Marcus Rashford’s future was questioned when he jetted to America during Ruben Amorim’s first days in charge at Manchester United. Yet in his first matches under the new head coach, with three goals in two games, Rashford looks in it for the long haul.
More than a few eyebrows were raised when Rashford used his days off to watch the New York Knicks basketball team, with time to spare in the international break having failed to earn an England recall. Even Amorim suggested rules allowing players to fly thousands of miles during days off needed looking at.
But Rashford has returned from his trip to the US with form not seen since his stunning campaign, two seasons ago, when he hit the 30-goal mark as he chased a new contract. There are signs of a return to that type of goalscoring now Amorim is at Old Trafford and players are scrapping for their futures in his new system.
Rashford’s two goals and a further couple from Joshua Zirkzee put United into the top half and within sight of the Champions League places, which Amorim has played down as significant. He also believes there is more to come from Rashford, who says he is invigorated by Amorim’s arrival.
“It is early on but I feel energised and ready for the next game,” said Rashford. “The connection is going to build and grow the more we get used to him. He’s come in in a busy period and hopefully the connection keeps building and growing. He’s come in with a great attitude and it’s passed on to the players.”
Amorim spoke about Rashford during the week and suggested he “has to be the first one to want it”, challenging him to rediscover his best form. He seems to have lit the fire in the 27-year-old, even if there is work to be done to fit into the new 3-4-3 system.
Playing as a central striker has been ruled out and Amorim believes there is more to come from his role as a wide forward.
“A new coach is always like that, but there is so much to improve,” said Amorim. “He has to continue to improve, he has the ability to do it and he already proved that. But he can play so much better like the other guys so it was a good performance.”
Rashford scored against Ipswich in Amorim’s first match in charge and edged United in front by volleying from the edge of the area direct from Bruno Fernandes’s cross, although it was helped by a wicked deflection courtesy of Jarrad Branthwaite.
Branthwaite was the subject of a rejected £50 million bid in the summer and United, after moving on to Matthijs de Ligt as a target, would never have envisaged the England centre-back having such an impact for them. He lost the ball that led to Zirkzee scoring his first goal.
Everton had kicked off the second half but conceded within 20 seconds after Jordan Pickford’s punt forward came straight back to them. Amad Diallo slipped through Rashford, who netted between the England goalkeeper’s legs.
Zirkzee had not scored since the opening day of the season but got his second of the day when he finished coolly past Pickford when United broke, having been defending a corner a few seconds earlier.
Victory moved them closer to the Champions League places but Amorim is focused on performances and is clearly using trial and error with his team selection. He changed six from the Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt, then made sweeping changes in the second half to get Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw on the pitch. There will be further changes in midweek as Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo are suspended.
When asked about the top four, Amorim said: “I understand that. If I say no you will say I cannot be a Manchester United coach, but I want to be honest with our fans. Let’s focus on the performances and not the results and we’ll see in the end.
“In the end, I said this many times, I will be judged about the place that we finish. I know that. Let’s focus on the next game and look at the performance. Sometimes we had like Thursday it was 3-2 but I think we deserved more. Today it was 4-0, I think Everton deserved more also. So, let’s focus on the performance. Congratulations to the lads. Let’s rest and recover and think about Arsenal.”
Everton have a nightmare run of fixtures after facing Wolves on Wednesday, with Sean Dyche insisting he can turn the tide and that his players are up for the challenge.
“Most managers fix it with the chequebook but we haven’t got that so we are looking at other ways to get in the penalty area differently, trying different ways to be effective,” said Dyche. “I’ve turned around many things in my career and certainly here it’s been up-down, up-down. It’s not a given that you find that consistency but the players are up for the challenge.”
03:33 PM GMT
FULL TIME: Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 0
Enzo Fernandez will never escape his price tag, and the truth is that he might never come close to living up to it. The £107 million transfer fee is a burden that could forever hang round his neck, prompting sneers from rival fans and groans from his own.
But just because Fernandez is probably not the world-beater that his fee suggests, it does not mean he cannot become a useful and valuable member of the Chelsea team over the remaining eight years of his contract. There are now signs that, at last, this process may be starting.
About time? Probably. Fernandez has been in London since the winter of 2023, after all. Still, this is a case of better late than never for Chelsea, for whom the midfielder impressed again in this commanding victory over struggling Aston Villa.
Having not scored all season before last weekend, the Argentina international has now struck two goals in his last two appearances. His finish here was masterfully steered into the corner of Villa’s net, from just inside the penalty area, as he appeared to enjoy a more advanced attacking role in Enzo Maresca’s team.
That strike means that Fernandez has now been involved in four goals (two goals, two assists) in his last three league appearances. Having been dropped from the league side for four consecutive matches — he even fell into the Thursday night ‘B’ team for a few games — he is suddenly moving like a key player again. He wore the captain’s armband here.
The racism storm of the summer, in which Fernandez issued a grovelling apology to his offended team-mates, must now feel like a long time ago for the Chelsea players.
Villa, eight matches without a victory in all competitions, simply could not find a decisive moment comparable to Fernandez’s goal, Nicolas Jackson’s early opener or Cole Palmer’s gorgeous third. Unai Emery’s side are in a footballing quagmire, squelching around in increasing desperation, and they looked vulnerable throughout this trip to Stamford Bridge.
Perhaps most concerning of all for Emery is that his team appeared so visibly anxious. Their build-up play was jittery, punctuated by mistakes, and they fluffed the chances they did create. Ollie Watkins was particularly wasteful against a Chelsea defence that presented him with opportunities.
There is no doubt that Chelsea were deserving winners here. With Moises Caicedo playing as a full-back/midfielder hybrid, and Fernandez and Palmer pushing forward from midfield, there was a lovely balance to their play. There is a growing sense that Maresca’s system is bedding into the minds of his players, with each man knowing where to be and when.
03:29 PM GMT
FULL TIME: Tottenham 1 Fulham 1
In the end, the points were shared. But Ange Postecoglou, for all his refusal to embrace pragmatism, must wonder how he might impose just a little consistency on his Spurs side. There they were humiliating Manchester City last weekend, here playing with little zest, spirit or togetherness. If it were a Europa League hangover, then the further exertions of the season are not going to bring much reward.
The fact is Fulham deserved to win here. After being mangled at home by Wolves a week ago, here they were the more coherent side, playing with real conviction. Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi were a particular threat, while a headlong charge of a run by the substitute Harry Wilson in added time was an example of their counter attacking ambition. A couple of lengthy moves, involving lots of first time touches and flicks, really should have sealed the points. Were it not for the 36-year-old Fraser Forster, producing four outstanding saves on what was his first league game in 18 months, they might have won by a distance.
True, after a mistake strewn first half, Spurs took the lead midway through the second, when Tomi Werner’s scooped cross found Brennan Johnson alone and unmarked to fire home. But Fulham responded with a brilliant equaliser. For the umpteenth time, Robinson and Iwobi combined before the former Arsenal man, who, like the other three ex-Gunners in the Fulham line-up was booed throughout by the home support, found the substitute Tom Cairney. His shot was magnificent. As it had to be to beat Forster.
It was not clear why Postecoglou had not started with Dejan Kulusevski, the principal agent of City’s demolition. But when he came on, Spurs suddenly looked more threatening. Indeed, Cairney was sent off after a lengthy VAR intervention after bringing the Swede down as he swept forward. Ultimately it made no difference, the ten visitors held on.
03:27 PM GMT
FULL TIME: Man Utd 4 Everton 0
The Amorim era has come alive after their first league win under the new head coach.
Goals from Rashford and Zirkzee, Amad impressive, Onana sharp in goal and confidence is building at Old Trafford.
