Manchester United

As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.

But who is looking most likely to be playing their football outside the top flight next season?

It is bad news for fans of the teams who made their return to the Premier League this campaign.

According to the Opta Supercomputer's simulations, Southampton - rooted to the bottom of the table on just six points - are all but guaranteed to be playing Championship football again next term with a 99.47% chance of being relegated.

The picture is also not a rosy one for Leicester City and Ipswich Town supporters, who occupy the other two relegation spots. The Supercomputer does not see too much change there - the Foxes and the Tractor Boys having a 74.61% and 70.81% chance of relegation respectively.

It is better news for Wolves under new head coach Vitor Pereira, with Wanderers now having only a 39.21% chance of a Championship return, while Everton fans will be pleased to see they have just a 12.52% chance as they hope to see Premier League football in their new stadium next season.

Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brentford can all breathe easier with Opta predicting just a 1.68%, 0.81% and 0.72% chance of relegation respectively.

And what about Manchester United after new boss Ruben Amorim declared them to be facing a relegation battle? Well, it is good news for Red Devils fans as the chance of them actually playing Championship football next campaign is just 0.11%.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport Journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Liverpool (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Amorim said that Marcus Rashford, who has missed the past five matches and has been linked with a move away from the club, has not trained this week because of illness and "is going to be out this week".

• United have triggered a 12-month extension to the contract of centre-back Harry Maguire, while winger Amad Diallo is "near" to agreeing an extension to his current deal, which runs out in June.

• On former club captain Maguire's leadership skills: "He needs to improve as a leader because we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader, he has to improve that part and he has to improve our game."

• On how Joshua Zirkzee has coped with the poor reception he received from fans when being substituted against Newcastle: "He had that situation during a game, which is really hard for any player, but this can happen. He is focused and he trained very well. We have to move on and pass to the next game."

• Amorim was tight-lipped about transfer plans, saying "I will keep that to myself" - but he added: "We will try to do something."

• On Liverpool, Amorim said that while the league leaders had been the best team this season, in one match "anything can happen".

• He added: "In the moment they are better than us, but we can win any game. We have to focus not on the context but on the performance. We need to improve the simple things to play these kinds of games."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Liverpool v Man Utd at 16:30 on Sunday

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says Manchester United "have much better players than the league table shows at the moment", before Ruben Amorim takes his side to Anfield on Sunday.

United, who are currently 14th place in the Premier League, lost six games in all competitions in December as Ruben Amorim's tenure got off to a less than perfect start.

"Every manager sympathises with every other manager," Slot said. "We all know how much pressure this job brings. It is something we like.

"He [Amorim] has done so well at Sporting and I think he has a good squad of players so he will eventually bring the best out of them."

In contrast, Slot has had a near-perfect start to life at Anfield and insisted he will need to field a strong starting XI if his side are to continue their winning ways.

"Of course we're not going to plan to rest any players because it's a big game," he added.

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Liverpool have lost just one of their past 13 Premier League games against Manchester United (won seven and drawn five).

United have not won any of their previous eight league away games at Anfield (drawn four and lost four), which is their longest run since a sequence of nine between 1970 and 1979.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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There is a little bit of uncertainty over the extent of Saudi Pro-League interest in Marcus Rashford, with some sources saying there have been offers, others saying there is firm interest and others distancing themselves - but it all boils down to the same thing.

Rashford is not interested in moving there.

The Manchester United forward still has England ambitions and feels they would be best served by staying in Europe.

It has been stressed from both sides there has been no significant fall-out between Rashford and head coach Ruben Amorim. However, Amorim was critical of Rashford's performance in training and his general attitude ahead of the Manchester derby last month.

After leaving Rashford out of four games completely, Amorim restored the 27-year-old to his squad for the Newcastle game on Monday.

That Rashford remained on the bench throughout as United suffered a fourth straight defeat and their third without scoring told its own story.

I suspect there will be a move for Rashford before the transfer window closes, probably on loan initially, but it may take a while to sort.

If there is mixed messaging about the extent of Saudi interest in Rashford, there is none about Manchester United's profit and sustainability position.

United have very little chance of adding new players to head coach Ruben Amorim's squad without getting some out.

There is a long list of players they would be willing to trade - Brazilian duo Casemiro and Antony for a start - but they are on such huge wages, it is not entirely clear which clubs would be keen to sign them.

Paris St-Germain defender Nuno Mendes has been mentioned as a potential signing but the Portuguese is in contract negotiations with the French club, so United may be being used as a bargaining chip.

Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, has rejected three bids from clubs in Saudi Arabia worth up to £35m a year. (Mail), external

However, United could use Rashford to tempt Napoli into a swap deal for 26-year-old Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen. (Sun), external

Borussia Dortmund and Paris St-Germain are also showing renewed interest in United academy graduate Rashford. (Teamtalk), external

United could sanction three loan deals in January to free up funds in their £80m pursuit of 26-year-old Sweden and Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres. (i Sport), external

Ivory Coast forward Amad Diallo, 22, is on the brink of signing a contract extension at Old Trafford. (Express), external

Juventus could pursue a loan deal for United's Netherlands left-back Tyrell Malacia, 25, until the end of the season. (TuttoMercato - in Italian), external

Finally, United are looking for ways to offload Brazil winger Antony in January, with Real Betis showing interest in a loan move for the 24-year-old. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

After Josh Windass' stunning hit from his own half for Sheffield Wednesday against Derby, BBC Sport has taken a look at some other goals scored from way, way out in English football.

David Beckham (Wimbledon v Manchester United, 1996)

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Probably the most famous goal on the list - or most lists for that matter - and one that really launched the future England captain's career.

It was the last minute of the opening day of the 1996-97 season and a loose ball ran to young Manchester United midfielder David Beckham just inside his own half.

The 21-year-old looked up, spotted Wimbledon goalkeeper Neil Sullivan off his line and went for it with a fantastic arcing shot that sailed into the net.

Some newspapers claimed it was the greatest goal ever scored, while legendary United team-mate Eric Cantona was also full of praise.

"Good goal, David," is what the Frenchman reportedly said, external.

Hard to disagree.

See which other goals made the list and choose your favourite

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Marcus Rashford has publicly rejected a newspaper story suggesting he had met representatives of a leading football agency to help smooth an exit out of Manchester United this month.

Rashford put a copy of the story on his social media feed and added: "Been a lot of false stories written over the past few weeks but guys this is getting ridiculous - never met with any agency and don't have any plans to....'

Yet Rashford's post leaves many unanswered questions.

The 27-year-old returned to Ruben Amorim's squad for Monday's home defeat by Newcastle. But he remained on the bench throughout, even though United lost their fourth game in a row and have not scored in their past three.

Amorim has not said specifically what the issue is but it is hard to see Rashford having a long-term future at Old Trafford.

However, the market for one of United's highest earners is not extensive and it is felt a major agency would have more chance of manipulating a deal because they have extensive contacts.

Rashford has had his say over the story - but his United future remains open to doubt.

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On New Year's Day 2021, Bruno Fernandes scored the winning goal against Aston Villa to put Manchester United level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

Four years on, the club have lost almost half of their Premier League games so far this season and sit 14th in the table. A defeat at league leaders Liverpool on Sunday could leave them just a handful of points clear of the relegation zone.

Victory against arch rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final seems like an eternity ago, and the capability to step up when it matters most is long gone.

The Red Devils needs to get almost everything right in 2025 if they hope to get back on track.

Manchester United will try to sign Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26, from Sporting this month in a bid to save their season, but a deal is expected to cost £80m. (Mirror), external

Meanwhile, United are open to offers for Brazil midfielder Casemiro as well as Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen, both 32, and 30-year-old Sweden defender Victor Lindelof in January. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Arsenal have considered a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, but are unwilling to pay more than £25m for the 27-year-old England international. (Football Transfers), external

Rashford has denied holding discussions with an agency to try to engineer a transfer away from Manchester United this month. (Manchester Evening News), external

Manager Ruben Amorim will allow 17-year-old English left-back Harry Amass and English midfielder Dan Gore, 20, to leave Manchester United on loan in January. (Mirror), external

Finally, United's £900 million kit deal with Adidas could be terminated by the German sportswear giant if the club were relegated from the Premier League. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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We asked what Manchester United's New Year resolutions should be.

Here are some of your replies:

Pete: Stop gifting easy goals to the opposition, Christmas is over and fair play you did give away plenty of gifts, but now the season of giving is over so pack it in.

Paul: Hard work by the entire team, both on and off the pitch. Park their egos and show everyone that they are playing for the club and not just for the money. In that way they might just earn the right to play for our fantastic club and might even become future heroes to the very patient fans.

Merhawi: To somehow see out the rest of the season, try to get at least top 10 and focus on winning the Europa League, so that we can get into the Champions League next year.

Stuart: Sell the deadwood, be lethal. Those who aren't showing up, or have any egos that take priority over the club - sell. This season is already a write-off, unless we can turn things around enough to go deep into the Europa League.

Andy: We must stop deluding ourselves that European managers who have won league titles abroad but have no Premier League experience can get this uncompetitive squad performing at the level required.

