How long can Man Utd's decline go on?
“With bad results, it's really hard to sell an idea,” said Ruben Amorim Sky Sports before Manchester United lost 2-0 against Newcastle. “I was hired because of that attitude, and in those difficult times if you change your mind, it's the end of any coach. But sticking to that attitude also brings problems.
Manchester United were a mess from the start against Newcastle. Some of it is down to players lacking confidence. The sad sight of Joshua Zirkzee being booted from the field before the break was symbolic of a group of players who seem unhappy in their work.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle
But a system is supposed to make their job easier not harder and whatever you think of the quality of the squad Amorim inherited it's increasingly hard to argue that this isn't at least part of the problem . Too many of them look uncomfortable in their roles.
Diogo Dalot was positioned so high up the pitch for much of the game that it would have been more natural to have a left winger there rather than an old right back. When he got the ball he could only shovel it in rather than give any real width.
Noussair Mazraoui did a little better on the other side and Matthijs de Ligt does not want to be dragged to wide areas like he was with Alexander Isak. Lisandro Martinez is one of the few who are said to fit this mold and suffered a miserable evening in red.
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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim admits his side are currently no match for Newcastle, and insists he will stick to his principles despite another defeat
No doubt Amorim would have preferred to have come into this job last summer or next summer rather than being thrust into a crowded fixture list and asked to solve flying problems . But he would hope he could move through and build for next season.
That remains a hope but surely United must be building or risking starting that rebuild on the back foot, arguably even before his first full season in charge. As he himself admits, there is an idea to sell – to the players, to the public, and to his leaders.
Amorim does not need a reward. A season out of Europe could even make things simpler. United fire is not expected. Just action. But a third Premier League defeat in a row without so much as a goal is unacceptable even at this low ebb.
Adam Bate
Chelsea getting well and truly down!
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Ipswich and Chelsea
It has to get something special 10/10 in the Sky Sports Player levels.
Well, Liam Delap is something special.
There were fears before the match that the start could be delayed as a result of the road being closed because the army was investigating a shell near the ground that had not been exploded. That device was found safe – but Delap was about to burn.
Delap's storming display lit up Portman Road like a New Year's Eve fireworks display. It was simply impossible to play.
A one-man ball destroying, smashing his way through the Chelsea defence, winning his own penalty which he placed decisively before setting up Omari Hutchinson to add an extra sting to the result for the Chelsea fans. It is one of their own that they let go in the summer.
Liam Delap from Ipswich Town celebrates his team's first goal
When Ipswich were out on their feet defending their box under heavy Chelsea pressure, Delap's ability to beat the ball up the pitch was priceless. Kieran McKenna gave him the credit he deserved by taking it off in stoppage time. A true story is born. And Ipswich now have real hopes of survival with a player of this caliber in their ranks.
Lewis Jones
Chelsea's B Team members fail the A team audition
Forced by a busy holiday schedule, Enzo Maresca made five changes to the side that suffered defeat at Fulham on Boxing Day.
Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku were among those brought in by Maresca to avoid a second successive defeat.
Jorgensen found himself on the wrong end of the drama with just 10 minutes on the clock when he was adjudged to have clipped Liam Delap in the penalty area.
Despite a strong display afterwards, Chelsea were running the game after the penalty. Disasi gave Ipswich their second goal, five days after Christmas with a gentle back pass into Delap's path which teed up Omari Hutchinson.
Joao Felix, who had a goal disallowed for offside, could not be relied upon to find an equalizer as he was substituted seconds after Ipswich's second. Christopher Nkunku struggled to replicate his form in cup competitions, missing a huge chance to equalize and lose six duels in an otherwise anonymous display.
A lot was made of Maresca's big team before the start of the season but at the halfway point, it is already clear who Maresca feels he can trust. An Ipswich loss would not have done enough to change his mind.
William Bitibii
Villa fall short but Watkins promises he will start
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton
Despite the late equalizer, Watkins staked his claim for the starting striker role against Brighton.
The England international returned to Villa's starting line-up for the first time in three Premier League games following John Duran's suspension and made it count.
He had scored more goals against Brighton than any other team going into this game and took this tally to seven with his first half penalty.
Last season's Playmaker of the Season award winner had those credentials shortly after the restart backed by Rogers as well.
Ollie Watkins' numbers for Aston Villa vs Brighton
Celebrating his 29th birthday on the day, Watkins got the perfect gift by winning back his starting place in the line-up with this performance, but he will be spoiled a bit by the late chances that he was unable to convert.
Villa have two top strikers competing for the role and he seems to get the best out of both of them when they are on the pitch.
Pat Rowe
Seagulls stop in European bid under Hurzeler
Brighton's promising start under Fabian Hurzeler has faded and their European qualification hopes will depend on turning draws into wins.
Their point at Aston Villa means they have failed to win any of their last seven league games for the first time since April 2022 under Graham Potter.
Fulham are the only team to have taken more points (19) from a win this season than Brighton. Hurzeler's team is full of exciting young players but their style, especially at home, has been thoughtful. Five draws at the Amex – nine in total – is not good enough for a team with such talent.
More worryingly, Brighton's winless run has not come against any of the top teams. They failed to beat Aston Villa, Brentford, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Leicester, Fulham and Southampton.
After spending nearly £200m this summer, the pressure is mounting on Hurzeler to improve in the second half of the season. He needs to stop worrying about officials' performance after collecting his fourth yellow card and focus on meeting expectations.
David Richardson
