Ruben Amorim was left to explain another Manchester United defeat as they lost at Brentford with the Premier League teams told they need to invest if they want better refereeing
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Ruben Amorim was left to digest another Man Utd defeat
Ruben Amorim was left to digest another Man Utd defeat
Manchester United and Arsenal were both left to digest defeats at the weekend with the Red Devils shipping four at Brentford as Ruben Amorim named a much changed line-up.
The Gunners meanwhile are now looking over their shoulder with Manchester City closing in on them in second. Pep Guardiola's side continued their winning run on Friday, furthering their Champions League push, and now sit just three points off Mikel Arteta's side.
Liverpool meanwhile played for the first time as champions as they headed to Chelsea. In the hunt for the top five Newcastle rescued a late point at Brighton whilst Aston Villa secured a crucial win over Fulham.
Three games remain in the Premier League season with all eyes on the hunt for the Champions League. Before that Arsenal will look to recover their European tie at PSG as we take a look at what's making the headlines.
Amorim confident on improvements despite no wins in six
The United manager has "no doubt they are playing better" despite them shipping four during their loss in west London. The Red Devils are without a win in six - losing four of those matches.
READ MORE: Man Utd fall short at Brentford as Ruben Amorim plan left in ruins - 5 talking pointsREAD MORE: Man Utd suffer Matthijs De Ligt injury blow as Ruben Amorim rips up Europa League plan
In the process they've conceded four at Newcastle and Brentford whilst goals had been a problem. Their coach though insists they are moving in the right direction but has maintained that their focus is on their European campaign after making mass changed to his team.
He said: "I have no doubt that we are playing better. So we have to take all the heat. At this moment we are losing games in the Premier League. We are fighting for the Europe league and Thursday is the most important game for us."
Amorim also added: "We started well, we controlled quite well and then throw-ins and set-pieces was a problem for us, but that is normal for us because we didn't have the height with the team."
Howard Webb has made it cleat that more investment is needed
Howard Webb has made it cleat that more investment is needed
Ref warning to clubs
Howard Webb will tell Premier League clubs that they must invest in long-term budgets if they want to see an improvement in the officiating across the division. The Professional Match Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief will reportedly announce new losses of nearly £1million next week.
That figure comes in additions to losses suffered last year that saw a £379,000 figures adjusted to £1.8m. That means the group now have a loss of £3.4m totalled over the last three years.
Webb will make it clears to those across the topflight that they will need to increase their budgets if they want to see the standard of refereeing improve. VAR's introduction back in 2019 has added greater scrutiny but has also seen a huge rise in costs.
Scott McTominay has been a huge hit at Napoli
Scott McTominay has been a huge hit at Napoli
Ole hammers McTominay sale
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has doubled down on his claim that United made a huge blunder by selling Scott McTominay. The Red Devils academy was allowed quit Old Trafford last summer and headed to Italy with Napoli. He cost the Serie A leaders £21m and the midfielder has gone on to be an inspired signing - scoring 12 times as he eyes a title triumph.
McTominay was a favourite under Solskjaer throughout his time in charge in Manchester and he often stuck by the Scot, despite calls for him to drop the player in favour of an upgrade. Now the decision to let him go looks a shocker and the former United boss is stunned.
He told the BBC : "Scott and Fred together, they were lads you would put your hat on every day to give 100%. How you can sell Scott is beyond me."
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