Can banning ketchup really improve a footballer’s level of performance? September 26, 2018 Manager Maurizio Sarri has already made an impression on his new Chelsea team. They have won five of their opening six Premier League matches, and his philosophy of moving the ball quickly and intensive pressing – dubbed “Sarriball” – has led to the west London club making more passes than any other team in [...]
Manchester United posts record revenue, but performances hurt income September 25, 2018 Manchester United posted record revenue of £590m for its full year today, receiving a £10m boost to its broadcasting income after finishing second in the Premier League last season. But broadcasting revenue dropped in the fourth quarter after the team was knocked out of the Champions League by Sevilla in the round of 16 as the team's [...]
Trevor Steven: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp should resist wholesale changes against Chelsea in Carabao Cup September 25, 2018 Maurizio Sarri may have given us a clue as to how he will approach Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool when he remarked at the weekend that his Chelsea team were at least a year behind the Reds. Although the Italian has started very well in west London, neither Chelsea nor any other Premier League [...]
Arsenal make it five wins in a row with victory over Everton, but Unai Emery’s Gunners remain an enigma September 23, 2018 Unai Emery isn’t the easiest Premier League manager to understand and his Arsenal team are also likely to prompt outbreaks of head-scratching. To give the Spaniard his due, Emery’s English is vastly improved since his arrival in May and he now seems able to express himself with clarity and fluency. His team, on the [...]
Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend: Chelsea stumble, Palace home woes, Klopp in denial, Spurs scrape win, Burnley off the mark September 23, 2018 1. Chelsea stumble at last Chelsea’s perfect start to life under Maurizio Sarri was always going to be tested once they started their Europa League campaign and so it proved on Sunday at West Ham. Less than 72 hours after their win over PAOK in Greece, the Blues – featuring six of the same [...]
Burnley v Bournemouth: Eddie Howe looks to overtake Sean Dyche as familiar opponents renew acquaintances September 20, 2018 Burnley’s home match against Bournemouth may not jump out as the most appetising in the Premier League this weekend, but look beyond the facade and an interesting sub-plot appears. The clash at Turf Moor sees two of the smallest, most unfancied, yet well-run and over-achieving clubs in the top flight go head to head. Both are [...]
Burnley v Bournemouth: Eddie Howe looks to overtake Sean Dyche as familiar opponents renew acquaintances September 20, 2018 Burnley’s home match against Bournemouth may not jump out as the most appetising in the Premier League this weekend, but look beyond the facade and an interesting sub-plot appears. The clash at Turf Moor sees two of the smallest, most unfancied, yet well-run and over-achieving clubs in the top flight go head to head. Both are [...]
Manchester City’s loss to Lyon exposed some nagging problems and should be a wake-up call September 20, 2018 The 2018-19 season has long been earmarked as Manchester City’s big push for the Champions League. Pep Guardiola has had two years and three summer transfer windows to mould a squad capable of toppling the continent’s heavyweights and the manner of last term’s runaway Premier League triumph pointed to a team ready to challenge on [...]
Manchester City’s loss to Lyon exposed some nagging problems and should be a wake-up call September 20, 2018 The 2018-19 season has long been earmarked as Manchester City’s big push for the Champions League. Pep Guardiola has had two years and three summer transfer windows to mould a squad capable of toppling the continent’s heavyweights and the manner of last term’s runaway Premier League triumph pointed to a team ready to challenge on [...]
How will Chelsea and Arsenal approach the Europa League this season? September 19, 2018 When Eden Hazard signed for Chelsea six years ago, ending a year-long chase for his signature between some of Europe’s biggest clubs, he revealed his choice on Twitter, writing “I’m signing for the champion’s league winner [sic]”. Chelsea’s aspirations have shifted since that triumphant night in Berlin and despite Hazard winning five major trophies and [...]