Manchester United

After Manchester United's disappointing defeat by Brentford, manager Ruben Amorim said: "I am never concerned about my job - I am not that kind of guy."

The Portuguese, 40, has been criticised for his stubbornness in sticking with his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation.

Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, ex-Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards said those tactics could lead to "his undoing".

Richards looked at the mid-game changes made by Amorim on the show and how they may have only made things more difficult for United at Brentford.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United youngster James Overy was an unused substitute in Australia's defeat to Italy in their opening game of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Overy was born in Perth, Western Australia but is also available to play for Scotland and has featured for them at Under-19 level.

The Scottish FA has been keen to get Overy to commit to them.

However, he was named in Australia's interim squad for the prestigious tournament in South America and has committed to the country of his birth.

The 17-year-old joined United in 2024 but spent eight months on the sidelines with injury.

He has made appearances at both Under-18 and Under-21 level for the club this season.

Wayne Rooney believes the soul has gone from his former club Manchester United and he has no faith in manager Ruben Amorim to turn things around.

United's record goalscorer said the club was "broken" on the latest edition of BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, and he goes to games "expecting" them to lose.

Manchester United's 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday meant they have collected 34 points from Amorim's 33 league games in charge and have still to win successive matches.

The club are said to remain supportive of their head coach despite the damaging loss which left them 14th in the Premier League table.

But Rooney added that some current players "don't deserve to wear the shirt", the side "needs a new engine" and supporters are "waiting for the club to crumble".

"I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion," said the former England striker, who won five league titles during 13 years at Old Trafford.

"Manager, players, whatever that is. Whatever it takes to get Manchester Untied back.

"I don't recognise the whole football club. I don't see players fighting, I don't see character, I don't see desire to win.

"I go to a game watching, expecting, here we go again - expecting the team to lose or maybe pick up a point.

"It's not even just results on the pitch. It's everything about the club that needs fixing - Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have walked into a real challenge.

"We're seeing staff members getting sacked after 20, 30 years who are very important people to that football club.

"The soul has gone from the club. It needs a new engine, a new lease of life. It needs something to kickstart that football club."

Listen to The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds

Manchester United are interested in signing Juventus' Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, 25, in the January transfer window. (Gazetta - in Italian), external

Former England manager Gareth Southgate is on a three-man shortlist to replace Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim if he is sacked. (Talksport), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt accepts Saturday's performance at Brentford was not good enough but said Ruben Amorim cannot shoulder the blame.

As the inquest began at the club's Carrington training ground on Sunday, the Netherlands international felt it would be unfair for the players not to take responsibility.

"It's always easy to look at the manager but in the end the players on the pitch have to do it," he said.

"The goals we conceded, the chances we conceded, are because of what? You guys [the media] always talk about the system, but it also has a lot to do with focus and concentration.

"If that's lacking in key moments, it is going to make a difference. When you're up against a Brentford team who play like they do, they will kill you."

Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday’s Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

For the second time this season, Bruno Fernandes failed to convert a penalty that might have given Manchester United additional reward.

He ballooned his effort over the crossbar at Fulham, but this time his aim was true. However, Caoimhin Kelleher read it and Brentford cleared.

There are complaints over whether Nathan Collins should have been sent off for his grab at Bryan Mbeumo - the Premier League backed up referee Craig Pawson as it felt Mbeumo did not have control of the ball - and the huge delay between the award of the penalty and it being taken hardly helped Fernandes.

However, United need to look at themselves.

Harry Maguire is always likely to try and play safe than engage in a one-on-one foot race, which is why he stepped up to play Igor Thiago offside as Jordan Henderson released his pass.

But the defender did not get his positioning right and he had no chance of making up ground as Thiago raced to the edge of the area before smashing his shot in.

Kevin Schade creating their second from a wide position was not a surprise. Brentford repeatedly tried to exploit the space left by United's wing-backs as they pushed forward.

Luke Shaw was fully extended, trying to cover the gaps on the left, and De Ligt tried to do the same on the right.

