theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from another entertaining weekend of Premier League football.
Man United have no shame
No one is surprised Manchester City won yet another derby and by such a convincing margin. This is less of a rivalry and more of a formality for the blue half of Manchester. There will be anomalies – like Manchester United’s 2-1 victory in January – but there’s a reason City have won four of the last five derbies by a combined score of 16-6.
What’s surprising is just how quickly United seemed to accept defeat in this increasingly lopsided fixture. Facing a two-goal deficit with 40 minutes still to play, the Red Devils made little effort to gain even a tiny foothold in the match. Club captain Bruno Fernandes spent more time sulking than inspiring his teammates, and none of United’s other senior players laid down a gauntlet. The only time Old Trafford awoke from its depressing slumber was when Christian Eriksen won a corner kick. But the crushing sound of silence returned only a few seconds later.
United only came to life in fleeting moments, when Scott McTominay found room to shoot, when Rasmus Hojlund broke free of his markers, and when Marcus Rashford arrowed a low attempt across goal. But those were exceptions. United did very little to prevent another humbling. In fact, it would’ve been far worse had goalkeeper Andre Onana not proven equal to multiple tasks.
Injuries can only excuse so much. It can’t excuse Diogo Dalot blowing his assignment on the right flank and allowing space for Bernardo Silva to set up Haaland for his second goal of the night. It can’t excuse the colossal miscommunication between Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans that nearly cost United another goal. It can’t excuse a vengeful Fernandes trying to swipe at Jeremy Doku as the final minutes ticked off the clock or Antony risking a red card after moping on the sidelines for 86 minutes.
And yet manager Erik ten Hag still somehow felt “the execution of the game plan was very good,” according to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney. If the game plan was to create a tiny fraction of City’s chances and lose without dignity, then bravo.
How can United even begin to rebuild when the manager refuses to see the truth? Predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was pilloried for such wilful ignorance.
If he can’t hold himself accountable, how can he possibly hold his players to any standard? It’s like he’s given up. A man who once fined Rashford for arriving late to training can’t continue to overlook his abject form. A man who has had a year and a half and £500 million can’t ask for even more time and money. A man who already made a scapegoat of Cristiano Ronaldo can’t possibly continue to do the same to other players. And yet, Jadon Sancho remains banished pending an apology to the manager himself.
The problem with United is beyond tactical. It’s an infection of the mind and spirit, and in times of absolute despondency, a disciplinarian like Ten Hag can cause enough tension and resentment to destroy any hope within the group.
Ultimately, United have enough talent in their squad to do the odd thing right, and they’ll win another game, but until they create a positive winning culture, they’ll continue to suffer nights like this and watch as their fans empty a cathedral of football that lost faith a long time ago. – Anthony Lopopolo
Wasteful Chelsea pay the price again
Christopher Nkunku’s return can’t come soon enough.
Chelsea were wasteful yet again on Saturday and, yet again, were made to pay for their profligacy in a dispiriting 2-0 home defeat to Brentford.
Going into the match at Stamford Bridge, only Everton (5.9) and Bournemouth (3.4) – both wallowing near the foot of the table – had underperformed their expected goals totals by a greater margin than Chelsea (3.3) this season. That trend continued. A run of three consecutive games with at least two tallies, including a four-goal explosion – by their standards – came to a halt with the Blues’ familiar failings shining through against Thomas Frank’s team. Raheem Sterling, Chelsea’s leading scorer with a modest mark of three goals, spurned a good opportunity from close range, while starting No. 9 Nicolas Jackson’s most notable contribution was getting into an argument with a disgruntled fan, who appeared to question his scoring exploits.
“We had the chances, the control. We were so good, but in the last 30 meters, you have to be clinical,” Mauricio Pochettino said, according to Agence-France Presse, adding that it was “difficult to accept the defeat” after dictating proceedings in the opening half.
That’s been a consistent sentiment for some time. It’s early enough in the season that banking on scoring levels to regress to the mean is still acceptable. Still, at some point, the Blues need to actually find the net consistently, lest their team scoring total gets overtaken by Erling Haaland. We’re not too far off that happening again.
