Preview

Sep

2024

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham host North London rivals Arsenal in what will be the headline clash of Matchday Four in the Premier League.

By Kaustubh Pandey

Both sides return to action after the international break still smarting from their latest results in the league. Arsenal dropped points to Brighton a couple of weekends ago and Spurs lost to a late-ish Alexander Isak goal at Newcastle United despite putting in a decent performance in attack.

It is off-field suspensions and injuries that will certainly encourage Spurs, as Arsenal will be without the injured Martin Ødegaard and the suspended Declan Rice. Mikel Merino is also ruled out and it remains to be seen whether Riccardo Calafiori will be fully fit after picking up an injury for Italy during the international break.

Another positive for the Lilywhites is that Dominic Solanke will be back in action after an injury lay-off and he will be looking to get himself off the mark for his new club. Micky van de Ven did pick up a knock in the loss on Tyneside but he has been passed fit for the derby.

Barring that, recent history does favour Arsenal and they will take confidence from that.

Mikel Arteta‘s side have won the last two derbies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and are unbeaten in four games against their rivals. Postecoglou is also yet to win against Arsenal but he did see his side put in a decent performance in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates last season.

One big red flag for Spurs is their transitional defending, which was a problem against Newcastle and caused many issues last season, as teams could get at them on the counterattack.

Arsenal will look at that aspect keenly, as they may cede possession to Spurs whenever they can due to the injuries and absences in the matchday squad. This could play out well for in the Gunners, who can then expose their rivals on the break.

Having said that, Spurs do typically create a lot of chances in each game – they’ve missed seven from 10 chances categorised as ‘Big Chances’ so far this season. The lack of a finishing touch has let them down, something they’ll be looking to correct in what is one of the biggest games of the campaign.

All that, though, is simply the on-paper talk and as is often the case on Derby day, things tend to happen on instinct and momentum dictates results. Both teams will likely create their fair share of chances and it will all be about who can convert the most on the day.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: Girona vs. Barcelona

It has been a perfect start to the 24/25 campaign for Hansi Flick, his short stint at Barcelona so far suggesting that he is rather more suited to club coaching than sporadic international involvement with his players.

By Karl Matchett

Moving on from his debacle at Germany, the new Camp Nou boss has won four from four in LaLiga this term to sit four points clear already – but an intriguing next test awaits.

While it’s after the October international break that Barcelona’s fixture list really cranks into high gear – they’ll face Sevilla, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and the derby against Espanyol in a row following that – they return to domestic action now against last season’s surprise package Girona, who finished third, only a handful of points behind the Catalan club themselves.

For Girona, as expected, they lost a few players over summer and the start to this term has been a little fragmented as a result: last year’s goal machine Artem Dovbyk has gone to Roma, midfielder Aleix García to Bayer Leverkusen and their on-loan winger Savinho is now with Man City. Even so, despite defeat at Atlético Madrid they have looked strong, hammering Osasuna and winning at Sevilla in impressive fashion.

Head coach Míchel Sánchez has them playing a familiar way and when Yangel Herrera is back to full fitness, they retain a strong, mobile, technically excellent midfield. Even so, and while they can cause problems of their own, early-season Barcelona looks a slick machine which might be too strong for them going forward.

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have started the campaign well. Dani Olmo, now in the lineup and central to their buildup play, is immense – he could be set to be one of the league’s very best this season, his first back in his home nation since leaving at 16 years old. And while Robert Lewandowski is clearly past his peak, he may be rejuvenated with better buildup behind him and a manager who knows him well – four in four so far for the Pole.

Yet opportunity for Girona comes in Barcelona’s absentees, particularly in midfield. Olmo got a knock with Spain last week and though he could still play, Gavi remains out and Marc Bernal will miss the season. Frenkie de Jong, Fermín López and Andreas Christensen are all still missing, too.

There’s not too much scope for rest and rotation in the centre as the matches start to come thick and fast for Barcelona in Europe this coming week – but Girona’s success last year means they must deal with that additional load, too. It’s fascinatingly poised to reveal where both these sides really are.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid

After finally fulfilling football’s worst kept secret over the summer with the signing of star forward Kylian Mbappé, from PSG, many would have been expecting Real Madrid to instantly becomean even more formidable outfit.

By Nathan Evans

Instead, the reigning LaLiga champions have found the going tough and even though they remain unbeaten across their opening four domestic matchdays, their supporters would have been hoping for much more.

Disappointing 1-1 draws with both Mallorca and Las Palmas have hamstrung their tally to this point, and as such, Real have picked up their lowest points haul through the opening four matches of a season since 2019/20. With both of those stalemates coming on the road too, confidence won’t exactly be flowing ahead of this latest away day – one that takes them to Real Sociedad, arguably much tougher opponents, as they look to hunt down rivals Barcelona at the top of the standings.

