That, then, is us – thanks for your comments and company; it was as we expected, and as we could never have expected. Peace out.
Daniel Sturridge was good on the Isidor miss. He said if you’ve got the skill to do it, rounding the keeper is the safe option and Isidor executed, he just didn’t bargain for the man on the line. But he’d have shot earlier because he felt Alisson gave an angle for it. He’s a really good pundit, and is now saying that when Salah goes to Afcon, Slot has a chance to play Wirtz behind Isak and Ekitike, and in front of last season’s midfield. I daresay Cody Gakpo would have a problem with that, but they do have to get Wirtz going.
What a great addition to the Premier League Sunderland have been, and what a great appointment Regis le Bris was. The football side of the club – the scouting, the talent ID, the analysts and so on – are doing an amazing job, and the gear is good as well.
United, though, are expert at losing games they should’t at times it’s important to win them, and I’d also expect them find it hard over Christmas, with Amad and Mbeumo in particular, but also Mazraouoi, playing in Afcon. Two defenders at wing-back is miserable in Amorim’s system.
If Manchester United beat West Ham 10-0 tomorrow, they go into the top four, and they’re currently ninth; if they win they’re fifth, level on points with Chelsea. There really isn’t that much between third and about 16th.
The Premier League table
Tonight's classified football results
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
Brighton & Hove Albion 3-4 Aston Villa
Burnley 0-1 Crystal Palace
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
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Gary Neville really enjoyed Ethan Ampadu’s performance tonight in the middle of the Leeds midfield, and I wonder if Farke has found something. They’re at home to Liverpool on Saturday evening; tasty.
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FULL TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
Another poor performance from Liverpool, who didn’t really look like winnng it and almost lost it; I think we can say Sunderland will be staying up.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-2 Chelsea
Leeds move out of the bottom three, three ahead of West Ham who play tomorrow; Chelsea drop to fourth, three points behind Villa.
We’ve one minute of six left at Elland Road, ad Leeds are almost there. They’re playing 3-5-2 tonight, and perhaps it suits them – the two strikers, together, are a lot, they don’t lose the numbers game in midfield, and Tanaka still has freedom.
Sunderland seem to have 54 defenders inside their own box; they’re doing a pretty good job, and Roefs collects then out of nothing unleashes a glorious pass, AND OH MY DAYS ISIDORE IS AWAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE! He goes around the keeper, this to win it … and Chiesa gets back to kick off the line! That is brilliant work, but really, Isidore had to find a way of scoring from where he first collected possession – however he chose to do it.
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Liverpool are pushing for an equaliser. There are going to be seven additional minutes.
Garnacho crosses, straight to the keeper. That’s the other side of it – the side that means United upgraded on him when they got Mbeumo and Cunha in the positions he could play. The manager seemed to want rid of him for reasons that weren’t strictly football-related; as a player he was good for the squad but not the starting XI.
“For those of us of A Certain Age,” says Fran Burke, “here’s the audio to go with your MBM midweek football:
This version is just before my time, but the tune is the tune.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland (Wirtz 82)
FINALLY! Jones wins the second ball, finds Wirtz, and he weaves inside one tackle, away from another, and leathers a shot that flicks off the defender and whooshes past Roefs, into the side-netting, halfway up! NOISE!
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“Liverpool should bring Isak on,” chortles Tanay Padhi. “He could really make an impact in a game like this you’d think.”
Sticking him in when Ekitike had earned the right to start was a big error, in mine. He wasn’t fit, having not had a pre-season, and it made no sense to drop a match-winner tp get him in. It probably wasn’t fair on the player either.
Sunderland look fitter and smoother than Liverpool. They also look more confident and more cohesive.
GOAL! Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea (Calvert-Lewin 72)
Gusto plays to Chalobah inside the box, it’s not really one you want, but instead of lashing it, he takes a touch, he’s robbed by Okafor the ball goes across goal and he wins a slide-tackle with the keeper, the ball breaks, and Calvert-Lewin finishes!
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“Ao Tanaka has been the revelation of the season for me,” says Kári Tulinius. “I hadn’t seen him before August, but every time I watch him play he moves in such a unique way, changing the shape of the Leeds attack in unpredictable ways. Defenders are usually caught out of position, which gives him an extra few seconds to manoeuvre.”
