At present information
2025-01-24 00:01:00
1
Champions League hopefuls meet
In a shock to pre-season predictors, this match is as necessary as a fixture in January could be within the battle for Champions League soccer. Nottingham Forest head into the weekend degree with second-placed Arsenal, whereas Bournemouth are three factors behind fourth-placed Chelsea and 7 again from Forest. The scrutiny on each groups is rising however they hold answering the questions thrown at them. Regardless of having no out-and-out striker final weekend, Bournemouth put 4 previous Newcastle, giving Nuno Espírito Santo a warning. Justin Kluivert scored a hat-trick, his second of the season, at St James’ Park as Andoni Iraola’s versatile entrance 4 excelled. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo may really feel extra assured towards a pure No 9 however Forest’s centre-back pairing will relish the problem. Will Unwin
2
Brighton hope to rock Everton
Aside from Manchester United and Tottenham, Brighton have but to beat a workforce from the underside half of the desk on the Amex up to now this season: they’ve drawn with Ipswich, Wolves and Southampton and misplaced to Crystal Palace. Everton’s journey to the south coast ought to be a possibility for Fabian Hürzeler’s aspect regardless of the guests’ bounce below David Moyes, though the Seagulls haven’t crushed this weekend’s opponents at dwelling since October 2019. Brighton have historically struggled to interrupt down groups on dwelling turf, however Hürzeler will hope that Danny Welbeck’s return will help them climb again into competition for European qualification. Ed Aarons
3
Elliott deserving of Liverpool begin
Harvey Elliott impressed as a second-half substitute towards Lille, and within the interview that adopted his match-winning Champions League efficiency. The 21-year-old emphatically rejected rumours of a January exit from his beloved Liverpool whereas admitting “it will be foolish” to demand extra taking part in time from Arne Slot with the workforce flying on the high of the Premier League and Champions League. It’s something however foolish to state his case for a primary league begin of the season towards Ipswich. Slot rested a number of defenders towards Lille and deliberate to withdraw each Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai at half-time as he manages minutes amid Liverpool’s pursuit of 4 trophies. As an alternative, solely Gravenberch exited on the interval because of the harm to Curtis Jones. Elliott, who has began solely two cup video games this season after lacking over two months with a damaged foot, ought to get the alternatives he craves because of Slot’s rotation. The attacking midfielder introduced much-needed power and creativity to Liverpool’s show. A beginning position towards Ipswich could possibly be the reward. Andy Hunter
4
Saints desperately want to chop errors
Ivan Juric has introduced some imprecise positivity in relation to Southampton’s attacking play however the workforce’s foundations are constructed on sand. No matter occurs within the ultimate third, they’re all the time going to concede as a result of the defence stays liable to committing heinous errors. Towards Forest, Southampton had a dreadful first half in distinction to the loss at Manchester United the place they collapsed late on; Juric must take away these phases of incompetence. Southampton’s major goal from this level on is to keep away from having the bottom factors complete in Premier League historical past and the place to begin is to cease chucking the ball into their very own web, actually or metaphorically. Overplaying on the again and losses of focus must be eliminated to offer the forwards some reassurance that they don’t want to attain no less than three a recreation to be able to problem for a draw. WU
5
Pereira’s honeymoon interval is over
The preliminary uplift feels a very long time in the past now. Vítor Pereira gained his first two Wolves matches, a complete win at Leicester after which a deserved victory over Manchester United on Boxing Day earlier than a late equaliser at Tottenham made it seven factors from 9 earlier than the yr was out. However since then, Pereira has overseen three straight league defeats, plus a slender victory at Bristol Metropolis within the FA Cup. Mario Lemina, Wolves’ former captain and certainly one of their greatest performers final season, won’t play earlier than the tip of the switch window as a result of he desires to go away amid curiosity from the Saudi Professional League and, after the most recent defeat at Chelsea, Pereira criticised the physique language of Matheus Cunha, their high scorer and talisman. Wolves had beforehand been optimistic concerning the Brazilian ahead extending his contract, which runs till the summer time of 2027. The go to of second-placed Arsenal to Molineux is ill-timed. Ben Fisher
6
Chelsea ought to go for jugular at Metropolis
“They have been faster, quicker,” was Pep Guardiola’s trustworthy evaluation of why Paris Saint-Germain downed his Manchester Metropolis aspect 4-2 on Wednesday. That consequence leaves Metropolis going through elimination from European soccer in the event that they fail to beat Membership Brugge subsequent week: an uncommon sentence to write down. First, Metropolis will concentrate on qualification for subsequent season’s Champions League with Sunday’s go to of fourth-placed Chelsea, who arrive a spot above their hosts. The champions are fragile. Enzo Maresca ought to scent blood and instruct his speedy attackers to go for the jugular and revenue from their hosts’ ongoing insecurity and ruthlessness. Jamie Jackson
7
Palace to proper a Brentford flawed?
