Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League
Manchester United are currently in second (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Gary Neville has taken a dig at Jose Mourinho by insisting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a ‘far better’ chance of ending the club’s wait for a Premier League title due to the new-found spirit and harmony at Old Trafford.

Mourinho was appointed in 2016 to end United’s wait for a title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement but he departed in late 2018 having failed to deliver.

Solskjaer is yet to win silverware in his two years at the Theatre of Dreams but the Norwegian has stabilised the club and supporters are happier with the style of play at the club, as well as the progress in results.

And Neville believes Solskjaer has put his former club in a far stronger position than Mourinho ever managed, with the ex-United skipper questioning whether the players liked one another under the Portuguese.

Neville sees better signs at Old Trafford (Picture: SkySports)

Over the last 12 months, Manchester United have put an incredible run of results together.

‘The points tally has been big, year to year. To actually go 20 games away from home needs applauding because it’s hard to do that,’ Neville told the Sky Sports Podcast.

‘What do you use to demonstrate teams that have got good character and personality? 

‘They’re good away from home, they’re good on set pieces, they look like they want to play with each other. 

‘That’s why I think this Manchester United team is better suited than the one from two or three years ago under Jose Mourinho that finished second.

‘I actually feel there’s a better spirit. I think they’ve got a far better chance of winning the league in the next two or three years than they were under Jose a couple of years ago.

‘I thought it was a strange bunch of lads, they just didn’t seem to like each other. They didn’t really appeal to me as a fan.’

United’s 0-0 draw against Chelsea means they’ve capitalised on defeats to rivals Leicester and West Ham this weekend but Liverpool are the big winners as the champions closed the gap on the top four.

Jurgen Klopp’s men host Chelsea at Anfield in midweek, where United will hope to make the most of dropped points for either or both of the sides with a win against Crystal Palace.

United’s focus will be on securing second place in the Premier League given Manchester City’s lead at the top and they currently have a six-point buffer on Chelsea in fifth.

MORE : Manchester United claim Luke Shaw misheard Harry Maguire’s chat with referee Stuart Attwell in Chelsea draw


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Manchester United are ‘far better placed’ to win Premier League title under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer than Jose Mourinho, says Gary Neville

Manchester United are currently in second (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) Gary Neville has taken a dig at J...
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Callum Hudson-Odoi runs at Luke Shaw in Chelsea's Premier League clash with Manchester United
Manchester United and Chelsea shared the points after Sunday’s drab stalemate (Picture: Getty)

Luke Shaw stunned viewers after Sunday’s goalless draw at Stamford Bridge as he claimed Stuart Attwell chose not to award a penalty against Chelsea for fear of a potential backlash – but Manchester United insist the left-back misheard the referee’s exchange with Harry Maguire.

The major talking point of this weekend’s drab stalemate came in the 14th minute as Callum Hudson-Odoi handled the ball inside his own box while grappling with United forward Mason Greenwood for possession.

VAR instructed Attwell to consult with his pitchside monitor and players from both sides surrounded the official before United’s desperate appeals were dismissed and play continued.

Luke Shaw speaks to Sky Sports after Manchester United's clash with Chelsea
United claim Shaw misheard Maguire’s conversation with the referee (Picture: Sky Sports)

An irate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer contested the decision in a fiery post-match interview with Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves and Shaw went as far as suggesting Attwell made the call in order to avoid negative attention and controversy in the media.

‘At the time I saw a handball but I didn’t know if it was Mason [Greenwood] or Callum,’ the United and England full-back explained when reflecting on the incident.

‘I just carried on, I didn’t even know that there was a potential check. I don’t know why they’ve stopped it if it’s not a penalty. If it’s not going to be a penalty I don’t think they needed to stop.

‘The referee even said to H [Harry Maguire], I heard him say: “If I say it’s a pen then it’s going to cause a lot of talk about it after.” So I don’t know what happened there.

‘H said they got told it was a pen, he [the referee] got told it was a pen by VAR. So I’m not sure what’s gone on.

‘I don’t understand why he’s stopped, if he’s stopped you would think he’s going to give a pen because we had the ball, we were attacking.

‘So it’s confusing with this VAR because… look, if it’s not going to be a pen they might as well just carry on the game and not stop the flow of the game. But I’m not going to moan about it because like I said, I don’t think either team did enough to win.’

Stuart Attwelll looks at his pitchside monitor
Attwell consulted with his pitchside monitor after Hudson-Odoi handled in the area (Picture: Getty)

Shaw’s comments would likely have landed Attwell in hot water if they were proven to be accurate but United have issued a swift and clear response, telling both Manchester Evening News and Sky Sports that the defender was mistaken.

The club insist there was no malicious intent and that Shaw simply misheard what was said between Maguire and the official.

Though frustrated with the refereeing on show in west London, Shaw admitted United should have done more to win the game as they lost further ground on league leaders Manchester City.

‘There weren’t too many chances from either side. We need to keep pushing because we obviously wanted to win today, to close the gap, even though we know the gap is big,’ he added.

‘But we take the point, we know they’re a very good team and they haven’t conceded too many either.

‘They defend well. So we need to move on, we’ve got another big game against Crystal Palace this week.’

The Red Devils will look to respond when they travel to Selhurst Park to face 13th-placed Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening.

Solskjaer’s men then travel to the Etihad for a crunch match with Pep Guardiola’s rampant City side, who could extend their winning streak to 21 matches with victory over their bitter rivals.

