Cesc Fabregas has questioned Erik ten Hag’s tactics at Man Utd as he insists “at least you saw a plan” under previous boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Red Devils had a poor first half of the season with Ten Hag’s side finishing bottom of their Champions League group and struggling to find consistency in the Premier League.
But they have turned a corner in terms of results in the new year with Man Utd winning seven of their last nine matches in all competitions.
Man Utd are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and in contention for Champions League qualification via the league – but they need to make up eight points on fourth-placed Aston Villa.
However, Jamie Carragher and other pundits have criticised their recent performances despite their good results and former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Fabregas thinks Ten Hag’s side lack a “plan”.
Speaking to the Planet Premier League podcast, Fabregas said: “I have to say, with Ole, there were some good big games. He used to have a structure, they had a plan. At least you saw a plan which was to defend well and have great breaks and counter-attacks.
READ MORE: Big Weekend: Manchester derby, depleted Liverpool, Thomas Partey, Chelsea
Related video: ManchesterWorld Q&A: Derby preview and a look at Erik ten Hag’s pressurised situation as United boss (Dailymotion)

“This is exactly what Man United don’t have at the moment, it’s not good to analyse only one game, but I have the perception Man City are still very strong but with Man United, I don’t have the perception that they are a solid team at the moment.
“Looking carefully at the counters that Fulham did to them and the way they were done, this makes the alarm bells go. It cannot happen that a top, top team gets done on counters so many times in one half or over 60 minutes.
“This shows they are lacking something, I don’t know if it’s a gameplan, I don’t know if it’s structure, I don’t know if it’s a message, but definitely if this happened to my team there would be a lot of alarm bells.”
Man Utd, who face Man City in the Manchester derby on Sunday, bounced back from their only defeat this year against Fulham by beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the FA Cup earlier this week and Ten Hag doesn’t share Fabregas’ view.
Ten Hag said: “From January on we were in a positive trend and we played very good games and were progressing. We weren’t perfect still, but you saw the potential and we were winning games.”

Souness slams ‘lazy and dishonest’ Man Utd flop Pogba as he claims he was right about the midfielder

Graeme Souness insists that it was “only sadness” that he has felt this week after former Man Utd midfielder Paul Pogba was banned from football for four years.
The former Manchester United player was on Thursday handed a four-year ban for a doping offence, according to reports in Italy.
The 30-year-old was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone following Juve’s Serie A match with Udinese on August 20, where he was an unused substitute.
And, after the failed test was confirmed by Italian anti-doping body Nado in a second sample in October, the four-year suspension requested by the prosecutor’s office has now reportedly been granted.
Pogba has responded by issuing a statement on social media saying he has “never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations”.
He also said he will be lodging an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the ban.
READ MORE: Klopp, Guardiola would struggle to do better than Erik Ten Hag at ‘broken’ Man Utd
Souness was one of Pogba’s greatest critics during his time in the Premier League at Man Utd but the Liverpool legend insists he takes no pleasure in seeing the World Cup winner wasting his career.
Related video: French Footballer Paul Pogba Banned For 4 Years On Doping Charges (Moneycontrol)

“I criticised Paul Pogba often during his career and some people seemed to take amusement from it,” Souness told the Daily Mail.
“But it was only sadness that I felt this week, when I learned that he has been banned from football for four years, for a doping offence.
“For me, there really was never any doubt about Pogba’s ability. What I saw in him was a player with great technical ability and physique who had the potential to be one of the best midfield players our sport had ever known.
“It was his lack of honesty and poor effort levels which always frustrated me. Frankly, he was lazy.
“Someone with the extreme talent he possessed should perform in a way which means he is remembered as one of the best players in the world, long after has left the stage.
“Instead, he wasted his career. Having won the World Cup with France in Russia, in 2018, he allowed himself to get into his armchair and was never fully committed to the cause of being a team player.

“I criticised him to such a substantial degree – and take no satisfaction from saying I was proved right – because I could see that huge potential. I saw the kind of player he could become.
“It’s sad to hear that the drugs test found elevated levels of testosterone in his system. As if he didn’t have enough athleticism. A drug like that would make him more powerful, with higher energy levels and it would also make him an angrier person to be around.
“He is 30-years-old and we won’t see him at an elite level again. A desperately sad ending to the career of someone who had the world at his feet and might still have been talked about, 20, 30 or 40 years from now.”

Chelsea’s highly-valued player, worth £50 million, expresses a strong desire to remain with the club despite attracting attention from fellow Premier League competitors.

Conor Gallagher expresses his desire to remain at Chelsea this summer amidst interest from various Premier League clubs. Despite not yet signing an extension, Gallagher’s commitment to the club is evident, with his current contract set to expire in 2025.
Having emerged as one of Chelsea’s standout performers this season, Gallagher has played a pivotal role under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, even assuming the captain’s role in Reece James’ absence.
With 24 Premier League starts under his belt, Gallagher has contributed significantly with two goals and four assists. His impact extends to cup competitions as well, where he has notched two goals and two assists each in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.
Conor Gallagher (Credits: Goal.com)
© Provided by Sports AlDente
Despite ongoing contract negotiations hitting a snag as Gallagher approaches the final year of his deal, the English midfielder remains focused on prolonging his stay at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham Hotspur, among other Premier League clubs, has shown interest in acquiring his services, but Gallagher’s allegiance lies with Chelsea.
image

While Chelsea faces a dilemma between retaining Gallagher or entertaining potential offers, financial considerations, including compliance with the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules, could influence their decision-making process.
Should Chelsea opt to part ways with Gallagher, they are reportedly seeking around £50 million for the talented midfielder in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Related video: Chelsea players have learned to understand each other, says Pochettino (The Independent)

Tottenham in Champions League driving seat – barring any dodgy lasagne

It is almost 20 years since Tottenham Hotspur last played so few games, when the club narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Champions League on the final day of the season in what became known as ‘Lasagnegate’.
Tottenham played 40 games in that 2005/06 campaign and only needed to match Arsenal’s result on the last day to clinch Champions League qualification. But, after sickness swept through the team which may or may not have been the fault of a lasagne, they lost at West Ham United and missed out.

Fast-forward 18 years and Spurs are in a Champions League qualification battle with Aston Villa and Manchester United, with the three teams battling it out for fourth place, although fifth could also be enough. At least one of them will fail.
It may be Villa currently in fourth, but Tottenham, in many people’s eyes, have a an advantage which is neatly summed up by the fact Ange Postecoglou’s side entertain Crystal Palace on Saturday on the back of a two-week break and then travel to Villa three days after the Midlands side will have played away at Ajax in the last-16 of the Europa Conference League.
Tottenham lost out on Champions League qualification when in the box seat on the final day of the 2005-06 season after some of their squad succumbed to food poisoning - Hugo Philpott/ EPA
© Provided by The Telegraph
While Villa will play a minimum of 52 matches this season, Tottenham – who have a game in hand in the League – are guaranteed to play just 41, which is less than the entirety of the top flight apart from Sheffield United, who will finish on the same number. The fact Spurs did not qualify for Europe and played just three times in the cups this season has left Postecoglou’s side with preparation time and a run-in his rivals would dream of, although a tough run of games in April and May awaits.
Related video: Tottenham fans! Stop the Ange-Ball slander! (Homestand Sports)

I hate the angball slander and the best part is

United, who started the season in the Champions League and are still in the FA Cup this season, will play at least 50 games and Wolves – who will play 47 if they reach the cup final – are the only team other than Spurs currently in the top half of the table who will finish on less than 50.
Postecoglou, though, insists he would much prefer his team to be playing more games, having been used to a packed schedule while he was in charge of Celtic.
“I think, for us, a club who wants to compete at the highest level against the best, you need a strong squad and to have a strong squad you need consistent games and consistent game time and opportunities,” said Tottenham head coach Postecoglou.
“At the moment, if we get an injury then we’re liable to throw in somebody who hasn’t played for four or five weeks. It’s not easy on that player, whereas if you’ve got games, there’s a natural rotation that you need to make all the time and also gives you a little bit of rhythm.

