For a number of years now, Netherlands has been the go-to hotspot for birthing some of the world’s most exciting and decorated young footballing talents, especially from the academy of Ajax. The latest in such a prestigious and rich list of household names is Club Brugge forward, and Ajax academy graduate Noa Lang.
The 22-year-old star, already on the watchlist of some of Europe’s most elite clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal, AC Milan and Leicester City is making tremendous waves in Belgium, regularly touted as the most hottest prospect in the Belgian top flight.
Lang was heavily linked to Leeds United in the summer of 2021, but the big move to England did not materialize. Still only 22, there is plenty of time for a Premier League move in the future; for now, first team football in Belgium (as well as European experience) will continue to aid in his development.
The Ajax academy product has enjoyed a stunning two seasons at Club Brugge, helping them to the Belgian first division title in the 2020/21 campaign last year, as well as a two year run in the UEFA Champions League. Lang hit an incredible 16 goals and seven assists last year, and he’s followed that up this year with an impressive six goals and 11 assists in 27 league appearances.
He also made his national team debut in October 2021, putting him firmly in contention for an appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
There are few things as synonymous in football as the Netherlands and exciting, creative wide players, and 21-year-old Noa Lang only enhances strengthens that relationship.
Who is Noa Lang?
Born in Capelle aan den IJssell, a town in the western Netherlands, Lang is of Surinamese descent through his biological father. He had initially burst on to the scene with Ajax, scoring a hat-trick on his first Eredivisie start against FC Twente, where he subsequently spent a short time on-loan with in the 2019/20 campaign.
Whilst he only made 14 first-team appearances for the senior side, they were a fitting reward for a strong, productive youth career with Jong Ajax.
He made his debut for the reserve side as a 17-year-old back in 2017, contributed to 0.6 non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes across 47 appearances in the Dutch second division. He also scored key UEFA Youth League goals against Bayern München and Real Madrid for the club’s stacked under-19 side that included the likes of Gravenberch, Botman and Brobbey.
It was at the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign that Lang made the transition south to Belgium, and has since taken the league by storm. 16 goals plus seven assists in 29 appearances is an exceptional return, recording an outstanding 0.66 goals per 90 minutes, and 0.29 assists, indicative of his supreme talents and creative and direct threat.
On 20 May 2021, Lang scored as Brugge drew 3–3 with rivals Anderlecht to win the Belgian First Division A title for the fourth time in six years and 17th time overall.
This campaign may not have breaded the same goalscoring return, with just the seven to his name so far, but an improvement on his abilities to turn provider for his teammates, registering 12 assists. the fourth most in the Belgian First Division at the time of writing.
Lang has also significantly strengthened his development, gaining valuable UEFA Champions League experience for Club Brugge following a few cameos for Ajax. He scored his fist European goal against Zenit St. Petersburg – though Brugge were unable to qualify from the group stage. The same is said for this campaign, but Lang put in a tremendous showing against Paris Saint-Germain, in the 1-1 draw back in September. In the return fixture in Paris, he turned provider for Mats Rits with a trademark run in a 4-1 defeat.
Lang was called up by Louis Van Gaal and made his international bow for the Netherlands in October, in a World Cup Qualifier against Latvia, the first of many potential caps for his country.
How good is Noa Lang? What’s his style of play?
This lad is incredibly gifted, so much so he is already drawing favourable comparisons to Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking superstar Neymar Jr. A right-footed wide forward most comfortable coming inside off the left-flank, though he possesses the versatility and nous to play in any position across the attack.
Lang is a true source and hub of creativity and decisive edge in the final third, where his sumptuous and entertaining technical skill, bravery and audaciousness on the ball are the striking characteristics of his education at Ajax’s exceptional De Toekomst academy.
It is his immense creativity and knack for the spectacular which is his most obvious trait. As seen in the clip above, Lang has no qualms in attempting to perform the extraordinary, whether its through an ambitious cross, pass or a mazy dribble.
When the ball is at his feet, he is incredibly hard to dispossess. Lang can effortlessly switch from a languid presence roaming between the lines to a more dynamic and direct style with rapid changes of tempo. It is his appreciation of time and space, knowing when to keep the ball, when to delay a pass or a cross, when to speed up the play, that gives such variation but also makes him so unpredictable when facing his markers.
Once he has the ball on the left flank, you simply do not know what he’s going to do next, just be confident in the fact that he is capable of creating something incredibly special.
Lang is at his flawless best when he comes inside off the wing into the half-spaces, as shown in his heatmap above. It’s in those areas where his ability to create passing lanes allows a high involvement in Club Brugge’s play. Here his wonderful imagination and creativity shines through, constantly looking to break the last line of defence in a variety of ways. He can slide runners in using disguised reverse passes through the eye of the needle, often with the perfect weight.
Lang isn’t a soloist like Neymar Jr, but he is a player who can participate in combination play with teammates as well as do his utmost to create chances for his fellow attackers – his signature style is a quick pass and move around the 18-yard-box to change the tempo of play and create uncertainty and imbalances in opposition defences. He is a nightmare when in the mood. He is also incredibly adept at performing improvised chips, dinks, scoops and round-the-corner flicks to breach defences who operate in a deep block.
Just know, when Noa Lang is around Club Brugge always have a chance of scoring goals. He averages 1.9 dribbles per game in the Belgian First Division, and also averaged an astonishing 3.2 dribbles in the UEFA Champions League. He is not one to shy away from the big stages. To contextualise his creative influence within the final third, he is in the higher percentile of expected assists and successful passes into the penalty area, and has created 15 big chances so far this campaign, with an average key passing tally of 1.9 per game.
(Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
He possesses the quality end product to back up his creative, risk-taking and free-reign style of football which is so entertaining to watch.
As put into numbers previously, he is so dangerous when dribbling and carrying the ball too, both in tight spaces to retain and outmaneuver his opponents as well as in open spaces driving directly towards goal. Over the past year, he is averaging 9.91 progressive carries, pitting him in the top 5% of players in Europe’s top five leagues, he is also amongst the top 3% of players for progressive passes (6.15).
Lang’s best asset is his ability to shift his balance and accelerate quickly into space, enabling him to create and maintain separation from defenders in an instant. He also holds a range of cuts, step overs, chops and pirouettes to fool his markers and glide past them with ease. He does tend to sacrifice possession frequently with the levels of risk he operates in, but the value he adds when he does break through and form chances for himself and his teammates means the reward is currently outweighing that risk by some distance.
It is not just his creativity and influence in the final third that is reaping rewards, but the goalscoring threat that supplements it also. The 22-year-old is not afraid to take shots on goal, possessing an incredibly high shot volume, taking over 2 shots per 90 this season, at a rate that many pure strikers would struggle to hit from time to time. He can generate shots for himself through dribbling and quick shifts with the ball to work an angle, or by attempting intelligent forward runs beyond the ball and into the penalty area to receive passes and get shots off.
He generally finishes with powerful driven shots, and in shooting situations he possesses a calm and collected manner that lets him finish ruthlessly and emphatically, a trait that so few players his age on the continent possess. The past two campaigns have strongly shown the high levels of influence Noa Lang holds for his club, but future employers must beware, Lang does have a hot-streak about him as shown through his 3 red cards over the past year or so already.
He must temper his fiery nature at times or else defenders will use it as a stick to beat him with, when trying to stifle his influence on games. Here’s hoping that improves with age, development, learning and maturity.
What does the future hold for Lang?
It’s fair to say Lang is already outgrowing the quality in the Belgian First Division, and you can be certain him and his representatives will be fielding a whole host of calls for his services this coming summer.
The 22-year-old is a UEFA Champions League quality talent, and a player who’s future lies in a top-five European league, but he should aim to find a team who will embrace his high risk style rather than temper it. There are a number of those even in the Barclays Premier League, and in a division that is evolving tactically, possessing Lang’s qualities are extremely vital as seen through Liverpool’s swift capture of Luis Diaz in the winter window, a player who is as risky as the Dutch prodigy.
Regardless, Lang is an incredible footballing talent, and a player well on his way to reaching worldwide acclaim and stardom, keep your eyes peeled on his potential whereabouts this summer, wherever he goes next, they will have a future star on their hands.
Sunday’s extraordinary 4-1 FA Cup fourth round win over Leicester City in a raucous City ground certainly wasn’t just about progress to the next round but about endless possibilities, and a marker as to where Steve Cooper can take this impressively-built and talented group of players.
It was an afternoon packed full of emotion, celebration and no little drama — and one that only delivered another bucket-full of encouragement for the Forest faithful.
This kind of game, against a club that have enjoyed their own fair share of fairytales in recent years, fans may feel should not be a rarity, but a regular event.
No club currently in the Championship can say they’ve battled and fought for a place in the Premier League as much as Nottingham Forest have in recent memory.
Steve Cooper is the 21st permanent manager to take on the task of leading Forest back into the top flight since they dropped out in 1999. The stats tell an accurate story of frustration, failure and a habit of chop and change.
But after knocking out both of the last two FA Cup winners in Arsenal and now Leicester, Forest continue to suggest that this side — one assembled with a blend of homegrown talent, astute additions and loan signings who somehow feel at home — just might be capable of achieving something.
This is indeed a Forest side packed full of youthful enthusiasm, togetherness, determination and, most importantly, no little ability.
It is really hard not to get carried away if you’re a Forest fan, especially seeing the likes of their very own homegrown talents stealing the show under the lights of the City ground, and one player in particular who is allowing the Forest faithful a chance at hope is the ridiculously flawless young Welsh forward Brennan Johnson.
While all the talk in the Sky Bet Championship surrounding young fledgling young talents have been about Fulham’s very own Fabio Carvalho, and rightly so, Forest fans are constantly pushing their own young maestro into the conversation, and you’d be hard-pressed to disagree with them.
In fact, Brennan Johnson may well be topping Fabio Carvalho to becoming the young face of the Championship. The 20-year-old holds more goals and assists to his name than Carvalho, but its also evidently clear that Carvalho isn’t the only one who could well be impressing in the English top-flight any time soon.
Whilst Carvalho garnered much interest from Liverpool during the January window, Brennan Johnson’s abilities and talents was also emphasised by his very own transfer saga last month.
Forest have not tasted Premier League football since 1999, yet still rejected a £18 million bid (with further add-ons) from Brentford for the 20 year old prodigy, in the final week of the window. Forest turned down a huge profit for a player who joined the club’s academy at the age of eight, in the hope of him helping to propel the club back into the top-flight under Steve Cooper.
Once the season draws to its conclusion come May, Brennan Johnson will be plying his trade in the big one way or another, and Forest will be hoping its with them when the new season kicks off in August.
More goal contributions than any other under 21 player in England's top 4 divisions 👏
The 20-year-old is indeed a flawless young talent. A player who has on many occasion this season, gotten the Forest faithful up off their seats with his admirable bravery, courage, youthful exuberance and raw attacking qualities. In his first season as a Championship regular, Johnson has now notched up seven goals and six assists, in 29 starts.
Lining up in the front three of Steve Cooper’s well-balanced and fluid 3-4-3 system, Johnson has not only developed tactically on a personal level but has provided Forest with the attacking potency, cutting edge and swiftness they need to be effective under Steve Cooper.
Since his appointment in September, no team in the Championship has garnered more points (39) than Cooper’s men. Under his stewardship, Forest have risen from the relegation places into eighth in the Championship, two points off the play-off places, an impressive feat.
Under Cooper, Forest have played with more confidence, purpose, intention and vigour and much of that has been down to the excellence of Brennan Johnson, along with Philip Zinckernagel, Djed Spence, loan signings Keinan Davis and James Garner from Aston Villa and Manchester United respectively, and Joe Worrall.
Though, Johnson has been the pick of the bunch. The 20-year-old is currently playing like a footballer plying his trade in the Premier League, and his performances against two of the English top-flight’s elite clubs in Leicester City and Arsenal have evidently shown that he is not out of place playing against elite footballers.
