Everton's best hope, injury to Rodri and Newcastle's new problem
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur both got over last weekend’s setbacks with home wins, while Nottingham Forest remain the surprise unbeaten side in the division after a 2-2 draw at Brighton.
The fact he is in with a chance of winning it, against all odds, say it all. As do the astonishing with and without stats. Rodri has tasted defeat, for club and country, once in 18 months – that Rodri facilitates the press, instigates most attacks and has a spatial awareness that ballroom dancers can only dream of. There is nothing Rodri cannot do. And his manager knows it.
Before Saturday, Diogo Jota had played as the central striker but was given the day off, failing even to come off the bench. Darwin Nunez started instead and did what Darwin Nunez does, and outrageous goal accompanied by a series of moments after which you want to shake him or put your arm around him or both.
Rogers was the game changer against Wolves because he was able to find spaces in congested areas. Although Rogers largely played from the left last season, he’s now a roaming second striker and looks superb in the role. His quick feet and dribbling are still evident, but it’s the decision-making that really seems to have improved quickly.
“Arsenal did an unbelievable season, but I think the difference was in here,” he said, pointing to his head.A new betting market opened in the Premier League recently, and for good reason, with Erling Haaland already the runaway leader in the race for the Golden Boot. Naturally, Jackson’s odds to finish second to Haaland shortened over the course of the match at the London Stadium, although it would take a remarkable of level of consistency from the 23-year-old to stay in front of players like Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak.
The impact is obvious. Newcastle maintained progress during their injury crisis last season because they accepted some chaos. They were 14th in the league for allowing shots, but also ranked fourth for xG behind only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Cameroon midfielder Baleba was not such a bargain buy, costing £25m in August 2023, again from Lille, who knew what to ask for when Brighton came calling by now. Like Bissouma and Caicedo, he has been a slow burner, but is now beginning to live up to his potential.
This summer changed all that because Smith Rowe is back in a Premier League starting XI and now looks as if nothing got eroded by the difficult two years in between. He already has two goals and an assist for Fulham. He’s delighting in carrying the ball forward but also playing passes between the lines for others. He’s playing with a smile on his face.
Captain Morgan Gibbs-White – already booked – flew into a challenge on Brighton’s Joao Pedro that gave referee Robert Jones a decision to make. It turned out to be a second yellow, and manager Nuno Espirito Santo was then also sent off for a tirade at fourth official Anthony Taylor, who himself had dispensed a record 14 cards at the recent Bournemouth v Chelsea match. Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler also saw red for his reaction to the initial challenge.
Confidence remains key, as its absence has plagued Spurs’ decision-making in a horror run since April. Since the 13th of that month, this was the first team they have beaten outside of the relegation zone. Had they not completed another comeback here, they risked a third defeat in five opening games not seen since the end days of Juande Ramos in 2008. That is what crisis really looks like. Spurs have averted another one, for now.After the final whistle blew on a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, second-half substitute Rashford shook hands with his opponents and headed for the sideline.
But at United, the scrutiny will keep coming too, especially if he cannot get Rashford, or any other striker, firing.It turns out Pep Guardiola was onto something when he said: “I don’t remember in eight, nine years a team that played like Brentford in the first 30 minutes”.
Since he replaced Gary O’Neil before the start of last season, Iraola has faced Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal seven times. Not only have Bournemouth lost each of those games , they have scored only twice and conceded 24 goals. They have proven themselves incapable of impressing themselves upon the best or being defensively resilient.
This is on Julen Lopetegui, whose side are lacking structure and any semblance of a gameplan. The Spaniard arrived in May, and was therefore present for the £132.5m spent in the summer window, but this has only served to destabilise a club that were desperate to move on from David Moyes and are now looking worse.
On Saturday evening, they had goalkeeper Dean Henderson to thank – who shone along with counterpart Andre Onana – with the former Manchester United shotstopper making seven saves to deny his old side time and again. That would come at the expense of either Nketiah or Jean-Philippe Mateta, who offer something different but may not be the best match when playing together.Still no win despite Saturday likely being their gentlest away assignment of the season, but Kieran McKenna will be delighted that his team have finally rediscovered their greatest strength from last season.
Dibling started by changing the game against Nottingham Forest from the bench, albeit being incapable of a one-man salvage mission. He then threatened against Manchester United before his team collapsed and was then the best player on the pitch against Ipswich. He starts from the left but constantly looks to come infield and link play with one or two-touch passes to progress play. Think Jack Grealish in his early days at Aston Villa.
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