Aston Villa’s rather controversial decision to sack Dean Smith after five straight Premier League defeats is looking more justified and inspired by the day.
After all the former Brentford, and now current Norwich City boss built at Villa Park, it would have been perfectly understandable for certain sections of the Villa faithful to be insipid about the decision to relieve Smith of his duties considering how far he brought such a prestigious club.
But, nowadays we live in a results business. There’s others who could argue the writing was always on the wall for Dean Smith, after much of the excitement, optimism and hope at Villa grew stale and the general feeling, it was time for an inevitable change.
Soon after the sacking though, the reports of Steven Gerrard – Liverpool’s club legend – taking over was met with much anticipation and approval considering all he had achieved in Scotland at Rangers.
Two games into Gerrard’s tenure and the new man at the helm has tasted successive victories. It’s still very early days but it seems as though Aston Villa are back on the rise.
During Smith’s latter days, Villa had been disorganized, lacking inspiration, almost motionless and forgotten how to win. However, much of that has changed in such a short space of time.
After two games under Steven Gerrard, they’ve been more resilient, tougher to beat, resurgent, forming a new and aggressive way of approaching matches.
So, what can we put it all down to? Is it that expected new manager bounce or has it been Gerrard’s managerial and coaching excellence. On the surface, it seems a mixture of the two.
In training under the new regime, there’s reportedly been an increased emphasis on building up play through the central areas, with the attacking trio remaining compact, sturdy and linking up with each other with enthusiasm and efficiency.
This was put into action in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and so it proved effective.
Not only have Villa turned around their woeful form by making a change at the top, but they’ve also started to positively overhaul the playing style in just a matter of weeks. It seems as though Gerrard has reverted back to basics especially defensively as a unit.
That’s what worked last term where they stayed compact as a unit, every facet of the starting XI working together to close down open spaces, defending as one mixed and meshed with the added brilliance of former star man Jack Grealish, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn.
If those same foundations were proved in the hard-fought win over Brighton at Villa Park, then the follow up success over Patrick Vieira’s exciting Palace team was clearly more down to careful, intentional and considered planning.
According to reports week one under the new management involved staggered training sessions, individual talks, group meetings and taking in an under-23 game – the supposed definition of going back to simplicity and the basics. Some sessions were reportedly switched to the afternoon as Gerrard blitzed through other tasks in the mornings.
Week two involved more tailor-made and intentional work: extensive planning around a much narrower shape that would thwart Crystal Palace’s threat and stop opponents playing through central areas with ease.
Plus, it involved building blocks for a longer-term project to finally transform Aston Villa into a team that seeks to dominate much of the match territory through prolonged periods of possession.
Steven Gerrard has been looking to get his instructions and messages across to the players rather swiftly, even through the distraction of the international break. A schedule was reportedly devised for those who traveled with their respective countries and for those who stayed behind.
Also, club discipline and sets of rules increased especially in punctuality and player conduct. Within the canteen, items including desserts, table sauces and sausages were removed as closer attention turned to diet and nutrition.
It was made pretty clear that the form that had occured before the new regime would be put on the back burner, out of players minds and a chance to start their season again. Players have been reminded of their qualities and that they were much better than recent results and their disappointing standing in the league table had suggested.
The plan before the season started, with some exciting new additions in the transfer window was that the club were planning to take that next step and challenge for the Europa League places this coming campaign, and after an inspired start especially their tremendous win over Manchester United at Old Trafford much of that optimism was showing until results and form depleted rather rapidly.
Under Gerrard though, players have responded well. One man who has quickly caught the eye is former Manchester United player Ashley Young.
His drive, determination and experience has stood out amongst the adversity. So too did his running statistics and work-rate, which still stack up favourably — even as the one of the oldest players in the team. That he made a telling impact off the bench in the 2-0 win over Brighton also highlighted his value to the team.
Young set up Matt Targett’s opener against Crystal Palace, producing a superb display as one of the attacking three alongside Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins. He has assisted more goals in the Premier League for Villa than any other player.
How Villa lined up against Crystal Palace
Players like Ollie Watkins have also responded well to Gerrard’s management, showcasing his fierce desire to improve especially in front of goal, and that desire to get better was highlighted through his expert and sumptuous finish against Brighton in Gerrard’s first game. That Watkins scored the first goal of the new era was fitting as a result of his style which Gerrard is very expectant of.
Captain Tyrone Mings was also reminded of his qualities and leadership when Gerrard first came in, and he’s already looked every inch the player Aston Villa rely on so heavily to lead them. John McGinn, with his “bubbly and infectious” character, but workhorse mentality and doggedness on the pitch has managed to maintain his rapid performance levels.
Another player who has increased his levels considerably looking every bit a Premier League player is Marvelous Nakamba. The midfielder showed glimpses of his combative qualities under Dean Smith but never enjoyed a sustained run in the team with Douglas Luiz and John McGinn Smith’s most trusted lieutenants in the middle of the park.
Against Palace, Nakamba put in a stunning showing in defensive midfield, and gained a number of plaudits for his performance. He won possession 10 times and broke up play in a way that provided the more forward thinking players the foundations to thrive in attack. “His performance for the team was massive,” Gerrard said post-match.
These are starting to feel like happy times again at Villa Park. And, if Gerrard and his staff can get Villa so organised and difficult to beat in just two weeks, then how good can they be in future when his plans and tactics are fully implemented?
Villa were certainly not attractive on the eye against Brighton but yet they found a way to win and if they are to challenge for those European places then winning when they don’t necessarily deserve it will have to be a common theme, though down at Palace, there was much more to appreciate.
It was in fact a tactical masterclass by Gerrard who outmaneuvered and outthought his former Premier League rival Patrick Vieira. Villa managed to reduce the gaps between defence, midfield and attack to stay tight and compact, not allowing the likes of Michael Olise, Wilf Zaha and Conor Gallagher the room or freedom to operate in.
