Saturday’s briefing: Man Utd held and England recall Maguire and Mainoo

Refereeing decisions took centre stage again as Manchester United were twice pegged back to draw with Bournemouth.

Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad saw Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo recalled but there no place for other World Cup hopefuls.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola looked ahead to Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

Red Devils see red

Maguire’s England recall was tempered by a costly red card as Manchester United’s quest for Champions League qualification suffered a setback with a dramatic 2-2 Premier League draw at Bournemouth.

United defender Maguire was dismissed for a foul on Evanilson, allowing Cherries substitute Junior Kroupi to equalise with an 81st-minute penalty.

The visitors were twice on course to move within four points of second-placed Manchester City after Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the spot and a James Hill own goal restored the advantage following Ryan Christie’s initial leveller.

Michael Carrick branded the decisions of referee Stuart Attwell “baffling” and “astonishing”.

The interim boss could not understand how United were not given a second penalty for a challenge on Amad Diallo, saying: “He’s definitely got one of them wrong because he’s given one penalty for us for the same thing that he’s not given one.”

Tuchel names expanded England squad

Mainoo, Maguire and Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned from the international wilderness while James Garner and Jason Steele received first England call-ups as Tuchel named an expanded 35-man squad.

Fikayo Tomori and Dominic Solanke were also brought in but there was no place for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw or Ollie Watkins.

England are stepping up preparations for the summer with Wembley friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, and Tuchel named an enlarged group in his penultimate selection before the World Cup.

Tuchel, who kept the door open for Arsenal’s 16-year-old wonderkid Max Dowman, said: “I know that it’s a tough decision for Trent, as it is for, I guess, Ollie Watkins at the moment, and for Luke Shaw. These tough decisions come with a job.

“I think he (Alexander-Arnold) is a huge talent and has a big career but I feel that I know what Trent can give us and decided to stick to the players who were in camp with us.”

Arteta gunning for second trophy

Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal are ready to “attack the trophy and bring it home” against City on Sunday.

The Gunners will bid to end their six-year trophy drought at Wembley Stadium, with the 2020 FA Cup the sole prize of Arteta’s tenure so far.

The Spaniard’s side could yet end the season with a remarkable four trophies, and he said: “I’m really prepared and confident that we’re going to make it happen.”

Guardiola confirmed James Trafford will start in goal – but refused to offer any assurances over his long-term future.

On comments from the keeper that he had expected more regular game time after joining from Burnley in the summer, the City boss said:  “I’ve nothing to say. Players can be happy, unhappy – it is what it is.”

O’Neill in the dark

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was surprised to hear of Kasper Schmeichel’s on-air announcement declaring his career might be over.

O’Neill had stated last Friday that the goalkeeper was closing in on a return to fitness but Schmeichel announced live on CBS’s Champions League coverage on Wednesday that he faced double shoulder surgery and up to a year of rehabilitation.

O’Neill was aware during his first caretaker spell in charge that Schmeichel was still experiencing pain from the shoulder he injured while playing for Denmark 12 months ago.

But the 74-year-old said: “I must admit I was surprised at the severity of it. I know that he was having injections to play some of the games and, while that’s not a great remedy, I didn’t realise how bad it was. So, disappointed to hear the news.”

What’s on today?

Liverpool will hope to gain ground on the Champions League places when they visit Brighton in the lunchtime Premier League kick-off.

Elsewhere, Chelsea travel to Everton, Leeds host Brentford and Fulham play Burnley.

Leaders Hearts face Dundee in the Scottish Premiership and Rangers host Aberdeen, while Championship leaders Coventry visit Swansea.