Richard Jolly

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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Erling Haaland is thriving in a surprising new role for Pep Guardiola at City Guardiola’s new system demands more from Haaland all over the pitch – and the big Norwegian is delivering

Erling Haaland did not score on Saturday but was Pep Guardiola's man of the match. But he has never had more touches in a PL game and defended well. On a different side to Haaland:
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Why life after Casemiro promises only more headaches for Man Utd Casemiro’s exit will leave a gaping hole in Manchester United’s midfield this summer after rediscovering his best form under Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick was singing the praises of Casemiro but Manchester United will soon lose him. And Casemiro's qualities mean replacing him poses challenges - not least because few are quite like him:
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The quirk of fate that saw sluggish Liverpool beat Forest and close in on top five Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool: Alexis Mac Allister’s late, late winner snatched all three points for the champions

Liverpool’s worst first half, Arne Slot scored. A goal from a player who was only playing as a No 10 because of a late injury to Florian Wirtz. An illogical win as Forest played well. On Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool:
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Nico O’Reilly’s latest reinvention brings momentum to Man City’s title charge Man City 2-1 Newcastle: Pep Guardiola’s men closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to just two points with victory at the Etihad

Manchester City close the gap to Arsenal to two points. Nico O'Reilly delivered a catalytic display as a marauding midfielder. On Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle:
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How the aura of Klopp has left Slot trapped in a new Liverpool reality Arne Slot has fielded questions surrounding his German predecessor, who remains hugely popular at Anfield, while some supporters covet a reunion with Xabi Alonso, despite his failure at Real Madrid

As Arne Slot admitted, Jurgen Klopp has an aura. Slot thinks he had more of one last season, when he won more, than now. Slot may be trapped between the charisma of Klopp and the idea of Xabi Alonso. But it is worth remembering no one quite has Klopp's charisma:
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Liverpool handed major Alexander Isak boost after Arne Slot shares update The Swedish striker is set to return from injury to play a part in the culmination of Liverpool’s season

Alexander Isak is back in training. Could be in contention to play late March / early April:
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Why Pereira’s mission at Forest goes beyond avoiding relegation Pereira has arrived as Forest’s fourth manager of the season with the primary objective of avoiding the drop – but as shown by Sean Dyche’s sacking, that is not all that is expected of his reign

On Vitor Pereira, Nottingham Forest and a season of many managers:

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American billionaire Leon Cooperman increases his stake in Manchester United The 82-year-old investor first bought shares in the club in 2023

American billionaire increases stake in Man Utd:
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Oliver Burke: ‘It was an honour to wear the Scotland badge. I’d love that again’ The Union Berlin star is thriving again in the Bundesliga after an unorthodox journey since leaving Forest for Leipzig at 19 years of age and still has hopes of earning a Scotland recall in a World Cu...

By his own admission, Oliver Burke is something of a journeyman. But with stops at three German clubs, it is a journey with a difference. Burke on an unusual career, Union Berlin and Scotland:
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Man Utd will not budge on Marcus Rashford price ahead of possible summer move Barcelona have an option to purchase Rashford for £26m but may look to negotiate a lower cost at the end of the season

Manchester United won't reduce the asking price for Marcus Rashford if Barcelona try to renegotiate it:
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The four teams that show why the Champions League play-offs work The extra two games can be a burden for some of Europe’s royalty, but, as Richard Jolly details, the extra stage affords a stage to shine for a more diverse selection of sides across the continent

The Champions League knockout play-offs return. Last year's ties ranked as a success for Uefa. This year's seem to have favourites from the bigger leagues but contain clubs from 11 countries and underdogs who may be advertisements for the new format:
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Inside Szoboszlai’s main-character energy season, and the unavoidable comparison From a variety of roles, Szoboszlai has reached double figures for the season while looking a worthy inheritor of Steven Gerrard’s No 8 shirt and a future Liverpool captain

Mo Salah said Dominik Szoboszlai is one of the best players in the world right now. Szoboszlai is scoring more, shaping almost every game, Liverpool's probable player of the year and possible next captain. On his superb season:
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Mohamed Salah gives glimpse of past glories but questions over future remain Liverpool 3-0 Brighton: Salah scored and assisted to continue the healing process after his outburst late last year as the Reds stayed on course for FA Cup glory

A goal and an assist for Mohamed Salah. A night for Arne Slot to savour as his decisions pay off. On Liverpool 3-0 Brighton:
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Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool role is changing – and not in the way we expected The last time Brighton travelled to Liverpool, Salah seemed destined to exit Anfield – now he is back in the team and is starting to have more of an impact, even if it remains well short of last seaso...

Mohamed Salah has not scored against a PL club since 1 Nov. His shot count has gone down this season - but back up since he returned from Africa. On Salah, and Arne Slot's explanation about how things have changed for him:
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Slot confirms fresh talks with Konate over contract extension Liverpool risk losing Konate on a free transfer in the summer when his current deal expires

Liverpool in talks with Ibrahima Konate about a new contract. Arne Slot wants to keep him:
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The trend that explains why Tottenham have turned to Igor Tudor to save them Former Juventus coach Tudor is set to take over at Tottenham on an interim basis after proving himself as a short-term solution in Italy, but with his appointment comes the risk of repeating a Premier...

Tottenham managers tend to be the opposite of their predecessor. And if Thomas Frank was too much of a Brentford manager, Igor Tudor has at least managed big, high-pressure clubs and made good starts before:
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The awkward truth for Man United behind Jim Ratcliffe’s toxic comments The billionaire caused offence by claiming that the United Kingdom had been ‘colonised by immigrants,’ with Man United, back in form under interim boss Michael Carrick, exposed to outside noise once a...

On Sir Jim Ratcliffe, some toxic comments about immigrants and Manchester United:
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