Despite that, the recent head-to-head form between these two sides in LaLiga still points towards likely success for Carlo Ancelotti and his side, as Madrid have lost just three of their last 17 away games against Real Sociedad in a run dating back to 2004. They’ve also enjoyed playing in this part of Spain of late, winning each of their last three away league games against Basque sides without conceding a goal in the process.

There’s also the additional boost that the side from San Sebastián have hardly started their own league campaign on a strong footing. Saturday’s hosts limped into the first international break of the new season by drawing 0-0 with Getafe, a result which made it just one win from their opening four games.

In that run of games, both of their home matches have ended in 2-1 defeats against Rayo Vallecano and Alavés – both sides with much less quality at their disposal than Madrid. Consequently, the home faithful at the Anoeta will likely be concerned ahead of this weekend’s fixture.

They’ll therefore have their collective fingers crossed that the aforementioned Mbappé forgets his shooting boots again for this match. No player in LaLiga, to this point, has underperformed their xG as much as the French international, though you’d still have to be a bit daft to not back him in potentially sending Real Sociedad crashing to a fourth consecutive home league defeat for the first time since 2007.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: LA Galaxy vs. LAFC

El Tráfico never fails to deliver.

By Graham Ruthven

From the moment Zlatan Ibrahimović bagged a brace on his LA Galaxy debut in the first ever meeting between the two Californian rivals, this has been the most exciting and consistently dramatic derby in Major League Soccer and Saturday’s clash promises to be just as gripping as any other.

Four points is all that divides the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC at the top of the Western Conference. The latter holds two games in-hand over their rivals and could close the gap on Greg Vanney’s team by claiming three points at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday. Equally, the Galaxy could widen the gap with a victory of their own.

Olivier Giroud will get his first taste of El Tráfico since joining LAFC from AC Milan in the summer and the same goes for Marco Reus following his transfer to the LA Galaxy from Borussia Dortmund. Giroud is still searching for his first goal in MLS, but Reus has registered one goal and one assist in just two games.

The LA Galaxy boast the strongest home record in the Western Conference having lost just once in 14 league games at Dignity Health Sports Park. However, that one home loss came against LAFC. In fact, the Galaxy haven’t beaten their rivals at home since a win in the US Open Cup back in 2022.

In an attacking sense, the Galaxy have the firepower to overcome anyone in MLS at this moment in time. Between them, Dejan Joveljić, Gabriel Pec, Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil have combined for 40 goals this season. Defensively, though, the Carson outfit have their weaknesses having conceded more than one goal in half of the 28 league matches they have played this season.

Los Angeles FC have been something of a force on the road since going winless over their first five away matches of the season. Since then, Steve Cherundolo’s team have gone unbeaten in seven away games and will fancy their chances of leaving Carson with another positive result this weekend.

Most recently, the Black and Golds have dominated El Tráfico having won their last three games against the LA Galaxy. There has been 95 goals in the previous 23 derby meetings between the LA Galaxy and LAFC. Saturday’s match could swing either way, but it’s almost guaranteed that there will be something to talk about.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2024

Preview: AFC Bournemouth vs. Chelsea

After winning just two of their opening five competitive fixtures of the 2024/25 season, it’s still proving difficult to know exactly what to expect from Chelsea as the Premier League returns from the first international window of the season.

By Nathan Evans

A 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City saw new manager Enzo Maresca begin the campaign on the back foot before victories over Servette in Europa Conference League action and a 6-2 thumping of Wolves on the road restored confidence amongst their supporters. Since then, though, a 2-1 loss in the second leg of that European tie and a 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace – a match in which they really should have found a way to win – will have dampened spirits substantially.

That proves far from ideal preparation to face a Bournemouth side who have extended their fine form from last season into this new campaign and as a result, they head into this latest outing unbeaten through their opening three league outings.

Despite the loss of star striker Dominic Solanke to Spurs for a club record fee, manager Andoni Iraola has done well to bring even more talent to the club, including the likes of Evanilson, Dean Huijsen and Luis Sinisterra, the latter of those playing a huge part in their most recent league fixture.

That’s because the former Leeds winger netted a 96^th minute winner at Goodison Park as the Cherries came back to beat Everton, a result that pushed Bournemouth into the top half of the table. That match further highlighted Bournemouth’s self-belief as despite trailing by two goals as late as the 87^th minute, they still found a way to grind out an important win, the latest a side has ever turned a 2-0 deficit into victory in Premier League history.

That’ll have Chelsea fans worried ahead of this clash then, even if the Blues arrive on the South Coast unbeaten across their last five league meetings against the Dorset outfit. They’ve additionally lost just one of their last seven away top-flight games against Bournemouth too, but there’s plenty of areas where they could be hurt by the hosts this time around.

That includes the potential threat posed by Antoine Semenyo who has been Bournemouth’s best performer so far this season. To this point, no player in the competition has attempted more shots (17) than the Ghanian winger and with two of those finding the back of the net, the Chelsea backline will need to be at their best to stop him adding to that tally.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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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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