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Middle East crisis live: Iran’s foreign ministry condemns US seizure of Iranian-linked tankers as ‘piracy and armed robbery’ | US-Israel war on Iran
Iran condemns US seizure of Iranian-linked tankers as ‘piracy and armed robbery’
Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned the US seizure of Iran-linked tankers as the “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas”.
In a post on X, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said:
Welcome to the return of the pirates — only now, they operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder ‘law enforcement.’
The United States must be held fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behavior, which strikes at the heart of international law & international free trade, and threatens the basic principles of maritime security.
Attached to his post was a screenshot of this post from US attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, detailing the US seizure of two tankers “laden with Iranian oil”.
Key events
The day so far
-
Donald Trump met with his national security team on Monday morning to discuss a new Iranian proposal for ending the war, the White House confirmed. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not offer an opinion of the proposal, in which the critical strait of Hormuz would be opened and Iran’s nuclear program discussed at a later date. But she said that Trump’s bottom line demands (that Tehran must never have nuclear weapons) “has been made very, very clear”.
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Trump had earlier said Iran that can telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to the war and that it must agree never to have a nuclear weapon, while Pakistan’s leaders sought to revive the stalled peace talks between Washington and Tehran.
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Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south killed four people including a woman and wounded 51 others, three of them children, despite the ceasefire, AFP reports. According to an AFP tally of health ministry figures, Israeli strikes have killed at least 40 people in Lebanon since the fragile truce there began on 17 April.
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Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the US seizure of Iran-linked tankers as the “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas”. In a post on X, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said: “The United States must be held fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behavior, which strikes at the heart of international law & international free trade, and threatens the basic principles of maritime security.”
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Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly told Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East, as the two met in Russia. “For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday.
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The head of the UN’s maritime agency said there was “no legal basis” for imposing any fees for ships to pass through the strait of Hormuz. Shipping through the narrow strait has been strangled since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south killed four people including a woman and wounded 51 others, three of them children, despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, AFP reports.
According to an AFP tally of health ministry figures, Israeli strikes have killed at least 40 people in Lebanon since the fragile truce there began on April 17.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, said businesses working with Iranian airlines risk US sanctions.
Iran condemns US seizure of Iranian-linked tankers as ‘piracy and armed robbery’
Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned the US seizure of Iran-linked tankers as the “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas”.
In a post on X, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said:
Welcome to the return of the pirates — only now, they operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder ‘law enforcement.’
The United States must be held fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behavior, which strikes at the heart of international law & international free trade, and threatens the basic principles of maritime security.
Attached to his post was a screenshot of this post from US attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, detailing the US seizure of two tankers “laden with Iranian oil”.
Earlier we brought you comments in which German chancellor Friedrich Merz said he cannot see what exit strategy the United States has in its war with Iran, and warned that “an entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards”. Here’s the clip.
After Donald Trump said last week that the US Navy was clearing Iranian mines from the strait of Hormuz, Karoline Leavitt was also asked for an update on how many mines had been cleared and for an estimate on how long the process would take.
The White House press secretary deferred twice to the Pentagon and would not be drawn to clarify whether the removal of mines was ongoing.
“Again, I would refer you to the Pentagon on anything with respect to clearing mines in the strait of Hormuz,” she said.
Trump discussed new Iran proposal with national security aides on Monday, White House says
During the White House press briefing a short while ago, Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Donald Trump met with his national security team on Monday morning to discuss a new Iranian proposal for ending the war.
Leavitt did not offer an opinion of the proposal, in which the critical strait of Hormuz would be opened and Iran’s nuclear program discussed at a later date.
But she said that Trump’s bottom line demands (that Tehran must never have nuclear weapons) remain the same.
What I will reiterate is that the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well.
I wouldn’t say they’re considering it. I would just say that there was a discussion this morning that I don’t want to get ahead of, and you’ll hear directly from the president, I’m sure, on this topic.
Stephen Doughty, the UK minister for Europe and North America, said earlier that while the UK is not in favour of the US blockade of Iranian ports, it supports working with the United States and others to reopen the strait of Hormuz.
