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• FC Dallas v Houston Dynamo: Arriola says hosts must pay supporters back

  Midfielder Paul Arriola says FC Dallas need to start paying their supporters back in Saturday's Texas derby against the Houston Dynamo, having failed to impress in the early stages of the season.

  Dallas sit 13th in the Western Conference standings with just five points from eight matches in 2024, their only victory coming against the San Jose Earthquakes in their season opener.

  They have only taken two points from seven matches since then, putting head coach Nico Estevez under pressure. 

  However, Arriola says a clash with their biggest rivals at Toyota Stadium represents a chance to put things right.

  "Our fans have been great all season, we haven't shown up for them. It is motivation for us to go and beat Houston on Saturday and obtain three points," he said. 

  Dallas were beaten 2-1 by the Colorado Rapids last time out, leading Estevez to question his players' character. 

  "We turned up with fear, lacking in determination and character," the Dallas boss said after that match.

  "It is very difficult to play like that because Colorado are one of the hardest working teams in the league on both sides of the ball."

  Houston, meanwhile, are preparing for a second straight meeting with a state rival, having suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Austin FC – their third loss of the year – last week.

  Star midfielder Hector Herrera made his first appearance of the season from the bench in that match, playing 30 minutes after recovering from a groin injury.

  Head coach Ben Olsen said of the Mexican's return: "You can see when he comes on the field, the game changes for the better in some areas.

  "Right after he came on, the pressure was turned up on them. We got into so many dangerous spots, but still that connection in the box just wasn't there."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH 

  FC Dallas – Petar Musa

  Musa is the only Dallas player with multiple goals to his name in MLS this season, having netted his second goal of 2024 in last week's loss to Colorado. 

  Can he provide attacking inspiration for a team with just seven goals in eight games this year? 

  Houston Dynamo – Hector Herrera 

  While it remains to be seen whether Herrera is ready for a start, he could have a sizeable impact upon his return to action.

  Last season, the Mexican led all Houston players for chances created (77), passes into the final third (835) and assists (13) in MLS play.

  MATCH PREDICTION – FC DALLAS WIN

  Dallas have made their second-worst start to an MLS campaign, only taking fewer than five points by this stage of a season when they earned four in 2009. They did, however, go on to make the playoffs that year.

  With home advantage on their side, perhaps things will start to turn on Saturday. The Dynamo haven't won consecutive away MLS matches within a single season for almost 11 years, and they won their last road game 2-1 against Minnesota United.

  Dallas tend to turn up for the derby, having gone unbeaten through their last 13 regular-season home matches against Houston (eight wins, five draws) in a run which stretches back to September 2011.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  FC Dallas – 44.6% 

  Houston Dynamo – 26.5%

  Draw – 28.9%

• Man Utd matchwinner Fernandes: Criticism part of the job

  Bruno Fernandes said Manchester United's players cannot afford to get annoyed by outside criticism, after he scored twice to fire the Red Devils to a much-needed win over Sheffield United.

  Erik ten Hag's team were roundly criticised for their performance in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City, as they surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 before inching through in a penalty shoot-out.

  They had also gone four Premier League games without a win (three draws, one defeat) prior to Wednesday's meeting with the rock-bottom Blades, with their hopes of Champions League football all-but over.

  They twice trailed as Sheffield United threatened a huge upset, but Fernandes scored twice and supplied an assist as they fought back to claim a 4-2 win.

  Asked whether the noise around Sunday's semi-final win had affected the mood at Old Trafford, Fernandes told Sky Sports: "That's part of the job. 

  "You can be in a run of games where you win eight or nine in a row, and when you lose one you know you'll be criticised. 

  "Being at Manchester United demands winning every game, so it's part of the job. If there is anyone in the dressing room still not used to that, they will get used to it!

  "Being a Manchester United player demands being ready to receive as much criticism as praise. We receive praise when we do good things so we can't be annoyed by the criticism.

  "When people want to do that, they might have a point. We can think in a different way, but we have to take it in the same way as we take the credit they give us."

  Ten Hag's team did look disjointed for long periods on Wednesday, though, and they have now conceded 50 Premier League goals this season.

  The Red Devils have now shipped a half-century of goals in two of their last three Premier League campaigns, having done so just once in their previous 29.

  Ten Hag, though, was content with most aspects of their performance, saying: "It was a good game for the crowd, they saw four goals and many chances that we created.

  "I think we played quite well, we created many more chances, so there's many positives. But also negatives. Conceding two goals from giveaways, that's unacceptable.

  "We want to play dynamic, attacking football. That is what we want to see. Since the winter we have created lots of chances and also scored a lot of those chances."

• Premier League record falls as 2023-24 becomes most goal-laden 20-team season

  The current Premier League season has become the most goal-laden 20-team campaign in the competition's history, with Harry Maguire the unlikely man to seal 2023-24's place in history.

  Maguire scored Manchester United's first equaliser as they twice fought from behind to clinch a 4-2 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday, with Bruno Fernandes netting twice in the second half.

  The centre-back's 42nd-minute header was a significant moment, representing the 1,085th goal scored in the Premier League this term.

  That is the most ever scored in a season containing 20 teams, since 1995-96.

  The 2022-23 season saw 1,084 goals scored, a tally that was reached on the final day to surpass the previous 20-team record of 1,072, set in 2018-19.

  It was somewhat fitting for the record-breaking goal to be conceded by Sheffield United, who have certainly played their part in making 2023-24 the most goal-laden season to date. 

  The Blades have now shipped 92 goals this term, the most ever conceded in a 38-game Premier League campaign. 

  With four games to come, including a rematch with a Newcastle United team that thrashed them 8-0 earlier this campaign, the prospect of Chris Wilder's men bringing up triple figures is a realistic one.