Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have struck the latest blow in this cat-and-mouse chase, four points clear at the summit following City’s frustrating goalless draw at Sunderland on Thursday night.

City dropped points as the temperature at the Stadium of Light almost hit freezing on the first day of 2026.

And Arsenal will need to maintain their cool if they are to claim their first top-flight crown in over two decades.

City had 67% possession and 14 shots in the North East, but were unable to break down a stubborn Sunderland defence, who claimed a well-earned point.

“Two different halves,” said City captain Bernardo Silva after the game. “In the first half, we didn’t play that well. We didn’t control the counter as well as we should.

“We attacked a bit too quick – we didn’t move them to find spaces. Second half, we had a lot more chances, and today was one of those days we couldn’t finish them.

“We are not happy because we wanted better than this.”

As goalless draws go, this was a thoroughly entertaining one with both teams having chances to claim all three points.

The home fans grew in confidence as the match wore on, but City could not find the key to unlock the defence as Sunderland maintained their impressive unbeaten record at home this season.

“If you look at Sunderland’s home record, I think it’s a point well-earned,” former Manchester City defender Steph Houghton said on BBC Match of the Day.

“They [City] will overall be disappointed because of the chances they created but if you look at the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa, to go there and get a point, we are halfway through the season, there is a long, long way to go.”

Just like Arsenal in November, City could not beat the Black Cats.

And Sunderland boss Regis le Bris was understandably delighted by the result, saying: “I’m enjoying [it]. I think we showed strong character against probably one of the best teams in Europe at the minute.

“It was important to defend well. I think we were bold because we tried to be aggressive and high up the pitch. I think we disturbed their routine, maybe their flow, and it was really important.

“We created a few chances as well, so it was a good game.”

‘Best in his position’ – Rodri return provides boost

While it was two points dropped in the title race, there was positive news for City with 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri returning to action from a hamstring issue.

The 29-year-old missed the majority of last season after sustaining a serious knee injury and has been limited to just seven appearances this term.

The sight of the Spaniard taking to the pitch in the second half will be of relief to Guardiola and supporters, after Rodri featured in just one minute of action over the past three months.

“He changed the game,” said Guardiola of the midfielder. He proved in 45 minutes that he is the best in his position. Football is about the players, with the build-up we struggled in the first half and with Rodri we struggled less.

“He broke the lines, we were more fluid, arrived better, we moved better, and hopefully one and a half years without him, we missed him a lot, so hopefully he can stay because he makes us a better team.”

There was, however, mixed news on the injury front, and Guardiola said Savinho “doesn’t look good” after the Brazilian hobbled off in the second half, while they await the extent of the issue suffered by Nico Gonzalez.

The Sunderland game marked the start of 10 games in four different competitions for City, a run which goes up until 1 February.

They will need to keep players off the treatment table if they are to claim silverware this term, a problem which contributed to finishing 2024-25 empty-handed.

One season without a trophy is major woe for Guardiola and City, two would be downright unthinkable.

Pep Guardiola’s side had seen the Gunners underline their credentials by taking apart in-form contenders Aston Villa on Tuesday, but went home frustrated following the entertaining draw at the Stadium of Light.

City had given Sunderland an early warning sign when Bernardo Silva’s close-range finish from Erling Haaland’s flick-on was ruled out for offside inside the opening six minutes, though the away side’s best chance in the first half fell to Haaland – who struck straight at Robin Roefs from 12 yards.

The hosts were holding firm but did have opportunities of their own – Brian Brobbey outmuscled Ruben Dias to a long ball over the top, but could only strike straight at the towering frame of Gianluigi Donnarumma, while on the verge of half-time, Trai Hume’s glancing header sailed narrowly over.

Midfielder Rodri returned to action for City at the start of the second half, replacing Nico Gonzalez, but City were left frustrated as Jeremy Doku was denied by the magnificent Nordi Mukiele taking a strike to his face, while Josko Gvardiol’s flicked effort clipped the post.

Donnarumma sprung down to claw out Eliezer Mayenda’s low shot but neither side were able to find a winner, as Sunderland claimed a well-earned point to preserve their unbeaten record at home this season.

Jeremie Frimpong’s left-footed strike in the first half was met by Ekitike, who bizarrely ended up heading the ball in the opposite direction when all he had to do was guide it into an open goal.

Frimpong had put plenty of power on his shot, but, from a yard out, it was harder to miss than score.

The point extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to eight games and moved them three points clear of Chelsea, who are fifth, but this was another largely uninspiring display from Slot’s side.

Liverpool dominated possession but hardly tested Lucas Perri in the Leeds goal and, at the 84th time of asking since Slot took over in the summer of 2024, a Liverpool game under the Dutchman ended without a goal.

It was a game of few chances, with Ekitike denied a penalty in the first half when it looked like Jaka Bijol was holding him back while Virgil van Dijk came close when he headed wide from a corner in the second half.

Daniel Farke opted to rest Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who had scored seven goals in his past six games, before their match against Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday.

And it was Calvert-Lewin who nearly got the winner after coming on in the second half, when he turned neatly and finished past Alisson in the 81st minute.

However, the former Everton striker was marginally offside.

Leeds extended their own unbeaten run to six games and have not lost a game since November. Farke’s side are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

After drawing 3-3 against Liverpool at Elland Road in December, they have taken four points off the Premier League champions this season.

The Athletic reported on Thursday that the club’s board were to meet that day to discuss Maresca’s future, with Chelsea winless in their past three games.

The Italian had been on a five-year deal through to 2029.

Maresca was the Premier League’s manager of the month in November but sparked uncertainty over his future with comments following their win against Everton on December 13 that the previous 48 hours had been his “worst since I joined the club, because many people didn’t support us”.

The Athletic revealed days after the comments that the head coach is high among the candidates Manchester City are considering in the event of Pep Guardiola leaving the Etihad Stadium next summer. The Catalan has been at City since 2016 but is under contract until 2027.

The two teams meet each other in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and it remains to be seen who will be in charge for Chelsea following Maresca’s departure.

The situation has come to a head following Tuesday evening’s draw with Bournemouth, a third game without a win and one which saw Maresca and his side booed off at full-time at Stamford Bridge.

The club remain firmly behind the approach installed following the takeover by the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly consortium in 2022 with the next head coach expected to fit into it and quickly stabilise and improve results.

Maresca was appointed by Chelsea in June 2024, the sixth manager since Roman Abramovich’s exit. He joined the London club off the back of guiding Leicester City to the Championship title and automatic promotion to the top flight at the first attempt.

In his first season at Stamford Bridge, Maresca won the Conference League and the newly-expanded Club World Cup.

Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Arsenal and only five points above 14th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Gunners were leading 1-0 in the 57th minute at the Hill Dickinson Stadium when William Saliba and Everton striker Thierno Barry clashed inside the area.

Barry got to the ball first, but his boot was kicked by Arsenal’s French defender.

The panel voted 3-2 that the on-field decision by referee Sam Barrott to not award a penalty was incorrect.

It also voted 3-2 that video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Salisbury should have sent the match official to the monitor to change his decision.

Three panel members noted “Saliba carelessly kicks Barry with no contact on the ball” and they felt it was a clear and obvious error.

Two panellists supported the no-penalty call because “there was not enough impact and a delayed reaction”.

Everton manager David Moyes was confused why other similar incidents had resulted in spot-kicks.

In particular he referenced a penalty given by the on-field referee to Fulham against Nottingham Forest two days later. The panel unanimously supported this spot-kick decision.

“I was half-choking last night when I saw the decision given [to Fulham] and ours wasn’t,” said Moyes. “It feels as though certain clubs get those decisions and other clubs don’t.”

Each KMI Panel is made up of five members. Three are former players or coaches, plus there is one representative each from the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials.

VAR right over Gordon decision against Chelsea

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Newcastle led 2-1 when Anthony Gordon’s penalty claims were ignored in the 53rd minute

The panel also voted the VAR Peter Bankes was correct not to advise that Newcastle should be given a spot-kick in their match against Chelsea on 20 December.

Head coach Eddie Howe said the Magpies were refused a “stonewall” penalty when Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah barged Anthony Gordon to the ground.

Newcastle led 2-1 at the time, and the game finished 2-2. The club said they would be “seeking clarification” about the decision.

The panel felt referee Andy Madley should have awarded a spot-kick (3-2), but it didn’t reach the threshold for a VAR intervention (3-2).

Those in favour of a penalty said “Chalobah makes no challenge for the ball and makes reckless shoulder, hip and leg contact”.

But those against believed it was “robust shoulder-to-shoulder contact with the ball in playing distance”.

Panel supports Simons dismissal and Ekitike goal

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Liverpool led 2-0 through Hugo Ekitike’s header at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank was furious after his side fell to a 2-1 loss at home to Liverpool on 20 December.

Spurs saw Xavi Simons sent off on a VAR review for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk.

Frank also felt Liverpool’s second goal should have been ruled out for a push by Hugo Ekitike on Cristian Romero.

Spurs captain Romero was then sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time.

The panel delivered unanimous verdicts that the Simons red card and the Ekitike goal were both correct.

On the Ekitike incident it stated “there’s not enough contact for a foul, particularly given the high threshold for penalising contact”.

Romero’s second yellow card was supported 4-1.

Centre-back Micky van de Ven’s attempted block on the shot for Alexander Isak’s goal, which saw the Liverpool striker suffer a broken leg, was not deemed a red-card offence to be considered by the panel as a Key Match Incident.

Semenyo, the Ghana international, is close to a move to Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth after the Premier League champions triggered his release clause.

Salah’s future at Liverpool remains uncertain following public criticism of the club’s management and head coach over his limited playing time.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Pennant suggested Liverpool missed a key opportunity by not engaging with Semenyo. He described the 25-year-old as an ideal candidate to eventually succeed Salah at Anfield.

“As a Liverpool fan, I am very disappointed by Alexander Isak’s injury, which could keep him out for the whole season. With Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and our prior knowledge of our relationship with him, will he leave?” he asked.

“So, for £65 million in this day and age, a player of Antoine Semenyo’s calibre is arguably a bargain.

“It would be really stupid for Liverpool not to be in the negotiations or to say we are also interested, and then to contact Bournemouth based on what I mentioned.

“Semenyo could be a long-term replacement for Salah, so when Salah decides to leave, whether in January or at the end of the season, you will have a player who has proven himself in the Premier League, and that is very important.”

Pennant concluded, “We have seen players come to this league and not succeed, but we know Simeone is capable of doing so.”

Semenyo has so far scored nine goals in 18 matches for Bournemouth, with three assists to his credit.

City’s move for the Ghana forward, 25, is at an advanced stage with talks over the past 48 hours aimed at closing the finer details of the deal.

They have agreed to meet Semenyo’s £65m release clause, while the player’s representatives were in Manchester on Monday finalising personal terms.

Discussions continued on Tuesday, with sources indicating a total agreement is now close with the January transfer window due to open on Thursday.

Semenyo, who played the full 90 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday, has been keen for his future to be resolved by 1 January.

However, Iraola is adamant the attacker will play against Arsenal on Saturday, 3 January.

“He is a massive player for us and he will still be with us,” the Bournemouth boss told BBC Match of the Day.

“It is not the last game he has played for us, definitely not.”

Sources have told BBC Sport Bournemouth want him to play against the Gunners and then Tottenham on Wednesday, 7 January before the release mechanism in his deal elapses on 10 January.

As reported by BBC Sport on Sunday, Liverpool retain an interest in Semenyo but, unless the Premier League champions launch a late bid, he is heading to City.

Despite interest from five clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, City remain the only one to have made formal contact with Bournemouth.

