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Southampton fans will be severely worried by their team’s current standing in the Premier League, as the Saints head into the bumper fixture list coming in December rock bottom of the division.

That doesn’t look like changing anytime soon either, with the South Coast side only on a meagre five points, whilst 17th placed Crystal Palace, who are just outside the bottom three, are unfortunately on a far superior 13 points.

Not all hope will be lost on the end of Russell Martin, however, who will know a few positive results could drastically turn his depressing team’s fortunes around, even if any slight rays of sunshine seem far off at this moment in time.

He will be very aware that his team will need to sort out their defensive issues if they’re to stand any chance at a great escape, with far too many lackadaisical displays at the back costing the Saints dear.

Southampton's defensive issues

At the time of writing, Southampton have the second leakiest defence in the entirety of the Premier League, with an alarming 31 goals conceded only topped by Wolverhampton Wanderers’ abysmal 38.

Martin’s set-up of making his Saints defenders play out from the back religiously has resulted in far too many casual displays from his team since making the step-up from the Championship, leading to goals galore often being shipped like when Chelsea hit Southampton for five earlier this month, even as the Blues travelled to play at St. Mary’s.

The hosts were of course not helped by Jack Stephens picking up another dismissal in the one-sided contest, with the experienced defender letting himself down time after time since promotion has been sealed, considering he was also given his marching orders versus Manchester United earlier on this season.

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Alongside plenty of issues across the back four, Martin has also been unable to pick a consistent goalkeeper in-between the sticks, owing to his usual first-team choice from last season in Gavin Bazunu still being sidelined.

With summer signing Aaron Ramsdale also being plagued by injuries as of late, reserve option Joe Lumley has had to be recently thrown into the deep end, with the 29-year-old only playing League One football four years ago.

This situation involving a revolving door of ‘keepers must sting more when you consider this ex-Saints star in-between the sticks departed the club for nothing in 2022, after regularly being a reliable pair of gloves.

Forster's time at Southampton

Southampton splashed out £10m to win Fraser Forster’s services in 2014, hopeful that the towering 6 foot 7 goalkeeper would go on to be an overwhelming success in England, having shone in Scotland with Celtic.

One display whilst Forster was still situated in Glasgow even saw the constantly entertaining Lionel Messi wax lyrical, stating that the now 36-year-old was “not human” after he conceded just one goal when bravely battling against Barcelona in a famous 2-1 win way back in 2012.

He would go on to affirm his status as a ‘keeper who can come up trumps on the big occasion whilst playing in the Premier League, with Forster going on to amass 162 total appearances for the Saints across his lengthy stay on the South Coast.

Keeping 46 top-flight clean sheets along the way – which included a stunning 14 in the league during just his first season – the once firm Southampton fan’s favourite very much justified the bumper £10m price tag that was above his head, with his exit on a free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 2022 hurting those at St. Mary’s in the process.

Forster’s clean sheet numbers at Southampton

Season

Games played

Clean sheets

21/22

24

3

20/21

13

6

19/20

0

0

18/19

1

0

17/18

21

4

16/17

48

19

15/16

18

6

14/15

37

16

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Always consistently in and around the Saints’ first team mix right up to this departure, it’s understandable that Forster no longer being around would disorientate his former employers in terms of who they picked next to line up in goal.

The veteran could even do a job for the relegation-threatened outfit now, having been selected seven times this season by Ange Postecoglou as his main goalkeeper, amid the loss of Guglielmo Vicario to injury.

He also faced the wrath of an explosive Chelsea last time out, but Martin and Co wouldn’t say no to having their former hero back in an alternate reality, as he might well be able to sort out some leaky displays that could prove to be costly in their fight to stay up.