Gerrard used the 4-3-2-1 formation to great effect at Rangers and has already been drilling his Villa side into a similar system. Off the ball, it’s all about dictating the game and protecting the middle of the pitch, and that’s what they did against Palace, springing traps in the wide areas trying to get their opponents to play through the middle then stifling their progress.
For example:
The wide players cut inside to play more like No 10s and the full-backs occasionally offer width in attack. With Olise, Eze and Zaha all looking to roam into half-spaces and create, Villa immediately closed down the areas they seeked to operate in, halting much of their attacking play.
Going forward, Gerrard has been specifically intentional working on particular patterns of play providing his team with an identity and a way of playing, forming a strong basis for the future. They largely consisted of building through central areas with McGinn and Jacob Ramsey supporting Young, Watkins and Leon Bailey in attack.
Rather than staying wide acting as proper wingers, both the players behind Watkins will at times alternate in dropping in those deep areas to pick up the ball and either drive with the ball or link with full-backs and fellow onrushing midfielders as shown in the image below:
Matty Cash and Matt Targett going forward under Gerrard’s tutelage will be tasked with more attacking responsibility as the weeks go by, offering width to allow the wide no.10s such as Bailey, Young, Buendia or El Ghazi to freely operate in the half-spaces just like Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo, Ianis Hagi performed for Gerrard during his time at the Ibrox.
Don’t be surprised to find either of those players in Aston Villa colours during 2022.
It was instances such as this that culminated in Villa’s second goal at Selhurst Park, a wonderful strike from McGinn on the edge of the area that sealed the win and sparked more wild scenes amongst Gerrard’s coaching staff.
Indeed Gerrard isn’t getting too carried away with his instant impact and progress at the helm. There are tough tests to come, not least a home game against Manchester City on Wednesday, but its clear that the former Rangers coach is laying the foundations for a bright future at Aston Villa.
Yes, the Villa players have been rejuvenated, a by-product of a new manager arriving but their recent form is also a product of Gerrard’s new rules and implementations on the training pitch and across the whole club.
This seems like a new Aston Villa. One which Dean Smith had a big hand in forming and shaping, but its now time for a new man to carry on those efforts and lead the club into a new exciting era.
The first two wins is a perfect picture of the kind of team Gerrard wants to build at Villa Park, and the swift seeds he has planted in his few weeks in charge are already bearing fruit.
Steven Gerrard must be given much credit for Villa’s current rejuvenation.
After a brief two-week pause of captivating international football, the Premier League finally returns this weekend offering up yet another cracking group of fixtures to feast our eyes on.
So, without further ado, let’s get in amongst the action with some previews and predictions.
Leicester City vs Chelsea, Saturday 12:30PM
Chelsea will be looking to increase their three point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table when they travel to Leicester City for Saturday’s early kick-off.
Thomas Tuchel’s men were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley last time out, while Brendan Rodgers’s side also took a point from their meeting with Leeds United before the international break.
This season so far has been one of inconsistency for Leicester City as they currently sit in 12th place in the table, only winning fifteen points from a possible 33. It’s safe to say Rodgers’ men aren’t hitting the same heights as last season, and it is now three games without a win in all competitions.
Intense speculation surrounding a possible switch to replace under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United will not help Rodgers and Leicester City’s cause one bit, who have just posted two Premier League wins from eight since the start of September and are without a clean sheet in 10 league games.
Rodgers has also seen his side ship two goals in each of their last three top-flight games at the King Power, and not since the 1997/98 campaign have the club managed to prevail against the starting the gameweek at the league summit.
Having impressively recorded numerous wins across the board in previous weeks, Chelsea being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against Sean Dyche’s Burnley came as a big surprise considering the amount of chances the hosts wasted.
Tuchel’s men saw their seven-game winning run in all competitions come to an end just before the international break, but the Blues still hold a healthy three-point lead at the top of the table ahead of Manchester City and a resurgent West Ham United.
Chelsea have won their last three away games in the top-flight without shipping a single goal and have conceded just once on the road during the current campaign, becoming the best defensive unit so far this season.
Leicester City prevailed 2-0 at the King Power in this fixture last term which saw former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard lose his job just days after before that historic FA Cup triumph, but Tuchel’s side claimed a 2-1 win over the Foxes at Stamford Bridge back in May.
MATCH FACT: Chelsea have only lost three of their past 18 Premier League games against Leicester (won 10, drawn five), though one of those was at King Power Stadium last season, a 2-0 defeat in Frank Lampard’s last league game in charge in January.
KEY MEN: Jamie Vardy (Leicester) & Kai Havertz (Chelsea)
The Steven Gerrard-era begins at Aston Villa this weekend as the out-of-form hosts welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Villa Park.
Former Rangers boss and Liverpool legend Gerrard replaced Dean Smith at the helm during the international break, with Villa having lost their last five Premier League games.
Brighton’s last outing before the interval saw them draw 1-1 with Newcastle United at the Amex Stadium.
Many of the Villa faithful will have been disappointed to see Dean Smith get the axe from his role earlier this month after the terrific job he’s done leading the club to where they are currently – as a very decent level mid-table club. But those at the top believe he wasn’t the man to take them to the next level after their disappointing run of form as of late.
There will of course be plenty of optimism surrounding Gerrard’s appointment, whose managerial CV already boasts an unprecedented Scottish league title with Rangers, ending Celtic’s nine-year domination, and in terrific and unstoppable fashion.
The Liverpool legend’s return to the Premier League has naturally led to some speculating that his new role is a stepping stone to replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the near future, but Gerrard has correctly stressed that the Villa job is not simply as such, and he undoubtedly still has plenty to prove as takes the reins at Villa Park.
