After an absurdly long break between matches, we’re back with a slightly rusty general chat: United’s time in Dublin, the weirdness of going so long without a game, and why too much rest might not be the blessing it’s made out to be.

We also get into the FA Cup quarter-finals, Liverpool being battered by City, Arsenal’s oddly flat title charge, Chelsea’s latest bit of chaos, and our guesses for who ends up winning what. Plus a bit on Salah leaving, Southampton’s cup run, and the usual tangents.

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We look back on an infuriating but ultimately survivable point at Bournemouth, where United were decent for long spells, Bruno was Bruno from the spot, and the referee contrived to become far more central to the evening than anyone would have liked. There’s plenty on the two penalty decisions, the late drama, and why a draw on the south coast may yet feel more useful than it did on Friday night.

Beyond that, we take in a weekend that was unexpectedly kind to United, from rivals stumbling in the race for the Champions League to Tottenham continuing their spectacular drift in the opposite direction to us. We also wander into the wider state of the squad and the shape of the summer ahead.

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We look back on a cold, damp but ultimately rather pleasant afternoon at Old Trafford, where United saw off Villa with a minimum of panic and a fairly healthy amount of control. Also, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, whose influence once again shaped the game, as well as Sesko’s latest goal, United’s growing set-piece threat and the increasingly persuasive case for Champions League football returning to its natural habitat.

We also turn our attention to the wider football landscape: Chelsea’s latest collapse, Liverpool’s steady drift, Arsenal’s oddly joyless march towards the title, and the small question of who is going to fall out of the top five. There is also a look ahead to Bournemouth away on a Friday night, plus some discussion of Carrick’s long-term prospects, Casemiro’s uncertain future, and a few necessary diversions into bad pubs, Chinese takeaway standards and the statistical absurdity of United almost never naming the same XI twice.

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