03:19 PM GMT
83mins: Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 0 GOAL
That’s a classic Cole Palmer goal, bent from the edge of the box into the top corner. Beautiful. Game over.
03:14 PM GMT
RED CARD: Game changing moment at Tottenham
After a lengthy VAR intervention, Fulham’s goalscorer Tom Cairney has just been sent off for a nasty tackle on Kulusevski.
03:13 PM GMT
United’s England contingent
Bear in mind there were no England players in the last squad. Now we have Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire on the pitch, with Kobbie Mainoo subbed off.
The Euros in the summer was the first time in 28 years that an England team played a tournament match with no United players featuring.
03:11 PM GMT
‘Villa are pushing’
Villa are pushing here, as they must, but the danger is that it is leaving plenty of space in behind. Cole Palmer has just run from his own half into the Villa area, where his shot was blocked.
Jhon Duran is on for Villa but it’s still not flowing for them in attack.
03:08 PM GMT
Everton fans have seen enough
02:59 PM GMT
67mins: Tottenham 1 Fulham 1 GOAL
A superb equaliser for Fulham. Antonee Robinson finds Iwobi, whose cunning pass back is smacked into the goal by the substitute Tom Cairney. Not even Forster could do anything about that. Deserved for Marco Silva’s side. And the manager celebrates with gusto.
02:56 PM GMT
Injury problems mount for Chelsea
A concern for Chelsea here: Wesley Fofana has limped off the pitch. He looks very uncomfortable indeed. Benoit Badiashile is on, which means Chelsea have two left-footers at centre-back.
02:52 PM GMT
Maguire returns from injury
02:46 PM GMT
54mins: Tottenham 1 Fulham 0 GOAL
Finally relief for Spurs. With Fulham looking ever more likely to score, the ball broke upfield. Werner scooped a delicious cross into the Fulham area which found the lurking Brennan Johnson. His finish was as precise and controlled as Spurs’ play up to that point had been sloppy and lacklustre.
02:45 PM GMT
‘Without Forster, Fulham would be out of reach’
When Guglielmo Vicario broke his ankle, many a Spurs fan feared what might happen without his presence between the posts. They need not have worried. Already in this second half Fraser Forster has made another couple of fine saves, to go with the two he pulled off in the first half. Without him, Fulham would be out of reach.
02:43 PM GMT
Martinez forced off at half time for Villa due to wrist injury
02:40 PM GMT
‘Stop exploiting loyalty’
02:36 PM GMT
Man Utd 3 Everton 0 GOAL
20 seconds into the second half and United have all but sealed the three points and it is Rashford again.
That’s his third goal under Amorim and his sixth goal in eight games against Everton.
A word too on Amad, who is thriving under the new Portuguese head coach.
02:31 PM GMT
Chaotic at Spurs
“At times it has been chaotic at the Tottenham Stadium, a mistake strewn comedy of errors. But boy have there been chances. Not least James Maddison’s clever free kick just as the half was coming to an end. Spotting that the Fulham wall did not have a draft excluder player lying behind it, he shot hard and firm along the turf, his shot hitting the post. Mind, if he had scored it would have been harsh on Fulham, who have twice obliged Tottenham’s stand in keeper Fraser Forster to make fine saves.
“Indeed, the visitors have played the better attacking football of the two sides, at times quick, concise, smart. Despite his every touch being soundtracked by boos because of his Arsenal history, Alex Iwobi has been at the heart of most of their better moments. But they still keep making the kind of mistakes at the back which Son, Werner or Johnson will surely eventually pounce on. Though before that happens, it would be no surprise to see Dejan Kulusevski brought on by Ange Postecoglou to bring a bit of coherence to the Spurs attack.”
02:22 PM GMT
Chelsea impressive
“Impressive first half from Chelsea, although it has not exactly been controlled. Villa still look dangerous on the counter through Ollie Watkins. An end-to-end game, in which Villa have been too sloppy, too often. 2-0 at the break.”
