Premier League LIVE: Noel Gallagher live on talkSPORT, Pro Ref ‘acknowledge’ mistake for Erling Haaland winner, Man United players slammed

Left out

The man at the centre of the VAR controversy in the Manchester derby has been left without a game this weekend.

Matt Donohue ruled that Erling Haaland's goal at Old Trafford should stand despite initially being ruled out.

The main issue was that because Enzo Fernandez didn't touch the ball, Donohue ruled that it wasn't interfering with play despite him being offside.

Pro Ref have since released a statement acknowledging their mistake, and Donohue has been dropped from the Premier League and EFL.

Blake Antrobus was also part of the team, and he has been dropped as well.

Neither will appear until after the international break.

'The quality is different'

Roberto De Zerbi has admitted that he is being careful with James Maddison.

The attacking midfielder suffered an ACL injury last year and barely featured at all for Spurs.

And then over this summer, he has also been injured.

Maddison is now fully fit and could play on Tuesday against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

However, De Zerbi is being cautious.

He said: "He's another important player for us. He has to stay in good physical condition. In the last press conference we spoke about the change, the intensity of the Premier League and he needs to work harder like he's done.

"And then he's a different player for us. The quality of James is different than other players. Kudus can play number 10, more offensive. Marmoush can play as a number 10. Maybe we have to force it, no? But to force the idea, to force the characteristics of the players in the first 11

Warning

Manchester United have sent a warning out to their fans ahead of their game this weekend.

They are set to travel to Fulham this weekend in the final Premier League game before the international break.

But the entire West Coast mainline is set to be blocked.

This means no direct trains between Manchester and London.

So, good luck trying to get there!

Leeds vs Newcastle

The Monday night game sees Leeds United take on Newcastle United at Elland Road.

It is a match between two of England's best fanbases, and it should be a cracker under the lights.

talkSPORT will have live commentary with both sides unbeaten.

If either win, they would go into third place, and there for talkSPORT will be Adrian Durham hosting.

Commentary will come from Sam Matterface and former Toon boss Steve Bruce.

No way back

It appears as if Richarlison's Tottenham Hotspur career is well and truly over.

the Brazilian striker has seen several moves away collapse in the last few weeks, and he has been left out of the Spurs Premier League squad.

But despite being available for the Carabao Cup tie tomorrow against Liverpool, Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed he won't play.

They have also been dealt a blow to Sandro Tonali.

The Italian has a knock and joins Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski on the sideline.

But Destiny Udogie is available.

Unfulfilled talent

Lazio boss Gennaro Gattuso believes ex-Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares should be competing for a club like Real Madrid.

But the Italian has declared the 26-year-old, who featured 28 times for the Gunners during the 2021/22 season, is too unreliable.

That is despite Gattuso declaring the three-cap Portugal international, who is in his third season at Lazio, has everything in his locker.

Gattuso told DAZN Italia: "I always said that Tavares is worthy of Real Madrid.

"He feels like someone who lost his parents young, received a big inheritance, and in five years it went up in smoke.

"This is a player who ought to be at Real Madrid. He’s got everything it takes, he has pace, right foot, left foot.

"He is unusual, but after a match he needs his time to recover, but he’s a good lad, you need to get into his head and make him understand.

“He knows he has talent and could’ve had 10/12 years at Real Madrid with his qualities. You’ve just got to get him to understand.”

Liverpool team news

Liverpool star Joe Gomez is available for selection to face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

But the match will come too sign for fellow defender Conor Bradley, who continues to recover from a long-term knee injury.

Centre-back Gomez hasn't featured this campaign having suffered a muscle issue in pre-season against Sunderland in July.

But he is on course to feature against Spurs at Anfield, with Andoni Iraola revealing in his pre-match press conference: "He is training with the team.

“I think he’s going to be available for tomorrow and now it’s a matter of deciding how much he can play and what is the best thing to do.”

Commenting on Bradley, Iraola said: "I think he is not close to training with the team, he’s training alone but he has started touching the ball.

“Definitely I want him as quick as possible ready but it’s a long-term injury.

“I think [Giovanni] Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”

Boo are ya?

Former Liverpool hero Trent Alexander-Arnold appears to be stuck between a rock and a hard place in his second season at Real Madrid.