Brennan Johnson is well on his way to becoming a future Premier League star. A throwback forward, one who loves to drive down the wing and pick out telling crosses for his teammates, it may seem pretty ordinary, but the Forest academy product does with such panache and graceful wizardry. He’s quick, agile, tactically intelligent, a livewire when he gets going and almost impossible to stop.
His six assists in the Championship so far this season highlights how creative he is for Nottingham Forest. In the Championship, he averages 1.2 key passes, 1.7 shots per game, 1.2 dribbles per game showcasing just how crucial he is to Forest’s attacking play. What Steve Cooper has instilled in his side, is the freedom to express themselves, even personally telling Johnson ‘don’t be boring, be positive’ and the forward has taken on such advice with spirited excellence.
His goal against Leicester City on Sunday once again highlighted the freedom of confidence he is currently performing at, possessing the quickness of though, anticipation and hunger to latch onto a mistake from a Leicester City player before coolly slotting the ball through the legs on his fellow countryman Danny Ward to put Forest 2-0 up.
It is a mindset and the sort of performance levels that has elevated Johnson and seen him become one of the most coveted young players outside the Premier League.
Steve Cooper has a proven track record with young talent, leading England’s under-17s to World Cup glory in 2017, and Johnson’s progress over the last six months is clear to see.
Johnson’s loan spell at Lincoln City last season also reaped good rewards, notching 11 goals and 5 assists in League One.
Last season his technical ability allowed for tactical flexibility as he was deployed on the left, centre and right of an attacking midfield three within Lincoln’s 4-2-3-1 setup. Based on his time at Lincoln it’s visible that he operates well in an attacking three that all posses similar attributes, such as the ability to operate as an inside forward and combine via the use of halfspaces up and down the pitch.
One of Johnson’s many key attributes is the ability to identify off the ball space in which set himself up for goal scoring opportunities.
Johnson has the mercurial ability to produce a chance out of very little when things fall into place for him. Be that with a sharp dynamic movement that wins his side a penalty, dangerous set-piece situations or an effective progressive carry into space which is enabled through his athleticism and gazelle-like strides when hitting top speeds. His gracious movement accompanies his close control ability well which allows for fast turns of pace as well as avoiding oncoming challenges through an acute change of direction.
Johnson is certainly a jack-of-all-trades type winger, not only does he back his own talent in certain attacking scenarios, he also has the salient ability to make split-second decisions which are often the correct idea when faced with tough decisions to make, especially on the counter or through patient attacking build-ups. It’s because of these impressive traits, Johnson will look at right at home with a number of Premier League clubs in future.
One things for sure, it won’t only be Brentford in the picture for his signature this summer, but several of the top clubs in the country.
There is a long list of young fledgling talents who have stepped up from the Championship and made their mark amongst the elite in the Premier League and Brennan Johnson looks certainly on his way to becoming the latest of those who will go on to become an English top-flight star.
Welcome to yet another promising weekend of the Barclays Premier League.
There are huge fixtures at both ends of the division this weekend, with Tottenham travelling to Chelsea and Manchester United facing West Ham as the race for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification heats up.
Down at the bottom, Watford host Norwich in what could be a very tasty relegation six-pointer, whilst Newcastle will be searching for a much-needed win when they travel to face a Leeds side who have pulled clear of danger. Pivotal encounters which could provide us with a intriguing relegation sub-plots as the second half of the campaign heats up.
So without further ado, here are the previews and predictions ahead of this weekend’s Premier League action:
Watford v Norwich City, Friday 8:00PM
Norwich City will be aiming to make it back-to-back Premier League wins when they travel to Vicarage Road on Friday night to take on fellow strugglers Watford.
The Canaries will enter the contest off the back of an hard-fought 2-1 win over Everton, while Watford came from behind to claim a point away to Newcastle United last time out.
Watford will enter the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday; the Hornets were losing 1-0 until the 87th minute of the clash at St James’ Park, when Brazilian Joao Pedro came up with a vital equaliser to spare Ranieri’s blushes.
Claudio Ranieri’s side were due to return to action away to Burnley on Tuesday evening, but the match had to be postponed due to a lack of available players for the home side.
The draw with Newcastle actually ended a run of seven straight defeats in all competitions, but the Hornets have not managed to triumph in the Premier League since thrashing Manchester United 4-1 on November 20, and a total of 14 points from 19 matches has left them in 17th position in the table.
Ranieri’s team have the worst home record in the Premier League this term, picking up just seven points from their 10 matches, but Norwich have the third-worst away record in England’s top flight this season, losing seven of their 10 matches, collecting only five points in the process, making this game a very watchable battle.
Norwich, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a huge 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday, with an own goal from Michael Keane and an effort from Adam Idah enough to overcome the Toffees at Carrow Road.
The Canaries have managed to move off the bottom of the table into 18th, but they have played three more games than Burnley and one more than Newcastle in 19th, which means Dean Smith’s men need to get points on the board. A lot could well change at the bottom once teams have managed to perform their outstanding fixtures.
Nevertheless, Dean Smith’s side have given themselves a fighting chance to stay in England’s top flight, and they have actually now won two of their last three matches in all competitions, having also overcome Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup on January 9.
Norwich have lost each of their last five league matches against Watford, though, including a 3-1 defeat when the two teams locked horns at Carrow Road in the Premier League back in September.
The Canaries last overcame Watford in England’s top flight back in May 2016, while they have not beaten the Hornets on their travels in the league since February 2015.
FUN FACT: Dean Smith can become the first Norwich City boss to win back-to-back Premier League games since Alex Neil in April 2016.
LEAGUE FORM:
Watford: LLLLLD
Norwich City: LLLLLW
KEY MEN: Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) & Teemu Pukki (Norwich)
Everton, fresh from the sacking of Rafael Benitez prepare to welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park for Saturday’s early kick-off.
The Toffees went down 2-1 to Norwich City in an embarrassing defeat last weekend, while Steven Gerrard’s side came from two goals down to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw versus Manchester United.
Many will argue the writing was always on the wall for Rafael Benitez since his first day at Everton, with the fans making their discontent known up to and during the Spaniard’s final game in charge, which ended in humiliation at Carrow Road.
Duncan Ferguson prepares to take on the challenge for the second time, amid links with Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard, Graham Potter and former teenage protégé Wayne Rooney taking the reins, but for now, Ferguson’s job will simply be to temper the incredible slide and improve a terrible tally of just one win from their last 13 in the Premier League.
The club can forget about any European ambitions this season, as Ferguson takes temporary charge with his side down in 16th in the table – six points clear of 18th-placed Norwich City with two games in hand – and relegation is simply unthinkable for the Toffees.
The hosts can also boast a measly one win from their last six Premier League encounters at Goodison Park, so the new manager bounce cannot come soon enough for Everton, as their upcoming opponents sure are enjoying life under their recent appointment.
Aston Villa sent shockwaves in the January window with the captures of Philippe Coutinho – the Brazilian once again teaming up with former teammate Steven Gerrard – and Lucas Digne from Saturday’s opponents. Villa were indebted to their new magician as they impressively came back from two goals down to share the spoils with Manchester United on an electric occasion at Villa Park.
Aston Villa playing out a Premier League draw is certainly a collector’s item – the Lions had not shared the points in a top-flight fixture since August before the visit of Man United – and Gerrard’s side now find themselves 13th in the standings ahead of the weekend.
Villa’s draw with the Red Devils was quite the way to end their three-game losing streak across all tournaments, but five defeats from their last seven away from home in the Premier League is an alarming statistic, which the travelling fans will certainly hope to see rectified given their winter arrivals.
Everton fell to a humbling 3-0 defeat at Villa Park when the sides first met back in September and also suffered a 2-1 loss on home soil last term, but not since the 2000-01 season have Aston Villa secured a top-flight double over the Merseyside club.
FUN FACT: Everton could lose back-to-back home league games against Aston Villa for the first time since March 1998.
LEAGUE FORM:
Everton: LWLDLL
Aston Villa: WLWLLD
KEY MEN: Demarai Gray (Everton) & Jacob Ramsey (Villa)
Wolverhampton Wanderers will seek to maintain their charge for a coveted top-four place when they travel to Brentford for Saturday afternoon’s Premier League contest.
The Bees suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in midweek, while Bruno Lage’s resurgent side came up trumps by the same scoreline against Southampton last weekend.
If the first half at the Brentford Community Stadium was anything to go by, Thomas Frank’s side may have felt quietly confident of securing a famous win over Man United, with David de Gea called into action on a couple of occasions before Ralf Rangnick’s men came out all guns blazing in the second 45.
Despite posting some eye-catching results during their first-ever Premier League campaign, Brentford still have plenty of work to do to cement their status as a top-flight club, with the Bees now 14th in the table and 10 points clear of 18th-placed Norwich City having played a game more.
As a testament to Thomas Frank’s newcomers, it would be a genuine surprise to see the Bees dragged into a relegation dogfight at this stage of the season, but Frank has now overseen three successive defeats in the English top-flight, with his side shipping 10 goals in the process.
The Bees have also recorded just one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League games at the Brentford Community Stadium, and now is certainly not the time to face a side with a knack for defensive discipline.
James Ward-Prowse may have put his name in the hat for the Goal of the Season award with his incredibly taken free kick, but the joy ended there for Southampton’s dead-ball specialist, as Wolves took the spoils at Molineux with three goals from three different goalscorers last weekend.
Raul Jimenez’s penalty, Conor Coady’s header and Adama Traore’s first goal of the season at the 19th time of asking propelled Bruno Lage’s side to a precious three points after an enthralling contest, one which has seen them keep pace with the European-challenging pack.
The visitors prepare for Saturday’s contest sitting eighth in the table – now just six points behind fourth-placed West Ham United with two games in hand – but the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have their own games in hand which they will endeavour to take advantage of.
However, Wolves have now taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer in the Premier League and have won their last three in a row across all competitions – conceding just once in that time – and only Manchester City can boast a better defensive record than Lage’s side in the current top-flight season, an impressive feat.
Brentford did manage to secure a 2-0 win at Molineux earlier in the season, but Wolves have gone up a notch or two defensively since the autumn, even if their attacking capabilities do still leave a lot to be desired on some occasions.
FUN FACT: Brentford have suffered a league-high 10 defeats in 15 games since mid-October, conceding 30 goals during that period.
LEAGUE FORM:
Brentford: LLWLLL
Wolves: LLWDWW
KEY MEN: Ivan Toney (Brentford) & Raul Jimenez (Wolves)
With discontent growing around the club especially during this month’s transfer window, Newcastle United continue their battle for Premier League safety with Saturday’s trip to Leeds United.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side edged a thrilling contest with West Ham United 3-2 last time out, while the Magpies were forced to settle for a point against Watford.
Jack Harrison took centre stage during Leeds’ battle with West Ham at the London Stadium last time out, as the former Manchester City man took home the match ball after propelling the Whites to a crucial and impressive win over the top-four challengers.
Having gained an immediate measure of revenge after being dumped out of the FA Cup by the Hammers, Leeds and their 100% start to the Premier League in 2022 have risen to 15th in the standings – nine points above the relegation zone with a game in hand on 18th-placed Norwich City.
Bielsa’s side endured a wholly forgettable first half of the campaign, but they could now win as many games in the first month of 2022 as they did throughout the entire second half of 2021, although their long-standing defensive issues are still coming to the fore.
Indeed, a tally of 39 goals conceded is the most outside the bottom three, and they have shipped 19 of those strikes in their last seven top-flight games, so Newcastle would choose no better time to take advantage of such woes and improve the mood at St James’ Park.
Allan Saint-Maximin may have been up to his old tricks once again, but a priceless three points against a relegation rival passed Newcastle United by against Watford, who rallied to take a point back down to Vicarage Road last weekend.
It’s a recurring theme for Eddie Howe’s men, just when you’ve think they’ve grabbed a priceless win, it get snatched away from them at the last moment due to lapses in concentration in defence.