Related He's perfect for Downes: Southampton will regret losing £5m midfielder

Russell Martin would love to have this midfielder at his disposal for Southampton right now.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Dec 10, 2024

Top Australian cricketers have gone in to bat against climate change, setting up a new organisation to reduce the sport’s footprint. Test captain Pat Cummins says few sports are more imperilled by global warming and it’s time for clubs and cricketers at every level to step up and be part of the solution.Cricket for Climate will start with a push to get solar power installed at 4000 local clubs. That’s already happened at the Penrith Cricket Club, where the Australian captain honed his skills as a junior. More than a dozen clubs linked to top players will follow in the next month – the vanguard for a green transition.The names behind Cricket for Climate reads like a who’s who of the men’s and women’s teams: Steven Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Marnus Labuschagne, Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy, among others.Cummins added that the solar power push was just the first of many initiatives in the works. “We’ve got real ambitions, this is just the start,” he said. “We’re looking at all the possibilities and we’re excited about what’s to come.”Cummins knows the effects of climate change are already real for cricketers. He was on the field in 2018 when England captain Joe Root suffered the crippling effects of dehydration and wound up in hospital during an Ashes Test in record-breaking heat in Sydney.”And a couple of years ago bushfire smoke made it hard to breathe while bowling, you couldn’t see the ball from the sidelines,” he said. “We’ve also experienced it overseas – Bangladesh, India – where the quality of the air can be down but also just incredible temperatures which literally made playing just impossible. Even the preparation of a wicket requires a really stable climate, so we’re right in the thick of it.”Haynes, the Australian women’s vice-captain, backed the Solar Clubs programme as a win-win: it’ll cut clubs’ power bills and greenhouse gas emissions and produce savings that can be spent on resources and player development.”Alyssa Healy and I will be supporting the Sydney Cricket Club with the installation of solar systems at Drummoyne Oval,” she said. “We’re both still involved with the club. This is something I’m sure we’ll be able to point to years from now as an initiative that made a very real difference.”Cummins hoped other sporting codes will sit up and take notice and think about what they can do. “We’ve got to do our bit to make sure we try to limit temperature increases to as little as possible or else in the future, cricket could be a lot harder to play.”

Manchester United flop Anthony Martial “felt immense pressure” from Cristiano Ronaldo towards the end of his injury-ravaged spell at Old Trafford.

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Frenchman joined Red Devils in 2015Eventually released as a free agentRediscovering spark after fresh startFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The French forward arrived in England as the most expensive teenager in world football, in a deal that could have been worth over £55 million ($70m), and was backed to follow in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney and George Best at the so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

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Martial was, however, to leave as a free agent in 2024 having registered just 90 goals and 46 assists through 317 appearances for the Red Devils. Fierce competition for places worked against him, with Portuguese superstar Ronaldo adding to that when rejoining United in the summer of 2021.

WHAT AEK ATHENS SOURCE SAID

Martial is now in Greece at 29 years, with a source at current employers AEK Athens telling : “This guy came, that guy was signed [and] Ronaldo returned during Martial's sporadic opportunities. During his limited opportunities [Martial] was facing immense pressure to prove himself and that led to injury problems.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

While Martial left Manchester under a cloud, AEK were always confident that they could rekindle a lost spark. The club insider added: “Based on our research and talks with other Man Utd players, his basic problem is that he felt a lack of trust. His confidence was damaged once he realised he would struggle to find regular minutes.

“One of them told us, 'Don't worry at all, once he plays and finds regular minutes he will immediately deliver. He's a fantastic guy and works very hard in training'. In the club's opinion, his injuries occurred because his last few appearances were very sporadic. And that affected him, it made him more prone to knocks during the small amount of time he was given. It was basically down to his limited match rhythm.

“We haven't noticed anything of concern. There's no concern regarding his training and there is nothing he needs to avoid during training. He trains properly and follows the programme just like everyone else. His metrics were perfectly fine, as was his medical. And he became match fit very quickly. He trains normally despite the demanding programme and game style. He has no issue so far.”

Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos has mocked former rivals Atletico Madrid with his shirt number choice at his new club Monterrey.

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Ramos joins Monterrey after six months as free agentSet to wear 93 jersey number to honour iconic momentReference to his goal against Atleti in 2014 CL finalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ramos joined Mexican Liga MX side Monterrey this winter as a free agent after having spent the start of the season without a club following his departure from Sevilla in July 2024. The Mexican side is Ramos' third club since leaving Los Blancos in 2021, however, it is clear that the 15-time Champions League winners remain his fondest of all the clubs.

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Upon joining Monterrey, Ramos chose the shirt number 93 to signify his infamous 93rd-minute equaliser for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final as Los Blancos beat their bitter city rivals 4-1 in extra-time with goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo. The 38-year-old then opened up about his feelings towards the iconic moment.

