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Are Man Utd turning the tide or is a ‘bad result just around corner’?

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Simon Stone

Manchester United reporter at Molineux
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In the one-step forward, one-step back world Manchester United are living in just now, they took a stride in the right direction against Wolves at Molineux.

Whether it is significant or not remains to be seen.

After all, the big win at Crystal Palace nine days ago was followed by a dire draw against third-bottom West Ham.

Before that, a three-match winning run was followed by three games without a win, culminating in a home defeat by an Everton side reduced to 10 men after less than 15 minutes.

Monday night’s 4-1 drubbing of a hapless Wolves was United’s biggest win of the season, equalling a four-goal haul Ruben Amorim’s side have not bettered in the Premier League since he came to the club 13 months ago.

United had 27 shots, their most in a Premier League game under the Portuguese manager. They have now led in games for longer this season than they did in the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign.

Yet Amorim felt compelled to add a caveat, making reference to Wolves’ lack of points on the pitch and mutinous atmosphere off it.

“This is a specific case,” he said. “We faced a team that is really, really struggling.

“You can sense it in every situation of the game.

“This moment for Wolves is really hard, as a team and as a club. We took advantage of that.”

It is why Amorim felt United were in danger of blowing a significant chance to climb into the top six and on the coattails of the sides in contention for Champions League qualification.

New Wolves boss Rob Edwards felt his side played the way he wanted in the final 15 minutes of the opening period. That included scoring their first goal in 540 minutes through Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

It wasn’t the script Amorim envisaged. Certainly not one he wanted on a night when Sir Jim Ratcliffe had come to watch and was pictured in animated conversation with director of football Jason Wilcox in the directors’ box.

He told his players this before he left to sit in the visitors’ dugout alone with his thoughts before United re-appeared for the start of the second half.

“We should have finished that half in the different way,” he said. “At half-time, they understood we have everything to win the game.

“If you need to be really distracted, when you look at Everton, that was three points. We could have had two more points against West Ham. Look at the table. Look at the environment. Look at everything.

“We needed to win the second half. It didn’t matter the result.”

Analysing the game for Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher praised the performance but said: “We make the assumption there is a bad result around the corner.”

He is not on his own with that opinion. United have still kept only one clean sheet in the Premier League, against Sunderland at Old Trafford on 4 October. Are they on one defeat in nine, or two wins in six?

After failing to take opportunities to go second, twice, and fifth, they are now sixth. If results go their way, they could be fourth once they have played Bournemouth on 15 December. Equally they could be back in the bottom half of the table.

Andoni Iraola’s men have taken two points from their past six games but they have won 3-0 on each of their past two visits to Old Trafford.

Nothing is for certain at Manchester United these days it seems, and that includes the availability of their players.

Amorim had thought Netherlands international Matthijs de Ligt would be available for Monday’s game after missing the West Ham match with a minor injury. He was wrong. Now the manager says he can’t be sure when De Ligt will be fit.

United remain in talks with the respective national associations of Morocco, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, which Amorim says is a “good sign” but says he “doesn’t know” if Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will be cleared to play against Bournemouth before they leave for Africa Cup of Nations duty.

“Let’s wait for the middle of the week,” said Amorim.

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Mount making his mark

Mason Mount’s goal means he has now scored three times in the past four games he has started.

The England star is now beginning to make the sustained impacted envisaged when he moved from Chelsea for £55m in 2023, before injuries halted his progress.

It also means Amorim has options given main striker Benjamin Sesko is currently injured and Mbeumo will be leaving at some point in the near future.

“If you compare the past he had in Chelsea, he has a great quality,” said Amorim.

“He can defend. He can attack and the quality when he touches the ball is really good.

“It’s not a surprise for me. But, of course, we need to take care of him.

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Mary Berry’s foolproof method for perfect turkey and stuffing on Christmas Day

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Mary Berry foolproof method for perfect turkey

Mary Berry will have her turkey ready at 11am this Christmas Day – but will wrap it up like a small child in a sleeping bag and towels for a long journey to the dinner table.

The 90-year-old TV chef will eat dinner at her son Tom’s house this year along with his wife Sarah and other family members, but she insists on bringing the prized bird with her. Going through her routine, she explained: “I bring the turkey – I have it ready by 11am and then I wrap it in foil, old clean towels and a sleeping bag without a zip, and put it in the boot of the car for the drive to my son’s house. It stays piping hot and the meat is rested, even after four or five hours, because of the bulk of the thing.

“Sarah’s mother will bake the Christmas cake and her father will do a topical quiz with pictures, all about what has happened during the year. After the King’s Christmas message at 3pm we will all go for a walk, with torches for the way back because it will be dark by then.”

