List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

Liverpool take on Brentford as Jurgen Klopp’s side bid to maintain their challenge towards the top of the Premier League. Klopp’s men suffered a setback at Luton in their last league outing, with Luis Diaz’s stoppage time goal only enough to salvage a point at Kenilworth Road. A defeat to Toulouse in the Europa League continued a mixed recent run that has seen the Anfield club take only eight points from their last five league games. By contrast, Brentford have hit form, winning each of their last three fixtures after a slow start to the season. Here’s everything you need to know. Get the latest Premier League odds here. When is Liverpool vs Brentford? Liverpool vs Brentford is due to kick off at 2pm GMT on Sunday 12 November at Anfield. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom will not be able to watch the match live, with Sky Sports showing West Ham vs Nottingham Forest instead. Free-to-air, extended highlights will be available to watch on Match of the Day 2, which airs at 10.40pm on Sunday evening on BBC One and is available via the iPlayer. The fixture has been moved from a Saturday 3pm kick-off due to the Reds’ involvement in the Europa League on Thursday. Team news Alexis Mac Allister is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Luton, forcing Jurgen Klopp into a midfield change. Wataru Endo is likely to come in, though Klopp admitted on Friday that he would consider Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfield option. Virgil van Dijk should be available after illness but Andy Robertson and Thiago Alcantara are among Liverpool’s longer-term absentees. Brentford manager Thomas Frank took off goalkeeper Mark Flekken last week with an apparent injury, but the Dutchman seems to have recovered sufficiently from a dead leg to start. Aaron Hickey, though, will miss the rest of the year to add to a growing injury list for Frank. Predicted line-ups Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Jota. Brentford XI: Flekken; Roerslev, Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Janelt; Jensen, Norgaard, Onyeka; Mbeumo, Wissa. Odds Liverpool win 2/5 Draw 4/1 Brentford win 11/2 Get all the latest Premier League odds here. Prediction Liverpool secure a narrow victory. Liverpool 2-1 Brentford Read More Mikel Arteta praises VAR and officials as 10-man Arsenal beat Burnley Victor Lindelof: Scoring more goals is next step for Manchester United Man United can ‘make life easy by scoring goals’, says Erik ten Hag after Luton win Chelsea’s downward spiral offers stark warning to Man City It is hard to overtake Manchester City under Pep Guardiola – Mauricio Pochettino Pep Guardiola: Only small clubs worry about selling players to their rivals

Megan Rapinoe was left devastated after her career swansong came to an early end as she limped out of the National Women’s Soccer League final. The 38-year-old suffered a suspected ruptured Achilles in just the third minute of the season-decider in San Diego and then had to watch her side OL Reign lose 2-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC. Rapinoe won two World Cups and an Olympic gold medal in a brilliant 203-cap career for the United States, but the defeat means she ends her domestic stint without an NWSL title. She admitted that it was the “worst possible outcome” to her finale. “It felt like just a huge pop,” Rapinoe told ESPN. “The worst possible outcome. I just thank god I have like a f****** deep well of sense of humour. But just obviously devastating to go out in the final so early. “That’s life, it’s part of the game. I was feeling really good before the game, wasn’t feeling tight or wasn’t having calf issues or anything. You don’t always get to have the perfect ending. “I feel so lucky and so grateful to have played as long as I’ve played and to have played with the incredible players that I’ve played (with). “Every sort of new cycle that I’ve come with, I’ve gotten close to certain players and built relationships and played with some of the very best players in the world. “I’m looking forward to retirement. I’m retiring on the field, but you’ll definitely be seeing a lot of me off of it.” Read More Rob Key ready to take share of blame for England’s poor World Cup Victor Lindelof: Scoring more goals is next step for Manchester United On this day in 2004: John Toshack becomes Wales boss on five-year deal

Victor Lindelof says Manchester United must keep building after Erik ten Hag’s below-par side fought for a fourth narrow win in five Premier League matches. This has been a difficult second campaign to date for the Dutchman, who oversaw a ninth loss in 17 games in Wednesday’s 4-3 Champions League collapse at Copenhagen. United rallied at a packed Old Trafford on Saturday and Lindelof’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 win against unfancied Luton, easing pressure before an international break they head into in a surprisingly good spot. Despite relentless scrutiny and some chastening defeats, no team has won more points over their last five Premier League games than a Red Devils team with plenty of improvements to make. “We want to score more goals and that’s the next step for us,” Lindelof said. “Right now the most important thing is the three points and the