‘It is like losing two or three players’

Although Semenyo conceded a penalty in the draw at Chelsea, he showed what Bournemouth will be missing should he leave with his two long throws into the box leading to the visitors’ two goals.

At the end of the match, he applauded the away fans in what appeared to be a goodbye to them, with several of his team-mates also coming over to hug him.

Semenyo has scored nine goals and provided three assists for Bournemouth this season, and team-mate David Brooks said his departure will be a big loss.

“I’m not going to sit here and say he doesn’t leave a hole,” the Wales international told BBC Match of the Day.

“He’s our top scorer and he’s been a very, very good player for us over the past couple of years.

“Everyone loves Ants in our team and if he’s going to join someone else we wish him all the best, he’s earned it.”

Former Chelsea and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Three and a half outstanding seasons as a Bournemouth player – the issue Andoni Iraola’s got is how do you replace him? How do you replace his numbers?

“A phenomenal player who’ll go with the Bournemouth fans’ best wishes. He’s been a top player for them.”

Ex-Aston Villa and Manchester United striker Dion Dublin said Semenyo’s exit would feel like losing more than just one player for Bournemouth.

“As a manager you can think to yourself, ‘bring the money in, I back myself as a coach’, and I’m sure Iraola does,” he added.

“But Semenyo is such a big player that it is like losing two or three players.”

“The lads are very disappointed,” he said in the aftermath of a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Wolves. “We expect better.”

Certainly, the United fans who booed their team off at full-time expect better.

This was a Wolves side who had lost 11 successive league games before Tuesday and remain on course to eclipse Derby County as the worst Premier League team ever – despite collecting their first point since the beginning of October.

These were the same fans who bellowed the traditional United chant of “attack, attack, attack” in the second half as they watched their team struggle to create chances, then saw head coach Ruben Amorim replace one central defender in Ayden Heaven, with another in Leny Yoro, 15 minutes from time.

Teenage forwards Chido Obi and Shea Lacey, admittedly raw and untested, remained on the bench.

Expecting better is what sums United up after the latest in a succession of home games that has seen them lose to 10-man Everton, fail to beat third bottom West Ham and concede four times to Bournemouth. They did beat Newcastle on Boxing Day – but now this.

The marvel is that United end 2025 sixth in the table, behind Chelsea – who occupy what is likely to be the fifth Champions League qualification spot – only on goal difference. They can drop no further than seventh when the match round is completed on the first day of 2026.

“I’m really confident,” said Amorim when asked how he felt as he approached the new year. “We just need to recover all the players.

“I don’t know what is going to happen until the end of the season. Then we will make the resume of the season.

“But I’m really confident when we recover all the players we are going to be a strong team. There is no doubts in my mind.”

In fairness to Amorim, he does have a long list of absentees.

Mason Mount became the eighth player sidelined for the game due to a either injury or international duty when he failed to recover from the problem that forced him out of the win over Newcastle at half-time.

The absence of skipper Bruno Fernandes was keenly felt and, with Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo at the Africa Cup of Nations and Kobbie Mainoo also ruled out with a badly timed issue that erupted on the training ground just before the defeat at Aston Villa on 21 December, the lack of creativity is clear.

Yet, with Matheus Cunha below par and Benjamin Sesko still finding his way as a United player, when Amorim looked at his other options, Joshua Zirkzee was the only one.

This is the same player who has never convinced as being the right level for the club, who has been overlooked for virtually all the season and, on Tuesday, was taken off at half-time even though he put United ahead in the opening period with a deflected shot.

Amorim tried to gloss over the situation but, under the circumstances, how can any other conclusion be drawn than it is in all party’s interests to tie up a deal with Serie A side Roma, who want to take the Netherlands forward back to Italy, and use the money to bring in someone who can make United better?

“I just look at what I can do to win the game,” said Amorim. “We needed to do what the game was asking because we were struggling.

“I’m not looking for age and experience. They put a lot of men in the middle of the park and, with Jack [Fletcher], we balanced that.”

‘Everyone turned up expecting a win’

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already voiced his concern at the amount of money United have spent on players who are not contributing to the cause.

Zirkzee, a £36.5m signing from Bologna in July 2024, is one of quite a few examples.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards said afterwards he mentioned the negativity in the stands to his players at half-time.

There has been a lot of that at Molineux this season, so he knows how damaging it can be.

“Everyone turned up expecting a win, maybe a comfortable one, and it wasn’t that,” he said.

Although Amorim stated he would not use the absence of key players as an excuse, he did reel off the names and said it explained a lot.

“We are in a situation where a lot of players are out at the same time,” he said.

“Of course, when you play Casemiro and [Manuel] Ugarte in the middle, you know that is different to when you have Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount or Bruno [Fernandes]. That is normal.

“So, we just need to recover our players and the [other] players to return from Afcon then the fluidity is going to be different.

“Today, we could win but we had a lack of fluidity, a lack of quality and a lack of creation of chances. Then we suffered a goal with a set-piece. These details are important to win games in difficult moments.”

It feels more fundamental. As Martinez said, better is expected.

As 2026 dawns, it does feel that how United do in the winter transfer window will determine whether they will retain any hope of qualifying for the Champions League.

Centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, making his first start since recovering from injury in November, bundled the ball in from a trademark corner in the 48th minute to give Arsenal the lead, and despite appeals from the Villa players for a foul on their goalkeeper Emi Martinez, the goal stood.

The Gunners then doubled their lead when captain Martin Odegaard won the ball back in midfield before playing an excellent pass to Martin Zubimendi who poked the ball past Martinez.

Leandro Trossard added a third when he slammed a shot low into the net from the edge of the area, after a lengthy check for offside by the video assistant referee (VAR).

And substitute Gabriel Jesus ensured it was a memorable night for the Gunners when he curled in from the edge of the area before Ollie Watkins tapped in from close range in stoppage time to give Aston Villa a consolation goal.

Villa came into this game on an 11-match winning streak which included a 2-1 victory over the Gunners 24 days ago, but despite starting the game well and going close through Watkins could not take the lead.

Unai Emery’s side, who were without Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara through suspension, came with a clear gameplan to slow the tempo of the match and tried to frustrate Arsenal, but could not deny Mikel Arteta’s side an impressive win.

The victory ends an excellent year for the Gunners who have lost just twice in the league this season, and move five points clear before second-placed Manchester City’s match at Sunderland on New Year’s Day (20:00 GMT).

Without eight senior players due to a combination of injuries and international calls, United were far from their best but still managed to go in front thanks to Joshua Zirkzee’s deflected 27th-minute effort.

However, Wolves began to force the pace towards the end of the opening period and after United goalkeeper Senne Lammens had kept a Hugo Bueno effort out, Ladislav Krejci levelled with a header from eight yards after he was given far too much room at the far post.

Lammens denied Krejci a second after half-time, when he dived to his left to parry a low shot and then got the ball away from danger as Yerson Mosquera closed in.

Ironically, Mosquera came close for the home side when he headed the ball past Jose Sa and towards his own goal. Fortunately for the Colombian, Sa got back to retrieve the situation just before the ball bounced in.

Sa had already been at the centre of one unusual incident when he was penalised by referee Thomas Bramall for holding onto the ball longer than eight seconds. It was only the third time the new rule has been applied in the Premier League this season but the home side could make nothing of the corner that followed.

Jhon Arias came close to a winner for the visitors with a shot that deflected narrowly wide and Patrick Dorgu then thought he had scored for the hosts in the final minute but a lengthy video assistant referee check confirmed the offside decision against him was correct.

It was Wolves’ third draw – and point – of the season, and their first since 5 October, although does not do much for their survival chances as they are still 15 points from safety.

For United, it was another example of their many shortcomings and a result that prevented Ruben Amorim’s side ending 2025 in an unlikely fourth spot – they remain sixth.

Talks have progressed quickly in the past 24 hours and have now reached the advanced stages.

The final details of his £65m release clause are being sorted between the clubs, while City are also understood to be close to finalising personal terms with the winger.

But there is no rush to conclude the deal, with no other club expected to intervene at this late stage and his release clause not active until Thursday when the transfer window opens.

City are the only club to have contacted Bournemouth so far about the release clause, which is believed to be active from January 1 to January 10.

This is despite interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea before Christmas. Chelsea opted not to pursue things any further after making an enquiry, with Spurs also moving on to other targets.

Semenyo is also in the Bournemouth squad for their trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports.

It has also not yet been ruled out that he will be in the squad on Saturday when Bournemouth host Arsenal.

Semenyo’s representatives were in Manchester on Monday discussing personal terms with City, while positive talks took place simultaneously between the clubs.

The search for Semenyo’s replacement is now ramping up at Bournemouth, but Brennan Johnson, who they are interested in, could be set to move to Crystal Palace after they agreed a £35m fee with Tottenham. Johnson has not yet made his final decision.

The Gunners spent about £250m in the summer and brought in eight new players as they looked to increase the quality in their squad to deal with the packed fixture list and compete for trophies in multiple competitions.

Last season Arsenal’s campaign was decimated by injuries.

They were without defender Gabriel Magalhaes for the final part of the season and played with midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker as they finished second in the Premier League for a third successive season and were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champions League by Paris St-Germain.

This season the Gunners have also been plagued with injuries. They lost Kai Havertz from the opening day, while captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Max Dowman have had spells on the sidelines.

Now, after injuries mainly affecting attacking players, it is the Arsenal backline which is suffering.

Arteta was forced to play Declan Rice in an unfamiliar right-back position against Brighton on Saturday because Jurrien Timber was injured and Riccardo Calafiori picked up an issue in the warm-up.

Gabriel returned from injury in the 2-1 win, but the return dates of Cristhian Mosquera, Timber and Calafiori are not known.

“We’re going to be really aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players,” Arteta said.

“We have to be actively looking, and then can we do it or not?

“That’s a different story, but our job is to be always very prepared because something can happen.”

Amorim moved away from a back three with wing-backs for the first time against Newcastle United and instead fielded an orthodox back four with two holding midfielders.

By his own admission that became a back six in the final stages as his side held on for victory – and only their second clean sheet of the season.

Although he memorably once said not even the Pope could force him to change his system, Amorim says the ability to play with different formations has always been his plan.

However he says he could only make the switch when his side were doing sufficiently well – otherwise it would look like he was bowing to external noise.

“When I came here last season, I understood maybe I don’t have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process,” he said.

“We were trying to build an identity. Today is a different moment. We don’t have a lot of players, and we need to adapt, so they understand why we are changing.

“It is not because of the pressure of you guys [media], or the fans.

“When you [media] talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand I’m changing because of you and I think that is the end for the manager.

“When we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to change.

“We are going to become a better team because when all the players return, we are not going to play with three defenders all the time.”

With only two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is correct to say his side have been playing well.

He is however working with a depleted squad, with seven senior players already ruled out of the home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That number will increase if Mason Mount fails to recover from the injury that forced him out of the Newcastle game at half-time.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves game, even though he is urging his manager to allow him to return to action following his hamstring injury in the defeat at Aston Villa on 21 December.

“Bruno is already saying he needs to train,” said Amorim.

“But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. You can write that.”

However, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, because while most players either watch matches from the directors’ box or a private box when they are injured or suspended, Fernandes kept a close eye on the warm-ups before the Newcastle game from the mouth of the tunnel.

Amorim expects his captain to continue to offer input.

“The guy is a leader,” he said. “He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he’s not talking and speaking. He’s always speaking. That’s why he’s the captain.

“He has bad things sometimes – the way he moves his arms – but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers after games, or even after treatment, he goes to watch the other guys training. There is a lot of things you don’t see.

“I don’t know if he wants my job or not, but he’s a leader. The guy is a leader.”

While the precise date for Fernandes’ return – and that of Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, who are also injured – is unknown, by the end of January Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will have returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.