02:22 PM GMT
Half-time scores
02:20 PM GMT
Everton’s Branthwaite comes to United’s aid…
“Jarrad Branthwaite was the subject of bids from Manchester United in the summer but stayed at Everton. He has given United a huge helping hand in this game with an own goal, deflecting in Marcus Rashford’s shot, and an error to gift Joshua Zirkzee the second goal. It was a tight game until those moments.”
02:15 PM GMT
Repeat: Forster denies Fulham
“Another sumptuous move by Fulham, full of deft touches and clever layoffs, ends with Iwobi smacking a shot from the edge of the area. For the second time in 10 minutes, Forster again saves brilliantly, pushing the ball on to the bar.”
02:12 PM GMT
GOAL! Zirkzee scores for United
Fernandes sets it across for an easy finish for Joshua Zirkzee and the first goal has changed the game. His first goal since his debut on August 16.
Man Utd 2 Everton 0
02:10 PM GMT
GOAL! Chelsea go 2-0 up
“Chelsea have doubled their lead and it has probably been coming. Villa have been struggling all game to contain them. Palmer’s pass finds Fernandez, who takes one touch and then steers a lovely finish into the corner.
“Villa are still threatening at the other end but they look vulnerable, again.”
02:07 PM GMT
A fine save from Forster and it’s still 0-0
“A lovely move by Fulham sees Jiminez released once again behind the Tottenham defence. His shot is precise and heading to the corner of the net. But Forster stretches to make a fine save. Still somehow this game remains goalless.”
02:05 PM GMT
GOAL! United are ahead
Fernandes takes a corner to Rashford on the edge of the box, he half-volleys towards goal but the ball goes into the back of the net off Jarrad Branthwaite. Own goal or not? Maybe, but Amorim’s men are ahead.
Man Utd 1 Everton 0
02:02 PM GMT
A rare sight indeed at Stamford Bridge
“We’ve had one of the great thrills of football: the indirect free-kick inside the penalty area. It came after Pau Torres nudged the ball back to Emiliano Martinez, who inexplicably picked it up.
“After about two minutes of plotting, it was Cole Palmer who finally took the shot for Chelsea from about seven yards. Martinez made a brilliant stop.
“… and now Martinez passes straight to Jackson, and then makes another incredible stop to deny him. Really fun game here.”
01:59 PM GMT
Dyche means business
“Sean Dyche has removed the jacket – he means business. The Everton manager has gone for the tracksuit today, rather than the white shirt and jacket he is often seen in. His bench were furious at a quick free-kick being blocked and advantage being played instead of a yellow card. He will be happy with the attacking positions his players have got into but their final ball has not been good enough to create a clear opening. “
01:54 PM GMT
Chances at both ends at Spurs
“How this game remains goalless is the question of the day. Another woeful Fulham backpass let in Son again. But again his shot was saved by Leno. Fulham then go up front and, from a corner, have three efforts charged down from a corner. It’s a ping pong of chances.”
01:53 PM GMT
A lack of finishing for both teams so far
“It could be a hat-trick of 0-0s for Everton today but the opening exchanges suggests there will be chances. Some very promising positions for both teams – Dwight McNeil and Beto guilty of being wasteful for visitors, likewise Amad Diallo for United. The finishing points to why these teams are in the bottom half of the table.”
01:49 PM GMT
Jiminez misses a chance for Fulham as Forster saves
“A superb ball by Iwobi set Jiminez free in behind the Spurs defence. The Mexican took the ball on his chest, but couldn’t bring it under control and Forster was able to smother the opportunity. A real chance for Fulham.”
01:48 PM GMT
Villa causing Chelsea problems
“It has been a thrilling start to this game and Villa are causing problems. Watkins keeps running in behind Chelsea’s high line and the home side are struggling to manage him. They needed a fine save from Sanchez to deny the England striker.”