result. “But after that we have to keep going, keep working and building and hopefully we can score goals, close the game and not make it difficult for ourselves. But it’s step by step. We want to score more goals and that’s the next step for us Victor Lindelof “We haven’t been playing at the highest level and we know that. We’ve just got to keep working hard. “”We’re (not far) off the top four, and it shows that even if we’re not playing at the highest level, we can still get a result.” All seven of United’s Premier League wins this term have come by a one-goal margin. Ten Hag believes things will improve when his goal-shy frontmen’s form turns and is happy how others have stepped up in the meantime, with defender Lindelof lashing home just his fourth for the club on Saturday. “It’s always special and nice to score a goal – I don’t score that many anymore,” the Sweden skipper told MUTV. “To score the match-winner in front of the Stretford End is a special feeling and I felt that today. “I saw the ball drop and I was thinking to myself ‘just try and hit it quite hard and quite high’. It was a good goal, I think. “After the goal we dropped a little bit but, like I said, three points was the most important thing.” Lindelof and many of his team-mates now turn their attention to international matters with United now not back in action until the trip to Everton on November 26. Luton return to Premier League matters a day earlier at home to Crystal Palace as Rob Edwards’ promoted side look for a second victory of a season after a pair of promising displays. “We are disappointed,” the Hatters boss said after a narrow loss at Old Trafford followed a 1-1 home draw with Liverpool. “Of course, there was hard work in the performance and there was good quality in the second half from us. “We showed a lot of bravery on the ball, and our fans know we aren’t a team that necessarily dominates on the ball. “To grow on the ball in one of the best stadiums in the world and in the toughest league in the world is difficult, so the boys showed incredible bravery. “It was harder to break United down later in the game as they got more players behind the ball, we just needed to find moments in the game at the right times and create some chances. “I saw a determination, a steel, a grit about us in that first half, we rode our luck once or twice but had a chance of our own through the Carlton (Morris) header and it was important to stay in the game. “The support we had from the fans was incredible today. It was very important at the beginning that we showed that respect which we did immaculately, and then I could hear them the whole game. “It made me really proud to be representing this club and I hope everyone has a safe journey home. “Take a lot from it, be proud of the football club today, but we are greedy and we want more points.” Read More Rob Key ready to take share of blame for England’s poor World Cup Tom Aspinall beats Sergei Pavlovich to become UFC interim heavyweight champion On this day in 2004: John Toshack becomes Wales boss on five-year deal Gareth Southgate: England have won over the world – now for our own fans It is hard to overtake Manchester City under Pep Guardiola – Mauricio Pochettino Pep Guardiola: Only small clubs worry about selling players to their rivals

John Toshack signed a five-year contract to become the new manager of Wales on this day in 2004. Former Liverpool striker Toshack, then 55, took the helm for the second time 10 years after lasting just a single game in his first spell. He had been appointed on a part-time basis in 1994, combining his duties with his role as manager at Real Sociedad, but resigned to concentrate on his club responsibilities following a 3-1 defeat by Norway. The Football Association of Wales turned to a man who had won 40 caps for his country for a second time a decade later having drawn up a three-man shortlist which also included Dean Saunders and Philippe Troussier after Gerard Houllier had declined an interview. Toshack, who had been outspokenly critical of predecessor Mark Hughes in his role as a pundit, arrived with the Welsh having missed out on qualification for the Euro 2004 finals after a play-off defeat by Russia and with their World Cup qualification hopes hanging in the balance following a return of just two points from their opening four games of the campaign. He said at the time: “While it’s mathematically possible that we can qualify, we realise that this particular campaign is by no means easy. “But by the time the European Championship qualifiers come round in September 2006, we’ll have a pretty good idea what sort of side I’ve got. Hopefully by results and hard work, we’ll be able to achieve our objectives.” Toshack, who launched his coaching career as player-manager at Swansea and guided the club from the fourth to the first division before heading for Sporting Lisbon, Sociedad, Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna and Besiktas, went to work with his eyes wide open. Draws with Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland and defeats by England and Poland meant he inherited a difficult situation, and it was not improved by back-to-back defeats by Austria. Wales ultimately finished fifth in the group despite wins over Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland in their final two games. Toshack remained at the helm for almost six years, blooding a new generation of players as the likes of Robbie Savage, Gary Speed, Ryan Giggs, Jason Koumas and Simon Davies made way for youngsters Gareth Bale, Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey, Chris Gunter and Jack Collison. However, appearances at the finals of major tournaments continued to elude them and, after a 1-0 defeat by Montenegro in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier in Podgorica in September 2010, he left his post by mutual consent. Toshack departed having overseen 21 wins in 53 games during which he capped 43 new senior internationals and was succeeded three months later by Gary Speed. Read More Gareth Southgate: England have won over the world – now for our own fans It is hard to overtake Manchester City under Pep Guardiola – Mauricio Pochettino Pep Guardiola: Only small clubs worry about selling players to their rivals Rob Page: Harry Wilson has been one of Wales’ main men since Gareth Bale retired Kieran Trippier confronted by angry Newcastle fans after defeat at Bournemouth She’s a tough cookie – Jodie Burrage backed to bounce back from nightmare debut

Find out how the college football rankings for the Top 25 CFP rankings in Week 12 will look based on our projections after a Saturday with big wins for Georgia and Michigan, upsets for Tennessee, Oklahoma State and Kansas, and much more.

Gareth Southgate is proud the worldwide perception of the England national team has changed even if he feels it is a different story in his own country. England secured qualification to Euro 2024 last month and will be amongst the favourites to taste success in Germany next summer, especially given recent showings in major tournaments. After Southgate guided the team to fourth place at the 2018 World Cup, they were runners-up at the last Euros before they suffered a quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Qatar last year. With the Three Lions no longer viewed as a team built on passion and commitment, as well as boasting two of the world’s in-form players in Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane, the 53-year-old feels the nation’s technical ability is now recognised. “That was one of the reasons I joined the FA 10 years ago to work with the Under-21s. We felt we wanted to do that,” Southgate said in reference to England’s perception. “We have achieved that throughout the rest of Europe because when I travel I realise that’s how people now see us. “We haven’t achieved that so much with our own public at times! But it’s interesting to see how we are viewed elsewhere. “Without a doubt, that’s how we want to play. We were top scorers per game at the World Cup and we’ve been top scorers in qualifying for the two previous tournaments. “We want the fans to come to Wembley to see goals and exciting performances – and we’ve had some good nights. We will keep trying to do that.” Bellingham’s goalscoring emergence in a more advanced role at Real gives England another attacking option. Southgate said: “In terms of what I’ve had, we’ve certainly got some exciting players in the wide and number 10 areas behind the strikers and different types. “(James) Maddison is different to Jude, for example, with different attributes and so it’s good that we’re not replacing like-for-like during games because it means we can give teams different problems to cope with.” Such are Southgate’s options in the forward areas that he again left Raheem Sterling out of the 25-man squad originally selected on Thursday to face Malta and North Macedonia. Youngsters Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer also missed out despite England listing nine attackers in the squad list, but while Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish all look assured of a place at Euro 2024, there is less certainty around Kane’s deputy. Ollie Watkins will aim to impress after scoring in last month’s friendly win against Australia and Southgate will have another name in the mix for March when Ivan Toney is available again following the completion of his ban for repeated betting breaches. “Next striker into Harry there’s competition. I don’t think anybody’s quite nailed that down yet. I’d say that’s an even fight between a few,” Southgate reflected. “Ivan’s obviously got a tougher challenge than a lot of the players because he has got that limited time frame, but we think he’s got some really good attributes. “We’ve just got to see where he is. I haven’t spoken with him for a few months, but I am in touch with the club. We know how he is progressing. “In the end the key is, when he gets back playing, how he goes on the pitch.” One player unlikely to make a late charge into Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad is Mason Greenwood, currently on loan at Getafe from Manchester United. Greenwood was suspended by United on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online. He faced charges including attempted rape and assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February the case had been discontinued. Southgate said: “We’re a long path from needing to think about that. I haven’t been tracking his games at this stage and we’ve got a lot of good players in those attacking areas of the pitch.”

Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged it will be difficult for any club to win the Premier League title whilst Pep Guardiola remains in charge of Manchester City. Chelsea face the champions at Stamford Bridge on Sunday seeking a fourth win in six games in the league, but go into the game 11 points behind Guardiola’s treble winners having finished a colossal 45 points back last season. Despite spending over £1billion on signings during the 18 months that owner Todd Boehly has been at the helm, the club have slid away from the league’s summit in that time, dropping from third place at the end of the 2021-22 campaign to 12th last season. Pochettino has consistently defended results and performances since he took over in July, emphasising that despite the huge outlay, the club has mostly invested in young, inexperienced players who will required time to mature. Ahead of Sunday’s showdown in west London, he agreed that toppling City will be a significant challenge whilst Guardiola is still in his job. “I think we are all trying to be close to their level,” said Pochettino. “That’s the idea, that’s the challenge. It’ll be tough of course. If he continues there, he has the experience and the capacity, and the knowledge. He’s a great coach. It’s going to be tough to beat Manchester City. “But we need to believe. Football is about belief and to try to develop and to create some different strategies to try to be above them.” If he continues there, he has the experience and the capacity, and the knowledge. He’s a great coach. It’s going to be tough to beat Manchester City Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino Pochettino previously enjoyed success against Guardiola and City in eliminating them from the Champions League with Tottenham en route to the final in 2019. They ultimately lost in the final to Liverpool in Madrid, with Pochettino leaving less than six months later having failed to win silverware, despite running Leicester close for the title in 2016. “We were contenders in the Champions League, we beat (City) with Tottenham,” said Pochettino. “But our possibility to win the league was when we fought in 2016 with Leicester. We never went in a fight with City for the league. “But we were contenders in the Champions League. It’s not easy. “That’s why massive credit to Pep and the organisation. Of course, you can see. But different clubs, different people, different structures, for sure, they’re building something really special. “It was tough for them to win their first Champions League (last season), but they were consistent; improving and improving and improving with the confidence in Pep’s project, backing Pep for seven years. Massive credit to them.” Read More Pep Guardiola: Only small clubs worry about selling players to their rivals Rob Page: Harry Wilson has been one of Wales’ main men since Gareth Bale retired Kieran Trippier confronted by angry Newcastle fans after defeat at Bournemouth She’s a tough cookie – Jodie Burrage backed to bounce back from nightmare debut Sean Dyche: Everton are starting to show belief on the road after latest win Mikel Arteta: ‘I’m completely with referees’

Harry Wilson is driving Wales’ bid for Euro 2024 success after emerging from the shadow of Gareth Bale, says manager Rob Page. Wilson kept Wales’ hopes of automatic qualification alive by scoring twice in last month’s stunning 2-1 win over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, 10 years to the day since becoming his country’s youngest-ever male player at the age of 16 years and 207 days. Former captain Bale scored a record 41 goals for Wales before retiring from football in January. “H has been around for a long time,” Page said ahead of Wales’ final Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey that will determine whether they can secure a top-two spot in Group D and avoid the play-offs in March. “Because of the players we had available before in Gareth, Joe Allen and Jonny Williams, perhaps he looked at it, and he was turning up and feeling he was a squad player. “We had a chat with him in the summer and said: ‘You are no longer that person or player. You are a big player for us. Look at what you are doing at club level’. “Go back about 12 months ago, he would turn up and expect to be part of the squad, or if he started he would be substituted on the hour mark. “But the mentality has changed now. He’s playing in the Premier League, scoring goals and creating chances. “When he plays for us now he’s one of the main men and showed that in the last game. I don’t expect him to come in and just accept playing for 55, 60 minutes. “I want him to have that mentality that he is one of our top players now and he is going to go and win games for us.” Wilson won his 50th cap against Croatia and his first international double took him to eight goals for his country. The Liverpool product is also benefiting from being settled at Fulham after loan spells at Crewe, Hull, Derby, Bournemouth and Cardiff earlier in his career. Page said: “He has stepped up to the plate. I’m so pleased for him because he’s not just a good player, he’s an absolute diamond of a kid. “I said to the young lads up in Wrexham for the Gibraltar game: ‘Just watch him warm up’. Everything he does is to the nth degree. “He’s the nicest fella you will ever meet off the pitch, but when he crosses that line he’s a model example of what you would want a modern footballer to look like. “You can see why he has had the career he has