The club are extremely unhappy with referee Rob Jones’ decisions during Saturday’s 2-1 loss at the City Ground.

Forest have gone to the referees’ body – the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) – to ask to hear the conversations between on-pitch officials and the video assistant referee team during key moments of the match.

Head coach Sean Dyche felt Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been ruled out for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White, and that Jones should have shown City defender Ruben Dias a second yellow card after the break.

“Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR,” Dyche said on Saturday.

“When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game – but they clearly did.

“Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that.”

Forest players complained to referee Jones, arguing Gibbs-White had been pushed by Nico O’Reilly while defending a corner and therefore stopped from blocking Cherki’s winner.

“Morgan Gibbs-White quite clearly gets pushed to the floor and the same player is involved in blocking the ball,” Dyche said.

“But he can’t block it because as he jumps up, it goes through the bit of his body which he would have blocked it with. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a foul.”

The VAR checked the goal but allowed Jones’ on-field decision to stand. Defeat left Forest five points above the Premier League’s relegation zone.

The PGMOL has previously played audio privately to clubs – including Forest – while PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb also discusses incidents on the Mic’d Up programme.

Regarding City’s decisive goal, Dyche added: “They’ll say, ‘Yeah, the ball wasn’t there’. And you go, ‘OK, so if the ball’s not near the keeper and you push the keeper to the floor, is that going to be a foul then?’

“We all know it is. I can’t work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.

“I’m a big fan of VAR – I can’t work out how you can’t get that right.”

Former official Darren Cann told BBC Match of the Day: “The video assistant referee naturally checked the goal and concluded that no ‘clear and obvious’ error was made. I agree.

“This was a decision that will split views – some will agree it’s a good goal and others will think it was a foul. Therefore the ‘referee’s call’ of goal should stand.”

Forest have previously been unhappy with Jones when he sent off Willy Boly against Bournemouth two years ago which prompted then-boss Nuno Espirito Santo to call for VAR to intervene on second yellow cards.

Last season, Jones sent off Nuno for dissent at Brighton with the Portuguese charged by the Football Association.

BBC Sport reported last week that Manchester City’s move for the player, who has a £65m release clause, is at an advanced stage following discussions between his representatives and the Etihad club.

It is understood further discussions between parties are scheduled to take place in the next two days with a view to wrapping up Semenyo’s move to the Etihad.

But until a deal is signed, Semenyo’s future remains open.

Indeed, it still remains to be seen as to whether Liverpool formalise their interest in Semenyo following the injury suffered by Alexander Isak.

The Anfield club are among five sides who have enquired about the Ghana international, alongside City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Despite City’s acceleration, well-placed sources have indicated that Liverpool retain an interest in the attacker, with the transfer window due to open on 1 January.

As things stand, City are the only club to have made formal club-to-club contact with Bournemouth about Semenyo, although Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has close links to the south-coast club have worked at the Vitality Stadium.

Semenyo wants his future concluded as soon as possible – well in advance of 10 January, when the release clause mechanism in his contract elapses until the summer.

Sources have indicated that Bournemouth would prefer to keep Semenyo for their first two games of 2026 – against Arsenal on 3 January and Tottenham four days later – before sanctioning his departure.

Semenyo will turn 26 on 7 January, and there is a recognition that he is entering the prime of his career.

With that in mind, it is understood he will prioritise a club he believes can provide him with what he views as the most suitable project to compete for major trophies on a long-term basis.

The location and impact on his family will also be contributing factors in his decision and it is understood he does not want the saga to become a drawn-out process.

Arne Slot’s side have conceded 12 goals from set-pieces this season – the joint-most in the Premier League alongside Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

In Saturday’s league match at Anfield, which Liverpool won 2-1, Santiago Bueno scored for Wolves from a corner and last week, Richarlison netted for Tottenham Hotspur after the Reds failed to clear a corner.

“There have been plenty of games when we have defended them very well. But the fact is we’ve conceded too many set-piece goals and we don’t score enough,” said Van Dijk.

“It’s something we have to improve. I would say at least 75% of the time or even more, it’s not even about the first contact. It’s the second phase that is the killer.

“Is it a mental thing? I hope not. If that’s in your head then it’s an issue. Personally, it’s not in my head.”

Excluding penalties, Liverpool have only scored three goals from set-pieces in the league. Their difference of minus nine is their worst in a Premier League season.

“We have defended so many set-pieces very well. But we’ve conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that. Training is the only way to get better at it,” Van Dijk added.

“It’s not been good enough. We all realise that. We have spoken about it. We need to turn it around. That’s why we work on it almost every training session.”

Liverpool manager Slot said: “Unfortunately we’re maybe the only team that hardly ever scores from a set-piece and, even worse, we constantly concede.

“But then, I think I said two, three or four weeks ago, we have to make sure that when things go against us – it could be a set-piece, it could be other things – we still need to find a way to win.

“In the last two games we conceded from a set-piece but we were able to win and that hasn’t happened many times this season. That’s progress for me, but it’s obvious there are more things for us to improve and this is definitely one of them.

“I think we have been unlucky in multiple situations in our set-pieces. It is 18 games now and we need to improve.”

Liverpool’s third league win in a row took them up to fourth in the table.

The Gunners, who had dropped to second place after Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early match, took the lead when Bart Verbruggen’s goal-kick was intercepted and Bukayo Saka teed up captain Odegaard to score from the edge of the area.

Arsenal’s one-goal half-time lead did not match their first-half dominance as they produced 15 shots, five on target, and restricted Brighton to none.

But they doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half when makeshift right-back Declan Rice’s corner was flicked into his own net by Georginio Rutter, the fourth own goal that has gone Arsenal’s way in their past four games.

Arsenal seemed set for a comfortable victory but Brighton pulled one back with their first shot on target when Yasin Ayari’s effort bounced off the post and Diego Gomez hammered in the rebound.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler had introduced winger Yankuba Minteh at half-time and his pace caused problems.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had to produce a magnificent save to ensure his side took all three points when he kept out Minteh’s curled effort that was heading towards the top corner.

Slot’s side had their first real chance after 11 minutes when the ball was slipped into the path of the impressive Hugo Ekitike, who did well to shift the ball onto his right foot despite attention from multiple Wolves defenders, before firing an effort onto the outside of the post.

Wolves continued to frustrate Liverpool, and it looked as though Rob Edwards’ side had successfully shut up shop in the first half. That was until Liverpool scored two goals within 90 seconds, just minutes from the break.

Ryan Gravenberch scored the first for the Reds, with Jeremie Frimpong smartly pulling the ball back for the Dutchman who rifled home first time past Jose Sa.

Just seconds later, Liverpool had a second. This time, Ekitike turned provider, playing a cute through ball into the path of Wirtz who took a brilliant first touch before poking home past Sa to net his first Liverpool goal.

The visitors pulled one back five minutes into the second half, with Tolu Arokodare seeing his effort saved by Alisson but Santiago Bueno was on hand to score the rebound and create a sense of nervousness inside Anfield.

Liverpool, who have made a habit of dropping leads this season, were put under pressure on numerous occasions by Wolves, who despite the defeat will take heart from their performance, but the visitors couldn’t find the equaliser.

Rob Edwards’ side remain on two points from their first 18 matches, still searching for their first win. Liverpool, on the other hand, despite this match turning out to be more difficult than it should have been, took all three points and climb into the top four, four points off Aston Villa in third.

Victory at Nottingham Forest sent them back to the top of the Premier League – before Arsenal’s 15:00 GMT kick-off against Brighton – after Guardiola had threatened to drop anyone who over-indulged at Christmas.

Yet Saturday’s 2-1 win thanks to Rayan Cherki’s late strike – their eighth consecutive victory in all competitions – continued City’s momentum as they threaten to tip the title-race scales in their favour.

They face a punishing nine games in January – including the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Newcastle and the conclusion of the Champions League group stage.

But after defeats in two of their opening three Premier League games, City have lost two of their past 15 and are the top scorers in the division.

Their form is ominous again and, despite his fears of a festive feast, Guardiola would never have turned down this late serving of Christmas Cherki.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has scored four goals for Manchester City this season

Guardiola believes City have rediscovered their groove after digging out a crucial victory.

They were frustrated by Forest and bullied by centre-backs Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo to the extent Erling Haaland barely had a sniff.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was wound up by the imperious Milenkovic, while Josko Gvardiol avoided a yellow card for kicking the ball away.

It was not a classic performance but City have won 24 out of the past 27 points available – the blip being a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in November.

Guardiola said: “It’s more important how you suffer, how you defend, accept you’re not playing good and can be better and be in the game, otherwise there is no chance. That game last season was lost 10 for 10.

“For a long time the team has wanted to do it and it’s the last game of the first leg of the season, so it’s good to finish with an important three points.

“They are three points but a massive three points mainly for the quality of the opposition. Sean Dyche has created a proper team – this team a few months ago were fighting for the Champions League.

“It’s a top side. I know the momentum is not good but it does not change the quality of the side.”

Former City goalkeeper Joe Hart – who won two Premier League titles with the club – also felt it was a crucial victory.

He told TNT Sports: “Look at the way they celebrated – they know they’ve had a tough afternoon. It was an absolute battle but it was a championship-winning performance. When your back’s against the wall you find a way.”

Last season City finished third, 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, having won the previous four titles.

It was a body blow for Guardiola and he revealed heart-to-heart talks with the squad during the Club World Cup in the summer re-established their focus.

“The critical moment changed in the USA at the Club World Cup. We looked at ourselves and talked and many things changed from there,” he said.

“Now it is a process. When we won a lot of titles at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and here, you had a lot of games of this type.

“The body language, the connection of how we are with the fans – they love the keepers, the strikers, the people, because they feel the team wants to do it, want to fight for each other.

“The fans accept playing badly, but if you don’t put the heart and your commitment for the people who adore the club more than we love it…”

‘We are on the hunt’

City were without the injured Jeremy Doku, John Stones, Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Therefore Rodri’s return to the squad – having struggled with a hamstring injury – was a major boost.

The midfielder has played just one minute since October and while Guardiola did not need to bring him off the bench, just his presence among the squad adds to the growing narrative of City’s title charge.

In his absence Nico Gonzalez has deputised, while Tijjani Reijnders is enjoying a fine debut season having now scored in back-to-back victories – and he sent a warning to Arsenal and other title rivals.

He told TNT Sports: “We know a lot of clubs suffer here. From what I heard Nottingham Forest at home is always difficult, and yes, I felt it as well. It’s a very important win and we are on the hunt.”

The French attacking midfielder drilled a fine finish into the net from Josko Gvardiol’s header on 83 minutes as the visitors celebrated a sixth straight win in the top flight and an eighth in all competitions.

After a frantic first half in which neither side could manage a shot on target, it was City who moved away when Cherki played in Tijjani Reijnders to wallop a low finish beyond home goalkeeper John Victor on 48 minutes.

But the lead lasted only six minutes as Omari Hutchinson swept home the equaliser on 54 minutes after being teed up by Igor Jesus with a telling cross from a superb team move.

City probably just about deserved the victory as they moved one point clear of Arsenal, who host Brighton at the Emirates later on Saturday.

But it hard not to feel for Sean Dyche’s Forest, who matched City for long spells of a frantic contest that came to life in a thrilling second half that could have gone either way.

But his usual philosophy was not the one that brought the Christmas present of a 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle.

For one thing, there was the formation switch.

Amorim joked in September that not even the Pope could persuade him to change, but for the first time since he took charge 13 months ago, he fielded a back four.

For another, victory was achieved with 33.4% possession, their lowest in any game this season. It was United’s lowest percentage of possession in a victory since the 29.4% they had when beating against Manchester City in January 2023.

