Premier League
Salah penalty seals victory for Premier League leader Liverpool against Wolverhampton
Liverpool restored its seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win against Wolverhampton on Sunday.
But Arne Slot's team had to hold off a fightback from relegation-threatened Wolves at Anfield, which included a brilliant long-range goal from Matheus Cunha.
First-half strikes from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah secured the win for Liverpool and ensured it maintained its advantage over second-placed Arsenal.
Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target after the break as Wolves dominated the chances.
“Obviously 2-0 at halftime, we know that can be one of the most dangerous results in football. We had to come out and we had to start well – and we didn’t quite do that," said Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson. “When they scored, everyone gets nervous. The players get nervous, the crowd get nervous – of course that’s only natural. But it’s a massive win for us and another game down.”
Champions League exit awaits Real Madrid or Man City and at least 3 more former title holders
Diaz bundled the ball over the line from close range in the 15th minute to give Liverpool the lead. And Salah doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 37th after Diaz was brought down.
It was the Egypt international's 28th goal of an outstanding season and extended his current scoring streak to six straight games.
But if the home crowd was expecting a routine victory against 17th-placed Wolves, it was anything but.
Liverpool conceded a goal in stoppage time to draw 2-2 with Everton on Wednesday and was pushed again.
Cunha's drag-back and curled finish from around 20 yards (meters) in the 67th came after a sustained period of pressure from the visitors.
Before that Marshall Munetsi was denied when through on goal — it took a crucial block in front of goal from Jarell Quansah to prevent him from converting late on.
Tottenham hosts Manchester United later Sunday.
16 hours ago
Arsenal closes in on Premier League leader Liverpool after 2-1 win over Tottenham
Arsenal closed the gap on Premier League leader Liverpool to four points after a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday.
Mikel Arteta’s team took advantage of Liverpool’s draw with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, with Leandro Trossard firing the winner in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
“Everybody knows you need to win these games, the fans are buzzing and it’s a great night for us,” Trossard said. “It’s an amazing feeling, especially to get the winner as well, it had to come and now we need to look forward.”
Arsenal was runner-up to Manchester City in the last two seasons and is in contention for the title again this year. But it was given a fright by Spurs when Son Heung-min opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute.
A Dominic Solanke own goal when trying to defend a corner leveled the game in the 40th and Trossard struck low from just inside the box four minutes later to put Arsenal ahead.
Liverpool still has a game in hand on second-place Arsenal but has dropped points by drawing its last two league matches and is on a run of just one win in four in all competitions. That was against fourth-division Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
Arsenal bounced back quickly after the disappointment of being knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United on penalties and opened up a two-point lead over Forest in third.
“Less than 72 hours ago we played 120 minutes in another competition that we went out of — that is not easy psychologically. So the way we performed and played today was exceptional,” Arteta said.
Tottenham has won just one of its last nine games in the league.
Read: Juventus the draw specialists, Milan the comeback kings
“The losses hurt me but they aren’t acceptable. We have had too many losses this year and too many games that have got away from us. That needs to stop,” head coach Ange Postecoglou said.
Isak on target again
Alexander Isak scored for the eighth straight league game to propel Newcastle into the top four.
The Sweden international struck twice in a 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton to take his season total to 17 in all competitions. He became the fourth player to score in eight consecutive games in the Premier League, following Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.
Vardy scored a league record 11-straight games.
“Like most strikers, Isak wants to practice his finishing. It is an art form. He is there after training every day trying to do more,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.
Isak's form has pushed Newcastle into Champions League contention. He's scored 12 in his last 10 games in all competitions and Newcastle is on a nine-match winning streak.
Isak opened the scoring in the 34th against relegation-threatened Wolverhampton at St James' Park. He got his second in the 57th and Anthony maintained his own scoring form with his fourth goal in successive games.
Howe's team is now one point ahead of fifth-place Chelsea.
Unhappy homecoming for Moyes
David Moyes' return to Everton didn't get off to the start he wanted after a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
In his second spell at the Merseyside club, Moyes took charge of his 519th game as Everton manager and was welcomed by the Goodison Park crowd.
But he couldn't inspire his relegation-threatened team to victory as Ollie Watkins' goal six minutes into the second half sealed Villa's win.
Everton is 16th in the standings and a point above the bottom three.
Moyes' immediate priority is to find goals from somewhere. Everton has failed to score in nine of its last 11 league games.
Leicester slumping
The hiring of Ruud van Nistelrooy hasn't paid off for Leicester yet.