Speaking ahead of a UN Security Council meeting, Doughty said that Iran is holding “the rest of the world to ransom”.
Maritime traffic must flow safely and unimpeded through the strait, he said in comments reported by the Associated Press , “and that includes no tolls, no security risk and, of course, adherence to the international laws on freedom of navigation”.
He later said in a statement to the council:
This crisis is not just affecting international shipping, it is driving up costs and sending shockwaves throughout energy markets and supply chains far beyond the region with impact for all of our citizens, our communities and their cost of living.
So, we must get the strait reopened fully and unconditionally.
Freedom of navigation must be restored, in line with international law. Shipping and seafarers must not be used as leverage, and there is no place for tolls or permissions in international straits.
Freedom of navigation means navigation must be free.
Throughout this crisis, the UK has been clear: Iran must not be able to hold the global economy hostage or indeed threaten regional and international security.
The day so far
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Donald Trump has said Iran can telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to the war and that it must agree never to have a nuclear weapon, while Pakistan’s leaders have sought to revive the stalled peace talks between Washington and Tehran.
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Iran is offering to end its chokehold on the strait of Hormuz without addressing its nuclear program, two regional officials with knowledge of the proposal said Monday. It comes as the country’s foreign minister made a visit to Russia he said was an opportunity to consult with Moscow regarding the war against Israel and the United States.
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The head of the UN’s maritime agency said Monday there was “no legal basis” for imposing any fees for ships to pass through the strait of Hormuz. Shipping through the narrow strait has been strangled since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
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Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said Monday that direct negotiations with Israel were aimed at ending the conflict with Hezbollah, while accusing those who drew Lebanon into war of “treason” in an implicit rebuke to the Iran-backed armed group. “My goal is to reach an end to the state of war with Israel, similar to the armistice agreement” of 1949, Aoun said in a statement, adding that “I assure you that I will not accept reaching a humiliating agreement”.
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Russian president Vladimir Putin has reportedly told Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East, as the two met in Russia. “For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday.
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Iran’s foreign minister said the Islamic republic was “stable, solid” during a meeting in Russia with president Vladimir Putin, according to Russian state TV. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said due to the war with the United States and Israel, “the world has now realised Iran’s true power” and “it has become clear that the Islamic republic of Iran is a stable, solid and powerful system”, he said in the meeting in Saint Petersburg.
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Iran’s armed forces would be the authority responsible for the strait of Hormuz under the country’s proposed law for managing the waterway, a top official said on Monday. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, told state television that the armed forces were already in control of the strait and were seeking to prohibit the passage of “hostile vessels”.
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France’s top diplomat said Iran must be ready to make “major concessions” in talks to end a crisis triggered by the attack by the United States and Israel. “There can be no lasting solution to this crisis unless the Iranian regime agrees to major concessions and a radical shift in its stance,” foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told a UN Security Council session.
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Israeli defence minister Israel Katz warned Monday that Hezbollah’s defiance would bring catastrophic consequences for Lebanon, after the militant group’s leader rejected proposed direct talks between Israel and Lebanon. “Naim Qassem is playing with fire, and the fire will burn Hezbollah and all of Lebanon… If the Lebanese government continues to take cover under the wing of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation – fire will break out and engulf the cedars of Lebanon,” Katz told UN envoy to Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, according to a statement issued by his office.
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The Israeli military on Monday said it had begun hitting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon’s Bekaa region, amid a ceasefire that began earlier this month. “The IDF has begun to strike Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the Bekaa valley and in additional areas across southern Lebanon,” it said in a brief statement on social media.
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Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said Monday that direct negotiations with Israel were aimed at ending the conflict with Hezbollah, while accusing those who drew Lebanon into war of “treason” in an implicit rebuke to the Iran-backed armed group. “My goal is to reach an end to the state of war with Israel, similar to the armistice agreement” of 1949, Aoun said in a statement, adding that “I assure you that I will not accept reaching a humiliating agreement”.
France’s top diplomat said Iran must be ready to make “major concessions” in talks to end a crisis triggered by the attack by the United States and Israel.
