Manchester United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

On the one-year anniversary of his first match in charge of Manchester United, this night underlines why, for all the improvement this season, Ruben Amorim still has some way to go to get close to the levels of consistency he demands.

Defeat brought his side's five-match unbeaten run to an end and triggered sustained boos at the final whistle.

Facing 10 men and with a chance to move into the Champions League places in the table, the home side needed to be calm and secure in possession - but they were the opposite.

Joshua Zirkzee, who was ineffective as starting replacement for injured pair Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, gave the ball away needlessly more than once. He was not on his own though, as Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro also lost possession under no pressure as United tried to build attacking momentum.

United's most reliable attacking players, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes, tested Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and substitute Mason Mount came close with a curling effort.

But it was not until Zirkzee sent a header goalwards 11 minutes from full-time, from Luke Shaw's cross, that Pickford was called into an action that could not be classed as routine.

Matthijs de Ligt scored an injury-time equaliser at Tottenham a fortnight ago, but when United's last chance offered the Dutchman an opportunity to repeat, there was not enough power for his shot to cause Pickford any worry.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to Sky Sports about the defeat at Old Trafford: "I'm feeling really frustrated, like any other person that supports Manchester United. We should be frustrated with the way we started the game and the way we didn't understand how we should play against 10 men. They deserved to win. We had a lot of chances in the second half through crosses and second balls, but the quality and decision-making wasn't there. Everton were the better team.

"After the sending off, I was expecting us to have long periods of possession and to push the opponent. We didn't control the transitions, even with 10 men. We were giving them big spaces to win second balls, so the understanding of every situation in the game was not there.

"The quality around the box is another big thing, but more importantly it was the intensity we showed. We cannot win games in this way."

On whether the performance surprised him after a good run of form: "Of course it did. I understand that we still have a lot to do, but I'm really frustrated with how we handled the game. Especially knowing that we were playing at home, knowing what happened to the other clubs, looking at the table and feeling everything.

"The way we presented ourselves in the first minute of the game is really frustrating. We dropped the level."

Did you know?

• Manchester United have lost a Premier League game at Old Trafford after seeing the opposition pick up a red card for the first time ever - winning 36 and drawing 10 of the previous 46 occasions.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man Utd's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies

Joshua Zirkzee starts for the first time this season for Manchester United as Matheus Cunha misses out after suffering a blow to the head in training.

The incident forced the Brazil international to pull out of switching on the Altrincham Christmas lights on Saturday.

Benjamin Sesko is out with a knee injury, so 18-year-old forward Shea Lacey is named on the bench for the first time.

Leny Yoro replaces Harry Maguire in defence while Lisandro Martinez returns to Ruben Amorim's squad for the first time since February after major knee surgery.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu, Amad, Mbeumo, Zirkzee.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Dalot, Martinez, Mount, Malacia, Ugarte, Heaven, Mainoo, Lacey.

Veteran Everton skipper Seamus Coleman returns to David Moyes' side in the only change to the team that beat Fulham 2-0 a fortnight ago.

Tim Iroegbunam drops to the bench as Everton look for their first away win since August.

Everton XI: Pickford, Garner, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Coleman, Gueye, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry.

Substitutes: Travers, King, McNeil, Beto, O'Brien, Dibling, Alcaraz, Aznou, Iroegbunam.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tonight's game against Everton will mark a significant milestone for Manchester United.

The club has been given clearance by the safety authorities to open another 6,141 safe standing places in the Stretford End.

That will take the number of rail seats at Old Trafford to 13,577, 18% of the total capacity of 74,412.

Meanwhile, Karen Hirst has been appointed as Project Director for the Old Trafford Regeneration.

Previously development director at Salford City Council and Central Salford Regeneration Company, Hirst is a chartered surveyor who has spent 35 years in property and development.

Hirst will be responsible for delivering the strategic vision for Old Trafford Regeneration, including working with United as a new stadium is viewed as a central component of the plans.

Local authority sources say a housing development in Old Trafford has already been allocated a significant share of the £1bn Good Growth Fund and it is anticipated huge public and private sector investment will "accelerate transformational regeneration, creating a world-class, sports-led visitor destination, rich in culture and entertainment".

