Key events<\/p>\n
More good news for Bournemouth, Kroupi returning from his pre-season injury. He replaces Evanilson, with Adli on for Tavernier.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n At Anfield, an attractive match is sputtering to a close with Brighton still seeking the goal that\u2019d make things uncomfortable for Liverpool, but without really suggesting a goal is imminent. At Old Trafford, Lacey makes room down the right by diddling Truffert with a stop and sway, lifting a ball to the back post which ends up knocked behind for a corner. I really don\u2019t understand why he\u2019s not been seen since Brighton, given what\u2019s been going on. He lacks a bit of pace and power, but has trickery and bravery, two aspects currently notable by their absence, and isn\u2019t tainted by the failure in the way others are.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Looking forward, the problem United have is that the people in charge of sacking managers ought really to sack themselves first? How many more mistakes can Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada be allowed, given what happened with Erik ten Hag, Dan Ashworth, Ruben Amorim and Carrick, along with the transfer-market messes?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Carrick sends on Shea Lacey, mystifyingly ignored after being given a chance against Brighton in the League Cup and scoring a beauty. He replaces Amad, unproductive yet again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The story today will, of course, be how awful United are and the likelihood they change manager in the next few days. But Bournemouth have been good and everything they aren\u2019t, quick, strong, focused, organised, competent, inventive and so on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Carrick sends on Zirkzee for Baleba, which makes you wonder why he put Bruno on the bench; there\u2019s no footballing justification for leaving him on there, so if it\u2019s unitive, why not leave him out altogether? Revenge? I guess he probably isn\u2019t getting the chance to wreak any more.<\/p>\n Photograph: Gary Oakley\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.38 EDT<\/p>\n WHAT A GOAL! Manchester United 0-3 AFC Bournemouth (Evanilson 71)<\/p>\n Adams swings a pass in behind, inside-right channel, and Evanilson is on to it, Lammens racing out but arriving second \u2013 perhaps the ball held up in the wind, perhaps he was never getting there. So Evanilson pokes past the keeper on the inside, runs past on the outside and, from outside the box, right-hand side of it, with Maguire lolloping back to cover, swings a stunning finish high into the far side-netting! Bournemouth have won 3-0 at Old Trafford twice in the last three seasons, and they\u2019re poised to do so again \u2013 but might make things yet worse for United.<\/p>\n Stunning from Evanilson. Photograph: Chris Radburn\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.34 EDT<\/p>\n Liverpool push for a third goal, Gakpo away down the right but failing to find the ma in the middle.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n United are, at least, spending some time attacking this half, Martinez shooting wide from distance, but they\u2019re not sustaining attacks not seriously extending Petrovic. At Anfield, Nyoni has replaced Wirtz but is now struggling himself.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another change from Carrick and again it\u2019s not Bruno, Martinez on for Heaven, who had a shocker. For all the difference it makes, Rayan easing past Dalot and running atMartinez, who steps across him, only to allow his man through on the inside. he has options at the far post too, but opts to shoot, his low effort scuttling just wide.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Hull City 1-1 Brentford (Ouattara 63)<\/p>\n A ball swung into the box bumps about, then Igor Thiago finds Ouattara and he taps home from a few yards.<\/p>\n Dango Ouattara equalises for Brentford! Photograph: Alex Livesey\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.29 EDT<\/p>\n Change for Bournemouth, Gannon-Doak on for Kluivert.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n United are pushing at OT, Mbeumo going down when Adams jumps into him \u2013 United want a penalty but they\u2019re never getting that \u2013 then, when Yoro finds him, he swings a shot over the bar. So they come again, Dalot lifting over Smith\u2019s foot to go down the line and winning a corner, driven into Petrovic\u2019s gloves.