Manchester United’s draw against West Ham United yesterday once again highlighted the struggles faced by the side during Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Diogo Dalot’s strike looked as though the Red Devils would secure all three points for the second time in a week, but their inability to defend set pieces ultimately cost them all three points.

Soungoutou Magassa’s effort was enough to secure the visitors a point, with Amorim left frustrated by his side’s lack of killer instinct to put the game to bed in the second half.

The result leaves United in eighth place in the Premier League, just two points off fourth, but the season could already look a whole lot different had the side managed to once again hold on for the win.

Numerous players failed to deliver during the meeting at Old Trafford, which could see the manager make some needed changes ahead of their next outing over the weekend.

United’s poor performers against West Ham last night

During the draw against Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, Luke Shaw was once again handed a start in the Premier League, now taking his run of starts to 14 in a row.

However, it was yet another performance to forget for the Englishman, with the centre-back struggling to deal with the threat posed by opposition forward Jarrod Bowen.

Shaw was dribbled past twice, lost 75% of the ground duels he entered, whilst also committing three fouls – showcasing his inability to stop his compatriot from impressing.

At the other end of the pitch, Bryan Mbeumo also struggled to continue his fine recent form in the Premier League, as the Cameroonian once again failed to find the back of the net.

Like Shaw, he struggled in his duels against the Hammers at Old Trafford, as seen by his measly tally of 100% aerials lost out of the five battles in which he entered.

He also failed to complete any of the crosses he attempted, whilst only placing one of his shots on target, subsequently being unable to provide the added threat needed in attacking areas.

The Man Utd star who needs to be dropped after West Ham

After failing to win for an eighth time in the league this campaign, Amorim will certainly need to find a winning formula quickly if he is to be a success as United manager.

He’s massively come under fire over recent months for his lack of success in the role, no doubt down to his reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system in key moments.

At 1-1 last night, he had the opportunity to bring Kobbie Mainoo onto the pitch in an attempt to secure victory, but it was his conservative substitutions which led to the draw.

The 40-year-old simply laughed in his post-match interview when one journalist suggested that the Englishman should have been brought on to push for the win.

Such a move wasn’t the only questionable decision made by Amorim last night, with the manager deciding to utilise Ayden Heaven at centre-back alongside Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui.

The youngster was handed his first league start of the campaign, but it was a decision that massively backfired, given his struggles at the Theatre of Dreams last night.

He featured for 45 minutes during the contest, before being replaced at the break after picking up a yellow card for a rash tackle on Bowen during the closing stages of the half.

The 19-year-old lost 100% of the duels he entered, whether that being on the ground or in the air, whilst committing two separate fouls, which no doubt led to his booking.

Heaven was also only able to complete a measly tally of six passes out of a possible ten, with none of his long balls being completed – showcasing his struggles in possession.

His struggles were compounded by his lack of involvement during the first half, only achieving a tally of 17 touches of the ball – with goalkeeper Senne Lammens having more, as seen by his tally of 29.

After such a performance, the manager must surely look to more senior options to fill the void, when his Red Devils side face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.

Leny Yoro was brought on to replace the Englishman at the break, with the manager needing to select the Frenchman next time around to help the side return to winning ways.

18x ball lost: Amorim must ruthlessly bench overhyped 5/10 Man Utd man

This Man Utd ace struggled in their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham

ByJoe Nuttall Dec 5, 2025

They might still be in the relegation zone, but things are starting to look up for West Ham United this season.

Following their draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have lost just one of their last six games.

The Portuguese manager has made the East Londoners far harder to play against and is getting more out of players, such as Callum Wilson.

The Englishman is starting to look like his old self, but if reports are to be believed, West Ham could soon sign an upgrade.

West Ham target Wilson upgrade

While the Hammers have most certainly improved over the last couple of months, it’s clear that they still need reinforcements in the January window, and so it’s not been a surprise to see them linked with a host of talented players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, Chelsea’s Axel Disasi has once again been touted for a move to the London Stadium, as has Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jose Sa.

Yet, as good a signing as those two would be, neither one could be described as an upgrade on Wilson, unlike Joaquín Panichelli.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, West Ham are one of a few Premier League clubs interested in the Argentine striker.

Alongside the East Londoners, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Aston Villa have set their sights on the RC Strasbourg star.

A potential price for the 23-year-old is not mentioned in the report, but given that his £28k-per-week contract runs until 2030, he’s unlikely to come cheap.

