Righto, that’s it from me; our report from Hull 1-1 Brentford will be up shortly, but otherwise, this is what we’ve got going on for you, with the clásico and Grand Prix to come.

Not bad, eh? But otherwise, enjoy the rest of your weekend; peace out.

Carrick doesn’t think Newcastle should’ve been penalised for the free-kick which led to the first goal and Yoro, who he says will be a top player, slipped for the second. He felt the crowd were waiting for them to pull one back, but then they conceded the third and he had “mixed emotions” at the end of the game.

It was a tough day for the players and they went into the game having been “rocked a bit”. The players are really hurting and disappointed, but you have to accept that’s the situation United are in.

It’s really difficult for me to have day like this at this football club and to feel the dynamics of it … not for me, but for Manchester United,” he says. He feels a lot of responsibility, he’s been at the club a long time, and it hurts and awful lot.

Asked about Bruno, he says there are always times you’re trying to change the course of play, but those are the decisions he made today, and finally, told it felt like a farewell from him at the end, he says it wasn’t, he’s feeling for his players, it’s mixed emotions and he appreciates the support, but results and performances haven’t been good enough.

It’s a tough situation, there’s no hiding from it, he’s always done what’s best for the football club and he loves the job he has. It’s hard not to feel for a man about whom you rarely hear a bad word.

I’m glad Matthias Jaissle has brought Will Osula into his Newcastle team. They were desperately poor against Leeds and Coventry, but with Dedic, Gonzalez and Joelinton are back, there’s more energy and snap. But excuse me, here’s Michael Carrick.

Brentford at home is probably a game Hull targeted for three points, excellent though Keith Andrews’ side are, and they’ll be disappointed to have drawn having led for 40 minutes. But they sit 10th in the table having made a really impressive start to their season, and have laid down a marker: every side they play knows in advance that they’re in for a physical and tactical battle against a 4-5-1 that doesn’t forget to attack nor neglect the need for imagination and expression. They’ve still got plenty of work to do because it’s not easy to predict which teams will go down this season, but if they can maintain their current level of performance, they’ll be absolutely fine, with Sergej Jakirović an extremely impressive character.

Ultimately, lots of players at United know what the end of a managerial reign looks and feels like, and the way they played today reflected that – except they also played that way in the opening game of the season, having finished last with a run of championship form. It’s a state of affairs.

In the Sky studio, Jamie Carragher agrees that Carrick never had any intention of bringing Fernandes on, but wanted him to endure the ignominy of sitting on the bench. I guess it was well earned, and though it was also counter-productive, I imagine most involved with United were pretty sure this was the final game under this manager.

I mentioned below that United lack intensity and are badly missing Casemiro’s redemptive headers; it’s worth noting they have neither a fitness coach nor a set-piece coach. I don’t know whose fault that is, but if Carrick didn’t ask for them, he should’ve had them imposed on him.

Alexander Isak is extremely happy, telling Sky Liverpool had a lot of chances in the first half from pressing and winning the ball – they should’ve scored more. He praises Barcola’s work assisting him, then says they want to play with intensity, which they did in the first half in particular.

And join Rob Smyth for all the buildup to Sunderland v Leeds.

It’s tense in Lahore…

“Speaking as a Bournemouth fan, I’m obviously pleased with the performance - the last week feels a lot like the payoff when we stuck with Iraola in his first season, even after a long poor spell. I think the most damning thing for United here is that this isn’t the first, or second, time I’ve seen Bournemouth win comfortably at Old Trafford but it’s the first time I went into this game thinking that anything less than a solid win would be a disappointment.

Clearly they’ve been poor but hard not to see what sacking Carrick would do. This club looks broken far beyond another managerial change. But no, I’m sure Eddie Howe will be the magic fix...”

Yes, agree – in my notes for a podcast I’m on later this evening, at the top of the page I’ve written that I expected United to lose at home to Bournemouth. Iraola, I guess, came with pedigree and a system, which isn’t so of Carrick. I wrote in the summer that Carrick’s work in the job was enough for me to plump for him to stay on instead of Iraola, who did well at Bournemouth, but not wow, it must be him well, and though I don’t think United would’ve got the players Iraola needed, he probably wouldn’t have presided over this level of dreadfulness.

Four added minutes stand between Liverpool and a terrific win. They’re starting to motor.

Five minutes added time at Old Trafford – the final five minutes of Michael Carrick’s reign as manager, you have to assume.

“How badly are United missing Casemiro?” returns Brian Broderick. “As a midfielder, as a on-field organiser and as a leader. How much of Carrick’s success last season relied on his presence?”

When United were in trouble, they often resolved the situation when he scored a header from set-piece. Without that, and without Sesko, who also saved them on various occasions, they’ve struggled badly.

The home crowd sing for Carrick, who they know is done for, but for whom there’s still plenty of affection – he worked wonders last season, but the job is simply too big and complex for him.

More good news for Bournemouth, Kroupi returning from his pre-season injury. He replaces Evanilson, with Adli on for Tavernier.

At Anfield, an attractive match is sputtering to a close with Brighton still seeking the goal that’d make things uncomfortable for Liverpool, but without really suggesting a goal is imminent. At Old Trafford, Lacey makes room down the right by diddling Truffert with a stop and sway, lifting a ball to the back post which ends up knocked behind for a corner. I really don’t understand why he’s not been seen since Brighton, given what’s been going on. He lacks a bit of pace and power, but has trickery and bravery, two aspects currently notable by their absence, and isn’t tainted by the failure in the way others are.

Looking forward, the problem United have is that the people in charge of sacking managers ought really to sack themselves first? How many more mistakes can Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada be allowed, given what happened with Erik ten Hag, Dan Ashworth, Ruben Amorim and Carrick, along with the transfer-market messes?

Carrick sends on Shea Lacey, mystifyingly ignored after being given a chance against Brighton in the League Cup and scoring a beauty. He replaces Amad, unproductive yet again.

The story today will, of course, be how awful United are and the likelihood they change manager in the next few days. But Bournemouth have been good and everything they aren’t, quick, strong, focused, organised, competent, inventive and so on.

Carrick sends on Zirkzee for Baleba, which makes you wonder why he put Bruno on the bench; there’s no footballing justification for leaving him on there, so if it’s unitive, why not leave him out altogether? Revenge? I guess he probably isn’t getting the chance to wreak any more.

Liverpool push for a third goal, Gakpo away down the right but failing to find the ma in the middle.

United are, at least, spending some time attacking this half, Martinez shooting wide from distance, but they’re not sustaining attacks not seriously extending Petrovic. At Anfield, Nyoni has replaced Wirtz but is now struggling himself.

Another change from Carrick and again it’s not Bruno, Martinez on for Heaven, who had a shocker. For all the difference it makes, Rayan easing past Dalot and running atMartinez, who steps across him, only to allow his man through on the inside. he has options at the far post too, but opts to shoot, his low effort scuttling just wide.

Change for Bournemouth, Gannon-Doak on for Kluivert.

United are pushing at OT, Mbeumo going down when Adams jumps into him – United want a penalty but they’re never getting that – then, when Yoro finds him, he swings a shot over the bar. So they come again, Dalot lifting over Smith’s foot to go down the line and winning a corner, driven into Petrovic’s gloves.

At Anfield, Brighton probe seeking a route back into the game, Yalcouye on for Chema. Oh, and as I type, Wirtz flails a leg at Ayari, fouling with the ball out of reach, lands awkwardly, and gosh, he looks in a lot of pain. He does, though, make a quick recovery, so will, I think, be back on shortly.

In comms, Gary Neville thinks Tielemans should’ve stayed on with Andrey Santos going off, and it’s hard to argue with that. United need goals, Tielemans can supply them, and Baleba should supply the solidity necessary given the game-state.

