Preview

Sep

2024

Preview: Manchester City vs. Brentford

With three straight wins to start their Premier League season and Erling Haaland moving into familiarly ominous form, there should be little to trouble Manchester City at home against Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

By Ian King

Haaland has now scored two consecutive hat-tricks which have been enough to take City to the top of the Premier League above Liverpool on goals scored, and when he is in this sort of form the likelihood of opponents taking much from the Etihad Stadium feels remote.

But in terms of performances so far this season, Brentford are better positioned than many to take something from even such a daunting challenge. They’ve won two of their three Premier League games so far this season, at home against Crystal Palace and Southampton, while their sole defeat, at Anfield, against Liverpool saw them put up a fairly credible performance from which the win was only secured for the home team with twenty minutes to play.

A further small cloud appeared on the City horizon with news of an injury to Nathan Aké during the Netherlands’ 2-2 Nations League draw with Germany on Tuesday night. Aké went down unchallenged on the verge of half-time with what is understood to be a muscle injury and left the pitch on a stretcher. There has been nothing released to confirm the seriousness of this injury at the time of writing, but it seems highly unlikely that he will be included in the team for this match.

On the flipside, Rodri hasn’t appeared in the League for City yet this season, but started for Spain in their 4-1 win against Switzerland on Sunday and may be in contention for a return to the first team for City too. Kristoffer Ajer could return from a foot problem for Brentford, meanwhile, but Joshua Dasilva, Rico Henry, Igor Thiago and Aaron Hickey all remain out of action.

Brentford’s most encouraging sign ahead of this game comes from the recent history books. It’s only been two seasons since they completed a league double over City, beating them 2-1 at The Etihad in November 2022 and then 1-0 at The Brentford Community Stadium at the end of the following May. City returned the favour by completing a double over the Bees last season, but when you’re facing a team which has won six of the last seven Premier League titles, Brentford may have to take their lucky omens where there can find them.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: Southampton vs. Manchester United

Just three games into the season, Erik ten Hag is under pressure.

By Graham Ruthven

Damaging defeats to Brighton and Liverpool before the international break highlighted the weaknesses that continue to drag Manchester United down with ten Hag facing criticism from all directions. Saturday’s match against Southampton could be pivotal.

Russell Martin could also use a positive result. Southampton have still to pick up their first point of the campaign and must improve if they are to stand any chance of avoiding immediate relegation back to the Championship. A home match against a hurting Manchester United side could present them with an opportunity.

Manuel Ugarte could be handed a Premier League debut in central midfield. Casemiro was well off the pace in the defeat to Liverpool and so ten Hag could throw his latest signing in at the deep end in an attempt to make his team tougher to play through in the middle of the pitch. Ugarte could be partnered with Kobbie Mainoo.

Up front, Joshua Zirkzee will likely lead the line for the visitors to St Mary’s Stadium despite this not being his natural position. The Dutchman is most comfortable when he can play as a secondary forward in the mould of someone like Thomas Müller, but United don’t have many other options in attack with Rasmus Højlund out injured.

Southampton have suffered from attacking problems of their own recently, scoring just one goal in three games this season. Martin could start a front three of Cameron Archer flanked by Ben Brereton Díaz and Adam Armstrong in an attack to overload the Manchester United defence and get into the spaces between the opposition centre backs and full backs.

The hosts are expected to line up with a back three in defence with Yukinari Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters deployed in the wing back positions. In central midfield, however, is where there will be greatest pressure on Mateus Fernandes and Flynn Downes to give Southampton the level of control Martin wants from his team. Southampton have had the majority share of possession in all three league matches they have played this term.

Three of the last four meetings between Manchester United and Southampton have ended in a draw and this weekend’s match could be another that is decided by small margins. United clearly have a large talent advantage, but currently lack the structure to make the most of that talent. The Saints could capitalise on that.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest travel to Anfield on Saturday afternoon looking for their first win there since 1988.

By Sam McGuire

Nuno Espírito Santo’s men won’t arrive fancying their chances but they will arrive full of confidence after a positive start to the season.

Forest are unbeaten in their opening three matches, picking up five points. They’re currently ahead of Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League table and they find themselves just a point behind Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.

When looking at the Expected Points table, Forest are third. That metric alone highlights how good their start to the season has been. It also highlights why they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Liverpool will be favourites but Forest don’t appear to be pushovers. They have the second best defensive record this term when looking at underlying numbers and only Manchester City have a better Expected Goals Against total. Espírito Santo’s side are also averaging the highest number of efforts on target per game. They’re a threat going forward and they’ve been resilient defensively – the ideal combination.

The Reds will, once again, have to be at their ruthless best to get anything from this game. Arne Slot’s side are one of only two teams to go three from three this season. They’re the only team in the English top flight not to have conceded a goal and they have the joint-best Expected Goals haul (7.1)

They weathered a storm against Ipswich Town in the first half of the opening game of the season at Portman Road, they then confidently dispatched Brentford at Anfield before ruthlessly taking Manchester United apart at Old Trafford before the international break. They have passed every test. Emphatically too.

And while this might not be the first real test for Slot and his players so far, on paper, it has the potential to be the biggest test of the Slot era to date. This is a game many expect the Reds to win. This is a game they should be winning if they have any hopes of a title challenge. It is a game they need to be winning if they want to claim a Champions League place. But nobody knows how Liverpool will react to this international break. Momentum was halted. This is the first time the players have been away from Slot since the Dutchman was appointed.

Will they need to find their rhythm again or will it be business as usual? That is the unknown right now and this is what makes this game such an intriguing match-up.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: England vs. Finland

In the end, it all passed off very much as we might have anticipated. A two-goal half-time lead and a second half closed out fairly effectively. Lee Carsley’s start as England’s interim manager kicked off against Ireland in a manner which felt like a gentle easing away from the late-stage stodginess of the Southgate era.

By Ian King

Carsley takes his Wembley bow against Finland tomorrow night. Finland were comfortably beaten in Athens on Saturday, and this should be a comfortable evening at the office for one of Europe’s strongest teams.

It’s seemed that the fuss and bluster over Declan Rice, Jack Grealish and their very differing reactions to scoring in Dublin on Saturday has blown over quickly, but what about that national anthem business? Lee Carsley didn’t sing it on Saturday, and while again that story has surely now peaked, did its very existence indicate potential media hostility toward Carsley that could solidify should England at some point retreat again to late-stage Southgateism?

Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are all missing from the squad, so we should expect Anthony Gordon and Jack Grealish to start again. They certainly took their opportunity at the weekend. It may also be that second half substitute John Stones could start this one, as could Eberechi Eze and Conor Gallagher.

Historically, England have never lost to Finland, but there isn’t much to go on. They’ve won nine and drawn two from eleven meetings, but the last of those came in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, when they drew in Helsinki, with England winning the return 2-1 at Anfield.

As with the game in Dublin, the manner of any win against Finland will matter as much as the actual score. Of course, things can always go wrong. There are always two teams on the pitch at any time during a match. Scrambling a last minute 1-0 win would likely be treated very much as drawing or even losing would.

So if these six UEFA Nations League matches are effectively Lee Carsley carrying out an audition to get the job on a permanent basis, this is his opportunity to shine. His freestyle moment. His signature bake. And this is where you see the root of the problem with England. Those expectation levels. Don’t just win. Win in style. It won’t be the last time that Carsley will face this challenge, should he get the job permanently.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: Ireland vs. England

A Nations League Group B fixture probably wouldn’t be one to arouse too much interest and intrigue in the normal course of events, if we’re being totally honest, but it’s a fresh start all around as Republic of Ireland host England in B2 – and with plenty of talking points on either side before a ball is even kicked.

By Karl Matchett

Lee Carsley is, of course, in the dugout for the Three Lions: temporarily chosen to oversee the post-Gareth Southgate era, he has mixed up the squad, called in some unestablished names and generally looks to be giving alternatives a first real chance to impress – all against the nation he represented as a player 40 times.

But it’s also a first game in charge for Heimir Hallgrímsson, selected to lead the Irish side after an extremely lengthy search, yet he starts his tenure without the players who might reasonably be labelled his first-choice goalkeeper, centre-back and potential playmaker, with Gavin Bazunu, Shane Duffy and Josh Cullen all out.

As ever that will merely mean chances elsewhere and there’s a talented group of youthful attackers to choose from: Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Evan Ferguson and Michael Obafemi are all 24 or under, yet each have a dozen to 25 caps already. There is a group to build around and towards, for the head coach who can find the balance of defensive resolve and attacking intent. Whether Hallgrimsson is that boss, we’ll now begin to see.

Even so, most eyes will remain on England. There are quite significant squad alterations considering they just reached another major tournament final: four uncapped players, a dozen with ten or fewer appearances at senior international level. The usual questions aimed at England will resurface regardless of starting line-up: how to improve the attacking style, who to pair in midfield, who the third attacker should be alongside Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.

One answer appears to already have been given, though. Kyle Walker’s absence, Reece James’ injuries and Kieran Trippier’s retirement means Trent Alexander-Arnold is not only a definite right-back option, but the likely starter at last. He’s been to three Champions League finals and has won everything the game has to offer, yet at 25 he’s only set to win his 30th cap. Will the interim manager show the next permanent boss that the Liverpool man deserves trust where Southgate lacked it? Ireland and Finland as opponents won’t be definitive, but that’s just one of the new beginnings the Euro 2024 runners-up will be looking at.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2024

Preview: Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace

Perhaps somebody at Premier League HQ does have a sense of humour.

