off Mansfield. Max Dowman starred for Arsenal but Mansfield turned this into a classic up tie. On Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal:
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Ryan Gravenberch signs new long-term deal as Liverpool tie down key figure Gravenberch has signed a contract extension through to 2032

Ryan Gravenberch signs new six-year deal to stay at Liverpool:
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Liverpool blend golden past with bright future in cathartic FA Cup win over Wolves Wolves 1-3 Liverpool: Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson were on the scoresheet as Arne Slot’s side reached the last eight

For the second time in a week, Mohamed Salah scored at Molineux, even if his performance was mixed. But, while Rio Ngumoha starred, the inspiration for victory came from Andy Robertson. On Wolves 1-3 Liverpool:
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Tottenham are dreadful and only getting worse after two fatal errors Spurs are now just one point above the drop zone, with West Ham and Nottingham Forest picking up form to drag them into a relegation scrap after, as Richard Jolly covers, a trend of poor decisions bot...

On Tottenham, possibly going from Super League to Championship in a few months, perhaps wondering if they could join the Bundesliga and what to do with Igor Tudor:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The six Man City games that could hand Arsenal the Premier League title Pep Guardiola’s side slipped off the pace against Arsenal after Nottingham Forest snatched a point at the Etihad Stadium, with Bernardo Silva detailing how the ‘unpredictable’ side of the Premier Leag...

Manchester City have lost leads in six games, costing them 13 points. It may be decisive in the title race. On the reasons in those six games, what they say about City and the Premier League:
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Man City’s title destiny out of their hands after costly Nottingham Forest draw Manchester City 2-2 Nottingham Forest: City threw away two leads to be held by relegation candidates Forest and lose valuable ground to Arsenal in the title race

Manchester City's destiny slips out of their hands after two superb Nottingham Forest equalisers, a last-gasp goal-line clearance from Murillo and a night of frustration. On Man City 2-2 Forest:
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Liverpool are wasting time under Arne Slot and pattern of late drama proves it Liverpool are guilty of looking ‘slow and predictable’ from kick-off, then overly frantic at the finish - and are dropping too many points because of it

Liverpool have a problem with injury-time goals. But they also have one with slow starts, which in turns means more of the drama is backloaded. On their issues at end end of matches:
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Virgil van Dijk reveals fury in damning assessment of Liverpool’s shortcomings Liverpool lost to the Premier League’s bottom club as Van Dijk criticised how the Reds made the end of the game ‘chaotic’

Van Dijk says Slot was angry after loss to Wolves and that he had a right to be:
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Wolves leave Liverpool sore but their woes go beyond one cruel moment Wolves 2-1 Liverpool: Andre’s 94th-minute deflected strike snatched all three points for the Premier League’s bottom club

Another Liverpool late show, but in the wrong sense. Wolves get a second big win in four days. Liverpool lose in injury time again. On Wolves 2-1 Liverpool:
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Man United are winning again, but look lopsided — it points to one thing The absence of Patrick Dorgu has highlighted United’s squad is missing an out-and-out left winger. They are getting by for now, writes Richard Jolly, but it will be harder to do so for the whole of ne...

Manchester United have got some goals and assists but players supposedly on the left wing but they don't have a specialist left winger. Which could be a problem:
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Michael Carrick addresses Man United future as decision on permanent role looms Carrick has taken 19 points from a possible 21 since taking charge of United until the end of the season

Michael Carrick accepts it is inevitable there will be talk about him becoming Man Utd manager on a permanent basis and stresses his love for the club:
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The simple explanation behind Liverpool’s underperforming forward line Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak have failed to reach the heights of last season but Liverpool’s problems are not only because of them

At this stage last season, Liverpool's six forwards had 51 Premier League goals. Now they have 26. It can be traced in part to Mohamed Salah's drop-off and Alexander Isak's injuries and poor form. On the shortage of goals from the attackers:
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Man United’s big decision is becoming clear as Michael Carrick’s latest call pays off Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace: Benjamin Sesko scored his fourth goal in five games as the Red Devils completed a comeback at Old Trafford, so could Michael Carrick’s come next?

