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Key events
28 min At the other end, Wirtz shoots well wide from the edge of the area.
27 min: Great chance for Fernandes!
Liverpool are all over the place every time United counter-attack. Mbeumo runs down the right and clips a flat cross towards Fernandes, who batters it just wide from 12 yards. The bounce made it slightly awkward but he should have scored.
24 min Cody Gakpo, who hit the woodwork about 48 times in the return fixture at Anfield, whacks an excellent curling shot just wide from 25 yards. Lammens may have had it covered but it was a fine effort.
23 min “What has to happen for Mr. Slot to be released?” wonders Jeff Sax.
For him to have not win the Premier League last season?
22 min Konate gets away with a clear foul on Sesko, shoving him off the field and onto the running track. The referee was a fair way behind play because of the speed at which United broke.
20 min Sesko’s goal was his 11th in the Premier League this season, nine of them since the start of 2026.
19 min The match situation is perfect for Man Utd, who can sit deep and hit Liverpool on the break.
Goal given! There’s no conclusive evidence of handball by Sesko so the goal stands.
VAR check ongoing After a longish spell of Liverpool possession, Man Utd broke devastatingly down the right. Fernandes played a marvellous first-time pass/cross to Sesko, whose close-range shot was well saved by Woodman. Sesko. wanted a penalty but I think he just lost his balance slightly.
Either way, play continued and a deep cross from the left was headed back across goal by Fernandes. The diving Woodman tried to palm the ball away but it hit Sesko and rebounded slowly into the net.
Sesko was definitely onside for the goal – but the ball may have brushed his fingers before it hit his chest and rebounded into the net.
GOAL? Man Utd 2-0 Liverpool (Sesko 14)
There will be an offside check, and maybe a check for a penalty if the goal doesn’t count.
In other news, Bournemouth have gone 3-0 ahead against Crystal Palace. The ears of Andoni Iraola’s agent are going to have a busy summer.
9 min Cunha scored winners at Arsenal and Chelsea earlier in the season; he also came off the bench to create the second when they beat Manchester City. His goal today was fortunate, but it also fits the profile.
8 min Gakpo heads wide from Frimpong’s cross, though he was offside.
Mbeumo’s corner was headed away but not out of danger by Robertson. Cunha, lurking on the edge of the area, had a right-foot shot blocked by Gravenberch. The ball rebounded to Cunha, whose mishit left-foot shot took a big deflection off Mac Allister and bounced into the far corner.
GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 Liverpool (Cunha 6)
Matheus Cunha, a player who was born for big games, has put United ahead!
6 min United are making the early running. Dalot finds Mbeumo, whose driven cross to the near post is turned behind by Konate.
4 min A teasing cross from Mbeumo just evades Sesko, who leapt between Konate and Jones at the far post. I think he jumped too early.
Just before that, a nervous clearance from Woodman went straight to Mbeumo.
3 min “Who would have predicted at the start of the season that, come matchday 35, United would be in the top four, let alone above Liverpool?” wonders Krishnamoorthy V. “The glorious uncertainty that keeps the game alive.”
Gary Neville?
2 min Liverpool have started with Gakpo on the left and Wirtz and Szoboszlai as a pair of false nines. It’s similar to the formation that worked so well at the Etihad last season.
1 min Dominik Szoboszlai is on kick-off duty for Liverpool, who are kicking from right to left as we watch. Liverpool haev had plenty of recent success at Old Trafford, including a 3-0 win last season and a 5-0 romp in 2021-22.
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“While Mo Salah’s record against Utd truly is startling,” says Ian Copestake, “the four goals Fernando Torres scored in his time are imprinted so deeply they should be measured in cat years.”
How are you measuring Nemanja Vidic’s red cards when Torres terrorised him?
A reminder of the teams
Man Utd (4-2-3-1) Lamments; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee.
Liverpool (possible 4-2-3-1) Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo.
Subs: Pecsi, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha, Ndiaye, Wright.
Referee Darren England.
Michael Carrick’s pre-match thoughts
We knew [Cunha’s injury] wasn’t a serious one. As a squad we look strong – we’ve got good options to finish the game as well.
We know this is a massive game, regardless of the league table or anything else, and I’ve been close to it for so long. Being in the away end [at Anfield in 2015-16, the last time Man Utd did the double over Liverpool] was a great experience and it gives you a different perspective, but today’s a new game. If we could win today it’ll be big for us.
