Table of ContentsContrasting StoriesHead-to-Head Record: Liverpool DominatesKey Players to WatchTactical Battle: Attack vs. DefenseBeyond the Pitch: Fan Rivalry and AtmosphereLiverpool vs Fulham EncountersEarly Encounters and Fulham’s First Spark (1952-2001):Premier League Era: Liverpool’s Ascendance (2001-Present):Recent Battles: Mixed Fortunes and Close Calls (2019-Present):Key Statistics and...
Liverpool face a daunting test against Manchester City, Brendan Rodgers is on the brink and Southampton seek to stop the rot 1) Reds know benchmark for City showdown One “freak” result – as Jürgen Klopp put it – has transformed the mood inside Liverpool after they condemned Rangers to the joint-heaviest defeat in their history at Ibrox on Wednesday. The next, and more onerous, challenge is to...
There are huge derbies in north London and Manchester, while Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potter make their league bows 1) More at stake than usual in derby North London bragging rights are on the line this Saturday and so is the ever-delicate question of the power balance between Arsenal and Spurs. Two very different sides look evenly matched to the naked eye and both will know the added...
Jack Grealish can still be key for City, Newcastle look lost in transition and Leicester search for positives1) Grealish still has time to shine at City Pep Guardiola’s love of tricksy ball-players is well-known – he once spent more than £30m on Cesc Fábregas when Barcelona already had perhaps the greatest midfield of all time. Similarly, adding Jack Grealish to a Manchester City squad already...
On Friday Premier League clubs were forced to decide whether to compensate casual workers expecting to be paid at their stadiums over the next three days as they began donating food bought for their postponed home matches. The Guardian established that Manchester City would pay all their casual staff – more than 1,000 – and that Fulham would pay the casual matchday staff they directly employ. Of...
Premier League clubs are fearful of losing further fixtures next weekend due to policing and logistical issues after deciding to postpone the entire programme this weekend as a mark of respect to the Queen. The clubs met in London on Friday morning and heard the league’s board unanimously recommend the postponement of the most immediate round – a move at odds with most other major sports, who...
Manchester City: predicted 1st, finished 1stWhat we said before the season: “The signing of Jack Grealish has made Manchester City look even more formidable and Harry Kane could yet jump on the juggernaut. Pep Guardiola’s vision for the season is for domestic domination to roll on and for City to claim a first European Cup.” What actually happened: City did not need Kane to retain their title and...
1) McTominay takes strides forward under Ten Hag Erik ten Hag said the reason for Casemiro being kept on the bench against Arsenal was “Scott McTominay is playing really well”. The Scotland midfielder looked set to be a victim of Casemiro’s arrival from Real Madrid but has improved under Ten Hag, a sign of what quality coaching can provide. Against Arsenal he kept things simple; in the first half...
The season’s first Merseyside derby, an Old Trafford blockbuster and crunch time for Bruno Lage at Wolves Ben Fisher, Barry Glendenning, Will Unwin, Andy Hunter, Jamie Jackson, Louise Taylor and Ed Aarons1) Tale of two forwards in Mersey derby Seven games into the season in all competitions and Frank Lampard can finally select a recognised striker he wants in an Everton shirt. Providing someone...
Premier League clubs have broken their spending record for a summer transfer window with the deadline a week away, according to analysis from Deloitte. Gross summer spending in the top flight stood at £1.5bn at the start of Thursday, exceeding 2017’s record of £1.43bn. It is more than the £1.44bn spent in the whole of last season and, with the record for a Premier League season standing at £1...