Manchester United have confirmed the departure of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Saturday's Premier League defeat to Watford.

The pressure has been building on Solskjaer throughout the season, but the 4-1 loss at Vicarage Road – their fifth defeat in seven league matches – proved the final straw.

The former striker's future was reportedly decided during a long board meeting after the match before a mutual agreement over his exit was reached.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it seems, is no longer at the wheel.

Following another drubbing, this time a 4-1 rout at Watford on Saturday, Manchester United have reportedly called time on Solskjaer's tenure.

After a lengthy meeting, the club great is set to be axed.

 

TOP STORY – SOLSKJAER TO BE SACKED

Manchester United have agreed to sack manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to widespread reports.

Having already been humiliated by Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City prior to the international break, United's season hit a new low following Saturday's 4-1 rout at lowly Watford.

Amid a worrying slump, The Athletic, Manchester Evening News and Fabrizio Romano claim United have opted to part with Solskjaer amid links to former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, Leicester City's Brendan Rodgers and Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag.

 

ROUND-UP

- Sport says Raheem Sterling has told Premier League champions Manchester City he wants to join LaLiga giants Barcelona.

Barca and City are among the clubs interested in Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette, per Fichajes.

- The Sun reports Newcastle United are looking to sign Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbia international, who scored twice to sink Milan on Saturday, has been linked with City, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Inter, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are set to go head-to-head for the signature of Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, says Mundo Deportivo. The Germany international is a free agent at season's end. Bayern are also believed to be interested.

Saturday provided no shortage of talking points as the Premier League returned after the international break.

Manchester United suffered another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Watford, and it will likely be one too humiliation too many for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

There was also a harsh dose of reality fed to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, as they were given a bruising by Liverpool at Anfield.

But two new managers began their respective tenures with victories, as Aston Villa and Norwich City each hope to enjoy a prolonged 'new manager bounce'.

Below, Stats Perform looks through the pick of Saturday's Opta facts…

Watford 4-1 Manchester United: Writing's on the wall for Solskjaer

Another week, another humiliating defeat for United and Solskjaer – Watford were the latest side to toy with the Red Devils.

United's loss was their biggest league defeat to a promoted side since a 5-1 reverse to Manchester City in September 1989, and it took them to 20 goals conceded this season already.

Only in 2001-02 (11 games) have United conceded 20 or more after fewer than in 2021-22 (13 games), while this is the first time Watford have ever beaten them in successive home league games.

United were still in with a shout at 2-1 until Harry Maguire's first red card in 121 appearances for the club, but it all fell apart thereafter.

It looks set to be the result that costs Solskjaer his job.



Leicester City 0-3 Chelsea: Foxes intimidated by pacesetters again

Most would have expected Chelsea to get a proper examination of their title credentials here – who knows, maybe this was a real statement.

Either way, Thomas Tuchel's men saw off Leicester City with great authority, or so it seemed.

In reality, Leicester actually have a dreadful record against teams starting the day top of the table. Granted, the side at the summit is usually fairly handy, otherwise they wouldn't be setting the pace, but Leicester's run is particularly poor.

They are now winless in 17 league games against the team that started the day top of the table, conceding 40 goals at a rate of 2.35 per game.

In the process of winning here, Chelsea moved level with Tottenham and Manchester City with the most away wins (five) at the King Power Stadium in the top tier.

Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal: Gunners come crashing back to reality as Reds continue domination

Although Arsenal came into the weekend in good form, having not lost any of their previous 10 matches in all competitions, there was more than a hint of predictability about their Anfield defeat and the manner of it.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals against Arsenal (37) than any top-flight side has against another opponent since October 2015, which in itself is a fairly damning indictment of the Gunners' fall from grace.

Mohamed Salah got Liverpool's third goal of the game, which was also their 100th against Arsenal in the Premier League, a haul they can only better in meetings with Newcastle United (105).

It was the fifth time this season Arsenal have failed to score in a league game, with only Norwich and Watford (both seven) having a worse record.

The Gunners aren't "back" yet.

Aston Villa 2-0 Brighton and Hove Albion: Gerrard off to winning start

Steven Gerrard began his tenure as Villa boss in positive fashion, seeing off Graham Potter's Brighton.

