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Arteta can take inspiration from George Graham to expunge painful Anfield memories

Arsenal have not won at Liverpool for 13 league games but Gunners’ win in 1989 remains one of club’s greatest nights

Mikel Arteta used a Spanish word to describe what it felt like to be helpless at Anfield while playing for Everton in 2011: bajar. “It’s when a cyclist is going up and looks amazing, then in one kilometre he goes ‘boom’ and he’s struggling again,” he said in Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary. “The game was going well and then suddenly I could only see red shirts flying around. The game is passing all over me and I cannot react. I only had that feeling in my career once, and it was at Anfield.”

Given Arteta’s record at Liverpool, Sunday’s showdown with his childhood friend Andoni Iraola – five days after Arsenal were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Fleetwood – could be expected to fill him with dread. Arteta finally tasted victory there as a player with Arsenal in September 2012, after five failed attempts in the Merseyside derby, but ended up spending the night in hospital with concussion after colliding with Jordan Henderson in an incident he has described as “the biggest fear of my life”.

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© Composite: Guardian Design

© Composite: Guardian Design

© Composite: Guardian Design

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The academy system needs a refresh but now is the time for Carrick to trust in youth | David Pleat

Manchester United’s most famous eras were built around their academy products, so why not give the current crop a chance to shine?

Watching Manchester United succumb meekly against Como and Bournemouth brought to mind questions and comparisons with yesteryear. Two of United’s most famous eras were built around their youth players: the Busby Babes and the Class of ’92. Could this be a moment for Michael Carrick to give their most talented academy products a meaningful chance?

In February 2025 I saw United beat Arsenal 3-2 in the FA Youth Cup at the Emirates Stadium. Jack and Tyler Fletcher did well for United and so did Harry Amass, a signing from Watford. Max Dowman, a generational talent, starred for Arsenal.

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© Photograph: Will Palmer/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Will Palmer/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Will Palmer/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Bruno Fernandes owes Manchester United a performance, Mathys Tel has arrived at Spurs and Liverpool are improving

Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks this week. Fernandes was an unused substitute against Bournemouth after criticising Carrick’s tactics during the Champions League defeat at Como but it seems the situation has been resolved – for now. Dropping Fernandes did not do United any good against Bournemouth, who ran riot at Old Trafford, and the captain is expected to return to the starting lineup for the trip to Chelsea. If that happens, he owes Carrick a performance. Fernandes has been poor this season and it is time he did his talking on the pitch. Jacob Steinberg

Chelsea v Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)

Manchester City v Brighton, Saturday 3pm

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© Composite: Getty Images

© Composite: Getty Images

© Composite: Getty Images

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