and why he is playing in the Premier League, and why he is now getting the plaudits that he has got for us.” Wales will qualify automatically for next summer’s European Championship in Germany by beating Armenia in Yerevan on Saturday and Turkey in Cardiff three days later. Page’s side are guaranteed a play-off place through their top-tier status in the last edition of the Nations League. Read More It is hard to overtake Manchester City under Pep Guardiola – Mauricio Pochettino Pep Guardiola: Only small clubs worry about selling players to their rivals Kieran Trippier confronted by angry Newcastle fans after defeat at Bournemouth She’s a tough cookie – Jodie Burrage backed to bounce back from nightmare debut Sean Dyche: Everton are starting to show belief on the road after latest win Mikel Arteta: ‘I’m completely with referees’

Pep Guardiola has no issues selling players to rivals because Manchester City are not a “small club”. The champions come up against two of their recent former players in Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling as they travel to Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday. Palmer left City for Stamford Bridge in August having grown frustrated at a lack of game time under Guardiola, a year after Sterling also moved there for a fresh challenge. Both went with the club’s blessing, as did Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko when they joined Arsenal – and fuelled a strong charge at City’s crown – last year. Some managers might be uncomfortable with at sales that effectively strengthen clubs in direct competition, but Guardiola insists it has “never ever” bothered him. The City boss said: “From my point of view, I give my opinion to the club but after that the club has to decide if the transfer is good for both sides and for the player. “But never ever (has it been an issue). I think that means you are a small club. Big clubs make decisions for the benefit for all three parties: players, both clubs – and agents sometimes. Really, it’s not a problem. “So if they want to go to Chelsea or (Manchester) United or, I don’t know, Liverpool or whatever, what is the problem? They are happy to be there, the club is happy for the transfer. “Another player would come and we’d keep going: good spirit, good mood, and try to do it.” City had high hopes for 21-year-old midfielder Palmer, who came through their youth system. He was a member of the squad that won the treble last season and started the current campaign strongly with goals in the Community Shield and European Super Cup matches. It looked like he could get more opportunities following the departure of Riyad Mahrez but he opted to move on regardless, joining Chelsea in a £42.5million deal. So far he has impressed at the London club and Guardiola accepts his decision to move appears to have paid off. He said: “They moved from here because they wanted to play and, if they play, the decision made has been good. “So Raheem, since he left, plays always and Cole, since he left, is playing always. So they took good decisions. “Cole accepted some process but after one or two years he said, ‘I don’t want to stay here because I’m not going to play’. “I said, ‘But Riyad is leaving, you have a chance’. He said, ‘I’m not going to play here. I’m going to leave’. “OK, leave. He got what he wanted. It’s good for him. He’s a huge talent. Otherwise he would not have been here.” Read More It is hard to overtake Manchester City under Pep Guardiola – Mauricio Pochettino Rob Page: Harry Wilson has been one of Wales’ main men since Gareth Bale retired Kieran Trippier confronted by angry Newcastle fans after defeat at Bournemouth She’s a tough cookie – Jodie Burrage backed to bounce back from nightmare debut Sean Dyche: Everton are starting to show belief on the road after latest win Mikel Arteta: ‘I’m completely with referees’

The use of technology in football has been on the increase over the past few years but none seems to create as much heated debate and questioning as that of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). By and large, it is felt that minor and visible calls are improved across the course of the season with on-pitch referees getting extra help. However, there have been several high-profile incidents of late that have led to clubs, or personnel within them, complaining about the eventual decision or decision-making process, with the most recent coming in the Champions League. Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag felt aggrieved that a number of calls went against them in their 4-3 defeat to FC Copenhagen, including a decision to send off Marcus Rashford for serious foul play. Here’s everything on VAR you need to know, including the latest causes for complaint against it. What has gone wrong? Most recently, Man United complained about Rashford’s red card, given out for stepping across and onto the foot and shin of an opponent in a Champions League encounter. Ten Hag insisted his side had seen three “very debatable” penalties go against them in four games and called his forward’s sending off “very harsh”. In domestic football, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta complained over “unacceptable” errors from on-pitch and VAR officials as his team lost to Newcastle, while Wolves boss Gary O’Neil labelled a penalty decision given against his team and upheld by VAR as “scandalous” - also against Newcastle. Ange Postecoglou suggested recently that clubs have to shoulder part of the