<\/p>\n Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.25 EDT<\/p>\n At Anfield, Brighton probe seeking a route back into the game, Yalcouye on for Chema. Oh, and as I type, Wirtz flails a leg at Ayari, fouling with the ball out of reach, lands awkwardly, and gosh, he looks in a lot of pain. He does, though, make a quick recovery, so will, I think, be back on shortly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-2 Newcastle United (Barnes 58)<\/p>\n Pierre Sage is another manager in deep trouble, Newcastle working Dedic into space down the right of the box, with his hard square-pass swept home by Barnes.<\/p>\n Harvey Barnes makes it 2-0 to Newcastle. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.21 EDT<\/p>\n In comms, Gary Neville thinks Tielemans should\u2019ve stayed on with Andrey Santos going off, and it\u2019s hard to argue with that. United need goals, Tielemans can supply them, and Baleba should supply the solidity necessary given the game-state.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHalf-time sacking,\u201d begins Ingo hHrtzke. \u201cThat question has come up before \u2013 so I\u2019m once more sending a famous example from Germany\u2019s 2nd division, about 26 years ago in December 1999 Toni Schumacher was managing Fortuna Cologne, who had a very colourful chairman at the time: Jean L\u00f6ring. After a spell of bad results they were trailing 0-2 at home to Mannheim at half time, L\u00f6ring stormed into the dressing room and shouted: \u2018Piss off, you wanker! I never want to see you again.\u2019 (That\u2019s how Schumacher told it in his memoir.) To the press afterwards, he spoke the immortal words: \u2018As the club, I had to act.\u2019 Classic.\u201d<\/p>\n A lovely example of l\u2019etat c\u2019est moi, but looking at this United side, 1999 was at least 260 years ago.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure what Carrick\u2019s trying to achieve by not bringing Bruno on. United probably won\u2019t come back with him, but without him, it feels impossible.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At Palace, Willock is sent through and finishes well, doing what Rayan tried to but well \u2026 only for VAR to show a shoulder offside.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Heaven, having a mare, passes straight to Rayan, who exchanges passes with Kluivert then opens body to find the far corner only to finish too close to Lammens, who saves.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Not all that long ago, in October 2018, Jose Mourinho was about to get sacked with United 2-o down at home to Newcastle. Then they came back, won 3-2, and Mourinho lasted until just before Christmas, wreaking yet further havoc in the meantime.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Goodness me, a ricochet off heaven, dithering from Maguire, and a pass in behind is tucked away by Evanilson \u2026 who\u2019s offside. He leaves that for Rayan, and it\u2019s 3-0. United are an absolute debacle.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Newcastle United (Osula 48)<\/p>\n Newcastle build down the right and Murphy swings over a brilliant cross, which Osula tucks home at the near post and on the volley.<\/p>\n Will Osula scores for Newcastle! Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.13 EDT<\/p>\n At Old Trafford, still no Bruno Fernandes, but Cunha is on for Tielemans. We\u2019re underway again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEamon Dunphy, in his fine diary of a season Only a Game?, broke the substitute\u2019s omert\u00e0 by revealing that most players who are dropped are delighted when their replacements fail on the pitch,\u201d says Justin Kavanagh. \u201cI\u2019m sure Bruno Fernandes has a warm glow inside as he sits listening to Carrick\u2019s half-time farewell speech team-talk.\u201d<\/p>\n I found that book in the school library aged about 13 and it properly opened my eyes. I was lucky enough to interview Dunphy when making the film Busby, a complete thrill \u2013 his book A Strange Kind of Glory is a classic \u2013 and only he would have tossed all the interviews he did for it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Half-time email: \u201cIsak, Wirtz and Barcola seem to be finding their feet at last,\u201d writes Colum Fordham, \u201cand pretty good feet they have too. Liverpool once again pose an attacking threat to any team but the shambolic defence \u2013 Van Dijk a shadow of his former self and the erratic Kerkez – threaten to undo the good work. Araujo is definitely one of the most exciting of the new acquisitions for the Reds, his dynamism and strength very much needed. Iraola is managing to keep the dangerous Brighton at bay.