Asked for her tips for the big festive day, Mary told Radio Times : “I always use fresh herbs for the stuffing. I don’t like packet stuffing because the dry herbs are too strong. I make an open dish of apricots and chestnuts for vegetarians, it’s delicious.

“To give Christmas cake a difference from the pudding, I make it on the lighter side and fill it with apricots soaked in brandy.”

Mary also said she was not against short cuts in the kitchen, saying buying packets of grated cheese was fine and in the past she has also admitted using ready-made puff pastry.

Rather than being sad about getting older and hitting the milestone of being 90, she tries to see the positives. Mary said: “You have more time to think. You can go at a slightly slower pace and people don’t mind.

“You can do the things you had no time to do in the past, like learning croquet or visiting a local museum. I have time to take my grandchildren to a pantomime or the Christmas markets – things I wouldn’t have had time to do before.”

Mary will attend Christmas Day events with her husband Paul who she married in 1966. Speaking in October she said the secret of her happy marriage was walking away when an argument was on the cards.

She said: “Paul always says that the secret to our long marriage is his saying, ‘Yes, dear’ to everything, and then going his own way. But we don’t argue. If any disagreements come up, I open the back door and just go out and maybe pick some flowers or get some apples. It’s amazing if you can walk away.

“Of course, if I was living in a top-floor flat, that would be difficult. But we respect each other. And I’m very lucky. He has mellowed in his old age and he’s become very appreciative of me. So I look after him, and it’s a great pleasure. That’s what I promised to do. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. And we are very happy in our dotage.”

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Mary has more than 70 books and sold more than five million copies. She is also known for her loyalty, staying with the BBC when the Great British Bake Off moved to Channel 4.

Kimora Simmons breaks silence on daughter Aoki dating man 44 years older

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Aoki Lee Simmons, who is a model, was in a relationship with restaurateur Vittorio Assaf despite the 44-year age gap after the two met on Saint Barthélemy, a Caribbean island

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Kimora Simmons has today expressed her shock that daughter Aoki had dated a man some 44 years older than her.

Aoki Simmons, then 21, was in a short-lived relationship with Vittorio Assaf, a 65-year-old restaurateur, after the pair met on holiday on Saint Barthélemy, a Caribbean island. Although Aoki’s mum, the fashion designer Kimora was concerned, she said today she has always encouraged her five children to make their own decisions — and suffer any consequences.

Speaking on a podcast today, Kimora, 50, said: “I let my kids make their own mistakes, like I said. That’s the whole thing we were saying about living out your life in public, and I think that’s very, very, very tough… I don’t even know…first of all, I know this guy. But I didn’t know this guy in that capacity like with my kid or that you were even dating my kid.”

Aoki and Vittorio’s relationship quickly developed and photographs were published of the pair enjoying a romantic holiday in April last year. They split soon after, according to reports.

Kimora, a good friend of Kim Kardashian, told the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast today she wanted to interrogate Vittorio about the relationship but bit her tongue. When asked by host Amanda Hirsch: “Were you like, ‘What the helly are you doing to Aoki,’ or no?”

Mother-of-five Kimora replied: “I was, but I didn’t say it in that way because it was this fast. And it blew up to be so much, so then you can’t be the mom that’s like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ But that definitely was the thing. But it went from 0 to 100 really quick, and I was like, ‘Aoki, I didn’t even know this was a thing.’ I found out when the world found out.”

“So that was what was so shocking. And you can’t say as a mom, and I’ve learned all these crazy things. You can’t give the, ‘I told you so,’ right now. You can’t give the, ‘What the hell are you doing’ right now. You can’t give those things right now.”

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Speaking shortly after Aoki and Vittorio parted ways, an insider told PEOPLE: “Aoki is learning to navigate her private life in a public sphere. And that can be difficult. However, Kimora was concerned to see her daughter in that kind of relationship due to what she herself went through.”

Rivers Govt Unveils 10-Day Project, Credits Tinubu For Supporting Stability

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The Rivers State Government has assured residents that the period of emergency rule did not derail its development agenda, insisting that its commitment to delivering infrastructure and social services remained intact despite political disruptions.

This reassurance comes as the government announced a 10-day schedule of project commissioning and flag-offs across the state.

Speaking at a joint media briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Benibo Anabraba, said the Siminalayi Fubara-led administration stayed focused throughout the political challenges and has now fully regained its stride in the initiation, execution, and completion of priority projects.