“There can be no lasting solution to this crisis unless the Iranian regime agrees to major concessions and a radical shift in its stance,” foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told a UN Security Council session.
UN maritime agency rejects Hormuz tolls
The head of the UN’s maritime agency said Monday there was “no legal basis” for imposing any fees for ships to pass through the strait of Hormuz.
Shipping through the narrow strait has been strangled since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
Iran has sealed off the passage, sharply cutting oil and gas flows and sending prices soaring, while the US has blockaded Iranian ports. Tehran has also said it wants to impose transit fees as part of any lasting peace deal.
“There’s no legal basis for the introduction of any tax, any customs, or any fees for on straits for international navigation,” IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez said at a press conference.
Iran’s armed forces would have authority over the key shipping lane under the country’s proposed law for managing the waterway, a top official said Monday.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz warned Monday that Hezbollah’s defiance would bring catastrophic consequences for Lebanon, after the militant group’s leader rejected proposed direct talks between Israel and Lebanon.
“Naim Qassem is playing with fire, and the fire will burn Hezbollah and all of Lebanon… If the Lebanese government continues to take cover under the wing of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation – fire will break out and engulf the cedars of Lebanon,” Katz told UN envoy to Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, according to a statement issued by his office.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that Tehran was looking into US president Donald Trump’s request for negotiations, according to a post on the minister’s Telegram account.
He told reporters in Russia that Trump requested negotiations because the US has not achieved any of its objectives.
Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks on ending the conflict and said Iran could telephone if it wanted to negotiate.
Iran’s foreign minister said the Islamic republic was “stable, solid” during a meeting in Russia with president Vladimir Putin, according to Russian state TV.
Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said due to the war with the United States and Israel, “the world has now realised Iran’s true power” and “it has become clear that the Islamic republic of Iran is a stable, solid and powerful system”, he said in the meeting in Saint Petersburg.
He added that Russia had stood by Iran and the two countries would continue their “strategic partnership”.
We have some more comments from Vladimir Putin’s meeting in Russia with the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi (see post at 14.37 for more details).
“Last week I received a message from Iran’s supreme leader. I would like to ask you to convey my most sincere thanks for this and to confirm that Russia, like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship,” Putin told Araghchi, according to Russian state media.
Sitting across from Putin, Araghchi was quoted as having said: “We have proven to the whole world that Iran maintains good allies and friends like the Russian Federation.”
“We thank you for your firm and unshaken position in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of 69 people and their families for “expressing support for Iranian attacks”, according to the Gulf country’s interior ministry.
Iran’s foreign minister meets Vladimir Putin in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly told Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, that Moscow would do everything it could to help secure peace in the Middle East, as the two met in Russia.
“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on Monday.
Russia and Iran, both subject to tough western sanctions, have become increasingly close in recent years. Moscow has provided diplomatic cover for Iran at the UN, as well as intelligence, according to reports.
Araghchi’s diplomatic visit to Russia follows recent stops in Pakistan and Oman, which have acted as mediators between Iran and the US. The Iranian foreign minister earlier said the US’s excessive demands caused negotiations to fail in Islamabad.
The Mehr news agency is reporting that a wave of intense Israeli attacks have hit southern and eastern Lebanon despite the ceasefire.
Israel, which claims it is striking Hezbollah operatives and sites even though it is killing many civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure, was given extremely wide scope by the wording of the agreement that permits it the “right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks”.
The ceasefire deal, which took effect on 16 April and was extended by three weeks last Thursday, was agreed between Israel and the Lebanese state, not Hezbollah, the Iranian backed Lebanese militant group and political party.
In its latest update, the Lebanese health ministry said since 2 March Israeli attacks have killed at least 2,509 people, including many women and children.
The renewed Israeli war on Lebanon started when Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel on 2 March after the US-Israeli bombing of Iran, triggering an Israeli aerial assault, invasion and continuing occupation of Israeli troops in some of Lebanon’s territory.
Iran’s armed forces would be the authority responsible for the strait of Hormuz under the country’s proposed law for managing the waterway, a top official said on Monday.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, told state television that the armed forces were already in control of the strait and were seeking to prohibit the passage of “hostile vessels”.