Victory on Saturday could provide the perfect tonic for Gerrard as Villa manager, with only two of the club’s previous 12 Premier League managers – John Gregory and Gerard Houllier – winning their first top-flight outing in charge. To join that elusive list, Gerrard must bring an end Villa’s worst run of Premier League form since 2015-16, with Smith having lost his final five games in charge.
Villa have not picked up a point since beating Manchester United at Old Trafford in September, conceding 13 goals in that time and dropping down to 16th place – just points clear of the relegation places. Only the bottom two of Newcastle and Norwich have conceded more goals than Villa this season, whilst Norwich are the only team to have lost more than Villa’s seven defeats from 11 games.
The gap to Saturday’s opponents is seven points, however, Brighton’s relatively lofty league position of seventh belies a slight dip in form. The Seagulls’ last Premier League win was actually longer ago than Villa’s, failing to win any of their six league outings since beating Leicester City in September.
However, Graham Potter’s men have still managed to pick up points in that time, losing just one of those games – against Manchester City – and holding the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal to draws in that time.
A 1-1 draw with Newcastle before the international interval was a more disappointing result for Graham Potter, although they will still be more content with their current standing after 11 games, sitting level on points with Manchester United and just five points off the top four.
Chelsea and Lverpool are the only teams to have been beaten fewer times than Brighton so far this season, while those two giants and Manchester City are also the only teams to have conceded fewer goals than the Seagulls, which is very impressive reading.
Brighton are also one of three teams – along with Chelsea and West Ham – to avoid defeat away from home so far, so Saturday’s trip will not be too much of a stumbling block as they aim to put a dampner on Gerrard’s start as Villa Head Coach. Their last visit to Villa Park saw them pick up their first ever win there in a 2-1 triumph.
Villa are winless in their last three meetings with Brighton. However, last year’s corresponding fixture was also the only time Brighton have tasted victory over Villa in their last 12 attempts, and they will need to be particularly wary this time around with the hosts experiencing a new manager bounce.
MATCH FACT: Brighton’s Leandro Trossard is looking to score in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time.
KEY MEN: Danny Ings (Villa) & Leandro Trossard (Brighton)
SCORE PREDICTION:Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Burnley vs Crystal Palace, 3:00PM
Patrick Vieira’s high-flying Crystal Palace will be bidding to make it three Premier League victories in a row when they travel to Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon to take on Burnley.
The Eagles overcame Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last two fixtures to rise into 10th in the table, while Burnley currently sit 18th, picking up just eight points from 11 games.
Burnley will certainly not be pleased with their position in the table, picking up just eight points so far this season, leaving them three points ahead of basement side Norwich, but the club will be encouraged by their recent performances and results.
Since losing to Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad mid-October, the Clarets have collected five points from three matches, drawing 2-2 with Southampton before winning 3-1 at home to Brentford on October 30.
Sean Dyche’s side entered the international break off the back of a much needed 1-1 draw away to table-topping Chelsea, meanwhile, with Matej Vydra netting a 79th-minute leveller at Stamford Bridge.
Burnley have back-to-back home games against Palace and Tottenham Hotspur to end November, and they are only four points behind 14th-placed Brentford at this stage, meaning that a couple positive results could catapult them up the league table heading into the intense festive period.
The Clarets have actually won their last three Premier League games against Crystal Palace, including a 1-0 victory in the corresponding match last season.
Palace, as mentioned, won 2-0 away to Man City at the end of October before entering the international break off the back of a 2-0 home success over Wolves, which made it six league games unbeaten.
The Eagles have not been beaten in England’s top-flight since the 3-0 loss to Liverpool in the middle of September, although four of their last six outings have ended in draws. Though, Vieira’s men are on upward trajectory under his new stewardship.
Only Chelsea and Liverpool have lost fewer games than Palace this term, with Vieira’s men winning three, drawing six and losing two of their first 11 games so far this campaign.
The capital side are only two points off sixth-placed Manchester United which is a credit to Vieira and his staff, with the Frenchman making a positive impression since taking charge over the summer.
Palace will now be eyeing their fourth league victory of the campaign on Saturday, and they have actually won on two of their last three top-flight visits to Burnley, including a 2-0 success in November 2019.
MATCH FACT: Burnley have won their last three matches against Palace, without conceding, their best such run in the Premier League
The only team without a win this season so far, Newcastle United prepare for battle with newly-promoted Brentford at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon in the first game of the Eddie Howe era.
The Magpies rescued a point against Brighton & Hove Albion in a 1-1 draw last time out, while the Bees became the first victims of Norwich City in a disappointing 2-1 defeat.
After being frustrated in their managerial pursuit of serial Europa League winner Unai Emery, Newcastle moved to appoint former Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe as their new leader, with the 43-year-old in attendance alongside Amanda Staveley to witness the Magpies and the Seagulls do battle on the South Coast.
Norwich’s win over Brentford means that Newcastle are now the only team in the division yet to record a victory this season, and the 19th-placed Magpies are now level with Norwich and five clear of safety before the first game of a new era.
Howe needs no reminding of the pressure he is under to deliver a positive result this weekend, with Newcastle taking just two points from their five league games at home this term and conceding a whopping 13 goals at St James’ Park already – the worst such defensive record in the top flight.
Having seen their fast start to life in the Premier League turn into a nightmare few weeks, Brentford now hold the unwanted honour of being basement side Norwich City’s first victims of the new season following a 2-1 defeat on their own turf.
On the ground where both Arsenal and Liverpool both failed to produce the goods, Norwich went into the half-time break 2-0 up thanks to goals from Mathias Normann and Teemu Pukki, and Rico Henry’s second-half tap-in could not inspire a comeback for the Bees.
