That is all from me today but fear not, for there is more football to enjoy. Dominic Booth is gearing up for an incredibly important match at Stamford Bridge: Chelsea v Arsenal. Follow along to his MBM here.
Thank you for tuning in and for your emails as always. Catch you next time!
And Nick Ames was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
The ball was heading in but Delap, such a thrilling prospect at 21, showed a poacher’s instinct to convert his sixth of the season.
Ed Sheeran, watching from the stands as Ipswich played for the first time in a pink kit whose design he partly influenced, could join the visiting contingent in celebrating wildly. These had hardly been bolts from the blue. Within two minutes Szmodics had forced a save from Vicario after more excellent work from Hutchinson and, after nine, Cameron Burgess had leapt at the far post to plant Davis’s corner on to the bar.
Jamie Jackson’s verdict from Old Trafford:
Fernandes’s goal was his fourth of Van Nistelrooy’s brief reign after zero for Erik ten Hag in the captain’s previous 17 outings, a run that stretched back to April. Ten Hag, of course, has been replaced by Rúben Amorim, whose opening day as the new head coach is Monday, as United hope their latest reset is finally the right one.
John Brewin writes from the City Ground:
Forest had seen out a first half in which they had reduced their opponent to scraps but with Gordon switched to the left, Newcastle began their second half with renewed fire, Bruno soon whistling a shot wide with his outstep, as Forest’s defenders – and Sels – were forced into increased last-ditch stuff. Forest retained some danger on the counter but after Nicolás Domínguez was sent through on the halfway line, only for Nick Pope to make a save, they lost control of the game.
The Premier League table as it stands.
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Liverpool | 11 | 15 | 28 |
2 | Man City | 11 | 9 | 23 |
3 | Nottm Forest | 11 | 5 | 19 |
4 | Brighton | 11 | 4 | 19 |
5 | Chelsea | 10 | 8 | 18 |
6 | Arsenal | 10 | 6 | 18 |
7 | Fulham | 11 | 3 | 18 |
8 | Newcastle | 11 | 2 | 18 |
9 | Aston Villa | 11 | 0 | 18 |
10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 11 | 10 | 16 |
11 | Brentford | 11 | 0 | 16 |
12 | AFC Bournemouth | 11 | 0 | 15 |
13 | Man Utd | 11 | 0 | 15 |
14 | West Ham | 11 | -6 | 12 |
15 | Leicester | 11 | -7 | 10 |
16 | Everton | 11 | -7 | 10 |
17 | Ipswich | 11 | -10 | 8 |
18 | Crystal Palace | 11 | -7 | 7 |
19 | Wolverhampton | 11 | -11 | 6 |
20 | Southampton | 11 | -14 | 4 |
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Newcastle: Forest never really were able to get out of second gear, which is a huge credit to Newcastle. Barnes was the super-sub of the day after constantly getting the better of Nuno’s defence and Howe will now be hoping his side can kick on.
It is a small setback in Forest’s brilliant start but a reminder for them that they will have to maintain previous levels in the busy Christmas period. Just as they have launched to the top half of the table, it is just as easy to come tumbling down.
Manchester United 3-0 Leicester: It really looked like Ruud van Nistelrooy was saying goodbye to the Old Trafford faithful at the final whistle. He shook the hands of every member of the staff and the players before applauding the fans and he is still on the pitch.
He has made it clear that he would like to stay at the club as an assistant but it is ultimately up to Rúben Amorim, who may want to bring his current staff from Sporting.
Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich: Huge celebrations from the Ipswich players who fall to the ground in jubilation at their first win of the season. Their first-half performance was marked by brave attacking play and they showed a lot of fight to ensure that they would not concede in the final moments despite Spurs’ relentless pressure. The win also takes them out of the relegation zone.
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Full-time results
Manchester United 3-0 Leicester
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Newcastle
Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich
Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich: Spurs win a free-kick 25 yards out … and wow, it is a poor ball from Porro. Huge roar from the Ipswich fans! It has been 22 years since they last won a Premier League game!
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Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich: What a save! Muric denies Solanke after the ball falls luckily to him. Muric makes himself big and blocks the shot with his legs!
The full-time whistle has gone at Old Trafford and the City Ground but it’s still ticking away at Tottenham …
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Tottenham 1-2 Leicester: Bissouma fouls Hutchinson to give Ipswich a free-kick. Just what they wanted and they will surely take their time to line up.
Manchester United 3-0 Leicester: Amad is looking for a fourth as he cuts the ball back to Zirkzee but Leicester intercept.
Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich: We get eight minutes of injury time … Ipswich have been trying to keep the ball in the corner for the last 10 minutes.
Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich: Werner counters and finds Son who gives it back but it’s high and wide!
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-3 Newcastle (Barnes 83)
Great comeback for the Magpies! Another counterattack sees Barnes with the ball in the box. He cuts inside on his right and hits it low to give his side their third.
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GOAL! Manchester United 3-0 Leicester (Garnacho 82)
A stunner from the substitute! As soon as he comes on the pitch, things happen. Eriksen sets up United for a counterattack and it ends with Garnacho picks the top corner.
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Manchester United 2-0 Leicester: Bit of a calmer half at Old Trafford. Leicester seem to have little ideas and United are happy to keep their lead.
Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich: The visitors have really lost their heads since conceding. There is huge pressure to win this one now and it does not help that the crowd is firmly against them. Werner tries to take a chance but is fouled before he can get the shot off.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle (Joelinton 72)
All that praise for Forest but Howe’s side have turned it around at the City Ground! It is a cracking finish after Joelinton curls a shot from his left foot which whacks the post before going in.
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GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Ipswich (Bentancur 69)
Here we go! Bentancur is left completely unmarked to head a corner into the top corner from about eight yards out. Are the Tractor Boys going to let it slip again?
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Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle: Isak surely should get his second … but he misses! His volley is just on the wrong side of the post after Willock put it on a plate for him.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle: Taylor books Yates for a pull back on Isak. It is the player’s fourth foul of the match so he is really quite lucky.
Tottenham 0-2 Ipswich: Spurs denied a penalty by VAR! The ball hits Davis on the arm. It was from close range and VAR take a look but nothing given.
Manchester United 2-0 Leicester: Fernandes is not happy. He is down holding his head but the substitutions don’t include him as Rashford and Dalot are the ones who come off. He is on the sideline but should be OK to come back on.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle (Isak 54)
Perfect start to the half for Newcastle! Isak takes a chance with a first-time shot across goal and it hits the post on the way in. Great work from Longstaff to keep the ball alive from the corner.
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VAR denies Spurs! Tottenham 0-2 Ipswich
Solanke has the ball in the back of the net after Rodrigo Bentancur flicks on Pedro Porro’s corner to the striker but VAR takes a look and it is obvious … the ball touches his arm on the way in.
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Nottingham Forest 1-0 Newcastle: Chance for the visitors! Guimarães somehow hits a curling shot with the outside of his boot but it is just over the bar.
The late match will certainly be an intriguing one. Find out the team news for the London derby along with my colleague Dominic Booth.
And we’re back underway across all the grounds!
Fernandes’ second goal has been snatched from him and given as a Kristiansen own-goal. Right decision, really.
Sheffield United’s tight victory in the tight Sheffield derby was incredibly important for Chris Wilder, writes Aaron Bower at Bramall Lane.
After the disappointment of last season’s rather humiliating relegation from the Premier League, Wilder looks to have rebuilt his boyhood club and put them in a strong position for an immediate return. He, more than most, will have savoured this result, with this his first home derby victory as a manager.
A well-earned win for Chelsea in the WSL at Liverpool, which was dubbed pre-match as a possible tough test for Sonia Bompastor.
Tom Garry writes from the Totally Wicked Stadium:
Sunday’s meeting on a grey afternoon in St Helens contrasted with the engrossing 4-3 thriller in which Liverpool stunned Chelsea towards the end of last season and, briefly, had prompted their former manager Emma Hayes to concede a title that they went on to win regardless. Chelsea were never in such jeopardy this time.
Half-time emails!
Peter (like all of us) laments some refereeing decisions:
So good to see Anthony Taylor maintaining his ineptitude and his influence on the Premier league with no calls,wrong calls and plain ignorance as to the application of laws. A perfect study of “my way, the only way”.
Agreed, not the best half from him. Yates with a couple of poor challenges and not even a booking and a very obvious Elanga foul on Willock as well … Frustrating in what has otherwise been an entertaining game.
Rick’s thoughts on Fernandes:
Bruno Fernandes may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but his scoring record and assists in the PL are surely Lampardesque? Don’t know how many assists he has since he joined United but a goal every three games is pretty amazing for a midfielder. I sense he wasn’t Ten Hag’s biggest fan so Amorim will probably be far more to his liking.
