The Red Devils’ win will ease pressure on beleaguered boss Erik ten Hag, who this week defiantly blasted reports that he is on the verge of the sack.
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On a crucial afternoon for Ten Hag and Co, here’s how SunSport rated each United performer.
ANDRE ONANA – 6
Did not have much to do for a lot of the game but pulled out a good first half save to deny Christian Norgaard.
DIOGO DALOT – 6
Good display from right back and almost capped it with a goal when he stormed forward only to have his effort beaten away by Mark Flekken.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6
At the centre of the controversy in first-half injury time as he had to leave the field with a bleeding head wound and from a corner Brentford scored. He was already looking suspect as was the bandage that was put on his head early in the game in the first place.
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JONNY EVANS – 7
Continuing an amazing end to his career at Old Trafford. Man of the match last time out in the goalless draw at Aston Villa and looked solid again. Great ovation when he came off towards the end.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 7
Shifted to an unaccustomed left-back spot but without problems and was particularly good getting forward down the flank.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 6
Chosen alongside Casemiro instead of new buy Manuel Ugarte who was on the bench again, but struggled to get into this game although he was involved for Hojlund’s goal. Thankful for the referee’s whistle in the first period calling play back for a foul after missing a sitter.
Looked like he was off in the summer but back in the team although looking to be missing a yard and often beaten to the ball.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7
Does not operate as well on the right but Garnacho was so good down the left. Highlight of his first half was an incredible crossfield ball from right to left to set up Garnacho. Then in the second he provided the assist for Garnacho’s leveller.
Darren Bent claims Thomas Frank is ready to take over from Erik ten Hag at Man Utd
BRUNO FERNANDES – 7
Tried to orchestrate something from midfield but looked a frustrated figure in the first period. Then he showed his class after the break with that great little flick to set up Hojlund for his goal.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 8
Had an all action first half after switching from the right to the left but wasted too many chances. Made up for it in the second with a fine finish from Rashford’s cross in a man of the match performance.
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RASMUS HOJLUND – 7
After getting one in Porto to open his season’s account he is now off and running with his first league goal of the campaign. A cool, clever chipped little finish it was too. The hope will be that starts a much needed run of goals but he needs to see more of the ball.
SUBSTITUTES
Joshua Zirkzee (for Hojlund, 74) – 5
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Strange change to make after Hojlund had just scored. His replacement fluffed the one half chance he had.
Victor Lindelof (for Evans, 89) – 6
A change that largely gave the fans a chance to acclaim Evans performances.
Manuel Ugarte (for Casemiro, 88) – 6
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A change that probably should have come earlier.
Noussair Mazraoui (for Garnacho, 90+1) – 6
Back after a heart procedure for a few late minutes.
Rafael Nadal reflected on an “amazing rivalry” with Novak Djokovic and said he “would not be the player he is today” after losing their final meeting as professionals.
Serbia’s Djokovic beat the Spaniard 6-2 7-6 (7-5) in their third-place match at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
The pair shared a warm embrace at the net at the end, while Nadal was presented with a golden tennis racquet as part of a post-match presentation in Riyadh.
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“Thank you very much for all of the moments we shared on court during all of our careers – we have had an amazing rivalry,” said Nadal in an interview conducted on court.
“You helped me to go over my limits so thank you for that, because without that, I would probably not be the player that I am today.”
Nadal will represent Spain in his final appearance at next month’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
“What I will miss is almost everything,” added Nadal, who won a record 14 French Open titles and 22 Grand Slams in total.
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“It has been a dream come true to have been able to play for almost 20 years, being competitive and having the chance to play at the best places in the world.
“I realised my dream to become a professional tennis player and be a successful one. I can’t thank people enough for the support and the love I’ve received all around.”
Hughes (13-1) dropped McKee (22-2) early and fended off his grappling en route to a split decision win (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). The lightweight bout was the main card opener at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In Round 1, McKee backed Hughes to a corner with a flurry. Hughes broke free and almost landed a flying knee. McKee grabbed a hold of him and worked for a takedown. Hughes broke free again and threw another big knee. It was clear what McKee’s game plan was as he attempted another takedown. Hughes reversed and wound up in top position. McKee worked for a leg lock. As he got up, Hughes landed a big knee, followed by a big overhand right which dropped McKee.
The pace slowed down in Rounds 2 and 3 as McKee pressed Hughes against the cage. Hughes broke free and threw a flurry. An accidental low blow by McKee caused a break in the action. Hughes attempted a big knee and slipped, allowing McKee to capitalize by grabbing a hold of him and keeping him down. Hughes spent the rest of the fight trying to fend off McKee’s grappling, but he outstruck him throughout and caused more damage for the win.
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With the win, Hughes made it seven straight and proceeded to call out Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
BIG WIN FOR BIG NEWS! He CALLS OUT USMAN NURMAGOMEDOV!