They had nine shots at Old Trafford compared to Newcastle’s 16. The visitors had 43 touches in their opponents’ box. Amorim’s men had 15.

Yet it was Manchester United who prevailed, thanks to a combination of Patrick Dorgu’s first goal for the club – which was a sublime first-half volley from the edge of the area – and only a second clean sheet of the season.

It wasn’t pretty. But even for Amorim, sometimes there are days when substance trumps style.

“Yes,” was the unequivocal reply when asked if this was one of the ‘most satisfying’ wins of his, at times, tortuous 13 months in charge.

“The feeling is good. If you compared to other games, we suffered so much more today but in certain moments we put everything on the line.

“We are defending every cross. Especially if you see the second half, sometimes we managed to defend with a back six.

“We had so many games when we controlled the opponent so much better, but it is a good feeling to have a clean sheet. We suffered together. If we always have this spirit, we are going to win so many games.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe headed back to the north-east of England reflecting on yet another disappointing away performance. He admitted his side failed to turn their territorial advantage into the type and volume of meaningful chances that would have earned maximum points.

But for the home side, the outcome felt significant.

Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven are at other ends of the experience scale.

One is a World Cup winner, albeit one just returning from the latest in a sequence of bad injuries. The other is a 19-year-old with 15 senior appearances under his belt – who has now extended the longest playing sequence of his first-team career to five games.

Paired together in the middle of a revised back four, with Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot as full-backs and Dorgu switched to the right side of Amorim’s attack, Martinez and Heaven were immense.

“He [Martinez] is a guy with a lot of character,” said Amorim.

“He is really good on the ball – and has won a World Cup, so he is used to that stress – but he showed today he is a top player.

“He is a small guy but today he did well against a team with tall players.”

The sight of 5ft 9in Martinez leaping high to win a header against 6ft 6in Nick Woltemade in the first half was impressive.

Even though there was an element of Amorim having to protect a player starting for the first time since February following his recovery from cruciate knee ligament surgery, there must have been concern when Martinez left the field two minutes from time and 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson came on in his place.

The concern was misplaced.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: For the first time under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United started a Premier League game with a back four formation – last doing so in November 2024 against Leicester City, in their final game before he arrived

Fredricson did his job well. But he had Heaven with him to bring more solidity.

It is hard to believe when the former Arsenal youngster started against West Ham on 4 December, he was booked almost immediately and looked so shaky, it was almost a shock he lasted until half-time when he was replaced by Leny Yoro.

In the space of five games and three weeks, Heaven has advanced rapidly.

He was excellent in the defeat at Aston Villa on 21 December and followed that up with a performance of maturity against Newcastle that earned him the host broadcaster’s man-of-the-match award.

So good has Heaven been that Amorim is warning Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, currently sidelined, they can’t be certain of getting their places back when they are fit again.

That is significant in two ways. Firstly, De Ligt was, by common consent, United’s best defender until a back injury ruled him out of the West Ham game. Maguire, meanwhile, is still waiting to learn whether United will offer him a new contract when his current one expires in the summer.

“I am really pleased with Ayden,” said Amorim.

“You can feel that he is improving every game. He trained really well, which shows if you train well, it can help you play.

“If he continues to play like that, it is going to be really hard to take his place.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: With Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire unavailable, Lisandro Martinez captained Manchester United

Chelsea deservedly led after 37 minutes when striker Joao Pedro got a vital touch in a goalmouth scramble as Villa tried to clear Reece James’ corner.

Villa, seeking to equal a club record set in both September 1897 and March 1914, had been second best until manager Unai Emery made a triple substitution just before the hour, sending on Watkins, Amadou Onana and Jadon Sancho for Emiliano Buendia, John McGinn and Donyell Malen.

Emery’s golden touch worked inside four minutes as Watkins raced on to Morgan Rogers’ pass, Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez saving at his feet only to see the rebound bounce in off the striker.

Villa were transformed, and it needed crucial saves by Sanchez from Ian Maatsen and Boubacar Kamara to keep Chelsea, who had dominated for so long, on level terms.

However, Chelsea were unable to keep a rampant Villa at bay, Watkins the scorer once more as he rose to power Youri Tielemans’ corner past Sanchez.

Villa’s win keeps them just three points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee are both keen for chances to play more regularly over the second half of the season. Mainoo still wants to go out on loan, while Zirkzee has been linked with a return to Italy.

However, even when his squad is bolstered in the middle of next month by the return to fitness of skipper Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Amorim does not believe there are enough players in his squad to cope with a reduction in numbers.

“It’s going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don’t get a substitution,” he said.

“We are short. Even with the full squad we are short for something that can happen.

“We are a club with a big responsibility. We are dealing with all these issues and in [the media’s] heads, in my head, in everybody’s head, we need to win every game. It doesn’t matter. There are no excuses.”

Amorim will be without seven senior players for the Boxing Day match against Newcastle.

Mainoo is still sidelined with a calf problem, while defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire also miss out.

Amorim has already said it is possible United may sign someone in January, although that will not be Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who is set to join Manchester City instead.

In theory, an upgrade in midfield as a replacement for Zirzkee or Mainoo may improve United as they chase a European place over the second half of the season.

Financially though, losing Mainoo may not make much sense given whoever came in would be on three or four times the 20-year-old’s current salary.

Unless Mainoo returns quickly, 18-year-old England youth international Jack Fletcher will be providing the midfield competition for Casemiro, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte over the Christmas and New Year period.

‘We are struggling but we have a plan’

Yet Amorim is doubling down on his view there is no point signing players if they are not part of a longer-term vision.

“We are struggling in this moment, but the club has a plan and we are going to stick with the plan,” he said.

“If we have the opportunity to bring a player [in] that we think is going to be the future of the club, [he] is going to come. If not, we have Jack [Fletcher], we have Shea [Lacey] – in three weeks we’ll have Amad, Noussair and Bryan, and the return of Bruno and Kobbie Mainoo.”

Amorim offered no update on the contractual positions of Casemiro and Maguire, who are both free to talk with potential new clubs from 1 January.

He feels Casemiro’s performances in training prove the Brazil skipper will not ease off as he counts down the days to what will be the end of his United career – unless he takes a significant reduction from his £300,000-a-week salary.

Mainoo was supposed to be learning from the former Real Madrid man but has ended up competing with him for a place in Amorim’s midfield – and Casemiro has clearly won that battle.

However, despite having to defend himself repeatedly for not using Mainoo often enough, Amorim feels the United academy product will eventually be the future of the club.

“Kobbie Mainoo [has] played in different positions,” he said.

“He can do [Casemiro’s] position. He can play if we play with three, he can play like we play in the last game [at Aston Villa].

“The position of Mason Mount in that game, he can play there.

“He is going is going to be the future of Manchester United. That is my feeling.

“He just needs to wait for his chance. In football, everything can change in two days.”

Dinis and Duarte, two of Jota’s three children, will join the matchday mascots on the pitch before kick-off.

Jota, 28, was killed in a car crash in Spain in July, alongside his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva.

The Portugal winger joined Liverpool in 2020 after three seasons with Wolves.

Saturday’s Premier League fixture at 15:00 GMT is the first time that the two teams have met since Jota’s death.

In his programme notes before Liverpool’s final home fixture of 2025, manager Arne Slot said he hopes the affection Jota is held in can bring his family “solace”.

“Reflecting on everything that has happened over the last 12 months ignites a rollercoaster of emotions but it is normal at this time of year to look back to everything that has happened,” said Slot.

“Doing so leads me to think especially of the family of Diogo Jota on what will be their first Christmas without him.

“It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort – if that is even possible – but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace.”

Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, helping them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 and the Premier League title last season.

The forward joined Wolves on an initial season-long loan deal from Atletico Madrid in 2017 and went on to score 44 goals in 131 appearances.

Manchester City are in advanced talks to sign the 25-year-old Bournemouth forward, who has a £65m release clause which expires on 10 January.

BBC Sport understands four other Premier League clubs – Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea – have made enquiries.

It marks the latest step in a rapid rise for London-born Semenyo, who represents Ghana internationally through his father’s heritage.

He was rejected by Arsenal, Spurs and Millwall as a youngster before ending up in a West Country academy run by former Leeds and Forest Green manager Dave Hockaday.

Bristol City signed him in 2017, but he needed loan spells at Bath, Newport and Sunderland before breaking into the Robins’ first team in 2020-21.

In January 2023, he made a £10m move to Bournemouth – and he has been improving ever since.

But why Manchester City, and why now? And do the Cherries have any chance of persuading him to stay?

Why do Manchester City want Semenyo?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Semenyo was praised by Pep Guardiola after Bournemouth lost 3-1 to Manchester City on 2 November

What it says about the state of the transfer market aside, £65m is a cut price fee for a Premier League winger approaching the prime of his career.

So, it is no surprise that Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are pushing hard for Semenyo now – even if his stats suggest he wouldn’t be a huge improvement on the wide options they already have.

Semenyo has created fewer chances per 90 minutes this season than Rayan Cherki or Jeremy Doku, and his dribble success rate is only better than Savinho among the dedicated wing men in the City senior squad.

But his product catches the eye, with a better goal and assist per game rate than Doku, Savinho, Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush – he has scored four goals and assisted two directly following a carry, the joint most of any Premier League player since the beginning of April.

Plus, his style of play would offer a new dimension to City as they aim to catch Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Consummately two-footed, only Mohamed Salah and Cole Palmer attempted more shots than Semenyo, while his total of 69 successful dribbles is the third-highest total in the top flight.

“He can drive forward with the ball vertically, rather than Doku who comes in and out,” former England goalkeeper Rob Green told BBC 5 Live.

“He can do that something different Pep is looking for. Short term they have their own injury problems, with Oscar Bobb out, Doku out, Marmoush away [at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with Egypt], so he can help short term and long term.

“It does raise the question what future someone like Savinho has though.”

The Afcon issue is no problem for Semenyo, with Ghana having surprisingly failed to qualify.

And Guardiola was already confirmed as a fan of him earlier this season, before the transfer talk intensified.

“He’s an extraordinary, extraordinary, extraordinary player,” the Spaniard insisted.

“His energy, his confidence, his movement – unbelievable. He doesn’t stop running, he attacks space so well, and when he has the ball, you feel something will happen.

“He’s improving every game. Players like him make this league special – always hungry, always brave.”

Semenyo’s output backs up the bombast. Since the start of April, he has been directly involved in 16 Premier League goals, third only to City striker Erling Haaland and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.

Most goal involvements since 1 April

2025-26 Premier League

Source: Opta

He has scored 12 league goals during this period, second only to Haaland, while he has overperformed his expected goals tally more than any player other than West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.

Semenyo has been directly involved in 20 Premier League goals in 2025, with 14 goals and six assists – making him only the second Ghana international to do so, after Tony Yeboah at Leeds in 1995.

If he is involved with one more against either Brentford on 27 December or Chelsea three days later, his tally will surpass Dominic Solanke’s club record for goal involvements in a calendar year.

“He’s a brilliant, brilliant player,” former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given told BBC Match of the Day. “At 25, he is in the peak of his career as well.”

Could Bournemouth persuade him to stay?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Semenyo has missed only one Premier League game this season – Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw with West Ham, due to illness

With Semenyo having contributed to 11 of Bournemouth’s 26 goals this season, Andoni Iraola would love to keep him – especially with the Cherries on a seven-match winless league run stretching back to October, which has seen them fall to 15th in the table.

Despite this poor form, there remains a positive feeling around Bournemouth. Points-wise, they are closer to the top four than the bottom three.

Iraola is regarded as one of the most tactically astute managers in the Premier League, who has got the best out of Semenyo to the point that almost every English giant wants to sign him.

Add in new training facilities at Bournemouth and the promise of a new ground, and there is more for the Cherries to offer.