Christopher: Rebuild morale and optimism for all stakeholders involved in the club - players, staff, sponsors and fans. The club's owners should be mindful that they are stewards of a historic club that exists to serve its fans. This should be reflected in all aspects of the club's long-term transformation programme, particularly decisions that affect people and the ability of Manchester United to continue to build on its proud legacy.

Paul: 100% effort all of the time, every time.

Guy: Show us times have changed by selling the most marketable high-profile players, like Garnacho, Bruno and Rashford, who are not delivering for the team. Focus on the team rather than the individual.

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"If Joshua Zirkzee has the mentality to be a Manchester United player he will pull his socks up and he will come back from this," said BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater on the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast.

"If he hasn't, and I don't think he does considering the way he went straight down the tunnel, then he will have a short time at the club."

Drinkwater is referring to Zirkzee being booed off the Old Trafford pitch with just 32 minutes on the clock as Manchester United trailed Newcastle 2-0 on 30 December.

He was replaced by Kobbie Mainoo as Ruben Amorim was forced to address a gaping hole in the Red Devils' midfield.

Joe McGrath added: "I'm not a massive Zrikzee fan but I think it was poor man-management from Amorim.

"It was 12 minutes from half-time and the bad performance was more on the defenders than the attackers. Highlighting him in front of 70,000 very angry fans - it was inevitable he was booed.

"At 22-years-old he was booed off by fans and I don't agree with that.

"I don't think a single one of these players is good enough if we want to get back to the top.

"Maybe that is not the aim right now and it is just about climbing to become a top six team again, before going on to top four and challenging."

Listen to the Devils' Advocate podcast on BBC Sounds

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim "needs to change something to get the confidence back into the players," says former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

"I personally think Amorim's had enough time to look at the players," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We have seen enough now to know that these guys are not able to play the system that he wants. So what the best managers do, is they adapt. You have to adapt.

"One thing that's always guaranteed in life is change, and Amorim has to change. For me, I see the naivety in underestimating how competitive the Premier League is. Every game is a tough test.

"Their next three games are Liverpool, Arsenal in the cup and Southampton - which is a six-pointer now. A draw is not good enough for United. If they draw against Southampton, they're in a relegation battle.

"Amorim needs to make the change, not just for his job security but for the confidence of the players."

Following the heavy defeat to Newcastle, in which Bruno Fernandes was suspended, United's midfielders have come under scrutiny as Amorim opted to start Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

"Regardless of who Amorim pairs in midfield, they don't have that balance and they don't have that quality," added Reo-Coker. "Amorim has to take a lot of the responsibility for the starting line-up he put out.

"I look at this philosophy of what he's trying to implement, and I look at this back three - how does the Newcastle player get into the box with a back three, unmarked? That for me just shows that this philosophy isn't going to work, and the players are definitely losing confidence.

"If the players are not buying into the system and they're losing games, it becomes a very lonely road, and you start going down that slippery slope with the players losing their confidence. He needs to change something to get the confidence back into the players. That's the most important thing."

Manchester United have no budget to reinforce their squad in January and would have to sell before buying to comply with profitability and sustainability and Financial Fair Play rules. (Manchester Evening News), external

Liverpool could rival Manchester United for the signing of 21-year-old Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. (Caught Offside), external

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham have joined United and Manchester City in showing interest in Barcelona's 26-year-old Spain forward Dani Olmo. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Former Everton captain Izzy Christiansen believes that Manchester United players have "become accustomed to quite low standards" in recent seasons, after Ruben Amorim's side fell to their third straight home loss for the first time in 45 years.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast after Newcastle left Old Trafford with three points, Christiansen said: "This performance was not good at all. There is nothing that I could personally take from this and say I knew exactly what they were trying to do.

"But I don't think that is a reflection on [Ruben] Amorim, I think this performance was more of a reflection on the players.

"I think the standards that have dropped at this football club are deeply engrained in these players. It has been happening for a long time now and the players have become accustomed to holding each other accountable to quite low standards.

"It is going to take a long time for Amorim to try and lift things up. He has tried things - he has dropped Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho - but it seems like each week there are different news stories coming out of Carrington around a player's behaviour or something like that.

"The spotlight is on Ruben Amorim - and he is taking it - but these players, no matter who your manager is, cannot play like that. It is a matter of personal pride."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans:

Rowan: Complete shambles of a game for us, the players we have are simply not good enough to keep United as high up the table as we have been historically. It's time to accept we are a mid to low table team, at least for now. We must stick with Amorim, as painful as it is for now, but it's time for a major clear out and entire squad rebuild if we want any chance of competing for trophies again.

