Manchester United

Alex Turk
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It is a tale as old as time when it comes to the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United.

A golden opportunity to establish themselves in the Champions League conversation arises. Other clubs are dropping points left, right and centre.

What happens next is depressingly predictable...

United's current fixture schedule is apparently the 'easiest' among Premier League clubs.

The truth is, the concept of a straightforward task doesn't exist any more. Monday's embarrassment against Everton confirmed that.

I'm not here to provide a match report, though. No-one needs that. Let's lament one of Ruben Amorim's biggest problems that isn't going away.

United cannot win football matches when they have more of the ball. They were incapable of breaking down defences last season and that hasn't changed.

Idrissa Gueye's bizarre early red card actually worked against United for that reason. If it wasn't a 1-0 defeat, it would have been a 0-0 draw.

A David Moyes low block with talented forwards playing on the break is Amorim's worst nightmare.

And he didn't help himself. Two full-backs at wing-back at home against Everton? Really?

His decision to stick with what wasn't working when it became 11 vs 10 spun heads in the Stretford End.

Patrick Dorgu doesn't have the final-third quality required yet and Noussair Mazraoui isn't an attacking player - and nor were the goalkeeper, three centre-backs and defensive midfielder that made up 64% of United's team.

Mason Mount should have replaced Mazraoui before Gueye reached the dressing room, not at half-time.

As every minute passed, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko's absences were felt even harder.

United's upcoming fixtures are far from favourable, and Afcon will soon snatch Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, two of Amorim's few players who can create moments of magic.

Another woeful winter could be on the agenda.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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Manchester United went into the game against Everton unbeaten in five matches, but that mini-revival came to a juddering halt as they set an unwanted new record.

It is the first time the Red Devils have lost a Premier League home game despite their opponents having a player sent off. United had won 36 and drawn 10 of 46 previous such fixtures.

It is all the more damning that Idrissa Gueye's red card came so early in the match – Ruben Amorim's side had an extra man for 77 minutes but failed to make it count.

But credit is also due to the Merseysiders for making light of their numerical disadvantage. It is the first time they have won a top-flight game after having a player dismissed in the opening 45 minutes since August 2006.

David Moyes was also the manager for that game, a 2-0 victory at Tottenham in which Kevin Kilbane was given his marching orders in the 33rd minute.

We asked for your views on Manchester United 1-0 defeat to Everton in Monday's Premier League game.

Jonathan: Is Amorim the most stubborn manager ever in the Premier League? He refuses to take any accountability for his negative approach to the game and substitutes which contributed to an embarrassing defeat!

Mel: As a Manchester United fan I am sadly not surprised at what is happening here. These players do not deserve to wear the United shirts - no effort tonight whatsoever. A disgrace.

Rod: Time for a change of manager again. To play five at the back against 10 men when chasing a game is ridiculous!

Harry: I will say Amorim bears some responsibility here, but it has to be noted that you absolutely cannot have all those shots and possession and fail to convert. With all that considered I don't think we can gloss over how absolutely abysmal the players were in front of goal.

Sam: United were so poor tonight. Not enough attacking opportunities created. Moving the ball slowly and sideways against 10 men shows the lack of confidence and creativity. Just lofting the ball in the box is not tactical at this level.

Bogdan: United seem to simply be sticking because they are so scared of twisting. I think last season was the first time we saw them permanently drop a level, until then they were usually in the Champions League/ Europa League every year.

Gary: No excuse for the poor performance from the United team. We had no urgency in the game, no running at the defenders, in fact no running. You would have never seen that being allowed by Sir Alex Ferguson. Amorim is out of his depth, time for him to go!

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Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt says "it is really important to bounce back" from their defeat and flat performance against 10-man Everton when they travel to face Crystal Palace on Saturday.

United dominated possession and the shot count, but other than one outstanding save from Jordan Pickford, the Everton keeper was otherwise not tested.

"A really bad night for us, especially the way we played against 10 men," said De Ligt. "We conceded one goal, we didn't create a lot of chances.

"Overall, just a really bad performance.

"The next game, obviously, is really important now. We have to bounce back from this performance.

"We had some good performances over the last couple of weeks, and now we had a bad one.

"Now, it's for us to come back, to stay together and to make clear what has to be better.

"We lacked maybe the urgency to score the goals, to create the chances - and then you know against a team like Everton, who drop back and are really strong in the air, it's going to be quite difficult.

"That basically sums up the night."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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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.

Brazil forward Vinicius Junior, 25, has told Real Madrid he does not intend to renew his contract which expires in the summer of 2027, because of a strained relationship with manager Xabi Alonso. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Manchester United, Liverpool and several other Premier League clubs are keeping a keen eye on Vinicius' situation. (Mirror), external

Meanwhile, Wolves and Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes, 24, has had his head turned by Manchester United's interest in him and would be keen on a January move. (Teamtalk), external

And finally, United and Chelsea have both scouted RB Leipzig and Germany midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, 19. (Sky Sports Germany - in German), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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."

• Hear more from Amorim on BBC Sounds

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

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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