Easter is probably the best weekend of the year, two extra days off work, loads of chocolate, family time and round my mother in laws it’s three meats for the Sunday roast. The Premier League games are intriguing as ever with the showcase matchup taking place late Sunday when Arsenal continue there title challenge at Anfield, neither City or United have even scored when they visited. The inconsistent red side of Manchester kick off the action on BT Sport:
Manchester Utd v Everton
Erik ten Hag’s first year at United is coming to a close and despite some shocking results (Brentford and Liverpool away games) he has undoubtably galvanised the club, won the Carabeo Cup, on the verge of Champions League qualification and in the hunt for two more cups (FA Cup & Europa League), it’s been a success! Their was plenty of talent already at Old Trafford it was always about how he dealt with the existing squad, but I want to review how the players he brought in have fared and value added?
Antony – Uniteds biggest fee paid last summer was for the young Brazilian, who was known by ten Hag from his spell at Ajax. It was widely seen as a massive overpay but apart from being a player for now it was considered by the club their was scope for improvement. So far I would say he has been a massive disappointment and has a lot more rough edges than even the most ardent United fan expected. Very talented when dribbling he is more like a Harlem Globetrotter than game changing player, end product whether it be crossing or shooting is very poor. FBRef compareshim to Podence, Benrahma and Zaha, none of these men would be considered good enough for Old Trafford. Now Sancho is back to full fitness it will be interesting to see if Antony continues to dominate starts on the right hand side.
Casemiro – The doubts about his influence in the Premier League or his ability to shine away from Real Madrid were swiftly removed, around January time he was being discussed as the signing of the season and possible PFA Player of the Year contender. Red cards and injuries have stunted his form since that point but without a shadow of a doubt he will be a cornerstone for the club as they strive to challenge for the league over the next few years.
Lisandro Martinez – Another former Ajax player arrived in England much maligned due to his size (5-10) considering he plays at centre backs, historically a tall man’s position. What he lacks aerially he makes up for with his desire and ability when in possession. Without a doubt he is a man you want with you in the trenches and there will be days when he will struggle against strikers like Toney, Haaland or Moore but you can look past that as his better days will far outweigh the poor ones.
Tyrell Malacia – Luke Shaws days seemed numbered when the Dutchman arrived from Feyenoord but the England man dug in and now Malacia is firmly the reserve left back. Frightening lightweight, season two will define if he has a future at not only Old Trafford but in the Premier League fullstop.
Wout Weghorst – The search for a number nine led to the Burnley striker cutting short his loan at Besiktas and arriving at United till the summer. Strangely he has been utilised as a ten or withdrawn nine since joining when all expected him to be a battering ram hold up option with his back to goal. It’s fair to say he will not be joining the club permanently after the loan.
Martin Dubravka & Jack Butland – With Dean Henderson desiring to leave for first team action and the only experienced backup being Tom Heaton, the club have loaned in two established keepers to warm the bench. Dubravka was at the club till Christmas and only saw action in the EFL Cup while the former England keeper Butland who’s fall from grace has been akin to Joe Harts has not played at all. Neither can be rated for their impact but when they retire at least they can say they once was a United player.
Marcel Sabitzer – Another loan arrival, he has slowly integrated himself into the starting eleven and it would not be a surprise if the move becomes permanent. He has a slight Frank Lampard feel to him as for long periods you wonder what he is doing but then arrives in the box with a goal or assist.
Christian Eriksen – Along with Casemiro, the Dane has been the best arrival at the club since ten Hag took over. It’s not a surprise either as they are proven top level footballers, shock horror you invest in quality and you reap the rewards. His return to fitness this weekend is massive as the club embarks on a run of fixtures which could see multiple rewards.
PL Fixture Icons
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – Before he was driving buses, Ole was the silent assassin at Old Trafford, patiently waiting for minutes behind Yorke, Cole and Sheringham. Squad players like the Norwegian set the club apart in the nineties and noughties, they stepped up when needed, one of those days was in December 1999 when he grabbed four goals (5-1) against Everton after they surprisingly took the lead.
Robert Warzycha – The 92/93 season ended with United winning the league but early in the campaign they was schooled by Everton (0-3). The diminutive Pole was a thorn all match, he assisted Beardsley for the first and scored the second goal in the 80th minute. That goal would end up being his last for Everton, quickly he fell out of favour at Goodison Park and finished his career in Hungry and the MLS where he became one of the first superstars in the league.
