How Do Solskjær's Side Compare with Manchester United's Last Title Winners?

Manchester United players celebrate with manager Alex Ferguson (C) as he holds the Premier League trophy after the match against Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester, May 12, 2013. (AFP)
Manchester United players celebrate with manager Alex Ferguson (C) as he holds the Premier League trophy after the match against Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester, May 12, 2013. (AFP)
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How Do Solskjær's Side Compare with Manchester United's Last Title Winners?

Manchester United players celebrate with manager Alex Ferguson (C) as he holds the Premier League trophy after the match against Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester, May 12, 2013. (AFP)
Manchester United players celebrate with manager Alex Ferguson (C) as he holds the Premier League trophy after the match against Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester, May 12, 2013. (AFP)

The world was a very different place eight years ago. Britain was in the European Union, Donald Trump was a businessman and Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge at Old Trafford. Furthermore, there was no pandemic (although we obviously did not realize quite how lucky we were to live in a pandemic-free world).

The 2012-13 season is also the last time Manchester United were top of the Premier League after 17 games of the season. The campaign had started as scheduled in August, which meant that the Premier League leaders had played 17 games by 15 December. United were top by six points ahead of Manchester City.

Liverpool were down in 12th, on the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa and already 20 points behind United, Brendan Rodgers trying to get his team into shape having replaced Kenny Dalglish in the summer and signed Fabio Borini, Joe Allen and Oussama Assaidi in the summer window. Stoke were ninth, having lost the same amount of games as United – three – but drawn too many to seriously threaten the top four.

Little did we know that it would take United so long to be serious title contenders but there they are, going into Sunday’s game against Liverpool three points clear of the champions. The win at Burnley on Tuesday night was hugely impressive, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team in complete control until the final few minutes.

Paul Pogba was playing like the player who led France to win the World Cup, Bruno Fernandes was running the show from a more forward position in midfield and Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani offered real pace and menace up front. Harry Maguire was a rock in defense.

It is to Solskjær’s immense credit that he has got the team to gel and perform the way they have done since the home defeat to Arsenal on 1 November. His achievement, however, is not as impressive as Ferguson’s in his last season in charge. The fact is that the Norwegian has, on paper, a better squad.

By 2012 Ferguson had denounced the idea of a first XI, and changed his team constantly but, based on appearances, the team that best represents United in 2012-13 is: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Valencia, Rooney, Young; Van Persie.

Compare that with the team that Solskjær put on the pitch at Turf Moor: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, Matic; Rashford, Fernandes, Martial; Cavani.

There are some similarities between the two seasons. Both teams are very dependent on one player – Fernandes now and Robin van Persie then. Van Persie was irresistible in his first season at Old Trafford – he won the Golden Boot for the second successive campaign, but this time he won the league too. He scored key goals, brilliant goals and timely goals, including winners at Anfield and the Etihad and his side’s second in a 3-2 win at European champions Chelsea. It is extremely unlikely that United would have won the league without him.

The Dutchman was perhaps even more important than Fernandes, but the Portuguese’s influence on the players around him has been much greater. Van Persie did not really improve anyone; he just dragged them to one last league title.

There were several late dramatic victories, Ferguson winning 3-2 at Manchester City with that stoppage-time Van Persie goal, Solskjær’s side turning things around at Southampton with the same scoreline in November – as well as some more mundane one-goal wins.

One main difference, however, is the amount of experience Ferguson’s side had. They were serial winners and knew exactly what they needed to do to win the league. Although performances were not always of the highest standard, the United team of 2012-13 did pick up a lot of points. At this stage they had 42, six more than 2020-21, having won 14 of their 17 games, three more than now. They faded towards the end but only because they had already effectively won. At the end of March, they had 77 points from 30 games: P25 D2 L3.

The intriguing thing with the current United team is that it feels as if it is on its way up with several young players who have not yet peaked (Rashford, Aaron Wan-Bissaka) or who should be at their absolute best (Pogba, Fernandes, Martial and Maguire).