With that said, West Ham should still do what they can to sign Panichelli, even if his arrival would be bad news for Wilson.

How Panichelli compares to Wilson

Now, it should be said that, as things stand, Wilson is doing an excellent job for West Ham.

However, football is a brutal game, and if the Irons can find themselves a better striker in the winter window, they should sign them.

So, with that said, is Panichelli a better forward than the Englishman?

Well, when it comes down to their output, the most important metric of all for forward, the answer is resounding yes.

For example, so far this season, the Argentine, whom U23 scout Antonio Mango has dubbed “one of the most in-form Strikers in Europe,” has scored ten goals in 19 appearances.

Appearances

19

13

Goals

10

4

Assists

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.38

That means that the former Deportivo Alavés star is averaging a goal involvement every 1.9 games.

In contrast, the former Newcastle United ace has scored four goals and provided one assist in 13 appearances this season, resulting in a goal involvement every 2.6 games.

Another area in which the Córdoba-born gem clearly has a significant advantage over the Irons ace is age.

The once-capped international only turned 23 in October, whereas the Coventry-born poacher is 33 and set to turn 34 in February.

Now, this may not be an issue at the moment, but it does mean Nuno cannot build a team around the Englishman, which isn’t the case for the “clinical” Strasbourg striker, as dubbed by Mango.

Ultimately, while Wilson shouldn’t be moved on, West Ham should sign Panichelli next month to rival him for game time and then eventually surpass him to become the club’s starting number nine.

West Ham already have a Paqueta replacement who's 'like Kevin De Bruyne'

Nuno already has his Paqueta replacement in a hugely exciting West Ham star.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 6 days ago

أوضح نونو سانتو المدير الفني لفريق وست هام يونايتد الإنجليزي، أن لاعبه لوكاس باكيتا، يعاني ويمر بحالة سيئة، بسبب أحداث المباراة أمام ليفربول.

والتقى ليفربول ووست هام قبل أيام، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”، وتعرض باكيتا للطرد وشهدت المباراة هزيمة فريقه بهدفين دون رد.

وقال نونو سانتو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ذا أثليتك”: “تحدثت مع لوكاس واعتذر لزملائه في الفريق”.

وأضاف: “إنه يدرك أخطائه، لكننا كنادٍ نحمي أنفسنا، حلّينا المشاكل فيما بيننا، ومن الواضح أن الجميع يدرك أن الأخطاء واردة في ملاعب كرة القدم، أحيانًا لا يمكنك التحكم في مشاعرك، والجميع يستحق فرصة”.

وأكد: “إنه ليس بخير، ويعاني، يشعر بخيبة أمل وحزن، لكنه يُدرك الخطأ الذي ارتكبه، ويريد المضي قدمًا، أحيانًا لا يدرك الناس جميع المشاكل التي يواجهها لاعبو كرة القدم، لكن لوكاس سيتجاوز هذا الوضع”.

اقرأ أيضًا | فرديناند يرشح نجم ليفربول السابق لخلافة سلوت.. ويؤكد: مناسب لقيادة الفريق في الفترة الحالية

وتطرق نونو سانتو للحديث عن مستقبل باكيتا الذي كان على وشك الانضمام لمانشستر سيتي، لكن بسبب تحقيق الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم في قضية تلاعب بالنتائج في أغسطس 2023، لم تتم الصفقة، وقد بُرّئ في يوليو بعد تحقيق استمر عامين.

وأفاد المدرب: “أعتقد أن (محنة التحقيق) تؤثر عليه، لكنه مستعد للمضي قدمًا، ولعب كرة القدم كما هو، ووضع كل ذلك جانبًا، هنا في النادي، نقدم ونقدم كل الدعم الذي يحتاجه اللاعبون، لقد أجرينا محادثة جيدة، والفريق يدعم لوكاس، بالتأكيد، أعتقد أنه سعيد هنا”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O sub-17 do Fortaleza, comandando pelo ex-atacante Fred, avançou para a final da Supercopa Capital. Diante do Palmeiras, no domingo (14), Fred viverá a sua primeira decisão como treinador.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFortalezaFortaleza confirma permanência de Marcelo Paz como CEO da SAFFortaleza12/12/2025FortalezaFortaleza superou concorrência de clubes da Série A por Carpini; entendaFortaleza12/12/2025Futebol NacionalCeará e Fortaleza voltarão a se encontrar na Série B após 17 anosFutebol Nacional11/12/2025

➡️ Tudo sobre o Leão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Fortaleza

O Tricolor encarou o Botafogo na manhã desta sexta-feira (12), no Estádio Defelê, valendo pela semifinal do torneio. Os cearenses venceram por 2 a 0, com gols de Dieguinho e Nathan.