Nkunku, yet to make his competitive debut for the club after suffering a knee injury in preseason, is closing in on his awaited return. That should help to cure Chelsea’s scoring woes. It has to. – Gianluca Nesci
Quick free-kicks
Liverpool are back to being Liverpool
Liverpool have won each of their last eight home matches this season, including Sunday’s thoroughly convincing 3-0 evisceration of Nottingham Forest. The Reds have managed to scale the low defensive blocks that stymied them last year, and their best players are now producing on a regular basis. Mohamed Salah is creating quality chances, and even Darwin Nunez is finishing them off. But perhaps the most important thing Liverpool have rediscovered is their sense of togetherness. This is a team again. They’re a team in the way they play and in the way they look out for one another. The kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s parents in Colombia made Sunday’s fixture one of the “most difficult” of Jurgen Klopp’s career, but his players rallied with the professionalism that eluded them during their identity crisis last season. – Lopopolo
Silva sets the standard
The main takeaway from Sunday’s Manchester derby was the sheer ineptitude of United – but it would be unfair to overlook how City professionally dismantled their great rivals. Bernardo Silva summed up his team’s display as he intelligently slithered into space, appearing in areas across the midfield, and calmly dictated the tempo when he had the ball. His floated delivery for Erling Haaland’s header was perfect. Silva enjoys facing United: He’s now been involved in seven goals (two goals, five assists) in 11 league matches against the Red Devils. He’s rightly one of the first names on Pep Guardiola’s team sheet for any high-stakes fixture. – Daniel Rouse
Can Aston Villa keep this up?
The true test of Aston Villa’s top-four credentials awaits. Unai Emery’s side reconvenes after the November international break to contest five matches in just 14 days, and that busy spell includes meetings with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Arsenal. However, Villa’s progress under the Spanish tactician is staggering: After Sunday’s 3-1 win over Luton Town, the Villans have recorded 12 consecutive home league wins, dropped just two points over the past two months, and boast an average of 2.6 goals per game. Aston Villa last finished among England’s best quartet in the 1995-96 season. – Rouse
Nketiah shines in Jesus’ absence
With Gabriel Jesus set to miss more time after his latest injury, Arsenal need Eddie Nketiah, the club’s most natural replacement in the No. 9 role, to keep the goals flowing. He delivered on Saturday, scoring the first Premier League hat-trick of his career in a 5-0 dismantling of Sheffield United. His three markers showed off the well-rounded nature of his game. He opened the scoring at the Emirates with a splendid touch-and-finish after receiving a pass from Declan Rice, doubled his team’s lead with an opportunistic close-range effort off a scrambled corner kick, and then completed his treble with a ferocious rising strike from outside the penalty area. Injuries and key absences were a big reason why Arsenal’s title challenge wilted last season. Nketiah can help ensure that doesn’t happen again. – Nesci
Sheffield United’s recipe for disaster
Sheffield United are making the wrong type of history. Paul Heckingbottom’s team is off to the worst-ever start to a Premier League season after 10 games, having amassed one measly point, nine defeats, and a minus-22 goal differential following Saturday’s shellacking at the hands of Arsenal. The Blades have conceded 29 goals on the campaign thus far – nearly three per match – and barely even sniffed the Arsenal penalty area over 90 one-sided minutes. The closest they came to scoring was a speculative long-range effort from Gustavo Hamer, whose shot from the halfway line missed the target. An inability to craft chances, together with a permeable Swiss cheese defense, is a recipe for relegation. – Nesci
Newcastle’s depth being tested
Newcastle got hit with a spate of injuries at the worst possible moment. The Magpies were always going to feel the strain and added burden that accompanies Champions League football at some point this season. But with a daunting November on the horizon, this is perhaps the least opportune time for Eddie Howe to be without several key contributors. Newcastle’s upcoming schedule reads as follows: Manchester United (Carabao Cup), Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund (Champions League), Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League) before kicking off the busy December slate by taking on the Red Devils once more in league play. It’s an absolute gauntlet that’s coinciding with injuries to Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, and Jacob Murphy, plus the unforeseen suspension for Sandro Tonali. Can Howe successfully guide his squad through the storm? – Nesci
Stat of the weekend
Maybe Chelsea should consider hiring Thomas Frank to turn their dreadful home form around.
Tweet of the weekend
With just one point from 10 matches so far this season, last-place Sheffield United are already in deep trouble.
Breaking down thrilling EPL title race with 10 games left
Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.
One of the most intoxicating title races in Premier League history is, mercifully, ready to resume.
The quirks of the calendar – an FA Cup weekend succeeded by an agonizing international window – means the titanic tussle between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will have been on hiatus for a full three weeks before it gets back underway on Sunday.