A string of injuries marred Alexander-Arnold's debut campaign while he has started just one of Real's five LaLiga fixtures this term, with summer acquisition Denzel Dumfries preferred at right-back.

Jose Mourinho was forced to deploy Alexander-Arnold in midfield alongside Federico Valverde during Real's 2-1 midweek Champions League win over Inter as Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva were all suspended.

Alexander-Arnold lasted 79 minutes before he was brought off, but it was more than enough time for Mourinho to be convinced he belongs at right-back.

But European football expert Andy Brassell has leapt to Alexander-Arnold's defence and outlined the unfairness of the scenario he found himself in against Inter.

He said on the Trans Euro Express show: "Real Madrid have been here a million times before, and really, who's the fall guy for that? Trent Alexander-Arnold.

"Now, you can be standing there if you're him going, 'Getting booed off isn't that bad. It happened to Cristiano Ronaldo and he scored more than a goal a game for nine years, so I must be doing something right.'

"It's because he's been put in this really, really difficult position.

"I know he has pretensions to play in midfield long-term. Maybe that's his best chance of getting a game. But I think they would have been better doing that in a game against a Rayo Vallecano.

"They did it against Inter because they didn't have an option, because they had three midfielders out with injury and suspension. That was a huge problem for them.

"I felt really sorry for Trent Alexander-Arnold, he was stuck in a spot that he didn't deserve to be in."

To be Frank

Coventry have been warned they are already staring at a rock bottom Premier League finish after their 5-0 thrashing by Brighton.

The Sky Blues have lost their opening four Premier League games, and are without a goal since winning the Championship last season.

And talkSPORT's Alex Crook and Troy Deeney have offered a bleak verdict on their chances this season on the Premier League All Access show.

Crook began by joking: "I tweeted to say, ‘When Lewis Dunk sticks one in the top corner from 30 yards, you know you're going down.'"

Deeney then chimed in by saying: “Four games in and he's already relegated them. 

“Do you know what? I'm going to be fair and I think you should join in with me on this - are you going to admit that Frank has lied to us?

"He told us this team was going to be good, they were going to be pragmatic, and they're crap.”

To which Matterface then stated: "I think you'll find last week they were excellent at Manchester City and they could have got something out of that game.”

Having labelled Coventry a doomed side, Crook asked if unwanted history beckons: "Do we think they'll beat Derby's points record [11]?"

To this, Deeney admitted: “It’s not the worst shout.”

Sam Matterface refused to write them off just yet though, as he snapped back: “Come on? It’s four games in.”

Spurred on

Arsenal icon Martin Keown has insisted Tottenham will eventually come good amid their dismal start to the season.

Spurs were held to a second successive draw over the weekend - this time at home to Everton.

With just two points on the board, Spurs have also failed to score - the first time in club history that they haven't found the back of the net from their opening four league games.

Bit despite forking out over £320million on new players in the summer, Keown believes Roberto De Zerbi's side will soon show their class.

He said on the White and Jordan show: "I had a little look at them [vs Everton], I though that Savio is a really good player.

"And he looks like the part on the right-hand side, very quick, exceptional in the early stages, him and Archie Gray on the right-hand side, there was a good relationship forming there.

"[Dominic] Solanke up top, not in the game, the centre forward [area] is an issue for them.

"[Omar] Marmoush is not really an out-and-out striker.

"This will come good I believe in the end, they're quite solid at the back."

He's a keeper

David Raya once again showed why many consider him to be the world's best goalkeeper as he put in a man of the match display away at Sunderland.

A highly contentious penalty saw Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta rage at the officials in his post-match interview, but he would have felt justice was served when Raya tipped Enzo Le Fee's penalty onto the post.

It proved to be the turning point in the game as Bruno Guimaraes would fire the visitors ahead just two minutes later as the Gunners ended up making it nine Premier League wins in a row - stretching back to last season - for the first time in 22 years.

Lauding the World Cup winner, Matterface stated on the Premier League All Access show: "David Raya, penalty save was absolutely sensational.

"Also made another save from [Nordi] Mukiele really late in the game. Absolutely superb.

"He's just absolutely excellent and Arsenal really have progressed because he is the goalkeeper.

"He's added so much to them, he was terrific."