That victory was not enough to save Daniel Farke from the axe at Norwich, but Thomas Frank remains in the Brentford hotseat and will desperately seek to reverse his side’s fortunes this weekend, with the Bees suddenly slipping to 14th in the table.
Brentford have suffered four defeats on the bounce in the Premier League, but only one of those losses has come on the road, and not since their League Two days in the 2007-08 season have they sunk to five consecutive losses in domestic action.
However, Burnley and Norwich were both without a win in the new season before coming up trumps against Brentford, so Newcastle fans have every right to dream of a perfect start to life under Howe this weekend.
Newcastle prevailed in both of their encounters with Brentford during the 2016-17 Championship season, but the Bees knocked the Magpies out of the EFL Cup in the quarter-finals last term thanks to Josh Dasilva’s winner.
MATCH FACT: If Ivan Toney scores it will be the 50th PL goal by a former Newcastle player against the Magpies.
KEY MEN: Callum Wilson (Newcastle) & Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Dean Smith will start life in the Norwich City dugout with a home battle against Southampton on Saturday, with the Canaries looking to make it back-to-back Premier League victories.
Norwich City still sit bottom of the table despite recording their first win over Brentford before the international break, while Southampton occupy 13th position, picking up 14 points from their opening 11 games.
Daniel Farke’s reward for leading Norwich to their first win of the season was an unfortunate sack, with the German relieved of his duties just hours after the 2-1 success over Brentford away from home.
Dean Smith, who was dismissed by Aston Villa on November 7, has taken charge at Carrow Road, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal, and the 50-year-old will be determined to get off the best possible start this weekend, as he looks to steady a sinking ship just as he was tasked with upon his arrival at Aston Villa three years ago.
The Canaries have not been able to secure back-to-back seasons of top-flight football since 2012/13 and 2013/14, having dropped straight back into the Championship following their last two promotions, and Smith will have a huge task in avoiding such a repeat this time around.
Norwich have lost their last three matches against Southampton in all competitions but did beat the Saints 1-0 at Carrow Road during the 2015/16 PL campaign.
Southampton, meanwhile, enter this weekend off the back of a 10 win over Aston Villa on November 5 which led to Dean Smith’s sacking two days later, with Adam Armstrong’s third-minute effort proving to be the difference between the two sides.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have picked up 10 points from their last four league outings against Leeds United, Burnley, Watford and Aston Villa to rise into 13th spot in the table.
The Saints are only actually three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United and will be determined to put another victory on the board ahead of a tough trip to Liverpool in their final game of November.
The Saints are only actually three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United and will be determined to put another victory on the board ahead of a tough trip to Liverpool in their final game of November.
Southampton, who finished 15th in the league last term, have also lost just two of their last 15 matches against the Canaries in all competitions, recording seven victories in the process.
MATCH FACT: Southampton can secure a fourth successive Premier League win over Norwich for the first time.
KEY MEN: Teemu Pukki (Norwich) & Adam Armstrong (Saints)
Manchester United will be bidding to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon to face Watford.
The Red Devils suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City before the international break, while Watford, who are just outside the relegation zone in England’s top flight, lost 1-0 at Arsenal in their last contest.
Watford have won three, drawn one and lost seven of their 11 Premier League matches this season to collect 10 points, which has left them in 17th position in the table, two points clear of 18th-placed Burnley, and it would not be a surprise to see the club in and around the bottom three for much of the campaign.
The Hornets will enter Saturday’s contest off the back of successive 1-0 defeats to Southampton and Arsenal, but new head coach Claudio Ranieri managed to lead the team to a stunning 5-2 success at Everton in his second match at the helm on October 23.
Watford actually started their 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a 3-2 home success over Aston Villa, but they have picked up just one point from their last four league fixtures at Vicarage Road, losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool and Southampton during a worrying run.
Ranieri’s side are now facing four difficult matches in quick succession, hosting Man United, Chelsea and Manchester City, in addition to visiting Leicester City before the end of the month.
The Hornets will certainly not be panicking, though, as there is still a lot of football to be played this season, and they ran out 2-0 winners when Man United last visited Vicarage Road in the league in December 2019.
Man United, meanwhile, suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Man City in their last match on November 6; the result increased the pressure on head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the Norwegian has kept his job and will lead the team into Saturday’s contest at Vicarage Road.
The Red Devils are actually top of their Champions League group ahead of next week’s key clash away to Villarreal, but they have lost three of their last four in the Premier League and won just one of their last six to drop down the table into sixth position five points from fourth placed Liverpool.
The 20-time English champions are entering a huge period in the league, taking on Chelsea and Arsenal in their two matches after this one, but they can take confidence from their impressive performance away to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of October, recording a 3-0 victory over the North London club.
Man United might have seen their long unbeaten away run in the league end at Leicester on October 16, but they have won three of their last four on the road in England’s top flight and will be fired up to bounce back from their derby defeat in Hertfordshire this weekend.
MATCH FACT: Manchester United have won 12 of their 14 PL matches v Watford, inflicting the Hornets’ most defeats against a single club.
KEY MEN: Ismaila Sarr (Watford) & Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
Manchester United: De Gea (GK); Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Ronaldo
SCORE PREDICTION: Watford 0-2 Manchester United
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United, 3:00PM
West Ham United will be looking to continue their impressive start to the campaign when they head to Molineux on Saturday afternoon to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The high-flying Hammers currently sit third in the table, three points behind leaders Chelsea, while Wolves occupy eight position, just a point behind sixth-placed Manchester United.
Wolves struggled for results in the early stages of the campaign, losing four of their first five Premier League matches despite playing decent football, which brought some early pressure on new head coach Bruno Lage.
The West Midlands club have been victorious in four of their last six in the league, though, suffering just one defeat in the process, seeing them rise to eighth just a point behind the inconsistent Manchester United ahead of the next set of games.