But there are no more impending interruptions. With 10 matches remaining for each title contender, we’re barreling toward a resolution to the type of three-way battle that’s exceedingly rare in England’s top flight. There’s never been a season in the Premier League era where three teams went into the final day with a chance to hoist the trophy. This could be it. The last time it happened was the 1971-72 campaign, when Derby County won an incredible four-team fight, narrowly beating Leeds United and, ominously, Liverpool and Man City to the crown. We’re overdue for that kind of drama.
That three sides have converged this way at all is, frankly, remarkable.
These are the three best teams in the country by an enormous margin. They’re the only ones with an expected goal difference per game of plus-1.0 or greater this season. The next best mark, surprisingly, belongs to Mauricio Pochettino’s erratic Chelsea team at plus-0.36. So, yeah, it’s not close.
The three of them are also on a tear and show no signs of slowing down. Arsenal have won all eight of their league games in 2024, scoring 33 goals in the process; Liverpool have collected 22 of a possible 27 points in that time; reigning champions Manchester City have racked up 23 of 27 points. They’ve combined for just one loss since the calendar flipped – Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in early February.
The only sides that look capable of halting their progress are each other, which makes this weekend’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad all the more significant.
Euro 2024 playoffs: Miraculous Ukraine comeback, big result for Wales
Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.
Wales, Greece, and Poland registered statement wins Thursday, joining three other teams in next Tuesday’s playoff finals for the three remaining places at Euro 2024.
Ukraine staged an incredible late comeback against Bosnia and Herzegovina in its semifinal to keep its Euro dream alive.
The highest-placed team in FIFA’s rankings that’s no longer in contention to reach the tournament in Germany is 60th-placed Finland.
Here’s how the playoff semifinals across Path A, B, and C played out.
Path A
Mateusz Slodkowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Poland 5-1 Estonia
Estonia barely stood a chance. Down to 10 men as early as the 27th minute, the northern Europeans could only muster a consolation goal in a 5-1 loss to Poland. The Polish achieved the rout without Robert Lewandowski getting on the scoresheet and remain unbeaten in 21 Euro qualifiers at home, a magnificent run dating back to September 2006. Poland is trying to make up for a poor qualifying campaign in which it finished third in Group E, four points behind the Czech Republic and Albania. The country hasn’t missed the Euros since 2004.
Wales 4-1 Finland
The Red Wall might descend on Germany this summer. Wales’ raucous supporters have legitimate hopes of traveling to another major tournament after the Dragons scorched Finland without the retired Gareth Bale and with Aaron Ramsey, 33, on the bench after more injury problems. Teemu Pukki gave the visiting team some hope just before halftime following well-taken finishes from David Brooks and Neco Williams. But Wales needed just 73 seconds of the second period to restore its two-goal cushion via Brennan Johnson’s tap-in. Daniel James took advantage of a defensive error before rounding the goalkeeper in the 86th minute to give the host a resounding victory.
Playoff final: Wales vs. Poland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET
Path B
David Balogh – UEFA / UEFA / Getty
Israel 1-4 Iceland
Iceland’s Albert Gudmundsson stole the show with an emphatic hat-trick against Israel on Thursday. His stunning free-kick into the top right corner canceled out Eran Zahavi’s opening goal for Israel, and he created a nice cushion for his country with a pair of markers in the final 10 minutes. Just before that, Zahavi blew an incredible opportunity to equalize the match at 2-2, missing a penalty awarded for handball against Iceland’s Gudmundur Thorarinsson. A red card to Israel’s Haim Revivo didn’t help the trailing side. Iceland is now a game away from making only its second-ever appearance at the Euros following its quarterfinal run in 2016.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Ukraine
Ukraine scored twice with just minutes remaining in regulation to snatch what seemed to be a sure victory from Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. Bosnia controlled play for most of the match and took the lead in the 56th minute when Mykola Matviyenko turned in Amar Dedic’s shot into his own net. But a colossal defensive lapse cost the Bosnians a chance to make it a record four countries from the former Yugoslavia at Euro 2024. Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench to equalize in the 85th minute and teed up Artem Dovbyk’s sensational winning header three minutes later to turn the playoff semifinal on its head. Ukraine now faces Iceland with a third consecutive Euro appearance at stake.
Playoff final: Ukraine vs. Iceland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET
Path C
GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE / AFP / Getty
Georgia 2-0 Luxembourg
Two clever finishes from Budu Zivzivadze in Tbilisi assured Georgia of a place in Path C’s final – and all without the help of suspended talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. But it wasn’t that simple for the host. Luxembourg thought it equalized during the second half, only for the goal to be eventually snatched away due to Maxime Chanot’s apparent foul 45 seconds earlier. Luxembourg’s Chanot was controversially sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and Zivzivadze effectively ended the match six minutes later with his second strike. Kvaratskhelia is available for the final.
Greece 5-0 Kazakhstan
Anastasios Bakasetas lashed home a penalty, Dimitrios Pelkas headed into the net’s roof, Fotis Ioannidis tapped in from close range, and Dimitrios Kourbelis added another header. And that was all before halftime. Kazakhstan’s impressive 2022-23 Nations League campaign and notable Euro 2024 qualifying wins over Denmark, Northern Ireland (twice), and Finland suddenly seemed ages ago, as Greece recorded its biggest halftime lead since October 1978 (5-0 against Finland). Aleksandr Marochkin’s embarrassing own goal in the 85th minute made Kazakhstan’s day even worse.
Playoff final: Georgia vs. Greece, Tuesday 1:00 p.m. ET
Look: Nike unveils beautiful kit selection for Euro 2024, Copa America
Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.
Nike released a stunning batch of threads ahead of Euro 2024 and Copa America on Monday.
Days after Adidas launched its lineup for the summer’s top two tournaments, Nike followed suit with an array of colorful designs.
The U.S. manufacturer also announced redesigns for Canada and Poland, even though they’ve yet to qualify for their respective tournaments. The Canucks face Trinidad and Tobago in a one-off Copa America qualifier on Saturday, while Poland must navigate a four-team playoff to reach Euro 2024.
(All images courtesy of Nike)
Euro 2024
Croatia
Home
The square-shaped design that gives Croatia its unique look gets a slight upgrade. The home shirt features larger squares than ever before.
Away
Croatia’s away shirt plays on the national flag, with the traditional checkered pattern now on a slant.
England
Home
Influenced by England’s 1966 training gear, the home shirt has a classic feel with a rich blue collar and gorgeous trim along the cuffs.
Away
England embraces a deep purple hue for its away selection. The crest stands out with a contrasting off-white tint that makes the three lions pop.
France
Home
France’s home shirt may have the biggest crest of all of Nike’s offerings. The oversized rooster defines this shirt as much as the royal blue that’s made France’s kits a crowd-pleaser.
Away
The pinstripes mirror the colors of France’s national flag and span the width of the shirt in a simple, yet elegant design.
Netherlands
Home
Nike could’ve offered anything orange here, and it would’ve been perfect. But the Netherlands has something bolder and better to wear. The zig-zag pattern adds edge.
Away
The orange collar and cuffs pop alongside the three shades of blue Nike has chosen to create the abstract design on this work of art.
Poland
Home
Poland dedicates premium real estate on the country’s home shirt to its imposing crest.
Away
Poland’s away shirt is a daring choice. The graphic treatment adds texture, giving it a rugged feel while separating from the red tones of years past.
Portugal
Home
With possibly the best home shirt in Nike’s collection, Portugal leans heavily into its traditional red-and-green motif with a polo collar and thick cuffs. The logo sits prominently as well. A smash hit.
Away
Here’s another winner. Portugal’s away strip has a stunning textile imprint that gives off a cool summer vibe.
Turkey
Home
This is a menacing look. Turkey will look like a whirring red army with these imposing shirts.
Away
The classic red band returns to Turkey’s away uniform. Like the others, it features an oversized crest in the middle of the shirt.
Copa America
Brazil
Home
Nike goes big with Brazil’s crest and adds an intricate design to the same yellow hue the Selecao have used for decades.
Away
Brazil’s secondary strip feels like the beach. A horizontal wavy pattern covering the entire shirt mimics the country’s picturesque coastline.
Canada
Home
The only blemish in Nike’s lineup. Why is there a circle around the swoosh? And why are the shoulders so much darker than the body? None of it makes sense.
Away
The 13 pinstripes are supposed to represent the 10 provinces and three territories that make up Canada. Unfortunately, the rest of the shirt looks incomplete.
United States
Home
The United States men’s national team gets a classic home shirt with patriotic detailing along the color and sleeves.
Away
The gradient works perfectly with the red shorts the U.S. will wear at the Copa America.