“I had the other extreme of 60-plus games at Celtic, but I found that a lot easier to manage than having less games or having a disrupted season like we’ve had this year. I don’t think there’s an advantage or disadvantage, it depends how you use that time. If you ask me would I rather be in Europe? Absolutely, 1,000 per cent I’d rather be in Europe at this time playing games.”
Taking Spurs into the Champions League would be a great achievement for Ange Postecoglou - Shutterstock/Vince Mignott
© Provided by The Telegraph
Tottenham, Villa and United must all still play title contenders Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, with Postecoglou’s team currently scheduled to face all three in successive games, as well as still having to travel to London rivals West Ham United and Chelsea. Like United, seven of Spurs’ remaining games are against teams currently in the bottom half of the table, in comparison to Villa’s five and all three teams still have six home games left to go.

Despite their relatively light schedule, Tottenham have suffered with injuries this season. Latest figures show Postecoglou’s team have been hit by 27 injuries, three more than Villa and one less than United. Richarlison is now out for three to four weeks, but Tottenham’s injury problems are easing, while Villa recently saw midfielder Boubacar Kamara suffer a season-ending injury and United may have lost Luke Shaw for the remainder of the campaign.
Given it could easily be another 20 years or so until they play so few games again, Tottenham must grasp their big Champions League chance – and avoid any lasagne along the way.
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Liverpool: Alonso makes two transfer demands as timeline is revealed; Dalglish issues Man Utd warning

Xabi Alonso wants Liverpool to make two signings after holding ‘positive talks’ over a move to Anfield, according to reports.
The Reds are on the lookout for a new manager after Jurgen Klopp announced in January that he will be stepping down at the end of the season.
That has led to numerous managers being linked as the German’s successor with Alonso, Roberto de Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel and others all mentioned.

But Alonso has emerged as the favourite to take over from Klopp with the former Liverpool midfielder impressing as Bayer Leverkusen boss this campaign.
The Spaniard has led unbeaten Leverkusen to top spot in the Bundesliga with Alonso’s side currently eight points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich after 23 matches.
That has alerted club’s around Europe to his ability with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also taking an interest, according to recent speculation.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s journey in Klopp’s final season means more than the destination…
And now TEAMtalk have reported that Alonso has been offered a three-year contract by Liverpool after ‘positive talks’ with the Spaniard’s preference to join the Reds over Bayern Munich.
Alonso would like to bring Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and right-back Jeremie Frimpong with him to Anfield if the move goes ahead in the summer.
Related video: Nuno previews Forest - Liverpool as he waits on injured players to return (Dailymotion)

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has had enough of hearing “how can you follow Klopp?” and thinks the role of the German’s successor is “a great job to take on”.
“It is very negative to say, ‘how can you follow Klopp?’ Whoever takes over from him just needs to be themselves,” Dalglish said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“They’ll already have 90 per cent of the ingredients for success at their hands so if they don’t want to come in and give it a good go then they’ll have made the wrong decision.
“If they believe in themselves and trust what they have at their disposal, I think it is a great job to take on. You can’t think about trying to emulate Jurgen Klopp, you have to be yourself. I don’t know where they’ll go with the new manager but they won’t get somebody like Klopp.
“The relationship he has with the fans is so important and if the next guy can build the same relationship, then he’s off to a great start. I’d like to see the new manager be somebody who knows what Liverpool is all about.”


Dalglish reckons Liverpool should appoint a manager before a sporting director to make sure Klopp’s successor is happy to work with them.
“Clubs go about the sporting director situation in different ways. Sometimes they bring them in before they bring in a manager, but that is not for me. I would do things the other way round,” Dalgish added.
“Just look at what is happening at Manchester United. They’re bringing a sporting director in now and I wonder whether they’ve actually consulted with Erik ten Hag. Is he really happy to work with him? If I was Ten Hag and they’d brought in a sporting director that I wasn’t happy with, I’d be booking my flight home.
“If the sporting director interferes too much and starts trying to do everyone else’s job as well as his own then you won’t be successful. That’s when you get internal strife.”

