Trevor Steven: Iran showed why England will need back three later in this World Cup November 22, 2022 While England have made an almost perfect start to the World Cup, Argentina put in the sort of performance in their defeat to Saudi Arabia that we had dreaded from the Three Lions. Herve Renard and the Saudis got their tactics absolutely right, using a high line to suffocate Argentina and expose them as one-dimensional [...]
Trevor Steven: Why England are among my four contenders for Qatar 2022 World Cup November 17, 2022 This World Cup is unique in its location and winter scheduling so I do wonder how real it felt for the England players arriving at their Al Wakrah camp this week, but the Qatar 2022 wallchart now blu-tacked to my fridge tells me it is definitely happening. I’m a little less excited for the tournament [...]
Trevor Steven: Leaving Maddison out of England World Cup squad would be mistake November 9, 2022 I’m hoping that James Maddison is among the 26 names when Gareth Southgate announces his England squad for the World Cup on Thursday. Maddison is at the peak of his powers and is, in my view, the country’s most in-form midfielder at the moment. The Leicester man has a rare ability to find pockets of [...]
Trevor Steven: Eddie Howe can lead Newcastle back into Champions League November 1, 2022 Next week marks a year since Eddie Howe took over as Newcastle United manager and what has happened since is bordering on the miraculous. When he arrived the Magpies were second bottom of the Premier League. Now they are fourth and have given themselves a chance of Champions League qualification. The only way you could [...]
Trevor Steven: Arsenal have a winning mentality so why can’t they challenge for the title? October 17, 2022 Everybody has been waiting for Arsenal to show the soft underbelly that has been exposed in previous seasons, but so far it hasn’t happened. On Sunday they went to a Leeds team desperate for three points and got the job done because everyone from the goalkeeper to the forwards did their bit. Thanks also to [...]
Trevor Steven: Liverpool are defending too deep and it has cost them any title chance October 11, 2022 For so long a team who overwhelmed their opponents, Liverpool have become strangely hesitant and disconnected this season. Against Arsenal on Sunday Jurgen Klopp’s side had good spells of possession and carried a goal threat but always looked stretched. Their 3-2 defeat left them 10th in the Premier League, 14 points off the top of [...]
Trevor Steven: Anticipation is what makes Erling Haaland a goalscoring machine September 1, 2022 I can’t remember anyone beginning life in the Premier League as well as Erling Haaland, who made it back-to-back hat-tricks and nine goals in five games for Manchester City in midweek. Plenty of people will have been waiting for him to fail and burst the hype that has long surrounded him. Instead he has stunned [...]
Trevor Steven: Eddie Howe and Newcastle can gatecrash the Premier League’s top six August 22, 2022 Pep Guardiola’s reaction to his Manchester City team dropping points on Sunday spoke volumes about the great strides Newcastle United have made. Far from being upset or concerned by the end of his team’s 100 per cent start to their Premier League title defence, Guardiola instead could only praise the Magpies. The City boss might [...]
Trevor Steven: Manchester United must use transfer window to fix serious problems August 11, 2022 The Premier League season may have started but the transfer window remains open until the end of the month – and Manchester United have already shown that they have the greatest need of the top teams to make use of the market. Sunday’s home defeat to Brighton in their opening game served up the familiar [...]
Trevor Steven’s Premier League preview: Big seasons in store for Liverpool and Tottenham August 5, 2022 It pains me to write this as a former Evertonian, but I think it could be Liverpool’s year again in the Premier League – although they and Manchester City will find Tottenham Hotspur snapping at their heels. Most of the big clubs have been quick to strengthen ahead of the new season, making early signings [...]