It was a largely unspectacular bow for Gerrard but Villa eventually got the job done with two goals late on, making the Liverpool legend only the club's third permanent manager to begin with a win in the Premier League.

Ollie Watkins was the man to get the first goal of the Gerrard era, taking his tally to a club-high 17 strikes since the start of last season in the top flight.

There was also a first assist of the season for Ashley Young, who set up a Villa goal for the first time in 10 years and 189 days.

Norwich City 2-1 Southampton: Smith lifts Canaries off the foot the table

The man who made room for Gerrard at Villa, Dean Smith, also began the latest chapter of his career with a victory.

Norwich initially trailed to Che Adams' goal, but they turned things around as the Canaries came from behind to win a Premier League game for the first time in five-and-a-half years, or 36 matches.

But if they were going to end that run against anyone, the Saints would have been a good bet – since Ralph Hasenhuttl took charge in December 2018, they have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League (67).

Grant Hanley got Norwich's winner, his first Premier League goal in nine years and 324 days since netting for Blackburn Rovers against Manchester United in December 2011.

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal "crashed" at the start of the second half in their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday and "threw the game away".

Arsenal came into the contest off the back of a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions - eight games without defeat in the Premier League - but were dismantled at Anfield.

The first half had been closely contested and Sadio Mane's header from a free-kick was all that separated the two sides at half-time, but the Gunners' nervy start to the second period saw Nuno Tavares gift the ball to Diogo Jota for Liverpool's second goal and the visitors never recovered as Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino rounded off the rout.

Arteta bemoaned that poor spell after the break, which he explains was the turning point in the match as Liverpool's high press repeatedly caught Arsenal as they tried to build from the back.

"At 1-0 down we go to half-time, it is the moment we have to be patient and start to build the game in our favour, and we did completely the opposite," Arteta said to Sky Sports after the game. 

"The first 15, 20 minutes, we just crashed. We started to give the ball away in the first 25 metres of our build-up phase and that’s why we lost the game, because the rest is just a consequence of the frustration of having to chase the game.

"We know they will punish you. They can press, they are one of the best at it. Mistakes are a part of football. They have been the best team in Europe because they can dominate in every aspect. They were better than us today.

"It was a huge test. We showed for 45 minutes we could compete with them. We crashed for 15-20 minutes, we threw the game away and that is the learning from today. We take the things we have to learn from today and move on. We have to carry on and it is about how we react now as a team."

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale agreed with his manager's assessment of the team's two contrasting halves, while also insisting that the defeat would not significantly impact the success or failure of the Gunners' season.

"[Anfield is] one of the toughest places, if not the toughest, to come," Ramsdale said to Sky Sports. "We did well for the first 45 minutes, they might've had more of the ball but we contained them.

"The second half showed we have got a lot of improvement to come, we made mistakes but that's life and football. We got punished and that's what the top teams do. At the start of the second [half], we were a bit naive and we needed to make better decisions on the pitch."

"This game will not define our season – we had a tough start to the season then went 10 games unbeaten. We are realistic, we know it's a tough place to come and we'll be prepared now. We will come in on Monday head up chest out, we won't be moping around."

Jurgen Klopp explained his touchline row with Mikel Arteta was because the Spaniard and his coaching staff attempted to get Sadio Mane sent off during Liverpool's 4-0 demolition of Arsenal.

Mane, who has only scored more Premier League goals against Crystal Palace (13) than he has against Arsenal (eight), netted the opener in the first half at Anfield, before Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino sealed an emphatic win for the Reds, who moved up to second place.

The Senegal forward's header came shortly after an altercation between the managers on the sidelines, after Mane had been involved in a collision with Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Arteta and his staff were furious, seemingly suggesting Mane had intentionally elbowed the Arsenal defender. Klopp retaliated, with some verbal tennis taking place between the pair before referee Michael Oliver came over to settle the fracas, booking both managers.

Asked about the incident by Sky Sports, Klopp said: "It was about the situation that it was no foul from Sadio but the Arsenal bench went up like it was a red card. I asked what they want in that situation.

"We had to take Sadio off against Atletico [Madrid in the Champions League] because they wanted him to get a yellow card.