“Despite the resultant effect of the interregnum in democratic governance, this administration has taken off in earnest from where we stopped, especially in the initiation, execution, and completion of projects,” he said.

READ ALSO: Why I Dumped PDP For APC – Rivers Assembly Speaker

Anabraba noted that the government’s ability to resume its programmes seamlessly was made possible because President Bola Tinubu ensured that the administration had the opportunity to return, stabilize, and complete its mandate.

He expressed deep appreciation to the President for what he described as a fatherly intervention that protected governance continuity in the state.

“With special appreciation to the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose kindly and fatherly intervention ensured that we return to fulfill all our obligations to the people of Rivers State,” the SSG stated.

He added that the state government has outlined 10 major projects for commissioning and flag-off within the period, with additional projects to be scheduled for unveiling after the Christmas festivities.

According to him, the programme demonstrates the administration’s unwavering commitment to its social contract with the people of Rivers State.

“This activity will cut across about six Local Government Areas, including Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ikwerre, Emohua, Obio/Akpor, and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas,” he said.

Jeremy Clarkson marks huge milestone with with girlfriend Lisa Hogan as fans issue plea

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Jeremy Clarkson has been inundated with messages from friends and fans as he marks almost a decade with his girlfriend and Clarkson’s Farm co-star Lisa Hogan

Jeremy Clarkson has marked almost a decade with his girlfriend Lisa Hogan. The former Top Gear star, 65, has been in a relationship with Lisa, 51, since 2016 and they are often seen together on Amazon’s BAFTA-winning hit Clarkson’s Farm, where she helps in managing Diddly Squat and its shop.

The presenter took to social media on Monday to mark the special occasion, but kept things simple as he posted a simple selfie of them both.

Alongside the sweet picture, he wrote on Instagram: “Nine years!!!!” The TV star was inundated with several messages from his celebrity pals, including WAG Lizzie Cundy, who wrote: “Huge congrats,” left several hand-clapping emojis.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s girlfriend Lisa Hogan fired from job after ‘naughty’ actREAD MORE: Jeremy Clarkson reveals new health concern after terrifying heart health scare

Richard E. Grant also left a whole line of celebratory symbols. Fashion designer Amanda Wakey wrote: “Lucky boy,” and several fans of Jeremy’s piled into the comment as well.

Begging the pair to tie the knot, one wrote: “Put a wring on it. Women like this don’t come along often! [red heart emoji]” and another said: “Time to put a ring on the lovely Lisa!” A third wrote: “She is a beautiful lady all round and has a fierce Cheers to the diddly duo!”

Last year, Lisa revealed she had decided to take the next step in her relationship with father-of-three and took advantage of the leap year on February 29 in which women typically propose, eventually joking that Jeremy had no idea because he wasn’t wearing his hearing aids.

In an episode of Clarkson’s Farm, there’s a hint of the couple tying the knot as Jeremy says: “I’ve got a big surprise for you,” as they walk through a field. “Is it a proposal?” Lisa asks, excitedly. The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host pretends not to hear and shows her the surprise — a fallen willow tree brought back into life. When pressed about the proposal, Jeremy says: “I’ll think about the proposal, OK? I’m not ready yet.”

However, when asked about the exchange, said in a new interview: “I just thought I might surprise him.” When asked if she actually proposed, she told The Times: “Jeremy doesn’t think I proposed, but he wasn’t wearing his hearing aids, so no one will know.”

The couple give viewers a candid look at their relationship on Jeremy’s Amazon series, in which the former Top Gear host told Lisa there was no way he was going wild swimming with her, despite how much she wanted to in a recent episode.

Instead of embracing the idea of a refreshing dip, suggested by his girlfriend, the presenter told his other half to “get out” of the water and head to the pub.

While the former actress splashed about in a pond, sporting a white swimming cap, Jeremy asked her: “What are you doing?” Lisa replied: “Just loitering in cold water.” At this point, Jeremy demanded to know why they weren’t at the pub before suggesting they could head home and read a book together.

But Lisa responded: “Apparently because this is the best high you could ever get.” Noticing Jeremy’s reluctance, she told him to open his mind as he had never been in cold water before. The host retorted in response: “I have been in cold water! I’ve done polar training – it was awful and trust me I’ve been drunk – and I’ve been in cold water – and being drunk is better.“

Having enough of watching her paddling around, the presenter lost his cool and barked at Lisa: “So let’s go to the pub, get out! Come on, please, hurry up.”

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The former Top Gear host was married twice to Alexandra James and Frances Caine – with whom he has children Emily, Finlo, and Katya – before he came to meet Lisa, who stands strikingly tall at 6 ft 2.