Sport in Manchester

Manchester City is the huge favorite heading into June 10's Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul as Pep Guardiola's side aims to finally get its hands on the greatest prize in European club football, and complete a historic treble.

City has been building towards this moment ever since the transformative 2008 takeover of the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Erik ten Hag expressed his surprise at seeing Manchester United capitulate to a 4-0 defeat at Brentford that leaves the Red Devils bottom of the Premier League for the first time in 30 years.

But after just two games in charge, the Dutchman is getting a crash course in United's new reality.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insisted European disappointment is nothing new for the English giant after losing 2-1 to Sevilla at Old Trafford to crash out of the Champions League by the same scoreline on aggregate.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to Old Trafford for the toughest test of their Premier League title credentials so far, while new Everton boss Sam Allardyce bids to defy Liverpool’s “Fab Four” as the northwest derbies take center stage on Dec. 10.

England's Premier League clubs spent a record 950 million pounds ($1.43 billion) on the August and January transfers this season even though spending in the winter window matched last year's figure of 130 million, according to accountancy firm Deloitte.