We want to attack the game as best we can. We started really well [against Brentford] but then we had to manage the game against a good team. Both teams will want to take the ball today – it’ll be a tight game between two even teams.
[On the chance to beat City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool since taking over] It’s not about me. This game’s never been about individuals. I’ve never gone into this game thinking about myself, and I don’t think anyone is in that dressing-room. It’s as big one today for many reasons.
“I shall be watching this match in a pub with no mobile signal,” boasts Matt Dony, “living like it’s 1998. (Except without the curtains haircut and notepad full of bad lyrics.) As I won’t be able to follow the MBM, here are a few emails to cover most eventualities…
“Yes, get in! I never doubted Slot! The early-season Wirtz-scepticism was maddening knee-jerkery! That screamer from 30 yards, he must have a foot like a traction engine!
“Ah well, there’s less shame in losing to this United than Amorim’s rabble. And Fernandes is a quality player who has arguably wasted his best years carrying a sub-standard team.
“A draw feels like a fair result, given their respective positions. And it was a relatively jeopardy-free game, what with Champions League football being almost guaranteed for both.
“Wow, I can’t believe both Manchester clubs have entered voluntary liquidation, and Arsenal have been hit with a 30-point deduction! Did not see any of that coming! Still, we’ll enjoy the title celebrations.”
“Thanks to the Isak injury, yet again Slot is forced to fight fires rather than just manage,” laments Ian Copestake. “Unless it is in January, I hope one day he will be able to say, ‘same team as last year.’”
Now that would be a turn up for the Trent.
Sky Sports reckon Curtis Jones will play right-back for Liverpool with Jeremie Frimpong in midfield. This is how they have the formation.
Liverpool (possible 4-2-3-1) Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo.
“Without looking, how many times have Liverpool let in two or more goals this season?” writes Virgil van Dijk’s Ghost. “As Richie Benaud would say… Chwenty Choo. An astonishing number of times.”
That’s a statgasm and a half.
Arne Slot’s pre-match thoughts
It’s a fantastic game to be part of, especially if you win.
[On Alexander Isak] After the season we’ve had, nobody can be surprised that we have more injuries. It wasn’t much, but unfortunately it was too much for him to be able to play today.
Injuries can never be an excuse not to perform; we all have to prove ourselves today.
I think one win would probably be enough [to secure Champions League football]. Let’s take it game by game.
Jamie Jackson
It was two years ago that Jamie Carragher offered Casemiro a rather withering piece of advice: “Leave the football before the football leaves you.” Fast forward to this season and the Brazilian’s record for Manchester United reads: nine goals (second only to Benjamin Sesko), two assists, and 2,417 minutes played in 31 starts from a total of 32 appearances, with 13 games finished, including seven of the past nine.
Consider, too, how the January announcement of Casemiro’s departure from United at the end of the current campaign has led to supporters pleading with the 34-year-old to stay, and that Casemiro is again a midfield first-choice for his national team in the buildup to a World Cup.
As ripostes to a pundit advising you to retire go, Casemiro’s has been emphatic, not to mention revealing of a strong character given Carragher’s words, delivered on Monday Night Football following United’s 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in May 2024, came at a time when Casemiro did indeed appear to be heading for an Old Trafford exit amid a downturn in his performances.
Eli Junior Kroupi, Bournemouth’s brilliant teenage attacker, has just doubled their lead from the penalty spot.
In the early Premier League game at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth lead Crystal Palace 1-0 after half an hour thanks to an own goal from their former player Jefferson Lerma. If it stays like that, Bournemouth will be sixth in the table.
Team news
The fit-again Matheus Cunha replaces Amad Diallo in the only Manchester United change. Liverpool make two enforced changes: Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch come in for the injured pair of Mo Salah and Alexander Isak.
Liverpool have four central midfielders plus Florian Wirtz in their team; please don’t ask me how they will line up.
Man Utd (4-2-3-1) Lamments; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee.
Liverpool (possible 4-1-4-1) Woodman; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Wirtz; Gakpo.
Subs: Pecsi, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha, Ndiaye, Wright.
Referee Darren England.
That said, as Man Utd v Liverpool games go, this feels a bit mid. Both sides have all but qualified for next season’s Champions League, so there isn’t a huge amount riding on this game. The good news for lovers of anticipation is that this remains the biggest rivalry in English football, and the wider context is only ever part of the story. It’s Man Utd v Liverpool for goodness sake!