Azizi also said the proposed law states that financial gains from the strait should be paid in the local rial currency.
Key events
37 min Damsgaard caresses a gorgeous pass over the top and again, Thaigo is in behind Heaven! he takes a touch but, as he shapes to shoot, a telescopic left foot comes from arounds his body, effectively shooting for him, and Lammens saves well from his own man. That’s very good recovery-defending, but Thiago didn’t protect the ball well enough.
35 min Outtara marches between Amad and Shaw, then threads a fine pass through the middle for Thaigo and he’s in! But rather than hit it first time, he takes a touch, slips, and Heaven bumps it back to Lammens, just about. Brentford are knocking at the door.
34 min Brentford move it nicely as they look for holes in United’s defence, then Mainoo crunches in on Kayode and the home side clear.
31 min And here he is now, doing just that to touch off for Bruno who, on the edge, flights a lovely cross over Kayode’s head and again, Amad is in space! But this time, he heads straight at Kelleher … then the flag goes up.
30 min I’m not sure Sesko has had a kick yet. He’s not had great service, but given the players outside him, he can come to the ball and lay it off as the runners motor.
29 min Amad wins the first header but the ball comes back, and Mainoo does well to hook clear.
27 min Damsgaard is pulling the strings for Brentford, controlling their attacks, and when he slides a pass in behind, Lewis-Potter barges through one tackle, then wins a corner off Dalot.
26 min Mainoo finds himself on the left wing and again, looks to attack his man, but Kayode is a terrific one-on-one defender and does enough to win the ball.
24 min Damsgaard spreads left then, when the ball goes right, Outtara’s cross is blocked.
23 min Since that early run, Mainoo has been quiet, and that’s been his problem so far – he must get better at finding the ball and passing it incisively. Chelsea felt like a step forward, but only if he maintains the level
22 min “There’s an unbelievable amount of space in this game,” reckons Tim Stappard, and I agree. Both sides are good at finding it and United are also excellent at leaving it – a situation I imagine they hope to address in the summer by signing midfielders
20 min When United opted to start the season with Andre Onana in net, it was mind-boggling enough, but seeing how solid Lammens is, it makes even less sense. He saves almost everything he should, which alone makes him a massive upgrade, and also plenty he shouldn’t. There’s work to do with his passing and foot-movement, especially when facing long shots, but he’s been a monumental upgrade, and having him there has made a huge difference to United’s defenders.
18 min The resultant corner comes to nothing, but this is a really entertaining and open game.
17 min oh, he does get a touch because it’s a corner and gain, Brentford pick a pass in behind United, Damsgaard sliding in for Kayode as the defence steps up. He looks to send an outswinging finish towards the far side-netting, but Lammens spreads himself well to make the save.
16 min But then United give it away and Outtara seizes upon the loose ball, slipping a fine reverse-pass in behind for Lewis-Potter, who delivers a perfect low cross into the corridor. Thiago is there, but Shaw slides in and must put him off, because he doesn’t get a touch but the striker can’t land a boot on it.
15 min Brentford come forward and win a corner, the ref taking a moment as the players jostle around Senne Lammens, then the ball comes in and Casemiro, equally adept in his own box, heads clear.
13 min That’s now nine league goals for Casemiro; it’s not often you see a player whose timing and execution are both stellar, never mind a defensive midfielder who scored 24 goals in 221 games for Real Madrid.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Brentford (Casemiro 11)
It’s absolutely absurd, it really is. Bruno swings the corner out and Maguire is totally unmarked, nodding back to what was the near post where Casemiro sneaks in behind the defensive line to again deposit an expert headed finish into the roof. How on earth are United going to replace his output?
10 min United fancy Mbeumo in behind Lewis-Potter, another ball setting him away and he’s got a start on Collins, who gets back at him well, conceding another corner.
10 min It’s been a really good start – there’s proper tempo to the game.
8 min Bruno’s corner picks out Mauire at the back post, he arches backwards to make it his, butts firmly … and Kelleher claws away, just, some of the ball over the line but the rest not.