Wolves had been on a five-game unbeaten run between September 26 and November 6 but entered the international break off the back of a 2-0 loss at Crystal Palace, which just halted their impressive progress under former Benfica coach Bruno Lage.
Lage’s team will be feeling much better about themselves following a tough start to the season, though, and will be looking to return to winning ways against West Ham, having lost their last two matches against the London club, including a 3-2 defeat at Molineux back in April.
West Ham, meanwhile, have won seven, drawn two and lost two of their 11 league matches this season to collect 23 points, which has left them third in the table, level on points with second-placed Man City and just three points behind leaders Chelsea.
The Hammers recorded a 3-2 victory over Liverpool before the international break, which made it seven matches unbeaten in all competitions, with the capital outfit also advancing to the knockout round of the Europa League with two matches to spare, in addition to booking their spot in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
West Ham have two difficult away league matches to end the month, following this contest with a clash against Man City, while David Moyes’s team will also welcome Chelsea at the start of December.
The London club finished sixth in the table last season, just two points outside of the Champions League positions, and they certainly have the look of a top-four side at this moment in time.
West Ham, as mentioned, will be eyeing a third straight win over Wolves, but they did suffer four consecutive defeats to the West Midlands outfit between September 2018 and June 2020.
MATCH FACTS: West Ham can secure a second consecutive away league win at Wolves for the first time in 100 years.
KEY MEN: Raul Jimenez (Wolves) & Pablo Fornals (West Ham)
West Ham: Fabianski (GK); Johnson, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals; Antonio
SCORE PREDICTION:Wolves 1-2 West Ham United
Liverpool vs Arsenal, Saturday 5:30PM
Arguably the standout fixture of the gameweek will take place on Saturday evening when Liverpool welcome a rejuvenated Arsenal to Anfield.
Just one place and two points seperate the two sides in the table, with Liverpool sitting fourth and Arsenal fifth after 11 games of the campaign.
At the end of August, one would have been given long odds for Arsenal having the chance to leapfrog Liverpool in the table when the two sides met in gameweek 12.
At that stage, the Gunners sat rock-bottom having lost all three of their games, conceding nine times without registering once themselves in the process, while Liverpool had taken seven points from a possible nine and conceded only once.
Fast forward a number of weeks and the Premier League picture has changed significantly; for Liverpool, that is largely down to a two-game winless streak before the international break, including their first defeat of the season last time out against West Ham United.
The defeat to the Hammers ended their 20-game unbeaten streak in the top-flight, and a 25-game undefeated run across all competitions stretching back to April.
The 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion which preceded the West Ham defeat was also a major blow as Jurgen Klopp’s side threw away a two-goal lead, with those two results leaving the Reds now four points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
The Merseysiders do now have three home games in a row before the short trip to Goodison Park for the derby on December 1, which will come as welcome news for a team unbeaten in their last 13 games at Anfield, including nine in the Premier League.
Klopp’s men have dropped points from winning positions in their last two such matches, though – consecutive 2-2 draws with Man City and Brighton – while they have only won two of their five home league games so far this season, drawing the other three.
That should Arsenal with some much needed confidence heading into Saturday’s intriguing encounter.
Liverpool’s defeat at West Ham means that the Gunners now boast the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League, taking 20 points from the 24 on offer since those three defeats to start the season.
The eight-game run makes for Arsenal’s longest undefeated streak since December 2018, while in all competitions that record improves to eight wins and two draws from their last 10.
Arsenal have kept seven clean sheets in that time too, including three in a row before the break, and in their last 10 games combined they have conceded fewer goals than they did in their 5-0 drubbing at Manchester City before then.
All of that has catapulted Arsenal right back into the top-four race, and despite still only having a goal difference of 0 – 20 worse than Saturday’s opponents – a victory at the weekend would be enough to lift them into the Champions League places for the first time since October 2020.
The main concern for the Gunners this weekend may well be their record against Liverpool in recent seasons; Liverpool have lost just one of their 11 Premier League meetings with Arsenal since Klopp took charge, winning seven of those.
Most of those wins have been convincing too, particularly at Anfield where Liverpool have won five on the bounce against Arsenal, scoring at least three times in all of those matches.
You have to go back to September 1981 to January 1988 for the last time Liverpool had a longer winning run at home to Arsenal in the top flight, with the styles of both teams playing into Klopp’s hands far more often than they have Arsenal’s in recent years.
That said, Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in six of their last nine top-flight away games, including three in a row, and another on Saturday would be their best run since May 2005.
Certainly, the test on Saturday evening will show how far Arsenal have come under Mikel Arteta.
MATCH FACT: Mohamed Salah has been involved in nine goals in a many Premier League games against Arsenal (7 goals, 2 assists).
KEY MEN: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) & Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Liverpool: Alisson (GK); Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Mane
Manchester City will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League when they welcome Rafael Benitez’ faltering Everton side to the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
The Citizens entered the international break off the back of a 2-0 victory at Manchester United, while Everton picked up a point at home to Tottenham Hotspur in their last top-flight contest.
Guardiola’s men have not had it all their own way so far this season, already losing two of their 11 matches, including a shock 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on home soil, but they were excellent and dominant in a two-goal victory against Man United in the Manchester derby.
The result moved the Citizens into second position in the table, just three points behind leaders Chelsea, and they have a huge end to November, facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League next week before welcoming high-flying West Ham United in the league on November 28.
Man City were surprisingly knocked out of the EFL Cup by West Ham in the round of 16 but are on course to reach the last-16 stage of the Champions League, sitting top of Group A with nine points.
Pep Guardiola’s side have actually won their last seven Premier League games against Everton, scoring 21 times in the process, including a 5-0 victory in the corresponding match last season.