By Ian King

Chelsea, the Pac Men of the current transfer market, against Crystal Palace, who’ve spent the summer trying to resist the sale of the players who got them through an excellent end to last season, on the very weekend after the window closes is almost too delicious an irony otherwise.

There’s a possibility that a summer of unsettlement has got to Palace. They’ve already lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and, at the time of writing, there remains a possibility that others could join him, with admiring noises continuing to be made in the direction of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi, both of whom featured with distinction for England at the European Championships during the summer.

Their opening two league matches have brought two defeats from matches against Brentford and West Ham United. Neither of these losses were particularly horrific, but these matches are the sort of matches that head coach Oliver Glasner will have identified as winnable if the club is to pitch toward some of the loftier predictions that were made for them pre-season. It might even be argued that this slightly underwhelming start is a necessary counterpoint to all that optimism.

Chelsea, meanwhile, remain a curate’s egg of a team. There is no question that their 6-2 win at Wolves last weekend was a huge surprise. There had been few signs in pre-season or in their opening Premier League match against Manchester City a week earlier that they’d be capable of doing anything like this. And that win at Molineux should also be slightly tempered by reminding ourselves of just how dismal the Wolves defending was for three or four of their goals.

Of course, with Premier League hubris being Premier League hubris, the Wolves win seems to have sparked some belief that Chelsea will challenge for the Premier League title. Well, we shall see. Results so far have been mixed, though rattling in six goals in the Black Country was a big step in the right direction. In the meantime, Enzo Maresca would do remember that there remains a lot of work to do at Stamford Bridge and a home game against a mid-table team is exactly the sort of match that last season’s Chelsea would have stumbled over. At this stage, every game is still a litmus test of the new manager’s progress.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2024

Preview: Manchester United vs. Liverpool

Over recent years, Liverpool have racked up some big wins over Manchester United.

By Sam McGuire

The Reds romped to 4-2 and 5-0 wins over the Red Devils in back-to-back seasons at Old Trafford and recorded a historic 7-0 victory over their old rivals at Anfield. And yet this fixture hasn’t been anywhere near as one-sided as people would have you believe.

In fact, United have the upper hand over the past five meetings and Erik ten Hag is unbeaten at Old Trafford against Liverpool. It may be hard to believe but the Reds haven’t recorded a win on away soil since October 2021.

The Red Devils, under Ten Hag, have a 2-1 win, a 4-3 win and a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford against the Merseyside club. He also masterminded a 0-0 at Anfield last summer. His record in this fixture is played five, won two, drawn two and lost one. It just so happens that it was a 7-0 loss that everybody talks about whenever these two sides meet.

There’s a bit of deja vu about this upcoming clash.

Liverpool are in good form and head into this game as favourites. The Reds, under new boss Arne Slot, have a 100% record in the English top-flight. They have beaten Ipswich Town and Brentford, scoring four goals in the process while keeping two clean sheets. They have the best underlying numbers in the Premier League. Their Expected Goals Conceded total is just 0.8 across these two games while they have carved out chances worth 5.3 Expected Goals.

Granted, the opposition haven’t been the most dangerous but let’s not forget that the Reds allowed Brentford to create opportunities with an xG of 1.7 in the Anfield clash last season.

There is less chaos under Slot and a lot more control. The Reds control possession, space and the game state. Last season, Liverpool controlled the ball but not the space and certainly not the game state.

So while there are similarities heading into this game, there are also key differences.

The task for Ten Hag remains the same though.

United are the home team but they are going to want to frustrate the Reds. They are going to want to play almost as an away side, looking for moments to take advantage of. That is their style of play, despite investing heavily in players the Dutchman wants.

They lost to a late goal against Brighton and needed an 87th-minute winner against Fulham on the opening day to pick up all three points. United, once again, need to up their game if they’re going to extend this good run of form against Liverpool.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2024

Preview: Celtic vs. Rangers

Old Firm derbies always matter, but Sunday’s clash will have more riding on it than most.

By Graham Ruthven

Even at this early stage of the season, there is a sense that Rangers must take something from the match to prevent Celtic from running away at the top of the Scottish Premiership. A home win could set the tone for another season of green and white dominance.

Rangers have endured a challenging start to the 2024/25 campaign. Philippe Clement has struggled to hide his unhappiness at a lack of activity in the summer transfer window with the Ibrox club currently not playing at Ibrox due to delayed construction work. The failure to qualify for the Champions League only deepened the malaise.

Celtic, on the other hand, have opened their Scottish Premiership title defence with three straight wins. The Hoops lost Matt O’Riley to Brighton this week, but will still have enough midfield quality in the form of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo to control Sunday’s Old Firm derby.