In 170 appearances, Fernandes has scored 56 and assisted 43, so a goal contribution every 1.7 games. Lampard in 609 appearances scored 177 and assisted 102, which equals a goal contribution every 2.2 games.
Simon on the title race:
I know it’s still early days, and that City are capable of winning twenty games in a row, but you do get the sense that this season’s Premier League title is Liverpool’s to lose. Unless Forest do a Leicester, of course. Or Man United. Dilly ding dilly dong!
Jeremy on Nuno’s hopes and dreams:
Wow. Nuno must be pinching himself to make sure he’s not dreaming, and having a good laugh when he realises he’s wide awake. He has done much the best of all the people on the Midlands Management Merry-go-round. I thought he did a great job at Wolves and was badly treated in the end, he did his best despite having all his best players sold from under him. And where has sacking him got them?
If Forest win today they move to within a point of “troubled” Citeh, how long before they can start dreaming of Champions League footie? 45 years after they put the boot in on Europe’s high-and-mighty it would be great to see them back in it, and give the other CL teams plenty to contemplate.
Kári’s Tottenham adversity hypothesis
I have a hypothesis that Ange’s Spurs need to be losing to play at the intensity that Postecoglou’s system relies on. But it will take an almighty jolt of adrenaline to get them out of their torpor today, even against a team that on paper Tottenham should swat aside.
Half-time across the grounds
Manchester United 2-0 Leicester
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Newcastle
Tottenham 0-2 Ipswich
Manchester United 2-0 Ipswich: Huge save from Hermansen to deny Amad! The United player darts beyond three Leicester players and it looks like a sure goal after a counterattack but the Leicester keeper saves it with the tip of his toes after initially diving the wrong way.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-2 Ipswich (Delap 43)
A quick breakaway for the visitors and Spurs make it too easy to be cut through. Szmodics drives a low ball and it ping-pongs around before Delap hits it home on the goalline. Will Ipswich’s first win of the season be in north London in their bright pink kits?
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GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Leicester (Fernandes 39)
Just like he did in the Cup, the United captain has a brace against Leicester. It is a bit messy but he won’t care. Fernandes misses the header after Mazraoui’s cross and although it does touch his body, the ball only veers on target after a touch from Kristiansen. Might be changed to an own-goal later.
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GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Ipswich (Szmodics 31)
A bicycle-kick gives the visitors the lead after Cajuste swings in a delivery. Delap tries to go for goal but ends up looping it over to Szmodics who, with his back to goal, controls an overhead kick. Spurs fall behind again at home!
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Tottenham 0-0 Ipswich: Leif Davis decides to take matters into his own hands as he runs out of defence and surges forward. He is about to lose the ball but is then fouled.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Newcastle (Murillo 22)
Incredible delivery from an Elanga free-kick and Murillo is the first to react, running onto the front post to nod home his first Forest goal. Poor defending from Newcastle.
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Tottenham 0-0 Ipswich: Solanke shows some great hold up play but his low strike is pushed behind by Muric.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Leicester (Fernandes 17)
A super finish to celebrate his 250th game in the club. After a quick give-and-go with a stunning back heel assist from Amad, Fernandes drifts just outside of the penalty area and powers a low curling shot into the bottom corner. Great goal!
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Manchester United 0-0 Leicester: The hosts win a corner but it does not go past the first man. Fernandes faces the sky in disbelief.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Newcastle: Hudson-Odoi clumsily gives the ball away, giving Willock the chance to take a shot but it’s wide at the far post.
Tottenham 0-0 Ipswich: Son finds Johnson at the near post but the latter’s shot is just wide.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Newcastle: Forest win an early free-kick and Elanga puts a peach of a ball in that causes mayhem in the box. It falls to Wood, which would surely cause panic given his form, and his close-range shot is blocked by Hall … and the flag goes up anyway.
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Manchester United 0-0 Leicester: The visitors lose the ball and United surge forward and they try to be patient in their buildup. Fernandes eventually finds Højlund but Leicester clear. United putting lots of pressure early on, though.
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Kick-offs across the grounds
After a moment of silence and a rendition of the Last Post for Remembrance Sunday we are off!
Manchester United 0-0 Leicester
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Newcastle
Tottenham 0-0 Ipswich
Some emails before we get to kick-off!