The boos rang out around St James’ Park following the final whistle, with the home crowd also witnessing their side become the victim of an FA Cup giant killing to Cambridge United seven days before, and Howe’s men remain 19th in the standings and two points adrift of safety.
The signings of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood cannot come good soon enough for the Magpies, who have seen their hopes of landing Diego Carlos from Sevilla take a hit in recent days, and Howe is fighting an uphill battle to finally secure Newcastle’s first away win of the Premier League season.
Newcastle have conceded nine goals across their three most recent Premier League defeats away from home and shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate with Leeds earlier this season, but last season’s trip to Elland Road ended in a comprehensive 5-2 defeat for the Magpies, surely no repeat this time round?
FUN FACT:This will be Eddie Howe’s 200th match as a Premier League manager: W57, D47, L95.
LEAGUE FORM:
Leeds United: DLLLWW
Newcastle United: WLLLDD
KEY MEN: Raphinha (Leeds United) & Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle)
SCORE PREDICTION:Leeds United 2-2 Newcastle United
Manchester United vs West Ham United, 3:00PM
In a potentially pivotal game for both sides’ top-four hopes, Manchester United and West Ham United prepare for battle at Old Trafford in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
The Red Devils prevailed 3-1 at Brentford in midweek, while David Moyes’s men went down 3-2 at home to Leeds United.
It would not be a Manchester United match without David de Gea being forced to bail his side out on one or two occasions, but Ralf Rangnick’s side found their clinical goalscoring touch in the second half to ultimately see off Brentford with ease.
Such a result was a convincing way for Man United to end their two-game winless streak in the top flight, but the Red Devils are still rank outsiders when it comes to the top-four battle, as Rangnick’s side lie seventh in the rankings before this weekend’s crunch battle.
The Hammers sit just two points above Man United having played a game more, so the hosts could certainly blow the Champions League race wide open with victory here, and not since 1985 have the Red Devils opened the calendar year with back-to-back top-flight defeats at home.
A tally of just one clean sheet from their last 15 Premier League games at Old Trafford will be of some concern to Rangnick, though, and the attacking talent in the visitors’ ranks are primed to make their manager’s return to the Theatre of Dreams a memorable one.
The visit of Leeds to the London Stadium was never going to be an encounter where defences would take centre stage, but unfortunately for the home faithful, West Ham were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller in the capital.
The Hammers’ four-game winning streak across all competitions came to a bitter end on their own turf at the weekend, but Moyes’s side are clinging onto that fourth and final Champions League spot by the thinnest of threads, as Man United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal all apply the pressure.
West Ham’s 3-2 defeat to Leeds represented the fifth Premier League game in a row that Moyes had witnessed his side chalk up at least two goals, and bagging seven goals in their previous two away wins versus Watford and Crystal Palace stands them in good stead before a daunting trip north.
Moyes’s side have already got the better of Man United at Old Trafford in this season’s EFL Cup, but the Red Devils edged a tightly-fought contest 2-1 in the capital back in September, as former Hammer Jesse Lingard sunk the London club.
FUN FACT: West Ham will be aiming to become only the fourth side ever to win to away twice against Manchester United in the same season.
LEAGUE FORM:
Man Utd: WDWLDW
West Ham: LLWWWL
KEY MEN: Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) & Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
West Ham: Fabianski (GK); Coufal, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals; Antonio
SCORE PREDICTION:Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United
Southampton v Manchester City, 5:30PM
Premier League leaders Manchester City will be looking to claim their 13th successive league victory when they face Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday evening.
The Saints, meanwhile, who played out a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, could move into the top 10 if they were to secure all three points on home soil.
Southampton’s five-game unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end last weekend when they were beaten 3-1 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That result has seen Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men slip to 12th in the table, 11 points clear of the relegation zone and the same number of points behind the top seven.
Hasenhuttl’s side also suffered defeat against Wolves on home soil earlier this season, but that has been their only league loss in 10 games at St Mary’s this campaign – drawing six and winning three of the other nine – a record which will give them confidence ahead of Saturday’s clash with the champions and current run-away leaders.
The Saints will also take note of their resilient display at the Etihad Stadium in September last year when they played out a goalless draw, though many would argue that Hasenhuttl’s men were unlucky not to come away with all three points on that occasion.
Another impressive defensive masterclass will be required on Saturday if they are to avoid defeat in both league meetings with City for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign.
However, since keeping a clean sheet against the Citizens, Southampton have only recorded three shutouts in their last 16 league matches, shipping 27 goals in the process.
While Pep Guardiola insists that the title race is not over just yet, Manchester City fans are sure to feel confident of clinching their fourth top-flight crown in five years following their slender 1-0 win over title rivals Chelsea last weekend.
Kevin De Bruyne haunted his former club with the decisive strike in the 70th minute to seal all three points for the Citizens, who now sit 11 points clear of Liverpool in second place, having played a game more.
City are unstoppable at present, and without a recognised striker, Guardiola’s men continue to excel in front of goal, netting 34 times during their 12-game winning streak in the Premier League.
However, the Sky Blues were unable to breach Southampton’s backline on home soil earlier this season, taking 16 shots on goal but registering only one on target. City have in fact failed to score in two of their last four league meetings against the Saints despite finding the net in each of their previous 16 against them.
Guardiola’s buoyant bunch will be anything but concerned about such a statistic, and having opened the scoring in more different Premier League fixtures than any other side this season, going on to win all 17 matches in the process, another potential opener on Saturday should give them the platform to secure yet another top-flight victory.
City are six points better off than at this stage last season, and another win on Saturday would see them move 14 points clear at the summit before Liverpool face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
FUN FACT: Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has kept a clean sheet in exactly 50% of his Premier League games (83 in 166 matches).
LEAGUE FORM:
Southampton: LDWDWL
Man City: WWWWWW
KEY MEN: James Ward-Prowse (Saints) & Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
Manchester City: Ederson (GK); Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, B. Silva; Jesus, Foden, Sterling
SCORE PREDICTION:Southampton 1-3 Manchester City
Arsenal vs Burnley, Sunday 2:00PM
Seeking to put the disappointment of Thursday’s EFL Cup exit behind them, Arsenal return to Premier League action with the visit of Burnley to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners currently find themselves sixth in the table – two worse points off fourth-placed West Ham United – while Sean Dyche’s men remain rooted to the bottom of the pile.
Another day, another Arsenal red card – this time to a player who had barely become accustomed to life back in England again before being made to take the walk of shame, as Thomas Partey’s sending off rounded off a miserable Thursday evening for Mikel Arteta’s side.
It is now top four or bust for Arsenal after Thursday’s EFL Cup defeat – whose request to postpone last weekend’s North London derby was granted amid widespread condemnation from rival fans and pundits – and they have now been leapfrogged by their bitter rivals following their dramatic late comeback versus Leicester City.
January has been a truly forgettable month for the Gunners with three defeats and a draw from four games in all competitions – failing to score in each of their last three – but Premier League games at the Emirates is where Arteta’s men have typically excelled.
Arsenal’s tally of 22 points from 10 home games this term is the third best in the league, and they even gave Manchester City a good run for their money on New Year’s Day, so the Premier League’s basement side have their work cut out to make one of their several games in hand count for something.
Many Arsenal fans were quick to point out that Burnley’s wave of postponed matches did not lead to similar uproar which we saw for the North London derby cancellation, as Dyche’s side saw their relegation six-pointer with Watford called off due to a long list of absentees.
Amid calls for rule changes from the under-fire Premier League bosses regarding the criteria for postponements, Burnley – who have now played six games fewer than Chelsea, the busiest team in the league with 23 – travel to the Emirates with a glimmer of hope of clambering to safety.
The Clarets have not taken to the pitch since being dumped out of the FA Cup by Huddersfield Town on January 8 – their third loss on the bounce in all tournaments – but they are only three points adrift of 17th-placed Watford with two games in hand on the Hornets.
Many eyes will be on how Burnley plan to replace Chris Wood after somewhat inexplicably allowing their top Premier League goalscorer to leave for a direct relegation rival, but it is also desperate times on the turf for this week’s visitors, who are one of only two teams – along with Newcastle United – still winless away from home in the 2021-22 top-flight season.
It will take something of a miracle for Sean Dyche’s men to get something away to Arsenal, and how the Burnley boss needs many of those during the latter half of the season.
FUN FACT: Burnley have dropped 14 points from winning positions, compared to five at the same stage last season.
LEAGUE FORM:
Arsenal: LWWWWL
Burnley: DDLDLL
KEY MEN: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) & Josh Brownhill (Burnley)
Fresh from booking their place in the EFL Cup final, Liverpool return to Premier League action seeking another Selhurst Park spectacular against Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, the hosts are returning to action nine days after playing out an enthralling 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in the M23 derby.
A missed penalty, a woodwork hit and plenty of VAR controversy – Palace’s showdown with Brighton typified a proper Premier League derby. However, Patrick Vieira may be counting his lucky stars that his side travelled back from the Amex with a point to their name, with Brighton missing a whole host of chances including Jack Butland saving a Pascal Gross penalty.
Palace’s search for a first Premier League win of 2022 goes on, but Vieira’s side are sitting comfortably in 11th position before the weekend’s fixtures kick off, with 10th-placed Leicester City one point clear having played two games fewer.
For all of the attacking talent at Vieira’s disposal, a paltry tally of two wins from their last 10 in the Premier League represents that of a side still with great strides to make if they are to establish themselves as a top-half outfit, but home is where the heart is for the Eagles.
Vieira’s side have only lost two of their 11 top-flight games at Selhurst Park this season and have scored at least two goals in each of their last four on home soil, but Liverpool certainly have fond memories of playing at this ground.
Any fears of Liverpool producing an equally woeful attacking performance without Sadio Mane and Mo Salah in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final with Arsenal were quickly extinguished on Thursday, as Diogo Jota lit up the Emirates to propel the Reds into next month’s final, taking his tally against Arsenal to six goals in his last six, and also his 14th of a stunning season.
The Portuguese spun Takehiro Tomiyasu before seeing his scuffed effort put Liverpool in the ascendancy before the half-time whistle, and he proceeded to double his side’s tally with a delightful dink over the onrushing Aaron Ramsdale – initially chalked off for offside before a VAR review – with Jurgen Klopp’s men now preparing for a shot at glory versus Chelsea.
The Anfield faithful will certainly welcome that opportunity for silverware as the Premier League title slips further and further away from them, with Klopp’s side currently 11 points behind Manchester City with a game in hand after putting three unanswered goals past Brentford last Sunday.
Three consecutive clean sheets across all competitions certainly serves as reason for optimism for this Liverpool side, who will be determined to end their three-game winless run away from home in the Premier League at a stadium which was certainly kind to them last year.
Ex-Palace boss Roy Hodgson was forced to witness his Crystal Palace side succumb to a humiliating 7-0 defeat in this fixture last season, which marked Liverpool’s ninth Premier League win on the bounce versus the Eagles, and their sixth in succession away from home.
FUN FACT: 11 competitive wins for Jurgen Klopp against Crystal Palace – his highest tally versus a single club as Liverpool manager.
LEAGUE FORM:
Crystal Palace: WDLWLD
Liverpool:LDWDWW
KEY MEN: Conor Gallagher (Palace) & Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six matches when they travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.
The Seagulls are currently ninth in the table, picking up 29 points from their 21 league games this term, while Leicester are 10th, four points behind their opponents here with two matches in hand.
Leicester have not been able to launch a top-four challenge thus far this season, with a total of 25 points from 19 matches leaving them in 10th spot in the table, some 12 points behind fourth-placed West Ham United.
The Foxes were on the verge of securing what would have been a huge three points against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, leading Antonio Conte’s side 2-1 entering the final exchanges, but Steven Bergwijn scored in the 95th and 97th minute to hand Spurs a 3-2 victory at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester have now lost three of their last five in the league, but they have been victorious in three of their last four Premier League fixtures at the King Power Stadium, beating Watford, Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Brendan Rodgers’s side have struggled badly with injuries this season, and they are entering a difficult run of games, facing Liverpool and West Ham in their next two league matches after this one, in addition to travelling to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup at the start of February.