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m still not convinced by Wirtz, who flits in and out and doesn\u2019t, I don\u2019t think, make good decisions quickly enough when nuder pressure. But Isak is a class act, and Barcola is excellent when offered space in behind. I don\u2019t love him in tight situations, but if he can improve his, er key actions, i.e. his final pass and finishing, he can be a factor in the Prem.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Looking again at the second Bournemouth goal, Yoro, though he slips, also slows down, when all he needed to do was tap back to Lammens. Without that indecision, he\u2019s no chance to slip because the ball\u2019s already gone.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019d not be shocked if Carrick makes United\u2019s call for them, Kevin Keegan for England-style \u2013 or wouldn\u2019t be if there wasn\u2019t cashmoney involved. He surely knows this is too far gone for him to resolve, and he\u2019s clearly hating every second of it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also going on:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>HALF-TIME: Hull City 1-0 Brentford<\/p>\n McBurnie\u2019s penalty the difference at the KC as Hull continue their fine start to Premier League<\/a> life.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>HALF-TIME: Manchester United 0-2 AFC Bournemouth<\/p>\n Bournemouth have been energetically excellent, United soporifically shambolic.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>HALF-TIME: Liverpool 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion<\/p>\n Liverpool look really good going forward but so do Brighton; neither look much cop at the back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n United make a bit of space and Tielemans squares for Santos, who near-enough misses his kick, then the ref goes to book Maguire for a shove earlier in the piece.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>HALF-TIME: Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle United<\/p>\n Nothing between the teams at Selhurst.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Nothing-Nil in south London. Photograph: Javier Garc\u00eda\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.59 EDT<\/p>\n Two additional minutes at Old Trafford, three at Anfield. Meantime, Amad chops inside Smith and falls \u2013 he wants a penalty, but it\u2019s nothing of the sort.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis must be the most mediocre Man Utd XI since the late 80s side of Duxbury, Phelan and Blackmore,\u201d writes Brian Broderick. \u201cBut if you give Chelsea \u00a3100m for Mount and Santos, that\u2019s where you end up. Which is pretty much what Martinez was saying.\u201d<\/p>\n At least those United sides had Robson, Hughes, Whiteside and McGrath, absolute giants all. I said earlier there are some good players in this squad and there are, but they\u2019re devoid of confidence, organisation and moxie.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Manchester United 0-2 AFC Bournemouth (Tavernier 41)<\/p>\n Has a manager ever been sacked at half-time before? A ball in behind Yoro should pose no problem but, out of nowhere but also straight out of M16, Yoro slips, Truffert squares, and Tavernier sweeps home. United are awful, while Bournemouth are all over it.<\/p>\n Uh oh. Marcus Tavernier makes it 2-0. Photograph: Conor Molloy\/ProSports\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.48 EDT<\/p>\n United try to hit back immediately. First, Tielemans is booked, then Mount, having wandered infield, slides a pass ahead of Mbeumo, inside-left position, and he shoots across goal, but Petrovic tips away. \u201cDown with the City!\u201d choruses the away end.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 AFC Bournemouth (Rayan 38)<\/p>\n Loads of players stand offside and come back but Rayan, the furthest left, is alone and on, mooching on to Kluivert\u2019s outswinging cross to guide a sidefooter into the ground and past Lammens at his near post. It\u2019s been coming.<\/p>\n Oh dear. Photograph: Chris Radburn\/ReutersRayan scores for Bournemouth! Photograph: Darren Staples\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.47 EDT<\/p>\n Back to Old Trafford now, where Heaven launches two-footed into a challenge, and is saved by Evanilson stepping out of the way. He\u2019s booked, but if he\u2019d made contact, it\u2019s a red card; lucky boy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A poor kick-out from Alisson puts Liverpool in trouble and Brighton win the ball back, working it to Ayari, who bends a low shot around the keeper, not yet back on his line \u2026 and hits the base of the post!