"The referee did really well in this situation, I deserved a yellow card. It wasn't okay and that is what I said. It just happened in the moment."

Arteta, too, was asked for an explanation.

"He was defending his team, I was defending my team, that's it," he told Sky Sports. "It doesn't matter. These moments are left on the pitch."

Under Klopp, Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals against Arsenal (37) than one side has against another since October 2015.

They had their 25-game unbeaten run ended by West Ham last time out, but put the onus back on Manchester City, who will need to beat Everton on Sunday to go back into second behind leaders Chelsea.

"We grew into the game," Klopp added. "It was not always a super game it was just a controlled game. We had to find way to break them down. They were full of confidence. We found a way back in the game and it was a super performance all over.

"All the games are opportunities for us. It was an exceptional performance. We got better and better.

"We controlled the game in a good way and played exciting stuff in the right moments. It was a mixture of a mature and exciting performance. In games like this it's important you keep your opponent as far away from your goal as possible and be decisive in the other areas.

"This league is incredibly intense. Now the most intense part of the season is ahead of us. December and January will be insane. We have players coming back, but the boys who played today did really well and did exactly what they had to do. 

"It feels great because it was really good, we should never take something like this for granted. You have to fight through different phases in a game and in a season. It's another point from when we go on."

Liverpool returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion as they slammed Arsenal 4-0, with Trent Alexander-Arnold lauding an "outstanding" second-half display.

The Reds lost 3-2 to West Ham before the international break and had drawn their last Premier League game at Anfield but bounced back in style on Saturday.

Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino were on target in the victory, with the latter three scoring after the break.

Alexander-Arnold, who assisted three of England's goals in the 10-0 win over San Marino on Monday, set up two of Liverpool's strikes.

He provided a wicked cross for Mane's opener and also layed up Minamino's effort, which came just 56 seconds after the forward had come on from the bench.

Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the full-back has now provided 38 Premier League assists, four more than any other player in that period.

"A team of our quality shouldn't be losing games," a bullish Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports after Liverpool put themselves into second place, four points behind leaders Chelsea.

"The way the league is going, any loss is a bad loss. We have bounced back the best way we could. A very good performance.

"It was exactly what we needed, nothing more and nothing less. They came as two banks of four and were tough to break down but we scored our goals and put the game to bed. To see out the clean sheet is very good.

"First half we had that aggression but didn't capitalise on it. The first 15-20 minutes of the second half were as good as we've pressed all season. We were all over them – they were just seeing red blurs all over the place. That second half was outstanding.

"It's always good to contribute to the team. Scoring, creating goals is what my game is based on. I'm happy with that, I just need to keep up that form. 

"I'm feeling good out there. I'm playing with freedom and finding myself in positions I haven't previously. It's going really nicely. These are the levels I expect of myself."

Alexander-Arnold created a game-leading four chances in total, while the cross he put in for Minamino's goal resulted in an opportunity with an expected goals value of 0.829, the best chance of the match.

Only two outfield players (Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara) registered a better passing accuracy than Alexander-Arnold (93.5 per cent).

Of Alexander-Arnold's 46 attempted passes, 12 came in the final third – with only Salah (16) and Jota (13) attempting more – while he also delivered eight crosses, two more than any other player in a superb individual performance.

"He's a good player, for him with his right foot, it's a no brainier," said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. "The goals were all great, all important. Something to enjoy."

Bruno Fernandes has refused to single Ole Gunnar Solskjaer out for blame following Manchester United's humiliating 4-1 defeat against Watford on Saturday, insisting it is a collective failure.

Josh King, Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Bonaventure helped themselves to goals against the Red Devils who had Harry Maguire sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

The result means United have won just once in their last six Premier League games, losing four and conceding 12 goals in that run, with pressure intensifying on Solskjaer's position as manager. Indeed, a board meeting is rumoured to have taken place in the wake of the loss.

Fernandes however, instead directed the blame for the side's poor form at the team as a collective unit.

"It's everyone's fault," Fernandes said to beIN Sports after the game. "It's not the coach, it's not one player or two, it's everyone. Everyone has to take responsibility because everyone has to do better, everyone. Not one of us can say 'I'm doing well'."

Fernandes feels United only turned up for one half of the game and described the first half as "sloppy", while also highlighting the Red Devils' defensive issues.