The FA Cup holders suffered a 2-1 loss to Brighton in the Premier League at the Amex back in September but were 3-0 winners in the corresponding match at the King Power Stadium last term.
Brighton, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday evening, with Adam Webster cancelling out a first-half goal from Hakim Ziyech at the Amex.
The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last five matches in England’s top flight, beating Brentford and Everton, in addition to drawing with Chelsea (home and away) and Crystal Palace.
The visitors will be without head coach Graham Potter this weekend, as the Englishman has tested positive for coronavirus, so assistant manager Billy Reid will lead the team.
Brighton have won six, drawn 11 and lost four of their 21 Premier League matches this season to collect 29 points, which has left them in ninth position in the table, just two points behind eighth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, so it has been a brilliant campaign for the club to date.
The Seagulls have also lost just one of their 10 away top-flight matches this season, holding West Ham, Southampton and Chelsea, in addition to beating Everton, in their last four on their travels.
FUN FACT: Brighton earned their first Premier League victory against Leicester at the ninth attempt in September this season (D2, L6). Albion could do the league double against them for only the third time.
LEAGUE FORM:
Leicester City: DLWLWL
Brighton: LWDWDD
KEY MEN: James Maddison (Leicester City) & Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
SCORE PREDICTION: Leicester City 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, Sunday 4:30PM
One of the standout fixtures on the Premier League calendar will take place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, as Chelsea welcome London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The Blues are currently third in the table, eight points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, but Antonio Conte’s side have four games in hand on the hosts, having seen a number of recent matches postponed.
Chelsea’s hopes of maintaining a title challenge this season have evaporated in recent weeks, with the Blues winning just one of their last seven in the Premier League, picking up just three points from their last four matches during a disappointing run.
The Blues fought back to claim a point in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the start of the month but suffered a damaging 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the league last weekend before being held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex on Tuesday night.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are now third in the table, 12 points behind leaders Man City, who have a game in hand, while the European Cup holders are eight points clear of fifth-placed Spurs, who have four matches in hand, so their position in the Champions League spots is far from secure.
Chelsea have already beaten Tottenham twice this month, though, recording a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge before winning the reverse match in North London 1-0.
The Blues have also won their last four games against Spurs in all competitions, including a 3-0 success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in September, while they are unbeaten against the North London club in England’s top flight since November 2018.
Tottenham were involved in an incredible match against Leicester City on Wednesday; Conte’s side were losing 2-1 until the 95th minute, when Steven Bergwijn levelled the scores, before the Netherlands international came up with a winner for the capital side in the 97th minute.
The 3-2 success made it three wins in their last four Premier League matches, while Spurs are still unbeaten in England’s top flight since Conte’s arrival as head coach, with the Italian winning six and drawing three of his nine league fixtures at the helm.
Tottenham’s position in the table is even more impressive considering that they have a number of games to make up due to COVID-19-related postponements, and the North London side could end the weekend in fourth depending on what happens between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Conte will certainly know what to expect at Stamford Bridge, with the 52-year-old managing the Blues between 2016 and 2018, delivering one Premier League title and one FA Cup, and there is no question that he will be determined to get one over on his old club this weekend.
Spurs have certainly had their problems this season but securing a top-four spot would have to go down as a positive campaign, while they can still secure cup success this season, with Brighton their opponents in the next round of the FA Cup at the start of February.
FUN FACT: Spurs have failed to score in their last five games against Chelsea in all competitions. The club have never gone six without a goal against an opponent.
LEAGUE FORM:
Chelsea: DWDDLD
Tottenham: WDWDWW
KEY BATTLES:
Romelu Lukaku v Eric Dier; Sergio Reguillon v Cesar Azpilicueta
In what was shaping up to be a gripping and captivating three-horse Premier League title race heading into Christmas is threatening to become a Manchester City romp to a fourth crown in five seasons.
While there is still some way to go before someone is crowned come May, we can’t help but to predict an inevitable outcome with the way the current Premier League table is shaping up heading into Gameweek 21.
Nonetheless, its a new year and with it comes new goals, ambitions and a fresh start for all 20 Premier League clubs. The title race, chase for European football, the battle to finish amongst the elite at the top-half of the table and relegation scrap down the bottom is beginning to take effect which again means we are in for an enthralling second-half of the campaign, and it all starts with the first set of fixtures in this new year.
So without further ado, lets again dive into another batch of exciting Premier League fixtures.
GAMES POSTPONED:
Leicester City P-P Norwich City
Southampton P-P Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City, Saturday 12:30PM
Manchester City will be looking to make it 11 wins in a row when they head to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime to take on a resurgent Arsenal.
The Citizens are currently eight points clear of second-placed Chelsea and can make it 11 points with a win, for a day at least as Chelsea and Liverpool face off seventeen hours later. Arsenal occupy fourth position, four points clear of fifth-placed West Ham and Manchester United in sixth.
Arsenal faced plenty of criticism in the opening months of the 2021-22 campaign, but it has been a positive few weeks for the Gunners, who have won each of their last five matches in all competitions, including four straight Premier League victories over Southampton, West Ham, Leeds United and Norwich City.
Mikel Arteta’s men have scored 14 goals in their last 3 outings, having thumped Sunderland 5-1 in the EFL Cup on December 21 before again hitting 5 against strugglers Norwich City at Carrow Road on Boxing Day.
The Gunners had been due to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league on December 28, but the match had to be postponed due to coronavirus issues in the Wolves camp. Nevertheless, the North London club have still played 19 Premier League matches during the 2021-22 campaign.
A record of 11 wins, two draws and six defeats has brought them 35 points, four points clear of fifth-placed West Ham, but Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will also both believe that they are firmly in the top-four race at this stage of the campaign.
Unfortunately, there will be no Mikel Arteta on the touchline for this fixture, with Guardiola’s former coaching assistant testing positive for coronavirus, and there has allegedly been an outbreak among the staff at the club.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will enter this weekend’s contest off the back of a tight 1-0 win over Brentford in midweek, with Phil Foden scoring on his return to the side, his fifth league goal of the campaign.
The Citizens have now been victorious in each of their last 10 league matches, which has seen them rise to the top of the table, collecting 50 points from their opening 20 matches of the 2021-22 campaign.
Guardiola’s side are eight points off second-placed Chelsea, and nine points off Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool who are in third, with both facing off on Sunday evening, so City could be further clear at the summit heading into the next set of fixtures.
The reigning champions will take on Swindon Town in the FA Cup on January 7 before hosting Chelsea in the league on January 15, and there is a danger that they could start to run away at the summit.
Man City have won 11 of their last 12 matches against Arsenal in all competitions, including a 5-0 victory in the reverse match at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, while they have not lost against the Gunners in the Premier League since December 2015.
FUN FACT: Manchester City have opened the scoring within the opening three minutes in each of their last three league and cup matches at the Emirates Stadium.
LEAGUE FORM:
Arsenal: LLWWWW
Manchester City: WWWWWW
KEY BATTLES: Bukayo Saka v Nathan Ake; Xhaka v De Bruyne
Man City:Ederson (GK); Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Ake; B Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Foden, Sterling
SCORE PREDICTION:Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur, 3:00PM
Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they head to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon to take on faltering Watford.
Spurs will enter the contest off the back of a 1-1 draw with Southampton on Tuesday, while Watford suffered a disappointing 4-1 home defeat to West Ham United on the same afternoon.
Confidence was at an all-time high at Watford when the Hornets recorded a thumping 4-1 win over Manchester United on November 20, with the result ultimately leading to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking as Red Devils boss.
Since then, they have struggled to build on that win, suffering five straight defeats to Leicester City, Chelsea, Manchester City, Brentford and West Ham United.
Claudio Ranieri will of course be a men sweating at his current position, considering the history and the rate at which the Watford hierarchy decide to make changes when things aren’t going their way on the pitch.
The former Leicester, Roma and Sampdoria boss was brought in to calm the storm at Vicarage Road, but it seems that storm is currently showing no signs of letting up.
The Hornets actually took the lead against West Ham on Tuesday but then conceded four times without reply to suffer a 4-1 home defeat, with the result leaving them in 17th position in the table.
Watford are only two points clear of 18th-placed Burnley, who have two games in hand, while there are only three points separating the Hertfordshire outfit from Norwich City at the bottom of the division.
The home side suffered a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the reverse match earlier this season, but they have not been beaten by Spurs at Vicarage Road since January 2017, a record they will be desperate to put right on Saturday.
Tottenham have shown considerable improvement since Conte’s appointment at the start of November, with the Italian serial winner moving the North London club firmly into top-four contention.
Spurs are unbeaten in their seven league matches under Conte, recording four wins in the process, and a total of 30 points from 17 matches has left them in sixth position in the table, just five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with two games in hand on the Gunners.
The capital outfit suffered a small setback on Tuesday afternoon, though, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Southampton, with Harry Kane cancelling out an opener from James Ward-Prowse.
After Salisu’s sending off, Spurs were expected to go on and win the game, but never looked like troubling Southampton in the second-half with the home side defending comfortably to a well-deserved draw.
Tottenham looked well short of top-four challengers earlier this season under Nuno Espirito Santo, but it has not taken long for Conte to bring a winning formula to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs also have two cup competitions to think about in the early stages of January, taking on Chelsea in a two-legged EFL Cup affair either side of a clash with Morecambe in the FA Cup.
FUN FACT: Harry Kane has hit five goals on New Years Day – a current Premier League record.
LEAGUE FORM:
Watford: WLLLLL
Spurs: WWWDWD
KEY BATTLES:Emmanuel Dennis v Eric Dier; Lucas v Masina
West Ham United will be looking to boost their top-four hopes in the Premier League when they head to Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon to take on Crystal Palace.
The Hammers will enter the contest off the back of a 4-1 win at Watford, while Palace recorded a 3-0 victory over basement side Norwich City last time out.
Palace boss Patrick Vieira was again not on the touchline against Norwich on Tuesday, having recently tested positive for coronavirus, but assistant manager Osian Roberts lead the team to a 3-0 victory over the Canaries at Selhurst Park.
Palace have won five, drawn eight and lost six of their 19 Premier League matches this season to collect 23 points, which has left them in 11th spot in the table, only two points behind eighth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Eagles have been impressive at Selhurst Park this season, suffering just one league defeat in front of their own supporters, picking up seven points from their last three home league fixtures.
Palace have only been victorious in two of their last 13 top-flight matches against the Hammers, though, and suffered a 3-2 loss in the corresponding fixture between the two sides last term.
West Ham managed to return to winning ways in impressive fashion on Tuesday afternoon, coming from behind to record a 4-1 victory over relegation-threatened Watford, with the result following back-to-back losses against Arsenal and Southampton, seeing them lose ground in the top-four race.
The win over the Hornets was therefore incredibly important, and they are firmly in the top-four mix at this stage, currently sitting fifth in the table, level on points with Manchester United and four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
The 2021-22 campaign could be a famous season for West Ham, but they have two difficult away Premier League games in January, facing Palace on New Year’s Day before visiting Manchester United later in the month.
The 4-1 success over Watford would have boosted confidence, but Moyes’s side have lost three of their last five away fixtures in the Premier League, picking up just four points in the process. Can they improve that run to maintain their top four chase?
FUN FACT: Michail Antonio has recorded 11 goal involvements in his last 12 London derbies for West Ham (five goals, six assists).
LEAGUE FORM:
Crystal Palace: LLWDLW
West Ham: DWDLLW
KEY BATTLES:Marc Guehi v Michail Antonio; Tyrik Mitchell v Jarrod Bowen
West Ham:Fabianski; (GK) Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Johnson; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Lanzini, Benrahma; Antonio
SCORE PREDICTION:Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United
Brentford v Aston Villa, Sunday 2:00PM
Aston Villa will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to the Brentford Community Stadium to face-off against Brentford on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors, who are currently 12th in the table, suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea on Boxing Day, while Brentford lost 1-0 to Manchester City on Wednesday.
