The Australian could leave after Spurs win the Europa League, while United may stick with their coach after winning nothing

Erik ten Hag has gone, but his shadow looms over English football still. The mistake was understandable enough: high on the euphoria of beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Manchester United renewed his contract. Three months into the new season, more than £180m spent on summer transfers, Ten Hag was dismissed with United 14th in the table on 11 points from nine games.

The sporting director, Dan Ashworth, and various members of Ten Hag’s backroom staff also left, at a total cost of £14.5m. Or, to put it another way, keeping Ten Hag cost United £200m and in effect undermined this season. Nobody wants to be caught in the Ten Hag trap.

Emergency strike duo reeling in Lyon was electrifying while also showing deep flaws in Ruben Amorim’s squad

Bedlam, pandemonium, ecstasy and simply wow: Manchester United’s three-goal, six-minute (and 34 seconds) blockbuster extra-time comeback from 4-2 down is one for the ages, and a thrilling advertisement for the heart-stopping drama football can generate.

Yet if the Harry Maguire header that KO’d Lyon was a last, heroic act of a pell-mell, childhood-like jumpers-for-goalposts victory, it should also clang alarm bells for the fragile unit Ruben Amorim oversees, and cause a serious reality check.

• Semi-final against Athletic Bilbao now the priority
• Amass, Obi and Heaven in line to get more game time

Ruben Amorim will use younger players in Manchester United’s next three Premier League fixtures as he prioritises the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao.

United play at Athletic on 1 May and host the return a week later. Matches against Wolves and Bournemouth precede the first leg and United go to Brentford in between the European fixtures.

• ‘I was watching the 1999 documentary … A great night’
• United score three goals in extra time to progress in Europa League

After Manchester United scored three times in the last seven minutes of extra time to knock Lyon out and progress to a Europa League semi-final versus Athletic Bilbao, Ruben Amorim stated he had drawn on the 1999 Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich.

Losing 1-0 going into added time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær claimed European glory for United 26 years ago.

Brighton hope their injury problems ease, Palace must stem the tide and Forest could do with Chris Wood fully fit

Considering the length of Brighton’s injury list, Fabian Hürzeler will be desperate to get Kaoru Mitoma back in time for Saturday’s trip to west London. The Japanese winger sustained a heel injury against Crystal Palace, ruling him out of the draw with Leicester. It was the first time he had missed a Premier League game all season after making 31 appearances. Whether he will be available against Brentford is yet to be seen but, with three teenagers on the bench last weekend, the more experience Hürzeler can name on the teamsheet the better. James Milner, Igor Julio, Georginio Rutter, Adam Webster, Ferdi Kadioglu and Tariq Lamptey are all out, while the goalkeeper Jason Steele returned to action for the under-21s this week but Carl Rushworth will remain the backup to Bart Verbruggen for now. If Mitoma can recover in time, it will be a timely boost as Hürzeler’s side fight for a European place. Will Unwin

Brentford v Brighton, Saturday 3pm (all times BST)

Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

Everton v Manchester City, Saturday 3pm

West Ham v Southampton, Saturday 3pm

Manchester United unveiled a giant tifo that declared “Never Gonna Stop”, then did precisely this by knocking out 10-man Lyon in an electrifying end to extra time that ranks second in the club’s pantheon of late, late continental finishes.

For those here the drama of minutes 114-120 (+34 seconds) will never be forgotten. At this juncture United had gone 4-2 down to a Rayan Cherki strike and an Alexandre Lacazette penalty (on 104 and 109 minutes) that had the French side leading 6-4 on aggregate and apparently dumping Ruben Amorim’s men out of Europe.

• Europa League updates, 8pm BST kick-off (first leg: 2-2)
• Live scoreboard | Read Football Daily | And ">email Scott

… and if that doesn’t augur well enough … United have made it through on 14 of the 20 occasions they’ve drawn the first leg of a European knockout tie away. Furthermore, on the one occasion they’ve drawn the first leg away 2-2, in the 2022-23 Europa League against Barcelona, they went on to win the second leg 2-1. So, a 100% record in this exact situation then, which compares very favourably with Lyon’s own 100% record: the French club have lost on all nine of the previous occasions they’ve drawn the first leg of a European tie at home. History firmly on United’s side all right.