Shouldn't be sacked

Simon Jordan has declared Matt Donohue shouldn't be axed - despite his glaring error in the Manchester derby.

Donohue was on VAR duty, where he awarded Erling Haaland's goal to stand despite Enzo Fernandez being offside - a decision which Pro Ref had admitted was a mistake.

Speaking on the official, ex-Crystal Palace owner Jordan believes that mistakes will always be made, and he shouldn't be handed severe punishment.

He said on the White and Jordan show: "Should he lose his job? If he keeps on making mistakes... everyone makes mistakes.

"If he makes a terrible mistake then there should be a step down from it and go back and re-evaluate what he's done to get back into the position he was in before.

"But should people lose their jobs if they make a mistake?"

Jordan was also quick to point out that Haaland's goal wasn't a VAR error, but a human one, as he remarked: "There's always an element of subjectivity when you're making a judgement call based upon interfering with play.

"This offside rule has evolved over tens and tens of years and changed and changed and changed and kept on changing, and this is not about technology.

"This is about an individual decision based upon whether the VAR referee watching the digital footage back feels that the player's interfering and he's made a bad call.

"And that's the end of it, it's got nothing to do with technology."

Not good enough

Patrick Dorgu is the worst Manchester United defender this century - he should never play for the club again.

That's the view of talkSPORT's chief football correspondent Alex Crook, who has issued a damning verdict on the Denmark international following Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City,

Dorgu was given a 2/10 rating by Crook - the lowest of any United player in the Manchester derby - as he labelled his defending for Erling Haaland's winner as 'criminal'.

And the United fan singled the versatile player out for criticism on the latest episode of the Premier League All Access show,

He declared: "My main villain of the weekend is our good friend Patrick Dorgu.

"Who might be the worst Manchester United defender that I've seen since Eric Cantona persuaded Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] to sign his mate William Prunier.

"He played one game against Tottenham, got hammered on New Year's Day [4-1 defeat in 1996], we never saw him again.

"I fear we might see Dorgu in United again, but I think he should be subjected to the same treatment."

VAR-cical

Sam Matterface believes it was a 'bad weekend' for VAR following two major talking points.

The first came during Arsenal's win away at Sunderland on Saturday, which saw the hosts awarded a controversial penalty.

As a Kevin Danso long throw was launched into the box, Dan Ballard dragged Ezri Konsa to the ground, only for the decision to go in his favour.

And then in Sunday's Manchester derby, Erling Haaland's winner was somehow given by VAR.

Originally flagged for offside, the Norwegian was found to be onside after Patrick Dorgu played him on, though Enzo Fernandez was clearly offside in the build-up.

The midfielder made a diving header attempt, and though he failed to make contact, he stopped Lisandro Martinez from making an attempt to clear the ball - allowing Haaland to fire home at the back post.

Having initially stated that Fernandez wasn't interfering with play, refereeing governing body Pro Ref later came out and insisted the goal should never have been given.

Matt Donohue was on VAR duty for that clash, with Matterface naming him his villain of the week in talkSPORT's Premier League All Access show.

Also touching on Sunderland's spot-kick, he said: "For me, Matt Donohue, I mean VAR... the Ballard situation is such a massive failing and the goal that Enzo Fernandez influenced that Haaland scored, massive failing.

"And from an FA Sam point of view, I'm sorry, I love you, I will be better next time.

"Seriously, just apologise, keep your head down, it was a bad weekend for VAR."

Blame yourselves

Manchester United lost to rivals Manchester City because of their dismal display - not the controversial VAR call that went against them.

That's the view of ex-Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor, who doesn't believe the Red Devils can put all the blame on Erling Haaland's contentious winner.

Speaking on the Sports Breakfast show, he said: "You lost the game because [Bruno] Fernandes didn't turn up, [Matheus] Cunha didn't turn up, [Bryan] Mbeumo didn't turn up.

"[Diogo] Dalot was horrendous at right-back, [Patrick] Dorgu is not a left-back.

"You lost the game because when you had a man extra and [Phil] Foden got sent off, for 70 minutes you decided to sit back, you decided to not go for it.

"How can Manchester City be the better team with ten men?

"You lost the game for different reasons, you didn't turn up, the occasion got to a lot of the players, not because of the goal that shouldn't have been given."