A 2-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace leaves the 2016 champion second from bottom of the standings and without a league win since Van Nistelrooy's first game in charge at the start of December.
Read more: Christian Pulisic limps out of AC Milan match sparking new injury fears
It's now six straight defeats in the league, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guehi scoring for Palace in the second half at the King Power Stadium.
“Six without a win is not good enough. You can’t keep talking about performances. We need to win and that needs to happen soon,” Van Nistelrooy said.
United drops
Manchester United doesn't play until Thursday, but Palace's win saw the record 20-time champion slip to 15th in the standings.
Ruben Amorim's team plays last-place Southampton at Old Trafford.
1 month ago
Haaland scores again as City beat Wolves 3-0 to go top
Erling Haaland added a strike from outside the area to his repertoire of goals since joining Manchester City in a 3-0 win at 10-man Wolverhampton in the Premier League Saturday.
City had already taken the lead through Jack Grealish after 55 seconds at Molineux when Haaland picked up the ball 40 meters out, drove toward the penalty box and shot right-footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in the 16th minute.
It was Haaland's 11th goal in seven league games since his offseason arrival from Borussia Dortmund – with the majority coming from right in front of goal.
Wolverhampton's already-slim chances virtually ended when centre back Nathan Collins was shown a straight red card for a chest-high lunge on Grealish in the 33rd.
Read: Erling Haaland Transfer: Five Interesting Facts About Manchester City's New Signing
Phil Foden swept in a right-wing cross from Kevin De Bruyne, who provided a similar assist for Grealish's goal, in the 69th minute to round off a win that took City above Arsenal into first place – at least overnight.
City have scored 23 goals in the first seven matches of its title defence – comfortably more than any other team – and Haaland has almost half of them.
2 years ago
Premier League pays tribute to Queen, postpones weekend's fixtures
The Premier League postponed its upcoming round of matches as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, adding to the cancellation of high-profile golf, cricket and horse racing events across a mourning Britain on Friday.
England's top-flight soccer clubs held a meeting on Friday and said they wanted to “pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.”
“This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her," Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said, “and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.”
The English Football League — the three divisions below the Premier League — also called off their games scheduled for the weekend. The Women's Super League was due to start its season this weekend but has canceled its games, too.
The British government said it was at the discretion of individual sporting organizations whether fixtures went ahead following the death of the queen on Thursday at the age of 96.
British sport essentially shut down on Friday, but could be up and running in some cases on Saturday.
The BMW PGA Championship, the flagship event on the European tour, was paused near the end of the first round Thursday following the announcement of the queen’s death — there were still 30 players out on the course — and there will be no play Friday.
“We remain hopeful of restarting at some stage over the weekend,” the tour said Friday in a statement, adding that it would be aligning with the decisions made by other sporting events in Britain.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has already announced that there would be no play on Friday in the third and deciding test between England and South Africa at the Oval. There was no immediate update on whether play would resume over the weekend.
An extra day might be added to the test, which started Thursday, though that would require the touring South Africans extending their stay in England.
Read: British sports hold day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II
Other events called off included cycling’s Tour of Britain, which also canceled the final two stages of the race scheduled for the weekend, and the third day of horse racing’s St. Leger festival in Doncaster. The St. Leger, one of British racing's classics, will now take place on Sunday, organizers said Friday.
Horse racing was the queen’s favorite sport.
While Friday's matches in England's top rugby division were canceled, those scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will go ahead as planned.
Soccer matches in the English Football League and in the Scottish lower league scheduled for Friday had already been postponed while matches scheduled to be played in Northern Ireland over the weekend were also canceled.
The Premier League said further updates regarding its fixtures during the period of mourning, which has begun in Britain, will be provided “in due course.”
Organizations are having to weigh up factors such as whether holding matches would use up police resources, the desire of broadcasters and the mood of the public.
There is little room in the schedule of this World Cup-affected season to fit in postponed fixtures.
The government said sporting organizations “might wish to consider canceling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral.
2 years ago
Man City clinch 6th Premier League title in 11 seasons
Manchester City clinched a sixth Premier League title in 11 seasons Sunday by scoring three times in five minutes to come from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in the finale to avoid being toppled by challenger Liverpool.
City was trailing 2-0 to Villa until İlkay Gündoğan began the comeback in the 76th minute. Rodri equalised two minutes later and Gündoğan put City in front in the 81st.