8 min United have stared well and Bruno sweeps out to Mbeumo – seeing the farthest pass first, as Glenn Hioddle said of David Beckham. The eventuating cross, though, is blocked at source.
7 min “Yes, all joking aside,” retyuns Justin, “if readers haven’t ever heard of Eamon Dunphy’s work, he is a very fine sports journalist, well worth checking out. And no, he’s not my uncle or anything. And neither is Chris Kavanagh, tonight’s ref, btw. Only a Game is a classic fly-on-the-wall account of a season in freefall in mid-1970s Cold Blow Lane.”
It starts so positively too, which is why it’s so heartbreaking as it progresses.
6 min Now Brentford counter and Shaw hauls down Schade on halfway; he’s booked.
5 min United win another corner, again cleared, but they’ve started well here.
3 min The corner is cleared to Shaw, who leathers over the top from distance.
2 min OH MY DAYS HOW HAS AMAD MISSED THIS?! Mainoo gets on the ball and runs – United have been poor at putting him where he can do what makes him special, beating men in small spaces with such dexterity you barely believe he’s come out with the ball. He sways inside and away from Damsgaard and, now in the box, feints and dips inside Yarmolyuk then Collins. He might shoot, but instead makes sure by squaring for Amad, who punches towards the far corner … only for the shot to clip Van den Berg’s heel and fly wide. That’s why you go high when faced with a man on the line.
2 min United sweep forward with Bruno and Casemiro moving it quickly, then the ball arrives at Dalot inverting; he swipes into touch.
1 min For now, at least, it’s Mbeumo on the right and Amad on the left. I’m not sure why, but perhaps it’s because he badly needs a goal, so is in the position that best enables him to seek that.
1 min Away we go!
Our teams are tunnelled … and out they come!
“You’d worry for Keith Andrews’ hair tonight with those ominous-looking storm clouds over Old Trafford,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “This is hair so great that it gets parodied on Irish TV alongside the bald truth of Liam Brady’s and another guy’s who used to play for Manchester United (but mainly Milwall) called Eamon Dunphy.”
It’s a work of art. I actually found a book Dunphy’s, Only A Game, in the school library – it’s a classic – and his biography of Matt Busby, A Strange Kind of Glory, is absolutely magnificent.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how Brentford’s wide players do. They’ve got serious pace on both sides with Outtara and Schade, but also behind them, where Kayode and Lewis-Potter will be thrusting forward. Neither Luke Shaw nor Diogo Dalot are all that, and if both are pinned back, United might struggle defensively and also for width.
“Any idea why the he FA Cup semi was on TNT yesterday?” wonders Dave Estherby. “I give Sky enough money as it is and still miss the Saturday lunchtime game every week, now I have to go the pub for domestic Cup games too? Joke.
On another note, a well-known turf accountant was offering 1500-1 last week on Utd finishing higher than Arsenal; if that ain’t worth a tenner nothing is.
(Not to condone gambling etc…)”
Well they paid for the rights, but yes, it is absolutely the case that, generally speaking, monopolies are bad for consumers, but in the case of televised sport, it means more subscriptions are necessary – you also need Amazon Prime for Champions League. And it’s particularly egregious in the case of TNT, formerly BT, who used their historic telecoms monopoly to fund their tenders in order to flog broadband.
So where is the game? United will look to find Bruno Fernandes, who’s recently started pulling wide to feed ball and swing over crosses; a question is whether Mainoo can continue the form he showed at Chelsea, linking play to get his attackers the ball. If his touch volume stays high, he can start controlling play, exactly what United currently lack – and their front players can score against anyone.
Brentford, meanwhile, will want to flood the middle of the pitch, where Casemiro can’t cover ground, and also look to double-up out wide, putting crosses into the box – and throws, and corners. For that reason, United will be happy to have Maguire back, but I’d not be surprised if Igor Thiago looks to drag him out to the wings, nor if Shade and Outtara come from out to in, looking to test his pace and get hi facing his own goal.
This is a pretty big game for Michael Carrick. As we said at the top, his team struggled against Leeds and also lost at Newcastle, despite playing against 10 for a half. Brentford will be similarly physical, so it’s up to United to show their manager can combat that kind of opponent.
