Eight speaking factors because the Premier League returns, that includes Ange Postecoglou’s stubbornness, a Brighton winger out to make some extent towards his outdated employers, and a crunch interval for Arne Slot.
Eight speaking factors forward of the Premier League weekend
Will Postecoglou change his tune?
Ange Postecoglou’s face painted an image after Tottenham’s collapse at Brighton earlier than the break. Cruising at half-time with a two-goal lead, Spurs capitulated after the interval to lose on the south coast.
It introduced their five-game successful run to a thudding finish and once more raised query marks over Postecoglou’s philosophy. The Australian’s adventurous soccer has made him in style in North London, although the Spurs supporters are growing in frustration at its naivety. Individually, Spurs have a backline able to shutting up store when required, however the supervisor’s mantra goes towards that plan. The highest groups, nevertheless, know when to take action.
Ange Postecoglou’s soccer beliefs are gospel
‘I didn’t get right here by doing what everybody else is doing.’
Watch the complete interview https://t.co/R5P0INL9ev pic.twitter.com/JVgdFpvq1K
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) October 16, 2024
Spurs don’t need to be remembered as entertainers who received nothing. Enjoyable however flawed, modifications have to be made to show a gifted workforce into rivals.
A Craven Cottage cracker?
Fulham host Aston Villa this weekend in what guarantees to be an excellent contest. The house facet sit on the fringes of the European race as issues stand and carried out admirably in defeat at Manchester Metropolis final day out. Marco Silva’s facet created a list of probabilities, with Adama Traore responsible of lacking their finest as Fulham received the xG battle (2.6 xG to Metropolis’s 1.57 xG) however finally misplaced the struggle.
Their performances this season have sparked hopes of a push for Europe and this weekend brings the go to of a workforce who upset the chances in 2023/24. Aston Villa are competing within the Champions League this season after an sudden top-four end final day out.
For Fulham, this recreation represents a benchmark of their stage and the possibility to ship a press release.
Minteh out to make Magpies factors
Yankuba Minteh discovered himself compelled out at Newcastle in the summertime. The Gambian by no means made an look for the Magpies, having been loaned out to Feyenoord final season after signing from Odense. An encouraging Eredivisie marketing campaign, alongside Newcastle’s must ease their PSR issues, noticed Minteh bought to Brighton in a £33m summer time deal.
It’s a switch that has pissed off followers at St James’ Park, given Newcastle’s must signal a winger and Minteh’s clear potential. The 20-year-old scored his first Brighton purpose within the win over Spurs earlier than the worldwide break and ranks seventh within the Premier League for carries into the penalty space, regardless of beginning simply 5 of Brighton’s seven video games. He might be out to make some extent on his first return to the North East.
Ndidi remodeled after tactical tweak
Wilfred Ndidi appears to be like again to his finest in a Leicester shirt this season. The Nigerian’s inventory had fallen since his early emergence within the Premier League, the place his prolific ball-winning prompted hyperlinks to Europe’s elite.
After relegation and promotion, he turned down the possibility to go away Leicester in the summertime to signal a brand new cope with the Foxes. Beneath new head coach Steve Cooper, he’s been a key a part of their performances this season.
Ndidi leads the Premier League for tackles (28), whereas his transfer to a extra superior position has introduced reward for Leicester. The 27-year-old has 4 assists in seven Premier League video games, as many as he managed throughout his earlier three top-flight campaigns mixed. Solely Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer have managed extra this season.
Wilfred Ndidi has made extra tackles than every other participant within the Premier League this season.
Whereas solely Bukayo Saka (7) and Cole Palmer (5) have extra assists than the Nigerian (4). pic.twitter.com/16wAbYrhLB
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 10, 2024
Winnable video games for winless promoted pair
4 groups stay and not using a win as we return from October’s worldwide break. For Southampton, Ipswich, Crystal Palace and Wolves, it’s been a torrid begin to the marketing campaign.
This weekend affords encouragement for a few of these sides, nevertheless, with newly promoted Southampton and Ipswich going through six-pointers on dwelling soil. The Saints host fellow promoted outfit Leicester, whereas Ipswich entertain Everton at Portman Street.
Ipswich have misplaced simply considered one of their final 5, however 4 attracts throughout that run has left them hovering simply above the relegation locations.
Arising within the #PremierLeague. pic.twitter.com/UMejZjcZkp
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) October 17, 2024
For Southampton, the bottom scorers within the Premier League, objectives have been an issue. Russel Martin’s workforce will even need to banish reminiscences of final season’s conferences with Leicester, every of which led to heavy Championship defeats.
Manchester United watch out for Brentford begins
Erik ten Hag is aware of outcomes want to show round shortly at Manchester United. Attracts with Porto and Aston Villa have handed the Dutchman a keep of execution, following the membership’s worst-ever begin to a Premier League marketing campaign.
United return to Previous Trafford this weekend towards Brentford, needing a optimistic end result after consecutive dwelling defeats within the Premier League. One other towards Thomas Frank’s facet might spell hassle for Ten Hag.
Brentford have scored inside the primary two minutes of their final 4 Premier League video games, changing into the primary workforce to attain three consecutive first-minute objectives, earlier than a relatively sluggish begin noticed the Bees sting Wolves after 76 seconds final day out.
Manchester United, in the meantime, haven’t picked up a single level from a shedding place this season. Ten Hag is aware of his workforce can’t afford to start out slowly, because the strain mounts on his place.
Issues more likely to worsen for Wolves…
Gary O’Neil definitely received’t be writing off this weekend, however a house date with Manchester Metropolis hardly screams a primary win of the season for Wolves.
Backside of the desk with a single level from seven video games, Wolves conceded 5 occasions throughout defeat at Brentford earlier than the worldwide break. Subsequent up is a date with the Premier League champions and though Wolves received this fixture final season, few are expectant.
Final season’s 2-1 win was largely impressed by the now-departed Pedro Neto, whereas the Residents come into this contest unbeaten this season. Pep Guardiola’s workforce have received seven of their final eight video games towards Wolves, scoring 25 objectives within the course of.
Slot begin begins to toughen up
Arne Slot has had a dream begin at Liverpool with 9 wins from 10 video games, the most effective begin of any supervisor within the membership’s historical past. The caveat is that Liverpool have, statistically, had the simplest begin to the season of any Premier League facet.
Nottingham Forest apart, the league leaders have overwhelmed what’s in entrance of them and have performed so nicely, however the actual problem begins now. A resurgent Chelsea are the guests to Anfield on Sunday, as considered one of English soccer’s nice fashionable rivalries begins a brand new chapter below new head coaches.
“The easiest way to evaluate us is in 4 weeks”
Arne Slot insists his Liverpool facet shouldn’t be judged on their upcoming robust week of fixtures, no matter the outcomes they decide up pic.twitter.com/ma5BWZTetl
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 18, 2024
Chelsea sit fourth and are unbeaten for the reason that opening weekend, whereas the Blues have been irritating opponents for Liverpool of late. Eight of the final 9 conferences between the groups in all competitions have ended stage after 90 minutes. With RB Leipzig and Arsenal to observe over the following week, we’ll get a more true reflection of Slot’s facet after the upcoming schedule.
Learn – Probably the most stunning stats from the Premier League season up to now
See extra – The groups with probably the most clear sheets within the Premier League this season
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