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is determined to help Manuel Ugarte out of his current slump.

Amorim worked successfully with the Uruguay midfielder during his time at Sporting. However, Ugarte has failed to hit the same levels at Old Trafford, scoring two goals in 55 appearances since his £42m move from PSG in August 2024.

His performances have attracted greater scrutiny as his intended arrival was the reason why United opted to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli.

Amorim accepts Ugarte is struggling, but he feels the 24-year-old has the capability to make a greater impact than he has so far.

"You can sense a lot of very good players come here, and sometimes they struggle," he said. "He is struggling at the moment but it is our job to try to help and help him to feel like I felt when he was a Sporting player.

"But it is a different world. He needs to adapt, and he needs to improve, especially in training."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has made some very interesting observations around the club's academy - and the players in it - before Monday's Premier League game against Everton.

With Benjamin Sesko ruled out, and Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo due to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations next month, attention has been turning to who might replace them.

Amorim has not started a 'homegrown' player in the league this season. He was asked about 17-year-old forward Chido Obi, who made eight first-team appearances last term, and 18-year-old Shea Lacey, who has recovered from injury and has impressed at age group levels for club and country this season.

But he was also asked about the link between his senior squad and the club's academy.

"He [Chido] played last year, but I think it was too soon," said Amorim.

"We didn't have a team we could put a young kid of 16 into and him not struggle.

"He's one of the guys but he started too soon. Sometimes it's hard to deal with that, with the kids, because they think that 'I'm already here'. We need to be careful with that.

"I'm really happy with him [Lacey]. He struggled a little bit with injuries but they did a very good job balancing his body and you can sense he can manage more load during training.

"He has a lot of talent but when they come here they can sense the speed is completely different, so they need to spend more time with us to be prepared because our training is hard. In Premier League games the pressure is harder, so they need to be ready.

"When you call a kid up to the first team, they need to behave really well.

"This connection is really important. We are putting everything in place - a nutritionist for the academy starts now - in our club. That is something that should be basic.

"All these things we are doing, so I have more time with them and I'm more confident with them. When we put these kids in to play in the Premier League, they will struggle, but will struggle less I think."

You would be forgiven for thinking Manchester United have morphed into Real Madrid from the reaction to their recent results.

But, although all the excitement around them has been a bit over the top, they have definitely improved - and especially at home.

David Moyes will make things difficult for United on his return to Old Trafford and his side will be resilient as usual, but I don't think they will hold out.

If Everton had a goalscoring number nine then the outcome would be more in doubt, but I do not see them causing United problems at the other end of the pitch, either.

I am keeping Beto in my fantasy team, because you can guarantee that if I took him out he would start this game and score, but - with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha - United carry far more of a threat.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester United could offer Antoine Semenyo his preferred number 24 shirt in a bid to lure the 25-year-old Bournemouth and Ghana forward to Old Trafford during the January transfer window. (Manchester Evening News), external

Wolves boss Rob Edwards maintains there has been no official approach from United for £44m-rated Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes, 24. (Express, external)

Finally, the Red Devils want to keep Casemiro at the club by offering him a new contract, but they want the 33-year-old Brazil midfielder to accept a reduced salary as part of the extension. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We've mapped out the storyline of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's ultimately doomed spell in charge of Manchester United.

So now it's over to you. How do you rate his time as manager?

Choose here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After a sixth-place finish in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's initial season, United ended the next two full campaigns in third and second - the highest consecutive league positions since Ferguson retired. They reached five semi-finals out of six in cup competitions.

Crucially though, they did not win any. The nearest they came was losing on penalties to Villarreal in the 2021 Europa League final when goalkeeper David de Gea's missed spot-kick proved decisive.

The lack of silverware was a problem.

"It was like an albatross he carried," said an insider. "Particularly in the second full year, people kept saying 'will he win something?'"

Despite this, internally there was belief in Solskjaer and his team. In July 2021 he was given a contract extension to 2024. Woodward said the foundations were now in place "for long-term success".

Cristiano Ronaldo's return was added to the big-money arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane - and the Portugal superstar then scored twice on his second debut against Newcastle to send Manchester United top of the Premier League. The mood was euphoric.

