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'COME ON!' - RUBEN AMORIM SLAMMED OVER 'STAGGERING' DECISION AFTER MANCHESTER UNITED DRAW WITH FULHAM

Ruben Amorim before Man Utd’s clash with Fulham (Picture: Getty)

Ruben Amorim has been criticised for a ‘staggering’ decision he made for Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League.

United, who lost 1-0 to Arsenal on the opening weekend, recorded their first point of the new season at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

A Rodrigo Muniz own goal gave United the lead on the hour mark before Emile Smith Rowe levelled on 73 minutes.

Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty in the first half, smashing his spot-kick well over the bar.

As was the case against Arsenal, Manchester United’s £74m summer signing Benjamin Sesko once again started on the bench before being introduced after half-time.

Explaining why Sesko did not start against Fulham, Amorim said in his pre-match interview: ‘Benjamin has been with us for two weeks, he’s trying to understand everything.

‘We need to be patient a little. We just want to win the match and try to help all our players.’

Benjamin Sesko came on as a second-half substitute (Picture: Getty)

Andy Gray was ‘flabbergasted’ and ‘staggered’ by Amorim’s decision, however, and said he could not understand why Sesko did not start.

‘I don’t get it. I am flabbergasted,’ the ex-Scotland striker said on beIN SPORTS.

‘I moved to clubs for big money during my career and trust me, I didn’t need three or four weeks to understand the team.

Emile Smith Rowe celebrates after scoring for Fulham (Picture: Getty)

‘Sesko is an international footballer, played in the Bundesliga, he cost more than £70m… are you telling me he can’t go into that Manchester United team as a centre forward and play there?

‘Come on! I must have missed something, seriously. If you’re a United fan, you want Sesko up there with Mbeumo and Cunha.

‘He’s had a pre-season in Germany, he’s fit and ready to go. I’m staggered, I don’t get it.’

The stalemate at Craven Cottage means both Fulham and Manchester United are still searching for their first wins of the new season.

‘It was an even contest in the second half but in the last 15-20 minutes Fulham were the better team,’ Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘Their substitutions had a better impact on the game.

‘A draw is probably a fair result. United might disagree because of the penalty miss from Fernandes and the [Matheus] Cunha chance in the first half but all in all a fair result.’

Manchester United return to action on Wednesday night against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup, while Fulham take on Bristol City.

- Louis Sealey

ARNE SLOT GAMBLE BACKFIRES AS LIVERPOOL STILL HAS TITLE WORK TO DO - 5 TALKING POINTS VS FULHAM

Fulham ran riot in the first half at Craven Cottage as Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz canceled out Alexis Mac Allister's stunning opener for Liverpool

Liverpool's first half display ensured it would come away from Fulham empty handed

CRAVEN COTTAGE, LONDON // Liverpool failed to capitalize on Arsenal's draw with Everton as Arne Slot's men suffered just their second Premier League defeat of the season against Fulham.

The Reds took an early lead at Craven Cottage as Alexis Mac Allister fired an unstoppable long-range effort past Bernd Leno. But that was as good as it got in the first half for Arne Slot's men.

A series of defensive mistakes gifted Fulham a way back into the game as Ryan Sessegnon leveled the scores before Alex Iwobi turned the scoreline around.

And worst was still to come before the break when Rodrigo Muniz expertly spun away from Virgil van Dijk before finishing beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.

Arne Slot made changes early in the second half and they had the desired impact as Luis Diaz and Conor Bradley combined to make it 3-2. But the visitors couldn't find a leveler as Fulham ran out winners.

Liverpool is still in a prime position to win the title but may have to wait a while yet. Here are the key talking points from a disappointing afternoon at Craven Cottage.

Defensive woes

This was a day when all of Liverpool’s industrious defensive work went to pieces. Ibrahima Konate set the scene when he miscontrolled the ball inside his own box, which presented Andreas Pereira the ball inside the Liverpool box.

The Frenchman then failed to deal with a cross into the box for Ryan Sessegnon’s goal, in addition to Curtis Jones' meager attempts to deal with the ball. Andy Robertson then made three defensive errors for Alex Iwobi’s strike, before Virgil van Dijk was outmuscled by Rodrigo Muniz for the third, as he fired beyond Kelleher.

Right-back gamble backfires

With Trent Alexander-Arnold injured and Conor Bradley only just returning from injury, Arne Slot opted to start with Curtis Jones at right-back.

It was a selection that worked in midweek against Everton, but it backfired at Craven Cottage. The hosts repeatedly advanced down their left, with Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi impressing against the overworked Jones.

Welcome return

There was just one change to the Liverpool line-up from the midweek win over Everton, with Cody Gakpo coming in to replace Luis Diaz. There had been hopes ahead of the game that Alisson would be back in time to face Fulham, but he again missed out with Caoimhin Kelleher starting again.

But there was better news with Conor Bradley back among the substitutes for the first time since February and the defender made his return to action just after the hour mark.