Brentford have won five, drawn five and lost eight of their 18 Premier League matches this season to collect 20 points, which has left them in 14th position in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone, so it has been a successful campaign to date for the newly promoted club.
Thomas Frank’s men took four points from their two games against Leeds United and Watford earlier this month but have lost their last two against Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City without finding the back of the net.
Brentford have won five, drawn five and lost eight of their 18 Premier League matches this season to collect 20 points, which has left them in 14th position in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone, so it has been a successful campaign to date for the promoted club.
Frank’s team picked up a point in a 1-1 draw with Villa in the reverse match earlier this season, while they recorded a 1-0 victory when the two teams last locked horns in Middlesex back in February 2019.
Villa, meanwhile, had been due to take on Leeds United at Elland Road on December 28, but the match was postponed due to coronavirus issues in the home side’s squad.
As a result, Steven Gerrard’s men have not been in action since suffering a 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea on Boxing Day, and a total of 22 points from 18 matches has left them languishing in 12th place, and Gerrard will certainly be looking to move the club up the table in 2022.
Villa have shown giant strides since Gerrard’s arrival as head coach, winning four of their seven matches, but they have struggled for consistency for much of the campaign and will take on Manchester United in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively in the middle of January.
The visitors have been victorious in two of their last three away league fixtures, beating Crystal Palace and Norwich City, and they are only three points behind eighth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on the same number of matches (18), so a win here could propel them up the table.
Villa have not actually beaten Brentford in the league since February 1947, with the Bees enjoying the better of the previous Championship meetings between the two teams.
FUN FACT: Brentford have suffered five defeats at home this season, with only fellow promoted clubs Norwich and Watford faring worse.
LEAGUE FORM:
Brentford: WLDWLL
Aston Villa: WLWLWL
KEY BATTLES: Ivan Toney v Ezri Konsa; Ollie Watkins v Pontus Jansson
Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion’s 2022 campaigns begin with an afternoon Premier League encounter on Sunday at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have not played since their impressive 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on December 16, and ironically, the Seagulls recorded the same result against Thomas Tuchel’s side in midweek.
To say that 2021 was a mixed bag for Everton would be a true understatement, but the Toffees ultimately ended the year on a relative high note with a point at Stamford Bridge.
With clashes against Burnley and Newcastle United both being called off as outfits up and down the country work around depleted squads, Everton head into 2022 with much work to be done to eventually save Rafael Benitez’s job.
Now 15th in the table with 19 points to their name from a possible 51, Benitez’s bright start to life at Goodison Park has not had the desired effect over the winter, as Everton sit just eight points above Burnley having played a game more.
The Toffees managed to win just one of their last five home Premier League games in 2021, and history is not on their side too, as they have suffered defeat in each of their last four opening top-flight matches of the calendar year.
A tally of 10 goals conceded in their most recent four encounters at Goodison Park does not bode well for the hosts either, and the pressure is weighing heavily on Benitez’s shoulders to turn his side’s fortunes around in the New Year.
Arsenal fans of 2016 are already well aware of Danny Welbeck’s affinity for last-minute goals, something he must have picked up during his time playing under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Chelsea proved to be the Englishman’s next victims as Brighton claimed a point at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
The wins column is still looking particularly bare for Brighton, but four points from a possible six was an ideal way to end a topsy-turvy 2021, and they sit 10th in the table heading into the New Year as a result.
If Brighton end the season in the same position then Graham Potter will certainly be rewarded with some praise, but he knows his side will need to start getting luck and points on the board if that is to be achieved.
A stalemate at Stamford Bridge represented a third consecutive 1-1 draw on the road for Graham Potter’s men – whose most recent win on the road came back in September – and coincidentally, all four of their opening Premier League clashes in a calendar year have ended with the spoils shared.
Demarai Gray and Dominic Calvert-Lewin propelled Everton to a 2-0 win over Brighton at the Amex back in August, and all four of the Seagulls’ Premier League trips to Goodison Park have seen them come away empty-handed.
FUN FACT: Everton are 13 points worse off after 17 games than at the same stage last season.
LEAGUE FORM:
Everton: LLLWLD
Brighton: DDDLWD
KEY BATTLES: Dominic Calvert-Lewin v Dan Burn; Abdoulaye Doucoure v Yves Bissouma
Seeking to end a dismal run of three straight defeats in their first game of 2022, Leeds United prepare to welcome fellow strugglers to Elland Road on Sunday.
The Whites have seen their recent clashes with Liverpool and Aston Villa postponed due to COVID-19, while Sean Dyche’s men lost 3-1 against Manchester United in midweek.
From the highs of establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League to the lows of a likely relegation dogfight, it has been quite the topsy-turvy year for Leeds United.
Prior to seeing recent games called off, Marcelo Bielsa’s side lost three from three against Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal despite it being a tough run of games, and it would taken something special to get points from those top-four outfits.
The Whites prepare to enter 2022 16th in the Premier League table and five points clear of the relegation zone after Burnley’s defeat against Man United, so the highly-experienced Bielsa would choose no better time to weave his old magic and steady the Elland Road ship.
Leeds can take some solace in the fact that their 4-1 loss to Arsenal represents their only defeat in their last six Premier League contests at home, and the hosts have only failed to score in one of their last 11 top-flight games at Elland Road – finding the back of the net in each of their last seven.
Not since the Championship days of the 2014-15 season have Leeds lost four league encounters on the bounce, and given Burnley’s troubles on the road throughout much of 2021, the home crowd can afford to enter the New Year with a cautious sense of optimism for Sunday’s game.
Even amid Man United’s struggles to dominate matches under the tutelage of Ralf Rangnick, attempting to get one over the Red Devils at Old Trafford was a bridge too far for Burnley, who slumped to a 3-1 defeat on Thursday night.
Another fight to retain their top-flight status awaits Burnley in 2022, as Sean Dyche’s side occupy 18th spot in the table, but 17th-placed Watford and upcoming opponents Leeds are within touching distance as the Clarets aim to take advantage of their games in hand.
It is now six games without victory for Burnley in the Premier League, though, and they are one of only two sides in the English top flight – along with Newcastle United – yet to win away from home this term, but a trip to fellow strugglers Leeds could be a prime opportunity to end that barren streak.
Burnley and Leeds played out a 1-1 draw in their clash at Turf Moor earlier in the campaign, but the Whites managed to prevail 1-0 at Elland Road this time last year thanks to a fifth-minute penalty from talisman Patrick Bamford.
FUN FACT: Brazilian wing-wizard Raphinha has been directly involved in 50% of Leeds United’s league goals this season (8 goals, 1 assist).
LEAGUE FORM:
Leeds United: DWDLLL
Burnley: DDDLDL
KEY BATTLES: Patrick Bamford v James Tarkowski; Chris Wood v Diego Llorente
Second meets third in an intriguing opening to the calendar year at Stamford Bridge, as title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool prepare for battle in the capital.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, while the Reds were sunk by Leicester City in a 1-0 defeat. at the King Power.
Winter was certainly unforgiving to those in Blue, as a frustrated Thomas Tuchel bemoaned his side’s growing absentee list after Brighton took a point home from Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
The Blues have now fallen eight points behind runaway leaders Manchester City in the rankings, and even though the season has only just reached its midway point, Tuchel claimed that it would be “stupid” to think his depleted side are capable of competing for top-flight glory.
VAR comments aside as well, four of Chelsea’s last five Premier League encounters at Stamford Bridge have now ended 1-1, and failing to keep a single home clean sheet in that run represents quite the downturn from Chelsea’s formerly steadfast defence under the German.
It would be ignorant to write Chelsea out of the title race ahead of the New Year, and they were certainly done a favour by Leicester before the confidence-sapped Reds make the journey South.
Before a ball was kicked at the King Power, all signs pointed towards an away victory especially amongst the star-studded pundits covering the fixture for Amazon Prime. The Reds had enjoyed a six-day recovery period after dumping the Foxes out of the EFL Cup, while Brendan Rodgers was short of options 48 hours after the 6-3 loss to Manchester City.
However, Leicester dug deep to pick up a much needed win in front of their own fans, as Ademola Lookman came off the bench to dent Liverpool’s title aspirations.
Defeat at the King Power marked only Liverpool’s second loss in the 2021-22 season across all competitions, and the third-placed Reds now find themselves nine points adrift of Man City having played a game fewer, and fourth-placed Arsenal are suddenly just six points behind.
Jurgen Klopp’s men will leapfrog the Blues back into the top two with victory in the capital, but they have failed to beat three London sides in Brentford, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur away from home so far this season.
Neither Chelsea nor Liverpool tend to kick off the New Year on a high note either, but recent history is in the Reds’ favour, as they have only lost two of their last 11 Premier League games against the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
FUN FACT: Liverpool could lose consecutive away league games for the first time since February 2017, when they were beaten by Hull City and then Leicester City.
LEAGUE FORM:
Chelsea: LWDDWD
Liverpool: WWWWDL
KEY BATTLES: Romelu Lukaku v Virgil Van Dijk; Sadio Mane v Cesar Azpilicueta
Ahead of the Boxing Day festive fixtures, the Premier League has postponed Liverpool’s game against Leeds United, the match between Wolves and Watford and Burnley v Everton because of rising coronavirus cases.
All three games were due to be played at and 12:30 and 3:00 GMT respectively but have been called off after requests from Leeds, Watford and Everton.
The Premier League said Leeds, Watford and Everton could not play “due to the number of players with Covid-19, injuries and illness” which leaves seven fixtures still due to be played on, so here’s some previews and predictions on each of those games:
Manchester City vs Leicester City, 3:00PM
Seeking an eighth win in a row, league leaders Manchester City look to extend their gap at the top even further as they host Leicester City on Boxing Day.
While the champions are now favourites to defend their crown after a scintillating streak since early November, their inconsistent visitors arrive at the Etihad Stadium having dramatically lost out in the EFL Cup quarter-finals to Liverpool.
Amid an incredible run which is showing no signs of letting up, Manchester City have not only established a three-point Premier League lead, but also registered 11 goals without reply in their two most recent outings.
After surviving a dubious penalty call to go on and record a 4-0 win over lowly Newcastle United, they posted their third successive clean sheet last weekend, maintaining the best defensive record in the division, having only conceded just nine goals so far.
Four different goalscorers at St James’ Park – plus six names on the scoresheet in the 7-0 victory against a struggling Leeds United a few days earlier – demonstrated the phenomenal wealth of attacking talent available to Pep Guardiola, who has also seen his side qualify for a place in the Champions League’s last 16.
Despite the summer departure of record goalscorer Sergio Aguero to Barcelona and the forthcoming transfer of Ferran Torres to the same destination according to widespread reports, Guardiola insists that no signings are required during the winter window, and the nature of City’s performances support that conclusion.
City have scored 24 times since they last failed to win in the league, back in late October, and sit top of the Premier League at Christmas for only the third time – on both previous occasions they went on to be eventual champions.
Guardiola’s men also secured their 34th league victory of 2021 by beating Newcastle, setting a new record for the most top-flight wins by any team in a calendar year, so they should have no qualms in dispatching a team currently struggling for consistency.
Having been eliminated from the Europa League earlier in December, when losing 3-2 to group rivals Napoli, more woe followed on Wednesday night, as Leicester missed out on a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals by losing on penalties at Anfield, blowing a comfortable 3-1 lead in the process.
Currently ninth in the Premier League table, the season as a whole has not been going to plan for the East Midlands side, who had won just one of their previous six games before beating Newcastle last time out in the top flight.
Perhaps hoping that a 4-0 win over the Magpies would kickstart an underwhelming campaign, Brendan Rodgers was then hit by the postponement of games against Tottenham and Everton, due to the impact of COVID-19.
Not only must they now pick themselves up after midweek disappointing against this weekend’s formidable opponents, but Leicester City will travel to Manchester knowing that their only away wins this campaign have come against newly promoted teams. They have also lost eight of their last 10 meetings with Manchester City – including a 1-0 defeat earlier this term.