Had issues turned out otherwise on the opening day of the season, the place would Oliver Glasner’s aspect discover themselves now? Crystal Palace misplaced 2-1 at Brentford after Samuel Barrott, the referee, disallowed a superbly good objective from Eberechi Eze within the first half, with the guests then failing to win any of their following seven matches in a horrible begin to the marketing campaign. That dismal run is a distant reminiscence now, nevertheless, with Glasner having guided Palace as much as twelfth after successful three of their final 4 within the league. They’ve a possibility to realize some revenge towards Thomas Frank’s aspect on Saturday and know {that a} victory would take them above Brentford, with the highest 10 doubtlessly in Palace’s sights. EA
8
Moore to offer Tottenham a elevate?
Is Tottenham’s conflict with Leicester a relegation six-pointer? Either side are in totally dreadful kind; Spurs haven’t gained in six league matches and Leicester have misplaced seven in a row. The 2 managers refuse to alter their model but hope that repeating the identical factor will result in a turnaround. Ange Postecoglou restored some morale with victory at Hoffenheim however nonetheless has an extended harm listing and a substitutes bench that appears extra like a creche. A kind of gifted children is Mikey Moore, one of many brightest youngsters within the nation, who has impressed in cameos. Giving the academy product a begin towards Leicester could be simply what is required. The winger is raring to get the ball at his ft and beat opponents. If Moore may do this towards the Foxes, it would get a number of followers again onside. WU
9
Durán will need to show level to Emery
After Villa’s poor efficiency in Monaco, the stage is about. Unai Emery felt the introduction of Jhon Durán diminished Aston Villa’s menace on Tuesday and, whereas it appears unlikely the striker will likely be rewarded with a promotion to Villa’s beginning lineup, what are the chances on Durán arriving off the bench to strike the winner towards West Ham, simply as he did on the opening day of the season on the London Stadium? Hypothesis has intensified on the finish of per week wherein West Ham riled Villa with one other bid for the Colombian, which was rejected out of hand. Emery couldn’t cover his anger after defeat in midweek, questioning a few of his gamers’ mentality and conceding his newest experiment of partnering Durán with Watkins had failed. The Villa supervisor name-checked eight of his gamers who adopted the plan, but it surely felt pointed that Durán’s title was not amongst them. One other massive objective from Durán could be the right riposte. BF
10
Has Pereira misplaced his Fulham focus?
With hypothesis swirling round Andreas Pereira’s future it was not ultimate that the Fulham midfielder gave away a objective throughout his aspect’s current defeat to West Ham. Questions have been inevitably requested about Pereira’s focus, provided that hyperlinks with Palmeiras hold surfacing, and he was an unused substitute throughout final week’s 2-0 win at Leicester. Regardless of dropping the Brazilian for Sander Berge, Marco Silva has continued to again Pereira in public. Maybe he’ll reward that loyalty when Fulham host Manchester United. He will certainly need to impress towards his previous workforce. Jacob Steinberg