A campanha geral é de seis partidas, sendo cinco vitórias e um empate. O time de Fred marcou 12 gols no recorte e sofreu três. A final contra o Palmeiras, no Estádio Bezerrão, terá início às 15h (de Brasília).

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Fortaleza confirma permanência de Marcelo Paz como CEO da SAF

— Tem sido dias intensos de muito trabalho. Jogamos a cada dois dias e, quando não temos jogo, procuramos trabalhar com os meninos, seja em treino, recuperação ou analisando em vídeo, o que precisamos melhorar para a próxima partida. Continuamos invictos, vencendo grandes equipes e firmes na busca do nosso objetivo – disse recentemente ao avaliar seu início no cargo.

— É uma experiência nova. Tenho uma visão das categorias de base como jogador e agora estou vivenciando o mesmo processo como treinador. São jovens atletas que buscam alcançar o sonho de chegarem ao profissional e temos que ter esse olhar com atenção para todos – relatou.

continua após a publicidadeFortaleza tem novo treinador no profissional

Depois de oficializar a saída do técnico Martín Palermo, que não renovou seu contrato, o Fortaleza acertou com Thiago Carpini para a disputa da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. O Tricolor superou a concorrência de times da Série A.

➡️ Fortaleza superou concorrência de clubes da Série A por Carpini; entenda

Carpini tinha recebido sondagens de equipes como o Internacional e o Coritiba, que subiu sendo campeão da Série B. O rival Ceará, rebaixado juntamente com o Leão, também consultou a situação do treinador.

Tudo sobre

FortalezaFutebol Nacional

Former England Women’s head coach reunites with Heather Knight at Hundred franchise

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2025

Jon Lewis, the former England Women’s head coach, will reunite with Heather Knight, their former captain, at London Spirit after his appointment as Women’s head coach at the Hundred franchise.Spirit last week announced Knight’s appointment as women’s team general manager. As part of that non-playing role, she will work closely with Lewis on staff appointments and squad selection before and during the player auction in March as well as advising the on-field leadership group.The pair last worked together during the Ashes at the start of this year, where England’s winless performance led to Lewis losing his job as coach and Knight the captaincy, although she remains a pivotal player for her country, ending the recent 50-over World Cup as their leading run-scorer as the team reached the semi-finals.Related

Jon Lewis leaves role as England Women's head coach

Heather Knight departs as England captain after nine-year reign

Jon Lewis returns to Gloucestershire as new director of cricket

Heather Knight appointed London Spirit Women's general manager

At London Spirit, Lewis will be responsible for team selection and performance.”This is a really exciting opportunity to play a part in shaping the future of this franchise,” Lewis said. “I am looking forward to building a team packed with talent and character, playing cricket that Spirit fans coming to Lord’s will get behind as we aim to win a second title this summer.”Early in Lewis’s tenure with England Women, the team reached the semi-finals of the 2023 ICC T20 World Cup and defeated India in an away T20I series before an unbeaten summer against Pakistan and New Zealand in 2024. He also oversaw England’s 2023 home Ashes series in which the hosts came back from a 6-0 points deficit to draw 8-8.But a group-stage exit at last year’s T20 World Cup ultimately signalled the beginning of the end for his time with the team, which came after England were thumped 16 points to nil on the subsequent Ashes tour.Lewis has also been involved in franchise cricket, having led UP Warriorz since the inception of the Women’s Premier League until earlier this year.Having represented England in all three international formats as a player, Lewis was the ECB’s elite pace bowling coach, working with England Men on their 2021-22 Ashes tour of Australia, and previously coached the Young Lions.He was recently appointed director of cricket – overseeing the performance structure across men’s and women’s teams and pathway programmes – at his former county, Gloucestershire, who agreed to Lewis adding the Hundred role to his duties.Mo Bobat, London Spirit director of cricket, was delighted to welcome Lewis to the franchise, which was valued at £295 million – by far the most expensive in the competition – during the recent private equity sale of Hundred teams.”I know first-hand his capabilities as a coach and his qualities as a person,” said Bobat, who worked previously with Lewis in the England Men’s set-up. “He has a fantastic breadth of experiences, across both the women’s and men’s games, which will stand us in good stead in our pursuit of sustained success.”It’s particularly exciting to consider the potential of his professional partnership with Heather, whom he obviously knows well from his time with the senior England women’s team.”