MATCH FACT: Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has been directly involved in a team-high 15 goals in all competitions, scoring 11 and assisting four
LEAGUE FORM:
Manchester City: WWWWWW
Leicester City: DLWDLW
KEY MEN: Joao Cancelo (Man City) & James Maddison (Leicester)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Manchester City:Ederson (GK); Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus
SCORE PREDICTION: Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City
Norwich City vs Arsenal, 3:00PM
Following four straight wins in the league and cup, Arsenal will be aiming to keep their strong top-four chase on track when they visit the Premier League’s bottom side Norwich City on Boxing Day.
Having cruised to their 10th top-flight victory last time out at Leeds, and then serenely progressed to the EFL Cup semi-finals, the Gunners meet a side who have won just twice all season.
Victims of disruption caused by the latest twist in the COVID-19 pandemic, Norwich City have been sidelined since their home defeat to Aston Villa over a week ago, having had their fixture with West Ham United called off due to an unfortunate virus outbreak in the squad.
While opportunities to train together have necessarily been limited, perhaps the break came at a good time for the ailing Canaries, who had just lost three consecutive games without scoring and have failed to win in five.
While they remain just three points adrift of safety, Norwich have played at least one game more than several of their relegation rivals, so must start to accumulate points at a greater rate if they are to achieve the unthinkable come May.
Sitting bottom of the Premier League pile with only 10 points to date, they will be aware that only three teams who started Boxing Day in last place have previously managed to avoid demotion since the competition was inaugurated nearly 30 years ago.
Having also lost 10 of their last 14 top-flight encounters with their next opponents, the Canaries will be up against both form and precedent on Sunday.
After starting the month inauspiciously with back-to-back defeats, Arsenal have seemed galvanised by the disciplinary action taken against their captain by manager Mikel Arteta, going on to score 14 times in four successive wins in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s absence, a decision that now seems perfectly justified.
Featuring a much-changed side, the Gunners followed up nine points from nine in the Premier League with a 5-1 victory over Sunderland in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, in which cup specialist Eddie Nketiah netted a hat-trick for the North London side.
Eighteen-year-old starlet Charlie Patino also added his name to the scoresheet against the Black Cats, to cap a consummate performance from Arteta’s second string and set up a tantalising semi-final tie with Liverpool next month.
Arteta will be proud of his current crop of wonderkids in Bukayo Saka, the recently inspired Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith-Rowe and Aaron Ramsdale who are proving the perfect tonic in the club’s search of a top-four spot.
Since their recent London derby win over West Ham lifted them into the top four for the first time since October 2020, Arsenal have gone on to post a convincing win over Leeds last weekend before comfortably progressing in the cup.
They will, therefore, be confident of maintaining a Boxing Day record which has seen the club lose just twice in their last 23 games played on December 26.
Indeed, only Liverpool and Manchester City have bettered the Gunners’ points tally over the past six league matches, but they have tended to falter far more often on the road. Ahead of the trip to Carrow Road, Arsenal have lost five of their nine away fixtures in the Premier League, compared to seven wins from nine on at The Emirates.
Undoubtedly, Arteta will expect to improve that record against a struggling side, with three points from such games a requirement if they are to secure a return to the Champions League come the end of the season.
MATCH FACT: Arsenal are in the Premier League top four on Christmas Day for the first time since 2016. They were 15th this time last season.
LEAGUE FORM:
Norwich City: WDDLLL
Arsenal: WLLWWW
KEY MEN: Teemu Pukki (Norwich) & Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Tottenham Hotspur welcome Crystal Palace to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium stadium looking to extend their unbeaten streak to five matches in the Premier League.
While the home side currently occupy seventh position in the standings, Palace are down in 11th spot after just one win from their last six fixtures.
Despite accumulating an impressive 11 points from a possible 15 under Antonio Conte, you could argue they are yet to still hits their stride since the Italian’s appointment.
Nevertheless, that is something which will only lead to optimism among the club’s fanbase as they look to take advantage of their games in hand in a bid to chase down fourth-placed Arsenal.
Star-man Harry Kane finally netted his second Premier League goal of the campaign during last weekend’s enthralling 2-2 draw with Liverpool, and Conte will be delighted at the performances of recent outcasts Dele Alli, Steve Bergwijn and Harry Winks, but it is Lucas Moura who has found another gear under Conte.
The Brazilian has contributed three goals and an assist since the beginning of November, the latest of those strikes coming in the 2-1 win over West Ham United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, setting up a mouthwatering semi-finals with Conte’s former side and rivals Chelsea.
However, Spurs were fortunate to see out the second half against the Hammers, and Conte will want to see more of a ruthlessness at both ends of the pitch.
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira and his side have endured a few teething issues in recent weeks. Consistency remains an issue, with Palace only winning just once in six outings and failing to keep a clean sheet in each of those fixtures.
Currently sitting nine points above the relegation zone heading into the festive period, Vieira cannot have too many complaints, but there have been numerous suggestions that his team aren’t always playing to its fullest potential, and with key man Wilfried Zaha away at the African Cup of Nations in January, Palace will need to make full use of their games until he meets up with his national side.
The long-serving winger now has five strikes for the season after ending a five-game goal drought versus the Saints last time out. Vieira will be hoping Zaha, Gallagher, Ayew and Edouard will be firing on all cylinders to grab their second win in six games.
MATCH FACT: Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 14 league fixtures on Boxing Day – the longest ongoing run in England’s top four divisions.
LEAGUE FORM:
Tottenham: LDWWWD
Palace: DLLLWD
KEY MEN: Lucas Moura (Spurs) & Conor Gallagher (Palace)
SCORE PREDICTION: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Crystal Palace
West Ham vs Southampton, 3:00PM
West Ham play host to Southampton on Boxing day potentially requiring all three points to retain their spot in the top five of the Premier League standings.
The visitors are without success in their last six top-flight fixtures, leaving them down in 15th position, ahead of their difficult test at the London Stadium.
With such a packed schedule and several injuries to key players, it was somewhat inevitable that the Hammers would eventually encounter an inconsistent run, despite their impressive campaign so far.
Nevertheless, David Moyes would have expected a far better return of five points from six Premier League games, the solitary win coming at home to Chelsea.
Michail Antonio’s struggling form in front of goal has hurt the Hammers chances in recent weeks, as will his coronavirus-related absence over the Christmas period, and its unclear whether the club will be looking to strengthen in the forward areas come the winter window. But it provides other players an opportunity to show that Moyes should not rely heavily on their star forward.
Jarrod Bowen netted a brilliant goal during Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup, although he has struggled for consistency in the final third, he may still be trusted with playing up-front for West Ham against the Saints.
On a positive note, Moyes was left encouraged by the performance in North London, and it may be enough to lift his players ahead of what will be regarded as must-win game on Sunday.
Up until the start of November, there were signs that Southampton had fully recovered from their slow start by collecting 10 points over a four-match period.
However, just three points have come from the following six fixtures, heaping the pressure on Ralph Hasenhuttl once more, with just three wins being recorded from 17 games this season.
Although just five points separate ninth and 15th, Southampton have not looked like a side who are capable of putting together the kind of results which can quickly move them up towards mid-table.
Chelsea loanee Armando Broja continues to be the bright spark in an underwhelming campaign, the 20-year-old having now scored four times from just 621 minutes of top-flight football.
MATCH FACT: West Ham are fifth, their second-highest PL position at Christmas. Their highest was fourth which they achieved under Sam Allardyce in the 2014/15 campaign.
LEAGUE FORM:
West Ham: LLDWDL
Southampton: LLDDLD
KEY MEN: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) & Armando Broja (Southampton)
Third-placed Chelsea resume their hectic schedule with a Boxing Day fixture at a resurgent Aston Villa, with the Blues now sitting six points adrift of table-toppers Manchester City.
The hosts return to action sitting in 10th position, a consequence of recording 12 points from six matches since Steven Gerrard took charge.
Villa like many others throughout the division, have experienced their coronavirus outbreak , one which Gerrard has described as ongoing ahead of welcoming the European champions to Villa Park.
The cancellation of last weekend’s game versus Burnley has given Villa’s first-team squad a chance to recharge their batteries, but Gerrard will argue that some momentum could have been lost from the enforced break.
Beating old boss Dean Smith and his Norwich side by a 2-0 score-line represented Villa’s fourth win in six under Gerrard, their two defeats coming against the giants of Manchester City and Liverpool, games in which Gerrard’s side more than made their mark.
Although Villa have lost nine of their 17 matches this season, they are within touching distance of the top eight, and Gerrard will feel that there is a window of opportunity to capitalise on the inconsistency of other clubs.
While Ollie Watkins has not hit the heights of last season, the England international has still contributed four goals from his last eight appearances and he’ll be looking to carry on that form against a stuttering Chelsea.
Having been forced to play three games in less than a week with ongoing coronavirus issues, there can be some sympathy with the selection problems which have hindered Thomas Tuchel.
Nevertheless, the Blues have come through a period against Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford without suffering defeat, two draws in the Premier League being followed by a 2-0 triumph in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
Now sitting well adrift of Man City, Tuchel cannot be satisfied with his team’s recent form, but a change in government coronavirus rules should lead to more players returning this weekend.
The biggest plus from the last two games has been consecutive clean sheets, achieved after previously conceding 11 times in six contests.
Tuchel will hope that more goals from open play now follow, but Chelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat in this corresponding fixture last season as they just about held onto fourth spot in the Premier League on the final day.
MATCH FACT: Villa have amassed 12 points in six matches under head coach Steven Gerrard – two more than in their opening 11 league games under Dean Smith.
LEAGUE FORM:
Aston Villa: WWLWLW
Chelsea: DWLWDD
KEY MEN: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) & Mason Mount (Chelsea)
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Aston Villa: Martinez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Young
Brighton & Hove Albion play host to Brentford on Boxing Day looking to end a 12-match winless streak in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Brentford have collected two victories from their last four outings, leaving the Bees level on points with their hosts in the Premier League standings.
Regardless of whether Brighton are still well above the bottom three, the criticism will continue to arise for Graham Potter as longs as his team fail to end their recent run without a victory.
Eight draws have been recorded from 11 top-flight fixtures, a run which includes stalemates against Arsenal and Liverpool, but frustration is understandable when failing to win several winnable games at the Amex Stadium.
Before the postponement of their trip to Manchester United last weekend, the Seagulls went down 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers without having a shot on target during the second half.
It was the same recurring theme for Potter and his men, playing some good football but just can’t seem to be clinical when it matters most, and that could well mean they face another relegation scrap if they can’t sort out their problems in front of goal.
Nine of their 14 goals have come from Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard, who will argue that they require more help from their teammates rather than being held responsible for contributing to the joint-third worst attacking record in the division.
An argument can be made for Brentford failing to build on their encouraging start to the season with a four-game losing streak occurring between October 16 and November 6.
However, head coach Thomas Frank will instead point to eight points coming from five games, their latest success coming against rivals Watford on December 10.
An argument can be made for Brentford failing to build on their encouraging start to the season with a four-game losing streak occurring between October 16 and November 6.
Sitting nine points ahead of the relegation zone, Frank can only be delighted with his team’s efforts so far, and he will be confident of taking advantage of Brighton’s lack of belief in attack.
While Wednesday’s EFL Cup defeat to Chelsea came as a huge disappointment, the game was Brentford’s first in 12 days, shaking off the cobwebs ahead of a further opportunity to extend the gap ahead of the bottom three.
MATCH FACT: 11 league games without a win on Boxing Day for Brighton – the longest current run in the top four tiers of English football – their most recent against QPR in 2005.
LEAGUE FORM:
Brighton: DLDDDL
Brentford: LDWLDW
KEY MEN: Neal Maupay (Brighton) & Ivan Toney (Brentford)
Newcastle United vs Manchester United, Monday 8:00PM
Manchester United mark their return to Premier League action following an unfortunate coronavirus outbreak – causing postponements against Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion – on Monday with a trip to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
While the Red Devils have been dealing with a raft of COVID-19 cases, Eddie Howe and his men are seeking to avoid a fourth defeat on the bounce.