Game Narrative
United need to find the key to unlock the Everton defence which will sit deep and look to frustrate the hosts. Ball carriers and pace will be the secret ingredients, which means Varane, Wan Bissaka, Weghorst and Fernandes should not be playing. Install the side with attacking, flexible players whilst keeping the ball moving constantly will frustrate the away team. It’s pretty much a day when you match up each player with a Everton man and the plan is to win your duel. As always set plays will be where Sean Dyches team will look to score but if they do not win any then that game plan is redundant, United have to box clever this weekend.
The One to Watch – Jadon Sancho
All England fans are patiently waiting for one of our most talented players to fulfil his potential which was shown regularly in Germany for Dortmund. If selected this weekend his skillset should prove match winning and propel him to a regular place.
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Ollie Watkins the former Exeter City striker is the inform English striker right now and if his form continues he will surely be called up for the summer internationals, how does he rank against his rivals for a Three Lions squad slot. Harry Kane is the number one by a long stretch and the only attribute he does not have compared to the Villa striker is speed, but the longevity of his career shows that factor is not a hindrance for him. On ability alone Tammy Abraham is arguably Englands number two striker, he ticks every box bar goal scoring form plus playing in Italy means he is out of sight, out of mind just like AC Milan’s Tomori, so even when he does perform it goes unnoticed. To me Watkins, Toney and Wilson are joint third in the striker rankings, they all are very similar bar a few skillsets where one is stronger than the other, Toney with his hold up play, Wilson more of a fox in the box and Watkins ball progression. Over the next few years it’s very likely these three men will swap squad places due to their current form, Ollie and Callum historically are very patchy. Coming through the ranks are players like Solanke, Nketiah, Baloguan and Brewster who are a long way off while the injury prone Calvert-Lewin is more of a myth than reality.
PL Fixture Icons
Paul McGrath – Earlier this year the Irish legend and his son were involved in a social media row with UFC superstar Conor McGregor but thirty years ago McGrath was regarded as one of Britain’s best defenders despite never training due to his arthritic knees. When he left Manchester United it was widely considered his career would fall off a cliff but he encountered a renaissance at Villa and in December 1992 scored the second goal at Villa Park versus Forest. (2-1)
Stuart Pearce – When researching past Forest games in the Premier League, Pyscho is never too far away from the action whether scoring or generally being the best Nottingham player on the field. Despite being a England international when Forest were relegated after the inaugural Premier
League season he stayed and helped them win back promotion. During their comeback season in October 1994 he helped gain a vital away win with a 1st minute penalty (0-2).
Game Narrative
On current form it’s hard to see how Steve Coopers men can avoid defeat, they are woeful generally right now and all season long road games have been difficult. Defensively they are all over the place and it will be a struggle containing the Villa front five who’s movement and passing is up there with the sides who are challenging for Champions League places. Jonjo Shelvey and Brennan Johnson need to get on the same page if an away goal or two will be scored while the rest of the team build a brick wall in front of Kaylor Navas.
The One to Watch – Douglas Luiz
Pure and simply the Brazilian is one of the leagues best corner takers and Forest struggle with set plays, it could be a bumper day for one of the most underrated players in Europe.
Brentford v Newcastle United
As of writing Tottenham, Chelsea and Leicester City are all looking for managers while the West Ham and Forest jobs are on the verge of becoming open plus Palace, Leeds and Southampton will surely appoint new gaffers come the summer. At least one of the above will not a top flight club come the last game of the season but Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has been linked with them all. The Dane is testament to a clubs long term planning, he was brought in by the Directors of Football at Brentford to work under Dean Smith but he had head coaching experience so the next move always seemed to be Frank taking over. The management structure at Brentford is very collaborative with Thomas Frank being the figure head, it’s hard to imagine if he would succeed at any of the clubs who are currently looking for a new man to run the first team, they are in the position they are due to the environment as much as their ability to manage a club.
Fixture Icons
Jackie Gibbons – The last Brentford League win over Newcastle was at Griffin Park back in January 1948 Division 2 (1-0), Gibbons scored that day and also went on to manage the club from 1949 to 1952. The only other victory since was in the League Cup, December 2020 when Josh DaSilva bagged the only goal.
Gavin Peacock – After the game above these two clubs next met in the League, Division 1, October 1992 (1-2) with David Kelly and Gavin Peacock scoring for the Magpies. The goal scoring midfielder also played for Brentford rivals QPR and Chelsea, after a flourishing media career he became a pastor in Calgary.