01:39 PM GMT
GOAL! Chelsea are ahead
“Another goal for Nicolas Jackson, his fourth in six games, but much of the credit should go to Marc Cucurella here. It was the Chelsea left-back who snatched the ball on the edge of the box and then played an accurate cross that allowed Jackson to score.”
Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 0
01:38 PM GMT
Four former Arsenal players on show
“The home supporters are enjoying themselves loudly booing anyone in the Fulham side with an Arsenal connection. Given there are four former Gunners on the pitch – Leno, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi and Nelson – there is plenty of booing to be done.”
01:35 PM GMT
Amorim’s 3-4-4 system up against 4-4-2
“Amorim’s 3-4-3 system has won him trophies at Sporting Lisbon and here the formation is up against a straight four-four-f—— two with Sean Dyche setting up Everton with Dwight McNeil as advanced as Beto when the visitors are without the ball.”
01:34 PM GMT
Spurs are almost ahead early on
“Spurs just had a gilt-edged invitation to score within a minute. Bassey’s terrible misplaced pass was picked up by Werner, who fed Son who really should have scored. But Leno made a fine save with his legs.”
01:31 PM GMT
KICK OFF!
We are under way at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
01:28 PM GMT
The up-and-down derby
“The two least predictable sides in the Premier League collide here, both capable of excellent, dominant football, both capable of sinking in disappointment. Oddly, given his match-winning contribution when Spurs hammered Manchester City last weekend, Dejan Kulusevski is on the Spurs bench.”
01:20 PM GMT
Duran, from super sub to plain old sub
“One of the reasons for Villa’s struggles in recent weeks is the drop-off in the form of Jhon Duran, the super-sub at the start of the season. These days, Duran is just a sub.
“He has not scored in his last eight appearances off the bench, having struck five in his first eight substitute appearances of the season.”
01:15 PM GMT
Villa in ‘a difficult moment’, as they say
“Good afternoon from a rainy and dank Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are looking for another statement performance. Villa are without a win in seven games in all competitions and, after a tough game against Juventus in midweek, they might be there for the taking today.
“Chelsea have actually not won any of their last 11 league matches against last season’s top four. In other words, it’s been a long time since they beat one of the big boys. Do Villa still count as big boys, given their form? You decide.”
01:14 PM GMT
James unlikely to play before end of year
“Reece James is not expected to return from his latest injury setback before the end of December following a scan on his hamstring as Chelsea prepare to support him through another physical and mental battle.
“Chelsea have not put an exact time frame on James’s return and have not confirmed the outcome of this week’s scan. But it is understood that James may not return until the new year, depending on how his recovery goes.
“It is believed that while James is again out with a hamstring injury, his latest problem is not viewed as a recurrence of a previous injury.”
01:12 PM GMT
Mike McGrath on the team selections at Old Trafford
“Ruben Amorim has put Rasmus Hojlund on the bench despite his two goals against Bodo Glimt in midweek, with Joshua Zirkzee given his chance. Tyrell Malacia makes way for Diogo Dalot, Ugarte and Antony are dropped for Casemiro and Amad Diallo. Marcus Rashford replaces Mason Mount, while Kobbie Mainoo is back in place of Alejandro Garnacho.
“Six changes in the United team and Amorim, writing in his programme notes, has warned to expect more changes at the start of his tenure.
‘Arriving mid-season with so many games in such a short space of time, there are not as many opportunities as we might like to work on things together on the training pitch,” he wrote. ‘As a result, there will be a lot of squad rotation so that the players are all either playing or learning in training.’
“Everton boss Sean Dyche has gone with almost the same team as last week’s goalless draw against Brentford, with his only change being Beto coming in for Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front.”
01:06 PM GMT
Some pictures from the protest at Old Trafford
12:56 PM GMT
News: Amorim appoints separate coaches to work with defenders, midfielders and strikers
Ruben Amorim has appointed specialised coaches for each key department of his Manchester United team in a bid to kick-start their season.