It proved to be the ultimate false dawn.

BBC Sport has been told the United dressing room, almost exclusively, was thrilled by Ronaldo's arrival. Solskjaer felt the returning forward would set standards and show team-mates what was required to reach the top.

Ferguson wanted him. Woodward wanted him. The fans wanted him.

"The problem was the way Ole and Kieran McKenna set the team out - you couldn't carry too many players who didn't track back," said a dressing room source. "It needed legs - it needed press.

"The system had to change, which is fine to accommodate a big player, but Ole couldn't make it work. Ronaldo was effective but his arrival took something quite major out of a system he had been working on for two and a half years."

It unravelled in the space of six defeats in 11 games over two months, including that astonishing 5-1 home defeat by Liverpool. Losing at Watford - United conceded twice in stoppage time - proved to be the end.

There are those who think that was unfair.

As it turned out, first under the interim charge of Michael Carrick, then Ralf Rangnick, with the same group of players United won 10 and lost just two of their next 18 games.

Could Solskjaer have engineered that same turnaround in fortunes?

No-one will ever know. But, looking back, maybe his time in charge was not so bad after all.

Read Simon's full piece

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Manchester United's league positions since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 tell a stark story. From finishing seventh in the immediate aftermath of the legendary manager's departure to tumbling to 15th last season, the line on the graphic is as jagged as the club's search for stability.

Across that period, United have cycled through managers of contrasting philosophies, profiles and temperaments. David Moyes lasted less than a season. Louis van Gaal delivered an FA Cup but never convinced. Jose Mourinho brought trophies and turbulence in equal measure before his departure in December 2018, with United drifting and disconnected once more.

It was into this turbulent landscape that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward turned back to a familiar face. In the wake of Mourinho's dismissal during the 2018-19 season, he called Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back to the club he had served so memorably as a player and a coach with a simple brief - bring a smile back to Old Trafford.

He did it almost by instinct.

When Solskjaer walked back into the Carrington training ground he knew so well and where he was so popular, he headed straight to beloved receptionist Kath Phipps and gave her a hug and a kiss and some of her favourite chocolates.

The impact went further and deeper.

By nature, Solskjaer is a positive person.

"An optimist to the limit," said a former colleague. "He sees good in everything.

"It was tiny things, like saying 'good morning, how are you doing?' Being human basically. Everything had been on a downer and was very flat. People weren't being themselves. He opened the door and got them to smile again."

The general mood became lighter and more upbeat, helped by a sensational run of eight wins in a row at the start of his reign, which extended to 14 victories, two draws and one defeat in his first 17 games

Solskjaer, it is stressed, was not turning the club back to the Ferguson era. But he felt there were elements of the Scot's regime that could work in the modern era.

He was big on standards. Dress code on away trips was altered as blazers and ties returned. Carrington became more inclusive. Access to the club canteen was widened.

He led United to the Champions League quarter-finals, something they have only managed twice since they were beaten by Barcelona at Wembley in the 2011 final.

That helped him secure a three-year contract as permanent manager.

Read more here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United aim to continue their strong home form against an Everton side managed by former Red Devils boss David Moyes.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into Monday night's meeting at Old Trafford.

Home comforts

Manchester United return to Premier League football unbeaten in five matches and their home form has particularly impressed during the mini-revival under head coach Ruben Amorim.

The Red Devils have won all four Premier League home fixtures since a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season, scoring 11 goals in total, and they next face an Everton side who have won just one of their past 32 Premier League visits to Old Trafford.

United have clearly improved in recent weeks, an upward curve underlined by their current tendency to get into good positions during matches.

They have held the lead for a total of 496 minutes and five seconds in the Premier League this season in just 11 games – already 140 minutes and 25 seconds longer than in 27 matches under Amorim in 2024-25.

Jekyll-and-Hyde performances

United do, however, remain vulnerable because of an apparent inability to sustain performances over 90 minutes.

They have failed to 'win' a second half in the league this season, conceding a league-high 14 goals after half-time in comparison to just four before the break.

United's failure to last the distance across 90 minutes cannot be blamed on a congested programme.