There is certainly not much festive joy to be had around St James’ Park at the moment, with Newcastle conceding 11 goals in their three most recent defeats as their survival task becomes harder by the week.
It took all of five minutes for Ruben Dias to open the scoring for Manchester City last time out, and the champions would complete a 4-0 rout through Joao Cancelo, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez as the Magpies fell short once again.
After starting the month in such optimistic fashion with a much-needed first win over Burnley, the harsh reality check for Newcastle sees them remain 19th in the table ahead of the Boxing Day fixtures – level on points with Norwich City having played a game more.
Even 17th-placed Watford – who are three points ahead of the Magpies – have two games in hand as Omicron rages across the country, but the appointment of Howe has not exactly led to the upturn in fortunes that the new owners would have aspired for.
A tally of 41 goals conceded is unsurprisingly the worst defensive record in the 2021-22 top-flight season, and having been breached 79 times this calendar year, Newcastle could set a new unwanted record for most Premier League goals conceded in that period.
On the face of it, three defeats from their last eight Premier League games at St James’ Park is hardly abysmal, but a refreshed Man United under new management will not be prepared to play nice on Monday.
One of several English sides to have seen their winter preparations disrupted amid the surge in coronavirus cases, Man United will be taking to the pitch for the first time since December 11th when they make the journey to Tyneside.
The football has been far from dazzling since then, but a pair of crucial 1-0 wins over Crystal Palace and Norwich City means that the Red Devils occupy sixth spot in the table before Sunday’s games kick off – five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with two games in hand.
It is now six games unbeaten in all competitions for Man United since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit after the game against Watford, and having scored in all of their away league games so far this term, Newcastle’s depleted defence could be in for another rough ride on home soil.
MATCH FACT: The Red Devils have won each of their last four encounters with Newcastle – scoring at least three goals on each occasion – although they are without a clean sheet against the Magpies since January 2019.
LEAGUE FORM:
Newcastle United: LDWLLL
Manchester United: LLDWWW
KEY MEN: Callum Wilson (Newcastle) & Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
To say Leicester City have endured an inconsistent season so far is very much an understatement. After finishing the 2020/21 campaign with a fifth placed finish in the Premier League, and securing their first FA Cup triumph – marking it a very successful season for the Foxes – many fans had hoped the club would build from that with a fast start in the Premier League, but things haven’t quite gone to plan.
At the time of writing, Brendan Rodgers’ men sit eighth accumulating 22 points from a possible 48 before Christmas with six wins, four draws and 6 defeats. Leicester have conceded the most goals out in current the top 10 and the fourth most goals in the Premier League (27).
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia heads towards goal before team-mate Ezri Konsa (centre) scores their side’s first goal during the Premier League match at Villa Park
Injuries and absentees have played a huge part, key individuals like Wesley Fofana and James Justin are yet to feature this season after long-term injuries, and injuries to other key stars such as Wilfred Ndidi, Jonny Evans, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand and Youri Tielemans have certainly unsettled Rodgers’ side and as a result, their form has suffered including getting knocked out of the UEFA Europa League in a 3-2 defeat against Napoli.
Though, their matchday 16 triumph over Newcastle provided fans with a taste of what they have been crying out for especially in the form of their midfield maestro Youri Tielemans who put in a show-stopping performance alongside in-form James Maddison and Patson Daka.
A lot has been made in recent weeks about how much Leicester City have missed Tielemans. In truth, the results and performances have been poor with and without the Belgian. But, the win over Newcastle capped a perfect display, their first clean sheet since the opening day and a partnership that could really be used as a stepping stone to improve on their fortunes heading into the busy festive period.
What Leicester have been plainly missing in recent weeks – that emerged for the first time this season on Sunday – was the combination of their two most creative players. The James Maddison-Youri Tielemans axis which could destroy just about club in the English top-flight.
Newcastle were of course the latest in a long line of potential victims.
The pair had started eight games together before they took Newcastle apart at the King Power, but they were inconspicuous displays in which one or both of them fell short of the mark during Leicester’s struggles.
Maddison, by his own admission, was way off it at the end of last season and the start of the current campaign. However, fast forward a few weeks and the 25-year-old now has four goals and four assists in his last six games and is again showing the sort of form that had him in the mix with Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish for a coveted England place.
James Maddison was truly outstanding and left the field to a rapturous ovation with a few minutes remaining having had a hand in all four goals against a ragged struggling Newcastle United side, he provided everything Rodgers needed, carrying on his stunning form. Though, it was the little Belgian magician alongside him who grabbed control of proceedings demonstrating why he is one of the most coveted midfielders in the Premier League, and the heartbeat of Leicester City.
Making his first Premier League appearance since early November, after being sidelined with a calf injury, Tielemans delivered a stellar performance. “He really is a complete player”, Brendan Rodgers said post-match.
Youri Tielemans’ game by numbers vs. Newcastle United:
91% pass accuracy 5/8 tackles won 4/6 long passes 3 shots (2 on target) 2 goals
Indeed he is. It’s remarkable to note that the Belgian now has five goals and two assists so far in the Premier League this season. Combined with James Maddison, they’ve contributed to 14 of Leicester City’s 27 goals, that’s just under half which is quite telling.
Against Newcastle, Tielemans was the orchestrator providing Leicester City with the tempo, incisive passing, defensive assurance and the control in possession that much of their play has missed in recent weeks. He was everywhere: heading balls clear in his own penalty box, shielding the make-shift back four with timely tackles, knitting play together with his sumptuous and clever passing and more importantly scoring twice on his 100th Premier League appearance.
The first was expertly dispatched from the penalty spot after James Maddison was adjudged to have been fouled by Newcastle Jamal Lascelles, and the second swept high into the roof of the net after a neat lay-off from James Maddison.
But Tielemans’ ability to take the ball on his back foot and play passes through the lines that makes him so dangerous, and Leicester such an attractive team to watch, particularly when Maddison is the recipient. The way they both bounce ideas off each other in the final third with such flowing, intricate and measured passing which dissected Newcastle’s defence with consummate ease.
Not only is Tielemans Leicester’s standout performer, but he has also been arguably the finest midfielder in England in 2021-22. Signed initially on loan from AS Monaco in January 2019, Tielemans has come to define the Rodgers era at Leicester City as much as the manager himself. After all, he’s only missed twelve out of 136 matches since the former Liverpool and Celtic boss took charge, shortly after Tielemans had made the move from Monte Carlo.
Aged just 24, it says everything about Tielemans’ character, abilities and understanding of the game that staff and teammates at the club already see him as a future coach when he hangs up his boots. Technically superb, the Belgian possesses the game intelligence, positional awareness, vision and range of passing to become one of the most coveted players in Europe let alone the Premier League.
Against Newcastle, it was the complete showing, making challenges and interceptions, box-to-box runs, telling distribution with the ball, making late runs into the box, along with an eye for goal and the ability to finish off moves that so few midfielders in Europe can boast to possess.
Both Tielemans and Maddison both possess the abilities and nous to become so effective when creating chances and scoring goals.
Both of them hold such wonderful vision and time on the ball due to their often immaculate first touches. They combine the ability to see passes many players don’t and the ability to pull them off in a variety of ways: outside flicks like one particularly outstanding Maddison through ball for the Daka goal; driven balls with the laces to slice through opposition midfields, as Tielemans performs with stunning accuracy and regularity.
Amongst midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues, Tielemans ranks in above the 90th-percentile for shot-creating actions (3.33), progressive passes (6.27) and expected assists (x.16) highlighting how crucial he is to Leicester City’s build-up play. They are much more efficient, effective and potent with both Tielemans and Maddison in the team as Newcastle found out. Also, the Belgian maestro has averaged 1.86 key passes, 5.76 final third passes and 1.19 passes into the penalty area despite performing much of his game from deep.
However, for Leicester City to become as potent as they have been for the past two years, Rodgers acknowledges the fact that he’ll need both Maddison and Tielemans operating closer to Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka/Jamie Vardy. 14 goal contributions between the two proves just why.
Out of contract in 18 months, it will certainly be intriguing to see what happens with Tielemans’ future at the King Power hanging in the balance. Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with his signature in the past, and there’s no reason why they won’t return with fresh approaches. For now though, Rodgers will be very glad to have him back fit and firing.
As the game against Newcastle proved, Tielemans is incredibly vital to Leicester City’s ambitions this season.
Tielemans has come to represent the best things about Rodgers’ Leicester: talent, tenacity, and tactical acumen. He’s a player who has won admiring glances from across the continent and one who faces a big decision in the months to come over his future.
For now, Leicester fans, soak in his incredible gifts while you can.
There’s simply no doubt about it, on James Maddison’s day he is arguably one of the most gifted attacking midfielders on the continent let alone England.
Seasoned creators like Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Hakan Çalhanoğlu to name a few of Europe’s most prestigious final third magicians; these players’ lofty elite levels aren’t too high for Maddison to reach when is on song.
In fact, there are periods in each passing season where Maddison is actually on-par with those names, grabbing the iniative in matches, and becoming Leicester City’s main creative hub when they are in desperate need of goals.
But that’s just it, they are only ‘periods’. There’s too many instances where we don’t see the real James Maddison at all. When Leicester have their backs against the wall at crucial points in the season, the midfielder is nowhere to be found, clutching at straws, and that’s what separates him from Europe’s elite creators.
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
These are players who don’t only perform in spells or periods during a season, but who provide the missing ingredients and much needed inspiration on a consistent basis when their clubs need it most.
It’s no wonder why Gareth Southgate is justified in out-casting Maddison from his England setup – due his worrying consistency levels.
James Maddison is capable of reaching those incredible levels, and that’s where he must take his game to next if he is to be considered amongst those elite creators in Europe.
Last season has got to be considered his most productive yet, recording 11 goals and 9 assists in all competitions – 8 goals and 5 assists in the Premier League – but the challenge was to build on that. As successful as Leicester’s campaign was last year, it was a challenge for not only Maddison to build on those performances, but for the whole team too.
So far this season, it just hasn’t clicked for Brendan Rodgers and his men. Many expected them to be where West Ham currently are in fourth or fifth spot, a few points off the so-called ‘title challengers’, instead 13 games, in and the club currently sit in 10th place, fortunately just five points off the Champions League spots.
It was supposed to be the year Leicester took that one step further after their tremendous FA Cup success in May, the year they banked on actually breaking into the top four and finally achieving a Champions League spot after just missing out the previous two campaigns, but so far they’ve given themselves a mountain to climb.
After three league games without a win, a win over former boss Claudio Ranieri and his Watford side was paramount, and there are no prizes for guessing who stepped up when the club needed him most. Nope, it wasn’t Jamie Vardy who returned to goalscoring form, but another one of Brendan Rodgers’ go-to men; James Maddison.
A goal and two assists Maddison recorded as Leicester City triumphed 4-2 at the King Power. Just a few days earlier, the former Norwich City man hit the same goal involvements in the Europa League as the Foxes eased to a 3-1 win over Legia Warsaw.
Maddison’s return to form has been welcome and timely for the club, Brendan Rodgers and Jamie Vardy even – but most of all, for Maddison on a personal level. The 25-year-old has found his swagger and spark at just the right time for Leicester as Youri Tielemans’ absence with injury has left Rodgers without a reliable ball-player and creative outlet in the middle of the park.
Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumaré are solid enforcers in front of the back four, but you could argue neither of them possess the ability to dissect stout defences with that telling pass. James Maddison is of course Leicester’s most decisive outlet when performing those cutting edge final third passes.
It’s been a frustrating start to the campaign for Maddison, especially when his England counterparts Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount were firing on all cylinders for club and country. A campaign that has almost mirrored Leicester City’s own inconsistent displays, becoming symbiotic. It’s clear that when Maddison is a his masterful best, the whole team follows suit.