WHAT RAMOS SAID

Speaking to the media, Ramos said: "The 93rd minute was epic. It is a tribute to Real Madrid and to my career."

Real Madrid's social media also announced the same and paid tribute to their legend.

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WHAT NEXT FOR RAMOS?

Monterrey are set to be in action on Sunday, February 9 against Juarez, however, Ramos will not be a part of the clash and will likely have to wait another week before he can make his debut with the Mexican side.

Manchester United have reportedly contacted Bayern Munich over a loan deal for Mathys Tel as the striker's deal with Tottenham Hotspur stalls.

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• Man Utd contact Bayern over Tel loan
• Tottenham see €60m deal stall
• Tel wants to leave Bayern on loan

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tel has been linked with an exit from Bayern Munich as the striker struggles to get regular playing time with the Bavarians. The 19-year-old has been approached by Tottenham Hotspur and the two sides have reportedly agreed to a €60m (£50m) transfer fee, however, the deal is currently stalling.

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  Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Tel would prefer to leave Bayern Munich on a loan deal as he wants to make a final decision on his future in the summer. The stall in the talks between him and Tottenham has come as Tel would prefer to assess all his options before committing his future to the North London side. Additionally, iNews has reported that the 19-year-old would prefer to join Manchester United and is waiting to see if the Red Devils solidify their interest in him.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  As per Plettenberg's report, Manchester United have now contacted Bayern Munich in regards to signing Tel on a loan deal this January, which would be the 19-year-old's preference. However, the Red Devils are looking to buy some time as they would need departures before signing Tel.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TEL?

  At the moment, Tel's future remains uncertain with Manchester United also not in an advanced stage regarding their interest in the striker. However, a departure from the Bavarians remains highly likely with the destination being the uncertain aspect.

The dreaded international break has reentered our lives, but Liverpool supporters can take more than a measure of solace from their victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, retaining their place at the top of the Premier League table.

Contractual situations concerning Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah rumble on, with The Times’ Paul Joyce recently revealing that discussions are ‘still at an impasse’, though it’s important not to read too much into that at this stage.

However, sporting director Richard Hughes will know the gravitas of the situation, and that reaching a resolution, whatever that may be, is an imperative heading into the wintry period, where unwanted distractions may have an adverse effect on the fluency and system Arne Slot is inculcating.

Van Dijk may be captain, and Salah might be one of the club’s all-time forwards, but losing Alexander-Arnold would be the most painful, for the 26-year-old is at the top of his game and one of the most profitable players in world football besides.

As long as he’s not entering the final months of his contract, that is…

Trent Alexander-Arnold's importance to Liverpool

At what point does the uncertainty surrounding Alexander-Arnold and co damage the efforts of Slot’s side? It’s only natural that questions of this weight would pull the squad down, and with so much to be excited about, this cannot be allowed to happen.

Different circumstances, of course, but take Jurgen Klopp’s earth-shattering announcement back in January. Liverpool were firing across all cylinders, chasing down titles, but slumped toward the business end and ended up with solely the Carabao Cup trophy. One can’t help but question whether the illustrious boss’ swansong played on the players’ minds.

Liverpool need to get this quandary wrapped up. Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool’s vice-captain, is the most iconic homegrown star since Steven Gerrard, having chalked up 319 appearances, posting 19 goals and 83 assists, playing a starring role in winning all the silverware since Klopp’s Anfield advent, way back when.

He’s out of contract in June and has been frustratingly – but understandingly – coy about his situation. Only time will tell, but a resolution sure is needed swiftly.

After all, contractual knock-on effect notwithstanding, the playmaking right-back is valued as one of the Premier League’s most valuable players by Transfermarkt, who rate him at £59m.

Believe it or not, though, there’s a player in the mix that surpasses Alexander-Arnold in market value, and his name’s Alexis Mac Allister.

Alexis Mac Allister's importance to Liverpool

Ryan Gravenberch is earning the plaudits for his performances this season, but Mac Allister largely operates in the shadowed area just outside the limelight, though this in no way diminishes his influence in Slot’s set-up.

He’s so well-rounded, with a completeness that makes him a unique weapon for a side like Liverpool, seeking routes to win silverware across multifarious fronts.