At one point even when City were losing, it was still set to defend the title as Liverpool were only drawing 1-1 to Wolverhampton. But Mohamed Salah then put the second-place side in front in the 84th minute, which would have taken Liverpool into first place had City not mounted their fightback at the Etihad Stadium. Andy Robertson then sealed Liverpool's 3-1 win.
Had City conceded a late equaliser, Liverpool would have snatched the trophy away but Pep Guardiola's side held on for the win in a thrilling climax.
Guardiola's defence of the trophy was secured on the final day in a more jittery way than expected when City briefly had a 14-point lead in January.
City's fourth championship success in five seasons produced a first for Guardiola. It is the first time City have sealed the title in front of their fans who spilled onto the field in their thousands at the final whistle against Villa.
Although it went down to the wire, this one came without any of the anguish of 10 years ago when City's first Premier League title was only clinched in the final minutes of the season.
That success, which produced City's first championship crown in 44 years – with Roberto Mancini as manager – ushered in the era of dominance enjoyed by a club transformed by the influx of investment from Abu Dhabi.
City are now enjoying the steady stream of titles they once had to watch crosstown rival United sweep up under Alex Ferguson. The rise of City has coincided with the retirement of the Scot – who won the Premier League 13 times from 1993 to 2013 – and the decline of Manchester United.
READ: English Premier League 2021-2022: Scenarios for Championship, Top Four, and Relegation
The teams entered the final round Sunday with City 32 points ahead of United and with Liverpool the greater threat to Guardiola's side. In the last five seasons, the only time City did not win the trophy was when Liverpool's 30-year title drought ended in 2020.
But it will be another season ending with City unable to win the biggest prize in European football – the Champions League – while Liverpool will be contesting the final against Real Madrid on May 28.
While Liverpool's net spending on transfers has been around $250 million in the last five years, City's has been more than $530 million.
City's financial might was not enough to convince Tottenham to sell Harry Kane ahead of this season, leaving Guardiola to achieve this title without a recognisable striker. Yet, City were able to break the British transfer record to sign Jack Grealish for 100 million pounds ($139 million) even though the midfielder only started sparingly.
City have already reinforced their attack for next season, with a deal clinched with Borussia Dortmund to sign Erling Haaland for 60 million euros ($63 million), adding one of Europe's most exciting young forwards into the squad.
2 years ago
Premier League disqualifies Abramovich from running Chelsea
The Premier League on Saturday disqualified Roman Abramovich from running Chelsea after the club owner was sanctioned by the British government over Russia's war on Ukraine.
Also read: Chelsea feels effects of sanctions imposed on Abramovich
The announcement that Abramovich had been disqualified from being a club director was made by the league's board.
“The board’s decision does not impact on the club’s ability to train and play its fixtures, as set out under the terms of a licence issued by the Government which expires on 31 May 2022,” the league said.
Also read: UK sanctions Russians, including Abramovich
The Russian oligarch has owned Chelsea since 2003.
2 years ago
Man Utd vs. Man City: Match Preview, Team News, Lineups
Manchester United will face arch-rival Manchester City in a crucial Premier League encounter on Saturday (November 6) at 6.30 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). This derby match is generating a lot of excitement, as both teams are determined to prove who the best in Manchester is.
United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær is under pressure to deliver well in big matches, while Pep Guardiola's side will be looking to close the gap on league leader Chelsea. Let's take a look at the match preview of Man Utd vs. Man City.
Probable Team Lineups: Man Utd vs. Man City
Manchester United have a number of injury concerns, notably on the backline that must be addressed. Otherwise, City's superb offensive line will frighten their defense.
Read: Bangladesh Football team leaves Dhaka for Sri Lanka
Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane will miss the match due to injuries, while Paul Pogba is suspended. Aside from that, all Man United players are available for selection.
Probable Starting XI (Manchester United):
David de Gea (GK); Eric Bailly, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw; Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Bruno Fernandes; Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo
Like the other side of Manchester, Pep Guardiola's team has a problem in defense. The team's first-choice right-back Kyle Walker is doubtful due to injury. Therefore, they must rearrange their ideal formation.
On the other hand, Manchester City have enough talent in the team to replace him. The central defender Aymeric Laporte is suspended and will miss this match, while Ferran Torres is still recovering from an injury.