Ben Duckett believes England will start the Ashes series without much “baggage” and said that the team’s aggressive approach to Test cricket is evolving beyond what has sometimes been perceived as reckless.Duckett is one of 11 players in England’s squad who have yet to play Test cricket in Australia while the average age is 28 compared to the home side’s 33. The players have been greeted in Perth by a series of comical headlines from the local newspaper but Duckett said they have been warmly welcomed.Related

• Will this Ashes be the making of Bazball 2.0?

• Stokes urges England players to go full throttle in intrasquad Ashes warm-up

• Stokes signals 2027 Ashes intent with two-year England deal

• England and Australia Ashes squads compared: who comes out on top?

• Mark Wood puts 'boring' rehab behind him as he gears up for bowling return

“This group we’ve got, I actually saw the other day I’m the fourth oldest, which was tough to see,” Duckett told the podcast. “So we’ve got quite a fresh group coming here where there’s not a lot of baggage, which I think will help us.”Since his Test recall in 2022, Duckett is the leading run-scorer among openers. In the 2023 Ashes he made 321 runs at 35.66. “I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “You know how tough it is for touring sides coming over here. I’m not expecting or setting myself any targets. I know I’m opening the batting against probably the best bowling attack in the world in their home conditions.”For the first Test, at least, that attack will be missing Pat Cummins as he continues to recover from a lumbar stress injury. There remains hope he will be available for the second Test and went through another solid workout at the SCG on Tuesday.Ben Duckett will have a vital role to play at the top of the order•Getty Images

“You want to play against the best and you don’t want to have guys like that missing out in series like this,” Duckett said. “But on the flip side, I’m an opening batter and he’s probably one of the best bowlers in the world. So yeah, quietly, I hope it’s not too bad but obviously any game where he’s not playing is an advantage for us.”Much of the pre-series narrative is around how Bazball will go in Australian conditions, but Duckett said that both individually and collectively their approach was becoming more nuanced.”I think now it’s definitely about reading moments,” he said. “[Brendon McCullum] will come up to me and say, now you’re a better player than just getting 40 off 30 and getting us off to a good start.”There’s moments as an opening batsman, for example, it could be at Perth in a few weeks where we’ve got five overs to see at the end of the day. And I did it against India last summer where actually just get through it. I don’t care how many runs you’ve got, just be there in the morning.”I think that’s where we’re trying to go as a team now, it’s not just being this entertaining, reckless at times, side. And it’s something that I’ve got frustrated with myself in the past, where I might have got 80 off 60 and it looks great and stuff, but they’re going to put my side in a good position. So it’s realising moments and doing that and then kicking on and getting a big score. And I think that’s where we’re really wanting to go as a side now.”Duckett termed captain Ben Stokes “probably the most important man” in the team and had been taken aback by the intensity of his training. “I can only say we’ve been out here for a few days and he’s been in beast mode,” he said. “He has been running, bowling two spells, batting for two hours. The way he trains and stuff these days is something that I’ve never seen before.”He’s obviously probably the most important man in this side when he’s bowling. So hopefully he stays fit for all five tests and he’s bowling in all of them because he’s crucial for us.”

Fast bowler will stay with the squad and is expected to take full part in the series as required

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2025Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah will stay with the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi despite an attack on his house in Lower Dir. Unknown assailants fired at the gate of his family home; no one at the residence was reported to be injured.The assailants fled immediately after firing at the gate, with an investigation opened by police. It is not known who was at the residence at the time, with the attack taking place in the early hours of Monday morning. reported that Naseem’s father met with a police officer, who assured him the assailants would be brought to justice quickly.ESPNcricinfo understands the incident does not affect Naseem’s plans or schedule for the series, with the fast bowler staying with the squad and expected to take full part in the series as required. Pakistan and Sri Lanka begin a three-match ODI series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, followed by a T20I tri-series that also involves Zimbabwe later this month. Naseem is part of both squads.It is not known whether any of Naseem’s two younger brothers, who are also professional cricketers, were at the residence. Hunain, who hit the winning runs for Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League final, last played a Quaid-e-Azam trophy match last week, where he scored a half-century and took six wickets in a ten-wicket win. Ubaid, who plays for Multan Sultans in the PSL, most recently played a game for his Quaid-e-Azam Trophy side Lahore Whites at the end of last month.