United did not have enough manpower though and again the focus for a damaging defeat will be on Ruben Amorim's refusal to change systems, as their winless away run was extended to eight league games - their longest since 2019.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has accused Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim of being "too stubborn", after the Red Devils fell to their third defeat in six Premier League games against Brentford.

"I think because Ruben Amorim is being so stubborn in what he is trying to do, it could be the undoing of him down the line," he told BBC Sport. "We can talk about the owners backing him, but ultimately it is just not working."

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole and former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch also had a few choice words for the players after the match.

"Brentford were best in every department," Cole said on TNT Sports. "As for Manchester United, it is abysmal. The whole culture of the club is insipid."

Crouch added: "Manchester United couldn't cope defensively. Brentford's centre-forward Thiago was causing them so many problems, the centre-backs got bullied at times.

"They didn't have enough going forward. It didn't feel like they were creating much and they had a really bad day at the office, again."

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim spoke to TNT Sports after his side slipped to a defeat at Brentford: "Of course we want to win. We didn't control the game. We played the Brentford's game - first balls, second balls, set pieces. All of the crucial moments were against us.

"It's tough to lose again, but we need to think about the next game.

"The first goal was a long ball. We worked on that in the week and we worked on set pieces. We knew the long balls [were going to come], but one touch and they had the opportunity. We need to do better.

"We didn't play our game. We had control for some moments, but it was more or less all the same. We need to play our game, not the opponents', but they were stronger on that."

On the pressure of the job after another defeat: "It is always the same to lose at this club, it hurts a lot. We need to think about the next game now."

Did you know?

• Since Ruben Amorim's first game in charge in November 2024, no team has conceded the first goal in more different Premier League games than Manchester United (21).

• Bruno Fernandes has missed two of his three penalties for Manchester United in all competitions this season, having scored each of his previous 11 spot kicks.

Hear more from Amorim on BBC Sounds

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

Have your say on Brentford's performance

What did you make of United's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Club record signing Dango Ouatarra returns to the Brentford side as Keith Andrews' men look to win only their second game of the season.

Aaron Hickey is also included as Keane Lewis-Potter and Ethan Pinnock drop to the bench as Andrews looks to halt Brentford's worst start to a Premier League campaign.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Hickey, Yarmoliuk, Henderson, Damsgaard, Ouatarra, Igor Thiago, Schade

Substitutes: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Henry, Lewis-Potter, Milambo, Janelt, Jensen, Onyeka, Ajer

Matheus Cunha, Diogo Dalot and Manuel Ugarte all return for Manchester United, who are trying to win a second consecutive Premier League game for the first time under Ruben Amorim.

Amad has been ruled out due to a family bereavement, Casemiro is suspended and Noussair Mazraoui is injured.

It is the first time Cunha has started along with Benjamin Sesko and former Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo in attack.

Manchester United XI: Bayindir, De Ligt, Maguire, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko

Substitutes: Lammens, Heaton, Fredricson, Heaven, Mainoo, Mount, Yoro, Zirkzee, Leon

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brentford v Manchester United (12:30)

• Chelsea v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leeds United v Bournemouth

• Manchester City v Burnley

• Nottingham Forest v Sunderland (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Wolves (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Sunderland", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Even head coach Ruben Amorim accepts winning consecutive Premier League games should not be a big deal for Manchester United.

Incredibly, it is not something he has experienced in 32 games at the helm.

United have not won two league games in a row since they followed up a victory at Brighton in the final game of the 2023-24 campaign by beating Fulham on the first day of last season.

That formed part of a three-match run of victories that represents the only time United have won more than one league match in succession since 18 February 2024 - over 19 months ago.

It is an astonishing statistic.

Little wonder Amorim thinks achieving it following up the 2-1 victory over Chelsea by beating another west London side, Brentford, at Gtech Community Stadium can act as a pressure release for his players.

"I know that for people outside the club it is not a big thing - it should not be a big thing in Manchester United - but I think it's going to help us a lot," said Amorim.

"It's not about playing well. It's about the way we are going to do the warm-up and the preparation, and if we are excited to go to the game - like we are sometimes when we are at the limit and we have to win some games.

"I have always had the feeling it's going to be massive for us. It's massive to win this game."