By the end of the 2012-13 season Nemanja Vidic was 31, Rio Ferdinand 34, Patrice Evra 32, Michael Carrick 31, Paul Scholes 38, Ryan Giggs 39 and Van Persie 29. Even the younger players (Rooney and Valencia at 27, Nani at 26, even Rafael at 22) had peaked, though this was not apparent at the time. For one reason or another, most never recovered from Ferguson’s retirement.

Age can be a disadvantage as well as an advantage though. What Ferguson’s title-winners had in abundance was experience.

Every team needs to win their first title and there is no reason why United cannot win the Premier League this season. For that to happen, though, they need to win the big games and so far this season they have failed to beat any team from the so-called Big Six, as well as Leicester.

We will know more about whether Solskjær’s men have all the tools needed to finish top at the end of the season on Sunday night.

The Guardian Sport



Meloni Condemns 'Enemies of Italy' after Clashes in Olympics Host City Milan

Demonstrators hold smoke flares during a protest against the environmental, economic and social impact of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs
Demonstrators hold smoke flares during a protest against the environmental, economic and social impact of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs
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Meloni Condemns 'Enemies of Italy' after Clashes in Olympics Host City Milan

Demonstrators hold smoke flares during a protest against the environmental, economic and social impact of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs
Demonstrators hold smoke flares during a protest against the environmental, economic and social impact of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned anti-Olympics protesters as "enemies of Italy" after violence on the fringes of a demonstration in Milan on Saturday night and sabotage attacks on the national rail network.

The incidents happened on the first full day of competition in the Winter Games that Milan, Italy's financial capital, is hosting with the Alpine town of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Meloni praised the thousands of Italians who she said were working to make the Games run smoothly and present a positive face of Italy.

"Then ⁠there are those who are enemies of Italy and Italians, demonstrating 'against the Olympics' and ensuring that these images are broadcast on television screens around the world. After others cut the railway cables to prevent trains from departing," she wrote on Instagram on Sunday.

A group of around 100 protesters ⁠threw firecrackers, smoke bombs and bottles at police after breaking away from the main body of a demonstration in Milan.

An estimated 10,000 people had taken to the city's streets in a protest over housing costs and environmental concerns linked to the Games.

Police used water cannon to restore order and detained six people.

Also on Saturday, authorities said saboteurs had damaged rail infrastructure near the northern Italian city of Bologna, disrupting train journeys.

Police reported three separate ⁠incidents at different locations, which caused delays of up to 2-1/2 hours for high-speed, Intercity and regional services.

No one has claimed responsibility for the damage.

"Once again, solidarity with the police, the city of Milan, and all those who will see their work undermined by these gangs of criminals," added Meloni, who heads a right-wing coalition.

The Italian police have been given new arrest powers after violence last weekend at a protest by the hard-left in the city of Turin, in which more than 100 police officers were injured.


Liverpool New Signing Jacquet Suffers 'Serious' Injury

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - RC Lens v Stade Rennes - Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France - February 7, 2026  Stade Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet in action REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - RC Lens v Stade Rennes - Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France - February 7, 2026 Stade Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet in action REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Liverpool New Signing Jacquet Suffers 'Serious' Injury

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - RC Lens v Stade Rennes - Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France - February 7, 2026  Stade Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet in action REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - RC Lens v Stade Rennes - Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France - February 7, 2026 Stade Rennes' Jeremy Jacquet in action REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Liverpool's new signing Jeremy Jacquet suffered a "serious" shoulder injury while playing for Rennes in their 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat at RC Lens on Saturday, casting doubt over the defender’s availability ahead of his summer move to Anfield.

Jacquet fell awkwardly in the second half of the ⁠French league match and appeared in agony as he left the pitch.

"For Jeremy, it's his shoulder, and for Abdelhamid (Ait Boudlal, another Rennes player injured in the ⁠same match) it's muscular," Rennes head coach Habib Beye told reporters after the match.

"We'll have time to see, but it's definitely quite serious for both of them."
Liverpool agreed a 60-million-pound ($80-million) deal for Jacquet on Monday, but the 20-year-old defender will stay with ⁠the French club until the end of the season.

Liverpool, provisionally sixth in the Premier League table, will face Manchester City on Sunday with four defenders - Giovanni Leoni, Joe Gomez, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley - sidelined due to injuries.


Højlund Rescues Napoli with Dramatic 3-2 win Over Genoa in Serie A

Napoli's Rasmus Winther Hojlund celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal  during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa Cfc and Ssc Napoli at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, 07 February 2026.  EPA/LUCA ZENNARO
Napoli's Rasmus Winther Hojlund celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa Cfc and Ssc Napoli at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, 07 February 2026. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO
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Højlund Rescues Napoli with Dramatic 3-2 win Over Genoa in Serie A

Napoli's Rasmus Winther Hojlund celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal  during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa Cfc and Ssc Napoli at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, 07 February 2026.  EPA/LUCA ZENNARO
Napoli's Rasmus Winther Hojlund celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Genoa Cfc and Ssc Napoli at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, 07 February 2026. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO

Rasmus Højlund scored a last-gasp penalty as 10-man Napoli won 3-2 at Genoa in Serie A on Saturday, keeping pressure on the top two clubs from Milan.

Højlund was fortunate Genoa goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was unable to keep out his low shot, despite getting his arm to the ball in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The spot kick was awarded after Maxwel Cornet – who had just gone on as a substitute – was adjudged after a VAR check to have kicked Antonio Vergara’s foot after the Napoli midfielder dropped dramatically to the floor.

Højlund’s second goal of the game moved Napoli one point behind AC Milan and six behind Inter Milan. They both have a game in hand.

“We showed that we’re a team that never gives up, even in difficult situations, in emergencies, and despite being outnumbered, we had the determination to win. I’m proud of my players’ attitude, and I thank them and congratulate them because the victory was deserved,” Napoli coach Antonio Conte said, according to The Associated Press.

His team got off to a bad start with goalkeeper Alex Meret bringing down Vitinha after a botched back pass from Alessandro Buongiorno just seconds into the game. A VAR check confirmed the penalty and Ruslan Malinovskyi duly scored from the spot in the second minute.

Scott McTominay was involved in both goals as Napoli replied with a quickfire double. Bijlow saved his first effort in the 20th but Højlund tucked away the rebound, and McTominay let fly from around 20 meters to make it 2-1 a minute later.

However, McTominay had to go off at the break with what looked like a muscular injury, and another mistake from Buongiorno allowed Lorenzo Colombo to score in the 57th for Genoa.

“Scott has a gluteal problem that he’s had since the season started. It gets inflamed sometimes," Conte said of McTominay. "He would have liked to continue, but I preferred not for him to take any risks because he’s a key player for us.”

Napoli center back Juan Jesus was sent off in the 76th after receiving a second yellow card for pulling back Genoa substitute Caleb Ekuban.

Genoa pushed for a winner but it was the visitors who celebrated after a dramatic finale.

"The penalty wasn’t perfect. I was also lucky, but what matters is that we won,” Højlund said.

Fiorentina rues missed opportunity Fiorentina was on course to escape the relegation zone until Torino defender Guillermo Maripán scored deep in stoppage time for a 2-2 draw in the late game.

Fiorentina had come from behind after Cesare Casadei’s early goal for the visitors, with Manor Solomon and Moise Kean both scoring early in the second half.

A 2-1 win would have lifted Fiorentina out of the relegation zone, but Maripán equalized in the 94th minute with a header inside the far post after a free kick for what seemed like a defeat for the home team.

Fiorentina had lost its previous three games, including to Como in the Italian Cup.

Earlier, Juventus announced star player Kenan Yildiz's contract extension through June 2030.