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• Ashworth's shock exit 'not the best situation', says Amorim

  Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has acknowledged the departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth is "not the best situation".

  Ashworth had spent just 159 days with the club before his surprise exit was announced on Sunday, although Amorim believes the club's vision for the future remains unchanged.

  "The first thing I want to say is that, since the first day, I felt great support from the ownership," said Amorim, who took charge on November 11.

  "From Omar [Berrada, chief executive], from Dan also, from Jason [Wilcox, technical director]. Dan was part of that, and I really felt support from Dan also.

  "But this is football and sometimes these things happen. It happens with players, with coaches.

  "I know that it's not the best situation but the important thing is we continue in our way. The path is really clear for everybody and I think this can happen in football."

  Amorim himself has only been in the job at Old Trafford for one month, having won two and drawn one of his five matches in charge in all competitions.

  During the same press conference, he was asked whether he felt that the club was more unstable than when he had arrived last month.

  "I don't think so," he said. "I've felt since day one the support from everybody, so one person leaving doesn't change anything.

  "Of course, it's a bad situation, because we are talking about a human being, a professional, that supports us as a team.

  "But I think the most important thing is that your vision is really clear and that vision doesn't change if only one person leaves."

• Arsenal's lack of open-play goals in Premier League not a worry to Arteta

  Mikel Arteta says he is not worried about Arsenal's lack of open-play goals as they prepare to welcome Everton to the Emirates in the Premier League.

  The Gunners, who could go second with a win on Saturday, are currently on a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions, only dropping points in a 1-1 draw in the top-flight against Fulham last Sunday.

  Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored more goals via corners than any other side (23), doing so in each of their last three Premier League games (four goals).

  They proved they can still score from open play in their 3-0 win over Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Arteta is confident they can do so in the Premier League too, given the positions they get into.

  "No, I don't worry [about the lack of open-play goals] because when I watch the game, the situations we have in open play and what the opposition has created in open play, I don't know if we can do much more than that," Arteta said.

  "Set-pieces are a consequence of what we do in open play and how we do defensively. It's a phase that is part of that.

  "I know that you see this as set-pieces and that as open play, and I see set-pieces and open play all together, but I respect that a lot. I don't agree, but I respect it!

  "We want to create more from every angle and from set-pieces as well, so always trying to evolve and be better."

  Meanwhile, Everton did not play last weekend due to the postponed Merseyside derby but ended a run of five without a win with their 4-0 thrashing of Wolves last time out.

  It was also the first time they had scored since late October, and Jesper Lindstrom credits the team’s mental strength for getting them through the tough period.

  "We have a strong group, honestly," he told the club's media channels. "The team ethic is really strong.

  "We had a tough start again this year, but I feel like we've regrouped, and we can push on from where we are."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Arsenal – Martin Odegaard

  Since returning from injury on November 10, Martin Odegaard has created the most chances of any player in the Premier League (17).

  Seven of those were created for team-mate Bukayo Saka, the most from one player to another in that time.

  Everton – Dwight McNeil

  Only Dwight McNeil (three goals, three assists) has been involved in more Premier League goals for Everton this season than Ashley Young (one goal, three assists).

  Along with that, the Toffees' midfielder has created 33 chances in the top-flight this term, more than anyone else in his team.

  MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN

  After a run of four defeats in five Premier League games against Everton between 2020 and 2023 (W1), Arsenal have now won each of their last three against the Toffees.

  In fact, the Gunners' 102 wins against Everton is the most any side has beaten another in English top-flight history, while their 344 top-flight goals against the Toffees is also the most.

  Arsenal have won 81% of their home Premier League matches in 2024 (P16 W13 D2 L1), their best home win percentage in a year since winning 84% of their games in 2007 (16/19).

  Meanwhile, Everton have won just one of their last 28 Premier League away games against Arsenal (D4 L23), picking up a 1-0 victory in April 2021.

  Sean Dyche's side have failed to score in each of their last three away Premier League matches, attempting 42 shots with an expected goals (xG) of 3.26 without success and are the only side without an away goal since the start of November. They last went four in a row without a goal across October/November 2022.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Arsenal – 72.4%

  Draw – 16.5%

  Everton – 11.1%

• Van Nistelrooy calls for calm after ‘hectic’ first week as Leicester boss

  Ruud van Nistelrooy said his first week in charge of Leicester City was “hectic”, but insisted a more measured approach will be taken moving forward to ensure the Foxes' Premier League survival.

  Van Nistelrooy was confirmed as Steve Cooper’s successor earlier this month and has had a fine start to his Foxes tenure, earning a win over West Ham and a late point against Brighton last time out.

  But up next for the Dutchman is his first away English top-flight fixture in management away to Newcastle United, and despite his promising start, he was not looking at the table at this early stage just yet.

  "It’s been a hectic week,” Van Nistelrooy said. "New ideas, two games played, training sessions to prepare.

  "Massive compliments to everybody at Leicester for welcoming me, for helping in any way possible and for the players to connect with each other in the new set-up. It’s been a great week.

  "I don’t think we have to look at the table and how many points. It’s good that we take four points ourselves and that’s the focus. We take the four points, and the players put in great performances as a team and as individuals.

  "That is the target moving forward, and we’re going to approach every game like that."

  Newcastle, meanwhile, were beaten by Brentford last Saturday as their inconsistent season continued with another tepid display on the road.

  Coming into this weekend’s clash, the Magpies have lost three of their last six Premier League away games (W1 D2), while in all competitions they are winless in four games (D2 L2).

  They have only suffered longer such runs under Eddie Howe in January 2022 (six games) and March 2023 (five games), with the Newcastle boss highlighting his side’s poor play in defence against the Bees as pivotal to the defeat. 

  "We are disappointed with the manner of goals we conceded. It’s not individual mistakes, there's two or three actions I'm not happy with for each goal. We have to do better in those situations," Howe said.

  "We had control of the game in the first half, then it got away from us after the third goal. We looked like a good attacking unit, but we have to put it all together, and it has led to inconsistent results.

  Newcastle are now without a win in their last four Premier League games, dropping them to 12th in the table, with Howe unable to put his finger on his side’s inconsistency this term.

  "A strange sequence for us, we had three consecutive wins against really good opponents, then we have had mixed performances. We have to get it over the line," Howe said.

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Newcastle – Alexander Isak

  Isak has been involved in 24 Premier League goals for the club in 2024 (19 goals, five assists), the most by a Newcastle player in a year since Alan Shearer in 2002 (27 goals, four assists).

  The only Magpies players to score 20+ goals in a year are Shearer (22 in 1999, 27 in 2002) and Andrew Cole (24 in 1994).

  Leicester – Jamie Vardy

  Vardy has been involved in seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (four goals, three assists), including at least one in his last three. He could become the oldest player to score or assist in four consecutive top-flight outings if he does so at St. James’ Park.

  At 37-years-old, the Foxes man continues to prove that age is just a number. He has six goals and three assists in the Premier League this season and could become just the fifth player aged 37+ to have a hand in 10 goals in a single season.

  The other players to achieve this are Teddy Sheringham in 2003-04 (nine goals, four assists), Gary Speed in 2006-07 (eight goals, two assists), Ryan Giggs in 2011-12 (two goals, eight assists) and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021-22 (10 goals).

  MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN

  Newcastle have lost just one of their last 21 Premier League meetings with promoted sides (W12 D8), going down 1-0 at Luton Town last season.

  However, the Magpies have won just one of their last seven Premier League home games against Leicester (D1 L5), though both times they’ve avoided defeat have come under Howe.

  But they have shipped 3+ goals in each of their last two Premier League games, last doing so in three games in a row in December and January last season. The Magpies have done so on 10 occasions in 2024, only doing so more often in 2021 (12) and 2014 (11) in a single year.

  This is Van Nistelrooy’s seventh game in charge of a Premier League side in all competitions this season, but the first time he’s managed a game away from home.

  In his playing career, the Dutchman played five games at St James’ Park and scored in every single game, the joint best 100% scoring ratio by a player at a venue, along with Foxes striker Vardy at the Hawthorns.

  And the Foxes have enjoyed recent trips to the North East. They have won six Premier League away games against Newcastle, more than they have versus any other opponent. Five of these victories have come in their last seven visits to St James’ Park.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Newcastle – 67.2%

  Draw – 18%

  Leicester – 14.8%