Southampton and Palace have both prevented Man City from winning at the Etihad Stadium in the league this term, though, and Everton were impressive on their last visit to Manchester, claiming a point against Man United at the start of October.
The Toffees made an impressive start to the 2021-22 Premier League season, winning four of their first six matches, suffering just one defeat in the process, with new head coach Rafael Benitez enjoying a fine start.
However, fast forward a couple months, they are without a league win in five games, suffering three defeats in the process, including a shock 5-2 home loss to Watford towards the end of October.
A record of four wins, three draws and four defeats has brought the Merseyside giants 15 points, which has left them in 11th position, just two points behind sixth-placed Man United.
The Toffees have not even managed to claim a point against Man City since August 2017, while they have not beaten the Citizens away from home in the league for almost 11 years – a record they’ll be hoping to put right this Sunday.
Benitez will certainly have a tactical plan in mind for this contest, though, and there is no question that the Merseyside club have the players to harm Man City, who struggled against Palace at the Etihad Stadium last time out.
MATCH FACT: Among teams who have never won the Premier League title themselves, Everton have won more Premier League matches against the reigning champions than anyone else (14). They also won their last such match, winning 2-0 at rivals Liverpool in February last season.
KEY MEN: Phil Foden (Manchester City) & Richarlison (Everton)
The Antonio Conte era gets well under way on Sunday afternoon as the Italian tastes his first Premier League home game as Spurs boss, welcoming Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Both teams come into this off the back of draws before the international break. Conte’s first game saw his battle out a 0-0 draw against Everton at Goodison Park while Leeds United played out a stalemate with Leicester City at Elland Road.
Conte’s first league game in the Spurs dugout was at Goodison Park on November 7, and it was a relatively solid start for the Italian, with the capital club claiming a point in a goalless draw with Everton.
It is now three league games without a victory for Tottenham Hotspur, though, having lost their last two matches under Nuno Espirito Santo – away to West Ham United and at home to Manchester United.
A record of five wins, one draw and five defeats this season has seen Spurs collect 16 points to sit ninth in the table, but they are only one point behind sixth-placed Man United and certainly have a run of winnable games ahead.
Burnley, Brentford and Norwich City are their next three ahead of a difficult trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on December 12, then Conte’s men face tough tests against take on Leicester and Liverpool before returning to action on Boxing Day at home to revitalised Crystal Palace.
Conte has a huge job on his hands to revolutionize the North London giants after Nuno Espirito Santo’s struggles, but a victory over Leeds on Sunday would be a strong step in the right direction for the Italian, who certainly knows what it takes to build a winning team.
One test of his will be getting Harry Kane back to scoring ways in the Premier League, with only a single goal to his name so far this season. He did end the international break with seven goals to his name for his country which will boost his confidence heading into Sunday’s encounter with Leeds.
Leeds, meanwhile, have found it difficult to really get going in the opening months of the 2021-22 campaign, with a total of 11 points from 11 matches leaving them down in 15th position in the table.
The Whites have only managed to win two league games this term, which is the fourth-worst record in the division behind Newcastle United (zero), Burnley (one) and Norwich (one).
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have only lost one of their last five matches in England’s top flight, though, and will bring a three-game unbeaten run into this contest, drawing with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester, in addition to beating Norwich, since a 1-0 loss at Southampton on October 16.
Leeds recorded a 3-1 win over Spurs when the two teams last locked horns back in May, but the Whites have lost on each of their last four Premier League trips to Tottenham and have not beaten the capital giants away from home in England’s top flight since February 2001.
One man who will be key to Leeds’ short-term ambitions on Sunday will be Brazilian magician Raphinha who has scored almost half their goals (5) this season so far.
Sunday’s clash will actually see two of the lowest scorers in the Premier League lock horns, with Bielsa’s side netting just 11 times this term, while Tottenham have managed just nine, which is the second-worst record in the division behind basement side Norwich (five).
MATCH FACT: It has now been 226 minutes since Tottenham Hotspur last had a shot on target in the Premier League.
KEY MEN: Harry Kane (Spurs) & Raphinha (Leeds United)
With Aston Villa lacking the required decisiveness in the final third, seeming short of ideas against Everton at Villa Park, coach Dean Smith decided it was the perfect time to throw on their new signing Leon Bailey in the 61st minute, and change the game he did.
The Jamaican international immediately curled in a dangerous free kick, a few minutes later Matty Cash bombed down the right flank to score his first Villa goal.
Soon after, Bailey’s set-piece qualities were evident once again, utilizing that wand of a left-boot to swing in a peach of a cross from a corner which forced Everton left-back Lucas Digne to head into his own net; you simply do not defend those crosses as the French defender found out
Six minutes later, Danny Ings played a devastating cross-field pass in front of Bailey and the Jamaican headed the ball ahead of himself while charging into the penalty area.
For his next touch, he rifled the ball into the roof of the net in front of a delirious Holte End to make it 3-0. It was a finish truly reminiscent of his time at Bayer Leverkusen where he registered 46 Bundesliga goal involvements during his five year spell in Germany.
Ten minutes later he was forced off with a thigh strain apparently picked up from kicking the ball hard for his first goal in English football.
Bailey became only the second Villa player to be subbed on, score, and then be subbed off in a Premier League match, after Julian Joachim against Derby County in September 2000.
The 24-year-old was only on the field for 21 minutes, yet he provided the crucial impact Villa needed. If those 20-odd minutes were any indicator for how his Villa career would look like in the next few years, then Aston Villa really do have a stunning player on their hands.
Bailey joined the club this summer at the peak of Jack Grealish’s transfer saga, which perhaps meant his arrival was not met with the excitement it deserved. But make no mistake, this is one of the most exciting signings at Villa Park for a long time.