A Carrick comeback takes Manchester United on the way back towards the Champions League. Sesko starts and scores, Fernandes stars. But Crystal Palace were very good for half an hour. On Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace:
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How Liverpool turned their set-piece weakness into a strength to brush West Ham aside Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Arne Slot’s side converted three corners on their way to victory at Anfield

Liverpool had the worst set-piece balance, to use Arne Slot's phrase, in the Premier League. Now they have the most set-piece goals in 2026, including three from corners in the first half today. On a transformation and Liverpool 5-2 West Ham:

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Liverpool, the curse of the seven right-backs, and what is says about their season Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold has come with more difficulties than expected - bringing constant instability that keeps taking Dominik Szoboszlai out of midfield

Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold was always going to be hard but injuries have made it harder for Liverpool. This has been the season of the seven right-backs - but Arne Slot thinks Frimpong & Bradley can reach Trent's levels:
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Arne Slot defends Liverpool’s summer signings: ‘£450m very well spent’ Record buys Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have struggled for consistency since arriving at Anfield

Arne Slot says Liverpool's £450m was "very, very, very well spent" last summer and believes the signings will be great successes at Anfield:
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Manchester United reveal the huge cost of sacking Ruben Amorim The sacked Amorim and his coaching staff could be paid a further £15.9m by the club

Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff will get a pay-off of up to £15.9m from Manchester United.

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A story of cruelty and disgrace: How Serie A fell to Champions League humiliation Atalanta dramatically scraped through to the last 16 with a 98th-minute penalty but the rest of Italy’s teams endured embarrassment that says a lot about where Serie A currently sits in the European f...

Atalanta performed their act of escapology to ensure there is still an Italian club in the Champions League, but It has been a bad year for them nonetheless. On Juve, Inter, Napoli and Serie A's struggles in Europe:
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Senne Lammens reveals the advice that has made him Man United’s goalkeeping answer Interview: The unheralded Belgian stopper has hugely impressed in his debut season at Old Trafford, thriving amid the Premier League’s physicality

Senne Lammens on going to war in the penalty box, his smooth start to life at Manchester United and his goalkeeping idols:
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The major arguments for and against Man United’s big Michael Carrick decision The caretaker caveats remain, but Carrick’s common-sense revolution has brought a sense of calm to help a club frazzled by a feeling of constant crisis. Is it a long-term solution?

Michael Carrick has got pretty much everything right since returning to Man Utd. And, from being a short-term appointment, it is starting to feel more likely he could be in charge next season:
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Jarrad Branthwaite hopes to make late push for England’s World Cup squad The Everton defender was been hampered by injuries this season but feels he can impress Thomas Tuchel during the rest of the campaign

Jarrad Branthwaite has a World Cup dream and is hoping to make a late charge into Thomas Tuchel's squad - though he admitted the England manager has not been in contact:
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Can Arne Slot resist the clamour for Liverpool’s teenage star Rio Ngumoha any longer? The 17-year-old’s impact off the bench against Nottingham Forest helped turn momentum in Liverpool’s favour and the manager is coming under increasing pressure to start his young talent

Rio Ngumoha on his role at Liverpool, learning from Slot and making a difference as a substitute.
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Man United are transformed under Michael Carrick and Benjamin Sesko proves it Everton 0-1 Manchester United: Super-sub Sesko scored from the bench for the third time in four games as he finished off a devastating counter-attack

The modern-day super-sub Benjamin Sesko comes off the bench to score again. Man Utd lost to Everton under Ruben Amorim & beat them under Michael Carrick to continue his superb start. On Everton 0-1 Manchester United:
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The one trait that has stopped Liverpool’s season sliding into meltdown It has not always been pretty but Arne Slot’s side have been keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive someway, somehow

Liverpool have only lost twice in 20 games. They were unconvincing at Nottingham Forest but a run has been built on being hard to beat, on resolve and resourcefulness. On a revival of sorts:
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