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Salah sizes up new-look Palace defence
Liverpool haven’t misplaced at Selhurst Park since November 2014 when Dwight Gayle opened the scoring in a 3-1 win for a aspect then managed by Neil Warnock. However having seen their title problem waver final season after shedding at Anfield in April to a objective from Eberechi Eze, Arne Slot can be cautious of going through a Crystal Palace group that has but to document a victory within the Premier League this season. Recent from his sensible objective towards Bologna within the Champions League, Mohamed Salah can be licking his lips on the prospect of going through a new-look Palace defence that has not seemed convincing this season regardless of a 0-0 draw towards Manchester United of their final residence match. The Egyptian scored his two hundredth Liverpool objective towards them in December to take his tally to eight in simply 11 appearances, to not point out seven assists. Ed Aarons
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Havertz aiming for Van Persie’s document
At the very least Kai Havertz is sincere. “It’s a pleasant feeling however it could be even nicer if I can do it with Arsenal and it could imply much more,” mentioned the Germany ahead when requested about profitable the Champions League throughout his stint at Chelsea. After his objective towards Paris Saint-Germain in midweek arrange a cushty win, Havertz has the proper alternative to match Robin van Persie’s document of scoring in seven successive video games on the Emirates Stadium when Arsenal face struggling Southampton on Saturday. His burgeoning partnership with Leandro Trossard has made up for the absence of Martin Ødegaard in current weeks as Mikel Arteta’s group have proven their adaptability throughout a testing run of fixtures at residence and in Europe. EA
3
O’Neil finds himself in one other dogfight
Wolves’s rock-bottom begin to the season could be seen in each a optimistic and unfavourable mild. The sight of an aghast Gary O’Neil has develop into a meme however, past the outcomes, his group have usually performed effectively. Even within the 6-2 defeat to Chelsea, Wolves entered the break degree at 2-2 having been the higher and extra harmful group. After that – and right here’s the place the negatives begin – the person errors started to multiply. An identical sample adopted towards Liverpool final Sunday. The league leaders escaped Molineux with no little reduction, grateful that Nélson Semedo pulled down Diogo Jota within the field straight after Rayan Aït-Nouri’s well-earned equaliser. O’Neil’s repute was gained in pulling Bournemouth after which Wolves from relegation dogfights however he’s now making an attempt to refine his strategy. His present group, shorn of Max Kilman and Pedro Neto, attempt to play the ball out from defence. It’s there the repeated errors have been made. Would a extra direct strategy work towards Brentford? Thomas Frank’s group repeatedly enjoyment of urgent excessive to select dallying defenders’ pockets. John Brewin
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Hermansen wants assist in Foxes objective
After they let Everton shoot 17 instances at objective a fortnight in the past, Leicester allowed 36 pictures to rain down on their goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, on the Emirates final week. Sure, it was away at title-contending Arsenal, sure, the guests almost clinched an unlikely level regardless, however Steve Cooper’s winless aspect should guarantee this isn’t a blueprint for his or her season. “I need to admit, it was a bit an excessive amount of,” mentioned Hermansen after the Arsenal defeat. “Irrespective of who you play, [36 shots] is just too a lot. We’ve got to have a look at what we will enhance and attempt to do higher for the longer term.” As they welcome Bournemouth, and the red-hot Antoine Semenyo specifically, this weekend, they have to tighten up. The match kicks off a significant interval for Leicester, who additionally face Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich within the subsequent month. Dominic Sales space
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Who subsequent within the Rodri function?