Read: Neymar Jr. Philanthropy: Famous Brazilian Footballer's Inspiring Charitable Work
Probable Starting XI (Manchester City):
Ederson Moraes (GK); Rúben Dias, John Stones, João Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, İlkay Gündoğan; Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus
Head-to-Head: Manchester United vs. Manchester City
Both teams have faced each other 48 times in the Premier League, with Manchester United dominating the rivalry 24 to 15. United have scored 70 goals against the Citizens in the Premier League, while City have scored 61 goals against them. Man United have 18 clean sheets compared to Man City's ten clean sheets. Manchester City have won seven away (at Old Trafford) league matches (joint-most with Liverpool) against Manchester United.
Both clubs have played each other in a total of 185 matches across all competitions. Manchester United have the most victories with 77. Manchester City have won 55 games, with the remaining 53 games ending in a draw. Wayne Rooney (11 goals), Jose Hayes (10 goals), Francis Lee (10 goals), Sergio Aguero (9), and Bobby Charlton (9) are the top five goal scorers in Manchester derby.
Match Prediction: Man Utd vs. Man City
Manchester City will be favorites in this fixture despite not having won a Premier League match against Manchester United since April 2019. The Red Devils have a chance in this match if they play to their full potential.
Read: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo: Who made the strongest start with the new clubs?
Pep Guardiola has plenty of offensive options at his disposal. He can choose to go all-in against the home team. The best formation for Man City would be a 4-3-3 with Gabriel Jesus as the lone striker.
On the other hand, Manchester United will be satisfied with a draw. An open play could be expected if Man City scored early in the game. They can use a 4-4-2 system or adapt to a 3-4-1-2 formation to strengthen the defense and midfield. United's key objective would be to contain the City's attacks and fight for at least a single point until the final whistle.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Manchester United
Verdict
Based on the recent form and squad strength, Manchester City are the favourites in the Man Utd vs. Man City fixture. Manchester United haven't been consistent this season albeit winning some close moments thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's individual brilliance. Particularly, they have struggled against tougher opponents, indicating that this squad isn't strong enough to defeat big teams.
Read: Ballon d'Or 2021: Meet the Nominees
On the other side, the reigning Premier League champion Manchester City are one of the favourites in this season. The Citizens will surely put up a good fight against the Red Devils. Overall, this Manchester derby promises to be a thrilling match.
3 years ago
Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo: Who made the strongest start with the new clubs?
Following the news that Lionel Messi would be leaving Barcelona after 21 years, all of Europe's big teams contacted his representative to make inquiries about signing him. He ended up signing a three-year contract with PSG. On the other side, Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave Juventus for a new challenge after Messi's surprising move to Paris Saint-Germain. He was finally signed by Manchester United in the summer 2021 transfer deadline. Let's take a look at how Messi and Ronaldo have performed so far this season for their respective clubs.
Lionel Messi's Season up to this point for PSG
Lionel Messi picked no. 30 as his PSG jersey number, the same number he wore for FC Barcelona when he made his senior debut in 2004. Messi made his PSG debut on August 29 against Reims in Ligue 1 after an almost three-week wait. He was brought on as a substitute in the second half. Leo made his home debut against Olympic Lyon On September 19, and on September 15, he made his UEFA Champions League debut against Club Brugge.
Read AFC U-23 Asian Cup: Bangladesh suffer 0-6 defeat against Uzbekistan
Messi had to wait a month for PSG to score his first goal. He scored his debut goal against Manchester City at Parc des Princes on September 28. Messi made his customary run into the opposition half, played a one-two with Kylian Mbappe, and then blasted a superb finish to the top left corner. Lionel Messi has appeared in eight matches and scored three goals as of October 31. Mauricio Pochettino is trying to adjust his formation to get the best out of Messi, who has yet to show his true potential with Paris Saint-Germain.
Cristiano Ronaldo's performance in Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo has been given the iconic number 7 shirt to wear in his second stint at Manchester United. Ronaldo played his first game of the season against Newcastle United on September 11. He scored a brace in his debut match. Cristiano scored a late winner in a vital UEFA Champions League group stage match against Villarreal on September 29. Manchester United won the contest by 2-1. He also came out as a rescue for the Red Devils in their most recent Champions League match against Atalanta. His 83rd-minute header secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Atalanta.
Read Who can replace coach Ronald Koeman at FC Barcelona?
Cristiano Ronaldo has now more focus on scoring goals, that’s why he has become a penalty box forward over the last three seasons. Overall, he has scored 7 goals in 10 appearances for Manchester United thus far. Ronaldo is manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's main striker, and so far he has done a good job as no.9.
