ROY KEANE clashed with Micah Richards following Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
But several fans found themselves distracted by Daniel Sturridge‘s hilarious reaction to the heated debate.
Sky SportsRoy Keane and Daniel Sturridge warred on Sky Sports[/caption]
Sky SportsDaniel Sturridge looked relaxed as his colleague argued[/caption]
Keane, Richards and Sturridge made up the pundits panel for the first Super Sunday of the season.
After the game, which was decided by Riccardo Calafiori‘s scrappy 13th minute goal, Keane and Richards disagreed over Altay Bayindir‘s role in the winner.
Under pressure from William Saliba as Declan Rice swung in a corner, the United stopper failed to deal with the delivery, which was then prodded home by Calafiori.
As Richards claimed that Bayindir had needed more protection, Keane fumed: “Micah, this is big boy stuff.
“There’s going to be mismatches. If they’ve got a lot more players bigger than you’re lads, then you’re going to be outmatched somewhere.”
As Richards continued to try and make his case, Keane snarled: “That’s the goalkeeper, you can’t babysit a goalkeeper.”
The former Manchester City star did relent a little bit, adding: “I agree with you that the goalkeeper should definitely do better.
“But I also believe he should be protected a lot more.”
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As the argument waged on, Sturridge sat between the two warring pundits.
The former Liverpool striker looked relaxed, with on leg crossed over the other.
There was no foul for Arsenal’s goal – the keeper must be stronger, says Mark Halsey
RUBEN AMORIM felt Riccardo Calafiori’s first-half winner for Arsenal was a foul on his keeper Altay Bayindir but I have to disagree, write ex-Prem referee Mark Halsey.
It was a perfectly good goal.
Bayindir has got to be a lot stronger in those situations.
He has got to come out and punch the ball.
There was no foul from Gunners defender William Saliba. It was normal contact.
We see it go on all the time in the penalty area.
No foul at all on Bayindir. There has to be clear contact or a clear blocking move from an Arsenal player to constitute a foul in those situations.
The referee and VAR got it spot on.
It wasn’t a foul and the goalkeeper has simply got to be stronger.
At certain points, Sturridge looked like he may have even been suppressing a laugh.
Noticing the ex-England star’s stance, several fans joked on social media.
One wrote: “Sturridge sat between those two going back and forth was killing me.”
While a second posted: “Sturridge in the middle of these two debating is so funny to watch! Would love be front row for that too. Roy annoyed is comedy.”
ReutersRiccardo Calafiori opened the scoring after 13 minutes from a corner routine as Altay Bayindir was left stranded[/caption]
AlamyRuben Amorim explained his goalkeeper decision[/caption]
A third joked: “Sturridge sitting there wishing he had a big fat cigar.”
And another added: “Danny sturridge loves this Keane/ Richards argument.”
Bayindir found himself starting between the sticks, despite Andre Onana being fit again.
Onana was also snubbed from the bench, with Tom Heaton preferred.
Asked about the station, boss Ruben Amorim said: “We try to choose the best players for each game, so next week is a different life.
“This week, we chose these players. No (he is not injured), he’s recovered but the other guys did so well during pre-season, so I need to balance that.”
What did we learn about Man Utd in Arsenal defeat?
MANCHESTER UNITED have splashed the cash this summer but that couldn’t prevent an opening day home loss to Arsenal.
Here are SunSport Manchester United reporter Martin Blackburn‘s key takeaways from the narrow 1-0 defeat vs the Gunners.
No 1 ISSUE
UNITED have been linked with Gianluigi Donnarumma and David de Gea in recent weeks, and surely they will sign a keeper before the window shuts.
Ruben Amorim has faith in Andre Onana — even if a lot of the fans do not — but he did not consider him ready to start here.
The Cameroonian has missed the whole of pre-season with a hamstring injury. So Altay Bayindir, who has played throughout the build-up to the season, got the nod — and ended up costing his team the game.
He should have been stronger under pressure from William Saliba and flapped a corner on to the head of Riccardo Calafiori.
Bayindir has had problems with set-pieces before.
Amorim and sporting director Jason Wilcox have two weeks to come up with a solution before the end of the transfer window.
NO GOALS — AGAIN
UNITED mustered just 44 goals in the Prem last season — and here they were starting with a blank again.
The Red Devils have spent £200million sprucing up their forward line this summer, and there were encouraging signs from Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
But new £74m centre-forward Benjamin Sesko stayed on the bench until the 65th minute.
On a couple of occasions before then there were crosses into the box but nobody there to put them away.
Amorim said on Friday he believes Sesko can be United’s No 9 for many years to come — and that is why they spent so heavily on him.
So it seemed a strange call to leave him on the bench for so long. Clearly the fans agreed as he was given a huge ovation when he arrived.
A couple of late half-chances went begging but the Slovenian did enough to show he will be a threat.
MIDFIELD STILL AN ISSUE
UNITED have abandoned their bid to land Carlos Baleba at least until next summer because of Brighton’s asking price.
There is an interest in Sporting’s Morten Hjulmand, while United are one of several clubs who admire Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
But there is a chance they will not sign another outfield player, and fans will be worried about the options in midfield.
Casemiro was excellent in Europe last season but did not have the same impact in Prem matches, while we are still waiting to see the best of Manuel Ugarte.
United are going to be more exciting to watch this season — that is clear already — but will they still have a soft centre?
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