History is firmly on Manchester United’s side tonight. Lyon have visited Old Trafford on two previous occasions, and lost both times. In the Champions League groups in 2004-05, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the winner in a 2-1 win, after Gary Neville’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Mahamadou Diarra. Three seasons later, in the 2007-08 Champions League round of 16, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was enough. Why not relive those matches with ye olde reports?

They may not win end-of-year awards, but these players have been essential for their teams

By WhoScored

Arsenal’s decision not to sign a striker in January could have come back to haunt them. Gabriel Jesus has been absent since the turn of the year and Kai Havertz suffered a torn hamstring in February, leaving them short in the final third. Mikel Merino filled the void admirably. Indeed, only Havertz (nine) has more league goals for the club this season than Merino (six), who scored in important wins over Leicester, Chelsea and Fulham. Fans will want the club to invest in the summer but Merino has done remarkably well, given he had not played up front since he was nine years old.

• Manchester United goalkeeper back in goal on Thursday
• ‘We need to improve every position. Keeper is the same’

Ruben Amorim will reinstate André Onana for Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon but admits a new goalkeeper may be signed in the summer because “every position” will be evaluated.

Amorim rested Onana and selected Altay Bayindir for Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Newcastle at St James’ Park after the Cameroonian was culpable for Lyon’s goals in last week’s 2-2 draw in the opening leg. However, the head coach will start Onana in Thursday’s return at Old Trafford as United seek to progress to a semi-final against Rangers or Athletic Bilbao.

Our cartoonist looks ahead to crunch ties in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League

• Buy copies of David’s cartoons in our Print Shop
• And get David’s new book, Chaos in the Box, now

Wolves’ revival continues, Jadon Sancho needs to show more consistency and Fabian Hürzeler backs his captain

• Premier League top scorers: the latest standings

Among several excellent individual performances, it was Newcastle’s collective endeavour that was most impressive against Manchester United, the home side’s press rarely giving their opponents a chance to settle on the ball. As a result the visitors kept coughing it up in dangerous positions, and this was where the game was won. None of the home side’s goals involved them crossing the halfway line, and the amount of time they spent in possession in the buildup to each of them was, in order of them being scored, eight seconds (with four players touching the ball), nine seconds (also four players), five seconds (one player) and three seconds (two players). More than a fifth of their total ball recoveries, 12 of them in all, took place in their attacking third, four of which led to goals; the equivalent figures for the visitors were two, and 4.3%. Simon Burnton

Match report: Newcastle 4-1 Manchester United

Match report: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham

Match report: Wolves 4-2 Tottenham

• No update on condition but Howe well enough to watch
• Assistant Tindall took charge for Manchester United win

Eddie Howe remains in hospital with an unspecified illness but was well enough to watch on television as his Newcastle side beat Manchester United 4-1 at St James’ Park yesterdayon Sunday.

Jason Tindall, his assistant who took charge in the home technical area, said he was able to offer no update on Howe’s condition but added that he had received a congratulatory post‑match text from the manager.

Harvey Barnes’ double set up a convincing win and moved Newcastle up to fourth in the Premier League

Hey Jude rings out around St James’ Park. KEEGAN, says a tifo in the stands. “He saved us in 82,” adds a banner, “he entertained us in 92.”

In a dramatic development, I have received an email. “G’Day Tim,” says Chris Paraskevas. “Hope you’re well!” I am, thanks, hope you are too. “And seriously, sending best wishes to Toon Legend® Eddie Howe, who also seems like a top bloke!

No one knew if Eddie Howe was well enough to watch his Newcastle players from the hospital bed he has occupied since Friday night but they ultimately put on the sort of show he would have relished.

As Thomas Tuchel, England’s head coach, took a seat in the directors’ box, Tino Livramento pressed his international claims with an excellent game out of position at left-back as goals from the similarly outstanding Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes (two) and Bruno Guimarães lifted Newcastle to fourth in the table. A Champions League place appears well within their grasp.