Game Narrative
Newcastle are hitting form at the right time, whoever is taking the field for the Toon are performing at the required levels and not many sides in the league would want to face them right now bar maybe Saturdays opponents Brentford. At the GTech stadium the Bees are formidable and always seem to have a game plan to penetrate weaknesses their foes possesses. As mentioned most weeks in my previews Newcastles left hand side of defence is an area to capitalise on but also their centre of midfield can be dominated. Bruno Guimaraes is a top talent but his partners are mid to lower tier Premier players. Bryan Mbuemo, Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen need to win their battles to offer a platform to victory for the hosts. If Eddie Howes men are allowed to hit any stride on a par with their last two games then this match could be one of the best this weekend.
The One to Watch – Rico Henry
Gareth Southgate continually ignores Rico despite him being the inform English left back, if he can quieten the England managers favourite fullback the clamour for a call up will grow and rightly so if you can dominate one of your peers.
Fulham v West Ham United
Losing to Newcastle was a hammer blow Wednesday night on multiple levels due to the score line, performance and lowly league position they still find themselves in. Victory would have seen them jump to twelfth place and 30 points, possibly 8 points from safety, it feels currently 38 points should be enough to preserve top flight status. West Ham have ten games to play and it’s a mix bag of fixtures with five winnable matches against Fulham (away), Bournemouth (away), Palace (away), Leeds (home) and Leicester (away) but the issue being four of them are away. The other five games are against Arsenal (home), Liverpool (home), Man City (away), Man Utd (home) and Brentford (away). Looking at the games to play you can argue a case they can collect the necessary points to avoid the drop but on the flip side it’s believable they only gain four maximum! This Saturdays match against Fulham is their biggest of the season it will determine if Moyes stays in charge and the direction of their campaign.
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Stefano Okaka – The journeyman striker had a largely forgettable loan spell at Fulham back in 2010 and scored one of his two league goals in May that year (3-2).
Frederic Kanoute – If you designed a forward in a computer game then Kanoute would be damn near what you would end up with unfortunately physical traits are not what completely decides how a football career pans out. The Frenchman come Mali international played his best football in England when at West Ham and was the match winner in April 2002 (0-1), his time at Spurs meant he largely played second fiddle to Robbie Keane and Jermaine Defoe.
Game Narrative
With Mitrovic banned the attacking threat for the hosts will fall to Solomon and Perreira which could be a detriment to West Ham. Zouma and Aguerd would probably thrive on the physical battle with the Serb and the constant crosses from the Fulham fullbacks. With the home sides tactics surely centring on the ground game and West Ham’s inability to defend on the move against Newcastle during the week it could be a disastrous day for the Irons.
The One to Watch – Declan Rice
Defensively and offensively Rice will be needed to dominate against Fulham, his shielding of his back four will need to be at his World Cup standards while driving forward he will hold all the answers for the Hammers, too many of his teammates are hiding every game when needed to perform.
Leicester City v Bournemouth
Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016, FA Cup in 2021 and achieved fifth place two seasons on the trot in 2020 and 2021 but this year are on the verge of relegation, what has gone wrong at the Kingpower Stadium? With his sacking on Sunday a lot of the blame has fallen on Brendan Rodgers shoulders but it lays a lot deeper than that. Praised for their recruitment like Brighton and Brentford, the talent pool has diminished greatly over the last two years, those leaving have not been replaced or the men who did arrive have flattered to deceive. Expectations around the club have also rose, the terraces have become hugely disgruntled when in fairness they have been punching above their weight the last eight years. One of the pluses for the Foxes was the plucky underdog tag they held, the crowd reacted along with that making their home among the hardest to play at in the league. This term especially, the atmosphere has been one of entitlement rather than passion. The sacking of Rodgers also asks questions regarding how the club is being run, many observers felt this move should have occurred months ago but they’ve only reacted now with no plan in place, when the decision was made they approached Graham Potter which was only viable due to his sacking late Sunday, he would not have been a target before that. Like West Ham’s match this weekend, Leicester face a must win encounter and their opponents are firmly ingrained in the dogfight. This could be the quickest rise and fall in English football ever if Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s creation is relegated this season.
PL Fixture Icons
Islam Slimani – Prior to joining Leicester the Algerian forward was highly regarded around Europe, with his reputation built in Portugal for Sporting. He never fitted in at Leicester and subsequent clubs afterwards heralded similar poor form but this season has seen a upturn for him at Anderlecht. One of his eight goals for Leicester was scored in May 2017 (1-1).
