European Super Football

Liverpool v Manchester United preview Northern rivals are set to clash in a Premier League showpiece at Anfield, where title favourites Liverpool host a struggling Manchester United in a highly anticipated showdown. Author -  Liam C Arne Slot’s high-flying Reds hold a commanding 23-point lead over their long-time adversaries in the league table. While Liverpool chase Premier League glory, Ruben Amorim’s beleaguered United side find themselves nervously glancing over their shoulders at the relegation battle. As Arsenal, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest scrap for the “best of the rest” tag, Liverpool have defied predictions of a mid-season slump. Slot’s team ended 2024 in emphatic style, thrashing West Ham United 5-0. They are poised to start 2025 with the same ruthless momentum. The goals at the London Stadium came courtesy of Luis Díaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo, sealing Liverpool’s fourth consecutive victory across all competitions and ext...

Manchester United 0 - 3  Bournemouth Manchester United will head into Christmas languishing in 13th place, following another lacklustre performance that has yielded just seven points from Rúben Amorim’s first six games in charge. Author -  Liam Chadwick In stark contrast, Bournemouth find themselves flying high in fifth. With English clubs performing well in Europe this season, that position could potentially secure a spot in next year’s Champions League. United were undone by Dean Huijsen’s 29th-minute header, as Bournemouth capitalised on the hosts' vulnerability at set-pieces. Justin Kluivert doubled the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot, sending André Onana the wrong way after being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui. Just two minutes later, Antoine Semenyo was left unmarked to convert Dango Ouattara’s cross, punishing Kobbie Mainoo’s costly error in midfield. Premier League: 2024/2025 season Super Reds News What's going wrong for Manchester United? United appeared to ...

Wolves 1 - 2 Ipswich Town Jack Taylor's last-gasp header earned Ipswich a priceless win at Molineux, a match that resulted in the sacking of Wolves manager Gary O'Neil. Author - Liam C 🚨🟠 BREAKING: Wolves have sacked head coach Gary O’Neil following defeat vs Ipswich Town. #WWFC pic.twitter.com/dghhjHTMqw — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 15, 2024 Taylor's winner in the 93rd minute secured the Tractor Boys' second victory of the season, and tensions flared on the pitch between the two teams at full-time. The now former Wolves boss watched on helplessly as the second-to-last place Wolves conceded a disastrous opening goal due to Matt Doherty's unfortunate own goal. Additionally, Taylor's late winner from a corner has left Wolves three points behind Ipswich and four points away from safety.  Why are Wolves making a managerial change? This was their 11th Premier League defeat of the season – with only two wins to their name – leaving the Black Co...

 Manchester United 2 - 3 Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest capitalised on Manchester United’s defensive errors to secure their first win at Old Trafford in nearly 30 years. Author -  Liam Chadwick Rasmus Højlund cancelled out Nikola Milenković’s early opener, but Ruben Amorim’s side couldn’t draw level again after conceding twice in a seven-minute spell early in the second half. United goalkeeper André Onana was at fault for Forest’s second, misjudging Morgan Gibbs-White’s strike from the edge of the area. Expecting the ball to move towards his right, Onana was beaten on his left as the shot stayed true. The defensive woes continued when Chris Wood, celebrating his birthday, sent a looping header towards the far post. Neither Onana nor Matthijs de Ligt dealt with it, and Lisandro Martínez was slow to react as the ball nestled in the corner of the net. Premier League: 2024/2025 season Discover more news and stories from the weird and wonderful world of Manchester Unit...

Manchester United 3 - 2 Bodø/Glimt Ruben Amorim's first home match as Manchester United boss ended in a win for his new club. Author -  Liam Chadwick The Red Devils secured a winning start at Old Trafford under new manager Ruben Amorim, coming from behind to defeat Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League. The home side wasted no time finding the net, with a goal after just 48 seconds – even quicker than their 81-second opener in Amorim’s debut match at Ipswich. The breakthrough came from an error by goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, who hesitated on a routine clearance, allowing Rasmus Højlund to close him down and set up Alejandro Garnacho for a simple tap-in. However, rather than setting the stage for a comfortable evening, the early goal sparked a frustrating spell for the hosts. Bodø/Glimt responded with two goals in just four minutes, turning the game on its head and taking the lead with less than 25 minutes played. Thankfully for United, Højlund brought Old Trafford to i...

It will be all change for Manchester United this weekend Their match against Ipswich will see a new face in the dugout as Rúben Amorim takes charge for the first time. Flickr user  freeela sawkaka | Flickr  explores the new manager's tactics The deal to bring Amorim from Sporting Lisbon was finalised on 1 November, but the Portuguese club requested he remain until the international break before moving. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had been serving as interim manager following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, has also departed. The former United striker was not included in Amorim’s plans for his backroom staff. Amorim's first challenge will be this trip to Ipswich Town. He's expected to introduce his favoured 3-4-3 formation, marking a significant shift from the four-man defence United played under Ten Hag. However, preparations for the match has been disrupted. Many United players have been away on international duty and might only return two days before the game. United fans will...