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MORE : Edinson Cavani speaks out on his injury after Manchester United’s draw with Chelsea

MORE : ‘This is for you’ – Curtis Jones dedicates Liverpool goal to Alisson and his father


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Manchester United claim Luke Shaw misheard Harry Maguire’s chat with referee Stuart Attwell in Chelsea draw

Manchester United and Chelsea shared the points after Sunday’s drab stalemate (Picture: Getty) Luke Shaw stunned viewers after Sunday...
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Jurgen Klopp looks on after Liverpool's Premier League victory over Sheffield United
Liverpool beat Sheffield United to bring an end to a miserable run of four league defeats (Picture: Getty)

Jurgen Klopp expects to have Alisson and Fabinho back for Liverpool’s upcoming heavyweight clash with Chelsea and is hopeful Diogo Jota could also feature at Anfield on Thursday.

Alisson played no part in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United following the tragic death of his father, Jose, in the week.

Adrian came in to replace the Brazil goalkeeper at Bramall Lane as Curtis Jones’ 48th-minute strike and Kean Bryan’s own goal ended Liverpool’s miserable run of four successive defeats in the Premier League.

Diogo Jota looks on in Liverpool training
Jota suffered another setback ahead of the game (Picture: Getty)

Jota had looked set to make his return for the champions after recovering from a serious knee injury but the Portuguese picked up an illness overnight and was not considered, while Fabinho was also absent.

The versatile Brazilian, who has been filling in at centre-half for much of the campaign, has been sidelined with a muscle problem since Liverpool’s thumping defeat to Manchester City.

Asked whether the trio could return to face Chelsea at his post-match press conference, Klopp replied: ‘Alisson and Fabinho, I’m pretty sure [will be available].

‘With Diogo, he was with us in the hotel, but he got sick overnight and we had to send him home.

‘It depends how quick he will recover, obviously. He was in the squad and as I said before, he trained with the team and it all looked really good but unfortunately he got sick overnight.

‘I think he will be available but I don’t know.’

Curtis Jones celebrates his goal during Liverpool's clash with Sheffield United
Jones broke Sheffield United’s resistance shortly after half-time (Picture: Getty)

On the significance of Liverpool’s victory, Klopp said: ‘It’s very big.

‘We needed the points, obviously, to get kind of in contact with the teams above us so it was very important.’

The German said he never doubted the spirit and togetherness of his squad despite the heavy criticism they have faced in recent weeks.

‘I was never in doubt about the togetherness of this team,’ he added.

‘The world is like this: we win a game and we show togetherness for everybody. We don’t win a game and people guess we are not together. It’s not as easy as that.

‘But it was another special week and it’s a very nice touch from Curtis [dedicating his goal to Alisson] but it was clear that it will be like this, that we try our everything for Ali.’

On Jones’ man-of-the-match display, Klopp continued: ‘There’s a lot to come from Curtis so the potential is exceptional.

‘We had a lot of talks this week, especially with video sessions as well, and we showed him just that he has to be more in his decisive areas because he’s very good with the ball, he controls the game really well.

‘That’s all really good but a player with his quality, we need him finishing situations as well.

‘Tonight that worked out really well so I’m happy about that.’

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MORE : ‘This is for you’ – Curtis Jones dedicates Liverpool goal to Alisson and his father

MORE : Ole Gunnar Solskjaer accuses ‘cheeky’ Chelsea of influencing referees after Manchester United draw


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Liverpool beat Sheffield United to bring an end to a miserable run of four league defeats (Picture: Getty) Jurgen Klopp expects to h...
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Celtic v Ferencvaros - UEFA Champions League: Second Qualifying Round
Celtic are enduring a terrible season by their standards (Picture: Getty Images)

Chris Sutton feels the next Celtic manager is in for an extremely difficult task unless numerous signings are made over the summer.

Neil Lennon resigned as Bhoys boss earlier this month with the title race all but over in Scotland.

Celtic currently sit 15 points behind Rangers and hopes of catching their bitter rivals are at an end.

John Kennedy is currently in charge of the side and is in contention to become the permanent manager, although former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is the current favourite with the bookmakers to be in charge next season.

Whoever it is who takes the reins, Sutton has serious sympathy for them given how this season has gone at Celtic Park.

‘Celtic have been sleeping this season,’ Sutton told BT Sport. ‘There’s been a lack of leadership all throughout the club and its a massive problem and they are not out of the woods just because Neil has stepped down.

‘Many Celtic fans think Neil was selfish by carrying on. Neil thought he could turn it round. On the face of it, I thought Neil should’ve stepped down after the defeat against Ross County in the League Cup back in November.

‘But now Celtic have to look forward and think about next season. The truth of the matter is that a new manager coming into Celtic, if he’s appointed in June, if he has to work with this current squad then God help him.’

Sutton has suggested a couple of managers currently in charge in the Championship as good candidates for the role in Glasgow, although they might not be the ones you would expect.

Everton FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
Eddie Howe is in contention for the Celtic job (Picture: Getty Images)

‘It’s a really, really difficult one. Maybe Celtic have something up their sleeve and will pull somebody in from the continent with a big reputation,’ he said.

‘I think somebody like Michael O’Neill has done a pretty decent job throughout his management career. Maybe have a shot for somebody like him.

‘I’ll tell you an interesting one down south. Mick McCarthy’s gone into Cardiff City and turned them around. He may not be everybody’s cup of team but you sort of know he will organise his team and get them playing a certain way.’

MORE : Roy Keane the perfect fit to become new Celtic manager, says Richard Dunne

MORE : Rangers boss Steven Gerrard keen for pint with Neil Lennon after resignation at Celtic

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Full Post Here - Chris Sutton sends message to the next Celtic manager: ‘God help him’
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Chris Sutton sends message to the next Celtic manager: ‘God help him’

Celtic are enduring a terrible season by their standards (Picture: Getty Images) Chris Sutton feels the next Celtic manager is in for...
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