“Half-time sacking,” begins Ingo hHrtzke. “That question has come up before – so I’m once more sending a famous example from Germany’s 2nd division, about 26 years ago in December 1999 Toni Schumacher was managing Fortuna Cologne, who had a very colourful chairman at the time: Jean Löring. After a spell of bad results they were trailing 0-2 at home to Mannheim at half time, Löring stormed into the dressing room and shouted: ‘Piss off, you wanker! I never want to see you again.’ (That’s how Schumacher told it in his memoir.) To the press afterwards, he spoke the immortal words: ‘As the club, I had to act.’ Classic.”

A lovely example of l’etat c’est moi, but looking at this United side, 1999 was at least 260 years ago.

I’m not sure what Carrick’s trying to achieve by not bringing Bruno on. United probably won’t come back with him, but without him, it feels impossible.

At Palace, Willock is sent through and finishes well, doing what Rayan tried to but well … only for VAR to show a shoulder offside.

Heaven, having a mare, passes straight to Rayan, who exchanges passes with Kluivert then opens body to find the far corner only to finish too close to Lammens, who saves.

Not all that long ago, in October 2018, Jose Mourinho was about to get sacked with United 2-o down at home to Newcastle. Then they came back, won 3-2, and Mourinho lasted until just before Christmas, wreaking yet further havoc in the meantime.

Goodness me, a ricochet off heaven, dithering from Maguire, and a pass in behind is tucked away by Evanilson … who’s offside. He leaves that for Rayan, and it’s 3-0. United are an absolute debacle.

At Old Trafford, still no Bruno Fernandes, but Cunha is on for Tielemans. We’re underway again.

“Eamon Dunphy, in his fine diary of a season Only a Game?, broke the substitute’s omertà by revealing that most players who are dropped are delighted when their replacements fail on the pitch,” says Justin Kavanagh. “I’m sure Bruno Fernandes has a warm glow inside as he sits listening to Carrick’s half-time farewell speech team-talk.”

I found that book in the school library aged about 13 and it properly opened my eyes. I was lucky enough to interview Dunphy when making the film Busby, a complete thrill – his book A Strange Kind of Glory is a classic – and only he would have tossed all the interviews he did for it.

Half-time email: “Isak, Wirtz and Barcola seem to be finding their feet at last,” writes Colum Fordham, “and pretty good feet they have too. Liverpool once again pose an attacking threat to any team but the shambolic defence – Van Dijk a shadow of his former self and the erratic Kerkez - threaten to undo the good work. Araujo is definitely one of the most exciting of the new acquisitions for the Reds, his dynamism and strength very much needed. Iraola is managing to keep the dangerous Brighton at bay.”

I’m still not convinced by Wirtz, who flits in and out and doesn’t, I don’t think, make good decisions quickly enough when nuder pressure. But Isak is a class act, and Barcola is excellent when offered space in behind. I don’t love him in tight situations, but if he can improve his, er key actions, i.e. his final pass and finishing, he can be a factor in the Prem.

Looking again at the second Bournemouth goal, Yoro, though he slips, also slows down, when all he needed to do was tap back to Lammens. Without that indecision, he’s no chance to slip because the ball’s already gone.

I’d not be shocked if Carrick makes United’s call for them, Kevin Keegan for England-style – or wouldn’t be if there wasn’t cashmoney involved. He surely knows this is too far gone for him to resolve, and he’s clearly hating every second of it.

Also going on:

United make a bit of space and Tielemans squares for Santos, who near-enough misses his kick, then the ref goes to book Maguire for a shove earlier in the piece.

Two additional minutes at Old Trafford, three at Anfield. Meantime, Amad chops inside Smith and falls – he wants a penalty, but it’s nothing of the sort.

“This must be the most mediocre Man Utd XI since the late 80s side of Duxbury, Phelan and Blackmore,” writes Brian Broderick. “But if you give Chelsea £100m for Mount and Santos, that’s where you end up. Which is pretty much what Martinez was saying.”

At least those United sides had Robson, Hughes, Whiteside and McGrath, absolute giants all. I said earlier there are some good players in this squad and there are, but they’re devoid of confidence, organisation and moxie.

