Manchester

With only four points separating third and 13th, we do not normally see that many teams in this type of mini league.

Normally, you might have the teams in a pack around the top four or five and then another pack underneath that with your relegation pack as well, so the fact there is so many teams in it at this stage is making it different.

From the mental side of competing in that, you look at Manchester United who have struggled so much this season and are sitting 13th. If they get a win, it can shoot them right up the table. They are in a position to think they are only a few points off the Champions League places' and that is good.

But it can work both ways.

Knowing the points are so close can keep you strong, keep you competing and have that competitiveness because you know a result can jump you up. But on the flipside, you could easily go from seventh down to 13th in one weekend or from third down to 10th.

How you deal with it depends on the manager, the players and also the psychologists within the group. Psychology in sport is really important for whether you see the situation as a positive or a negative.

Whether it stays like this all season is hard to say as there have been some really inconsistent performances and results. The most consistent team is the one sitting at the top.

I do not know what the rest of the campaign has in store for these sides because all the teams seem to be able to take points off each other this season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, PA Media

On the latest episode of Planet Premier League on BBC Sounds, Wales captain Aaron Ramsey spoke about the ways in which Manchester City are missing midfielder Rodri.

The Spain international is out with a long-term knee injury and, in his absence, City are on a run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions.

"Rodri is the Ballon d'Or winner, he's been so consistent with his performances over the years," said Cardiff and former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey.

"I think the way that he can receive the ball in tight situations, he's always one or two steps ahead. He knows where he has to touch the ball to play into a progressive area or how he wriggles out. It's how he sees the game. He doesn't drop too deep all the time. He's always there on the other side of the strikers.

"Little bits of detail like this, which a lot of people may not see, go such a long way and he keeps them ticking over. He gets the ball into dangerous areas, into players in little pockets who can go on to create things, so that link is probably being missed massively there."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are proof of what happens to the mighty when they start looking older - or just less streetwise.

The once-frightening aura of those red shirts disappeared a long time ago. Teams and players are no longer scared of United or Old Trafford.

‌It was apparent from day one this season. United may have beaten Fulham and drawn with Crystal Palace at home in those early weeks, but neither looked in any way intimidated.

‌The big news for the big beasts is that you can recreate this fear factor fairly quickly. Three or four big wins in a row and suddenly everyone will dismiss those difficult times as just a bump in the road that is disappearing in the rearview mirror.

‌Ruud van Nistelrooy has left a nice little four-game legacy for Ruben Amorim to exploit. They are in 13th position in the Premier League, so is it too much to ask for the Portuguese manager to turn it around and make top four this season?

‌No, because the position alone is hugely misleading. Between third and 13th, there is a grand total of four points.

Any one of those could still easily make the top four, including United, especially if they can somehow revive that aura and lose the reputation of once-great but now faded bloated giants.

Over to you, Ruben.

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Manchester United and Arsenal are battling to sign former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich, with the 28-year-old Germany international out of contract next summer. (Bild - in German, subscription required), external

Meanwhile, Manchester United are keen on 21-year-old Bournemouth and Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez. (Football Transfers), external

Finally, the Red Devils are considering a January transfer move for 21-year-old Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina, who has also been watched by Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has praised new head coach Ruben Amorim for the "really, really special" job he did at Sporting, and is confident the 39-year-old is going to bring the Red Devils "success".

Fernandes, who played for Sporting before Amorim took charge, told MUTV: "Sometimes a person can change the energy of a space, if it's the right moment.

"We hope this is the right moment for him to come and bring his energy, qualities and his knowledge of football, because he's done something really, really special at Sporting.

"If someone doubts that, it's about looking at the past. Sporting were about 20 years without winning the league and he got back to win the league, and won it two times in four years with a really youthful team, in a moment of change.

"Hopefully he can do the same here for and it's going to be a successful time for all of us."

"He's a really smart manager who has done really good things for Sporting tactically - it's really good, what I've seen from the games for Sporting."

Amorim's reign will begin with a run of five games in the space of 13 days. First up is a trip to Portman Road to face Ipswich, and Fernandes knows it will not be easy for his new boss to hit the ground running.

"Obviously, you can't bring or transform what he has done at Sporting into here, because you have different players and ways of play and everything," Fernandes added.

"I'm pretty sure that the idea of football he has - independent of the way he wants to play - is going to be a good one and it's going to bring us success."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are cautioning against expecting too much, too soon from returning full-back Tyrell Malacia.

