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.
Sport
Manchester United have been linked with a move for a Real Madrid legend
Danny Jones
Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing football legend and former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, over a decade on from the last time he was linked with the club.
Yes, after the notion of signing the Spanish defender first cropped circa 2009, and then again in 2015 (that time with the possibility of David de Gea famously going the other way), the European footballing veteran is set to be pursued by a number of teams next month.
One might even consider a third turn around the ‘could he?’ carousel towards the same club, not unlike the Wesley Sneijder-Man United equivalent of the transfer rumour mill.
Nevertheless, it appears as if it’s come round once again, though it remains to be seen just whether or not the story has any serious legs.
According to Spanish news outlet and radio station, Cadena SER, Sergio Ramos is now being eyed up for a potential move to Manchester, and the idea of him finally donning a United shirt might not be so far-fetched after all.
Now 39 years old and having personally announced that he won’t be signing a new deal at CF Monterrey, he will soon be available as a free agent in the upcoming January transfer window.
Ramos, a World Cup and Euros winner – not to mention serial La Liga and Champions League trophy collector – joined the Mexican club back in February after more than 16 years with the European giants, but his contract runs out at the end of this December.
Despite being set to enter his 40s and already well into the second decade of his professional career, the latest is that the Red Devils have now put forward a ‘formal offer’ to reunite the established, serial winner and senior star with his former and equally decorated teammate, Casemiro.
🚨🚨🌖| BREAKING: Manchester United have formally put forward an offer to bring Sergio Ramos to Old Trafford in the January window. [@La_SER via @goal] pic.twitter.com/QpOlL4izk2
It goes without saying that not only will numerous teams be throwing their hat in the ring to sign Ramos this January, but any side would benefit from having such a strong and experienced leadership presence in the dressing room, let alone Ruben Amorim‘s squad.
Better still, bringing in a player of his calibre on a free will be seen as an absolute coup by whoever eventually secures his signature.
However, as per GOAL (who also shared the claims made by Cadena SER earlier this week), while the Spaniard is said to have no intention of hanging up his boots just yet and still wants to try and compete at the top level, it is thought he would like a second return to Sevilla.
The belief is that when Ramos does retire, it will be back at his boyhood club – but before that, we couldn’t really be about to see him in the red of a Man United shirt… could we?
A short train ride away to Cheshire, and being a big Man United fan basically counts, if you ask us.
Yes, Warrington’s very own Luke Littler has been named on the shortlist for the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year, quite literally 12 months from his previous nomination.
Littler, who is still only 18, did go on to win the 2024 Young SPOTY last December – a very decent consolation prize following his blockbuster debut year or so – but he has been tipped as a bookies’ favourite this time around.
He’s also been voted for that award again this year, so you’d hope he’d be walking away with at least one of the trophies, though it’d be far from his only one of late.
Since then, the young sporting prodigy has gone on to win all but two of the 10 PDC majors, including two Premier League Darts titles.
In fact, if you want to look at how his arrival onto the senior professional darts circuit breaks down, you can take a gander at the frankly staggering stats behind his breakthrough down below.
As you can see, other nominees include former Manchester City Women’s star Chloe Kelly and Lioness, Hannah Hampton; rugby union and national team member, Ellie Kildunne, F1 favourite Lando Norris, as well as Irish golfer, Rory McIlroy (not for the first time).
We’ll confess we’re very much biased and backing local lad Littler – sue us.
The other Young SPOTY nominees for 2025 include another rising England star in Michelle Agyemang and Northern Superchargers cricket talent, Davina Perrin.
Being hosted over at MediaCityUK in Salford once again, voting will take place during the show on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer on Thursday, 18 December.
Kate Jackson -
19th June 2020 