Lamine Yamal's frustrations at being substituted off in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night might have rubbed some people up the wrong way, but the Spanish star proved he has the elite mentality that only the game's greatest – such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – possess.

• Yamal hooked in Champions League

  Yamal missed a total of five minutes at the end of the Champions League win over the German side at Camp Nou on Tuesday, but that did not stop him from showing his frustrations after his number was held up in the 89th minute. His night was fruitful, providing an assist, creating two chances, and having 110 touches of the ball, but it's not the first time his emotions have seemingly got the better of him. A few weeks ago, in the 3-1 win over Alaves – a game in which Yamal scored – he pulled off a similar stunt, giving a stone-faced look at his manager as he walked straight past him and to the bench. That night, the 18-year-old admitted he was frustrated with how he played, and that he holds himself to higher standards. The match against Frankfurt looks to be a similar situation, with Yamal proving he has a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque mentality, that there is always room for improvement, and he wants to be on the pitch for every minute possible.

  That will not stop Flick from bringing his brightest talent off if he feels it is necessary, as he explained after Tuesday night's clash. He said: "We changed Lamine with a few minutes to go because he was booked and it was late," the German said. "If he was a bit annoyed, then I fully understand and I like it. I was a player too. It's fully acceptable, not a problem." Yamal is not the only star in La Liga to have erratic reactions to being hooked. Vinicius Junior has often caused a stir with his outbursts of emotion on the pitch, and it almost always comes down to the big-name players feeling like they have more to contribute. More often than not in modern football, the player outlasts the manager, and in Flick's case, he must manage Yamal carefully to avoid his own early dismissal. To his credit, he's doing everything right up to now.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Following in CR7's footsteps

  Ironically, Yamal plays for Real Madrid's biggest rivals, but there are a lot of clear similarities between him and the great Cristiano Ronaldo. Like the Portuguese superstar, Yamal wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid to show emotion. All he cares about is winning, not emulating those who came before him. Barca's No.10 went out of his way to claim he does not want to be Lionel Messi, the man who wore his shirt number for so many years in Spain and to such incredibly high standards. He said: "I think that Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time, but he also knows that I’m a good player. There will be mutual respect if we play against each other. He knows that I’m not trying to be him, to play like him, or wear the 10 like him. I want to follow my own path."

  The truly elite players in football want to be involved in every minute of every game across the season; that much has been evident in Yamal's time at the top so far. At 18, he has played over 8,000 minutes, significantly more than most players of his age, due to his astonishing breakthrough at just 15 years old. For that reason, Flick's decision to rest him at every available opportunity is somewhat justified. But what the German might find, going forward, is that Yamal's demands will increase, as he grows older, gets even better, and becomes a more globally recognised figure in the sport. When that moment comes, it will be better to just step back and let him shine. 

• Overwhelming support for Barca's wonderkid

  The consensus across social media is that Flick handled Yamal's frustrations in the media well enough – another clear indicator that it would be wise for the Blaugrana head coach not to get on the wrong side of the evolving superstar. One fan, @BEANle, explained his interpretation of the moment: "Lamine Yamal wasn't mad he’s just passionate. Kids who love the game never want to come off and that fire is exactly what makes him special."

  Another, @DKostanjsak, reminded everything of the importance of the Barca man, adding: "Lamine Yamal is still the biggest game breaker in the world of football. His ability to flip the script from 0 to 100 is one of Barcelona's biggest weapons. But it's up to Flick to maximise that. At the moment, we're not getting the most out of the world's best."

  Finally, @Ayse_Crypt said: "Barca fans should be relieved. We finally have a young talent who doesn’t hide when things get tough. He wants every minute, every duel, every moment. These are the guys who become club pillars."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  A long career ahead

  Unless there is a dramatic change, Yamal is going to be a Barcelona player for a long time. He has the ability to smash records, both in Spain and Europe, but only if he is given the freedom to grow into a role filled by Messi before him. As much as he might not be fond of them, the Messi comparisons aren't going anywhere. Lamine Yamal is going to be a name associated with football for the next decade at least, and it is not too-far fetched to suggest he could go on to become one of the greatest players of all time. While no player is bigger than the club, the support of the manager in ignoring the minor misdemeanors is only going to help Yamal on that path to legendary status. And Flick, for now, appears to have it spot on.