The Netherlands defender returned to action with a 45-minute outing in the EFL Trophy defeat at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

It was Malacia's first appearance in 17 months, after having knee surgery following the Nations League final in June 2023.

The 25-year-old had two major knee operations and now is understandably keen to make up for lost time.

Malacia's presence could answer a significant question for new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, who favours using wing-backs. Malacia's natural game fits that profile, although he played within himself on his reappearance.

But United's coaching staff are determined not to push Malacia too quickly. They have privately pointed out that while the player himself might feel fit, after so long out it is imperative that he takes a steady approach to his return.

The Under-21s have a National League Cup game at Altrincham on 19 November and it is possible Malacia could be involved in that, providing he shows no ill effects from his initial return.

"He has worked so hard to get back," said United's under-21 coach Travis Binnion. "He looks strong, he looks fit and his attitude is first class.

"Hopefully he kicks on now because he deserves a bit of good fortune and we could do with him."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United Under-21 coach Travis Binnion says the EFL Trophy provides a great experience for Premier League academy players, even though only one club out of 16 has made it through to the last 32 of this season’s competition.

Defeats for United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in the final round of matches mean Aston Villa will be the only top-flight representatives in the knockout stages.

No Premier League academy side has reached the final of the tournament since academies were first allowed to enter in 2016-17, amid huge controversy. Chelsea came the closest in 2018 when they were beaten on penalties by Lincoln in the semi-final.

A single academy side reaching the last 32 is the lowest number there has been, but Binnion is adamant the concept is a significant positive in the development of young players.

"They are our best games," he said. "We have come up short, but that is the whole point. If we came into these games and won them easily, something wouldn't be quite right."

With no weekend game looming, due to international call-ups, Huddersfield Town manager Michael Duff opted to play his strongest available side against Manchester United. The Terriers eventually ran out 4-1 winners to move to the next stage of the competition.

The Under-21s are still involved in the new National League Cup – a similar competition to the EFL Trophy but featuring clubs from the National League – and the Premier League 2 International Cup, which includes Benfica, Sporting, Hertha Berlin and Ajax.

Binnion feels this is the best way of creating a programme of meaningful games in the absence of genuine B teams being allowed to compete within the EFL structure, as happens in other European countries.

"When you don't have the B team system that they have on the continent, we are desperate for these games," he said.

"Our International Cup games against Hertha and PSV felt like the EFL Trophy games. We play Altrincham next week, then Rochdale in the National League Cup, then Sparta Prague at the start of December - so, by this side of Christmas, we will have had nine games that are very different to the Under-21 programme.

"We want those games and the lads will get plenty out of them."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Is this a temporary change or something more permanent?

No, not recent political events, but the weird goings on with the big beasts of the Premier League.

Arsenal have won two points from the past 12 while losing to Inter Milan in the Champions League. This was mirrored by Manchester City losing four games in a row after only scraping past Wolves and Southampton.

I warned here a few weeks ago here that I thought City were creaking. So what is going on?

It might just be bad luck but it is more likely to be the over-working of a small number of crucial players finally taking its toll.

The injuries are obvious causes but asking the leftover squad to play three games a week, while fitting in national team fixtures, after the summer's gruelling international tournaments has had an effect.

The players have gone through these stresses before, but it is the cumulative effect of this year after year, season after season that has had the profound effect - just as many players and coaches predicted.

Suddenly the behemoth squads are looking a little threadbare, which is incredible when you consider their combined costs.

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Referees' chief Howard Webb says West Ham should not have been awarded a penalty during Erik ten Hag's final game in charge of Manchester United.

Julen Lopetegui's side were given the decision on the recommendation of video assistant referee Michael Oliver, after reviewing the footage of Matthijs de Ligt's challenge on Danny Ings.

Jarrod Bowen scored the penalty to seal a 2-1 win for the Hammers, with United boss Erik ten Hag sacked less than 24 hours later.

"I thought it was a misread by the VAR," Webb told Sky Sports' Mic'd Up programme. "A VAR that is normally really talented and reliable but gets uber-focused, in this situation, on De Ligt's leg.

"His leg coming through onto Danny Ings, not making any contact with the ball. The ball is already past De Ligt as he makes contact with Danny Ings - and the VAR sees that as a clear foul.

"I think he was too focused on that aspect. I don't think he should have got involved.

"I think this is a situation where we would leave the on-field decision as it is, probably whichever way it is called. On balance, I don't think it is a penalty kick."

On-field referees are not required to follow the recommendations of the VAR official.

"They are told that they are absolutely within their rights to keep their decision when they go to the screen," added Webb.