Joshua King – Whenever you look back over the Cherries two stints in the Premier League the same names always pop up with King being one of them along with Callum Wilson and Nathan Ake. The Kingpower Stadium has not been a happy place for Bournemouth historically but like the game above they earned a draw in March 2018 (1-1).
Game Narrative
Bournemouth would have hoped their hadn’t been a managerial change at Leicester this week as taking on last weekends version would have offered a glimmer of hope for them. Structurally secure in their playing style they will be looking to avoid the new manager bounce by pressuring the home side high up the pitch from the first minute. If they can start the game like when facing Arsenal it will create fear around Leicester which will take a lot of bravery to overcome, character traits which have been lacking lately. For the hosts wheeling out Jonny Evans even if not fully match fit will enable a calmness in the back four which has been missing most of this season due to his injuries, the veteran can let Souttar win the aerials while the northern Irishman organises his teammates. Tete has been very quiet since his initial promising spell upon joining, the width for Leicester is key if they are to win.
The One to Watch – Ricardo Pereira
Bournemouths left wing is not as strong as there right where Ouattara spearheads their counters so the Portuguese right back could enjoy a fruitful day backing up Tete.
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion
All of the appointments since Pochettino have been disastrous, marquee names like Conte and Mourinho stunk White Hart Lane out with their dire tactics while Nuno was out of his depth. All these men should show Daniel Levy what direction they go for this appointment, avoid the over hyped big name and be careful if taking on a coach with a reputation which exceeds his achievements. Qualifying for the Champions League will determine where Spurs shop for their coach, if they are in the elite competition names like Nagelsmann or Enrique could be considered but the Spaniard feels too similar to Conte or Mourinho. It’s highly likely those type of coaches will be snapped up by Real Madrid, Chelsea or PSG this summer. The sensible choices regardless of the European competition they qualify for would be Potter, Rodgers or Postecoglou as they all have continental know how, coached in Britain and thrive on building a squad to compete on the pitch which Tottenham will need to do as they need a refresh at every position. Vincent Kompany and Michael Carrick are risky hires and need a few more years experience before taking on a job at a top six club. The outsider but in my eyes the man with the higher ceiling is Sergio Conceicao a coach I’ve not seen much of but was so impressive over the two games against Arsenal in the Europa League, his team hung off every word he said and reminded me of Mikael Arteta, his downside is lack of UK know how. End of the day whoever is appointed will need time and patience, if those factors are not afforded Spurs will be in this same position this time next year.
PL Fixture Icons
Serge Aurier – The first meeting between these clubs in the Premier League was at Wembley in December 2017 (2-0). The aggressive Ivorian was widely known at Spurs for his reckless defending and passion for yellow & red cards rather than goals, the one he nabbed against Brighton was a cross but I am sure he claimed it was meant.
Leandro Trossard – It’s only two months since this fixture icon left Brighton but it had to be Trossard as his goal last April earned the Seagulls their first away win over Spurs (0-1). It’s a shame how he left the south coast but at Arsenal he may well win a Premier league winners medal.
Game Narrative
It was the same old Tottenham on Monday night when they drew with Everton, all the advantages lay with them but they still managed to throw away a lead. Passive football like that against Brighton will be capitalised on more clinically than Everton achieved. The energy and hunger each every game by Brighton is smothering teams and I would not be surprised if the home fans are dreading this encounter. Too many question marks surround Spurs players regarding their form, the only man they can count on is Harry Kane. The England captain will be living off scraps as Brighton will dominate possession and territory.
The One to Watch – Solly March
Currently engrossed in the form of his life, he appears untouchable right now and if he is facing off with Perisic than those old legs will not like chasing him down.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea
Frank Lampard taking charge of Chelsea again would have been a hilarious comment this time last week but it’s reality now and the moves makes a lot of sense in the short term. The club has stated it’s only till the end of the season and when you consider a total rookie in Bruno who was part of Potters regime was the interim head coach initially why not bring back a fan favourite who has held three Manager jobs during his career. The decision makers could not put up with Graham Potter any longer, they had no confidence in him and in short have written off this season, whoever is in charge faces zero expectation. This PR move could well see other great players like Ashley Cole and John Terry come in as coaches too, these men hold so much goodwill with the fans any poor results will be excused during this small sample size. Potentially Lampard could be the first manager to win a Champions League but be involved in a relegation (Everton) that same season.
PL Fixture Icons
Stephen Ward – Wolves beat Chelsea for the first time in 2011 but the goalscorer that day was Jose Boswinga (own goal) therefore I have picked the versatile Ward for his goal in a losing effort January 2012 (1-2), the fourth Moulineux match lucky for the home players in regards to scoring.
