United News of Bangladesh

Manchester City academy player Han Willhoft-King has quit professional football to pursue a law degree at Oxford University, bringing an early end to a promising career that once saw him train alongside stars like Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. The 19-year-old London-born midfielder, who previously spent more than a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, was long regarded as a rising talent and even trained with Spurs’ first team under Antonio Conte. However, recurring injuries and a growing desire for academic life pushed him to reassess his future. Willhoft-King had initially planned to study at UCLA while playing for FC Cincinnati 2, but Manchester City’s offer in mid-2024 convinced him to delay university and attempt a final push into elite football. Despite valuable exposure with City’s U-21s and occasional sessions with the senior squad, he struggled for game time and continued to deal with injuries. He ultimately decided to sit for the LNAT (entrance exam to study law at British universities) and apply to Oxford. After being accepted into Brasenose College, he chose to step away from football entirely. Explaining his decision, Willhoft-King said he no longer enjoyed the daily grind of professional football and felt “understimulated.” “I still loved it. But I always felt I could be doing more. I was wasting hours of the day. I needed something different, and Oxford excited me — the people, too. I guess that’s the reason,” he told the English press. “We would be running after the ball like dogs for half an hour, 60 minutes. It’s not a very pleasant experience, especially when you are trying to press De Bruyne or Gündogan or Foden. You can’t get near them, so the feeling of not wanting to do this overcomes being starstruck.” Willhoft-King added there was strong logic behind his choice: “You can have a football career that lasts 10–15 years. But what happens after that? By starting university education, I will achieve a much longer-term career. I made this decision thinking a bit long-term.

Manchester City celebrated Pep Guardiola’s 1000th match as a manager with a commanding 3-0 win over defending champions Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. With the victory, the Citizens moved up to second in the Premier League table, closing the gap with leaders Arsenal to four points. Liverpool came into the with a midweek Champions League victory against Real Madrid, but lost rhythm immediately after kick-off. Aside from an early penalty save, Arne Slot’s men struggled to create anything meaningful, while City stretched the lead through Erling Haaland, Nico González and Jérémy Doku. City earned a penalty in the 9th minute when Doku weaved past two defenders and went down after contact with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Following a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, but Mamardashvili dived to his left to deny Haaland. With Mamardashvili’s save, City have now failed to score from four of their last five penalties against Liverpool. In contrast, no goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues has saved more penalties than the Georgian shot-stopper (6) since the start of the 2023-24 season. The miss did not keep City waiting long. In the 29th minute, Matheus Nunes whipped in a cross from the right and Haaland headed in to break the deadlock. The 25-year-old Norwegian, the league’s top scorer, has now netted 14 goals in 11 Premier League matches, and 28 in 18 games across all competitions for club and country this season. His league tally now stands at 99 goals in 108 matches.

Richarlison thought he had clinched a victory for Tottenham in the first minute of stoppage time, but the drama was far from over. Five minutes later, in the penultimate minute of the match, Matthijs de Ligt silenced the home fans with a stunning header to earn Manchester United a well-deserved point. The Red Devils drew 2-2 with Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. The visitors took the lead when Bryan Mbeumo, who was named Premier League Player of the Month on Friday, came back to haunt his former manager Thomas Frank, guiding in Amad Diallo’s cross in the 32nd minute. That was the only shot on target for either side in the first half, although the hosts dominated possession with 55 percent. After the break, Tottenham piled pressure on the United defence, creating chances one after another. However, Ruben Amorim’s men stayed well-organised, denying all attacks and looking for a second goal whenever they regained possession. But it was Mathys Tel who found the equaliser for Tottenham six minutes before time. Richarlison then thought he had won it for the hosts with a clever flicked header a minute into stoppage time, but de Ligt ensured the Red side of Manchester would return with at least a point from north London. With the result, United stretched their unbeaten run to five matches, while Tottenham have now gone eight games without defeat against United. The draw saw Tottenham move up to third place with 18 points from 11 matches, seven points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of the rest of the weekend fixtures. United also have 18 points but sit seventh due to an inferior goal difference. The Premier League will pause for the international break over the next fortnight. When it returns, Tottenham will face leaders Arsenal on Sunday, November 23, while United will host Everton the following evening.

Erling Haaland delivered another masterclass on Sunday as Manchester City beat high-flying Bournemouth 3-1, climbing into second place in the Premier League. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the 17th minute and doubled the lead in the 33rd. In between, Bournemouth’s USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams pulled one back in the 25th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, Nico O’Reilly sealed the victory for the hosts with a goal in the 60th minute of the game. With his brace, Haaland has moved onto 13 goals in the Premier League this season—more than twice any other player. He also achieved a rare record, becoming only the third player ever to score two or more goals in four or more consecutive Premier League home appearances, after Robbie Fowler (4 in 1995-96) and Luis Suárez (5 in 2013). Barcelona narrow gap with Real Madrid with a 3-1 win over Elche Arsenal remain well ahead at the summit of the table with 25 points from 10 games, but this win keeps Pep Guardiola's side within touching distance. The gap is now six points, while Bournemouth drop to fourth in the table with 18 points. The gap is now six points, while Bournemouth drop to fourth with 18 points. Liverpool have collected the same number of points as the Cherries but sit third due to goal difference. The Blue half of Manchester will host Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League match on Wednesday before facing Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will look to return to winning ways on Sunday at Villa Park.

Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League, defeating Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday. The night brought extra joy for the Reds’ fans as Mohamed Salah reached a major milestone, scoring his 250th goal for the club across all competitions. The Egyptian star put Liverpool ahead following a rare error by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, and Ryan Gravenberch later sealed the victory. Salah became only the third Liverpool player to reach 250 goals in all competitions, joining club legends Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346). The victory also ended a poor run for Arne Slot’s men, who had lost six of their previous seven matches across all competitions. After four consecutive league defeats, Liverpool finally tasted victory, while Villa suffered their first defeat following four straight league wins. With this win, Liverpool moved up to third in the Premier League with 18 points from ten matches. Bournemouth, with the same points but one game fewer, sit second, while Arsenal lead the table with 25 points from ten matches. Aston Villa are in 11th place with 15 points. Liverpool dominated possession with 54 percent and created 16 shots, four of which were on target. Villa managed ten shots, three on target. Villa could have taken an early lead in the fifth minute when English winger Morgan Rogers’ powerful effort from outside the box hit the post. In the 19th minute, Matty Cash’s shot was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Liverpool’s Dominic Szoboszlai had a chance in the 23rd minute after a Villa error, but Martínez kept the goal intact. He denied another attempt from Szoboszlai in the 33rd minute. In the 43rd minute, Hugo Ekitike headed the ball into Villa’s net, but the effort was ruled out for offside. In the first minute of added time in the first half, Martínez made a critical mistake that allowed Liverpool to take the lead. Receiving a back-pass from defender Pau Torres, Martínez miscontrolled the ball while attempting a return pass; it was not directed toward Torres. Salah reacted quickly to find the net with a tap-in, leaving Martínez helpless. Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 58th minute. From outside the box, Gravenberch’s shot, set up by Alexis Mac Allister, deflected off Torres and went into the net. Both sides had chances in the remaining minutes, but neither could convert. Earlier in the night, Chelsea defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0, moving into fifth place with 17 points from ten matches. Tottenham, with the same points, sit fourth.

Manchester United’s three-match winning streak came to an end as they were held to a 2–2 draw by Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening. Despite taking an early lead at the City Ground, United had to settle for a point after the visitors fought back to equalize late in the match. Ruben Amorim’s men showed great determination throughout the match, but were forced to settle for a draw after failing to capitalize on several chances late in the game. Casemiro put United ahead in the first half, giving the visitors a 1–0 lead at the break. However, Nottingham turned the game around in dramatic fashion early in the second half, scoring twice within just 90 seconds to go 2–1 up. Ramos’ last-minute goal seals PSG victory over Nice The hosts’ solid defensive display appeared to secure them all three points, but the Red Devil’s relentless pressure finally paid off in the 81st minute when Amad Diallo equalized to make it 2–2. In the closing minutes, the visitors pressed harder for a winner but were unable to find the net again, leaving them with a single point from the match. With the draw, Manchester United moved up to fifth in the table with 17 points from 10 matches, recording five wins and two draws. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, continue to struggle near the relegation zone, sitting 18th with just six points from the same number of games. Arsenal consolidate Premier League lead with dominant 2–0 win over Burnley  

Arsenal produced a dominant display at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 2–0 victory over Burnley on Saturday to consolidate their grip on the top of the English Premier League standings. The victory extended Arsenal’s impressive form, following a flawless October in which they won all six matches across all competition without conceding a single goal. Mikel Arteta’s men were on the front foot from the start, opening the scoring in the 14th minute through Viktor Gyökeres. Declan Rice’s corner found Gabriel Magalhães, who set up Gyökeres for a composed finish past the Burnley goalkeeper. Ramos’ last-minute goal seals PSG victory over Nice Maintaining their attacking rhythm, Arsenal kept Burnley under constant pressure and created several opportunities to extend the margin. In the 32nd minute, Bukayo Saka’s powerful effort was brilliantly saved, while Leandro Trossard’s rebound was cleared off the line by a Burnley defender. Just three minutes later, Rice doubled the lead with a precise header from Trossard’s pinpoint cross during a swift counterattack. Arteta’s side continued to press after the break but failed to convert further chances, leaving Rice’s strike as the decisive goal of the match. Arsenal dominated possession with 54 percent and registered 12 shots, eight of which were on target. Burnley, despite having 46 percent possession, failed to register a single shot on target from their three attempts. Manchester United’s winning run ends with 2–2 draw against Nottingham With the victory, Arsenal moved to 25 points from 10 matches, with eight wins and one draw, solidifying their position at the summit of the Premier League table. Burnley, meanwhile, remain near the relegation zone with just 10 points from as many games.

