Category: Football

The FA Cup final takes place this weekend and Manchester City are looking to win the competition for the eighth time. Pep Guardiola’s side are in their third consecutive final and they come up against a Crystal Palace side looking to win their first ever major trophy.

City have endured a disappointing season by their own high standards and will be looking to end the campaign on a high. Despite a difficult period, they’ll see the season as a positive if they can finish second in the Premier League and win the FA Cup.

For Palace, it’s been a phenomenal campaign following a recovery from a poor start. They need just one more point in the league to record their highest-ever tally and they’d top off an incredible first full season under Oliver Glasner if they can claim some long-awaited silverware at Wembley.

The road to the FA Cup final

The final of the oldest and most prestigious cup competition in world football takes place on Saturday 17th May, with the game kicking off at 4:30pm. This year’s FA Cup started way back in August with the qualifying rounds and we’re now down to our final two.

Palace and City both joined in the third round and have seen off some strong opposition to reach this stage. City started in style by beating Salford 8-0, before surviving potential banana skins. Both Leyton Orient and Plymouth Argyle went 1-0 up in their ties with City, before the Premier League giants roared back to avoid an upset.

City then saw off Premier League opposition in Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest to reach the final, with goals from Rico Lewis and Joško Gvardiol at Wembley last month setting up a final showdown against their south London opposition.

For Palace, they’ve endured a similar journey to City. The first three rounds saw them overcome challenges from lower league opposition as they beat Stockport County, Doncaster Rovers and Millwall to reach the quarter-finals.

They then turned on the style and produced consecutive 3-0 thumpings over Premier League rivals Fulham and Aston Villa, mainly thanks to the attacking prowess of Eberechi Eze and Ismaïla Sarr.

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Who will come out on top?

City’s side is full of attacking threat but they’ve flattered to deceive at times this year. Their lack of form has in part been down to the prolonged absences of both Rodri and Erling Haaland. The good news for City is that both players are back, while the silver lining for Palace is they’re both likely to be very rusty and far from their best.

However, City have so much more ammo at their disposal and on their day, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are capable of moments of magic. Omar Marmoush has been electric since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt in January and he was on the scoresheet as City beat Palace 5-2 at The Etihad just a few weeks ago.

That result was proof enough that City have what it takes to put Palace to the sword. Following that rout, Glasner warned Guardiola that he will solve his side’s problems from that afternoon and Palace may prove to be a thorn in City’s side once again, having thwarted them so often in recent years.

Palace’s form has gone under the radar slightly since the turn of the year. The balance in their side makes them a match for any team in the league, with a solid defensive structure and midfield pivot providing the foundations to attack with purpose on the break.

Marauding wing-back Daniel Muñoz is a constant threat down the right-hand side, with his unrelenting tenacity a crucial cog in the way Palace play. In Eze and Sarr, they have unpredictable attackers capable of producing moments of magic, as seen in this competition already this season.

They provide the perfect foil for lone frontman Jean-Philippe Mateta, who will be desperate to make amends after missing a penalty in Palace’s semi-final win over Villa. The Frenchman is a handful for most Premier League centre-backs and he won’t make things easy in his battle with Ruben Dias.

City will undoubtedly dominate the ball and fashion chances to win the game. Yet that may well play into Palace’s hands – the Eagles deliberately allow their opponents to control matches, lulling them into a false sense of security before punishing them with a co-ordinated press and ruthless counter attacks.

While City will be the bookies’ favourites, Saturday’s final could genuinely go either way. If City are on the top of their game, the result will be a foregone conclusion and they’ll be celebrating yet another trophy. But if City start with the same nervousness that has become a habit of theirs this season, Palace will smell blood and we could see a famous upset at Wembley.

And then there were two. Almost nine months after the first qualifying rounds, we have our 2025 FA Cup finalists, with Crystal Palace set to face Manchester City next month.

The Eagles were imperious as they comfortably beat Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday, before City edged past high-flying Nottingham Forest the following day.

Third time lucky for Palace?

Wembley is becoming a regular venue for Palace, although they haven’t always been on the right side of the result. They’re set for their third FA Cup final appearance, with the previous two both ending in wins for City’s rivals, Manchester United.

But despite the ghosts of their past, and a juggernaut opponent standing in their way, something feels different about Palace under Oliver Glasner. While their previous sides in 1990 and 2016 felt like underdogs, the current side have a swagger, a confidence and a winning mentality.

They were unstoppable in their semi-final win over Villa, as a wonderstrike from Eberechi Eze and a second-half brace from Ismaïla Sarr gave them a 3-0 win. The margin of victory could have been greater, with Jean-Philippe Mateta having a goal ruled out in the first half before missing a penalty after the break.

Palace’s brutal dismantling of their Premier League opponents was emblematic of Glasner’s ruthlessness. The Austrian coach has been in charge for just over a year and after adapting to life after the departure of Michael Olise and a tricky start to the season, he’s got his side flying again.

Glasner has pedigree in cup competitions having guided Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory back in 2022. And he’s continued that trend in south London, with Palace conceding just once en route to the final.