As per FBref, Mac Allister ranks among the top 19% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 18% for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for tackles and the top 15% for progressive passes per 90.

Last season, pundit Joe Cole described the Argentina international as a “superstar” who “can play anywhere”, and it’s apt praise indeed.

Mac Allister has a gift. He’s a jack of all trades, proficient across every realm. Liverpool fell short in their bid to win the Premier League last season, but might just muster the drive needed to cross the line, should Mac Allister continue to operate at this level.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

7 (7)

Goals

5

0

Assists

5

0

Touches*

74.2

59.9

Shots (on target)*

1.3 (0.3)

0.6 (0.3)

Pass completion

88%

88%

Key passes*

1.4

1.1

Dribbles completed*

0.5

0.1

Ball recoveries*

5.9

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

4.1

3.0

Total duels

5.9

5.1

Playing further forward than he did for large portions of the 2023/24 campaign, Mac Allister is yet to hit his full stride but is still dictating and influencing with the intelligence of his distribution, high-energy and tough-tackling approach.

The 25-year-old has taken to Slot’s teachings and will only continue to grow in influence as the term goes further forward.

He’s a brilliant player, and his skyrocketing market value reflects this.

Alexis Mac Allister's market value in 2024

Mac Allister won the Carabao Cup with Liverpool last season and played a crucial role in the resurgence after the Reds fell by the wayside during the previous campaign. Remarkably, even though he had thrived with Brighton & Hove Albion and won the World Cup in Qatar, the Anfield side purchased him for an eye-catching £35m.

Transfermarkt records that Mac Allister is actually worth more than Alexander-Arnold after his exploits of recent years, marking him with a £64m price tag.

This is a significant rise from the fee that was paid in the summer of 2023 – a figure that looked a bargain at the time and now looks like an absolute steal from the Seagulls. It’s an 84% incline and an illustration of the player that he has become.

The £150k-per-week talent has so much more to give but has already raised his stock to something mirroring – and actually bettering – that of phenomenons such as Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool might have hit the jackpot, but they’ve barely even scratched the surface of the riches yet to be reaped with this one.

Liverpool wanted £235m star in the making but signed Szoboszlai instead

Liverpool’s midfield would have been taken to another level with this addition.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 7, 2024

Sunderland are set to complete another signing ahead of the transfer window slamming shut as the Black Cats have booked a medical ahead of a new arrival for Regis Le Bris' squad.

Sunderland set for busy day

Having seen Jack Clarke join Ipswich Town last week, Sunderland are set for a busy end to their summer, having welcomed just five new faces so far despite sitting top of the Championship with maximum points as it stands.

Wilson Isidore has headed that arrivals list, joining from Zenit St Petersburg on loan, while the Black Cats have also landed four other new faces on free transfers, with much of their transfer budget having been kept dry.

Sunderland's summer signings 2024
Player	Fee
Wilson Isidore	Loan
Alan Browne	Free
Ian Poveda	Free
Simon Moore	Free
Blondy Nna Noukeu	Free

Le Bris has already hinted that deadline day will be busy for the northeast side, with as many as four new players potentially arriving at the Stadium of Light.

“We are working hard and I hope that at the end we have a more balanced team, more talented players and so on,” he said.

“We don't know exactly yet what the situation will be but I'm confident because I think we have a good team with a strong core – and if we can add some specific elements to this core I think that the balance will be better. We know that this league is very long with many three-game weeks, so in these situations to have maybe two or three elements more will be interesting for us."

Now, he seems set to get his wish as his side close in on a deal.

Sunderland agree loan move to sign defender

That comes amid a report from Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, which reveals that the Black Cats have agreed a loan move to sign Welsh international and Bournemouth centre-back Chris Mepham.

The 26-year-old defender has fallen down the pecking order on the south coast, making just 10 appearances in the Premier League last season, and he is yet to be named in a matchday squad for the Cherries so far this season, underlining that he is surplus to requirements for Andoni Iraola.

Now, he is set to swap the Vitality for the Stadium of Light, with a deal having been agreed for him to spend the 2024/25 campaign with Sunderland. Sky Sports add that there is no option or obligation to buy the player at the end of his spell, but he will be hoping to reignite his career.

He has been the subject of strong praise in the past, with former Cherries boss Scott Parker singling him out for plenty of praise after he helped them to a win over Coventry in 2022.