Former Bournemouth striker Sam Vokes told BBC Solent: “I don’t know why you’d want to leave that setup. I understand when so-called ‘bigger’ clubs come knocking, it’s hard sometimes.

“But with the way he’s performing and the way that Bournemouth have been doing – it looks like he’s enjoying his football.

“I don’t know why he’d want to do that anywhere else at the moment.”

Bournemouth have only lost two games in which Semenyo has scored since his debut in 2023.

No wonder team-mate Justin Kluivert said earlier this season: “He is incredible. He shows it every game now. He is just world class.”

According to sources, City have made positive progress in recent days and now believe they are well-placed to sign the 25-year-old.

Sources with knowledge of the situation say four other Premier League clubs also made enquiries, to varying degrees, about Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause.

Those clubs are understood to be Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.

United’s interest cooled because they expect Semenyo to join Pep Guardiola’s side, while Chelsea opted not to pursue a deal.

Liverpool have also checked on the conditions of a deal and it remains to be seen if they accelerate their initial interest in light of Alexander Isak’s broken leg.

Tottenham are believed to be outsiders for the signature of the Ghana international, who joined the Cherries in 2023 from Bristol City.

Semenyo’s release clause is only active for the first 10 days of January – and was necessary to keep him at Bournemouth when he agreed a new contract in July.

The price, though, will drop slightly in the summer window.

Bournemouth accept they are vulnerable to losing their key player and willing to negotiate with any club prepared to allow him to stay with them until the end of the season.

From a financial perspective, well-placed sources insist interested clubs are all willing to pay a very similar remuneration package to Semenyo, whose final decision will be made with an emphasis on his personal sporting ambitions.

He turns 26 on 7 January and there is a recognition he is entering the prime of his career.

“I know there is lots of noise around him,” said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. “[It is] not my concern, my concern is it doesn’t affect his performances. It is not doing, he is very committed to the team and I hope we can keep him here.

“[A] situation we cannot control, but Antoine right now is our player, going to continue playing for us. If you ask me, I don’t want to lose him, definitely don’t. But every time the market opens, you never know what is going to happen.”

With that in mind, it is understood Semenyo will prioritise a club he believes can provide him with what he views as the most suitable project to compete for major trophies on a long-term basis.

The location and impact on his family will also be a contributing factor to his decision and it is understood he does not want the saga to become a long drawn-out process.

Isak sustained a fracture to his left leg following a sliding tackle from Van de Ven as he scored for the Reds in a 2-1 win at Spurs.

The Sweden international had an operation on what Liverpool described as “an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture”.

“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” said Slot. “It’s a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.”

On Van de Van’s challenge, he added: “This was for me a reckless challenge. The tackle of Van de Ven – if you make that tackle 10 times – I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said the tackle from Van de Ven was “a challenge I’d probably make”.

“There’s a lot been made about a lot of the challenges in the game from Tottenham players and a lot of them weren’t clever,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

“I put myself in Van de Ven’s position and that’s a challenge I’d probably make.

“He’s trying to block it – it’s just the follow through. I don’t know where else anyone thinks his foot’s going to go. He has to make that challenge. You can’t let the striker just get a shot away in that situation.

“It’s just really bad luck for Isak. It’s probably one of the first glimpses we’ve seen of his real quality in a Liverpool shirt.”

“It’s a huge blow because I think Liverpool were actually one attacker short anyway.

Portugal full-back Dalot said he did not know the extent of the injury that forced his team-mate for club and country out of the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at half-time.

But his assessment couldn’t have been clearer.

“It’s massive,” Dalot told Sky Sports. “We don’t know how bad it is but for him to come off, we know how tough he is.”

To put that into context, in his entire time at United, Fernandes has missed two games due to injury towards the end of 2023-24, when he was managing a knee complaint so he could play in the FA Cup final. He has also missed one match through illness.

Fernandes is United’s talisman and most creative force. Even dropping into a deeper role this season, he has five goals and seven assists. Until the game at Villa Park, there had been only four Premier League matches in which United had scored and he he had failed to be involved in at least one goal.

Little wonder Amorim didn’t want to dwell on his captain’s impending absence for too long.

“I don’t what to talk about matters you can’t control,” he said.

“It’s a soft tissue, I think he’s going to lose some games, I don’t know for sure. He is a guy who is always fit so he might recover quite well.”

However, Amorim did confirm Fernandes would miss the Boxing Day encounter with Newcastle at Old Trafford after initially pulling up towards the end of the first-half, feeling his hamstring.

He continued to half-time but did not reappear for the second half and when he eventually made his way to the visitors dugout, he was moving very slowly.

‘We are going to struggle’ – Amorim’s squad looking thin

The problem for Amorim is two-fold.

First, how on earth does he replace Fernandes? Secondly, how long will he be sidelined?

After the Newcastle game, United have four games in a fortnight, culminating in the FA Cup third-round tie with Brighton. Beyond that are Premier League meetings with Manchester City and Arsenal.

Amorim’s squad has barely suffered an injury so far this season. Now he is losing his most important player just as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui begin Africa Cup of Nations campaigns that might not end until the day after the home game with Manchester City on 17 January.

In addition, experienced defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire show no immediate sign of returning from injuries that have kept them out for four and six matches respectively.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Kobbie Mainoo – whose frustration at not starting a league game this season is well known – missed the Villa trip with a calf problem, which Amorim said would “probably” rule him out of the Newcastle game.

“We must find different situations,” he added.

The one bit of good news is the return of Casemiro from a one-match ban.

Manuel Ugarte should be fit, although a statistic released at the end of the game showed United had not won any of the last nine league games in which the Uruguay midfielder has started – a record at United beaten only by Brazilian Kleberson – will not fill supporters with much confidence.

Centre-back Lisandro Martinez was Fernandes’ direct replacement against Villa and did a decent enough job. However, last month Amorim said he would only use the Argentina international in midfield as an ’emergency’ which underlines the issue.

England youth international Jack Fletcher – son of former United title winner Darren – was given his debut as a substitute but, at 18, expectations have to be tempered.

The lack of bodies will heighten demands among the club’s support for United to bolster Amorim’s squad with new arrivals in the January transfer window.

On Friday the former Sporting coach said he was not prepared to panic buy and would only go after pre-existing targets.

There is interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, while former Wolves skipper Ruben Neves – thought to be seeking a move back to Europe from the Saudi Pro League next month – fits the template for the type of midfield player United need.

However, even though they have only taken 10 points from their last eight games and have dropped below Liverpool to seventh in the table, and four points above 14th spot, Amorim said he will not abandon the long-standing plan.

“What we cannot do is to reach January and try to do everything in urgency, make mistakes and then [it’s] ‘here we go again’ with a lot of mistakes,” he added.

“I’m not going to get [together] with [technical director] Jason [Wilcox] and [chief executive] Omar [Berrada] and say, ‘We need a lot of players’.

“We have a plan. If we have to suffer, the club comes first.

“Of course, we are in a moment where we need points, but we need to find solutions, and we are going to continue with our plan.

“You can feel in this moment we are going to struggle, but we will see.”

Despite entering the game on a nine-match winning streak, Villa started the match slowly, and United grew into the game as the first half wore on.

Benjamin Sesko had two half chances to give the visitors the lead, who were looking to close in on the Champions League spots, but was denied by Emi Martinez on his injury return.

It took a moment of magic to break the deadlock, just before the break.

Rogers cut inside from the left flank and curled an effort into the top corner from the corner of the box, well beyond a helpless Senne Lammens.

But United bit back immediately, when Matheus Cunha pounced on an error from Matty Cash to slot past Martinez.

Late on in the first half, Bruno Fernandes appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and was replaced at the break, as United’s midfield got stretched even more thinly.

However, ten minutes into the second half, Rogers retook the lead for Villa, gathering the ball just inside the area after Ollie Watkins held it up well.

Rogers took two touches to steady himself before curling past Lammens again, though this time the Belgian keeper would feel he could have got a hand to it.

United dominated the ball for much of the second half but did not create many chances, coming closest when Cunha put a free header wide from six yards out.

The win means Unai Emery’s side spend Christmas just three points behind Arsenal at the top, while United miss out on the chance to go fifth and remain seventh, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Villa have two crucial trips to London coming up over the festive period, taking on Chelsea then Arsenal, while United stay home to host mid-table Newcastle and winless Wolves.

It looked a long way back for Chelsea at a raucous St James’ Park after a well-taken double from Nick Woltemade put Newcastle in control at half-time.

But no side have dropped more points – 13 – from winning positions in the Premier League than Newcastle.

So the stadium suddenly felt a little nervy when Chelsea captain Reece James pulled one back with a pinpoint 25-yard free-kick just a few minutes into the second half.

It then turned a little hostile when Newcastle were denied a penalty after Trevoh Chalobah bodychecked Anthony Gordon inside the box before Chelsea equalised.

Joao Pedro, who opted to move to Chelsea ahead of Newcastle last summer, drew his side level. The Brazilian raced through on goal and slotted the ball past Aaron Ramsdale after capitalising on a slip from defender Malick Thiaw.

It set up a grandstand finish as the game became increasingly stretched and Harvey Barnes had a glorious opportunity to win it for Newcastle late on, but the substitute fired wide on the volley to leave head coach Eddie Howe covering his face with his hands on the touchline.

Chelsea remain six points clear of Newcastle in fourth while Howe’s side are in 11th for the time being.

Manchester City overhauled the Gunners with a comfortable victory against West Ham United before this match, putting the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta’s side on the return to his former club.

Arsenal’s cause was helped when Everton defender Jake O’Brien needlessly handled Declan Rice’s 27th-minute corner, with Viktor Gyokores hammering home the resulting penalty in emphatic fashion.

Arsenal were not at their best but could have extended their lead after the break, Leandro Trossard and Martin Zubimendi both hitting the woodwork when they should have done better.

The win means Arsenal go two points above Manchester City at the top of the table, and six points clear of third-placed Aston Villa, who host Manchester United on Sunday.

Isak broke the deadlock in the 56th minute but was injured in the act of scoring, before Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s lead 10 minutes later.

Richarlison came off the bench to pull a goal back for Spurs but the visitors held on to inflict further pain on Thomas Frank, whose side had Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sent off and have now won just one of their past eight league games.

After a cagey start, Simons was sent off for a foul on Virgil van Dijk in the 33rd minute following a VAR review.

Referee John Brooks was sent to the pitchside monitor and ruled it was “serious foul play” after Simons raked his studs down the calf of Van Dijk – his captain for the Netherlands.

With the game there for the taking, Slot sent Isak on at half-time after Conor Bradley suffered a knock – and the £125m British record signing finished coolly past Guglielmo Vicario after being fed by Florian Wirtz for his first Premier League assist.

However, as Isak got his shot away he was floored by Micky van de Ven and was unable to celebrate his goal.

The Sweden forward looked in serious pain and he was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong just 15 minutes after coming on.

Spurs came close to equalising when Randal Kolo Muani’s deflected effort hit the bar, but Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.

Frimpong’s deflected cross was met by France forward Ekitike, who headed in his fifth goal in his past three league games.

Spurs were furious that the goal was allowed to stand, claiming Ekitike had fouled Romero – with the Tottenham captain subsequently booked for his protests.

Frank introduced Richarlison for Kolo Muani in the 80th minute and three minutes later, the Brazil attacker was on hand to finish past Alisson in a crowded penalty box after Liverpool failed to clear their lines.

The visitors looked nervy as 10-man Tottenham hunted for an equaliser late on, but the hosts had another player sent off when Romero was given a second yellow card in injury time for lashing out at Ibrahima Konate after Spurs won a free-kick.

