Manchester United

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week three, he takes on MOBO Award-winning drum & bass legend and producer Adam F, who is a Liverpool fan.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Manchester United got the better of Liverpool on a couple of occasions last year. They won in the FA Cup and you're sort of scratching your head about how they won that particualar one.

Liverpool under Arne Slot are not so sort of heavy metal.

Whatever I predict about Manchester United I get them wrong, I'm just resigned to the fact I cannot predict a Manchester United result.

I'm going to say Liverpool to beat them.

Adam F's prediction: 1-2

We drew 2-2 here in April last season, on a day when everything went wrong for us but I think we will get the job done this time.

Read the full predictions and have your say

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Former Premier League midfielder Kevin Nolan speaking about Marcus Rashford on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think there's a weight on his shoulders. Every time he does something wrong, every time he doesn't get that shot on target, it's like it's the worst thing in the world.

"He's a top talent, but when you've had a year like you've had, and then this year you start off and there's a lot of people doubting you - it's hard. I think he's got to go back to the drawing board, the basics, and go from there because for me - he's not where he was two years ago."

Listen to more from Nolan on Premier League transfers here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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For Manchester United, Jadon Sancho's move to Chelsea represents the best way out of a bad situation.

Sporting director Dan Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada have had to navigate their way out of major problem not of their making.

Sancho had already fallen out with Erik ten Hag when the trio of senior figures were installed. The uneasy truce negotiated to get Sancho back for pre-season training and onto the club’s tour of the United States was a temporary state that allowed him to retain his fitness, making it easier to find an alternative club to continue his career.

The reality is even before his very public bust-up with his manager, Sancho promised far more than he delivered for the Old Trafford club.

United are trying to create a new reality and the emergence of Alejandro Garnacho last season and Amad Diallo at the start of this one has given Ten Hag other options for the wide positions, even without including Marcus Rashford and Antony.

It is a pity for everyone the move did not work. Given all that has happened, this solution is not great. But it is the best way out.

It is worth thinking about the players who have left Manchester United since the end of last season.

Alvaro Fernandez, Mason Greenwood, Hannibal, Willy Kambwala, Scott McTominay, Maxi Oyedele, Facundo Pellistri, Donny van de Beek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial.

There is sadness at McTominay's exit, the obvious cloud that surrounded Greenwood and disappointment Varane couldn't stay fit for long spells but apart from that, can anyone truly argue those players were of the standard required to take United back to where they wanted to go?

They still have some way to go - and a number of players who are not good enough. But you do start to get the feeling there is a focus at Old Trafford that has been missing for too long.

Where it will take them? I am not sure but in terms of player sales, United have had a good window.

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham and Man City midfielder on BBC Football News Show

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The midfield has been an area for some time that Manchester United have been lacking, but only time will tell if the business they have done will prove to be an upgrade.

We have seen a bit of imbalance in that area, particularly with not having a number nine at the top end of the pitch and using false nines.

It is a bit more solid but, from there on, they need more legs.

Manuel Ugarte coming in alongside Kobbie Mainoo will add that balance, but there is some work to do for them to get right back to the top.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

We are getting to the point where it would be a surprise if Jadon Sancho didn't move to Chelsea.

Talks have progressed so far, even to the extent of the kind of fee that will be paid at the end of a season-long loan.

It is hard to imagine the transfer not going through now.

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Manuel Ugarte says he will "sacrifice and give everything" after completing his move to Manchester United.

The 23-year-old Uruguay international has signed a contract until June 2029, with the option to extend for a further year.

The fee is 50m euros (£42m) and 10m euros (£8m) in add-ons, with Paris St-Germain holding a 10% sell-on clause.

Sporting director Dan Ashworth said Ugarte was one of the club's "primary targets" and is "among the very best ball-winning midfield players in the world".

Speaking after joining the Old Trafford club, Ugarte said: "It is an incredible feeling to join a club of this magnitude; one that is admired all around the world.

"The project that the football leadership discussed with me is extremely exciting. Manchester United is an ambitious club and I'm an ambitious player.

"The passion of supporters is something that is very important to me. I know how incredible United fans are and I cannot wait to experience Old Trafford.

"I'm someone who is so determined to succeed. I will sacrifice and give everything for my teammates. Together we will fight to win trophies and reach the level where this club needs to be."

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Scott McTominay has sent an emotional farewell message to Manchester United supporters following his departure from the club.

The academy graduate spent 22 years at Old Trafford, rising through the academy ranks, after joining the Red Devils as a five-year-old.

"Whenever my career is done, I will look back at this stage of my career with Manchester United," he told the club. "I have been here since I was five-years-old, so it will be with great gratitude.

"I have got so much love for this football club and I'm just so happy that I got to experience some of the history and be a part of that as a young player coming through.

"I wanted to send the fans a message to just send my love. I've absolutely loved every minute of being at this football club. I'm just so grateful and thankful for the players, the coaching staff, the managers and all the fans. I would not be in this position if it wasn't for them and my family.

"I'm going on to another stage in my career now in Italy and I'm really looking forward to relishing that. There is a different journey that I'm going to embrace and take head on.

"If you had said to me seven years ago, coming into the first team, that I would be in this position today and have my family experience some of the things they have - I would have snapped your hand off. I would have absolutely loved it.

"I'm ready for a new challenge. I'm ready to go and embrace it and take it by storm.

"I will be following the team for sure - always. I want to see the club win. I want to see us doing really well. I will be watching as well. Thank you for having me, I have enjoyed every minute."

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Michael Brown thinks after everything Scott McTominay has been poorly treated by Manchester United.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Manchester City midfielder Brown said: "I think Erik ten Hag was talking a load of rubbish when he said he was disappointed at Scott McTominay's departure.