In fact, he’s already won more cup matches in just one season for Palace than predecessor Roy Hodgson managed in five. He clearly takes these competitions seriously and having found the perfect balance of a stable defence and a dynamic attack, he could be the man to deliver the first major trophy in Crystal Palace’s history.

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Palace’s route to the final

Third round: Crystal Palace 1-0 Stockport County
Fourth round: Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Crystal Palace
Fifth round: Crystal Palace 3-1 Millwall
Quarter-final: Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
Semi-final: Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa

Man City look to end nightmare season on a high

While it’s easy to be positive about Palace’s prospects, there’s one huge hurdle standing in their way. City have been far from their vintage best this season, but they still boast a phenomenal squad and have arguably the greatest manager of all time in their dugout in Pep Guardiola.

They’ll know about Palace’s strengths more than most, having suffered two defeats to them in recent years. In fact, only a few weeks ago the Eagles raced into a 2-0 lead at The Etihad in their Premier League meeting before Kevin De Bruyne inspired a comeback to secure a 5-2 win.

City are in desperate need of silverware following a disastrous season and they’ll see the FA Cup as the perfect way to end the campaign on a high. It’s their third consecutive appearance in the final, although they did come unstuck last May as they were beaten by neighbours United.

Despite beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 in their semi-final clash, they rode their luck at times. Goals from Rico Lewis and Joško Gvardiol earned them a place in the final, although Forest hit the woodwork three times in a frustrating second half.

They’ll go into the clash against Palace as the bookies’ favourites but they’ll need to be at their best to secure an eighth FA Cup title, particularly if Palace are in the mood. City will be buoyed by the news that talisman Rodri and Erling Haaland have made a return to training, although they face a race against time to be fit for the final.

De Bruyne is set to leave the club at the end of the season and with the FA Cup final likely to be one of his final games in a City shirt, it would be fitting for the Belgian to go out on a high and fire his side to glory.

But it’s not been a typical season for City. Having won four consecutive league titles, their dominance is over and they currently find themselves fourth in the table, with Champions League football for next season still not secured.

And they know all too well not to underestimate the underdog, having fallen victim to one of the great FA Cup shocks back in 2013, when Ben Watson’s late header secured a famous victory for Wigan Athletic.

Can Manchester City rescue their season with an FA Cup win?

It’s been a strange season for many reasons, not least because Manchester City only have one trophy on their radar. They’re out of the Champions League and their title hopes are long gone, meaning the FA Cup is their only chance of silverware this season.

They’re also not guaranteed a Champions League spot this season, meaning the next few weeks could be pivotal for Pep Guardiola’s side. They’ve endured an uncharacteristically poor campaign, thanks to a combination of disappointing individual performances and injuries.

Former talisman Kevin De Bruyne has struggled for fitness and has been far from his best when available. Meanwhile, the likes of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish haven’t delivered, while Rodri has spent much of the campaign sidelined.

In previous years, City would be the odds-on favourites to go all the way in the FA Cup based on the semi-final line-up. But with a tricky test against Forest followed by either Villa or Palace, they’ll have to be at their very best to guarantee their eighth FA Cup.

Manchester City’s route to the final

Third round: Manchester City 8-0 Salford City
Fourth round: Leyton Orient 1-2 Manchester City
Fifth round: Manchester City 3-1 Plymouth Argyle
Quarter-final: Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City
Semi-final: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City

Watch the FA Cup final in style

If you fancy watching this year’s final at Wembley, why not make the most of Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages? The showpiece event takes place on Saturday 17th May – enquire today to reserve your place.

After eight months of action, 745 entrants and 741 matches, we have this season’s four FA Cup semi-finalists. Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest all have a day out at Wembley to look forward to later this month.

They’ll all be hoping to be back at the iconic venue for the final on Saturday 17th May – but there can only be one winner. Following yet another exciting weekend of cup football, we’ve taken a closer look at each of the final four.

FA Cup quarter-final results

Saturday 29th March

Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
Brighton and Hove Albion 0-0 Nottingham Forest (Forest won 4-3 on penalties)

Sunday 30th March

Preston North End 0-3 Aston Villa
Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City

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Aston Villa look to end trophy drought

Villa as a club are established winners in this competition, with seven titles, but their last one came way back in 1957. They reached the final in 2015 but were roundly humbled by Arsenal in a 4-0 defeat.

They’ll be desperate to win their first major trophy since 1996 as they look to continue their incredible resurgence of the last few years. Since Unai Emery took charge, they’ve established themselves back at the top table of English football and have a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon.

If they can get through that, the FA Cup will feel insignificant in comparison, although they’ll still have dreams of going all the way. They eased past Preston on Sunday, winning 3-0 thanks to Marcus Rashford’s first two goals in Villa colours.

While Palace in the semis won’t be easy, they now possess players with a history of stepping up in big games. As well as Rashford, the likes of Marco Asensio, Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins have experience in high-profile situations.

Meanwhile, Youri Tielemans knows the FA Cup like the back of his hand, having struck the winner as Leicester beat Chelsea in the 2021 final.

Crystal Palace dream of first ever major trophy

Fans of Crystal Palace are getting used to FA Cup days out at Wembley, although they’re yet to see their side lift the famous trophy. They suffered heartbreak in 2016 when Manchester United came from behind to beat them in the 2016 final, 26 years after their last Wembley meeting.

Patrick Vieira guided the Eagles to the semi-finals in his first season three years ago, but he was unable to find a way to beat Chelsea. Yet things feel different this time, with proven winner Oliver Glasner at the helm.

The Austrian is no stranger to silverware, having masterminded Europa League success with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022. And with Palace on a run that’s seen them win 10 of their last 12 games, they’re hitting form just at the right time.

They brushed Fulham aside with ease in their quarter-final clash on Saturday to set up a semi-final against Aston Villa. And while Unai Emery’s side is packed with quality and will likely be favourites, Palace have already beaten them twice this season, including a 4-1 thumping in February.

Can Manchester City rescue their season with an FA Cup win?

It’s been a strange season for many reasons, not least because Manchester City only have one trophy on their radar. They’re out of the Champions League and their title hopes are long gone, meaning the FA Cup is their only chance of silverware this season.

They’re also not guaranteed a Champions League spot this season, meaning the next few weeks could be pivotal for Pep Guardiola’s side. They’ve endured an uncharacteristically poor campaign, thanks to a combination of disappointing individual performances and injuries.

Former talisman Kevin De Bruyne has struggled for fitness and has been far from his best when available. Meanwhile, the likes of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish haven’t delivered, while Rodri has spent much of the campaign sidelined.

In previous years, City would be the odds-on favourites to go all the way in the FA Cup based on the semi-final line-up. But with a tricky test against Forest followed by either Villa or Palace, they’ll have to be at their very best to guarantee their eighth FA Cup.

Will Nottingham Forest’s dream season continue?

It’s fitting that it’s April Fools’ Day because if you’d have told Nottingham Forest’s fans at the start of the season they’d be fighting for a Champions League spot and an FA Cup on 1st April, most of them would have laughed in your face.

Yet remarkably, that’s where they find themselves as we approach the business end of an astonishing season for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. They edged into the semi-finals with their third consecutive FA Cup penalty shootout win, this time getting the better of Brighton.

And they find themselves third in the Premier League, five points clear of Chelsea in fourth. Their resilient defence combined with their energetic, pacey attack has seen them blow sides away this year, while Chris Wood has been rolling back the years up top.

The New Zealand international is set for a spell on the sidelines but Forest will feel they have adequate cover and fear nobody, particularly semi-final opponents Man City. They beat them in their last meeting just a few weeks ago and with City far from their best this season, it really will be anyone’s game when they meet at Wembley.

March 16th marks the Carabao League Cup Final 2025 and the first opportunity for English sides to get their hands on domestic silverware. Taking place at Wembley, it’s expected to be a thriller with a scintillating atmosphere to accompany it. Here at Engage we give you the full rundown of what to expect including the two teams, key players and how they might line up on the big day.

With two sides hungry for silverware, we are all set for a fantastic final. League Cup holders, Liverpool will face Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United as the latter look for their first domestic honour in 70 years. The last time the Geordies witnessed glory was back in 1955 winning the FA Cup, beating Manchester City 3-1. Since then it has been pretty bleak on Tyneside. Runners-up in the League Cup in 2023, it is the closest they have come to silverware in the last 20 years whilst prior to that they hadn’t made it to Wembley since 1999. It is only the third time the Magpies have reached the League Cup final and they will be determined to make it third-time lucky.

Liverpool on the other hand, are in a position they have found themselves in many times before. Winners last year they are looking to defend the trophy they have won on 10 separate occasions. The Reds’ certainly look destined for trophies this season under new boss Arne Slot who has them firing on all cylinders in the Premier League. 15 points clear of Arsenal in second, they are storming towards their 20th league title. However, it hasn’t been straightforward for Slot in all competitions, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle, before defeat to Paris Saint Germain on penalties in the Champions League’s Round of 16 at Anfield. With only two trophies left for the Reds to play for, they will be keen to make amends for Tuesday night’s disappointment by winning on Sunday.

So how will the two teams line up?

Newcastle

Eddie Howe’s side are well-drilled and are hungry for silverware. In recent weeks it hasn’t gone all their way, however, they still sit on the cusp of the top 4 in the tight race for Europe. They will be without Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall and Sven Botman all of whom have proved key players in recent months. Lewis Hall, especially, will be a huge miss after the former Chelsea man has boasted his consistency in recent games. Newcastle’s midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali will be a challenge for Liverpool to break down with the three players often contributing both in attack and defense.

The key man for Newcastle will be Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker, often compared to Thierry Henry, has scored 19 goals in the Premier League for Newcastle and was the player of the round in the Magpies’ 4-0 aggregate win over Arsenal in the semi-final. Slot will be aware of his prowess in front of goal and he could be the man to steer Newcastle to silverware for the first time in 70 years.

So who do you think will lift the trophy? Both teams will certainly be up for it. Will Liverpool’s extra time fatigue from last night prove costly and can Newcastle’s high-press force mistakes on tired legs? Or can Arne Slot win his first piece of silverware in front of a sea of Red at Wembley?

It has all the hallmarks of a fascinating game, as Liverpool and Newcastle battle it out on Sunday underneath the Wembley Arch. Watch the Premier League, FA Cup Finals and the Carabao League Cup Final all with Engage Hospitality. Enjoy the action from the best seats in the house as sides battle it out for silverware surrounded by deafening atmospheres with fans roaring their teams on. 

With plenty of action to be excited for in 2025, who could forget about the English Football Season? With the Premier League, Carabao League Cup and the FA Cup all in full swing, there are plenty of teams in pursuit of silverware this Spring. Here at Engage we take a look at each domestic competition and who could emerge with a trophy.

Premier League

The Premier League has had its fair share of thrills this season with a rather unusual campaign panning out. Liverpool are in control at the moment, currently 7 points clear at the top. Arne Slot was the successor of the Reds’ German hero, Jurgen Klopp, with questions around whether the Dutchman could deliver in the same way. However, he has certainly proved people wrong with his exciting football earning the Reds 18 wins so far this season.

Slot’s side haven’t had it all their own way though and last week’s game away at Everton proved that their weaknesses can be exposed. A fiery 2-2 draw made tensions spill over as a last minute equaliser saw the Gladys Street End result in chaos, before a brawl at full time resulted in three red cards including one for manager, Slot. What better way to give Goodison Park one last derby send off?

Liverpool don’t have the easiest run of fixtures coming up with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle United in succession. It will be a true test of the Reds’ grit and a pivotal period in the title battle.

In second place, Arsenal, without a recognised striker, are certainly not going to let Liverpool run away with it. Unbeaten in their last 15 league games, Mikel Arteta’s North London men are in good form in the hunt for their first league title since 2003.

In the battle for Champions League, there are some unusual suspects emerging as Nottingham Forest sit in 3rd place, Manchester City in 4th and AFC Bournemouth rounding up the top 5. Before the season, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side would expect to be fighting for their 5th consecutive title, however, poor form throughout the season makes that achievement seem an unlikely feat at this stage, especially considering a famous 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal 2 weeks ago.

Further down the table, after a good start to the season, Chelsea have slipped into some difficult form with a 3-0 drubbing away at Brighton, the most recent defeat. Only two wins from their last nine league games makes for pretty bleak reading and their form will have to pick up if they are to secure a Champions League spot this season.

Meanwhile, a torrid season for an injury-struck Tottenham Hotspur see Ange Postecoglou’s side in 12th place, far from the levels we usually see from the North London side. They are, however, in a better position than Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United. Defeat to Spurs on Sunday courtesy of a James Maddison strike sent the Red Devils into 15th place, their 6th league loss in 9 games. If both sides are to secure Europe again this season, a big run of form is required in the last 13 games!

FA Cup

It was Plymouth Argyle who pulled off the FA Cup upset of round four as they beat Liverpool at home. Argyle won 1-0 as they welcomed a high-flying Liverpool team to Home Park. Their victory was rewarded by an away tie at Manchester City, in the hope that they can pull off yet another mammoth upset in the 5th round.

With Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all out of the competition, there is no reason why we won’t see a new name on the FA Cup trophy in 2025. Holders Manchester United are still in the cup and they will certainly be keen to defend the trophy in Ruben Amorim’s first season in charge despite their disappointing league form. With finalists having the opportunity to visit Wembley Stadium on two occasions (the semi-final as well), who do you think will make the trip to the capital for England’s most iconic trophy?

Carabao Cup

February saw the outcome of the semi-finals of the Carabao League Cup with two teams all set to face each other at Wembley Stadium on the 16th March. After a shock 2-0 win in the first leg of the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, Newcastle United repeated that feat at St James’ Park as they thumped Arsenal 4-0 on aggregate to be the first team to make a final this season. Eddie Howe’s side return to Wembley after a two year absence where they finished as runners-up in 2023 to Manchester United. Having beaten a dejected-looking Mikel Arteta, comfortably at the beginning of the month, Howe will be eager to quench the Geordies’ long-awaited hunt for silverware.

The second team to announce themselves in the League Cup final were Arne Slot’s Liverpool. Facing Tottenham Hotspur and a 1 goal deficit after the first leg, the Reds had to be on top form if they were to win the tie. However, a professional Liverpool team were dominant as they blew over a Spurs side decimated by injuries, winning the semi-final 4-1 on aggregate at Anfield.

For the first opportunity of domestic silverware this season, holders Liverpool will play Newcastle in what is an eagerly anticipated affair. With both sides in good form, it’s very difficult to call which way it will go. With no FA Cup now for Liverpool, they will be more determined than ever to make amends for their slip up against Plymouth, however, Newcastle will be hungry, with no trophy at St James’ Park since 1955. Make sure you save the date for the 16th March because it is going to be a cracker!

Having just passed the halfway mark of the season, there are still three trophies to be won in England in 2025, who do you think will take the glory this year? Watch all of the football in the Premier League 2024/25 season, FA Cup and League Cup with Engage Hospitality!

Enjoy the thrilling finale of two of England’s biggest competitions live from the best seats in the house at Wembley Stadium or perhaps visit one of the iconic Premier League grounds to watch your favourite teams in action!

If your new year’s resolution is to watch more football, you’re in for a treat. There’s no slowing down in January, with games coming thick and fast in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and European competitions.

As the biggest teams in the country prepare for the second half of the season, they may be thinking about whether to prioritise certain competitions. Liverpool are in pole position in the title race, although there’s still time for Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City to make up some ground.

Meanwhile, for Manchester United and Tottenham, they may be looking at the cup competitions in order to salvage some pride following poor starts to the campaign.

Are Liverpool running away from Arsenal in the title race?

Following a blistering first half of the season under Arne Slot, Liverpool are now six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand. With their opponents dropping so many points and Mohamed Salah in the form of his life, it’s their title to lose.

They’ve lost just once so far in the Premier League and with the likes of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota now back to full fitness, they’re only getting stronger. With games coming thick and fast, the only question mark against them is how they’ll tackle fixture congestion.

But with a six point cushion on ninth place in the Champions League and an easy tie in the FA Cup, they can afford to rest players in their upcoming fixtures. And while there’s a lot of noise off the pitch surrounding the future of both Salah and Alexander-Arnold, all that matters is that they keep performing.

For Arsenal though, it’s a different story. They dropped points against Brighton on Saturday and while they were on a run of four wins in all competitions, they’ve also failed to beat Fulham and Everton in the last month.

With their title hopes slowly starting to dwindle, they’ll still be confident of mounting a challenge. But Mikel Arteta may look at other competitions in order to get his hands on some much-needed silverware.

After edging past Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, they face a tricky two-legged semi-final against an in-form Newcastle. It could set up a potentially mouthwatering final against rivals Tottenham, who meet Liverpool in the other final four clash.

Elsewhere, the Gunners are currently third in the Champions League but will need results in their final two group games to guarantee a top eight finish. While both squads are packed with talent, Liverpool and Arsenal may look to strengthen in the transfer window this month.

The Reds have been linked with a move for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who is seen as a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson. Meanwhile, Arsenal may look to strengthen in attack after Bukayo Saka was ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury.

Key fixtures this month

Arsenal v Newcastle – Tuesday 7th January, Carabao Cup
Tottenham v Liverpool – Wednesday 8th January, Carabao Cup
Arsenal v Manchester United – Sunday 12th January, FA Cup
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool – Tuesday 14th January, Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham – Wednesday 15th January, Premier League
Arsenal v Aston Villa – Saturday 18th January, Premier League
Liverpool v Ipswich – Saturday 25th January, Premier League

The Manchester clubs look to turn things around

It’s been a season to forget so far for both Manchester City and Manchester United. Pep Guardiola’s City side are currently sixth in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.

They recently went on a five-game winless run that included draws against Crystal Palace and Everton as well as a defeat to rivals United. But they’ve won two on the spin and Erling Haaland is back among the goals after a brace against West Ham at the weekend.

City traditionally go on winning runs in the second half of seasons so it would be unwise to count them out of the title race despite Liverpool’s head start. But if a fifth consecutive title begins to slip away, you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll go hell for leather to get their hands on the FA Cup and Champions League.

From a United perspective, City’s struggles are enviable. Despite sacking Erik ten Hag at the end of October, new boss Ruben Amorim is yet to have the impact that the United hierarchy would have hoped for, although Sunday’s battling draw at Anfield will have raised spirits.

His two-month reign has been littered with bad results and poor individual performances, with defeats to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle overshadowing United’s win at the Etihad. They remain 13th in the table, just seven points clear of the bottom three – a poor result against Southampton in their next league outing would be catastrophic.

For City, their struggles are in part down to a lack of options. They’ve been without key players Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne for much of the season and they may look to strengthen this month. Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush and Atalanta midfielder Ederson have been linked with moves.

However, there’s seemingly no money for incomings available for Amorim at Old Trafford, meaning he may be forced to work with the hand he’s been dealt. Marcus Rashford has been ostracised and his departure is inevitable – an exit this month could provide United with a much-needed transfer kitty.

Key fixtures in January

Arsenal v Manchester United – Sunday 12th January, FA Cup
Manchester United v Southampton – Thursday 16th January, Premier League
Manchester United v Brighton – Sunday 19th January, Premier League
Manchester City v Chelsea – Saturday 25th January, Premier League

London rivals worlds apart

At the halfway point of the season, things couldn’t be more different between rivals Chelsea and Tottenham. Over in west London, the Blues are quietly enjoying a steady campaign in the upper echelons of the tables.

Chelsea finally seem to have settled following a whirlwind couple of years under their new ownership. They looked to be dark horses for the title under Enzo Maresca, although a recent dip in form has put that talk on ice.

They’ve got incredible squad depth, with a different starting eleven both domestically and in Europe, while talisman Cole Palmer has continued where he left off from last year. On the contrary, Spurs are having a difficult campaign.

Ange Postecoglou has been criticised for his gung ho approach and following a string of poor results that has seen them pick up one point in their last four games, plus an injury and illness crisis, the north London side are 12th and only one point better off than United.

They desperately need reinforcements this month – Heung Min Son looks a shadow of his former self, meaning Spurs lack a talisman. Meanwhile, summer midfield signing Archie Gray has been forced to deputise at centre-back due to a lack of options.

Tottenham have already snapped up goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and they’re likely to dip into the market again. However, it may be quiet on the transfer front at Stamford Bridge for once, with plenty of options available for Maresca to choose from, although injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile could see them move for cover in defence.

Key fixtures in January

Tottenham v Liverpool – Wednesday 8th January, Carabao Cup
Chelsea v Bournemouth – Tuesday 14th January, Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham – Wednesday 15th January, Premier League
Chelsea v Wolves – Monday 20th January, Premier League
Manchester City v Chelsea – Saturday 25th January, Premier League
Tottenham v Leicester – Sunday 26th January, Premier League

While everybody celebrates Christmas slightly differently, there are some traditions that are universal. Christmas dinner is an obvious one, as are stocking, carols and Father Christmas.

But in the world of sport, perhaps the most important Christmas tradition is Boxing Day football. Whether you’re braving the cold to head down and watch your favourite team or putting on your brand-new Christmas pyjamas ahead of a day in front of the TV, Boxing Day football is one thing that everybody looks forward to throughout the festive period.

But why is it so important? And when did it start? Let’s find out!

The history of Boxing Day football

Way back in 1888, in the first season of the football league, there were two games on Boxing Day, as Derby County played Bolton Wanderers while West Brom faced Preston North End. This sparked the beginning of a tradition, with games now played the day after Christmas every year.

However, it wasn’t just Boxing Day that saw football fans head out to watch a game. Back in the day, there were also games on Christmas Day. In fact, often teams would face each other on Christmas Day, before meeting again for the return fixture a day later. The idea was that crowds would be at their biggest, with the majority of people in the country off work for the two bank holidays.

With the arguments about fixture congestion and player welfare, that seems unthinkable today, but the rules were different back then. Back then, bank holidays were typically an opportunity for friends and family to meet up outside of their home and spend the day together, meaning football was the perfect opportunity to celebrate.

However, at some point during the 1960s, traditions changed and it became the norm to spend Christmas at home with your family. As a result, Christmas Day attendances began to suffer and those in charge felt a change was needed. The last Christmas Day game in England was way back in 1965 but Boxing Day games have remained.

Typically, to make it easier for fans and players travelling, teams will play against sides relatively close to them, although this isn’t always possible. Almost all professional football teams in England will play on Boxing Day this year, except for a few exceptions where matches may have been moved by a day or two for TV.

Festive games are a very British tradition, with many countries across Europe opting to have a two-week winter break over Christmas. But the fixture schedule in the UK thrives at the end of the year, with games almost every day until New Year’s Day.

Memorable Boxing Day moments

For those that are active on social media, you may be well aware of the Boxing Day results from 1963. While many of us may not have been born to witness it, you’d have done well to miss the screenshot that goes viral each year.

The 10 top-flight games that day produced a phenomenal 66 goals. Standout results include Burnley 6-1 Manchester United, Fulham 10-1 Ipswich and West Ham 2-8 Blackburn Rovers. Whether the players were hungover from Christmas or still stuffed from their turkey, we’re not sure, but we’re sure the fans weren’t complaining. Well, maybe the Ipswich fans were.

In recent times, there have also been some incredible Boxing Day matches in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Boxing Day game back in 2012 saw Javier Hernandez score a dramatic last-minute winner as Manchester United came from behind three times to beat Newcastle 4-3.

Five years previously, Chelsea and Aston Villa shared the spoils in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments also took place on Boxing Day. With Hull 4-0 down at half-time to Manchester City in 2008, manager Phil Brown famously forced his players to stay out on the pitch at the break and delivered his half-time team talk in the cold in front of the fans.

Boxing Day comebacks have become a tradition for United, as they fought back from two goals down last year to beat Aston Villa 3-2 thanks to a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a late winner from Rasmus Hojlund. Meanwhile, goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota gave Liverpool a 2-0 win at Burnley, who were eventually relegated.

Premier League festive fixtures

Thursday 26th December

Manchester City v Everton
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Chelsea v Fulham
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham
Southampton v West Ham
Wolves v Manchester United
Liverpool v Leicester

Friday 27th December

Brighton v Brentford
Arsenal v Ipswich

Sunday 29th December

Leicester v Manchester City
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Everton v Nottingham Forest
Fulham v Bournemouth
Tottenham v Wolves
West Ham v Liverpool

Monday 30th December

Aston Villa v Brighton
Ipswich v Chelsea
Manchester United v Newcastle

Wednesday 1st January

Brentford v Arsenal

We’ve reached the quarter-final stage of the Carabao Cup and we’re set for four all Premier League clashes to see who can reach the final four. Arsenal will be keen to secure a major trophy but they face a tough prospect against in-form Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will be looking to win the competition for the second year on the trot as they face Southampton. Ahead of the action, here’s everything you need to know.

Can Arsenal avoid a potential banana skin?

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to win another major trophy, having failed to deliver silverware to the Emirates since winning the FA Cup back in 2020. This year’s Carabao Cup represents a great opportunity to get another trophy under his belt – but games are coming thick and fast over the festive period and he may see the Premier League as his priority.

Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in their quarter-final clash in the first of two meetings in four days between the pair. Despite a tricky start to the season, Palace are in a false position in the Premier League and they’ll be a tricky test for the north London side having started to show their class in recent weeks.

The Eagles have lost just one of their last nine games in all competitions and they were imperious as they beat fierce rivals Brighton 3-1 on Sunday. And while Arsenal are a different beast with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard at their disposal and a strong defensive unit, Palace have countless threats themselves.

Oliver Glasner’s side claimed a scalp in the last round as they won at Aston Villa. Arsenal are yet to be truly tested in the cup so far, beating Bolton and Preston to reach this stage. Palace are more than capable of causing an upset and you could see the action from the luxury of Engage’s exclusive hospitality areas – enquire today to book your place.

Newcastle face tricky test against Brentford

When the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw was made, both Newcastle and Brentford would have been licking their lips at the chance to reach the final four having avoided the big-hitters like Arsenal and Liverpool.

The Magpies reached this stage of the competition last season where they were beaten by Chelsea on penalties. The previous year they reached the final and ultimately lost to Manchester United. Meanwhile, Brentford also have recent experience in the quarter-finals – they too were knocked out by Chelsea back in the 2021/22 season.

Newcastle have been far from convincing of late but they appear to have turned their form around and they smashed Leicester 4-0 at the weekend. Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak were back among the goals and they’ll both offer a huge threat to Brentford’s backline.

Yet the visitors have attacking weapons of their own in the shape of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa and they’ll be familiar to Newcastle – Brentford beat them 4-2 in the Premier League just 10 days ago and they’ll be confident of repeating the feat at St James’s Park tomorrow evening.

Liverpool take on managerless Southampton

While there’s certainly evidence that a new manager can instill a reactive bounce in some teams, it’s unlikely that the turnaround at Southampton will be that immediate. The Saints are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and they finally sacked Russell Martin at the weekend after a shocking first-half performance against Tottenham.

Southampton were 5-0 down at half-time and while their players will be motivated to turn things around, there are few scarier opponents to attempt to get back on track against than league leaders and reigning Carabao Cup champions Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s side were far from convincing against Fulham on Saturday and they may rest players ahead of their Premier League clash against Tottenham this weekend. But they should have too much for Southampton and have already seen off West Ham and Brighton in the competition so far.

Can Man United prevail at Tottenham?

While both Tottenham and Manchester United have not been at their best this season, both sides delivered statement wins at the weekend. Spurs have been criticised following successive defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea but they put Southampton to the sword in a first-half rout inspired by James Maddison.

They’ll be looking to continue their momentum against a confident United side that masterminded a late comeback to stun neighbours Manchester City on Sunday. Both Ange Postecoglu and Ruben Amorim will be keen to go all the way in the Carabao Cup this season.

Spurs’ last silverware came in this competition as they beat Chelsea in the final way back in 2008. Meanwhile, United have a strong recent history, winning it for the sixth time in the 2022/23 season.

Whichever side reaches the semi-final, they’ll be confident of making it to the final and you can enjoy the clash from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages, with food, drinks and entertainment options to suit all needs.

The end of Gameweek 11 in the 2024/25 Premier League Season marks the beginning of the third International Break as teams from across Europe will take part in their last group stage fixtures of the UEFA Nations League. England will look to finish their League campaign with two victories against Greece and Ireland, having announced the appointment of new manager Thomas Tuchel, set to start in January. Here at Engage, we take a look at how England might set up under the new head coach.

Thomas Tuchel’s appointment came as a shock to many as the German man’s appointment brought a mixed reception from England fans. The former Chelsea manager who won the Champions League with the Blues, will not take charge until January, however, his appointment has brought a lot of controversy with it. Questions surrounding how good of a fit he will be for England have been raised with the coach’s managerial spells often being cut short.

With that said, Tuchel has won numerous trophies including Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League. Can he steer England to their first trophy since 1966?

What has Tuchel won?

As mentioned, Tuchel’s CV is quite extraordinary with a great list of honours. Tuchel’s first trophy came at Borussia Dortmund when he won the DFB-Pokal in 2017 before being dismissed 3 days later after a difficult relationship with the board.

In 2018, he was appointed as PSG manager, winning the league in his first season at the club. The following season he won the domestic quadruple and took the French giants to the Champions League final where they were beaten by Bayern Munich. Another poor relationship with the club’s hierarchy saw him depart PSG in December 2020 with the highest win percentage in Ligue 1 history (75.6%).

Tuchel joined Chelsea signing an 18 month contract in January 2021, leading the Blues to Champions League glory in the same season with an unlikely victory over Manchester City in the final. He was dismissed from the club in 2023 after yet another disagreement over the club’s transfer strategies, with Chelsea Chairman Tedd Boehly describing Tuchel as a ‘nightmare’.

Tuchel’s final job before being announced as England manager was back in Germany at Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga title in 2023 and a Champions League semi-final was all that he could muster when he was dismissed just over a year after his appointment.

With an illustrious trophy cabinet and plenty of experience at some of the biggest clubs in Europe, can Tuchel deliver silverware for the Three Lions?

How might Tuchel set up?

Thomas Tuchel will begin his tenure in charge of England on 1st January 2025, signing an 18 month contract, which will see him in charge until after the 2026 World Cup. However, seeing how Tuchel will set up for the games leading up to 2026 will certainly be interesting.

Tuchel’s relationship with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane may be one that benefits England with reports that the pair are happy to be ‘reunited’. The Englishman has proved pivotal in England’s success in recent tournaments and has excelled since making the move to Bayern Munich scoring 44 goals in 45 games under Tuchel. Fans will be keen to see how this relationship gels while in charge of England.

Tuchel’s tactics are characterised by flexibility and he is often described as a good ‘tournament manager’ which could help England when faced with major competitions. He is also not afraid to alter the lineup drastically, a refreshing change perhaps for some England fans, with many frustrated at Gareth Southgate’s stubborn team selections.

However, the worrying thing for England fans will be Tuchel’s tendency to cause fallouts in the setup. Southgate was credited for bringing a sense of togetherness to the England team, something which many England managers have struggled to do in the past. Will Tuchel’s past disagreements affect the England camp?

Furthermore, Tuchel’s nationality has also been debated by fans and pundits with the question raised about whether a non-English manager understands the desire for the Three Lions to win a trophy and what it means to be England manager. He is only the third non-English manager to take control of England, however, his time in England at Chelsea will bode him well as he takes the reins at one of football’s most difficult managerial jobs.

So can Tuchel change England’s misfortune? Two European final defeats and a World Cup semi-final, Southgate couldn’t quite get England over the line. However, with a new man at the helm, can he steer England to their first trophy since 1966? Find out with Engage Hospitality! Check out their brilliant packages to watch England vs Republic of Ireland as well as all of their games at Wembley Stadium in the build up to the 2026 World Cup!

A disappointing start to the season for Manchester United sees the Premier League giants on 12 points in 10 games as they sit 13th in the league, while their Europa League form doesn’t boast many positives either. The woeful start is their worst since the inception of the Premier League and it has led to the departure of manager Erik Ten Hag. The Dutchman was appointed in June 2022 and won both the League Cup and FA Cup before being sacked, with his league form leaving much to be desired.

Replacing Ten Hag on the 11th November will be former Portuguese international, Ruben Amorim. Here at Engage we take a look at what Amorim’s appointment could mean for the Red Devils and their hunt for a trophy this campaign.

What trophies has Amorim won?

Amorim spent the majority of his career at Belenenses and Benfica making 237 appearances throughout his club career, alongside 14 caps at senior international level with Portugal. The midfielder won Liga Portugal three times as a player with Benfica and the Portuguese League Cup 6 times with both Benfica and Braga; United will be eager that he can carry his title winning mentality into the club’s dressing room.

Currently manager at Sporting CP, Amorim has quite the record there as well. Since becoming manager of the Portuguese giants in March 2020, he has won the League Cup and Liga Portugal twice as well as the Portuguese Super Cup. Amorim’s side are unbeaten in all competitions this season, with two wins in the Champions League to match their 100% win record in Liga Portugal. Since his appointment he has won 71% of his games at Sporting.

Amorim will be hoping he can transfer his perfect start to the league campaign across to Manchester with the Red Devils only on three victories all season. His first game in charge will be away to newly promoted Ipswich Town with The Tractor Boys still hunting for their first win of the Premier League 2024/25 season.

Can Amorim turn United’s fortunes around?

Amorim’s 71% win record at Sporting certainly suggests a sign of a positive appointment for Manchester United fans, however, defeats to a struggling West Ham side as well as 3-0 thumpings at home to Liverpool and Tottenham, it certainly isn’t looking good.

Although the title race may be out of the question, they have progressed to the quarter finals of the League Cup and are still very much competitive in the Europa League. If Amorim can turn their form around, then United could still be in the hunt for three trophies this year as they look to regain their League Cup title from 2023 and defend their FA Cup title having beaten their neighbours, Manchester City, in the final last year.

A brilliant 4-1 win for Sporting over City on Tuesday night in the Champions League, also brings a lot of hope at the prospect of Amorim being able to propel the Reds back to their best. Can he replicate this historic victory at Old Trafford with United?

If Amorim is to continue his impressive managerial record in Manchester, can we see Manchester United back to their very best? Between 1993 and 2013, the red side of Manchester won an astonishing 13 top flight titles dominating English football, is there any possibility they can repeat this feat under Amorim?

Fancy finding out for yourself how Ruben Amorim will get on at Old Trafford? Check out Engage Hospitality’s fantastic packages for you to watch Manchester United in action in the Premier League, live from the Theatre of Dreams. Discover hospitality packages like no other including Hotel Football and Evolution, and dine in luxury surrounded by footballing legends! Enquire now!