blame for long stoppages for VAR, saying: “Some of it is self inflicted because if we come out every week complaining about decisions that is what will happen, every decision gets forensically checked and we will be sitting around for a long time in every game trying to figure out what is going on.” However, it must be noted that the vast majority of these are subjective opinions and where Arteta sees fault, another manager, supporter or, indeed, official may see justification in decision. One incident which was not subjective, but instead a quite clear mistake, came with Luis Diaz’s goal for Liverpool against Tottenham being ruled out for offside and then allowed to stay disallowed, despite the VAR officials running their processes and showing the forward was onside. The “significant human error” came as a result of the official, Darren England, appearing to forget that offside rather than a goal had been awarded in the first place. To another extreme, Millie Bright criticised the fact there was no VAR in the first edition of the Women’s Nations League, after a clearly offside goal was allowed to stand against England which would have been simple to rule out. Further clear VAR errors which PGMOL have had to apologise for include no penalty being awarded to Wolves against Man United after Andre Onana clattered Sasa Kalajdzic, a Brentford goal against Arsenal not being checked properly with no offside lines drawn and a West Ham late equaliser being ruled out for a foul, where none was apparent. What has gone right? In truth, a lot. It’s overlooked when three or four calls are spot-on, when one causes serious complaint or at least is a subjective call which a majority seem to disagree with. As an example, in the incident-packed Tottenham vs Chelsea fixture, several goals were correctly ruled out for offside through use - or checking - of VAR and the penalty awarded which saw Cristian Romero sent off was also a result of VAR intervention. Generally speaking, these calls that are widely accepted as correct do not get highlighted, partially because the technology exists for that very reason: it’s expected to help officials make the right calls with a second look. That doesn’t mean they don’t occur, though. The Premier League reported that 82 per cent of decisions were correct in the season before VAR was introduced, rising to 94 per cent being correct in 2019/20. What is the process for VAR checks? From the Premier League website: VAR will be used only for “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” in four match-changing situations: goals; penalty decisions; direct red-card incidents; and mistaken identity. When any of those match situations occur or potentially occur, VAR is constantly rewatching and monitoring match footage from the hub at Stockley Park. If there is a decision to be made, the VAR or Assistant VAR (AVAR) will relay to the referee that play should be halted while checks are made, before recommending either an overturn, a pitchside check of the monitor for the ref or a continuation of play with the on-pitch original decision. The video officials have until the ball goes dead to inform the referee that a check is underway if play is already ongoing. The referee can then either check the monitor or accept the VAR recommendation. Upon reviewing the pitchside monitor, they may then stick with their own initial assessment or overturn the original, before communicating their new decision to the crowd. What have PGMOL said? The refereeing chief of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, Howard Webb, took over the role last year to improve the standard of officiating in the English game and to help oversee a smoother use of technology. PGMOL confirmed to the League Managers’ Association “they are actively looking at how best to incorporate VARs into match-day refereeing teams, to ensure the dynamic between on-field referee and VAR is conducive to producing positive outcomes.” After the Diaz incident, the organisation “acknowledge[d] a significant human error occurred” and brought in additional processes to ensure no repeat happened. They also released the audio of that incident, an “unusual step” according to Webb, “to show everybody what was very quickly pretty apparent to us, a human error and loss of concentration.” Webb has suggested the pool of VAR-specific officials will be increased but Lee Mason presents a cautionary tale. The former referee was appointed a full-time VAR for 2022/23, but departed the role last season after the aforementioned error over Brentford’s goal against Arsenal. Mason, who had already been stood down from the officiating list that campaign previously for wrongly disallowing a Newcastle goal, was labelled a “serial offender” by ex-PGMOL boss Keith Hackett - however, at the start of the current campaign, Mason was re-hired as a referees’ coach for the lower leagues. It is not thought he has ongoing work with VAR but that has not been confirmed by PGMOL, nor why his credentials are suited to guiding less-experienced officials despite having been removed from his post already. Read More What is VAR, how does it work and what are the biggest problems? 