Hernan Crespo – At the start of Wolves debut Premier League campaign in September 2003 (0-5) they was utterly blown away by Chelsea, legendary Argentinian striker Crespo poached two goals at the end. His scoring record was a goal every two games in England but due to the arrival of Jose Mourinho his stay was short lived due to the arrival of Didier Drogba.
Game Narrative
What to expect from Chelsea is a mystery and this must concern Lopetegui regarding how to approach this match. The one thing for sure is the visitors hold an abundance of talented players who can outperform their hosts. The best form of defence is attack and as Wolves are at home it could be productive taking the game to their opponents. With winnable home games against Palace and Everton to come facing Chelsea is a free hit in theory.
The One to Watch – Adama Troare
Whoever plays down the left side of defence for Chelsea will not enjoy their battle with the Spaniard and will need to be mindful when they attack of the space left behind. Troare is not the best on the ball but his speed and strength is game changing if he has enough room to run into.
Southampton v Manchester City
City have been so close to winning the Champions League the last two seasons, reaching the final and semis. Despite their difficult draw to reach this seasons final (Bayern then winners of Real/Chelsea) this squad seems to hold all the answers when playing in Europe, mainly led by the missing link Erling Haaland. Of course the fans will not want to relinquish their Premier League title and would love another FA Cup victory but if the choice is one of the three surely they will pick club footballs grandest prize. It could also be a blessing in disguise for the league in general if City win the elusive prize as I can see many of the stars moving on if the mission is accomplished.
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Brett Ormerod – Known mainly for his spells at Blackpool where he holds the distinction of playing in all four English professional leagues for them. His initial foray competing in the Premier League was for Southampton which was not successful on the pitch but gave him the chance to play in a FA Cup Final. One of his better days at St Mary’s was when Southampton beat City in Octoner 2002 (2-0).
Jeff Whitley – These two teams met for the first time after a four year break due to City’s relegation from the Premier League in 2000 and Whitley was the creative difference assisting both goals (0-2). His brother Jim also played for City but Jeff was the one involved in the first team more.
Game Narrative
Southampton like a few of their dogfight companions will go into there game this weekend hoping they can salvage something but most likely expecting the worst. With City’s strength in depth they can afford to rest numerous players with the Champions League looming in the week and still offer a line up stronger than Southamptons. Keeping the score line down and offering some pride to the fans are essential factors for the home side, it will bode well for the remaining games if they are to survive. Narrowing the pitch is essential when taking on City but its easier talking about than achieving it as they move the ball at such a high tempo side to side to create the space and overloads.
The One to Watch – Stuart Armstrong
The midfielder has always been a useful weapon when in the final third as he has that intangible knack of being in the right place when bursting from deep plus he can strike a ball so cleanly. A second goal of the season would be ideal during the next nine games.
Leeds United v Crystal Palace
Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen are somehow both internationals but individually and combined are well short of the levels needed to be a Premier League defender. In my eyes they are part of Palaces problem as much as the forwards inability to score. Aesthetically they look the part, two very large men protecting the central zone of the goal but both players take the fear factor too seriously and game after game enter into running battles with the strikers they face. The funny thing is Andersen especially naturally likes to sweep, cover and bring the ball out of defence which shows in his stats but he cannot help himself when it comes to physicality. Guehi relies on the fact he is left footed so can balance the back four with his comfort being LCB, but he earned a Premier League move off the back of a average loan spell at Swansea. He never had a look in at Chelsea and questions have to be asked why they was so swift to let him go, they knew the fee paid was too much and smelt a good deal. The England appearances for Guehi baffle me when you consider how well his former academy teammate Tomori is doing in Italy. Chaos reigns supreme within the Palace defence and it all stems from the two conmen in the centre, if their was a calm, calculated head playing there it would offer a more positive base to prevent and commence attacks.
PL Fixture Icons
David Wetherall – The nineties Rob Holding never left Yorkshire during his playing career as he started at Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds then Bradford where he scored the vital goal to preserve their Premier League status in 2000 but also helped Leeds qualify for the Champions League due to it being against fellow challengers Liverpool. May 1995 (3-1) saw Leeds beat Palace at Elland Road with the centre back on the scoresheet.
Atillio Lombardo – It feels mad to write this even after 26 years but just prior to Lombardo taking over as player manager at Palace they beat Leeds away in August 1997 (0-2). The Italian was the best player by far but missed six months of playing action due to injury and subsequently the club was relegated, it’s fair to say it wasn’t his tactics but his lack of influence on the field which caused the drop to occur.