• André Onana culpable for both goals in Lyon on Thursday
• Off-field problems add to Amorim’s desire to protect him

André Onana has been rested by Ruben Amorim for Manchester United’s trip to Newcastle on Sunday, after the No 1 was culpable for both goals in Thursday’s 2-2 Europa League draw at Lyon.

While Altay Bayindir is set to make his Premier League debut at St James’ Park, the 29-year-old is likely to be recalled for Thursday’s quarter-final, second leg at Old Trafford, the Guardian understands. Onana was left behind when United travelled to Tyneside on Saturday.

• French police used teargas at Europa League tie
• Supporter’ groups criticise response of authorities

Manchester United are investigating the treatment of their fans who attended Thursday’s 2-2 draw at Lyon. The local government admitted French police used teargas but said it was “proportionate” to restore calm.

Posts on social media showed United fans feeling the effect of the spray at the Europa League quarter-final first leg. The Rhône prefecture said in a statement: “English fans were seated in the away section waiting to be allowed to join their bus. They attempted to force their way through the security measures deployed by the national police. Projectiles were also reported to be thrown at the police. The police therefore used moderate, proportionate and necessary force (tear gas) to restore calm.

There may be mitigating circumstances but the Manchester United goalkeeper cannot keep making mistakes

Thursday night was another blot on the André Onana copybook after the goalkeeper’s two errors meant Manchester United left Lyon on level terms in their Europa League quarter-final. In the buildup the former United midfielder Nemanja Matic described the Cameroonian as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history” – and Onana failed to dispel the claim.

Erik ten Hag brought in Onana from Inter in July 2023 to replace David de Gea, one of the best keepers United have seen but who was allowed to leave for nothing, and the decision has never looked justified. Onana cost about £45m a year after he was available for free, in another strange recruitment decision by United. De Gea took a year off before returning this season with Fiorentina, where he has again shown himself to be one of the continent’s finest, to make the situation more painful for United fans.

Lewis Dunk is running out of time, Jakub Kiwior rises to the challenge for Arsenal and Liam Delap has an audition

Manchester City’s tame outing at Manchester United on Sunday showed how they have flatlined this term, the goalless draw also damaging their prospects of Champions League qualification – after beating Leicester the following night, Newcastle vaulted them and went into fifth place. Without Erling Haaland, unavailable until mid-May at the earliest, City were toothless at Old Trafford, and with Crystal Palace arriving at the Etihad on a run of six wins in seven matches – the other was a draw – it is time for Pep Guardiola to earn his salary by ensuring his side are far better, or Europa League football may be on the cards next season. Jamie Jackson

Manchester City v Crystal Palace, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Southampton v Aston Villa, Saturday 3pm

Nottingham Forest v Everton, Saturday 3pm

Brighton v Leicester, Saturday 3pm

Arsenal v Brentford, Saturday 5.30pm

Chelsea v Ipswich, Sunday 2pm

• Goalkeeper at fault for both goals in quarter-final first leg
• Manchester United coach: ‘It can happen with any player’

Ruben Amorim said he is “really confident” in André Onana despite Manchester United’s No 1 making errors that handed Lyon both their goals in the first leg of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final.

Onana’s first mistake allowed Thiago Almada’s 25th-minute free-kick to bounce in. The second, in the last moments of added time, featured a weak push straight to Rayan Cherki, who equalised. At that point, United were leading through Joshua Zirkzee’s 87th-minute header, which followed Leny Yoro’s equaliser.

In a scarcely credible tale of hubris André Onana was Manchester ­United’s culprit, committing two howlers that cast the goalkeeper as a mug and Nemanja Matic as a seer.

In the buildup to this match, Matic branded Onana one of United’s ­poorest-ever keepers when responding to the 29-year-old’s claim that United were better than Lyon. The tit-for-tat closed with Onana’s dig that he had won trophies at United – unlike Matic in his five years at the club – before a nightmarish evening ended with another error, this time for the hosts’ equaliser.