Way Forward
The football world was shocked when Lionel Messi signed a contract with PSG in the last summer transfer window. However, his performance for Paris Saint-Germain hasn't been up to the mark so far. The diminutive Argentine has struggled to adjust to the new system, and experts think he will require more time to bond with his new teammates.
Read Man United humiliated: Salah hat trick in 5-0 Liverpool rout
On the other hand, the Portuguese superstar Ronaldo has enjoyed a good start with Manchester United. He has already had an impact on the team. The charismatic forward has aided Manchester United in securing a number of dramatic victories. In that perspective, Cristiano Ronaldo has gotten off to a better start with his new club than Lionel Messi.
3 years ago
Premier League club Newcastle bought by Saudi sovereign fund
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund completed a buyout of Premier League club Newcastle on Thursday, giving hope to fans dreaming of a first title in almost a century but concerning human rights activists that the kingdom had gained a foothold in the world's richest soccer league.
Supporters descended on the club's St. James' Park stadium, some chanting "we are Saudis, we do what we want" and others singing "we've got our club back" amid the promise of long-desired investment.
The 300-million-pound ($409 million) takeover had been pursued since 2017 but stalled and then collapsed last year over concerns about how much control the Saudi state would have in the running of Newcastle amid scrutiny over piracy of sports broadcasts and human rights violations in the kingdom.
It led to a protracted legal fight that only ended this week when the Public Investment Fund offered assurances to the Premier League that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and in turn the state, would not have any say in the team.
PIF has bought 80% of the club — which is in the relegation zone after seven matches — with the wealthy British-based Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners owning the rest.
"The big change was the control issue," Staveley told The Associated Press. "We needed to demonstrate there was sufficient separation between PIF and the Saudi state, and that has been determined that there is."
But while the crown prince will not have a place on Newcastle's board of directors, he remains chairman of the PIF. The fund's governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will be on the board at the northeast English club as non-executive chairman.
"The crown prince is chairman of a lot of entities in Saudi," said Staveley, who will also be on the club's board. "PIF is very much an autonomous, commercially driven investment fund, and it does not operate as part of the wider state. So there is that separation."
The Premier League's approval of the new owners and directors means 15 of its clubs are either owned or part-owned by overseas investors.
"All parties have agreed the settlement is necessary to end the long uncertainty for fans over the club's ownership," the league said in a statement. "The Premier League has now received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club."
The takeover ends the 14-year ownership by British retail tycoon Mike Ashley, who has been widely viewed as a figure of scorn in the one-club city.
His ownership has been marked by chronic underinvestment in the playing squad, his use of Newcastle as a vehicle to promote his business interests, and of a general lack of ambition despite the club attracting regular home crowds of more than 50,000.
Newcastle has not won a major trophy since the 1955 FA Cup and its last league title was in 1927.
"Newcastle is like a magical, very beautiful, rough diamond," Staveley said in a telephone interview. "But it needs some nurturing and polishing. But it's a star."
With no wins and only three points from seven games, the poor start to the season means the future of manager Steve Bruce will be assessed before the next game next week — at home to Tottenham on Oct. 17 — after the international break.
The club will be seeking a transformation in the same manner enjoyed by Manchester City in 2008 after its takeover by another Middle Eastern entity — Abu Dhabi — that was also brokered by Staveley.
A key impediment to the Newcastle takeover was the pirating of sports broadcasts from Qatari-owned beIN — including of Premier League games — by an entity the World Trade Organization said was facilitated by the Saudi state. The Saudis declared beIN illegal in 2017 as they launched a wider economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar alongside the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain over accusations Doha supports extremism. The tiny, super-rich nation of Qatar denied the charge and the boycott ended this year.
The Premier League was among the sports organizations that protested against the pirating of its games by the renegade beOutQ operation.
Saudi Arabia is expected to soon lift its ban on beIN, but Staveley said that wasn't what ended the impasse over the takeover.
"The piracy — those issues had been resolved," Staveley said. "This debate was just about control for us."
Newcastle was challenging the Premier League's decision not to approve the takeover at a Competition Appeals Tribunal whose latest hearing was last week.
But there was a lingering ethical dimension to whether PIF was approved as owners. Amnesty International wrote to league chief executive Richard Masters last year to say the takeover could be exploited by Saudi Arabia to cover up "deeply immoral" breaches of international law, citing human rights violations and the role of the crown prince.
Amnesty raised concerns with Masters about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul after U.S. intelligence services said they believe the slaying came at the crown prince's orders. The kingdom has denied that.