United try to hit back immediately. First, Tielemans is booked, then Mount, having wandered infield, slides a pass ahead of Mbeumo, inside-left position, and he shoots across goal, but Petrovic tips away. “Down with the City!” choruses the away end.

Back to Old Trafford now, where Heaven launches two-footed into a challenge, and is saved by Evanilson stepping out of the way. He’s booked, but if he’d made contact, it’s a red card; lucky boy.

A poor kick-out from Alisson puts Liverpool in trouble and Brighton win the ball back, working it to Ayari, who bends a low shot around the keeper, not yet back on his line … and hits the base of the post!

Harry Messguire lummoxes past a few challenges, but can’t find a shooting lane, so passes backwards The crowd though, appreciate the intention and might it spur United to do something? They get the ball wide to Amad, who then leaves it behind him and, when he gets it back, plays a poor pass.

“The Seagulls have been a shambles at the back,” reckons Kári Tulinius. “Being 2-0 down is the least they deserve. Nevertheless, when they mount an attack, Liverpool defend in a panic, and I doubt they’ll keep a clean sheet. There’s no way there won’t be more goals in this match.”

I ‘m inclined to agree – Brighton attack well and Liverpool defend chaotically. If the former manage a livener before the latter bag a clincher, this could be a really exciting contest.

United are offering so little in attack – no width, no 1v1 ability, no sharp passing – and when, as I type, a lovely flick behind the standing leg allows Baleba to find Tielemans, Mbeumo checks his run and the attempted through-pass is easily cut out.

Better from United, Yoro into Tielemans, who flicks superbly for Baleba down the right. He’s got Mbeumo in the middle, but roughly 94 defenders blocking the route to him, and Hill does well to slide in and intercept the cross.

A decent ball in from Adams, to which an unsighted Evanilson can’t quite introduce a head. Bournemouth haven’t had that many chances, but they’ve had loads of good situations, whereas United have had none.

United are just so careless with the ball. Lammens catches a cross and tries to set a counter in motion, but his roll-out sells Mbeumo short and instead, Bournemouth counter. Oh and Andre Santos was booked a few minutes for a lunge; the same has since been done by and to Tyler Adams.

It didn’t look great initially ad they’re still too easy to get at, but we can now say that Liverpool have made a decent start under Andoni Iraola. They’ve got into the habit of winning, Isak is scoring, and they’ve loads of attacking options, while Araujo has given them physicality and aggression they lacked not just last season but even the one before when they won the league.

Liverpool keep at it, Verbruggen forced to dive full-length to stop a shot directed across him by Gakpo. Meantime, back in Manchester, it’s now a more even game, though Boournemouth know they can pretty much allow Dalot to have the ball in dangerous areas because nothing will happen thereafter – and, as I type, he lashes a hopeful shot miles from anywhere.

Back to OT and it’s slightly better from United, Mbeumo finding space before running into trouble. They are, though, keeping the ball now, with Baleba seemingly settled into the game.

Oh, but here come Brighton! They fight down the right, Gomez in behind and taking a pass from Gross before cutting back for Ayari, 10 yards out … who panels over the bar! What a chance that was, and how might Brighton rue spurning it?

At Anfield, Costinha has replaced Kadioglu, who gives Brighton so much attacking impetus. We’ve barely seen them in the Liverpool half yet, but they’ve done well to survive the opening period … as have United, sort of – so far, their performance is such that to say they’ve done anything well feels ridiculous. And, as I type, a flick off Yoro prevents a cross from arriving at Evanilson.

The corner comes to nowt, but in possession, United’s players are constantly alone and surrounded, with Bouernemouth’s in space.

Here come Bournemouth again, a goals surely in the post; they’re finding overloads and space all over the show. Thsi time, the ball is spread wide, Rayan crosses, and Yoro has to slide in to make a fine last-ditch challenge on Evanilson, who would otherwise have tapped home.

At Anfield, Liverpool have started quickly, taking advantage of Kadioglu, who steps off with back-knack. A cross from the right picks out Isak too, but his first touch is poor and the ball runs away.

Again, Bournemouth come at United, Tielemans robbed, and they’ve cut through so easily, Rayan one on one with Maguire. Kluivert is square, too, but he opts to shoot, Maguire blocking with a long barrier cricket-type stop.

At Selhurst, Palace generate a scramble in the Newcastle box, bodies in front of the ball doing enough.

Bourmemouth appeal for a penalty, though, as the bouncing ball clips Dalot … but it’s hip not hand then, when corner comes in, Rayan is up above Baleba, heading wide of the far post. That was a decent chance, but he couldn’t quite get the leverage necessary.

At OT, the crowd sing for Carrick; it’s Dalot at left-back, Yoro right, and Heaven in the middle, as Bournemouth attack, winning a corner.

Our various teams take the knee; it’s still Black History Month for a few more days, so why not educate ourselves by clicking here, to check out or dedicated site?

Full disclosure: I’ve only got three screens, so I’m afraid Hull v Brentford isn’t being watched. But we’ll be keeping an eye on the gaols and key developments.

“I have five days to write 11,000 words and complete my minor thesis,” laments Chris Paraskevas, “this is supposed to be my ‘break time’ and I’m looking at the Newcastle lineup trying to figure out how many successful passes Joelinton and Nico Gonzalez will manage between each other (I’m predicting: 3 out of 15 before Big Joe gets sent off). What have I done in a previous to deserve this vertical football purgatory?”

Existed?

Righto, here come our teams – at Old Trafford, United are led out by Harry Maguire.

“I agree with you,” says Tim Stappard. “Mike Walker is bonkers. Utd would have been relegated without Bruno. Maybe that’d have been a good thing though.”

Don’t get me wrong, I see Bruno’s bad points but, as you intimate, just imagine United im the last nearly-seven-years without him.

“You’ve just done a rundown on the United team,” begins Robert Hisnay. “Isn’t that a sorry starting 11? The question has to be asked: are they relegation contenders? Unlike 2025 when they finished 15^th and the three newly-promoted teams were abysmal, this season only Coventry City look likely for relegation. So, who are the two clubs worse than United? And for now I’ll leave the Manchester City situation off the table as the appeals and proceedings are unknown.”

As they often have in the Post-Fergie Wilderness Years^TM, United actually have the bones of a good team. Lammens is good, Bruno is elite, while Yoro, Baleba, Mainoo and Sesko have elite potential, and Mbeumo and Cunha are good Premier League players.

Carrick is, of course, partly responsible for his own situation, but he’s also had rotten luck within injuries; if i’m betting, I don’t think he’s in the job much longer, but if he is, it’s because things have got better, and if he isn’t, I’d expect whoever takes over to make things better because it’s not possible to get much less out of this squad and, as Carrick showed last season, it’s definitely possible to extract very much more.

Email! “You can’t be serious, Daniel,” begins Matt Walker. “I’ve been watching United for 26 years and we’ve never had a more petulant player on the field. I think the veil slipped more than anything ‘broke him’. He’s a bad teammate and never was captain material. He never would’ve been in position to be captain if the club was run even half decently.”

Bruno has carried United for the best part of a decade; is it even arguable to the contrary? In that time, he’s barely missed a game despite being the busiest player in world football, playing through injuries, setting standards – in training every day, as well on matchday – while cementing himself as perhaps the best creator around. And like Roy Keane, who those on the outside said was a bad captain because they interpreted his communication style in a particular way, the lads he pays with love and respect him.

So where is that game? I’d expect Brighton to see weakness down Liverpool’s left, where Van Dijk isn’t what he was – expect to see attackers run at and off him – and Kerkez lack discipline and focus, while Barcola is much better going forwards than backwards. I really like Charalampos Kostoulas, and and I’d expect Brighton to play into him with runners going past, but also looking to hit him with crosses and cut-backs.

Liverpool, I think, will want to get Barcloa running at Kadioglu, with Kerkez backing him up, while Writz floats seeking to prod Isak through to take snap-shots – his accuracy and power is elevated by how quickly he assesses situations and introduces laces to ball. I also wonder if they look to go at Andres, who is good in the tackle but lack a bit of mobility.