If you were indeed to throw a spanner in the works, then Leon Bailey is just as good as Jack Grealish. The fact that Aston Villa secured his signature for a fee of only just £30million is an absolute snip, because the forward on another day may well have been valued double that figure, so in actual fact its a superb bit of business from Dean Smith.
The club’s strategy in recent years have been nothing short of excellent often involved buying up some of the best players in the Championship, like Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia. Sometimes they have sought out players unhappy at clubs further up the English football pyramid, like Emi Martinez from Arsenal or Tyrone Mings at Bournemouth during Villa’s time in the second tier.
Image via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Rather less successfully, the club have shopped in Europe’s lesser leagues such as the signings of Mbwana Samatta and Wesley from Belgian sides.
However, Leon Bailey is a totally different proposition, arguably the most prestigious signing of the lot.
A player with bags of European experience, playing at the top level and Christian Purslow could have been forgiven for jumping for joy when the Jamaican forward chose Villa Park rather than a more elite-level club playing Champions League football, because to put it simply Leon Bailey is indeed a Champions League level footballer.
For donkey-years, the Jamaican international has been linked with a whole host of top level clubs in Europe, and much of that has been down to his superb form for Bayer Leverkusen.
Deployed as a winger, Bailey scored 15 goals in 40 games last season, claiming 11 assists. He was indeed amongst the most accomplished wingers in European football last term, but as a result of Grealish’s move to Manchester City, Villa fans weren’t as excited and optimistic about Bailey’s arrival as they should have been.
Make no mistakes about it, Leon Bailey can play. He’s a devastating winger, a real problem for opposing defences, not just because of his speed and drive but his scintilating trickery, swift change of movement and unbelievable ball-carrying skills.
Last season, Villa were often overly reliant on Grealish and looked severely weakened in his absence. The club are looking this season to keep the ball better, to progress the ball much quicker into the final third areas and most importantly convert most of their chances and with Leon Bailey, Villa now hold the qualities to kill three birds with one stone.
In fact not only do they have Bailey to address those glaring weaknesses but Dean Smith now holds bags of quality at his disposal including Emiliano Buendia, and Danny Ings.
The Villa coach aims to qualify for European football come May and those three players alone possess the ability to both replace Grealish’s influence and creativity in the final third but more importantly, fire this ever-progressive football club to the next phase of their proud development.
Bailey has so often divided opinion in Germany because of his lack of consistency or attitude but despite all his issues, he still managed to contribute considerably to Bayer Leverkusen’s gradual improvements in recent seasons. When he is on-song he is indeed unstoppable as Everton defender Ben Godfrey found out on Saturday despite Bailey only having just 11 touches during his 21 minutes on the pitch.
Certainly, the absence of Jack Grealish will still be felt around the Aston Villa faithful but possessing the qualities of players like Leon Bailey means the fans will indeed begin to heal once the Jamaican starts firing on all cylinders. His performance against Everton was only a pretty brief stint, but its a promising and a very pleasing evidence for Dean Smith and the whole club that they can now be allowed the freedom and room to progress and move forward post-Jack Grealish.
Villa fans now have something to smile and shout about. They have a new superstar in Leon Bailey.
The rest of the Premier League will have to stand up and be warned at the sight of the Jamaican winger.
For a second successive summer Aston Villa are smashing their transfer record for a player who has taken the Championship by storm. Many will argue spending £30-odd-million pound especially for a club of Villa’s standing, a huge financial risk, considering the current climate the UK is in during the coronavirus pandemic.
However, in the case of Norwich’s brilliant Argentine chief-creator Emiliano Buendia, that amount has got to be considered as an astute piece of business.
Buendia’s £33million arrival from Championship title winners Norwich, signing a five-year-deal with the fee potentially arising to £38 million depending on various add-ons breaks the record set by Ollie Watkins’ capture from Brentford last summer.
Aston Villa have completed the signing of one of the UK’s most devastating and lethal creators. Yes, we’ve constantly marveled at the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden over the past year but mark these words; Buendia is on the same level playing field.
As controversial as it may sound, if you’ve watched the Argentinian magician over the past couple seasons, you’d be mad not to agree with such a statement.
Emiliano Buendia will be back where he belongs next season, playing Premier League football, but not in the colours of Norwich. A big-money move was always on the horizon for him after three remarkable consecutive campaigns in English football, and the new Argentine international has somewhat formed a growing reputation as one of the country’s most complete attacking midfielders.
Despite Arsenal’s interest, Villa reportedly was the move the forward wanted and the West Midlands club will be awfully glad they’ve managed to capture Buendia under the noses of Arsenal and as early as they have done, providing him with the ample opportunity to acclimatize to his new surroundings and contribute to a full pre-season with his new club.
Next season, Aston Villa will be a force to be reckoned with. The signing of Emiliano Buendia has almost guaranteed that, but more importantly Villa have addressed a souring need in their squad – attempting to ease the creative burden on Jack Grealish. With both players in Dean Smith’s weaponry, the former Brentford manager will be drooling at the sight of his potentially formidable attack next season.
Aston Villa have massively progressed since their survival from relegation at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, and their 11th placed finished at the end of the current campaign is a significant representation of the giant strides Dean Smith and his side have made in such a short space of time. Recording one of the best defences in the league, only just conceding 46 goals, its in attack where Dean Smith felt he needed more quality.
The capture of Ollie Watkins from Brentford was a huge success, scoring 14 Premier League goals and also the signing of Bertrand Traore proved a much-needed boost to the whole squad. Still, during Jack Grealish’s considerable stint on the sidelines from February to mid-May significantly affected Aston Villa’s ability to score goals and create chances.