"He was fantastic. I constantly say you need to be ready for when your opportunity comes. Chris Mepham last week, if you’d had said he’ll be coming on for 20-odd, 30-odd minutes against Coventry, he probably would’ve laughed at you and thought 'absolutely no chance, I’m at the training ground on Saturday, not even being in the squad."

Breakthrough: Sunderland agree deal for £13k-p/w international midfielder

Sunderland are on the verge of completing a signing before Friday’s deadline.

By
Brett Worthington

Aug 29, 2024

Still just 26, he has just one year left to run on his £35,000 a week deal at Bournemouth, which makes a return there unlikely in 12 months time, suggesting that he could become a free agent unless he is willing to pen a new contract before departing for the north east.

For Sunderland, it could be the first signing of what promises to be a busy deadline day for Le Bris and co, as they look to build a squad capable of sustaining a promotion charge.

Glasgow Rangers kick off their Europa League season with a trip away from Ibrox to take on Malmo in the first game of the league phase on Thursday night.

The Light Blues will play eight matches in the new-look format, in an attempt to qualify for the knockout stages, and their first opponents are the Swedish outfit.

Philippe Clement’s side dropped down into this competition after they lost to Dynamo Kyiv on aggregate over two legs in their Champions League qualifiers.

The Belgian head coach will now be eyeing up a strong run in the Europa League, potentially going one step further than Giovanni van Bronckhorst did by winning the tournament.

Rangers come into this game off the back of a 3-0 win over Dundee in the League Cup on Saturday and Clement may look to make some changes to his starting XI from that clash.

With that in mind, here is the predicted Gers line-up to take to the field against Malmo in Sweden on Thursday…

1 GK – Jack Butland

Jack Butland will be between the sticks, barring any late fitness issues, as he is the nailed on number one option for Clement in goal for Rangers.

The English shot-stopper has kept 30 clean sheets in 67 appearances for the club since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, and will be in search of number 31 against Malmo.

2 RB – James Tavernier

James Tavernier will captain the team at right-back and will be hoping to build on his positive performance against Dundee in the League Cup clash.

The English defender scored his first goal of the season, from the penalty spot, and assisted Cyriel Dessers to help Rangers on their way to a 3-0 win.

3 CB – John Souttar

At the heart of the backline, former Hearts colossus John Souttar deserves to maintain his place in the starting XI after helping his side to keep a clean sheet last time out.

The Scotland international has also helped his team to keep three clean sheets in five Scottish Premiership matches this season, and will hopefully provide a strong presence at the back against Malmo.

4 CB – Robin Propper

Alongside Souttar, Robin Propper should be selected once again on the left side of the defence for the Gers, as he is comfortable playing out from the back on either foot.

Rangers have kept shutouts in three of the centre-back’s last four starts in all competitions, which shows that he has been part of a strong defensive unit.

5 LB – Jefte

Ridvan Yilmaz is currently missing through injury and that has left Jefte as the only natural left-back option in the first-team squad, which is why he will keep his place in the team.

The Brazilian full-back recently caught the eye by winning six of his seven ground duels and making two tackles and two interceptions in the win over Dundee United.

6 CM – Connor Barron

At the base of the midfield, the energetic Connor Barron should be selected once again, after an impressive start to life at Ibrox following his move from Aberdeen in the summer transfer window.

The Scotland U21 international has been a combative presence in the middle of the park for the Gers in the Premiership, with 3.0 tackles and interceptions combined and 4.0 ball recoveries per game respectively in the division.

7 CM – Mohamed Diomande

Alongside the Scottish dynamo, Clement should make the first change to the starting XI by bringing Mohammed Diomande into the team to replace Dujon Sterling.

The versatile English ace started the 3-0 win over Dundee but was withdrawn from the action at half-time, Glasgow World subsequently handed him a player rating of 5/10.

Diomande should now be unleashed ahead of the former Chelsea man, due to the creativity quality that he could bring to the team in midfield.

The Ivorian magician has created three ‘big chances’ in four starts in the Premiership this season, which suggests that the left-footed whiz has the ability to unlock the Malmo defence to create quality opportunities for his teammates.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

The second change to the starting XI could come on the right side of the attack, with Ross McCausland unleashed ahead of Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny.