"We [played like a wounded animal] but just for one half and that is not enough in these kinds of games in the Premier League," Fernandes continued. "It's not enough playing just for one half.

"Watford are a good team, they are aggressive, they have quality up front, and if you give them chances, you will concede goals. That has been a problem for us for many games and I think the attitude in the second half was there but in the first half, it was too sloppy from everyone.

"We didn't go on the front foot, we didn't tackle, we didn't win our duels and against these teams, you have to do that. You have to try to keep the same intensity as them and after that, show your quality, show why you play for Manchester United."

A 5-0 demolition by Manchester City at the end of August had Mikel Arteta hanging on to his job by a thread.

Everything pointed towards the Spaniard being one of the first – if not the first – Premier League managers to lose their job this season, with there being precious little sign of improvement from last season.

A run of 10 matches without a defeat followed, including a 3-1 win over rivals Tottenham and Arteta also won the Manager of the Month award for September. They even went into Saturday's trip to Anfield knowing a win would put them above Jurgen Klopp's men.

Whether they were caught believing the hype is up for debate, but what isn't is the fact they were utterly outclassed eventually by Liverpool, who dealt out a 4-0 defeat that put Arsenal firmly back in their place.

As you would've expected, Liverpool were the controlling force, though for the most part Arsenal looked content with how the match was progressing during the first half-hour – after all, their average of 46.8 per cent possession is their lowest seasonal record since Opta began collecting such data (2003-04), so they're used to having less of the ball.

That's not to say Liverpool didn't threaten, though. Aaron Ramsdale had to be alert to keep a Thiago Alcantara volley at bay and he then managed to tip Sadio Mane's follow-up effort around the post as the pair scrapped for the ball on the ground during an otherwise tame opening.

A flashpoint on the sidelines in the 33rd minute finally brought a little spice to proceedings, however, as Arteta and Klopp clashed following a collision between Mane and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

That seemed to increase the volume inside Anfield and it translated to greater intensity on the pitch, with Ramsdale producing fine saves to deny Mohamed Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a two-minute period soon after as the England goalkeeper continued to show the kind of decisiveness that has drawn him considerable praise in recent times.

But he was soon made to look culpable as Liverpool went in front, Mane heading in Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick with Ramsdale failing to keep it out despite the ball bouncing under him in a fairly central position relative to the posts.

Arsenal initially showed some invention at the start of the second period, with Emile Smith Rowe slipping a lovely pass in behind Virgil van Dijk for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, only for the Dutchman to make a fine last-ditch tackle to end the danger.

That was not a sign of things to come, however, as the Gunners fell right into Liverpool's trap with their insistence to play out from the back. 

Arsenal's possession share increased from 35.1 per cent in the first half to 55 per cent between the second-half resumption and the hour mark, and that brought Liverpool's biggest strength into play.

Klopp's men went into the weekend with a league-leading 122 high turnovers (when the ball is won within 40 metres of the opposition's goal) and it was during the early stages of the second half that they found their groove in this regard.

Alexander-Arnold even touched on it in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, saying: "The first 15, 20 minutes of the second half was probably as good as we've pressed this season. They continued to play out from the back and we were all over them. They were just seeing red blurs all over the place, and that's what we want."

The Reds' pressing was relentless in the Arsenal half and that forced the visitors into numerous mistakes – Albert Sambi Lokonga, Gabriel Magalhaes and Nuno Tavares were all guilty of being caught in possession inside their defensive third, with the latter seeing his error punished.

Tavares' loose pass just outside his own box was pounced on by Diogo Jota, and the Portugal star showed immense composure to casually saunter past Ramsdale and convert into an empty net.

For all the praise that's come Arsenal's way in recent times, Liverpool were providing a timely reminder that they remain some way behind the Premier League's best – and it still got worse for them.

Ramsdale produced another excellent stop to deny Jota a second, but it was only a matter of time until Liverpool got a third as they continuously broke into the spaces vacated by Arsenal.

Salah got a deserved goal as he nudged over the line after Mane raced beyond the Gunners' backline and crossed, with both then playing a major role as they made it 4-0.