Liverpool managed to hold on for a victory which moves them up to fifth in the league – and they are now unbeaten in their past six after a run of nine defeats in 12.

City are one point clear of Arsenal, but Mikel Arteta’s side can reclaim top spot later on Saturday if they win at Everton (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham needed a positive start to take anything from their game at Etihad Stadium, but that went out of the window inside five minutes when Haaland converted at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved by Alphonse Areola.

The Hammers were cut open all too easily and, shortly after scoring, Norway striker Haaland somehow sent a free header wide from close range, while Tijjani Reijnders forced Areola into a sharp save low down.

The Dutch midfielder did get on the scoresheet seven minutes before half-time, collecting Haaland’s pass before jinking forward and hammering a finish into the roof of the net.

West Ham tried to claw something back in the second half, but Jarrod Bowen could only find the side netting from an acute angle and dragged another shot wide.

Haaland’s second goal then ensured a joyless Christmas for the Hammers who are anchored inside the relegation zone.

The 45-year-old is the former assistant to Guardiola at City and there have been multiple reports that his mentor could step down at the end of this season.

The Italian was appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024 and has a contract running until 2029, with an option to extend by a further season.

When asked whether there was any truth to the City reports, Maresca said: “It doesn’t affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation. And at this moment, there is no time for these kind of things.

“First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029 probably. And my focus, I said many times, is just about this club and I’m very proud to be here. But again, it’s speculation. One week ago I was in Italy, the same with Juventus. So I don’t pay attention because I know that is not true.”

Fourth-placed Chelsea play Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday at 12:30 GMT.

Maresca’s comments come after he said “many people” caused his “worst 48 hours” since joining Chelsea following a 2-0 win at home to Everton last weekend.

Those remarks sparked talk of a rift between the manager and controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, along with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

When asked if he had spoken to those key figures, Maresca said: “We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no.”

Maresca then replied “absolutely, yes” when asked if he would remain at the club next season, and he also urged fans to “continue to support the team”.

There was some positive news for Chelsea when Maresca revealed forwards Liam Delap (shoulder) and Estevao Willian (muscle) could return earlier than expected to face Aston Villa on 27 December.

Egypt has a population of about 120 million. Its capital city is home to 23 million.

For context, the population of Liverpool is just under one million.

Come to appreciate that and only then do you begin to understand the scale of national fury that followed when Mohamed Salah gave his incendiary interview on 6 December, claiming Liverpool had “thrown him under the bus”.

“This interview was like a revolution in Egypt,” says Diaa El-Sayed, the former Egypt assistant coach, who has known Salah since he was 16.

“99% of Egypt supports Salah, and you can see from the reaction at Anfield that the Liverpool fans support him too.”

Across British media, Salah was criticised heavily for his actions.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher branded the interview a “disgrace” and accused the 33-year-old of throwing the club under the bus.

Others insisted Salah was in the wrong for airing his grievances in public. Yet in Cairo, the ‘Egyptian King’ can do no wrong.

“Before Salah, no-one supported Liverpool here,” says Noura Essam, a Cairo local. “Before Salah, we didn’t have a global figure, so we will always support him.”

During the 2018 presidential election, more than one million Egyptians crossed out the names of the listed candidates and cast their vote for Salah.

He is an unofficial leader. In these parts, he is known as the ‘Fourth Pyramid’.

Around Ramses Square, the Cairo transport hub where Salah would change buses to reach training during his nine-hour round commute as a teenager, the cafe-goers describe their disbelief when he was named on the bench for three games in a row by Arne Slot and then left out of the squad for the Champions League trip to Inter Milan.

“When Liverpool played in Milan, all of Egypt supported Inter Milan,” says Osama Ismail, a former Egyptian FA spokesman.

Ismail, who worked with Salah, describes him as “not arrogant but confident” and is adamant the forward wants to continue playing for Liverpool.

Image source: BBC Sport

Image caption: A billboard in Cairo showing Salah and his two daughters

At the Cairo International Stadium, where Egypt beat Nigeria 2-1 in a friendly before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the mood is one of getting behind their “son” and lifting his morale as the Pharaohs look to win their first title since 2010.

“We say he is our son, so we were emotionally taken aback because it felt like a humiliation for one of our family,” says Ahmed Gamal Ali, a Cairo-based journalist.

“To see one of our own hurting was shocking and the spontaneous national response was basically autopilot.

“It would be judgmental to say if he was right or wrong to do the interview, as we didn’t live through his feelings, but this is the mindset of players like him and [Cristiano] Ronaldo.”

At the Egypt team hotel on the outskirts of Cairo, those who have shared the dressing room with Salah are not concerned about their captain’s actions, insisting he is a model professional.

“Working with Mo is the best part of my job,” says one staff member.

Another jokes that they all have him in their Fantasy Premier League team. The majority have all posted on social media in support of Salah over the past week and shared his content.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan, their all-time record goalscorer, had a lengthy discussion with Salah last week. The coach conducted it with the belief Egypt will need Salah at his best – regardless of his situation at Liverpool – to have a chance in Morocco.

So what about the situation at Liverpool? At Anfield last Saturday, was Salah saying farewell forever or goodbye for now?

“Take this from me that it’s just goodbye for now,” insists El-Sayed.

Image source: BBC Sport

Image caption: Buses in Ramses Square, which Salah would use to get to training

Before Salah left Merseyside for Afcon, Slot insisted “there was no issue to resolve” when it came to picking the Egyptian, while his club-mates said they wanted him to stay.

Importantly, Salah still considers himself as one of the first names on the Liverpool team sheet. While he is away, his agent Ramy Abbas will engage in talks with the club.

In recent years, Salah has usually got what he wants for both club and country.

This is a man who was sitting on a throne inside Anfield in April to celebrate his new contract – having previously indicated he might leave and was “more out than in”.

In 2018, he got his way after a high-level dispute with the Egyptian FA over his image rights that led to government intervention.

Yet for the first time in a long time, it seems as if the end of the love affair between Salah and Liverpool is on the horizon.

The understanding is neither Liverpool nor Salah want to cut ties in January, though a move at the end of the season may suit both parties.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested in signing a player whose current deal at Anfield, worth £400,000 a week, expires in 2027.

There is belief that even if he moves away, Salah could return to live in Liverpool with his wife and two daughters once he retires because they love the British way of life.

On the road heading out of Cairo and towards the airport, a journey Salah has made countless times, the billboards are filled with his image.

In Egypt, all roads lead to Salah.

On TV, a new advert is doing the rounds, with Salah asked by his daughters why he is still training when he has won everything with Liverpool.

His response: “No, not yet, this is Egypt.”

Image source: BBC Sport

Image caption: A restaurant with an image of Salah and his favourite dish

Salah wants to win with Egypt. Until April 2018, his social media handle was @MoSalah22 as a mark of respect to Mohamed Aboutrika, who wore the number 22 at Al-Ahly and won Afcon twice.

Aboutrika was Salah’s football hero. but the ’22’ was taken out after Aboutrika, widely regarded as one of the greatest African and Arab players, was placed on Egypt’s terror list in 2017.

Aboutrika was added to the list because of alleged links with the banned Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt considers a terrorist organisation. He was removed from the list in 2024.

Unlike Aboutrika, Salah has never won Afcon, losing the final in 2017 and 2021. Triumph at the tournament remains a major ambition. He believes playing in the Premier League gives him the best chance of achieving it.

Succeeding with his country would mean a lot. Salah has played at only one World Cup so far – in 2018, where he wasn’t fully fit, having damaged his shoulder in that year’s Champions League final as Liverpool lost to Real Madrid. Egypt went out at the group stage in Russia, losing all three matches.

Next year’s World Cup – where Egypt have been drawn in a group with Belgium, Iran and New Zealand – offers another chance on the biggest stage.

But for now, the focus is on succeeding with the Pharaohs in Morocco. His agent Abbas will deal with the situation at Liverpool, where it increasingly looks as if Salah will no longer be the focal point.

Saturday’s reaction at Anfield, where Salah appeared as a first-half substitute in a 2-0 win over Brighton, suggested he will always be adored in Liverpool. Judging by the mood in Cairo, they will always support their son.

“Salah always wants to win but there is double motivation now to prove that he is still one of the best. We already know he is the best,” says Mohamed Mamoun, a fan at the stadium.

Egypt are not the favourites for the Afcon title. But with Salah, they will believe.

The Portugal international, 31, rejected the move to the Saudi Pro League in order to stay at Old Trafford, despite Al-Hilal reportedly being open to paying a fee of about £100m and wages of up to £700,000 a week.

Fernandes has a contract that runs to 2027, with the option of an additional year.

He said in October, before his 300th United appearance, that he will not discuss his future with anyone until after next year’s World Cup.

Looking back on the Al-Hilal interest in a new interview, he said of United’s stance: “From the club I felt it was, ‘If you go it’s not so bad for us’. It hurts me a bit.”

Fernandes made the claims to Canal 11, a channel owned by the Portuguese Football Federation.

“More than hurting me, it makes me sad,” Fernandes said. “I’m a player that no-one can criticise, I’m always available, I always give my best.

“I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money.

“I would have won many trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.”

Fernandes joined United in January 2020 for £47m from Portuguese side Sporting and has made 307 appearances for the club, scoring 103 goals and providing 93 assists.

This season, he has five goals and seven assists in the Premier League, including a brilliant free-kick strike and an assist in Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.

In June, Fernandes said one of the reasons he did not join Al-Hilal was because he wanted to continue to “play at the highest level”, and it was United boss Ruben Amorim who urged him to stay at Old Trafford.

However, Fernandes told Canal 11: “The club wanted me to leave. I told the directors that, I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision because the manager wanted me.

“But if I said I wanted to leave, even with the manager wanting me to stay, the club would let me.”

Sources told BBC Sport that Manchester United have no desire to sell Fernandes or for him to leave and he continues to be central to the club’s long-term planning.

In a news conference on Monday, Maresca was evasive when asked to elaborate on the remarks that followed Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

It is understood that Maresca’s gripe, which he is unwilling to explain, remains unresolved.

So what is happening behind the scenes that has rankled with the Italian to the point he felt it necessary to go public?

Situation overshadows important cup trip

Maresca repeatedly said he had “nothing to add” on Monday when questioned about his weekend claim that “many people didn’t support us”.

That factor was one that Maresca felt contributed to making the build-up to the Everton game so challenging.

Maresca appeared frustrated when pressed on whether he was referring to the club’s hierarchy, replying several times: “It’s Cardiff tomorrow, please.”

Yet the situation overshadows Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final in the Welsh capital, where Chelsea face the League One leaders and are expected to win.

Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League, but their form has dipped of late. Before beating Everton, they had only taken two points from the previous nine available in the domestic league, while also suffering defeat at Atalanta in the Champions League.

In an extraordinary outburst on Saturday, the 45-year-old Maresca suggested that he and his team had lacked backing. But he refused to clarify who his comments were directed at, and there was no sign of him being willing to expand on the accusation before the Cardiff game.

Why is Maresca upset in ‘fantastic’ season?

Maresca eventually said “Yes, absolutely” when asked if he was happy at Chelsea.

He also described the season as “fantastic” when asked about whether he was enjoying his role.

Much, however, seemed to be deliberately left unsaid.

When asked about his relationship with Chelsea’s owners, he said: “I love the Chelsea supporters. They deserve the best, and again, I don’t have anything to add.”

It is understood the former Leicester City boss is proud of qualifying for the Champions League last season and winning both the Club World Cup and Conference League.

Against that backdrop, Maresca is believed to have wanted more protection from figures within Chelsea against criticism of his team selection and rotation during their recent four-game winless run.

He is encouraged to rotate heavily to develop young players, and for much of the season he has had to cope without star forward Cole Palmer because of injury, while key midfielder Moises Caicedo is serving a three-match suspension and managing an ongoing knee issue.