In a European clash away from home, the pace of the academy graduate on the flank could be a useful weapon for Clement to have in his side, as it opens up more possibilities on the counter.

Cerny’s lack of mobility restricts what he can provide when his team is sat deeper, rather than dominating the possession and playing higher up the pitch, and that could make him more useful as a substitute if Rangers are pushing for a goal late on.

Therefore, McCausland, who came on for Cerny in the 68th minute last time out, could be preferred for tactical reasons for this clash with Malmo.

9 AM – Tom Lawrence

Tom Lawrence should keep his place in the starting XI as the number ten for Rangers after a return of two goals and one assist in his last four appearances in all competitions.

The Welsh wizard did not directly contribute to a goal in the 3-0 win over Dundee on Saturday but did provide a brilliant flick to set Nedim Bajrami away for the third goal.

10 LW – Nedim Bajrami

The Light Blues signed the Albania international from Sassuolo on deadline day and he notched his first goal contribution with an assist for Dessers on Saturday.

Bajrami, who crossed from the left for the striker to convert against Dundee, will be looking to provide a creative spark on the flank on Thursday night.

Consistency is still proving to be elusive for the Red Devils, with a number of players guilty of not meeting the new manager's standards

“A lot of it is mental. You can feel not just the players, also the fans, everybody’s so anxious. Everybody’s tired of this moment." Ruben Amorim certainly looked a tired man at his press conference, which was briefly interrupted by a leak in the media room ceiling at Old Trafford, after Manchester United's dismal 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday.

That result left United in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time ever, with Amorim's revolution still yet to properly get off the ground. United are controlling games now – they bossed possession against Bournemouth and had 23 shots to the visitors' 10 – but the Red Devils cannot build any momentum because of a lack of cutting-edge up front and constant mistakes at the back.

Amorim has recorded four losses, one draw and just four wins from his first nine games at the helm, which is obviously not good enough. United are out of the Carabao Cup and it will take a miracle for them to finish in the top four come May. But most of the blame must be laid at the players' door, not Amorim's.

There is a select group, in particular, that keeps letting the Portuguese tactician down. Some are simply not good enough for United, while others have become far too complacent, and they are all responsible for fuelling the anxiety Amorim can sense around Old Trafford. GOAL takes a look at United's sluggish six:

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Diogo Dalot

  Amorim has been forced to ask a lot of Diogo Dalot. With the injury-ravaged Luke Shaw still unavailable, Dalot has switched between left and right wing-back from game to game, tasked with getting up and down the pitch non-stop in Amorim's physically demanding 3-4-3 system.

  Dalot's work-rate cannot be questioned, and he's putting in the hard yards with no complaints. But his quality can. The Portugal international's final ball is erratic at best, which explains why he's only notched one Premier League assist this season, and he's an easy target for opponents in defence.

  In one-on-one situations, Dalot gives wingers way too much space to manoeuvre and he's often caught out of position when the ball is knocked in behind. No amount of coaching from Amorim can fix these weaknesses; Dalot has been a liability for United because of his low footballing IQ ever since his arrival from Porto in 2018, and should be among those to be ushered toward the exits next summer.

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  Joshua Zirkzee

  United paid £36 million ($45m) to bring Joshua Zirkzee to Old Trafford from Bologna, where he was compared to Ronaldinho by former manager Thiago Motta. Erik ten Hag thought he was getting an accomplished link-man who could complete United's attack, but Zirkzee's first few months in the Premier League have been a disaster, with Amorim also yet to bring the best out of him.

  The Netherlands international just hasn't been able to get to grips with the intensity of English football. He's not aggressive enough on or off the ball, and misses too many easy chances. Some games completely pass Zirkzee by, including the Bournemouth loss, which saw him record only 19 touches before being hooked in the 54th minute. Even when he does find himself in space, his execution often lets him down, and he lacks the personality to take games by the scruff of the neck.

  Zirkzee hasn't done enough to justify United's sizeable investment in his talent, and it has been reported that they could loan the 23-year-old out in January, which would confirm his place on the club's ever-growing list of major flop signings. One things for sure: no one will be mentioning Zirkzee in the same breath as Ronaldinho again any time soon.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Antony

  Antony's inclusion on this list might seem harsh to some. After all, the Brazil international has only started two games game under Amorim so far, with the former Sporting CP boss preferring Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui on the right flank.

