Tuesday’s briefing: Carrick lined up by Man Utd as Alonso leaves Real Madrid

Michael Carrick looks set to be the latest manager tasked with solving Manchester United’s mounting problems as the Old Trafford hierarchy prepare to put him in charge for the remainder of the season.

This season’s FA Cup continues to throw up good stories with a bizarre backheel from Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai earning criticism, while giant-killers Macclesfield can start preparing for a second consecutive top-flight test.

Xabi Alonso exited Real Madrid after their latest defeat to Barcelona, while Thomas Frank’s mood will not have improved after Tottenham learned that midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur requires surgery.

Michael Carrick expected to be handed the reins at Old Trafford

Manchester United are expected to appoint Michael Carrick as their interim head coach after further talks on Monday.

Carrick has emerged as the frontrunner after the club spoke both to the 44-year-old and to their former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about taking charge in a role which would be due to run until the end of the season.

The Press Association understands that Carrick became the main focus of talks on Monday and the former United captain is now close to an agreement with the club.

Carrick previously took charge of United in a caretaker role for three matches after Solskjaer was sacked as manager in late 2021, having previously worked under both Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho in United’s first-team coaching staff.

The former England midfielder, who made 464 appearances for United during a 12-year stint in which he won five Premier League titles and lifted the Champions League, won two and drew one of those matches before Ralf Rangnick took charge for the rest of the season.

Carrick’s likely appointment has been praised by Wayne Rooney, who told the BBC: “I was with him in Barbados last week, so obviously none of us saw this coming. Michael is a very clever person and he’ll command respect from the dressing room.”

Liverpool star accused of “disrespect” after bizarre Anfield goal

Dominik Szoboszlai was accused of “disrespect” after the Liverpool star’s bizarre backheel threatened to hand League One Barnsley an FA Cup lifeline in their third-round clash at Anfield.

Szoboszlai’s decision to attempt the move to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili inside his own six-yard area allowed former Reds academy player Adam Phillips to halve the deficit before the hosts ultimately ran out 4-1 winners.

And the Hungarian’s move did not go down well with Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane, despite his joy for Phillips, the boyhood Liverpool fan who realised his dream of scoring in front of the Kop.

Hourihane said: “It is such an amazing feeling for Adam scoring in front of the Kop. Liverpool fan, coming through the academy.

“But it was a little bit disrespectful from their player, to be honest. I don’t think he does that against Chelsea or Arsenal or in a Champions League game.”

Giant-killers Macclesfield handed another top-flight home tie

Macclesfield must upstage another Premier League side if they are to continue their fairytale FA Cup run after drawing Brentford in the fourth round.

The National League North team produced one of the greatest upsets in the competition’s history when they defeated holders Crystal Palace 2-1 at Moss Rose on Saturday.

John Rooney’s giant-killers are at home once again for their tie against Brentford, who are positioned fifth in the Premier League.

“We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal, but another Premier League side is incredible,” Rooney said.

Real Madrid part company with Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso has departed Real Madrid by mutual consent after less than eight months in charge and been replaced as head coach by Alvaro Arbeloa.

Alonso had come under increasing pressure towards the end of last year and the Spanish giants announced their decision following Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.

Arbeloa, a former Liverpool team-mate of Alonso, joined Real as youth team coach in 2020 and was appointed in charge of their second team, Castilla, in June last year.

A club statement read: “Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as coach of the first team.

“Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all madridismo because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.”

Tottenham suffer another injury blow

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will require surgery on his hamstring injury, Press Association understands.

Bentancur was forced off during the latter stages of Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Bournemouth and head coach Thomas Frank confirmed a day later that the injury was “a bigger one” before Saturday’s FA Cup exit to Aston Villa.

Spurs were already without a number of key players and Bentancur is set to be sidelined for at least three months after surgery was decided as the best course of action.

The absence of Bentancur alongside Lucas Bergvall on Saturday meant Frank had no recognised midfielder on the bench, with Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma unavailable due to Africa Cup of Nations commitments.

“I don’t think we, for whatever reason, had the depth in the bench. We basically didn’t have a midfielder to replace Archie (Gray) and Joao (Palhinha), so I had a few solutions in my head, if we had to lose one of them. We fortunately didn’t,” said Frank.

What’s on today?

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle look to shrug off an average Premier League campaign by moving a step closer to retaining the Carabao Cup.

The Magpies, who ended a 56-year trophy drought with victory over Liverpool in last year’s final, face Manchester City in the first leg of their semi-final at St James’ Park.