Laur and order

Arsenal Invincible Lauren reveals the club's off the ball movement is one of the major reasons w

He said on the Sports Breakfast show: "They all know what to do in every single moment, if you have a look, most of the teams will press you high up.

"So nowadays, you have to identify where is the space, so the movement without the ball is key, because it's not like in our time [with] the pressing.

"The movement without the ball is key to build up from the back, it's key to getting the progression and being able to get into the latter third.

"When you have a look at the goals we scored against Chelsea, Chelsea sit back, have a look at the movement of our players, the speed of the situation of the ball and the movement without the ball.

"The movement is key, because you move and you're creating the spaces for your teammates, you allow your teammates to get into space and find the last pass and score the goal.

"We saw it against Chelsea, we saw it against Napoli with [Bruno] Guimaraes passing to Ben White, Ben White to [Martin] Odegaard, Odegaard to [Christos] Tzolis and Tzolis to Odegaard.

"You see the movement of the players without the ball, it was brilliant! We have scored since the beginning of the season 12 goals and conceded just one goal.

"It's due to the stability of the backline, the stability of the midfield and the movement to create the spaces in order to build up and finish chances in the last third, it's been absolutely brilliant."

Lauren continued: "If you have a look at Arsenal, we press up as a unit, the awareness of the backline to stay in the middle of the park, the midfield players [press] as well.

"We defend as a team, we attack as a team, so therefore we score so many goals and we just concede one goal, because it's due to the work of the whole team."

Ray of sunshine

David Raya is one of Arsenal's greatest goalkeepers in history - he delivers in the big moments when his side need him.

That's the view of Gunners legend Lauren, who was two Premier League title and three FA Cups during his six-year spell at Highbury.

The Spaniard helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet in Saturday's 2-0 win away at Sunderland, where he expertly saved Enzo Le Fee's penalty.

He ended up winning the man of the match award after keeping his third top-flight clean sheet as he looks to win a fourth Golden Glove in a row.

Featuring on the Sports Breakfast show, Lauren was asked whether Raya is amongst the best goalkeeper Arsenal have ever had.

To which he said: "He's one of the best goalkeepers that we have ever had, we have always had great goalkeepers: Jens Lehmann, David Seaman, Bob WIlson.

"Always great goalkeepers [Arsenal have had], but absolutely he is one of the best.

"It's not only for the saves that he makes, it's where you do those saves - in big games!

"We saw it last year against West Ham [to deny Mateus Fernandes], that brilliant save, it made us keep believing and we ended up winning that game.

"At the beginning of the season against Man City [in Community Shield, and then the other night [vs Sunderland].

"He's an absolutely world class player."

Title favourites

Arsenal and Manchester City are once again the standout Premier League title challengers - they're a class above the rest.

That's the view of ex-Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, who also commented on no home teams winning in the top-flight so far this matchwee.

The Gunners beat Sunderland on the road, while the Citizens won away at Manchester United, with the two clubs the only sides to have won each of their opening four Premier League.

Speaking on The Final Word, talkSPORT co-host Pardew said: "When you look at the top of the league now, Arsenal and Manchester City look a class apart.

"And the strange thing about the Premier League this season, which is starting to be a little bit of a concern in a way, is that there were no home wins.

"Not one team won at home in the Premier League, and that is because this sucking up of pressure and counter-attacking is becoming more than a theme.

"It's becoming very, very relevant in the game, and it's becoming difficult for the home teams to get that pressure and build momentum and get the win at home."

Rest in peace

West Ham have announced the tragic passing of former goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko at the age of 64 following a long battle with cancer.

The ex-Czech Republic international joined Hammers in 1990, before linking up with QPR in 1998.

And the east London outfit have issued a heartfelt tribute to their iconic shot-stopper on Monday morning.

The statement read: "Everyone at West Ham United is deeply saddened by the passing of Ludek Miklosko at the age of 64, following a courageous battle with cancer.

“The hugely popular former goalkeeper, known fondly as ‘Ludo’ to the Claret and Blue Army, made 373 appearances for the club during eight years as No1 between 1990 and 1997.

“The incredible impact he had on the club and the fondness with which he is remembered is heard every matchday, when supporters sing his iconic ‘My name is Ludek Miklosko, I come from near Moscow, I play in goal for West Ham’ chant.”