The thing is, Maddison hasn’t been at his best often enough.
The key for Maddison is to be a workhorse and a show pony. When he has been below his best, as shown in a couple instances so far this season, games have passed him by. He has been the passenger instead of the driving force Rodgers knows that he can be.
Life has dramatically changed off the field following the birth of his first child and he’s also had to contend with the unsettling nature of the speculation linking him to Arsenal. It’s understandable, but those are the kind of off-field situations that footballers have to navigate their way through, especially the elite level performers, and Maddison is no different.
After his performance against Legia Warsaw, the midfielder was asked if he had a point to prove. Maddison had started only five of the previous 13 games in which he had been included in the squad, suggesting Rodgers felt Maddison did need to prove that he had what it takes — to show that he wasn’t above being left out of the side, that his talent needed to be backed up with consistent displays. It has been a gentle kick up the backside.
However, during an important week in Leicester’s season, it finally looks as if Maddison taken heed of Rodgers’ demands and is back to his mercurial best.
“I think we always have a point to prove every single day,” Rodgers says. “For him, it was about looking at his game. He knows this is a level where you are always looking to prove yourself, always. He can never be calm with that. You always have to be intense. You have to work and when you are not working so well you have to keep focused and working hard.
“I think you can see, and not just in James, the confidence is returning. The level of the game, the movement is back and we look a real threat. But also working hard.”
What has been evidently clear of James Maddison under Brendan Rodgers, is his influence and decisiveness in much of Leicester’s attacking play. A conductor and an orchestrator in such a well-rounded unit. Whether playing in the most advanced position of a midfield three, or as a more deep-lying playmaker, or tucked in off the left-wing or in his more natural role directly behind Jamie Vardy, he is the man to set and maintain the tempo of their attacking moves.
When Maddison is in the mood, he is indeed unstoppable and that was perfectly proved against Watford. The 25-year-old provided his team with the ingredients to overcome a difficult task. Firstly, taking his goal expertly, but it wasn’t just down to him putting the ball in the back of the net, it was the unique nous and anticipation to run beyond Jamie Vardy and capitalize on any potential mistakes and that’s exactly what he did.
It’s the role of an attacking midfielder to roam beyond the striker and score goals as well as create them, and Maddison has excelled at that trait over the past year, something Rodgers instructed him to do more to get goals and assists, but unfortunately not doing it consistently enough.
The assist for Jamie Vardy’s first goal was absolutely delicious, a delicately weighted chip into the Vardy’s path on the angle, and the veteran striker put the gloss over a superb pass that only few players in the Premier League could replicate.
James Maddison’s heat-map against Watford
His heatmap above above may not seem the most productive, however, it shows the areas on the pitch in which he proved very decisive in Leicester’s attacking play, within that left half-space, an area where he can effectively roam inside and produce his dazzling creative abilities. Maddison is evidently on the ball less – only recording 53 touches against Watford – but when he is in possession of it, he is devastatingly effective, completing 100% of his dribbles, performing 3 accurate crosses – including another assist for Jamie Vardy’s second from a corner – seven chances created and 5 key passes.
If Leicester are to improve on their inconsistencies so far this season, James Maddison will once again prove central to their hopes. Getting Youri Tielemans back fit and firing can only aid their cause too.
Nevertheless, James Maddison is capable of the extraordinary, whether its the eye of the needle pass, the sumptuous first touch and the ability to locate areas in the final third in order to hurt the opposition, that’s what his game is built on.
It is now 7 goals + assists now in his last five starts in all competitions for Leicester City. The swagger and spark in his game has certainly returned, but in order for Maddison to reach those lofty heights, it needs to be combined with tenacity, a ruthless edge and a consistency that is so far unreachable in his game.
The 25-year-old is an elusive creative weapon for Brendan Rodgers, but maybe the reason Leicester haven’t taken that next level is because Maddison hasn’t yet expressed his extraordinary abilities over a prolonged period of time throughout a campaign. At such a crucial stage in Leicester City’s season, it certainly isn’t too late for him to start performing consistently right now.
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)
Finally, we are seeing Emile Smith-Rowe given the opportunity his tremendous and unique abilities demanded, and he, his club and manager are duly reaping the rewards.
Mikel Arteta has got be given credit for providing him the platform, moulding and fine-tuning the youngster’s game, allowing him the freedom and room to express himself.
Smith-Rowe’s game over during the calendar year has massively improved, not only in his goal output – which we’ll come too soon – but his intelligence and understanding of where to be, where to operate effectively within the final third as Arsenal’s main source of creativity has come on leaps and bounds.
ESR is now almost the complete attacking midfield package, with more maturing and refining to come which in actual fact is quite frightening.
If you can remember during last summer when many were calling for Mikel Arteta to recruit an elite-level number-10, one who can provide Arsenal with the invention and imagination in the final third.
They went on and bought Martin Ødegaard permanently after his successful loan spell at the Emirates last season, with Emile Smith-Rowe was attracting much interest elsewhere as Aston Villa placed a £25million pound bid for his services.
You’ve got to wonder what might have been had Arsenal decided to sell the youngster, but they dared not to, and Smith-Rowe is showing the Arsenal fanbase that he is indeed the man to drive Arteta’s ever-improving squad to the next level. The 21-year-old has been so good that Ødegaard can barely get an opportunity in the Arsenal XI.
10 games unbeaten in all competitions now for Arsenal after their recent Premier League win over Watford before the November international break, and it was ESR’s moment of brilliance – albeit controversially – that broke the deadlock and rewarded them their third win a row, and third win in their last 5 games in the top-flight.
This sumptuous and uniquely gifted performer has arguably been the mastermind behind Arsenal’s recent renaissance. With his sweeping finish against Watford at the Emirates Stadium, ESR bagged his fifth goal in eight appearances, matching and beating his total for the whole of last season, just only couple months into the current campaign.
It was only right Gareth Southgate called him up to the England squad as a result, despite only getting in because of injuries to Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and James Ward-Prowse. However, Smith-Rowe’s form has been damn-near impossible to ignore. This is a player on top of his game and his goal contributions so far this campaign only tell half the story.
The academy graduate was challenged to contribute more goals by Mikel Arteta during his breakthrough campaign, a season where he hardly got a look in because of Martin Ødegaard’s increasing influence in Arsenal’s attack. But now, a few months on and Arsenal are a much better unit, a more free-flowing and exciting attacking side with Smith-Rowe at the heart of it, and that is a testament to the 21 year-old’s stunning development in such a short space of time.
Four goals and two assists in the Premier League so far, giving him the highest combined G+A total amongst the Arsenal camp so far this season, a tremendous stat for him to chew on. Smith-Rowe has been instrumental, embracing the responsibility of taking on the coveted no.10 shirt after signing a new contract in July.
Emile Smith Rowe has now been directly involved (goals + assists) in six goals in the Premier League since the start of September, more than any other English player.
6 goals – Smith Rowe 5 goals – Vardy 4 goals – Mount, Foden, Townsend, R James, Gallagher, Bowen
Together with Bukayo Saka, Kieran Tierney, new impressive recruits Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale, he has come to symbolize and represent this exciting and progressive chapter that Mikel Arteta is overseeing at the Emirates.
Smith-Rowe’s development which has accelerated this term is a result of all his hard work, application, maturity and meticulous attention to detail when working on his own game behind the scenes.
The regularly acclaimed “Croydon De Bruyne” has superbly grown into one of the most accomplished attacking midfielders in the Premier League.
Against Watford, the 21-year-old recorded 43 touches, finished with a pass success rate of 96%, delivered six crosses, made three ball recoveries, and registered two shots. His goal also meant that he is now one of four Arsenal players to have scored in three straight PL games before their 22nd birthday, after former players Nicolas Anelka, Jose Antonio Reyes and Cesc Fabregas – not a bad list to be amongst.
Towards the end of last season, Emile Smith-Rowe sat down with management and the people close to him to see how he can further enhance his game in the final third. It was highlighted that others in his position, such as Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes, typically average between two to three shots per 90 minutes.
Smith-Rowe, by contrast, was only recording 0.8 shots per 90. However, there has been an intentional and concerted effort to change those numbers. He has heavily focused on his ability to get into the opposition box more, attempting to develop a better understanding of when to shoot rather than pass, and that was highlighted in his goal against Watford.
His improvement in those areas has been nothing short excellent. In 11 appearances so far in the Premier League, ESR has already taken more shots than he did in 20 outings last season. Crucially, they have come from much better positions, giving a greater chance of finding the back of the net. That is not down to luck, its down to Smith-Rowe’s willingness to learn, to improve and his determination to execute his attempts.
With the help of Arteta and his staff, Smith-Rowe has improved the timing of his runs and developed a knack of ghosting into the opposition box untracked by defenders.
Those unique qualities are highlighted in his recent goals against Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup, all of which were dispatched fist time from the centre of the 18-yard-box as seen in the image above. Much of this, is a result of the increasing freedom and room to express himself that has been handed to Smith-Rowe, and he is repaying that faith with fantastic aplomb.
Last season, he averaged 0.12 goals, 0.81 shots, 0.37 shots on target, 2.86 touches in the opposition box and 0.62 dribbles per 90 minutes.
This season those numbers have dramatically increased, he’s averaging 0.33 goals, 1.5 shots, 1.0 shots on target, 3.13 touches in the opposition box and 1.8 dribbles per 90 minutes. ESR is more well-rounded in his approach, much more meticulous and composed as well as becoming so devastatingly effective, seasoned creators like Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne would be mightily impressed.
Also, his influence around the final third is shining through also, and hopefully providing he stays fit and healthy for much of this campaign, these numbers will only increase even further. Per 90 minutes, he is averaging 1.41 key passes, 1.92 final third passes and 1.41 passes into the opposition box. To cap it off, Smith-Rowe averages 2.73 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, already an improvement of his 2.69 average for the whole of last campaign.
If that doesn’t highlight his improvement in the final third, then what will?
The youngster may be seeing less of the ball this season, his touches per 90 dropping from 57.9 last season to 49.2 in the new campaign, but he is certainly doing more with it. There is an increased emphasis on his effectiveness on games. Where once he was more inclined to simply pass the ball to a teammate, now he’s more brave and courageous in carrying the ball forward and driving his team up the pitch.
Seriously, it is a phenomenal sight to behold.
Smith-Rowe’s dribbling numbers have rapidly increased even more than his shots on goal. He is averaging 2.1 successful take-ons per90 minutes which is nearly four times higher than it was last season and puts him at a similar level to dribble-kings Grealish, Mohamed Salah and Raheem Sterling. He records the 7th best progressive carries per 90 (7.27) and is also improving on his carries into the final third with an average of 3.33 compared to 1.81 last season.
It’s these sort of numbers that show Emile Smith-Rowe is getting better as a footballer and performer. Every time he gets the ball in those dangerous areas, Arsenal fans immediately rise up to their feet. The Emirates’ new number 10 is a showstopper, arguably the main event of an impressively growing unit under Arteta.
What’s scary is, ESR can only get better which means Arsenal will only get better and that spells good news for the Gunners faithful despite their struggles in the first few weeks of the season. The 21-year-old is influential in every phase of his game, even in his defending. He averages 3.84 successful pressures per90, meaning he is contributing to Arsenal’s pressing game with such efficient and effective energy. He doesn’t shy away from the doing the dirty work from the front, 1.62 tackles + interceptions to show for his efforts.
Smith-Rowe’s recent progress is down to a number of factors but he has certainly benefitted from an uninterrupted pre-season – a luxury he did not have in preparation for the previous two campaigns. He’s always been dedicated in terms of his approach and application but in recent months he has reaped the rewards of paying closer attention to his nutrition in order to become the complete athlete.
You can see that in his performances on the pitch, his concentration, his energy, game-intelligence and influence when Arsenal need him most. It’s no wonder why he’s received such stark praise from his manager and pundits alike. Smith-Rowe is certainly amongst the most promising young performers in the country and these past few months have proved just that.
He is indeed the come-of-age young baller with the Midas touch.
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