"We can understand that this will be seen as a great day by many Newcastle United fans," Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said Thursday. "But it's also a very worrying day for anyone who cares about the ownership of English football clubs and whether these great clubs are being used to sportswash human rights abuse.
"In our assessment, this deal was always more about sportswashing than it was about football, with Saudi Arabia's aggressive move into sport as a vehicle for image-management and PR plain for all to see."
Responding to Amnesty's complaints, Staveley again tried to create a distinction between PIF and the Saudi leadership despite the funding being from the state fund.
"We understand the concerns," Staveley said. "And that is why my partner is PIF."
3 years ago
Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021: Match Preview and Prediction
Arsenal will take on Tottenham in a premier league encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (September 26). Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is yet to score in the Premier League this season. He was highly linked with Manchester City during the summer transfer window of 2021. It's unclear if this has had a significant influence on Kane's performance this season, but the Tottenham star hasn't been in his usual form. This match is crucial for both teams in their quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League 2021-2022 season. The match preview of Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021 is discussed in this article.
Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021: Probable Team Lineups
There has been no news of injuries in the Arsenal campaign. All of the squad members are available for selection. Granit Xhaka is back in the squad after a three-game suspension. As a result, Arteta is free to pick his best starting lineup for this crucial matchup.
Probable Playing XI (Arsenal):
Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB), Ben White (CB), Gabriel Magalhaes (CB), Kieran Tierney (LB), Thomas Partey (CM), Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM), Martin Odegaard (CM), Bukayo Saka (RW), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST), Emile Smith Rowe (LW)
Read: Lionel Messi is Leaving Barcelona Despite Wanting to Stay
Tottenham will be without Steven Bergwijn and Ryan Sessegnon in this encounter against Arsenal. While Brazil's Lucas Moura will be available for selection. The captain of Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane is poised to make his 250th Premier League appearance. So, this might be a historic encounter for Harry Kane.
Probable Playing XI (Tottenham):
Hugo Lloris (GK), Emerson Royal (RB), Cristian Romero (CB), Eric Dier (CB), Sergio Reguilon (LB), Tanguy Ndombele (CM), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM), Dele Alli (CM), Lucas Moura (RW), Harry Kane (ST), Son Heung-min (LW)
Read: Messi breaks down, says he wasn’t ready to leave Barcelona
Head-to-Head Contest: Arsenal vs. Tottenham
The stakes are high for two managers and neither of the team can afford to lose the match. The pressure on them will increase if things do not go their way. Two teams have met a total of 203 times, with Arsenal dominating the record with 83 wins. On the other hand, Tottenham have won 66 games and drawn 54 others.
Both sides have played each other 58 times in the Premier League. Arsenal lead the head-to-head battle with 21 victories. Tottenham have won 14 league games and drawn 23 others. Arsenal's David O'Leary has made the most appearances (35) while Tottenham's Harry Kane has scored the most goals (11) in the north London derby.
Read: Lionel Messi Contract: PSG Set to Sign Former Barcelona Forward
Prediction: Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021
Arsenal are a slight favorite to win this Sunday's (September 26) league match against Tottenham. If Spurs perform to their best ability, they will have a good chance in this encounter. Mikel Arteta has a wide range of offensive alternatives available to him. He has the capability to go all-in against their most fierce rival. If such is not the case, he may opt to play it safe and try to win the game. Arsenal's best option with the present setup will be a 4-3-3 formation.
On the other hand, Tottenham will try to play it safe at first, but they are capable of winning this fixture. Nuno Espirito Santo's team should play 4-3-3 to strengthen their offensive flank. Tottenham's primary objective would be to avoid losing the game and, if possible, to win it. It should be an exciting match to watch, starting on Sunday at 9.30 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Read Premier League 2021-2022: Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool win their respective matches
Match Prediction: Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021
Arsenal 1 – 1 Tottenham
Verdict
There are no clear favorites in the Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021 contest. Because neither club has been in terrific form in the Premier League this season. Arsenal are presently in 13th place in the table, with 6 points from five games. On the other hand, Tottenham have secured seventh place, with 9 points from six games.
Both sides have a youthful squad that includes some experienced players. Arsenal have won its last two Premier League games, while Tottenham have lost both of their previous two fixtures. In this perspective, Arsenal will be slightly ahead of Tottenham during the encounter. The Gunners will benefit from home advantage. On the other side, Spurs fans are hopeful that Harry Kane will regain his rhythm against the Gunners. This is shaping up to be a thrilling north London derby.
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3 years ago