Mane chased another ball over the Arsenal defence, this time courtesy of Jordan Henderson. He held the ball up, found Salah and he slipped Alexander-Arnold in to smash across goal for Takumi Minamino to bury with his first touch since coming on.

What was billed as Arsenal's first opportunity to show how much better they are since getting battered by City turned into another brutal mauling.

There's much to be optimistic about for Arsenal, given the young talent they have in their squad, but Liverpool brought them crashing back to reality here.

Arsenal's unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as Liverpool cruised to a thumping 4-0 victory at Anfield.

With Liverpool losing to West Ham last time out, Arsenal went into Saturday's match holding the longest unbeaten run of any side in the Premier League, but their streak was ended in emphatic fashion.

Sadio Mane put Liverpool ahead in the 39th minute, with Diogo Jota capitalising on Nuno Tavares' error to double the lead.

Aaron Ramsdale did his best to keep the score down but Mohamed Salah got in on the act before substitute Takumi Minamino scored within 56 seconds of coming on to add further gloss to a win that sends Liverpool second.

It took a touchline fracas that resulted in both managers being booked to spark the match into life, shortly after Alexandre Lacazette had a goal rightly disallowed for offside.

That incident seemed to fuel Liverpool's fire and Salah should have opened the scoring but instead directed a close-range attempt at Ramsdale, who subsequently flicked over Trent Alexander-Arnold's shot.

Yet the pressure finally told when Mane met Alexander-Arnold's brilliant free-kick, with Ramsdale unable to keep the header out despite getting a hand to it.

Liverpool's second was of Arsenal's making. Tavares' dreadful pass across his own box fell to Jota, who coolly rounded Ben White and Ramsdale to slot home.

Ramsdale denied Jota a second before the hour, lunging bravely at the forward's feet after Salah's wonderful first-time pass, before making a fantastic save from the Portugal international in the 68th minute.

But Arsenal's run of conceding at least three goals at Anfield was extended to six league matches when Salah nudged in from Mane's cross, with Minamino then prodding in with one of his first touches to round off the scoring.

What does it mean? Mind the gap

Arsenal's previous defeat was the 5-0 hammering at Manchester City, and despite their form since that loss, Liverpool served up a reminder of just how big the gap is between the Premier League's leading lights and the chasing pack.

Yes, all of City, Chelsea and Liverpool have slipped up recently, but as far as title contenders go they are way out in front on their own. As Salah tucked in Liverpool's 100th Premier League goal against Arsenal, it was difficult to imagine the gulf in quality between these two sides has ever been quite so prominent.

Familiar foes haunt Arsenal

Only against Crystal Palace (13) has Mane scored more Premier League goals than he now has against Arsenal (eight), with the Senegal star finding the net in five of his six such games at Anfield.

Jota also loves going up against the Gunners, with his strike his fifth goal against them, more than he has netted against any other team.

Tavares' Anfield nightmare

It seemed a brave decision from Mikel Arteta to play youngster Tavares at left-back, up against Salah and Alexander-Arnold, despite having Kieran Tierney available, and it is safe to say it did not pay off.

Tavares' performance will be remembered for his calamitous mistake for Liverpool's second goal, but he was run ragged all match, with Salah revelling in the space he found, having a game-leading four attempts, while Alexander-Arnold joined in the fun, creating a game-high four chances.

What's next?

Already sure of their place in the last 16, Liverpool host Porto at Anfield in the Champions League on Wednesday. Arsenal welcome Newcastle United to Emirates Stadium in their next outing in a week's time.

David de Gea once again apologised to supporters following Manchester United's "nightmare" display against Watford and accepts his side's current form is not acceptable.

United fell to a fifth defeat in seven Premier League matches with a 4-1 reverse at the hands of lowly Watford on Saturday, piling further pressure on boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The defeat at Vicarage Road was United's heaviest against a newly-promoted side since a 5-1 loss to Manchester City in September 1989.

Solskjaer's side have now conceded 29 goals in all competitions this season – only Norwich City and Leicester City (both 30) have shipped more among Premier League clubs.

De Gea, who saved two penalties and was United's best player on the day despite conceding four goals, admits after the latest defeat that a big turnaround is needed.