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden raised their game as Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 despite producing an underwhelming performance in south London. The Eagles hit the woodwork in either half, but Haaland gave Pep Guardiola's side the lead late in the first with a towering header before Foden slammed the ball into the net with his favoured left foot to put the game out of Palace's sight.

City monopolised possession in the first half but had only four touches in the Palace box, compared to the hosts' 18. Palace posed a threat with their frequent quick and direct breaks, such as when Yeremy Pino clattered the bar after being played in by Adam Wharton or Ismaila Sarr getting into the area and flashing a shot across the face of goal. 

City had struggled to get going despite hogging the ball but took the lead in the 40th minute after an elaborate move involving more than 20 passes, which culminated in Nunes crossing for Haaland, who leapt high into the air to head into the far corner.

The visitors had another scare early in the second half when Wharton hit the post, but they managed the game well as Palace grew more frustrated. Foden's strike, which owed a lot to a brilliant jinking run from Rayan Cherki, delivered what was effectively the fatal blow in the 69th minute before Haaland added his second and City's third from the penalty spot in the 89th.

GOAL rates Man City's players from Selhurst Park…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (7/10):

Had to be alert throughout due to Palace's bright play and was ready for everything they threw at him. Won two battles with Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Matheus Nunes (7/10):

Delivered a perfect cross for Haaland to break the deadlock and gave a solid performance defensively, a big improvement on his display against Real Madrid.

Ruben Dias (6/10):

Mostly solid apart from when he gave the ball straight to Warton, which led to a Palace break.

Josko Gvardiol (6/10):

An early blow to the head didn't stop him from making crunching tackles and getting on top of Palace's attacks.

Nico O'Reilly (6/10):

Had a testing first half, struggling to handle Sarr. Grew more composed as the game went on and reasserted himself by picking Sarr's pocket to snuff out a good chance.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Bernardo Silva (6/10):

Much better than his rusty display in Madrid as he kept the ball well. Fed Nunes when he crossed for Haaland.

Nico Gonzalez (5/10):

Sat very deep and was overwhelmed on several occasions, getting mugged by Pino in the first half and again when Wharton hit the post.

Tijjani Reijnders (6/10):

Didn't get the rub of the green with his opportunities, shooting straight at Dean Henderson and being dispossessed by Chris Richards when he was about to pull the trigger.

Getty Images SportAttack

Rayan Cherki (7/10):

Showed more dazzling footwork to beat three defenders and lay the ball off for Foden to score. Had little joy before then but he is developing a great habit of making key contributions at key moments.

Erling Haaland (7/10):

Had little involvement in the game but all he needed was one sight of goal to give City the lead. Held the ball up well when Foden scored and faced down taunts from Palace fans for not taking the penalty in the FA Cup final by coolly dispatching his spot-kick.

Phil Foden (7/10):

Turned it on in the second half to score his fifth goal in three league games.

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Savinho (8/10):

Stormed forward from his own half and won the penalty just a minute after coming on.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (N/A):

Brought on in added time.

Rico Lewis (N/A):

Brought on in added time.

Omar Marmoush (N/A):

Brought on in added time.

Pep Guardiola (7/10):

Not a fluid performance despite the scoreline but given the quality of Palace he will be delighted with how the team navigated the game and managed to win despite being far from their best.

The MLB world was rocked earlier this week when Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte broke down in tears during Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox due to a fan's vicious taunt about his deceased mother.

Marte received immediate support from manager Torey Lovullo and his teammates after the classless incident, and the fan has since been banned indefinitely at all MLB ballparks.

Marte opened up about the emotional moment on Friday and explained why the fan "crossed a line."

"I want to thank all of the fans who have been concerned about me," Marte said in an interview with Yancen Pujols. "What happened was, seventh inning I came to bat. I'm ready at the plate, I hear this fan shouting. He was on top of the dugout. He yelled at me, saying stuff about my mom.

"He was like, 'I sent your mom a text last night.' When everything happened with my mom, I was here in Chicago, I was in this city."

The D-Backs second baseman then sent a message to the taunting fan that was all class.

"People always yell stuff at me, but never about my mom. People know that my mom passed away in an accident," continued Marte. "But anyways, we're praying for [the fan] and his family too. May God protect them and help him heal his heart."

Marte's mom, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017.

Marte's experience has empowered others in the MLB to share their ugly accounts of fan abuse, a longstanding issue in sports that unfortunately doesn't have an easy fix. All we can do is hope people learn how to show a little more empathy.