Second-half fightback

As bad as the first 45 was, the second period was vastly improved, particularly in the final half an hour. Four substitutes certainly helped, with Harvey Elliott hitting the bar in the second half with a curled effort, while Bradley set up Luis Diaz for Liverpool’s second goal on a sunny afternoon in the capital. Federico Chiesa also tested Bernd Leno in injury-time and Liverpool was much better after Slot tweaked his side.

What that means for the table

Defeat brought to an end Liverpool’s 26-man unbeaten run in the Premier League, as the Reds suffered just a second league defeat of the season

But that’s also three losses in four in all competitions. It also means, despite dropping points this weekend, Arsenal has clawed back a point in the Premier League title race. Liverpool still needs 10 more to wrap up the title, something that now can’t happen in two weeks’ time against Leicester City.

- Michael Plant

SOCCER'S MOST LAVISH VIP TICKETS, FROM HELICOPTERS TO HOT TUBS

 Premier League club Fulham made a real splash last week when they revealed spectacular plans for the new Riverside Stand at their Craven Cottage ground that is due to open from the start of the 2024-25 season.

Work has been ongoing to renovate the stand for several years but the Cottagers have now revealed the finer details of the new-look Riverside. It includes all the usual modern flourishes such as top-quality restaurants, brasseries and even a bar situated right behind the dugouts.

However, the inclusion that really caught the eye was that of a lavish new three-tier "Sky Deck" built atop the stand that will offer those with access various premium food and drink pop-ups as well as a rooftop swimming pool.

The Sky Deck will offer views out over the pitch and the River Thames that flows directly behind Craven Cottage. Fulham will therefore become the first club in the Premier League (and quite possibly the world) to offer their supporters access to a private pool atop the terraces.

However, the Cottagers aren't the only club to offer unique, luxurious and -- in some instances -- downright ludicrous matchday amenities to people who are willing to pay a little extra.

Man City"s tunnel club

As part of the matchday experience at the Etihad Stadium, fans can purchase access to the Manchester City "Tunnel Club" which allows them to take a seat in a restaurant space that has a long glass wall, the other side of which is the actual players' tunnel.

Therefore, City fans can sit and eat their prematch haute cuisine while watching players and officials arrive at the stadium and then chow down as they all mill about directly next door.

The experience then moves outside as punters and players alike leave the tunnel just before kick-off; the latter taking their places in the plush, heated seats behind the dugouts outside as the match gets underway.

After the final whistle, Tunnel Club members can then return to the dining suite to listen in to all the media interviews and even enjoy a postmatch performance analysis from City's tactical staff.

Real Madrid's nightclub

As part of the huge ongoing modernisation project of their Bernabeu stadium, Real Madrid are reportedly planning to include an exclusive nightclub on site.

While nothing is official as yet, El Mundo reported in December that the club will form part of a "skywalk" walkway around the very top of the stadium where a variety of VIP bars and restaurants will be located.

It's also been reported that the so-called "Skybar" will be able to host hundreds of fans with views over the pitch during games and will then convert into a private club at night with DJ sets, dance floors, cocktails and even a private elevator.

West Ham's helicopter ride

Like many clubs, West Ham United offer fans a variety of stadium tour packages. However, the more intrepid Hammers supporter is able to take to the sky and view the London Stadium via their own private helicopter ride.

According to the Daily Mail, the day starts with a chopper ride to the club's Rush Green training ground for a behind-the-scenes tour before fans are whisked via a chauffeur-driven car to the stadium for a three-course meal and complimentary drinks, a Q&A session with a Hammers ambassador and then last and perhaps least, the opportunity to take in an actual match from seats behind the players' tunnel.

As you might expect, this doesn't come cheap, with a package for two people costing £4,000.

Mallorca's pitchside bar

LaLiga club Mallorca have made waves in recent years by adopting a number of fan-experience packages that are becoming increasingly popular in other leagues around Europe.

Perhaps the most unusual is their "Corner VIP" acces, which they began offering in 2019. Similar to courtside seats at an NBA game, fans could purchase drinks and snacks and then consume them at a long bar situated -- you guessed it -- in the corner of the Estadi Son Moix, mere metres from the edge of the pitch.

Troyes' hot tub

Ligue 1 club Troyes caught the attention of social media a couple of years ago when they offered a handful of fans who were members of their club loyalty program an interesting alternative to the standard folding stadium seat.

Instead, they installed a hot tub at pitchside for their home match against Rennes in 2022 and allowed two pairs of lucky supporters to enjoy the action while bathing in the comfort of their communal jacuzzi.

St. Pauli's sausage train

It may sound like something out of a dream that Homer Simpson might have, but unorthodox German club St. Pauli maintained their reputation for looking after their supporters with this ingenious method of delivering mid-game refreshment to their VIP fans.

Indeed, Die Kiezkicker conjured up an brilliantly unique system that saw currywurst delivered directly from the stadium kitchens to the premium seats in a temporary stand via a miniature railway.

The sausage express service ran every five minutes before returning to the catering section to be refilled.

ESPN's Alex Kirkland, Matt Foster and Sam Marsden contributed to this report

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