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United travel to Brentford aiming to win back-to-back league games for the first time under head coach Ruben Amorim. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before Saturday's lunchtime match.

Brentford continue to experience growing pains under rookie manager Keith Andews, with last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Fulham leaving them one point and one place above the relegation zone. They have already conceded 10 Premier League goals this term, which is the third highest total in the top flight and the most by the Bees at this stage of a league season since 2003.

After the loss at Craven Cottage, Andrews said his side need to improve their game management, pinpointing the concession of two quickfire goals before half-time as the turning point. He admitted lessons will have to be learned, adding: "It's a young squad and we need to analyse that period."

However, Brentford's inability to hang on to a lead is in danger of becoming an Achilles heel. They have dropped a league-high eight points from winning positions in the current campaign, scoring first in four of their five matches but winning only once.

With just four points on the board and 10 goals conceded, the Bees have made their worst start to a Premier League season. They will hope to kick-start their campaign with back-to-back home fixtures against the league's two Manchester clubs.

'Complicated' United back to winning ways

Manchester United rebounded from a sobering defeat against neighbours Manchester City by beating Chelsea 2-1 last weekend in a match both sides finished with 10 men. Casemiro's sending off in first-half injury time gave the Blues hope of a comeback and Amorim conceded afterwards his team need to stop making life needlessly "complicated".

While lapses of concentration are a recurring issue, Amorim can at least take heart from United's improved attacking displays.

The Red Devils have attempted 81 Premier League shots this term, more than any other side (Brentford rank last with 41). They average 16.2 shots per game in the current campaign, up from 13.9 under Amorim last season, while their expected goals figure has risen from 1.33 per game to 2.03.

However, supporters have yet to see the best of new striker Benjamin Sesko, who has had a quite start to life at Old Trafford following his £66.3m move from RB Leipzig. He has managed just one shot on target and eight touches in the opposition box in 205 minutes of Premier League action.

Brentford beat Manchester United 4-3 in this fixture last season, but that was a different Brentford - with Thomas Frank their manager and Bryan Mbeumo playing for them, not for United.

The Bees are a difficult team to predict now because Keith Andrews has had some mixed results since taking charge - they ended up being out-played by Fulham last week, but they are still unbeaten at home.

I am not sure what we will see from Ruben Amorim's side, either.

Robbie Savage was telling me on 606 that United have got the best xG (expected goals) in the Premier League, which suggests they have under-achieved so far.

I can see this being quite a tight game and while I didn't go for any draws at all last week - I got a bit complacent because I was finding it so easy to beat AI and decided I would pick a winner in every game - I am going to start with one this time.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

We have had questions in via our 'Ask about Manchester United' form about whether Manchester United's board and head coach Ruben Amorim regret not finding a place in the squad for Marcus Rashford.

The answer is no, I don't get the sense they do. I realise his form so far for Barcelona has been really good - one missed meeting aside - but United just do not believe Rashford would perform like that for them.

I got the definite impression from Amorim that he wanted to move on from Rashford and, in fairness to the people around the player, I think he accepted he needed to be re-energised by a fresh challenge, which gives him a shot at making the England World Cup squad.

Everyone knows how good Rashford can be, but it had been a long time since he had performed to anything like that level at United - even if I don't agree with Paul Scholes' stinging criticism earlier this week.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

Find out more here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Plenty has been said about Manchester United's transfer business in recent seasons, not much of it positive.

Clearly when they are spending upwards of £200m every summer, they need to start getting more deals right than wrong if they are to start climbing the Premier League in any meaningful sense.

To that end, Bryan Mbeumo's arrival feels like a positive.

He is not the loudest or demonstrative individual, certainly compared to fellow new arrival Matheus Cunha.

However, there is a quiet authority about Mbeumo. Ahead of the striker's return to Brentford, United head coach Ruben Amorim spoke about the "light" he brings to the dressing room.

That focus is going to be crucial in the weeks that lie ahead.

Two goals in six games does not represent a prolific start to Mbeumo's United career.

However, his contribution extends much further. If his first couple of months at the club are any guide, the £71m they might eventually end up paying for him will be money very well spent indeed.