Preamble
Preamble? It’s Manchester United v Liverpool: there’s your preamble!
Police said the youngster was pronounced dead at the scene in Stafford.
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Horse racing: Precise the favourite for 1,000 Guineas as O’Brien chases record – live | Sport
Key events
Silvestre de Sousa did not see another rival there, and Jennifer Jane stayed on like a filly who will get the extra two furlongs in the Oaks. However, at present she does not have an entry in the Epsom Classic, so it will take a supplementary to get her into the race if Charlie Johnston, her trainer, can persuade her owner it is worth the punt.
1.45 NEWMARKET RESULT: Emphatic win for Jennifer Jane
1. JENNIFER JANE 11-2, 2. Sacred Ground. 6 ran.
Off and running in the Pretty Polly Stakes … !
Jennifer Jane leads, from Brigid’s Well, Sacred Ground and Esna held up …
Order unchanged with half a mile to run, Jennifer Jane building a lead in fact … Brigid’s Well under a drive but not making much impression … Jennifer Jane three clear two furlongs out, she powers in and out of the Dip and then goes further clear all the way to the line, an impressive winner.
Plenty of late money for Brigid’s Well, down to 7-2, while Esna is out to 4-1 and Sacred Ground has also eased to 15-8.
The runners are going to post for the Pretty Polly Stakes, and Sacred Ground is a solid 6-4 favourite with Esna next in on 100-30 and Brigid’s Well, the mount of Oisin Murphy, at 9-2.
1,000 Guineas contender: Precise
Aidan O’Brien’s first-string has been the favourite for today’s Classic since winning the Fillies’ Mile here in October, when she finished three-and-a-quarter lengths clear of the field.
It looks like rock-solid form, but her preparation for today’s race has not been smooth and she “missed a bit of time” a few weeks ago according to O’Brien after a minor setback. That is clearly not ideal but her proven form at track and trip, and a career record with just a sole defeat, on her racecourse debut, will be more than enough to persuade many punters to swing behind her.
1.45 Newmarket, Pretty Polly Stakes, Listed, 1m 2f
Just six runners now for the opener on 1,000 Guineas day after the well-fancied Lilt was taken out this morning, and three – Esna, Brigid’s Well and Sacred Ground – have an entry in the Oaks at Epsom next month. The best piece of form coming into the race is Esna’s close fourth in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp last October, but Sacred Ground ran a fine race too on her final start as a juvenile – and showed that she acts at this track – as she finished second in a well-run Listed race over a mile. Brigid’s Well also has a pedigree that suggests she will build significantly on her two-year-old form this season but the money has been for Sacred Ground so far today and I’m going with John & Thady Gosden’s filly to improve past her main market rival.
SELECTION: SACRED GROUND.
Preamble
Good afternoon from the historic Rowley Mile on Newmarket heath, where the 1,000 Guineas, the fillies’ equivalent of yesterday’s 2,000 Guineas, is due off at 3.35. Nineteen runners and riders will go to post, aiming to add their names to a roll of honour that dates back to 1814.
Precise, the winner of the Fillies’ Mile here over the Guineas trip last autumn, will set off as a warm favourite to give Aidan O’Brien an eighth win in the Classic, one short of the all-time record of nine set by Robert Robson in the early years of the race. Robson, remarkably, won all but one of the runnings between 1818 and 1827 – something of a contrast with O’Brien, who has hit a fallow spell in both Newmarket Classics since Mother Earth won the 1,000 Guineas in 2021.
Venetian Sun, in the colours of Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, is also prominent in the betting, while a whole host of lightly-raced opponents have the pedigree and potential to make a race of it now that they have another winter behind them.
There is also plenty of untapped potential in the Pretty Polly Stakes, a trial for the Oaks at Epsom next month,which opens proceedings at 1.45, while Royal Ascot is the likely next stop for the winner of the Group Two Dahlia Stakes, for older fillies and mares, at 2.20
Man-of-the-moment Billy Loughnane has six booked rides on the card, including Esna in the Pretty Polly and 33-1 shot Rose Ghaiyyath in the 1,000 Guineas, and you can follow his progress and all the other news, betting moves and more at Newmarket right here on the blog as the afternoon unfolds.
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