The 5 games Liverpool must win to lift the 2023-24 Premier League title

The final three months of the Premier League season have arrived with Liverpool narrowly ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table – but which of their remaining fixtures look like defining their chances of silverware?
Jurgen Klopp’s side have performed above expectations throughout the campaign, after only finishing fifth in 2022-23, and now have the added motivation of marking their inspirational manager’s final year at the club with major silverware.

We’ve identified five matches that may define whether the Reds win the Premier League title for the first time since 2019-20.

10th March – Manchester City (H) 

The big one.
City don’t have the best record at Anfield – they’ve only won once at Liverpool since May 2003 – and face Arsenal shortly afterwards. Lose here and the reigning champions will relinquish their status as title favourites.
Liverpool earned a 1-1 draw at the Etihad in November and, given the early scheduling of the fixture and the sheer tightness of the three-way race for the title, we wouldn’t be surprised if this also ended in a draw.

7th April – Manchester United (A)

Still the biggest fixture in English football (just about), Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford in early April just weeks after facing the same opponents in the same stadium in their FA Cup quarter-final.
United have endured another inconsistent season and face the tough task of displacing Tottenham and Aston Villa to ensure Champions League qualification.
Related video: Klopp delighted as young Liverpool set up Utd quarter final with Saints win (English Football Channel)

But they did beat Liverpool in the corresponding fixture last season and held the Reds to a goalless draw in February 2022 – two dropped points that cost Klopp’s team dear in that season’s title race.
Given the differing needs of the two sides, this might be the dullest of draws or one of those jaw-dropping scorelines.
The defender with the most Premier League assists of all-time.
© Provided by Planet Football
TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every player to get 20+ Premier League assists for Liverpool?

4th May – Tottenham (H)

Two years ago, Spurs came to Anfield and everybody expected them to receive a generational paddling. Their 1-1 draw went a long way to ensuring Antonio Conte’s men reached the Champions League and Liverpool lost the title to City.
With Ange Postecoglou seemingly wedded to his high-risk style of play, Liverpool are fully capable of boosting their goal difference when Spurs return to Anfield at the beginning of May.


But Tottenham are likely to also need the points to finish in the top four and, with Son Heung-min and James Maddison, possess players that can hurt any side on their day.
Liverpool will be wanting revenge for their controversial defeat against Spurs last September, but that may not prove to be straightforward.

11th May – Aston Villa (A)

Tricky one, this.
A trip to Villa Park, on paper, looks like one of the toughest assignments still to be navigated by Klopp’s team. But the scheduling of this fixture in mid-May complicates things.
Villa are in pole position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, but the visit of Liverpool comes days after the semi-final second leg of the Europa Conference League.

Unai Emery’s squad are hot favourites to win that competition and are in a position to turn their noses up at silverware having gone trophyless since 1996.
Liverpool themselves might have just played in the Europa League semis before travelling to England’s second city. Klopp’s squad management has been excellent this season and may need to be again here.
These are the games that Liverpool need to win.
© Provided by Planet Football
These are the games that Liverpool need to win.

TBC – Everton (A)

Originally scheduled for mid-March, the season’s second Merseyside derby has been moved due to Liverpool reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The game is rumoured to be re-arranged to the final week of the season, with Everton likely to be desperate for points as they look to avoid relegation.

And, even if the Toffees are mathematically safe by then, the opportunity to extinguish Liverpool’s title hopes at Goodison Park would be too irresistible to pass up.
Expect a full-blooded encounter and Peter Drury to spontaneously combust in the commentary box.
READ NEXT: An amazing XI of Liverpool academy graduates handed their debuts by Jurgen Klopp
TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every player to get 20+ Premier League assists for Liverpool?