Defender Levi Colwill, who shone at the Club World Cup, is out for most of the season with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury, and Maresca’s request for a replacement fell on deaf ears.

Appointed in July 2024, Maresca feels he has outperformed other managers who have faced a rebuilding job when joining a major Premier League force, such as Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Jurgen Klopp previously at Liverpool, and even Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.

Amorim has had strong public backing despite his struggles.

The initial comments from Maresca came while hands-on owner Behdad Eghbali was overseas, with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart stepping in to lead in his absence alongside other key staff.

Chelsea’s aim this season is to qualify for the Champions League and challenge in cup competitions, while they are still not entirely out of the Premier League title race.

When Maresca joined Chelsea, he was told he would be assessed at the end of his second year. Predecessor Mauricio Pochettino did not pass such a review following his first, after not agreeing with the future direction at the American-owned club.

In the case of Maresca, Chelsea privately accept emotional outbursts can happen after tense matches.

It has also been explained that he is speaking his third or fourth language, as an Italian who speaks Spanish at home with his family.

All sides accept the current situation is not ideal but expect to work through it. From Chelsea’s perspective, disagreements are normal in football, but making them public is not.

United’s 2-1 half-time lead evaporated within seven minutes of the restart as Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier struck.

But Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick and Matheus Cunha’s effort within two minutes of each other turned the contest on its head a second time, only for 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi to drive home an equaliser six minutes from time to earn Bournemouth a point from a breathless game.

Amid the chaos, it was almost forgotten that Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim had tweaked his favoured five-man defence and been rewarded for pushing Amad Diallo into a more advanced position with the Ivorian heading home from close range after 13 minutes.

The goal came after United had hit the visitors with a blistering start – six shots in the opening 10 minutes being their most so quickly in a Premier League game since October 2022.

As it turned out, it was the prelude to a remarkable contest.

Between them, the two sides had 38 shots. Casemiro picked up a booking that rules him out of Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa. The last significant threats on goal were two stoppage-time efforts from David Brooks that needed reaction saves from Senne Lammens to prevent Bournemouth clinching victory.

The result cost United a top-five spot, while 13th-placed Bournemouth have now gone seven games without a win.

United go into their Premier League game with Bournemouth on Monday knowing victory will keep them in the top six for a second successive week.

Remarkably, it would be the first time that has happened since the end of the 2023-24 season, just before a 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace that could have seen Erik ten Hag sacked before the FA Cup final win that followed.

While it would represent an achievement of sorts for Amorim, it is a massive step down from Sir Alex Ferguson’s time, when United never finished lower than third following his first title in 1993.

It is from this standpoint Paul Scholes argued on his The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast last week that Amorim is not “the right man” to take charge of his old club because his system does not fit the United tradition of playing with wingers.

Asked if he had an issue with former players repeatedly criticising him, Amorim said: “I think it’s normal.

“It’s a fact that me as a manager of Manchester United, I think we are underachieving. We should have more points, especially this season. So, I take that naturally.

“Sometimes they don’t have all the information and see Manchester United with the standards they lived here, always winning. It’s hard for them to see their club in this situation.”

Amorim rejects the theory the attacks make his job more difficult. His assessment is more simplistic.

“No,” he added. “Not winning is the issue.

“The problem is that me as a manager, I’m not doing good enough. That is a fact also and I can accept that. The only problem for them is that Manchester United is not winning and is not in the position that it’s supposed to be.

“If you are winning, there is no issue.”

‘I just want my players happy’

Amorim has pointed to the standards of some younger players he had to use last season as evidence he was working with tools that were simply not capable of doing the job he needed.

Arguably, that is still the case.

United have deliberately chosen not to release details of whether Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo will be available for the Bournemouth game amid uncertainty over their release for Africa Cup of Nations duty.

However, with Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire currently sidelined through injury, it seems likely 20-year-old Leny Yoro and 19-year-old Ayden Heaven will be part of his three-man defence at some point over the next few weeks, which is not ideal given their inexperience.

Yet sympathy for Amorim is limited due to his use of midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who is yet to start a Premier League game this season and was given an enthusiastic reception by United’s travelling fans when he was brought on during the 4-1 win at Wolves.

Mainoo is eager to make a loan move away from United next month in an attempt to get more regular football.

Amorim was not keen on that plan in the summer when the 20-year-old had a deal with Serie A title winners Napoli lined up.

He is refusing to say what his answer would be should a similar request be made before the January window closes, but he would welcome Mainoo seeking him out for a chat.

“I had some conversations with him, especially last year, and with other players, but about that subject, no, I didn’t speak with him,” said Amorim.

“I will be really pleased if Kobbie comes to talk to me about that. I just want my players happy.

“I understand every individual has their goals and the frustration doesn’t help anybody.

“I’m not going to say what I would say but I would talk to him.

“I am completely open, that is clear. I have my ideas and that is also clear. I will not change if I don’t believe it but I’m open to speak with any player. I love that.”

These North East neighbours renewed hostilities for the first time in nearly a decade in the Premier League on Sunday, and it was Woltemade who made a decisive contribution – but not in the way the German forward would have imagined.

The second half had not long got under way when Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele whipped a teasing cross into the box and Woltemade attempted to head the ball behind.

But the club’s record signing ended up directing the ball in off the crossbar and into the net to send the Stadium of Light into raptures.

It felt like the roof was about to come off the stadium on an emotional afternoon for the hosts – just a day after club legend Gary Rowell died at the age of 68 following a long battle with leukemia.

Rowell cemented his place in the hearts of Sunderland fans by scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle in 1979, and Regis le Bris’ fearless side built on the club’s strong record against their bitter rivals.

The tone was set by Sunderland supporters unfurling a huge tifo before a ball was even kicked, which depicted a black cat hunting down a magpie in a nod to the clubs’ respective nicknames.

And Sunderland fed off the noise of a febrile Stadium of Light from the off as forward Bertrand Traore crashed into Lewis Hall from kick-off.

The remarkably frenetic nature of the game did not subside but both teams lacked composure and creativity in front of goal, particularly in the first half, with captain Granit Xhaka firing over from outside the box and defender Dan Ballard also sending a header off target.

But Sunderland landed what proved to be a decisive blow after the break when Woltemade scored just the second ever Premier League own goal in the Tyne-Wear derby.

The hosts went close to doubling their advantage late on, but Aaron Ramsdale made a big save to keep out substitute Wilson Isidor’s stinging volley.

Sunderland saw the game out to move up to seventh – five places above Newcastle.

City would have been eyeing top spot on Saturday night when Wolves grabbed a late equaliser at Arsenal but Yerson Mosquera’s injury-time own goal provided Mikel Arteta’s men with much-needed relief.

City did their job in the capital but did not have it all their own way as Palace carved out the best opportunity early on – Yeremy Pino breaking the offside trap from Adam Wharton’s dinked pass but only managing to strike the crossbar when one-on-one with Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The hosts were creating chances without being able to apply the finishing touch and that lack of cutting edge proved costly as Matheus Nunes swung in a cross to the back post for Haaland to thump home a header four minutes before half-time.

England international Wharton has not scored for Palace since joining from Blackburn in February 2024 but came close to breaking his duck at the start of the second period when a rasping strike rattled the foot of the post.

Tijjani Reijnders’ low drive was kept out by Dean Henderson before Phil Foden drove home a delightful finish and Haaland added a third late on from the penalty spot after Savinho was brought down by the Palace goalkeeper.

The England midfielder, who had made it 2-2 five minutes in the second half, hammered an unstoppable shot into the top corner with 11 minutes left to put the visitors ahead for the first time in a topsy-turvy encounter.

Struggling West Ham, who were searching for their first victory since 8 November, were gifted an opener after just 29 seconds when Mateus Fernandes dispossessed Ezri Konsa on the edge of the penalty area before beating Marco Bizot with a powerful drive into the top corner from a tight angle.

Konstantinos Mavropanos inadvertently headed John McGinn’s inswinging cross into his own net, while under pressure from Ollie Watkins, to draw Villa level in the ninth minute.

But Nuno Espirito Santo’s side restored their advantage when Jarrod Bowen diverted Freddie Potts’ volley past Bizot to give the Hammers a 2-1 half-time lead.

Unai Emery’s team managed only one shot before the interval, but they restored parity for the second time when Rogers found the bottom corner after West Ham had failed to clear Youri Tielemans’ low cross.

Bowen then had a low, left-footed strike disallowed for offside, before Rogers struck again superbly to move third-placed Villa to within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

West Ham, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone and could find themselves five points adrift of safety if Leeds beat Brentford in Sunday’s late game.

The goalkeeper made more high-profile mistakes – after he gifted Harry Wilson a goal in Fulham’s 2-1 win – to hand Callum Hudson-Odoi a brace before Ibrahim Sangare’s stunner sealed victory.

Regardless of Vicario’s gaffes, Forest deserved the win which moved them five points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Limp Spurs were second best and failed to build on successive wins against Brentford and Slavia Prague and remain in 11th.

They were floundering even before Vicario’s wretched pass to Archie Gray allowed Sangare to pinch the ball on the edge of the area and tee up Hudson-Odoi for a simple finish after 28 minutes.

It came after the goalkeeper had earlier saved Neco Williams’ follow-up when Sangare’s header hit the post.

Tottenham failed to respond and Hudson-Odoi added a second five minutes after half time when a cross from the left sailed over Vicario.

Yet Vicario could do nothing to stop Sangare adding a late third when he thumped in off the post from 25 yards.

It is understood the decision was made with Slot wanting to act in the best interests of the club, particularly with a number of players out through injury.

Issues still remain unresolved and those will continue to be tackled by Liverpool and Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, while the player is at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah, 33, was left out of the travelling squad for Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan on Tuesday after claiming his relationship with Slot had broken down and that he had been “thrown under the bus”.

That outburst came at Elland Road following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Leeds, where the forward was on the bench for the third game in a row.

In that interview, Salah said that Saturday’s game would be an opportunity to say goodbye to Anfield and that he had invited his mother to attend.

In his pre-game news conference earlier on Friday, Slot said there were “no reasons to not want Mohamed Salah to stay” at the club.

Pushed on the future of the Egyptian, who signed a new two-year contract in April, Slot added: “I will have a conversation with Mo. The outcome of that conversation determines how things will look.”

Liverpool face Brighton at Anfield at 15:00 GMT on Saturday as they look to improve on two successive league draws.

Salah, who has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances for the Reds, has been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool’s past three Premier League games.

He last played in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on 3 December as a substitute and his last start was on 26 November in the Champions League defeat by PSV Eindhoven.

With Cody Gakpo sidelined because of a muscle injury and Alexander Isak struggling with a knock, Liverpool are short of attacking options for Saturday.

“After the Sunderland game, there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me,” Slot said.

Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday and, depending on how far Egypt go in the competition, might not return to Merseyside until after the final on 18 January.

He could miss up to eight Liverpool games if Egypt reach the final in Morocco.

Salah has scored five goals in 18 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League this season.

Salah said he has been “thrown under the bus” by the club after Saturday’s draw at Leeds and he was subsequently left out of the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League game at Inter Milan.

Salah, 33, also claimed he had “earned his place” in the team when speaking to media in the mixed zone at Elland Road.

Pushed on the future of Salah, who signed a new two-year contract in April, Reds manager Slot said: “I have no reasons to not want him to stay.”

“I will have a conversation with Mo,” Slot added.

“The outcome of that conversation determines how things will look [on Saturday].”

Liverpool welcome Brighton to Anfield at 15:00 GMT on Saturday as they look to bounce back from successive draws in the league.

The Egypt forward, who has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances for the Reds, has been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool’s past three Premier League games.