"McTominay has given everything to Manchester United and whenever there has been a chance to leave him out, Ten Hag has.

"He keeps getting treated like the homegrown player rather than the player he is. The manager has not treated him right.

"I get certain other players have to play at times - but McTominay has not been treated right."

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Manchester United have signed Mali youth international Sekou Kone, 18, from Guidars FC.

The club has said the midfielder "will initially be supported by United's academy in order to help him settle into life in Manchester".

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Manchester United teenager Sonny Aljofree has completed a season-long loan move to League Two side Accrington Stanley.

It is the 19-year-old's second spell away from the club, having had a short stint at Altrincham last campaign.

The defender has been a regular at youth level in recent seasons and captained the under-21s in their opening Premier League 2 fixtures.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Despite Erik ten Hag's comments earlier, I am told Jadon Sancho's situation is regarded as "ongoing".

Manchester United have been looking to do a deal for the England winger all summer.

It appears Sancho's future will not be resolved until much later this evening - and we could be in the dreaded deal sheet scenario, where clubs are given additional time to complete transfers if an intention to do so has been lodged with the relevant association.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder and Planet Premier League pundit Cesc Fabregas believes the transfer window should close before the season begins.

Listen to the Planet Premier League podcast on BBC Sounds

Joe Nelson
BBC Sport journalist

Erik ten Hag has been speaking to the media before Sunday's match against Liverpool (16:00 BST).

Unsurprisingly, on transfer deadline day, the key lines from his news conference were to do with incomings and outgoings at the club:

• Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount are both ruled out of Sunday's match: "[Hojlund will be back] after the international break but when after the break? We will see how it develops during the break to get him match fit. It will take a while before he is up. He has to build some fitness."

• The United boss is not happy to lose midfielder Scott McTominay to Napoli, but understands why the sale is being made: "I'm happy for him but [my feelings are] mixed because I would prefer not to lose him. He is Manchester United in every way. Unfortunately it is the rules. You have to do sales and then homegrown players bring more value."

• Winger Jadon Sancho is expected to stay at the club beyond Friday's deadline: "He is in our squad and we are happy with him. We need a good squad, we need depth. We have to play many games until January. After the break we play every third day so we need options."

• Ten Hag believes midfielder Manuel Ugarte, whose signing is yet to be announced, will give the Reds more balance: "We had three number 10s. We didn’t have any more holding midfielders - we had one. So that is the idea behind [signing him]."

• The United manager relishes the challenge of building a team for the future: "I knew this was the most difficult job I would ever do in life, come in a club with a lot of problems I had to sort. We inherited a history - six years, no trophies - that meant the qualities were not right. We had to build and construct and bring up to a higher level. We did that with transfers and also bringing academy players into the team. We are in a cycle from the start - we have young players and have to make a team from it. Now we have to make a team for the future."

Follow all of Friday's transfer updates and news conferences

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Manchester United's Europa League draw is complete - Erik ten Hag's side finally know which clubs they will meet in the new league format.

As a reminder, all of the teams that have qualified for the Europa League this year will be in one league phase, rather than the past format of four-team group stages.

United will face: Rangers (H), Porto (A), PAOK (H), Fenerbahce (A), Bodo/Glimt (H), Viktoria Plzen (A), Twente (H), FCSB (A).

The order in which those fixtures will take place will be announced by Uefa on Saturday.

Europa League League phase fixtures:

Matchday 1: 25/26 September 2024

Matchday 2: 3 October 2024

Matchday 3: 24 October 2024

Matchday 4: 7 November 2024

Matchday 5: 28 November 2024

Matchday 6: 12 December 2024

Matchday 7: 23 January 2025

Matchday 8: 30 January 2025

See how the rest of the draw panned out

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Manchester United goalkeeper Elyh Harrison is set to spend the season with National League North side Chester.

A club statement said that the 18-year-old, who signed from Stevenage in 2022, is "likely to still spend some time at Carrington training with Manchester United, in addition to representing Chester as he furthers his education between the posts".

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Amid the transfer window mayhem, Erik ten Hag has a news conference later to look ahead to Sunday's high-profile clash with Liverpool.

We still have not had confirmation of Scott McTominay's move to Napoli and Manuel Ugarte's switch to United from Pris St-Germain.

Ten Hag tends to hide behind a bland "we'll say something when we can" when asked about transfers. I would expect the same will apply to Jadon Sancho and his future.

The United boss may talk about Mason Mount's latest injury though - and also when Luke Shaw is likely to return.

And Liverpool also means a meeting with fellow countryman and Premier League new boy Arne Slot, whose side are yet to drop a point or concede a goal.

Come back to this page later for all the key lines from Ten Hag

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Italian football expert James Horncastle says Scott McTominay will enjoy life when results are going well at Napoli and will fit an Antonio Conte system.

McTominay was welcomed by fans in Naples on Thursday as he edged closer to completing to a move from Manchester United to the Serie A side.

"The reception that McTominay got was much bigger than the one that [Romelu] Lukaku got from the Napoli fans," Horncastle told the Football Daily Euro Leagues podcast.

"Naples is a place where you are made to feel very loved. When things are going well, life in Naples is fantastic - but when it's not going well, like it was last year, you can't go out.

"It's interesting because Conte clearly really wanted him and they paid £30m for him. This is the summer where Manchester United have suddenly decided they know how to sell players, which was a real weakness of theirs.

"Conte clearly sees him as someone who can give their midfield some box-to-box presence.

"McTominay scored seven goals in the league last season and Conte has always liked players who can get into the box and make those third-man runs, as well as having that athleticism and physicality to play at the intensity he wants."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds