Manchester United endured a frustrating afternoon in the Premier League on Saturday as an under-strength side were held to a 0-0 draw by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Fresh from sealing qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League following last weekend’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Liverpool, United appeared to lack their usual sharpness and were fortunate not to leave Wearside empty-handed after Sunderland created the better opportunities throughout the contest.

The hosts began brightly and nearly broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Noah Sadiki burst through on goal, only for United goalkeeper Senne Lammens to produce a smart low save.

Lammens was called into action again four minutes later, rushing off his line to deny Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey after the forward dribbled dangerously into the penalty area.

United struggled to create clear openings in difficult wet conditions, and after five changes to the side that defeated Liverpool. Their best chance of the opening half arrived in the 29th minute when Matheus Cunha floated a cross into the box for Joshua Zirkzee, whose header drifted narrowly over the bar.

Sunderland, however, remained the more threatening side. Brobbey dragged a shot just wide in the 32nd minute before Sadiki forced another defensive intervention moments later with a powerful strike that was blocked for a corner.

Sadiki then missed a close-range header in first-half stoppage time as the home side continued to dominate proceedings without finding the breakthrough.

United showed greater urgency after the interval, although clear-cut opportunities remained scarce. Cunha attempted an ambitious long-range effort in the 50th minute, but his shot sailed high over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Amad Diallo engineered United’s best attacking move of the game when he advanced into the Sunderland area, but his attempted pass to a teammate was intercepted by the home defence.

Despite United enjoying more possession as the second half progressed, Sunderland continued to threaten on the counterattack. Lammens produced another important save in the 62nd minute to deny Brobbey, who came close to finally rewarding the hosts for their attacking intent.

Sunderland were inches away from snatching victory in the 71st minute when Lutsharel Geertruida unleashed a fierce strike from the edge of the area that crashed against the left post, allowing United to escape once more.

Neither side could find a late winner, leaving interim United manager Michael Carrick visibly frustrated at the final whistle despite securing a point away from home.

While United’s Champions League place is already secured, the performance exposed areas that may require improvement ahead of next season.

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named the Football Writers’ Association men’s player of the year on ​Friday after a standout season in which his ‌assists helped his side back into the Champions League, while Manchester City forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw claimed the women’s award for ​the second time.

Women’s Super League – Manchester City v Aston Villa – Manchester City Academy Stadium, Manchester, Britain – December 14, 2025 Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw celebrates scoring their fifth goal and completes her hat-trick Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Fernandes has scored eight league goals ​and provided 19 assists, leaving him one short ⁠of the Premier League record jointly held by Thierry ​Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with three matches remaining.

The ​31-year-old Portuguese midfielder beat runner-up Declan Rice of Arsenal by 28 votes, with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland third, and Fernandes is ​the first United player to win the award ​since Wayne Rooney in 2010.

United, inspired by a rejuvenated Fernandes, and ‌interim ⁠manager Michael Carrick, have flown up the Premier League standings to third spot and are already assured of a return to the Champions League next season after a ​two-year absence.

Jamaican ​striker Shaw, who ⁠previously took the award in 2024, has led City to their first Women’s ​Super League (WSL) title in 10 years.

Shaw has netted ​19 ⁠goals in 21 games, on track to win the Golden Boot for a third successive season, and was a ⁠landslide ​winner of the vote ahead ​of last year’s victor, Arsenal’s Alessia Russo. Chelsea’s Lauren James finished third ​in the vote.

-Reuters

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Successive Premier League victories for the first time since last August have arrived in the nick of time for Tottenham Hotspur, but the relegation battle is far from won, manager Roberto de ​Zerbi warned on Sunday.

Tottenham fans must have thought they were dreaming as their side outplayed ‌fifth-placed Aston Villa for a 2-1 victory that was far more comfortable than the score suggested.

Goals by Conor Gallagher and Richarlison inside the opening 25 minutes rewarded Tottenham’s early domination, and they never looked in danger of squandering the victory that ​moved them above West Ham United into 17th place with three games left.

Former Brighton manager De ​Zerbi has now gathered seven points from his first four games in charge since ⁠replacing interim manager Igor Tudor, including last week’s 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers that snapped a 15-game ​winless run in the league, a sequence that had sent Tottenham towards a first relegation from the top ​flight since 1977.

They are now one point above West Ham with home games against Leeds United and Everton either side of an away trip to Chelsea remaining.

“We have to not forget the situation before Wolverhampton. The season is not finished yet ​, and we cannot be happy just for these two wins,” De Zerbi said.

“We have to keep working with ​the same mentality. And now I don’t want to hear the positive voice. We have to stay focused for the ‌next ⁠game. We have to feel the same pressure.

“Football can change week-by-week, and we can’t forget the position in the table and what we felt before the Wolves game. We have to push again.”

While De Zerbi lost his first game in charge to Sunderland and then suffered heartache in his second when Brighton earned a ​2-2 draw in stoppage time, ​he has quickly fuelled ⁠belief and confidence in the under-performing, injury-hit squad.

Forward Randal Kolo Muani produced one of his best displays for Tottenham on Sunday, while Gallagher chose the perfect moment ​to score his first goal for the club.

“If I say Kolo Muani, Gallagher, ​Palhinha and ⁠all our players are at a great level, high level, it’s because I feel. I don’t want to sell something if I don’t believe in my words,” he said

“I’m lucky because I’m working with good people and very good players. My job is just to transfer the confidence, to make them believe in themselves and to try to be stronger than the defeat, stronger than the position of the table, stronger than the words you normally say about Tottenham.

“To show passion, to show value, humility, pride.”

– Reuters

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