Man Utd land Premier League points deduction boost over Spurs and Aston Villa as table reshuffles
Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are chasing Champions League qualification and the table has been reshuffled after an Everton points deduction appeal
Ange Postecoglou and Erik ten Hag share a joke ahead of kick-off in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford
Manchester United are locked in a three-way battle for Champions League football this season. With March likely to be a crucial month in determining who will secure their place in UEFA’s top-tier club competition., the pressure is on Erik ten Hag and his players.
The United boss has already had to deal with discussion about his future this week. The Manchester Evening News reported how new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has yet to be convinced that the Dutchman is the man to take the team forward.
A strong finish to the season is desperately needed for Ten Hag. Finishing outside the top five may not be enough to keep him in a job, with INEOS assessing other managerial options. However, Ten Hag could receive a huge boost in his bid for Champions League qualification from an unlikely source.
The two sides challenging United for a spot in the competition next season are Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. Unai Emery’s Villa side currently have an eight-point cushion on United inside the top five and a fifth place finish is likely to be enough to qualify for the Champions League this term. Spurs are three points ahead of United, and have played a game fewer. With Spurs heading to Villa Park on Sunday, March 10, the race is hotting up.
But there’s more. The recent decision by the Premier League to change points deductions could also affect things. Last year, Everton lost 10 points for breaking Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The club wasn’t happy, so they tried to get the decision changed and everyone was waiting to see what would happen.
On Monday, an independent appeal board said that Everton wouldn’t lose as many points after all. Instead of 10, it will be six.
The Premier League said: “Everton FC appealed the sanction imposed against it on nine grounds, each of which related to the sanction rather than the fact of the breach, which the club admitted. Two of those nine grounds were upheld by the Appeal Board, which has substituted the original points deduction of 10 for six. This revised sanction has immediate effect and the Premier League table will be updated today to reflect this.”
So how does that affect the Champions League places? Well, Nottingham Forest are now in 17th place after the latest games. Everton have moved up over them and Brentford to 15th place. Previously, Luton were only one point behind Everton in the table. But now, with Sean Dyche’s team pulling away by five points, Luton will be even more determined to secure every point they can.
Luton host Villa this weekend with a Saturday teatime kick-off slot. United managed to win at Kenilworth Road earlier this month despite an unconvincing performance against Rob Edwards’ side, who have also given Arsenal and Manchester City tough tests at home this term, despite only picking up 11 points in front of their own fans, winning three, drawing two and losing eight times.
However, now that the Hatters have an ever greater incentive to win points after Everton climbed the table, this could come as a boost for United, who are waiting for Villa to drop points.
Villa are set to face Tottenham after that, meaning United will then have an opportunity to close the gap to at least one of those teams the following weekend, but they have a big task ahead on Sunday as they face City at the Etihad Stadium in the Manchester derby. Pep Guardiola’s men go into the game as firm favourites.
Then, of course, United host Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday March 9th. How the Toffees will react to their good news on the deduction front will be seen in coming weeks, though they do still have the possibility of an additional deduction hanging over them.
United then travel to Brentford at the end of the month and the Bees will be desperate to claw themselves back above Everton and away from the drop zone. There promises to be a number of twists and turns between now and the end of the season at both ends of the table.
Manchester United welcomes back first-team player after four months
With ten games to the end of the 2023/24 Premier League season, Manchester United have received a huge boost in their quest to finish in the top four as they look to play in the UEFA Champions League next season.
The Red Devils confirmed that Mason Mount has returned from injury which ruled him out for four months. The club made the official announcement on its website on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, according to the reports, Mount maintained his positivity during his rehabilitation programme.
“Mount has worked closely with the club’s medical staff and displayed a work ethic that helped him to become one of the most decorated young players in the game. The England international’s return to fitness will bring great energy to the squad and the former Champions League winner cannot wait to get started again.”
The manager of the Red Devils, Erik Ten Hag had initially hinted about Mount’s fitness before Saturday’s win over Everton.
He said,
‘Mason Mount I think he is in a good spell now and he will return shortly, I think after the international break.”
However, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Anthony Martial and Tyrell Malacia remain unavailable to Ten Hag as the United manager goes into the FA cup game against Liverpool and the final 10 games of the Premier League.
Manchester United get double team news boost ahead of Liverpool FA Cup tie
Man United could welcome back up to four players from injury against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend.
Manchester United full back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has returned to training after two months out.
United manager Erik ten Hag last week indicated the right back would be available to face Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The probable availability of two recognisable full backs could lead to the end of Victor Lindelof’s stint at left back. The centre back returned to the team at full back after Luke Shaw sustained a muscular injury last month.
Diogo Dalot, United’s only available full back of late, has avoided injury all season and started in the past 13 matches. The last time Dalot and Wan-Bissaka lined up in the same side against Spurs Wan-Bissaka was selected at left back.
Ten Hag admitted last week the absence of a specialist left back was an issue. “We talk about one of my biggest frustrations, there.
“You can accept in a position that a player is not available but when two players are not available over the course of the season, that is very frustrating.
“Because that is also very difficult to catch up as a team but we dealt with it in the best way, but of course it is a disadvantage.”
Mason Mount has also resumed training after a four-month absence. Ten Hag suggested Mount would return in the Premier League fixture away to Brentford after the spring internationals on March 30.
Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial are all definitely out of United’s weekend cup tie. Ten Hag said Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund, present in the directors’ box for the 2-0 win against Everton on Saturday, should also recover to be available against Liverpool.
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