It seems like Benjamin Sesko is now installed as United’s first-choice centre-forward – though full confirmation will come next weekend, when Liverpool visit Old Trafford, as in previous big games, Carrick has deployed Mbeumo through the middle.
Ultimately, though, the club spent all that money on Sesko because the plan is for him to be a regular, so really, they need to build around him, which means better delivery from wide areas; I wonder if we’ll see whoever plays on the left whip balls for him to the front post, though I also think there’s hay to be made with Mbeumo coming inside to swing those in to the back stick.
It’s been a difficult second half of the season for Amad who, as a dribbler, offers a threat that no other United player does, and is also an excellent scavenger for possession. But his numbers are nowhere near where they need to be, which is presumably why he was left out at Chelsea.
Either Amad or Bryan Mbeumo will be playing out of position tonight. I’d imagine it’ll be Amad on the right and Mbeumo on the left, as the latter has the pace and power to go on the outside, the former less so.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is in the sky studio, for some reason dressed as Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
As for Brentford, Andrews picks the same side for the third match in a row – partly a facility of those injuries – but Josh Dasilva is back on the bench after nobbling his knee in February 2024 and missing the entirety of last season. Godspeed, old mate.
So looking at that United XI, Harry Maguire returns after suspension, replacing Noussair Mazraoui, while Amad Diallo is back in with Cunha out. Otherwise, Patrick Dorgu is back on the bench having jiggered his hamstring at Arsenal in January, while Shea Lacey is rewarded for his excellent age-gpoup performances, included on the bench despite playing yesterday.
Now here’s Keith Andrews, and you’ll be delighted to know his barnet is looking lush. Brentford have earned the right to go into this match in a confident manner and though they’ve not earned as many points as he’d like in recent weeks, he’s been fairly happy with the performances; though he’s got injury problems, there’s a special togetherness within the group and he wants them to play with personality.
On Ciaomhin Kelleher, he says he’s known him a long time through Ireland, so when he became available, signing him was a no-brainer – and he felt it’d be a good move for the player.
Before we go over those, Michael Carrick is talking to Sky, telling them he wanted to get Kobbie Mainoo on to the pitch enjoying himself – he needed to find himself and against Chelsea, he was excellent – without giving him too much guidance.
On Ayden Heaven, he says he’s got the talent and did so well in the last game, he’s kept his place.
Otherwise, he’s been asked about what business the club needs to do in the summer and however long he’s there, he’s not taking short-term decisions, he wants the best for the football club. However long it goes on, he’s really enjoying working with the players.
Matheus Cunha hurt his hip flexor at Chelsea and improved during the week but they’re not risking him tonight.
Teams!
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Mbeumo; Sesko. Subs: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Lacey, Zirkzee.
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van Den Berg, Lewis-Potter- Jensen, Yarmoliuk; Schade, Damsgaard, Ouattara; Thiago. Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Ajer, Donovan, Furo, Shield.
Referee: Chris Kavangh (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Preamble
One of the most joyous things about football is how miserable it makes almost everyone – Arsenal, for example, are top of the table and in the semi-finals of the Champions League, yet there’s no sense anyone connected with them is enjoying any of it.
Unusually, though, both tonight’s clubs are pretty happy with life. United have near enough secured Champions League football for next season and, since Michael Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim, no side has won more points nor scored more goals. For the first time in a long time, talk of a title challenge doesn’t sound ridiculous.
Brentford, meanwhile, looked relegation favourites in August, losing some of their best players and their manager too. But Keith Andrews has guided them superbly such that they now sit eighth in the table, and have every chance of securing European football for the first time in their history.
And make no mistake, they’ll come to Old Trafford to win. It won’t have escaped Andrews’ attention how much United struggled with Leeds’ physicality this time last week and, though tonight’s probable centre-back partnership will be better able to cope with pressure of that sort, Brentford are better at applying it.
Which is to say that, with both teams committed to attack and needing points but not under pressure, this should be a lot of fun – unless one of football’s overarching truths decides to the contrary.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
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