United lose to Bournemouth, Liverpool secure first league win at home
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Michael Carrick may well have overseen his final match as Manchester United head coach after his players’ feeble Old Trafford display led to a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth and boos at the final whistle.
The former Red Devils midfielder’s position was already hanging in the balance as their poor start to the season was compounded by Wednesday’s calamitous 4-1 loss at Champions League upstarts Como.
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Under-fire Carrick spoke with defiance and hope ahead of hosting Bournemouth, but Sunday’s meek loss extended United’s winless run to an eighth straight match in all competitions and leaves their boss facing the sack.
Rayan and Marcus Tavernier scored avoidable first-half goals for the well-drilled Cherries at Old Trafford, where home fans displayed a banner reading “standards” as the players trudged off at the break.
Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson featured on the sign brought out of storage for a match that current captain Bruno Fernandes was dropped for days after his critique of Carrick’s approach in Italy.
The head coach claimed it was a “pure football” decision rather than punishment, but he remained on the bench throughout a tepid second half that saw Evanilson punish a wandering Senne Lammens.
United fans expressed their fury at the Glazers and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe towards the end of a game that brought anger as Bournemouth celebrated a third 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the last four seasons.
Marco Rose’s men followed up Thursday’s famous Europa League win by the same scoreline against an AC Milan managed by Ruben Amorim, whose successor could soon be following him out of Old Trafford.
Liverpool secure first league win at home
Liverpool's expensively-assembled front four finally clicked into gear as they beat Brighton 2-0 to record their first home Premier League win of the season.
The trio of £100 million-plus ($133 million) signings Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz - and Cody Gakpo - found a connection which fans have been hoping will succeed in breaking down defences against whom they struggled during their disappointing title defence.
They do not come more miserly than the Seagulls as Fabian Hürzeler's side may be the top flight's leading scorers but they also know how to keep the back door tightly shut and these were the first goals conceded in all competitions in over nine hours.
Wirtz was denied the credit for the 17th-minute opener due to the deflection off Pascal Gross but there was no doubting Isak's sixth goal in seven league appearances four minutes later from a Barcola cross.
Strong contributions from the France international and Gakpo on the flanks ensured Brighton were never entirely comfortable in a first half in which they started the brighter.
By the 77th minute only Gakpo remained but with the visitors starting to cause problems - and Chelsea arriving on Wednesday in the League Cup - changes were necessary.
The other performance of note came from on-loan Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
Sunderland remain bottom of the table after draw with Leeds
Sunderland and Leeds were forced to share the spoils in a goalless stalemate at the Stadium of Light.
A scrappy first half saw Brian Brobbey have two promising opportunities to put the Black Cats ahead but he was denied both times by James Trafford.
Both sides threatened after the break and Nilson Angulo enjoyed the better chances for Sunderland before Ao Tanaka came close for the visitors.
A point snaps the Wearsiders' four-game losing run in the Premier League but they remain bottom of the standings, while Leeds stay in the top half of the table, sat seventh.
Elsewhere, Newcastle dealt Crystal Palace a frustrating 2-0 defeat to pile more pressure on Pierre Sage.
Hull City's unbeaten home record remains intact but the Tigers have not tasted victory for seven games after a 1-1 draw with Brentford at the MKM Stadium.
Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brigtion and Hove Albion at Anfield, Liverpool. (is associated with: «United lose to Bournemouth, Liverpool secure first league win at home») Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa