Manchester United return to action in the Premier League
Manchester City cruised to an easy win against Arsenal on Wednesday night but will Manchester United be able to take maximum points in crucial match against Spurs?
The first day back of the restarted season had it all.
Goal line technology faulted during Villa’s match up with Sheffield United, denying the latter a clear goal; David Luiz had a horror show against City, giving away a goal, a penalty and getting himself sent off; and the dominant image of the day was all 22 players (plus the referees) taking the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement at the start of each game.
Tonight, Manchester United return to action for their first time since March in their crucial match with Spurs – as Jose Mourinho looks to close the four-point gap on his former team.
The Red Devils come into the game unbeaten in all competitions since January and will be hoping that the three-month break will not have hindered their momentum as they push for a top four position.
A win will put United ahead of Chelsea in fourth position, who take on Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
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Spurs come into the game in wobblier form, drawing once and losing twice in their last three games in the Premier League.
However, Harry Kane will finally be back in contention for Spurs, having failed to feature for Jose’s side since the defeat to Southampton on New Year’s Day.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will also be boosted by the return of key players, as Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford return to the squad after long stints on the sidelines.
Pogba may have made little impact on United’s season but fans will be hoping that the Frenchman links up well with January-signing and new star man Bruno Fernandes.
Rashford, who scored twice against Spurs in the win at Old Trafford in December, was having his best season at United before injury put him out of action.
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Mancunian born and bred, Rashford has been in the spotlight outside of football this week after steering the Government into a u-turn on the free school meals policy this summer.
Rashford has been praised by many in the country, including his manager at the pre-match press conference.
“Marcus is such a top, top human being and he’s brought his own experiences as a kid into this conversation and changed the lives of so many kids…,” said Solskjaer.
“So, he’s already been the captain of the club at such a young age and he’s proving all the time his human qualities which is the main attribute for a Man United player, along with his qualities as a player.”
Will Rashford once again prove to be the difference?
United will take on Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium at 8:15pm on Friday the 19th and will be shown on Sky Sports.
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Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Kate Jackson -
19th June 2020 