With no European football this season, United will have played only 12 games by 23 November (the day before this game) - their fewest during this period of any season since 1904.

And yet the substitutes' bench has repeatedly failed to make an impact.

A resurgent Casemiro has completed 90 minutes just once in this campaign and his withdrawal often has a negative impact, while subs have collectively provided one assist and no goals in the Premier League so far this season.

Everton's woeful Old Trafford record

The net result is that Everton may make the short trip from Merseyside with hope of springing an upset, despite a wretched record at Old Trafford.

The Toffees have won just once at United in the Premier League in the past 32 years, a 1-0 triumph in 2013 under Roberto Martinez - during which current manager David Moyes was in the home dugout.

Moyes has never won in 17 attempts as a visiting manager to Old Trafford in the Premier League (D4, L13) and righting that awful run may well depend on his strikers finally finding a way to fire this season.

Young centre-forward Thierno Barry received a standing ovation for his efforts after being taken off in the second half of Everton's 2-0 win over Fulham before the international break, but the 23-year-old remains goalless in 11 Premier League outings.

Beto, Everton's other option at number nine, has scored once in 11 games in the league this season.

Creative Everton struggling to score

Such struggles in front of goal are not down to a lack of creativity.

On-loan winger Jack Grealish remains joint top of the Premier League's assist charts with four, despite the fact they all came in his first three top-flight appearances for Everton.

The 30-year-old has since created 19 chances in seven matches but, crucially, none of them have been taken.

Fellow winger Iliman Ndiaye has been equally creative, with the duo leading the Premier League for expected assists from open play this season.

If Everton's strikers can find their feet in front of goal, a rare win at Old Trafford may await.

If the visitors waste further chances, it is perhaps more likely that United's revival under Amorim continues to gather pace.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After two woeful seasons, optimism is growing around Old Trafford that United are moving in the right direction, yet it is only just over four years ago they finished second under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, scoring 73 goals, the most in a single campaign since Sir Alex Ferguson's era ended in 2013.

It leads to the question: is it time to reappraise Solskjaer's time as Manchester United boss? The topic feels relevant given that Friday marked four years since Solskjaer was sacked on 21 November 2021.

There is a narrative around Solskjaer that he was lucky to be appointed after Jose Mourinho's dismissal, that he should never have been given the permanent role and that his shortcomings were exposed after a terrible sequence of results.

But speaking to people involved in Solskjaer's appointment and dismissal, there is a more positive view.

"He is absolutely far better than many people give him credit for," said a source.

Solskjaer brought a smile back to Old Trafford, created a lighter mood, and delivered a sensational run of results at the start of his reign.

Against that backdrop, Solskjaer became permanent manager. His critics say this was a mistake, but those involved argue otherwise.

Read the full article here

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League will from next season move to a new system of Financial Fair Play (FFP) based on squad costs.

The clubs met in London on Friday to vote on three possible methods of replacing Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) got 14 votes in favour and six against, which is the minimum number that is required to exact a rule change.

Overall squad costs from next season will have to be limited to 85% of a club's revenue, although teams competing in Europe will have to adhere to Uefa's maximum of 70%.

Squad costs comprise player and manager wages, transfer fees and agents' fees.

Rules around sustainability, which set out a club's financial spending plans over the medium and long term, were passed unanimously.

Read more about the news and what it means here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has announced the start and end dates for the 2026-27 season.

The first round of fixtures will take place across the weekend of 22 August 2026 - a week later than previous seasons.

The later start allows rest time for players - 89 clear days from the end of this season, and 33 days from the 2026 World Cup final.

The Premier League said the delay was a "priority" for player welfare in an "increasingly congested global football calendar".

The final matches of the season will be played on Sunday, 30 May 2027, with all fixtures kicking off simultaneously as usual.

The season will end a week before the 2027 Champions League final, which will be on Saturday, 5 June.

There will be 33 weekend and five midweek fixtures - the same as the current season.

For the festive period, the Premier League have said no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours.

It has not been confirmed if there will be any fixtures on 24 December 2026.

However, as Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the Premier League has said there will be more matches scheduled than this season, when there is only one.