He last played in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland on 3 December when he came on as a substitute and his last start was on 26 November in the Champions League defeat by PSV Eindhoven.

“After the Sunderland game there were a lot of conversations between his representatives and ours, between him and me,” Slot said.

Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday and depending on how far Egypt go in the competition, might not return to Merseyside until after the final on 18 January.

He has scored five goals in 18 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League this season.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Slot said he had “no clue” if Salah had played his final game for the club but added he is a “firm believer” in the possibility of a player returning to the fold.

Salah was heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer and that interest remains, with Saudi Pro League chief executive Omar Mugharbel saying he is a target for clubs.

During Friday’s news conference, Slot was constantly probed about his relationship with Salah and his freedom to make decisions with regard to team selection.

“We decided as a club – and I was part of that decision – not to take him to Milan,” said Slot.

“I am always in contact with them [sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive Michael Edwards] but when it comes to the decision making of the line-up or the squad, they leave that open to me.”

Aged 18, Rooney signed for the Red Devils in a £27m deal in 2004 after turning down a club record contract offer from the Toffees.

But Rooney’s move from Merseyside led to a heavy backlash from some Everton supporters.

“I got death threats,” Rooney said on the latest episode of BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.

“My parents’ house was getting spray painted and smashed up. My girlfriend at the time, wife now, her house was getting spray painted.

“I think that’s where you have to be mentally strong. The people around you have to help.

“Leaving was difficult because I went to Manchester United, and Liverpool and Manchester was a big rivalry so that made it a lot more difficult.

“But I was always of a mindset of ‘I don’t care’. I knew what I wanted and I knew how to get there.

“I had to stay tough in my mind. This was people from my city so it was tough but I thought ‘I don’t care’, you have to be selfish and make these decisions.”

‘There’s millions of people watching’ – Rooney on pressures of modern game

When Rooney made the move to Manchester United it was at a time with far less social media, the increase of which he feels creates a different kind of pressure on young footballers in the modern game.

Rooney’s oldest son, Kai, is currently on the books at United and has stressed the importance of making sure he has a strong support network as he looks to make it in professional football.

“Now the difference is social media,” Rooney said.

“When I was young, I was in the local newspapers and so everyone in Liverpool really knew me.

“Now I have it with my boy who’s 16 and he’s on social media. He plays for my United, he’s sponsored by Puma and there’s hundreds of thousands or millions of people watching them when they’re that young, and I didn’t have that really.

“Being a young player and going into the first team especially, you’re getting judged. Rightly or wrongly, you get judged and that’s where you need the people around you, people at the club or your family to keep you in a good place.

“We can all get carried away with social media as well. So it’s really important that the people who are close to you have your best interest. It’s the main thing.”

Rooney on writing to imprisoned Duncan Ferguson as a child

Meanwhile, Rooney also revealed that he used to exchange letters with Duncan Ferguson as a child while the Everton striker was in jail for assault.

In 1995, when Rooney was 10, Toffees striker Ferguson served a 44-day jail term for headbutting Raith Rovers defender John McStay at his previous club Rangers.

“I was a young boy who supported Everton so I used to write to him in jail, and then he’d write back,” said Rooney.

“It was just me telling him how much I love him. [He’d say] ‘thanks, it means a lot’. Obviously, when you’re in jail as well you take anything.”

Rooney joined Everton’s academy in 1996 and made his first-team debut aged 16 in 2002 while Ferguson was still at the club.

“Because I was too young to drive as well he’d take me home from training,” Rooney added.

“My family were all massive Evertonians, so Duncan Ferguson used to take me home to my mum’s house and my dad was out the window [waving]. So that was surreal.”

Salah’s future at the club remains uncertain following his public criticism of Liverpool and head coach Arne Slot after being benched for a third consecutive Premier League match against Leeds United.

The 31-year-old is set to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, with his absence potentially extending into January, fuelling speculation about a possible mid-season departure.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen stressed the need for Liverpool to plan ahead and secure a suitable successor if Salah moves on. He praised Semenyo’s rapid development at Bournemouth, noting his six Premier League goals this season and growing impact on matches.

“He is a brilliant player,” Owen said. “He scores goals – and we don’t know if Mohamed Salah will stay or leave, but if he leaves, Semenyo should be his replacement.”

Salah’s omission from Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday has further intensified speculation about his future. The Egyptian forward, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, is also expected to miss the Reds’ upcoming Premier League clash with Brighton this weekend.

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Salah said he feels he has been “thrown under the bus” after being dropped to the bench for struggling Liverpool’s past three games, which led to him being left out of the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match at Inter Milan.

The two-time Premier League winner’s remarks have led to stinging criticism from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and ex-Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton.

“I thought it was a disgrace,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “Some have painted it as an emotional outburst. I don’t think it was.

“When Mo Salah stops in the mixed zone – which he has done four times in eight years – it is choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton said: “Liverpool is carnage because of Mo Salah.

“He’s been honest and open, but he’s made it all about him and not the team. He’s been extremely selfish – that’s what he’s done because now there’s a bit of a civil war at Liverpool, and it didn’t need to be like this.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he was “surprised” by Salah’s comments that their relationship had broken down completely and had “no clue” if the 33-year-old would play for the club again.

“I don’t feel my authority is undermined – it is not the way I feel it,” added Slot in Milan on Monday.

“After tomorrow we will look at the situation. There is always the possibility to return for a player.”

Egypt winger Salah will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations next Monday, but with his future at Anfield in doubt it remains to be seen whether he will be involved in Saturday’s Premier League home game against Brighton (15:00 GMT).

Carragher, who Salah predicted would “go for me again” in his interview, was particularly critical of the timing of the comments, coming after Liverpool had conceded a late equaliser to draw 3-3 at Leeds on Saturday evening.

The defending Premier League champions have won just four of their past 15 games in all competitions, going back to September, with Slot increasingly finding himself under pressure.

“He has waited, I think, for a bad result with Liverpool,” Carragher said.

“Everyone connected with the club feels like they are in the gutter and he has chosen this time to go for the manager – and maybe try and get him sacked.

“The one line that stands out for me was ‘thrown under the bus’. He has tried to throw the club under the bus twice in the last 12 months.

“Going after the owners initially, he complained a year ago because they hadn’t given him a contract at the age of 32.

“With the manager, he should be doing all he can to help the club get out of the worst run of results they have had since the 1950s.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England captain Steph Houghton agreed.

“It probably couldn’t have come at a worse time for Liverpool,” she said.

“That’s what makes us think this is something that was pre-planned. He probably expected to come on at some point [against Leeds], he didn’t, and for Mo Salah that probably hurts his ego.

“But it’s poor from him. I think it does put other people in jeopardy. It’s got us talking about it, which he wants.”

Carragher also called for Salah not to be “obsessed” with his own numbers and help the other players, such as big-money signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, hoping to emulate his success at the club.

“Some of the criticism has been excessive this season but I will go after Mo Salah when he tries to throw my club under the bus off the pitch and just thinks about himself,” he added.

“The club have made the right decision in him not going abroad with them and whether he will play for the club again I don’t know.

“I hope he does because he is one of the greatest players we have ever had.”

After a stellar season in 2024-25, in which he spearheaded Liverpool’s surge to the title, Salah has been short of his best this campaign with only five goals in 19 games.

“He’s had a phenomenal career,” Sutton said.

“This season he hasn’t played so well, his numbers are down, he’s not the same player and all of a sudden he’s been left out for a few games and wants to live by different rules than other players in the dressing room.

“I find the whole situation absolutely ridiculous.

“What good could come out of what he did? What sickens me a bit about it is when Liverpool have been doing well, and players come out and speak, ‘it’s the team spirit, we all get on so great and everything’s marvellous’.

“And now we’re seeing Mo Salah for what he really is. It’s all about him. It’s him being selfish. I hate that sort of stuff. I think he’s really let himself down here.

“It’s all about who will go – will it be Slot or will it be Salah? And how is that beneficial for someone who loves the club so much?”

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Wrexham defender Conor Coady added: “I could only think that something has gone on behind the scenes that we don’t know about.

“He should never, ever go to the press and do what he’s done because you put your team-mates in jeopardy, and that’s the most important thing. That’s the biggest wrongdoing he can do in my eyes.”

Salah was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United – the third straight game the Egypt star has started on the bench.

After the game, the scorer of 250 goals in 420 Liverpool appearances said in an extraordinary interview with journalists: “I think it is very clear that somebody wants me to take all the blame.

“I’ve said a few times before that I have a good relationship with the manager and now all of a sudden we have no relationship. I don’t know why.

“It seems like the club are throwing me under the bus – that’s how I feel.

“This club, I will always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I always will.

“It [the situation] is not acceptable to me, to be fair. I don’t get it. It’s like I’m being thrown more under the bus. I don’t think I’m the problem. I have done so much for this club. I don’t have to fight every day for my position because I earn it. I earned my position.”

Salah, 33, scored 29 times in the 2024-25 Premier League as the Reds won the title in Slot’s first season in charge.

However, he has struggled for form since as Liverpool have been unable to match the heights of last term.

Salah, who was brought to the club from Roma by Jurgen Klopp in 2017, has scored just four times in 13 top-flight appearances this season.

Sources have told BBC Sport that the Saudi Pro League remains interested in Salah, who signed a new two-year Liverpool contract in April. They have indicated that Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi, are among the teams keen on Salah.

After the Leeds game – when Liverpool led 2-0 and then 3-2 before conceding a 96th-minute equaliser – Liverpool boss Arne Slot told Sky Sports why he did not use Salah at Elland Road.

“It was more about controlling the game [at 3-2] and we didn’t need a goal,” said Slot. “Normally when you need a goal, like last week against Sunderland, I brought Mo on.”

Speaking at his pre-match news conference on Friday, Slot said he understood the talk surrounding Salah after being dropped from the team.

“The chatter, yes, because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me and [for] six or seven years. It’s completely normal people talk about it when he isn’t playing,” added Slot.

Salah, third on Liverpool’s all-time list of scorers behind Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285), made his most recent start in the 4-1 Champions League home defeat by PSV Eindhoven on 26 November.

Pep Guardiola’s side had seen the Gunners suffer a last-gasp loss against Aston Villa at lunchtime on Saturday and ensured there was no slip-up of their own by swatting aside the visitors to move to within two points of the top.

City initially found it difficult to make inroads against the Sunderland’s low block and were frustrated by a solid five-man backline.

Having kept the hosts at bay, the visitors saw the game snatched away in the space of four first-half minutes, courtesy of goals from City’s two centre-halves.

The Black Cats defenders sat back on Ruben Dias and it proved fatal as the Portugal international strode forward and unleashed a thunderous 30-yard strike, which took a deflection off Dan Ballard and swerved into the top corner.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 35 minutes when Josko Gvardiol leapt highest to power home an unstoppable header from Phil Foden’s inswinging corner and give the hosts a comfortable half-time cushion.

City sought to add to the scoreline in the second half and Jeremy Doku’s low curling effort struck the post, while Foden’s first-time follow-up was brilliantly blocked.

Erling Haaland’s hooked shot was cleared off the line by Lutsharel Geertruida, before Rayan Cherki provided a sublime assist for Foden to head in the third goal.

Chances were at a premium for Sunderland in the opening period, with Enzo le Fee shooting into side-netting, but they did have better opportunities in the second half.

City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a big save to deny Wilson Isidor after Dias’ mistake, while captain Granit Xhaka’s thumping low effort beat the Italy international but cannoned against the post.

Sunderland saw Luke O’Nien sent off in injury-time for a nasty, studs-high challenge on Matheus Nunes, with the yellow card upgraded to a red after referee Andy Madley reviewed the challenge on the pitchside monitor.