The top stories making Tuesday’s back pages in the UK…
The Sun: Manchester United crashed to a disastrous opening-game defeat – as £22million Robin van Persie sat on the bench.
Also: Manchester City winger Adam Johnson is choosing whether to rebuild his career at Liverpool, Sunderland or Spurs.
And: Southampton are close to an £18m double swoop for Bologna’s Gaston Ramirez and Blackpool’s Matt Phillips.
Daily Mirror: Robin van Persie could not prevent his new team slumping to an opening-day defeat for the first time in eight years.
Also: Tottenham are considering a move for Emmanuel Adebayor’s Manchester City team-mate Edin Dzeko. And: Liverpool will sit down with Andy Carroll and spell out their point blank refusal to be rushed into a panic deal on the final day of the transfer window. Plus: Roberto Martinez has claimed he turned the Liverpool manager’s job down during the summer.
Daily Star: Robin van Persie was made to wait for his debut last night as Everton put an early dent in Manchester United’s title hopes. Also: Roberto Mancini breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after Sergio Aguero was only ruled out for a month with a knee injury.
Daily Mail: Manchester United’s attempt to wrestle back the Barclays Premier League title suffered the worst possible start after they were beaten by a Marouane Fellaini-inspired Everton. Also: Manchester City’s contract talks with David Silva have faltered because of the Spanish winger’s contract demands. And: Arsenal’s loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin has stalled on the terms of an option to make the move permanent next season. Plus: Southampton could make a move for Anderlecht midfielder Lucas Biglia.
Daily Express: Robin van Persie had his big night ruined by Marouane Fellaini’s superb header as Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 at Goodison Park.
Metro: Liverpool’s reigning player of the year Martin Skrtel has ended speculation about his future by signing a new long-term contract at Anfield. Also: Eden Hazard insists he has no fear about becoming a target for English football’s hatchet men following his superb Premier League debut for Chelsea. And: Arsenal new boy Santi Cazorla has urged Arsene Wenger to sign a top class replacement for Robin van Persie, after watching the Gunners draw a blank in their season opener against Sunderland.
Daily Telegraph: Manchester United waited 67 minutes to see Robin van Persie and will have to wait even longer to espy their first points. Also: Tottenham are still tracking Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente, but Chelsea are also keen.
The Times: Manchester United’s attempt to regain the Barclays Premier League title from Manchester City suffered an early setback last night as they were beaten deservedly by Everton at Goodison Park. Also: QPR are interested in Tottenham defender Michael Dawson.
The Guardian: This was merely the start for these two clubs, yet Everton and Manchester United performed with an intensity that suggested this was the culmination of an entire campaign.
The Independent: Out-fought away from home in the league and beaten with a goal from a set-piece: at least Robin van Persie’s Manchester United debut last night was not too much of a departure from all those years he spent at Arsenal.
Ian Horne
Ian goes back to the very early days of CrunchSports, having been tirelessly covering soccer, cricket and motorsports for us for over 10 years.