McGregor has been in goal-scoring form for Celtic of late, finding the back of the net in each of his last two league appearances. Kyogo Furuhashi is also a good bet to notch having scored eight times in the 14 matches he has played against Rangers. Brendan Rodgers faces a choice between the Japanese and Adam Idah to lead the line.

Nicolas Kühn has been a standout performer for Celtic so far this term with the German expected to start on the right side of the front three against Rangers. On the other wing, Daizen Maeda’s pace could give James Tavernier a problem just as it did in more than one Old Firm derby last season.

Cyriel Dessers sharper finishing has been a positive for Rangers early on this season. The Nigerian international has scored three goals in his last three games and is starting to silence his doubters with Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence also providing more in the attacking third of late.

Kasper Schmeichel has barely been tested since joining Celtic having conceded just one goal in four games in all competitions for his new team. Rangers will pose a threat if they can replicate the sort of form that saw them put six goals past Ross County at their temporary home of Hampden last weekend, but all signs point towards this being a derby dictated on Celtic’s terms.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2024

Preview: Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Even though Newcastle and Tottenham both find themselves on four points from the first six on offer in this new Premier League season, there is a slightly different narrative between the Tyneside and North London outfits.

By Dan Tracey

For the Magpies, there is a sense that is all not well at St James’ Park and with manager Eddie Howe largely being frustrated at not landing the capture of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, that frustration has filtered through to the club’s passionate set of supporters.

Considering this club is perceived to have all the riches in the world, it is not spending them like a global superpower and with the shackles of PSR holding them back off the field, a draw against Bournemouth last Sunday showed signs of shackles on the field.

A point on Howe’s most recent return to the Vitality Stadium is all that Newcastle earned for their troubles and they looked like being in serious trouble when Dango Outtara thought he scored a late winner for the Cherries.

Unfortunately for the Bournemouth player, VAR had other ideas in mind. His goal wiped out for handball – a decision that drew the ire of the usually placid Andoni Iraola, the Spaniard feeling he had been robbed, his opposite number knowing that his team probably got away with one.

However, there was no getting away from how bad Everton’s showing at Tottenham was last Saturday. The Toffees finding them in a rather sticky situation as Ange Postecoglou’s side hit four unanswered goals in front of their own support.

A performance that certainly lifts in the mood in N17 and one that was the perfect tonic after throwing away their lead at Leicester at the start of last week. Everton put to the sword, but maybe that was an indication of how bad Sean Dyche’s side have started this season.

Which means Sunday should be a fairer reflection of where both these teams are at and more importantly, where they aim to be at the end of the season. The hosts and the visitors have top four aspirations, you get the feeling that at least one of these outfits will end up disappointed.

However, the opportunity to earn a statement victory so early in the campaign is not one that either will want to overlook and whoever can make it seven points from nine, will go in to the international break with plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Aug

2024

Preview: Barcelona vs. Real Valladolid

After their opening three matches of the 2024/25 La Liga campaign, Barcelona remain the only side still perfect in the Spanish top-flight, winning each of their three outings so far via the same 2-1 scoreline.

By Nathan Evans

Last time out it was Rayo Vallecano who fell victim to Hansi Flick’s side, as new signing Dani Olmo sealed all three points on his return to the club with a lovely finish in the 82^nd minute. In fairness, it was exactly what Barcelona deserved come the final whistle, as they dominated large spells of the match and finished the game with 22 shots to their name.

Now attentions will quickly turn back to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys where Valladolid arrive as the next visitors after being promoted from Spain’s second flight last season. Their arrival is unlikely to set Barcelona’s fans on edge given that unlike their hosts, they haven’t fared as well so far this campaign.

A 0-0 draw at home to Leganes last time out proved to be a disappointment during a match in which they would have been targeting a victory. It also meant that to date this campaign, it’s one win, one draw and one loss for Valladolid and improving upon that record in this latest outing will prove a very tall order.

Their only defeat came in the form of a 3-0 loss on their travels to face reigning champions Real Madrid and if that result and performance is anything to go by, a long afternoon could be in store in Catalonia this weekend. The same could also be said when taking a look at how Valladolid have fared on their recent away days to face Barçq because as may be expected, their form in this fixture is weak to say the least.

Not since November 1997 have Valladolid won an away league outing against the Catalan giants, whilst overall in history, they’ve won just two of their 46 meetings on Barcelona’s home turf. Each of their prior such nine matches have all ended in defeat too, with a combined losing scoreline of 31- 4 in that time hardly acting as much of a confidence boost ahead of this latest visit.

That’ll come as music to the ears of the home faithful and their attacking stars in particular, especially Lamine Yamal, who has already delivered a goal and two assists across his three league appearances in August 2024 and will be looking to add further to that tally on this occasion.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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