The Portuguese coach, 39, has assigned members of his staff to work with defenders, midfielders and forwards in one of the major changes from Erik ten Hag’s work on the training pitches at the club’s Carrington HQ.
Read more from Mike McGrath here.
12:49 PM GMT
Protest at Old Trafford
“Hundreds of Manchester United fans gathered at the “Holy Trinity” statue outside the club megastore to protest at rising ticket prices, with a striking antipathy towards co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The protest was with support of the Football Supporters’ Association’s (FSA) campaign, with fans holding a ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ banner ahead of the Premier League fixture against Everton.
Fans sang about building a bonfire with Ratcliffe in the middle, while also chanting “Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s a —-”, with Ratcliffe’s 27.7 per cent of United and control of football operations clearly seen as an extension of the Glazer’s ownership of the club.
‘The rivalry between these four clubs has been, and is, fierce. But we all go to games, love our club and want to keep football affordable for future generations while protecting heritage and communities,’ said a spokesperson for Manchester United fan group FC58.”
12:38 PM GMT
Chelsea vs Villa teams: Sancho starts
Chelsea
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Caicedo, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga, Gusto, Madueke, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku
Aston Villa
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Torres, Konsa, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn; Philogene, Watkins, Rogers
Substitutes: Diego Carlos, Mings, Barkley, Duran, Buendía, Maatsen, Olsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
12:35 PM GMT
Spurs vs Fulham teams: Kulusevski on the bench
Tottenham Hotspur
Starting XI: Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Werner, Son, Johnson
Subtitutes: Austin, Reguilon, Gray, Bergvall, Kulusevski, Spence, Lankshear, Olusesi, Williams
Fulham
Staring XI: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Nelson; Jimenez
Subtitutes: Benda, Wilson, Muniz, Cairney, Traore, Castagne, King, Sessegnon, Amissah
12:33 PM GMT
Man Utd vs Everton teams: Zirkzee starts
Manchester United
Starting XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Diallo, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee.
Substitutes: Bayindir, Garnacho, Maguire, Malacia, Mount, Shaw, Ugarte, Hojlund, Antony
Everton
Starting XI: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Doucoure, Gueye, Lindstrom, Ndiaye, McNeil, Beto.
Subtitutes: Armstrong, Begovic, Calvert-Lewis, Coleman, Harrison, Mangala, Joao Virginia, O’Brien, Patterson
12:30 PM GMT
Good afternoon
Welcome to our coverage for the three 1.30pm Premier League kick-offs this Sunday afternoon. They are: Chelsea vs Aston Villa, Manchester United vs Everton and Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham. Chelsea can move back into the top four with victory, though Villa would draw level with them on points if they were to win.
Enzo Maresca’s men are unbeaten in all competitions since a 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the League Cup at the end of October. In that time they recorded a staggering 8-0 win over Noah in the Europa Conference League.
Spurs are having a so-so season that has been very hot and cold in recent weeks. Their most recent League form reads: loss, win, loss, win, loss, win. Can they put two wins together for the first time since late September? Their 4-0 win at Man City was their victory of the season so Ange Postecoglou will be hoping that will be able to supercharge their top-four attempt. Whatever happens, you cannot say it will be much of a surprise.
The biggest game of the day for interest, though, is probably Ruben Amorim’s third game in charge at Manchester United. Since taking over the club drew away at Ipswich and then had to come back from 2-1 down to Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League in the week. They did, though, and won 3-2 for the Portguese head coach’s first win as United manager and first win at Old Trafford.
Their opponents today, Everton, are hardly in the best of form but that has been the case at the club for quite a while now. Only one defeat in their last six league games, yes, but also one victory in that time. In fairness, that accounts for seven of their 11 points in total this season after 12 games, so maybe it is good form?
Anyway, the teams are out so we will have those for you in just a moment.