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Erik ten Hag will serve a one-match touchline ban after getting his third booking of the season in Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Luton. The Dutchman, who also got yellow cards in the defeats to Arsenal and Tottenham, will be forced to watch United’s game against Everton on 26 November from the stands. Ten Hag was cautioned for dissent in injury time at Old Trafford against Luton for disputing the award of a throw-in. He said: “So that was about a moment so clear, a throw-in, but it was the second time. I was on top of it and it was so clear and obvious our ball, it was my remark therefore I got booked.” But he accepted he may have been wrong to argue, adding: “There is a certain point you have to accept decisions, what I should do as well.” Ten Hag believes his assistants, including former England manager Steve McClaren, will cope in his absence at Goodison Park. He added: “We have a very competent coaching staff and they will take over.” United face an anxious wait to see if Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen have joined their lengthy injury list after coming off against Luton. Striker Hojlund seemed to have a hamstring problem and Ten Hag said: “We do an assessment but have to wait for 24 hours to see what is the conclusion. Give them, the medical [team], 24 hours to see what is the problem, if there is a problem.” Ten Hag claimed United are in a fine position in the Premier League, considering the injury problems that have interrupted their season, and feels they can make up ground on rivals when they lose players. “Now we won our last four games of five games in the Premier League, which is good. We are in quite a good position if you see all the trouble we had, we are in a very good position,” he explained. “That is a reason to be optimistic. Even after all the setbacks we dealt with, we are still in a position near the top four and when we start to play well and when we get it done a team is set for a couple of weeks and months [and] also other teams will get their setbacks and drop points.” Read More Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag urges team to become more clinical Man United produce the bare minimum to avoid embarrassment against Luton Man United v Luton LIVE: Result and reaction from crucial Premier League clash

Kieran Trippier confronted angry Newcastle fans following their 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth. The injury-hit Magpies were downed by Dominic Solanke’s second-half double on the south coast. As the players went to applaud the travelling fans after the final whistle, England full-back Trippier was filmed on social media responding to a supporter by saying: “Are the lads not giving everything? How many injuries have we got?” Afterwards, Trippier played down the incident. He told Sky Sports: “The fans are emotional, they have travelled a long way. “I had a chat with one of them, saying we are giving everything and there’s no need to panic. “We got beat and we apologise for that result, but the lads are giving everything.” Manager Eddie Howe admitted he understood the fans’ frustrations. “Kieran is fine. Emotions run high,” he said. “We all feel a bit emotional after that from our perspective. We value all our away support, we value them greatly. We thank them for their support.” It was a nightmare return to Bournemouth for Howe, who saw his side’s seven-match unbeaten Premier League run end and their injury crisis deepen. The Magpies were already missing 11 players through injury and suspension after Callum Wilson injured a hamstring in the midweek defeat at Borussia Dortmund. Howe revealed Wilson will withdraw from the England squad and faces a spell on the sidelines. They then lost Miguel Almiron to another hamstring problem midway through the first half. The long casualty list meant a first Premier League start for 17-year-old Lewis Miley in central midfield. Such are Newcastle’s lack of options they ended the match with Ben Parkinson, an 18-year-old who had never previously made a first-team appearance, playing alone in attack. “It was a game where we couldn’t be where we needed to be for it and it was a tough watch. We were unrecognisable today,” added Howe, who was the Cherries manager the last time they beat Newcastle in 2017. I think we really deserved this win Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola “It was a real off day. There are reasons, but I don’t want to sit here and make excuses. I want to support the players.” The only surprise was that it took dominant Bournemouth an hour before they made the breakthrough. Joe Willock challenged Antoine Semenyo, the ball rolled off him into the path of Solanke who raced into the area and lashed his shot inside Nick Pope’s near post. Bournemouth doubled the lead from a corner, Solanke flicking the rebound home with his heel after Luis Sinisterra’s header hit a post. It secured only a second win of the season for Bournemouth and lifted them out of the bottom three. Boss Andoni Iraola said: “I think we really deserved this win. We played well and had good chances. Luckily we finished the job in the second half. “Dom has been very good for us. On the ball and off the ball, he helps his team-mates. He missed chances in the first half, but cleared his mind and continued playing the same way.” Read More She’s a tough cookie – Jodie Burrage backed to bounce back from nightmare debut Sean Dyche: Everton are starting to show belief on the road after latest win Mikel Arteta: ‘I’m completely with referees’ Jack Draper has grand ambitions for 2024 after falling short in Sofia Open final Matthew Mott admits some ageing England players face ‘line in the sand moment’ Ben Stokes and Joe Root give England hope of ending World Cup on a high