Manchester United 1 - 1 Chelsea Moises Caicedo’s precise volley secured Chelsea a well-earned point against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Author - Liam C United’s interim manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is filling in as the club awaits the arrival of new head coach Ruben Amorim, looked on course for a second straight win when Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, following a foul on Rasmus Hojlund by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Van Nistelrooy celebrated wildly on the touchline , but United’s joy was short-lived, lasting only four minutes before Caicedo fired a superb shot past Andre Onana from the edge of the box. The result was a share of the points from an otherwise low-key encounter. Wesley Fofana rattled the woodwork with a first-half header, while Marcus Rashford also struck the angle of post and bar with a volley before the break. A closer look at Manchester United's performance Van Nistelrooy has managed to draw p...

Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach. The 39-year-old Portuguese manager, currently with Sporting Lisbon, will make the move to Old Trafford on 11 November and has signed a contract lasting until June 2027. Author - Liam C The post Ten Hag era started with a 5-2 win in the EFL Cup Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United striker who stepped in as interim manager after Erik ten Hag’s departure on Monday, will remain with the team for the next three matches. Amorim becomes the sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-year tenure ended with his retirement in 2013. Sporting confirmed in a statement that United agreed to pay €11 million (£9.25 million) to activate the release clause in Amorim’s contract. Amorim’s debut match leading the Red Devils is set for 24 November in the Premier League against newly promoted Ipswich, following the international break. His first game at Old Trafford will be on 28 November against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in...

There has been a managerial change at Old Trafford. Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag due to the club's disappointing start to the season. Author - Olivia T Ten Hag's last match ended in a 2-1 defeat against West Ham , leaving the club in 14th place in the Premier League with only three wins from their first nine matches. The Red Devils are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League league stage, having drawn their three opening matches. Club sources from the club have reportedly suggested that this was a difficult decision but a unanimous one among all the key decision makers.  The club exercised a one-year extension in Ten Hag's contract after their FA Cup final win against Manchester City in May . However, just over three months later, he has been dismissed. United currently sit on 11 points after nine games, marking their second-lowest tally in the Premier League at this stage (only slightly better than the 10 points they had in the 2019-20 season)...

Fenerbahce 1-1 Manchester United  Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho was shown a red card as Manchester United battled to secure a 1-1 draw in their Europa League clash in Istanbul.  Author - Liam C The former United manager was dismissed midway through the second half when tensions escalated after the home side were denied a penalty following Manuel Ugarte's challenge on Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the scoreline locked at 1-1. A closer look at what happened United had gone into the break with a lead, thanks to Christian Eriksen’s fourth goal of the season. However, four minutes into the second half, the hosts drew level when Youssef En-Nesyri slipped between United's defenders to nod in Allan Saint-Maximin’s close-range cross. As the atmosphere intensified and the noise levels soared, Mourinho was sent off by French referee Clément Turpin just before the hour mark. The dismissal came after Mourinho led fervent appeals for a penalty when Bright Osayi-Samuel went down following...

It's time to for another sliding doors moment in football  We travel back to 2004. Manchester United face Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League.  Author - Liam C What actually happened? A ontroversial offside call against Paul Scholes became a pivotal moment in European football history. The disallowed goal cost United a place in the quarter-finals, while Porto, managed by the up and coming manager José Mourinho, went on to win the competition and launch Mourinho into the managerial elite. But what if Scholes hadn’t been ruled offside? How might this alternative scenario have changed the landscape of world and European football? Scholes wasn’t offside: United progress Had the linesman not flagged Scholes for offside, Manchester United would have progressed to the next round of the Champions League. Scholes' goal was legitimate, and had it stood, United would have won the tie on aggregate, knocking out Porto and ending their European dreams. With the Red Devils movin...

The first sliding doors moment we are going to explore involves Manchester United and Alan Shearer. Author - Liam C In the summer of 1996, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a huge effort to sign England striker Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers.  Shearer was the most prolific goal scorer in English football at the time, having just won the Premier League Golden Boot in both 1995 and 1996.  Ultimately, Shearer chose to join his boyhood club, Newcastle United, for a then-record fee of £15 million. However, an alternative scenario in which Shearer decided to sign for Manchester United could have dramatically affected both the club and the footballing landscape in the Premier League. The Old Trafford club decided to sign a certain unheard-of Norwegian at the time. He didn't do too badly... So, what if Shearer moved to Manchester United in 1996? In this alternate reality, Manchester United sign Shearer and he joins a team fresh off winning the Premier League and...

The relationship between English football fans and international football can be mixed.  Some see it as a refreshing change, offering a chance to follow their national team and watch players from different clubs come together to represent their country.  Author - Liam C Others view it as an unwelcome interruption to what they care about most, causing frustration and even outright disdain. In many ways, it’s a love-hate relationship that has become a regular feature of the footballing calendar. More disruption Some fans of the big Premier League clubs might be annoyed that this current break is the 2nd one in an already-packed schedule. Some teams such as Nottingham Forest have started to build momentum. A break for these fans could feel like a real mood-killer. That same level of passion doesn’t always translate to the international stage, especially outside major tournaments.  Another major point of contention has been the risk of injuries. A couple of injuries at th...