To fill the Rodri void Pep Guardiola has thus far chosen Nico O’Reilly, within the Carabao Cup versus Watford, and the double pivots of Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic (Premier League, Newcastle) and Ilkay Gündogan and Matheus Nunes (Champions League, Slovan Bratislava). For Fulham’s go to we are going to see half 4 of the supervisor’s resolution to the one place for which he has did not discover a pure high-class deputy. Maybe John Stones will get the possibility he declared being “100% prepared” to take ought to his supervisor so select, although entering into midfield from defence when in possession is a special sport to being Guardiola’s on-field common, which he’s when enjoying at No 6. Phil Foden was the participant of the match in Tuesday’s 4-0 win in Bratislava in a primary begin of the marketing campaign and confirmed each comprehensible rustiness and enduring class. Not like the Rodri conundrum, Foden is as pure a playmaker as Kevin De Bruyne so, whereas the Belgian stays an harm doubt, the youthful man’s presence means no lack of high quality. Jamie Jackson
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Lopetegui should iron out Hammers points
A fourth straight residence defeat would go a substantial distance to condemning Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham regime. Adventurous, thrilling but porous Ipswich, in the meantime, search to finish their winless run since they returned to the highest division; not one of the promoted groups has secured a win. The east-end grapevine has been scorching this week with discuss of a dispute between Lopetegui and Mohammed Kudus, hooked at half-time at Brentford final week. If West Ham custom dictates aptitude gamers should be handed freedom, Lopetegui is just not such a coach. Lucas Paquetá has been equally missing in affect and utility, so too Jarrod Bowen. The Hammers have been way more efficient at Brentford as soon as Lopetegui added defensive muscle, Konstantinos Mavropanos delivering a barnstorming exhibiting at full-back. Max Kilman, the defender Lopetegui demanded his new membership signal from his former membership Wolves, nonetheless has some bedding in to do, however retains the boldness of his supervisor. Lopetegui is not going to be panicking but however the lack of aptitude in his go-to footballing type is the place long-term hassle could lie. JB
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All eyes on Gordon at outdated stomping floor
The highlight stays on Anthony Gordon not just because the pantomime villain function awaits on his return to Goodison Park. The jeers would have been a lot louder had the previous Everton winger returned within the purple of Liverpool, as was mentioned briefly this summer time. Gordon embodied the development that Eddie Howe had known as for when Newcastle produced their greatest show of the season in final weekend’s draw with Manchester Metropolis, trying fitter, urgent excessive to telling impact and, as Pep Guardiola put it, being a part of a group that was “not possible to include” for 90 minutes. And doing so in an unaccustomed centre-forward function. With Alexander Isak nonetheless uncertain for the journey to Goodison the 23-year-old could also be tasked with these duties once more towards his former membership. His impression towards an Everton defence that may once more be lacking the influential Jarrad Branthwaite via harm might show instrumental in Newcastle’s mission to construct on the Metropolis efficiency and atone for his or her final away outing at Fulham. Andy Hunter
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United go to Villa Park in want of solace
Nice terabytes of web wailing adopted Manchester United’s newest Sunday of disgrace. How you can repair the unfixable theatre of (nonetheless) damaged goals? Advert infinitum. This week has allowed them to return to locations that recall happier days within the membership’s historical past: Porto, the place they only about managed a draw, and Villa Park. On Sunday, they face Unai Emery, a supervisor who has overwhelmed them with three totally different golf equipment. Most famously, Emery’s Villarreal denied Ole Gunnar Solskjær within the 2021 Europa League last, and there was a 2-0 win for Arsenal in March 2019. His first sport in control of Villa, in November 2022, was a 3-1 victory to prelude the fantastic job he has finished since. And but, since then, whereas different opponents’ taming of United is now not surprising, Villa have misplaced their previous 4 matches to Erik ten Hag’s outfit. United’s 3-2 Boxing Day win final season, a dramatic comeback, was their first beneath the co-ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a brand new daybreak that has already light into the most recent lengthy, darkish United night time. Their 2-1 win at Villa Park in February got here by way of the now discarded rescue specialist Scott McTominay. JB
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Chelsea’s English trio can increase Carsley
Whereas criticism of Todd Boehly’s chaotic working of Chelsea was (and nonetheless is) actually not with out warrant – and reward for Enzo Maresca’s in-form group stays a tad untimely – the Blues are quick changing into one of many Premier League’s must-watch sides. A key cause for that’s the thrilling all-English attacking midfield trio that’s steadily flourishing beneath Maresca. To have Cole Palmer flanked by Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke is to boast an enviable triumvirate, blessed with a near-perfect mix of tempo, poise and unfathomable expertise. With 9 targets and 7 assists between them within the league this season, the numbers bode effectively for Boehly, in addition to for the interim England supervisor Lee Carsley. Maresca’s principal downside may very well be conserving his different attacking gamers comfortable whereas they huddle collectively on the bench. DB
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Hürzeler puzzles over defensive riddle
Affirmation that Jan Paul van Hecke is going through an prolonged interval on the sidelines was the information Brighton didn’t wish to hear after their defensive points towards Chelsea final week. The Netherlands worldwide had been known as up by Ronald Koeman for the Nations League however withdrew owing to a groin downside that will hold him out till the tip of November. Which means Fabian Hürzeler should determine whether or not to stay with Adam Webster – who was badly at fault for Cole Palmer’s first objective at Stamford Bridge – or flip to Igor to associate Lewis Dunk on the again towards Tottenham. With Ange Postecoglou’s aspect additionally famend for his or her tendency to play with a excessive line of defense, there needs to be loads of targets on the Amex. EA
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