"There's not much to say – it was embarrassing to see Man United play like we did today," he told Sky Sports. "It's not acceptable – the way we were playing and doing things. 

"The first half was embarrassing – we could've conceded four goals in 45 minutes. It was hard to watch the team playing today – it was nightmare after nightmare. 

"It's not acceptable. We are trying to give our best and fight for the team but for sure something is very wrong. 

"You can see in the games – it's very low level, very poor. Sorry to the fans, once again."

United struggled to cope with high-pressing Watford and were two goals down at half-time through strikes from Joshua King and Ismaila Sarr, who earlier had two penalties saved by De Gea.

Kiko Femenia converted the rebound from the first of those but the spot-kick had to be retaken due to encroachment, with De Gea again equal to the second attempt.

Substitute Donny van de Beek pulled one back five minutes after being brought on, but United then lost Harry Maguire to a second bookable offence with 69 minutes played.

That was Maguire's first sending-off for United on what was his 121st appearance for the club in all competitions, capping what has been a tough month for the centre-back at club level.

The Red Devils enjoyed a spell on top without making it count, before Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis sealed an emphatic win for Watford, who started the day in 17th place.

Solskjaer held his hands up towards United's travelling supporters at full-time and appeared to wave, but De Gea insists the players should take the blame.

"It's easy to blame the manager or the staff but sometimes it's the players. We need to show much more than we are doing," he said.

"I've been in difficult moments and always believe in myself but there are difficult moments we have to be strong in mind and body. 

"We are paid to play for United and to do better than that. This is not Manchester United or the way we ought to play – it's difficult to say more than that.

"It's been very bad for a long time – a club like Man United we have to be fighting for trophies and fighting for big things and to be honest we are far from that. 

"Let's see – we have to keep working hard and stick together. We always say the same things but it's the truth – we have to look at ourselves and see where we can improve."

Steven Gerrard enjoyed a positive first Premier League game as a manager as Aston Villa beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0.

A superb run and finish from outside the box courtesy of Ollie Watkins six minutes from the end of normal time put the hosts ahead at Villa Park on Saturday.

Tyrone Mings then converted a loose ball from six yards out to secure the victory and end a run of five consecutive defeats for Villa, a sequence of results that spelled the end of Dean Smith's time in charge.

Gerrard, who took over after a strong spell in Scotland with Rangers, became only the third Villa manager out of 13 in the Premier League era to win his first match in charge. The others were John Gregory (in February 1998) and Gerard Houllier (in September 2010).

The result put Villa four points above the relegation zone after 12 matches.

Harry Maguire was sent off as Manchester United suffered their fifth defeat in seven Premier League games, a humbling 4-1 setback at Watford.

First-half goals from Joshua King and Ismaila Sarr, who had an earlier penalty saved, piled pressure on struggling United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Vicarage Road.

Substitute Donny van de Beek pulled one back for United, who had captain Maguire dismissed for two bookable offences.

But Claudio Ranieri's home team made sure with stoppage-time strikes from Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis, earning a second win in seven matches to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

Watford were handed a great opportunity to take the lead in the sixth minute; Jon Moss pointing to the spot after Nemanja Matic's reckless slice at the ball culminated in Scott McTominay bundling over King.

Kiko Femenia slammed home the rebound after Sarr's penalty was saved, but the goal was disallowed for encroachment in the box and the spot-kick ordered to be retaken, with David de Gea coming to the rescue once again.

But the United goalkeeper was helpless as the hosts took the lead in the 28th minute; King slotting home against his former club from Dennis' cutback.

Watford doubled their advantage just before the break; an unmarked Sarr taking a touch before drilling past De Gea from a tight angle.

Solskjaer introduced Van de Beek at the break, and the former Ajax midfielder immediately responded by heading home within five minutes of his introduction.

Foster then did brilliantly to deny Cristiano Ronaldo as the visitors turned up the pressure.

They continued to threaten after Maguire received a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Tom Cleverley in the 70th minute.

But their hopes were dashed as Watford struck twice in stoppage time; Pedro and Dennis drilling low shots past De Gea from a tight angle.

Mason Greenwood has been left out of Manchester United's matchday squad to face Watford and is self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.

Greenwood has played 799 minutes across 10 Premier League appearances for United so far this season, scoring four goals - level with Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes as the club's top scorers in the competition.