Brighton, as one might expect, are unchanged following last weekend’s 5-0 kicking of Crystal Palace.

Now to Anfield, where Rio Ngumoha is benched despite an electrifying display against Villarreal on Tuesday night; Victor Munoz is injured, but his right-wing berth goes to Cody Gakpo, with Bradley Barcola, improved in recent games, on the left. Otherwise, Ryan Gravenberch, back from suspension, is in for the injured Dominik Szoboszlai.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, will know that on one side, United will have a defender playing out of position. I’m sure they’ll hope to double up down whichever side it is, with Evanilson running off Maguire and Tavernier staying pretty wide, looking to put ball into the box, while Rayan and Kluivert look to run af defenders and attack the area from a little deeper.

Defensively, Adams and Cook will patrol the central area from which United like to create, with Smith, on the right, playing a little deeper than Truffert, on the left.

So, where is the game? United will look to build through the middle of the pitch, Santos stepping in between the centre-backs to punch passes forward and Baleba looking to carry whenever he can. There’s not much width or height in this side, so the onus will be on Tielemans, Amad and Mount to slip passes in behind the Bournemouth defence for Mbeumo, who’ll attack the space.

As for Bournemouth, the headline news the return of Kroupi, who’s on the bench. Otherwise, Rose makes one change to the side which beat Sunderland last weekend, Justin Kluivert replacing Ryan Christie.

Otherwise, Carrick goes for ballast in the midfield, with Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, which makes sense, but in front of him, there’s a palpable lack of magic. Matheus Cunha, hooked at half-time in Como, drops out, with Amad one of the least dreadful when he came on, coming in on the right. His numbers tell us he’s not the standard required, but he offers good out-of-possession work and gives the team balance, such as it is, the only dribbles in a team severely lacking one v one ability.

Otherwise, Mason Mount, every manager’s favourite, is relocated to the left, while Bryan Mbeumo continues up front in the absence of Benjamin Sesko – which tells us plenty about what Carrick thinks of Joshua Zirkzee, despite his goal in midweek.

Taking a closer look at the United team, Leny Yoro is back after his midweek suspension. Before it, he looked, finally, to have established himself in the first XI and, though he’s a centre-back, I expect he’ll play right-back today, with Ayden Heaven, back in after illness, taking the spot in the centre next to Harry Maguire. That’s because he’d never previously played left-back until forced to fill the spot away to Atletico – one of various things that so exercised Martinez. But now that you don’t ask, I’d probably stick him there again, to get Yoro into his position – he’s actually done better on the left of the two than on the right – and so Digo dalot can play on his natural side. We shall see.

Marco Rose says the last three games have passed and his team need to prove themselves again. He’s been in the business long enough to know this could be a good moment to play United, but also a bad one if the players want to turn the noise down.

As a club they need to get used to the new demands of the Europa League so he needs to use his squad, but i’s good to have Junior Kroupi back, as though he’s not yet 100%, he decides game and is good to have in the locker room.

Old Trafford is a difficult place to play, but Bournemouth are confident and know what do, it’s just about executing now.

Carrick tells Sky that you’ve got options when picking a team, it’s always a difficult decision and they had to make one in the best interests of the team. Asked if it’s because of what he said or how he’s playing, he replies with “Pure football.”

Lisandro Martinez isn’t ready yet, he continues, Heaven was ill but has played well and United have strong options off the bench.

He wants United to play with humility and endeavour, Bournemouth are a really good team and United will have to play well to get a result. They want to flip the run and win a game and today is a good day to do that.

Reports from Old Trafford, broadcast by Sky, advise us that Bruno Fernandes has been dropped by Michael Carrick.

We don’t know if it’s for consistent poor form or midweek insubordination – it could be either or both – but either way, it’s a shame it’s come to this. Ultimately, United have broken Bruno, who’s dedicated his career to elevating a club that has consistently let him down, and though he was out of line in what he said after Como, it didn’t come out of nothing, well earned though his omission is.