Krishna could not be more cheerful:
Will the human rights watchdog be managed by Saudi Arabia in the first year, followed by Qatar, then Kuwait, later Dubai and so on … Sorry for being a cynic but I could not help it – the music that was City losing AGAIN yesterday could be completed as a proper encore today should Forest continue their magical mystery tour.
And Eric names his price (sort of):
Good morning from Pittsburgh! Looking forward to a couple of things in today’s undercard (yes, that’s what we all are thinking). Newcastle spent big to pluck Chris Wood from relegation-doomed Burnley and proceeded to deem him surplus in just one calendar year. Rude. He got a hat-trick at St James’ Park last season; I’ve got a neutral’s hope he has massive fun today, heh heh. I’ve never seen an entire team phone it in (if that’s what the kids still say) the way I can imagine Manchester United doing today. An often indifferent home crowd, a relegation candidate for an opponent, a lame-duck coach, an international window beckoning. You couldn’t pay me to go to Old Trafford to subject myself to that rubbish. (Well, you could, but I have a high price.)
Bruno Fernandes is celebrating 25o games with Manchester United today and Jim Ratcliffe has presented him a plaque to honour the occasion. In his time at the club, the now club captain has scored 82 goals and won two trophies.
Before we start in the Premier League, follow along to our MBM coverage of Liverpool v Chelsea in the WSL.
Nuno with some words on his squad depth before the game.
The late one tonight is Arsenal at Chelsea. Rob Draper heaps praise on William Saliba who cost £25m while Chelsea signed his teammate Wesley Fofana for £70m. And Jacob Steinberg analyses Enzo Fernández’s struggles after the emergence of Roméo Lavia’s partnership with Moisés Caicedo in central midfield.
Paul MacInnes with some big news that will certainly affect the Premier League.
Proposed changes to the football regulator that would ensure clubs could not be sold to nation states are to be put before the House of Lords, as legislation returns to parliament this week. Nineteen changes to the football governance bill have been proposed by Fair Game, an organisation of 34 men’s clubs that argues for a more sustainable approach to running the national sport.
Other proposals include the addition of a human rights component to owners’ and directors’ tests and a mandate to disclose the source of an owner’s funds. The text of the proposed amendment on state ownership says: “The Bill must exclude the possibility that an owner of a club could be a state or state-controlled person or entity.
Nottingham Forest are now third in the Premier League table, a feat not many predicted at the start of the season. Jonathan Wilson believes it is because Nuno Espírito Santo is where he is comfortable and his plan – amid all the background turmoil – is not especially complicated.
Forest have had the third-lowest possession in the league this season – but it works. Or at least, works for them. A club with a more heightened sense of self-worth might insist on having more of the ball, on something more sophisticated, but simplicity has its own charm.
Read more here.
The current Premier League table as it stands.
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Liverpool | 11 | 15 | 28 |
2 | Man City | 11 | 9 | 23 |
3 | Nottm Forest | 10 | 7 | 19 |
4 | Brighton | 11 | 4 | 19 |
5 | Chelsea | 10 | 8 | 18 |
6 | Arsenal | 10 | 6 | 18 |
7 | Fulham | 11 | 3 | 18 |
8 | Aston Villa | 11 | 0 | 18 |
9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 10 | 11 | 16 |
10 | Brentford | 11 | 0 | 16 |
11 | AFC Bournemouth | 11 | 0 | 15 |
12 | Newcastle | 10 | 0 | 15 |
13 | Man Utd | 10 | -3 | 12 |
14 | West Ham | 11 | -6 | 12 |
15 | Leicester | 10 | -4 | 10 |
16 | Everton | 11 | -7 | 10 |
17 | Crystal Palace | 11 | -7 | 7 |
18 | Wolverhampton | 11 | -11 | 6 |
19 | Ipswich | 10 | -11 | 5 |
20 | Southampton | 11 | -14 | 4 |
Team news: Tottenham v Ipswich
Team news: Nottingham Forest v Newcastle
Team news: Manchester United v Leicester
Preamble
A sending off at Palace, goals galore in Brentford, a first win for Wolves, City’s downward spiral and Liverpool’s counterattacks are aplenty … it has been an exciting weekend of Premier League football so far. And the good news is there is more to come.
Our afternoon matches see Leicester head to Old Trafford for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s last game in charge, an in-form Forest side hosting Newcastle and Spurs hoping to bounce back from European embarrassment against a desperate Ipswich.
Join me for all the goals and the big moments in the 2pm GMT kick-offs.
And, as always, send any thoughts, predictions, questions, or complaints you would like to share to me via email.
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