Richard Jolly
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Richard Jolly
@richjolly.bsky.social
8K followers 390 following 1.1K posts
Senior Football Correspondent, the Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/author/richard-jolly
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richjolly.bsky.social
Everton are unbeaten in all competitions, with five clean sheets and fifth in the league. Whether or not he meant it, Thierno Barry got a winner for David Moyes' cut-price side. On Everton 1-0 Ipswich:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Whether by accident or design, Thierno Barry is the face of the new Everton
Everton 1-0 Ipswich: While others in the Premier League confused themselves with spending sprees, David Moyes’ side are making the most of what they have
www.independent.co.uk
September 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Andoni Iraola took the rare step of holding a meeting with his successor, when Marco Rose replaced him at Bournemouth. Now, as he returns to Bournemouth, he may hope Liverpool are not beaten because of his advice:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why Andoni Iraola returns to Bournemouth with something still to prove
Iraola’s tenure with the Cherries took them to another level but he must now show he can do the same with Liverpool when his new club face off against his old this weekend
www.independent.co.uk
September 18, 2026 at 9:34 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Manchester City rock to a Samba beat as the 17-year-old debutant Floyd Samba stands in for Erling Haaland and scores twice. There was a debut goal for Allan Elias & a second City goal for Ryan McAidoo. On Man City 5-0 Norwich:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Man City strike up Samba rhythm as they find surprise Haaland alternative
Man City 5-0 Norwich: Floyd Samba, son of former Premier League defender Christopher, grabbed two goals in a Carabao Cup demolition where City flaunted their young talent
www.independent.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 8:44 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Dominik Szoboszlai explains the structure in Andoni Iraola's midfield and responds to the stat he only won one of 10 duels against Fulham:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The Dominik Szoboszlai dilemma that Liverpool must solve
Dominik Szoboszlai is offering Andoni Iraola a conundrum that he needs to find a solution to if the Reds want to be successful this season
www.independent.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 12:18 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
On Manchester United's awful start to the season. Michael Carrick initially flourished as the anti-Amorim. Perhaps that effect is wearing off. Certainly a lot of things are going wrong:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The ominous sign that Michael Carrick’s days at Man United are numbered
Carrick is already under intense pressure after a disastrous collapse to Brighton in the Carabao Cup and, as Richard Jolly details, the worst could be yet to come
www.independent.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 12:17 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Michael Carrick takes responsibility for Manchester United's shocking defeat to Brighton, but says it was unacceptable:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Michael Carrick takes the blame for ‘unacceptable’ Man United loss
United blew a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford for the first time since 1976 as Brighton fought back to knock them out of the Carabao Cup and compound their disastrous start to the season
www.independent.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 10:25 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
A shambolic, historic defeat to Manchester United, from 2-0 up to 3-2 down, compounding Michael Carrick's awful week and featuring hopeless defending. Brighton were rather good, though. On Man Utd 2-3 Brighton:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Man United reach new low with shambolic Brighton defeat in nightmare week
Man United 2-3 Brighton: United squandered a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford to crash out of the Carabao Cup and were booed off at the end of the match
www.independent.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 9:29 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Lewis Koumas believes he is playing the Liverpool Way. He is certainly playing the Iraola way, running non-stop and showing Liverpool's other forwards what to do. Koumas on his surprise comeback at Liverpool:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
How hard-running Lewis Koumas has given Liverpool’s expensive forwards no excuse
The 20-year-old academy product worked his socks off in the win over Tottenham and has become a symbol of how Andoni Iraola wants his team to play
www.independent.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 11:08 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
Tottenham wanted Cody Gakpo in the summer. But they didn't get him and he duly scored against them. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai also made it a wonderful night for a weakened Liverpool team and a bad one for Spurs. On Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Tottenham downed by Liverpool’s second-stringers to reveal painful regret
Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham: Andoni Iraola made 10 changes but was still able to progress in the Carabao Cup as Cody Gakpo, a Spurs target in the summer, contributed to their downfall
www.independent.co.uk
September 15, 2026 at 9:29 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
JJ Gabriel surprises Manchester United by asking to leave. They were planning to put him in their squad v Brighton, when he could have become their youngest ever player. United think the situation could be rectifiable:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Wonderkid JJ Gabriel stuns Man United by asking to leave
The 15-year-old is one of the brightest talents to emerge from the United youth system in years and was thought to be part of Michael Carrick’s Carabao Cup squad against Brighton
www.independent.co.uk
September 15, 2026 at 1:49 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Four goals to take Leeds third. Only after four games, admittedly, but they have been in terrific form over their last 29 matches. So maybe they can carry on like this:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Leeds’ rout of Newcastle shows there is no limit to their Premier League ambition
Leeds 4-1 Newcastle: Daniel Farke’s men are up to third in the top-flight table following an impressive run of form and will now have their sights on securing European football
www.independent.co.uk
September 15, 2026 at 7:34 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
Why have Manchester United started the season badly? There are quite a few reasons:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The real reason behind Man United’s bad start to the season
Defeat in the Manchester derby left United languishing 13th in the Premier League, already eight points behind Arsenal and Man City, and Michael Carrick has a number of big issues to solve