Sunderland continued to impress on their return to the English Premier League after an eight-year absence, defeating Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge thanks to substitute Chemsdine Talbi’s curling strike deep into stoppage time. With this win, Sunderland climbed to second place in the points table with 17 points from nine matches, just two points behind leaders Arsenal. The Gunners, however, can extend the gap as they are set to play their ninth-round fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Chelsea took the lead in the fourth minute through Alejandro Garnacho, but Wilson Isidor equalized in the 22nd before Talbi’s dramatic winner in the third minute of second-half stoppage time sealed the victory for the visitors. “We know we are Sunderland. We have a great team with great players. We knew we could do the job, and we showed it today,” Talbi said in a post-match interview. “We knew against Chelsea we would have a chance to score, and when Brian got the ball, I knew I had to follow. Then I had a good finish,” he added. Chelsea, who could have moved up to second with a win, slipped to seventh, behind their London rivals Tottenham.

Struggling Manchester United surprised Premier League fans with a spectacular 2-1 win away from home over reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield. Harry Maguire’s late header secured United’s first victory at the ground in almost a decade. It was also the first time United have won back-to-back league games under Ruben Amorim. The last time they triumphed at Anfield was in January 2016. Liverpool, meanwhile, have now lost four games in a row in all competitions for the first time since November 2014. United took just 62 seconds to go ahead in the game — the quickest Premier League goal at Anfield between these two sides — when Amad Diallo’s diagonal pass found Bryan Mbeumo, who beat Liverpool’s goalkeeper to give his side an early lead. Arne Slot’s men piled pressure on the visitors after conceding but were unable to find an equaliser before the break. They kept up the intensity after the restart, and Cody Gakpo brought Liverpool level in the 78th minute with a close-range tap-in. However, United were in no mood to settle for a point. Led by captain Bruno Fernandes, they pushed forward again, and Maguire scored the winning goal just six minutes later. Liverpool were a bit unlucky, creating numerous chances to score, but failing to convert any. Gakpo could have earned a penalty in the 18th minute when his volley struck Diallo’s hand and deflected wide, but referee Michael Oliver decided not to award a spot-kick. Gakpo also hit the crossbar three times, including once in stoppage time when Liverpool came close to equalising again. With this victory, United climbed to ninth place with 13 points from eight matches, while Liverpool missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Arsenal, who top the table with 19 points from the same number of games. The Reds sit fourth with 15 points, having won five of their eight league matches. Liverpool will visit Frankfurt on Wednesday to face Eintracht in the Champions League before returning to league action away at Brentford next Saturday. United’s next game is at home to Brighton on Saturday. Brighton have won their last three games at Old Trafford. So, that will be another test for the Red Devils — one they will be eager to overcome to continue their progress.

In a dramatic and highly charged encounter at St James’ Park, Arsenal staged a sensational late turnaround, scoring two headed goals in the final minutes to snatch a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. The win sees the Gunners move to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, who suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace. Arsenal, the Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, started with intent in the sixth round of the league on Sunday. They appeared to have earned an early breakthrough when referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty for Nick Pope’s challenge on Viktor Gyokeres. But after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was controversially overturned, leaving the visiting camp furious. Despite that setback, Mikel Arteta’s men continued to press forward, with Leandro Trossard striking the post and Eberechi Eze forcing two fine saves from the inspired Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when record signing Nick Woltemade rose to head in Sandro Tonali’s cross from the left. Martinelli rescues Arsenal with stoppage-time strike against Man City That goal looked like it would be enough for the Magpies as they clung on deep into the second half. But Arteta’s men refused to relent. With six minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Mikel Merino flicked in a precise cross from Declan Rice to level the score. The equalizer ignited a fresh wave of belief for the visitors, who piled more pressure on the Newcastle backline. Deep into stoppage time, their persistence paid off. In the sixth minute of added time, Gabriel Magalhães rose highest to meet a right-wing corner from Martin Ødegaard, heading home the winner and sparking wild celebrations among the players and traveling fans. The victory lifts Arsenal back into second place in the Premier League standings. Crucially, it also ensured the north Londoners closed the gap at the top following Liverpool’s shock defeat at Crystal Palace a night earlier. The Gunners now have 13 points from six games, comprising four wins and a draw. Liverpool currently sit atop the table with 15 points from the same number of matches. For Newcastle, the defeat leaves them in 15th place with only six points. Both teams will now turn their attention to European competition. Arsenal return to Champions League action with a home tie against Olympiakos, while Newcastle travel to face Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday night.