Andy: Absolute shocker. Amorim was not the right choice, he's out of his depth. Can't see them winning either of the next two games. Relegation is a real possibility, if that happens it will be a long road back.

Ian: Dire, clueless and embarrassing. United can't defend, keep possession, pass or score and the keeper's rooted to his goal line most of the time. Ralf Rangnick's comment about needing major heart surgery was over two years and two managers ago and we've not seen much change since. Championship football next season is becoming more likely by the week.

Dave: Where do you start with this United team? Lack of fight, lack of effort, lack of confidence, lack of quality. Casemiro was awful, Zirkzee made zero effort - that can't be acceptable at any club. Eriksen was a decent midfielder seven or eight years ago - he's never had an engine and we don't have the legs around him to allow him to be a playmaker. We desperately need some width on the left and some legs in midfield. I really want this new manager to work out (I also wanted ten Hag to work out) but he's got to find some answers sharpish.

Newcastle fans:

Phil: Another brilliant performance tonight from the Toon, even though Man Utd were woeful. Tactical genius yet again from Eddie as he tweaks the roles of Bruno and Tonali. The midfield is now working really well. Isak proving he is the best striker in the league. Well done Toon!

Garrett: Another comfortable win for Newcastle. Bruno absolutely outstanding, Isak unplayable at times, and Hall is slowly becoming the best left-back in the league. After a slow start, four wins on the bounce puts us in an incredible position at the end of 2024.

Kirk: Another strong and confident performance from Newcastle - solid at the back and scoring goals again. We've hit a purple patch of form and out ourselves in contention for European football again. Unbelievable to think we've scored more goals in December alone then we did combined for the months August to November. Howay the Lads.

Ricky: Newcastle United are indeed united. They have weathered a rough patch of defending during early season to come out of it looking tight. Yes, they get the odd error here and there, but who doesn't.

How come the vast improvement? Tonali, the Italian has been awesome since Eddie Howe moved him into the holding midfield role. He spots danger early then eradicates it with ease. Once on the ball he moves confidently with it to deliver an amazing array of accurate passing often followed by being in the right place to receive again in the danger areas.

Don't get me wrong, this is by no means a one man team, it's just that with the confidence oozing from Tonali, his colleagues feed on it, and respond accordingly. This makes Newcastle much more difficult to break down then they respond with freedom and pace moving forward.

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Former Manchester United manager David Moyes says his former side is "the biggest club in the world" and the pressure is "absolutely different" to anywhere else.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live Breakfast after being awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours list, the Scot was asked about what the pressure is like at Manchester United.

"Abosolutely different," he said. "It's a club where, when you go in, you won't realise that every front and back page of newspapers, anywhere in the world - talk about Manchester United.

"It's just so big, so worldly renowned. That's why from my point of view, I see it as the biggest club in the world.

"It will not be making good news because of the position they are in now is not a position Manchester United would be used to.

"I'm sure there's probably been times where it's been that way, but I think at the moment, they'll be disappointed that they're not doing better in the league."

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"It is a relegation fight for Manchester United now," former midfielder Jesper Blomqvist has told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

Following Monday's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, United will end the year in 14th place in the Premier League, their lowest position at the turn of a year in the league since 1989, when they sat 15th.

"I don't think anyone wants to let Ruben Amorim down," Blomqvist said. "But the team are really looking out of form and there is no confidence at all.

"I admire Amorim and I think he's being really honest all the time. I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel but it's hard at the moment."

On Joshua Zirkzee being substituted in the first-half, he added: "It's going to take a lot for him to rise up again. I admire Ruben for making that change after only 30 minutes for the best of the team."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United have got themselves into a real old mess.

It was clear Ruben Amorim's appointment represented a significant tactical change for the players he was inheriting following his mid-season move from Sporting.

But I doubt anyone thought the bedding-in process would be quite so tortuous.

It seems obvious some of the players are uncomfortable with the switch to a three-man defence and wing-backs, which led to Amorim being asked after the 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle whether he was willing to change his system.

The answer was an emphatic no.

"I have to sell my idea," he said. "If I change all the time it is going to be even worse.

"I understand they have a lot of difficulties because they spent two years playing one way and now they are playing another. With a lot of losses, it is really tough on them. You can feel it, during the game I can feel it but I have to sell my idea because I don't have another one.

"When you have a change of coach, especially in this type of club, it is because they were not winning. They played in the system they were bought for and were chosen perfectly for that system. After two years, working in pre-season, they were losing.

"So am I going to change to that system to something that I don't believe in? That doesn't make sense."