www.independent.co.uk
September 14, 2026 at 12:09 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Andy Robertson returns to Anfield tomorrow as Liverpool have issues with both their first- and second-choice left-backs. On Robertson, Kerkez and Tsimikas:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Andy Robertson’s Anfield return highlights Liverpool’s big left-back problem
Robertson exited Liverpool in the summer and his departure has made the club much weaker at left-back
www.independent.co.uk
September 14, 2026 at 8:49 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
There's no good time to be sent off but this felt a very bad time for Phil Foden to get a ban, after two poor seasons, when City have just signed other players, as his goal drought goes on. On Foden:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why Phil Foden’s Man City season could be doomed already
Foden’s sending off at Old Trafford is likely to mean he misses up to a month of playing time with a three-game suspension and the international break on the horizon
www.independent.co.uk
September 14, 2026 at 8:48 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
A derby win to cherish for Man City: down to 10 men for 70 minutes, they defended superbly and controlled midfield in a triumph for Enzo Maresca. Man United complained about Haaland's goal - but their performance should be the worry. On Man Utd 0-1 Man City:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why Michael Carrick can’t just blame VAR for Man Utd’s dismal derby failure
Man United 0-1 Man City: Erling Haaland’s controversial goal proved the difference but United can only blame themselves for failing to capitalise on their man advantage
www.independent.co.uk
September 13, 2026 at 7:34 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
It's new for Andoni Iraola to have to try and win PL games three days after CL games. Here, Liverpool didn't, lacking goals and creativity as they helped Alvaro Arbeloa get his first point. On Liverpool 0-0 Fulham:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why Liverpool’s drab draw with Fulham showed Andoni Iraola’s biggest issue
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham: An attempt at rotation backfired for the Liverpool manager as the visitors earned their first Premier League point
www.independent.co.uk
September 12, 2026 at 6:22 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Who are the kings of Manchester in a post-Pep world? On Carrick, Maresca, United and City:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The three words that reveal how Man City left Man United in the dust
The ghost of Carlos Tevez shows the evolution of the derby, but, as Richard Jolly details, a new, £116m signing highlights just how dominant Man City have been over rivals Man United in the last 15 ye...
www.independent.co.uk
September 12, 2026 at 6:59 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
Michael Carrick probably got most of the things he wanted from Man Utd's CL return: a comfortable win, a chance to rest and rotate, goals for Cunha and Sesko. Perhaps, though, it was most fitting Bruno Fernandes scored. On Man Utd 4-0 Sabah:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Man Utd enjoy triumphant return to Champions League but far sterner tests await
Manchester United 4-0 Sabah: Michael Carrick and his side enjoyed a triumphant return to Europe’s top tier against the champions of Azerbaijan
www.independent.co.uk
September 10, 2026 at 9:10 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Liverpool had three £100m men in the team against Atletico Madrid. But a loan signing may be proving the answer to their problem position and looks a fine signing. On Ronald Araujo:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
September 10, 2026 at 11:10 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
First Liverpool made Mac Allister sad, then he made Anfield happy with a stunning winner against last season's semi-finalists. On Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Iraola, Llorente and Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Mac Allister winner answers contract questions but worrying Liverpool trend emerges
Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid: The Reds began their quest for a seventh European title with a comeback win over Diego Simeone’s side
www.independent.co.uk
September 9, 2026 at 9:15 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Winning the Champions League was the ultimate for Michael Carrick. Now he is managing in it, aiming high while being humble about Manchester United's recent record in it. So how far can United go?

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Why Michael Carrick is dreaming big on Man United’s Champions League return
United to return to European football’s top table after more than 1,000 days away with a clash against Azeri champions Sabah. And Carrick is now the link between old and new
www.independent.co.uk
September 9, 2026 at 5:08 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Alexis Mac Allister was left "sad" when Liverpool told him they weren't in a position to offer him a new deal. But should they have done? He was excellent for two years but poor last season. On Mac Allister:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
If Alexis Mac Allister wants a new contract at Liverpool, he’s got to earn it
The midfielder said he was ‘very sad’ to have not received an offer for new deal over the summer, yet the truth is that the 29-year-old’s form last year scarcely merited one
www.independent.co.uk
September 9, 2026 at 6:52 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
Liverpool told Alexis Mac Allister in the summer they weren't in a position to offer him a new deal. It made him sad. He had options to go:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
Alexis Mac Allister reveals Liverpool contract snub: ‘It made me very, very sad’
The Argentina midfielder’s Anfield deal is into its penultimate season and the 27-year-old wants to commit his long-term future to the club
www.independent.co.uk
September 8, 2026 at 2:18 PM
richjolly.bsky.social
Manchester United have consistency in defence. They have conceded twice in every game so far. On defensive problems for Carrick with an old back four and different issues in each match:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
The new issue threatening to derail Man United’s season
The United defence, which has conceded twice in every game so far this season, suddenly looks hugely suspect and after ignoring that area in the recent transfer window, Michael Carrick faces a huge pr...
www.independent.co.uk
September 7, 2026 at 10:28 AM
richjolly.bsky.social
A town of 13,000 people has a club in the Bundesliga. With two wins out of two in it, as well. On Elversberg, the smallest club ever to get into the German top flight:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
How a town of 13,000 produced a Bundesliga team upsetting the German football giants
SV Elversberg have gatecrashed the top flight as the smallest club in Bundesliga history, won their first two matches and now face European footballing royalty in Bayern Munich, in a match they could ...
www.independent.co.uk
September 7, 2026 at 10:27 AM