Game Narrative
Both teams come into the game off the back of victories and will see this match as a do not lose encounter first and if they can nick a win all the better. Therefore initially on Sunday it will be very tight and cautious affair, both teams not wanting to offer too much space around their defensive thirds. This has the potential to be one of the drabbest fixtures this weekend and it will come down to one of the sides ball players to conjure up a moment of magic.
The One to Watch – Eberechi Eze
This season has been a massive disappointment for the former QPR man due to injuries and then falling out of favour with Patrick Vierra. He was thrust into the starting eleven by Roy Hodgson last Saturday and was sensational on and off the ball. More performances like that are required to preserve Palaces top flight status and it’s hard to see Leeds midfield cope with him when at that level.
Liverpool v Arsenal
The time and belief given to Mikael Arteta via the decision makers at Arsenal to mould a squad should serve as a blueprint to other clubs in the Premier League when appointing their manager. The process driven by the Spaniard was bought in by everyone at the Emirates and the rewards are being reaped now albeit the title challenge probably being a season early as surely finishing in the top four would have been the goal this year. The catalyst for this terms improvement surely falls at the feet of Zinchenko and Jesus who both left Manchester City for North London. Squad players for Pep definitely doesn’t mean you are not a good footballer, on the contrary and these two lads have shown it at Arsenal, they are as good as any other player in the top five. One of the major attributes both players possess is they are winners and have transferred the Etihad culture to their new team. All eyes were on Jesus on arrival, he is the striker and early in the season he showed himself to be the number nine Gooners wanted. Prior to his injury, goals dried up but it’s his skill and workrate which enables others to flourish too. Zinchenko started slowly due to a injury incurred but as the campaign has gone on he has proven to be the one of Arsenals key men, almost the managers eyes and ears on the pitch and for that reason I would rate him as the better City import last summer.
PL Fixture Icons
Robbie Fowler – It’s criminal Fowler only played 26 times for England but the competition for places was intense during the nineties. Another issue for “God” was he incurred at least one niggly injury a season which would curtail form. The legend was created with two hatrick in 2 years against Arsenal in Aug 94 (3-0) and Dec 1995 (3-1)
Robert Pires – In six years at Arsenal the Frenchman scored 62 goals in 189 games, most strikers would die for that record and the achievement is even greater considering the type of matches his goals came in, big time players perform on the big occasion. Never more so when Pires scored a vital winner in October 2003 (1-2) at Anfield.
Game Narrative
Liverpool have shown numerous times this campaign that at Anfield the goals can flow very freely regardless of the opposition. This will strike fear for Arsenal as they go into the match missing William Saliba, with Rob Holding in as his cover. This is not a issue against lower half teams but in the elite game Holding has shown many times he struggles with the movement and speed possessed by top forwards. With Kieran Tierney warming the bench most weeks I would be inclined to slot him in at centre back with Gabriel or even move White instead and slot the Scotsman at right back. He is the best pure defender at Arsenal and it would not weaken the team if he played. Jurgen Klopp rotated his line up during the week so it’s very likely those rested will be brought back in especially Alexander-Arnold and Robertson who will be set the task of containing Saka and Martinelli. Both Liverpool fullbacks have struggled this season and their disappointing year could continue if the wide boys for Arsenal see enough of the ball in the last third.
The One to Watch – Harvey Elliott
His career trajectory despite the serious injury in 2021 is flowing very nicely for a 20 year old and he is near on guaranteed a starting spot at Anfield, next to come is full England honours. On Sunday he will be in the same zone as Granit Xhaka, if he can get under the Swiss internationals skin early doors the hot head could be in card trouble which will disrupt the away teams game narrative.
Premier League Player Power Rankings
No new entries this week but plenty of movement around the top ten due to Haaland not playing last Saturday, Mitomos double game week and the continual petulance shown by Bruno Fernandes when United are not having it their own way:
- Martin Odergaard non mover
- Marcus Rashford up one
- Erling Haaland down one
- Harry Kane up one
- Bakary Saka down one
- Kaoru Mitomo up two
- Ivan Toney up two
- Solly March up two
- Ben Mee down two
- Bruno Fernandes down four
When watching matches this weekend remember Terry Venables once said “ If you want change you’ve got to stick with it” which is definitely a phrase most owners in the Premier League do not believe in.
Enjoy your football this weekend whether you are playing, attending a game or watching on TV.