Ross Barkley was supposed to be the answer, after starting so well for the club, his campaign tailed off after injury. Villa heavily relied on the likes of John McGinn, Bertrand Traore and Anwar El Ghazi to link up with Ollie Watkins as well as calling on academy product Jacob Ramsey. Because of that Villa’s Premier League form suffered, only winning three games out of 12 since Jack Grealish’s shin injury against Brighton in February.
The club needed extra quality in the final third, and they have only gone and addressed that issue superbly. The signing of Emiliano Buendia may just be Villa’s best piece of business over the past decade. The 24-year-old was one of the Premier League’s most supreme performers in the final third during his maiden English top-flight campaign, recording 7 assists, and creating 70 clear-cut chances, the third best that campaign creating one more than his future teammate Jack Grealish.
This campaign, Emiliano Buendia has only furthered his education in England all the more impressively. One again, standing out as one of the best attacking midfielders in the country, despite playing in the second division. The midfielder recorded an extraordinary 15 goals, and 16 assists from 39 appearances helping Norwich to another direct promotion to the Premier League.
Those numbers alone tell its own story, that Emiliano Buendia will indeed take Aston Villa’s game to a whole new level during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign. Certainly, in terms of his influence in the final third, Buendia is up there with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount.
Buendia is finally where he belongs again, playing top-level football and he is certainly here to stay.
So what will Buendia bring to Dean Smith’s progressive Villa team? You only need to put it in simple terms.
Emiliano Buendia will bring a whole lot of fine-tuning to Aston Villa’s attack, a ruthless edge and a charismatic presence in the final third that the club so dearly lacks in Jack Grealish’s absence. Buendia is a player of substance, a player built for when the going gets tough, but one who on so many occasions, holds the propensity to consistently drag his team out of trouble.
The Argentinian midfielder is an intelligent player, a mastermind in the final third. Capable of the extraordinary, whether its an eye-of-the-needle pass, a silky trick, a clever run off the ball or a sumptuous link-up play with his striker, Buendia constantly proved the key jigsaw in Norwich’s attacking puzzle. Drifting in off the right-hand side, everything went through him. Whenever Norwich needed the inspiration he provided it. 15 goals and 16 assists last season is simply outstanding, statistics both Kevin De Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes would be proud of.
Creativity, vision, technique, hunger, drive, determination and a real eye for goal. Buendia has what it takes to be a top-tier Premier League player. However, the 24-year-old cannot simply be plainly defined by his efforts in the final third but his work off the ball is just as impressive and a feature that Aston Villa will be highly thankful for.
Emi Buendia is a pressing machine, a player who’s energy, tenacity and doggedness out of possession is incredibly infectious. When he starts off the press, everyone else follows. That’s what Villa lacked on occasion last season, the whole team did not press as a unit. At times, Watkins will be the player starting off but left to do it by himself.
Dean Smith will have certainly identified that weakness, hence the swift capture of one of the best defensive attacking midfielders in the country. Buendia averaged an astonishing 2.5 tackles per90 minutes, considerably more than any of Aston Villa’s attackers.
He also recorded 186 interceptions, much of them coming in the attacking half. He is a real warrior out of possession, like a kid fighting to retrieve its toy. As soon as the team loses it high-up the pitch, Buendia will be the first to try and win it back. It’s an underappreciated trait in his game, but one many will seldom enjoy once he puts on that Villa shirt next season.
Aston Villa will be extremely excited about the prospect of watching both Emiliano Buendia and Jack Grealish in the same team. Though, its a conundrum Dean Smith will have to work out if he is to get the best of his attacking weapons. Ollie Watkins will be incredibly joyous at the sight of Buendia behind him, and is almost guaranteed to get as many goals as he has done this past year.
Villa do view Buendia as their number 10 in their customary 4-2-3-1, but that does not mean there won’t be any flexibility within their attacking play. Bertrand Traore, Jack Grealish and Buendia will be constantly interchanging positions, providing a supreme mixture of pace, power, creativity and vision when creating chances, and they will create bags of them, that’s a guarantee.
How Aston Villa may line-up next season.
With Villa’s squad already stacked up with options in the wide areas in Bertrand Traore, Jack Grealish, Trezeguet and Anwar El Ghazi, there does appear to be an opportunity for Buendia to seamlessly slot in and fill those areas as shown above. Buendia is incredible in those areas, which means Villa be creating a hatful of chances each game.
Though, it is worth bearing in mind that Buendia has barely featured in such a role for Daniel Farke during his three years at Carrow Road. Rather his strength with Norwich lied on the right-hand-side in Farke’s 4-2-3-1, with Max Aarons athleticism and incredible knack of roaming up and down that right flank allowing Buendia the freedom and opportunity create havoc in the half-spaces, creating opportunities, linking up with Pukki as well as forming chances of his own.
His chance creation map above shows that he wasn’t your average right-winger, he did not hug the touchline and cross from the wide areas but instead fulfilled the role of a wide attacking player given the freedom to roam inside and operate centrally. It emphasis how diverse his creation of chances is with much of them coming in the central areas after driving in front of the right-hand side.
The Argentinian took his game to a whole new level last season, improving his goal-scoring return with a career high 14 non-penalty goals in the league going a long way to him earning the Championship player of the season gong – a year after Ollie Watkins won it himself. Five of those goals came from outside the penalty area, and that’s a feature Villa will strongly welcome. But it will be the scoring chances that Buendia forms that will be what Dean Smith will be relying on massively, especially if Jack Grealish is absent.
Buendia plays many dangerous passes, his expected assist per 90 minutes (0.36) truly shows his propensity to create chances out of nothing.
Dean Smith will be expecting that ability, coupled with other talents around him, to indeed provide Aston Villa with a more well-rounded, devastating and potent mix. There is so much for Villa fans to be optimistic about next season, and the charismatic presence of Emiliano Buendia only heightens that profound and lofty optimism and hope around Villa Park.
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