What state are Manchester United in as Ralf Rangnick takes over the reins?

Michael Carrick certainly steadied the ship during his three games in charge before interim manager Rangnick takes over for the rest of the season, including last night’s thrilling 3-2 win over Arsenal. Carrick, who announced immediately after the game that after 15 years at the club he will be departing now Rangnick has his paperwork in order, led United to two wins and a draw in three tough games. Arsenal took the lead in bizarre circumstances, with Emile Smith Rowe shooting into an empty net as goalkeeper David de Gea lay prone, crocked by his own player. Bruno Fernandes got United level  just before half-time and soon after the break, Cristiano Ronaldo put United ahead. Arsenal hit back within two minutes through Martin Odegaard, but Ronaldo had the final say, slotting home the sport kick after Odegaard was judged to have brought down Fred after a VAR review.

Ronaldo Super Mega Minutes (settled at 192)

Dropped for the draw at Chelsea, Ronaldo was back with a bang last night as his two goals carried United to victory. Goals number 800 and 801 of a distinguished career – stop and think about that, that’s 40 goals a season for 20 years – not only brought joy to United fans, they ensured a handsome profit for buyers of Ronaldo Super Mega Minutes. The spread was set at 46-54, meaning buyers of the great man’s Super Mega Minutes (which doubles the minutes of any second goal and trebles those of a third) made 138 times their bet.

Are Tottenham faring better with Antonio Conte in charge?

Spurs got the job done efficiently enough at home to Brentford yesterday, beating their London rivals 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The home side dominated the game without ever threatening to run riot, as Antonio Conte became the 4^th straight Spurs manager to win his first 3 games in charge, after Nuno Espirito Santo, Ryan Mason and Jose Mourinho. Sergi Canos scored an unlucky own goal to give Spurs the lead, and Son Heung-Min added a second, sliding home Sergio Reguilon’s cross to complete a clinical fast break.

Tottenham Leading Minutes (settled at 78)

Spurs never looked back after taking a 12^th minute lead, and Brentford could only muster one weak Ivan Toney shot on target all game. The spread for Tottenham Leading Minutes was set at 31-34, meaning buyers won 44 times their bet.

What else happened in the sporting world yesterday?

The record for biggest ever victory was broken in the NBA, where the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 152-79. Nine Grizzlies players scored in double figures, led by Jaren Jackson Jr’s 27, who inflicted the heaviest every defeat despite playing without their star player Ja Morant. The 73-point victory eclipsed the 30-year-old 68-point record held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat the Miami Heat in 1991. The Thunder, in the midst of a rebuild, have now lost eight straight.

Superiority Plus Mem/OKC (settled at 83)

This market awards 10 points for wining the game and a further one per point won by. Memphis started as 13 point favourites on the handicap, and the Superiority Plus spread was set at 15.35-18.5. The balance of the Memphis roster – where the best player isn’t that much better than the 10^th best – really made a difference here, with the Grizzlies bench players more than good enough to keep on piling on the points and push the advantage further. Buyers of the Superiority Plus spread made 64.5 times their bet.