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In just his second fight under the PFL banner, Hughes scored a brutal knockdown in the first round over A.J. McKee before ultimately winning a split decision. While there’s something to be said about the scoring in the fight with Hughes largely controlling the action across all three rounds, he still gets the win in the biggest moment of his young career so far.
“Look what I can do! I’m a superstar,” Hughes shouted at the camera after his win. “The PFL believed in me, look at me. I’m here on the world stage. I fought one of the best guys on the planet. I doubled down on myself. Who’s done that to AJ McKee? I’ll tell you what, that was not one of my best performances.”
Hughes showed no fear facing down one of the top lightweights in Bellator as he made a statement from the very start when he was able to shrug off takedown attempts from McKee to keep the fight standing. Hughes also unloaded a huge knee trying to catch McKee as he dropped down to grab a leg but the former Bellator featherweight champion narrowly avoided a potential knockout.
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In a scramble, Hughes actually ended up on top of McKee where he began raining down shots from above while defending a few up kicks coming at him from the bottom. McKee continued to roll and eventually got back to his feet but Hughes made him pay for it just before the first round ended.
With McKee backing up against the cage, Hughes unloaded a massive right hook that landed flush on the jaw. McKee dropped to the canvas just as the bell rang to end the round, potentially saving him from some follow up shots that could have earned Hughes the finish.
Following a minute long recovery between rounds, McKee was a little more reserved with his offense, although he did launch a couple of successful straight punches to get Hughes attention. In return, Hughes clipped McKee with a slick combination but a jumping knee attack backfired as he ended up slipping and falling to the ground.
McKee did his best to take advantage with his grappling but Hughes never gave him anything to work with before he ran out of time.
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With five minutes remaining, McKee once again looked for the takedown as he grabbed onto the body lock and pressed Hughes against the cage. When he wasn’t able to drag the fight to the ground, Hughes broke free and really started launching combinations while McKee was looking like his gas tank was running dry.
Hughes continued to set up his strikes while McKee just couldn’t get much going as time ran out and a new star emerged in the lightweight division.
Following the win, Hughes wasted no time proposing that his third PFL fight come along with some gold on the line.
“We want to see Ireland vs. Dagestan,” Hughes shouted. “We want to see Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov. Let’s go.”
Ott Tanak says helping Hyundai win the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title remains his priority despite provisionally reducing team-mate Thierry Neuville‘s drivers’ points lead at the Central European Rally.
Tanak headed into the WRC’s penultimate round 29 points adrift of Neuville, knowing his team-mate could claim a maiden world title if he outscored him by two points.
Neuville was on course to do that, having led the rally until stage 11, when two off-road excursions dropped the Belgian to fourth, while Tanak ended the day in second, 5.2s adrift of leader Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier.
Prior to Neuville’s mistake, Tanak had closed to within 0.8s of his team-mate after winning stage nine.
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Tanak revealed at the midday service that his speed prompted messages reminding him of the risks at stake in regards to the manufacturers’ title battle from the Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul, who is keen to deliver the Korean marque’s first title since 2020.
However, under the new points system for this year, Tanak stands to take at least five points out of Neuville’s lead if he finishes the rally, which could ensure the title battle will go down to season finale in Japan next month.
The points margin between the drivers could fluctuate again on Sunday with 12 points on offer under the Super Sunday format.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
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Despite the possible points swing, the 2019 world champion says the drivers’ title is not his main focus, and that protecting Hyundai’s 17-point lead over Toyota is the main objective.
“Tomorrow we still need to keep pushing as we have done so far, and it is important to score points tomorrow,” said Tanak.
“The manufacturers’ title is so open it is really my first priority. The drivers’ title is still up to Thierry and what he wants to do with that. The Toyotas are so fast at the moment I need to manage with them.”
While disappointed by the mistakes that cost him valuable championship points, Neuville says his plan for Sunday is to push for Super Sunday points to bolster his title hopes.
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Neuville could still lift the title on Sunday although it is highly likely he will need Tanak to have a problem.
“There was a chance for a better result today but it could have been worse. We didn’t expect to be in the lead after the first day of a rally that we didn’t need to win, but the rhythm was there and the car was working well,” said Neuville.
“Today was more challenging and a small mistake in the recce [when making pacenotes] cost important seconds in the fight for victory. We lost a few positions but we are still in the race.
Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
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“I think we have to drive fast [on Sunday] and take the maximum points, but we definitely need to bring the car home.”
Wary of the team’s position in the manufacturers’ title battle, Abiteboul has set a target for Neuville on Sunday.
“If Thierry does it [wins the drivers’ title on Sunday], it would probably mean something bad would have to happen to Ott and that is not what I wish for right now,” said Abiteboul.
“I think the target for Thierry will be to get at least 30 points ahead of Seb [Ogier in the championship], and if he can do that we will be in a decent position to manage the drivers’ title in Japan.”
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