LONDON, Dec 8 — Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United honeymoon is truly over after Nottingham Forest inflicted a second straight Premier League defeat on his side yesterday while Manchester City stumbled again.
Leaders Liverpool maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the table even though their match at Everton was postponed because of storms on Merseyside.
Amorim replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford last month after a terrible start to the season.
He began brightly, with a draw and two wins in his first three games.
But reality is starting to bite hard after a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Arsenal in midweek followed by Saturday’s chastening 3-2 loss to high-flying Forest, who capitalised on United’s defensive blunders.
United forward Rasmus Hojlund cancelled out Nikola Milenkovic’s early goal at Old Trafford, but Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood put the visitors in charge. Forest kept the home side at bay after Bruno Fernandes pulled one back.
United’s Andre Onana was embarrassed by a swerving Gibbs-White strike for Forest’s second while the goalkeeper, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs De Ligt all failed to deal with a looping Wood header for the third.
The win lifts Forest to fifth in the Premier League table. United are languishing in 13th spot.
“Tough game in a tough moment but we have to continue the job,” a disappointed Amorim told the BBC.
“This is a long journey. We are improving in some aspects. We have to win games to help us improve the team.
“We are in the start of something so big that we pay attention to every detail. We already know it’s a big job so we have to continue.”
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said “I’m very proud of the way we work together, build things together, from the owner to everyone else in the club.
“It’s a moment to celebrate. But for me, I’m thinking about (next week’s match against) Aston Villa.”
**City fluff chance**
Manchester City failed to win for the eighth time in nine games in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.
Pep Guardiola’s men had the chance to go second in the table but failed to build on an encouraging 3-0 win over Forest in midweek.
Daniel Munoz fired the home team ahead early but Erling Haaland’s towering header levelled the score.
The visitors started the second half strongly but were hit with a sucker punch when Maxence Lacroix powered home Will Hughes’ corner.
Rico Lewis found the top corner to level once more for City, but was then sent off six minutes from time.
“We fought incredible. We came back twice,” said Guardiola. “We gave everything and we take a point.”
Fourth-placed City are eight points behind Liverpool and a fifth straight Premier League title is looking increasingly unlikely.
The final league derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park will be rescheduled after Storm Darragh battered western regions of England with high winds and heavy rain.
Brentford enjoy the best home record in the division and made it seven wins from eight games at the Gtech Community Stadium with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Newcastle.
Bryan Mbeumo, who has been linked with a move to the Magpies, opened the scoring with a sensational individual effort.
Newcastle quickly levelled twice in the first half through Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes, either side of Yoane Wissa’s second for Brentford.
But calamitous defending cost Newcastle in the second period when Nathan Collins prodded home from goalkeeper Mark Flekken’s long ball forward.
Kevin Schade then sealed the points for the Bees.
“The players are growing, a lot of the players here for a while have taken another step up,” said Brentford boss Thomas Frank, whose team are seventh in the table.
“I would like to carry on this home form but some wins on the road would be welcome too.”
Aston Villa beat bottom-of-the-table Southampton 1-0 thanks to Jhon Duran’s goal in his first Premier League start of the season.
Liverpool’s postponement means Arsenal and Chelsea have the chance the cut the gap at the top to four points on Sunday.
The Gunners travel to Fulham while Chelsea are at Tottenham. — AFP