  But that doesn't excuse how bad Antony continues to look in a United shirt. He completely blew his latest chance to show his worth after being deployed in United's front three against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, losing the ball 11 times and coming off second-best in nine of his 13 ground duels. Amorim substituted the Brazil international before the hour mark, but the damage had already been done as Spurs raced into a 3-0 lead.

  Antony doesn't offer anything going forward or in defence, resembling a headless chicken when trying to dribble past his marker or win the ball back. Most 24-year-olds playing at top clubs have at least a few useful attributes, but Antony is completely inept, and United must look to cut their losses on the £85m ($107m) winger as soon as the January transfer window opens.

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  Andre Onana

  Andre Onana was staking a strong claim to be United's most-improved player in the first four months of the season. The former Inter goalkeeper seemed to have cut out the errors that overshadowed his debut year at Old Trafford and he was pulling off some superhuman saves, most notably in Amorim's first game against Ipswich, as his heroics ensured that United left Portman Road with an undeserved draw.

  But the resurgence hasn't lasted. Onana was truly awful in the Red Devils' home defeat to Nottingham Forest on December 7, letting a tame Morgan Gibbs-White shot slip past him before watching a Chris Wood header slowly bounce into his far corner. Five days later, his hospital pass out from the back gifted Viktoria Plzen the lead in a Europa League clash that ended up being far more dramatic than it needed to be.

  United have also conceded seven goals from set-pieces in their past six games, and Onana's reluctance to venture more than two yards off his line is a big reason for that; the Cameroonian doesn't command his box like the best United 'keepers used to, which creates nervousness in the defence.

  David de Gea's final years at the club were miserable, but Onana has still yet to prove himself as an upgrade on the Spaniard.

Another big name could also leave Chelsea with Raheem Sterling, as uncertainty surrounds the Englishman's future under Enzo Maresca.

Sterling releases Chelsea statement after Man City squad omission

The 29-year-old's omission from Chelsea's opening Premier League matchday squad to face Man City last weekend resulted in mountains of speculation, as reports claim a potential exit for Sterling is on the cards before deadline day.

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Maresca claimed Sterling's absence from the Chelsea squad to face City was a "technical decision", but reliable media sources like The Guardian rebuff this and write that the ex-Liverpool winger is facing a very real prospect of being sold.

Indeed, it is believed Maresca has privately told Sterling to consider leaving Chelsea, and the £325,000-per-week star is personally concerned that he won't feature in the club's plans moving forward.

The player's camp released a statement, attempting to quash rumours of a possible goodbye before August 31, whilst stating that Sterling is committed to the club.

Appearances

81

Goals

19

Assists

12

Yellow cards

13

Red cards

0

Minutes played

5,321

Transfermarkt

"Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years," said a spokesperson for Sterling on his Chelsea future.

"He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.

"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.

"As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation."

Since that message was released to the public, it has been met with criticism, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp calling it "really poor".

"That's absolute rubbish, he should do better than that," said Redknapp on Sky.

"His representatives should do better than that. That's a really poor statement. There's other players that could be putting statements out that aren't in the squad.

"He hasn't done well enough. It's your opinion, if you think you've been doing well enough in pre-season, just keep doing better. The manager's opinion is the only one that counts and if he's not going to pick you that's unlucky. You have to get back in training tomorrow morning and be the best trainer and show that you want to play. That's the only way you're going to get back in the team."

As plenty of noise surrounds Sterling, the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Ben Chilwell could also part company with Maresca in the coming 11 days.

Chilwell could leave Man City with Sterling as Man United ponder deal

Like Sterling, the latter £200,000-per-week star was left out of Maresca's squad to face City on Sunday.

Maresca holds doubts over Chilwell's suitability for the left-back role, with Marc Cucurella also fresh off the back of an impressive Euro 2024 campaign.

According to CaughtOffside, Chilwell could leave Chelsea with Sterling, and Manchester United are even considering a swoop for the Englishman as they eye up a new left-back. He is apparently another big name to watch out for in terms of exits, with Maresca seemingly unafraid to swing the axe on high-profile stars.