The youngster also leads his club in the league for shots taken (31) and has scored his four goals despite recording an expected goals value of 2.06, with only Ronaldo (4.32) and Fernandes (2.36) managing higher figures.

United's head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed the reason for the youngster's absence before his side's clash with 17th-placed Watford.

"Mason has got COVID, unfortunately," Solskjaer told the club's official website ahead of the game. "He's tested positive, so we'll wait for him to get back."

In Greenwood's absence, fellow Englishmen Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have been handed starts as Solskjaer returns to a back four after losing 2-0 to rivals Manchester City in their last league outing.

Eric Bailly and Fred have also been dropped to the bench from that game, with Nemanja Matic taking the latter's place alongside Scott McTominay in midfield.

United have lost four of their last six leagues games, as many as they had in their last 40 matches in the competition, to leave them in sixth - 11 points behind leaders Chelsea.

Thomas Tuchel insisted everybody at Chelsea wants Antonio Rudiger to stay after his side cruised past Leicester City 3-0 on Saturday.

Rudiger opened the scoring for the Blues, the centre-back's fourth goal against the Foxes in the Premier League – against no other side has he netted more than once in the competition.

N'Golo Kante struck 14 minutes later against his former club before substitute Christian Pulisic added a third as Chelsea collected their fourth successive away league win without conceding for the first time since December 2008.

Delighted with his side's defensive work and overall performance, Tuchel praised his backline while providing an update on Rudiger's future.

"[Rudiger] has been outstanding from the first game and the defensive performance was as strong as ever, they deserve the praise for it," Tuchel said post-match to BT Sport.

"They do a lot of invisible work, they protect each other at the back and they are brave when they go forward up front when we want to be dangerous from set-pieces.

"Everybody wants him to stay. He's brilliant here and it's pretty clear but sometimes there's a delay in these things. I think we're on the same side. He knows he plays for a fantastic club in a fantastic league.

"He's a wonderful competitor and if he has a bit of patience hopefully we will make it happen."

Tuchel also found time to praise Kante, who scored his second goal in his last six league games, as many as he had in his last 51 matches in the English top flight.

"N'Golo is outstanding. He finds another gear on the pitch, when he plays with a free mind he can be the difference," Tuchel added.

"We want to push over and over again. I am happy with the way we played and the result.

"We played a good away game, excellent result, a good mixture. We created a lot of half-chances, we were a bit unlucky with offsides but I am happy if we create. We need to be strong from first to last minute. It was a deserved win.

"At two goals, anything can happen and the stadium can wake up but we did not allow them into the game and finished them off."

Chelsea coasted to a 3-0 away win over Leicester City as Thomas Tuchel's team powered on at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers' home side had twice defeated Tuchel's men in 2021 already, but the Blues raced into a two-goal lead this time as Antonio Rudiger and N'Golo Kante struck in the first half.

The visitors remained utterly dominant after the break and added a well-deserved third through substitute Christian Pulisic against the hapless Foxes, who did not record a single shot until the 58th minute.

Chelsea, who collected a fourth successive away league win without conceding for the first time since December 2008, at least briefly moved six points clear at the summit.

No Premier League team had scored more headed goals than Chelsea this season (four), while no side had conceded more than Leicester (four) ahead of this game, and Rudiger's 14th-minute opener continued the trend.

Ben Chilwell, who rattled the crossbar after just three minutes against his former club, delivered to the near post where Rudiger deftly flicked into the top-left corner.

Ademola Lookman thought he had equalised but was denied by the offside flag, before former Leicester midfielder Kante drove forward and arrowed past Kasper Schmeichel in the 28th minute to double Chelsea's advantage.

Schmeichel produced a magnificent save after the interval to thwart Chilwell and, not to be outdone by his opposite number, Edouard Mendy responded with a similarly brilliant stop against Daniel Amartey.

Substitutes Hakim Ziyech and Pulisic then combined, but the latter could only poke wide.

However, the same combination proved fruitful when Ziyech found the United States international, who prodded through Schmeichel's legs from close range after 71 minutes.

Pulisic and Reece James saw late strikes ruled out for offside as Chelsea cruised to victory.

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