Before adding: "His famous song has been sung at every single match, and in February this year a stunning tifo was displayed by Hammers fans in honour of the giant goalkeeper who will forever hold a special place in the hearts of the West Ham family.

Everyone at West Ham United would like to extend their sincere condolences to Ludek’s family and loved ones and this very sad time."

Ex-Prem ref: Man City goal should not have stood

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says the decision to award Erling Haaland's goal was wrong, insisting Enzo Fernandez has to be deemed offside in the build-up.

“I cannot believe it wasn't offside," Gallagher said on The Final Word.

"The ball came across, I generally thought Haaland was offside but he wasn't, I get that.

“But when the ball comes across, without doubt Fernandez is offside and being in offside position isn't an offence, we all know that.

“But challenging for the ball to stop an opponent is, and without doubt, if you look at that when it goes by his head, it's astonishing how close that is to his head. And Lisandro Martinez is also close.”

Gallagher continued: “The three offences; interfering with play, playing the ball which he didn't, interfering with the opponent, well he certainly without doubt affected Martinez because Martinez, he was so close to him.”

Gallagher then added: “The linesman flagged offside. I just think we go back to empowering officials, you can't have it one way or not the other, you've got to be consistent.

“I said we empowered Michael Oliver, we accept he gave a red card on the field, the VAR didn't overturn it and we accept that.

"But in this case the official on the line he gave offside and the VAR after lengthy, lengthy looks decided to go elsewhere. And he will be, the assistant will feel gutted because all three of us feel it's offside.

“I haven't spoke to anybody who thinks it's not offside. The biggest victim here is the assistant.”

'That's not the rules'

Michael Carrick is furious with the officials over Manchester City's winning goals, insisting the offside rules have not been properly applied.

Erling Haaland's goal consigned the Red Devils to their second defeat of the season, but the winner was a controversial one.

Having initially not being given, the goal was awarded after a lengthy VAR check with semi-automated technology revealing Haaland was being played onside by Patrick Dorgu as a cross from the left was played towards the Norwegian.

But before the ball reached Haaland, teammate Enzo Fernandez, who was stood in an offside position, made an effort to head towards goal.

While the Argentina international failed to connect with the ball, it appeared to have an impact on Man United defender Lisandro Martinez from playing the ball.

A furious Carrick said post-match: "Whoever's watched it and told him [referee Michael Oliver] that he's [Fernandez] not interfering with play. I don't know how they're in a position to understand football.

"You're asking the defenders to do certain things in certain moments. I get it if he's standing there and he doesn't move.

"That's just the rules. To interpret the rules like that, that's not the rules for me. That's just not the rules. It's just wrong."

Fuming

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand isn't happy with the Erling Haaland goal.

He believes that Enzo Fernandez's positioning drew Lisandro Martinez towards his fellow Argentine.

So, that is impacting play, even before you take into account the fact the Manchester City midfielder threw himself at the ball.

Here is what Ferdinand said.

Offside clarified

Many, many, many people are confused how Erling Haaland's goal stood this evening.

And when you look at the FA's rules, it becomes more confusing.

That is because, though Enzo Fernandez made no contact with the ball from an offside position.

But he ends up blocking off Lisandro Martinez, so he's interfered with play?

Anyway, read the rules and decide for yourself.

OFFSIDE (Interfering with play):

A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:
interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate or
interfering with an opponent by:

• preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
• challenging an opponent for the ball or
• clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
• making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball

Man United 0-1 Man City - FULL TIME

Ten-man Manchester City beat their inner-city rivals at Old Trafford in a performance that will go down in the history books.

They become just the second team in Premier League history to beat Man United at Old Trafford with ten men.

That is a huge win for Enzo Maresca as he runs down the touchline to celebrate with the away end.

There were two moments of controversy with Phil Foden's red card and Erling Haaland's goal both going to be dissected over and over.

Foden received his sending off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes while on the floor, but should the Man United skipper not been sent off as well for initially kicking out?

And then, after having his goal initially ruled out for offside, it was overturned on VAR.

The decision was that Enzo Fernandez wasn't interfering with play despite throwing himself at it.

And Patrick Dorgu played Haaland onside.

It is now four wins from four for City, and just four points for Man United.