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Harry Messguire lummoxes past a few challenges, but can\u2019t find a shooting lane, so passes backwards The crowd though, appreciate the intention and might it spur United to do something? They get the ball wide to Amad, who then leaves it behind him and, when he gets it back, plays a poor pass.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Seagulls have been a shambles at the back,\u201d reckons K\u00e1ri Tulinius. \u201cBeing 2-0 down is the least they deserve. Nevertheless, when they mount an attack, Liverpool defend in a panic, and I doubt they\u2019ll keep a clean sheet. There\u2019s no way there won\u2019t be more goals in this match.\u201d<\/p>\n I \u2018m inclined to agree \u2013 Brighton attack well and Liverpool defend chaotically. If the former manage a livener before the latter bag a clincher, this could be a really exciting contest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n United are offering so little in attack \u2013 no width, no 1v1 ability, no sharp passing \u2013 and when, as I type, a lovely flick behind the standing leg allows Baleba to find Tielemans, Mbeumo checks his run and the attempted through-pass is easily cut out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Better from United, Yoro into Tielemans, who flicks superbly for Baleba down the right. He\u2019s got Mbeumo in the middle, but roughly 94 defenders blocking the route to him, and Hill does well to slide in and intercept the cross.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A decent ball in from Adams, to which an unsighted Evanilson can\u2019t quite introduce a head. Bournemouth haven\u2019t had that many chances, but they\u2019ve had loads of good situations, whereas United have had none.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Hull City 1-0 Brentford (McBurnie 24 pen)<\/p>\n We\u2019re not shown for what it was given, but McBurnie dispatches it with a confident roll, Kelleher diving out of the road.<\/p>\n Oli McBurnie puts Hull ahead from the spot. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.33 EDT<\/p>\n United are just so careless with the ball. Lammens catches a cross and tries to set a counter in motion, but his roll-out sells Mbeumo short and instead, Bournemouth counter. Oh and Andre Santos was booked a few minutes for a lunge; the same has since been done by and to Tyler Adams.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It didn\u2019t look great initially ad they\u2019re still too easy to get at, but we can now say that Liverpool have made a decent start under Andoni Iraola. They\u2019ve got into the habit of winning, Isak is scoring, and they\u2019ve loads of attacking options, while Araujo has given them physicality and aggression they lacked not just last season but even the one before when they won the league.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (Isak 21)<\/p>\n It\u2019s taken a while, but Alexander Isak is a Liverpool player now. Boscagli makes a mess controlling an Alisson kick, Barcola does really well to rob him, and from there, it\u2019s simple competence, a careful cross into the middle and a composed sidefooted finish. Yasiin Ayari will be feeling very, very poorly, and this could yet get a lot worse.<\/p>\n Alexander Isak makes it 2-0 to Liverpool. What a start for the home side! Photograph: Jan Kruger\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.26 EDT<\/p>\n Liverpool keep at it, Verbruggen forced to dive full-length to stop a shot directed across him by Gakpo. Meantime, back in Manchester, it\u2019s now a more even game, though Boournemouth know they can pretty much allow Dalot to have the ball in dangerous areas because nothing will happen thereafter \u2013 and, as I type, he lashes a hopeful shot miles from anywhere.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (Wirtz 17)<\/p>\n That is how much Brighton will regret missing that chance. Araujo does brilliantly down the right \u2013 what an acquisition he\u2019s been so far \u2013 ruckusing hard to recover possession before crossing low. The ball hits Gross, lands in front of Wirtz, and though he shoots seeking the far corner, a huge deflection off Andres wrongfoots Verbruggen and gives Liverpool the lead.<\/p>\n Florian Wirtz fires Liverpool in front! Photograph: Jan Kruger\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.22 EDT<\/p>\n Back to OT and it\u2019s slightly better from United, Mbeumo finding space before running into trouble. They are, though, keeping the ball now, with Baleba seemingly settled into the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Oh, but here come Brighton! They fight down the right, Gomez in behind and taking a pass from Gross before cutting back for Ayari, 10 yards out \u2026 who panels over the bar! What a chance that was, and how might Brighton rue spurning it?<\/p>\n