He was great in the Championship last season BUT EXCUSE ME WHILE I INTERRUPT MYSELF!
Back in Leeds, Garnacho goes down the outside, exactly that thing you don’t want him doing to you, cuts back and Palmer swivels … to shoot wide.
I think all criticism of Liverpool must be delivered through the prism of their mate and his brother died in tragic circumstances during the summer, but this is not good at all.
WHAT A GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Sunderland (Talbi 67)
Oh my goodness me! Van Djk gets in a tangle, gibes it a way, then when a quick short pass finds Talbi, backs off, and the shot, as he turns away, is lashed across him and into the far side-netting from 20 yards! Things happen at night!
At Anfield, Salah came on for Gakpo at half-time; I’ve not watched the game as intently as the others as Rob is on it on the MBM, but I’ve seen very little from him or anyone else.
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Garnacho has replaced Gittens. I have reservations about him as a player – I want better creation, much better – but none at all about him as a sub. Not what you need when you’re knackered and the game is stretched – as this one is.
Phew! Our early fixtures are now over,; we’ve just the small matter of Leeds 2-1 Chelsea and Liverpool 0-0 Sunderland for dessert.
In Scotland, Killie have equalised against Hearts – they’re playing the 90th minute – while Dundee United lead Rangers 2-1 and Celtic lead Dundee 1-0.
FULL TIME: Brighton 3-4 Aston Villa
What a game! Villa move third, six points off leaders Arsenal, pending Chelsea’s game; Brighton sit seventh in-running.
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FULL TIME: Wolves 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Wolves remain bottom with two points; Forest move 16th.
Mineteh swings in, Welbeck leans and ducks to get behind it … and can’t quite guide inside the post. Brighton should get at least one more attack…
Brighton are chasing an equaliser for 4-4, and have a corner; two minutes of added time still to go…
FULL TIME: Burnley 0-1 Crystal Palace
Burnley have a bit of time, but it’s hard to see anything changing; they stay second-bottom and Place go fifth.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Brentford
Three huge points for Arsenal in a game that was always likely to be a struggle. They lead the table by five once more, and it’ll take a consistent side to go with them.
GOAL! Leeds United 2-1 Chelsea (Neto 50)
A run down the left, a clip to the back post from Gittens, and Neto eventually gets the ball under control to fire home.
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We’re away again at Anfield and Elland Road.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Brentford (Saka 90)
Relief for Arsenal! A terrific ball, I don’t see who from, sets Saka away at inside-right, he dips outside, both covering defenders buy it; he moves inside, shoots hard, and though Kelleher gets good hands on it, he’s a long way off his line and palms the ball into the air … and into the net.
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Calafiori gambols forward, shoots, the keeper beats away, and Saka should score! But falling, he pulls wide. Ljungberg would never.
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WHAT A GOAL! Brighton 3-4 Aston Villa (Van Hecke 83)
“Oor league’ is a capricious being! Van Hecke starts a move outside his own box, moves forward, and the ball is cut-back his way, to the edge and from the right, he uses the direction of it to power-clip into the far side-netting! Nighttime!
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Villa are in a pretty good spot aren’t they? Loads of really good players, at least one really special one, and lots of other difference-makers. “Oor league’ is a capricious being – remember the start Emery’s lads made – but if thingds stay as they are, they’re going third, and they could be hard to shift from the Champions League places.
GOAL! Brighton 2-4 Aston Villa (Malen 78)
Thirty-five seconds after coming on, Malen really completes the comeback! A cross into the box is flicked away, but only to the far side, it’s nodded back in, Guissand’s header is saved, and Malen pokes home! Shocker for Brighton!
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At Brighton, Baleba has gone off again, while at Arsenal, Rice has been replaced. I’m a little surprised by the latter, there’s not long enough to go for the rest to be worth much, and surely he’s useful when trying to look after a narrow lead?
What, perhaps, Arsenal don’t have, is technical players in midfield able to keep the ball away from their opponents while moving it quickly enough to keep creating. But their power, and ability to replace power with power, should get them plenty of late goals – it felt like the biggest difference against Bayern was that second aspect.
They’ll be getting nervous at the Emirates, where Arsenal lead Brentford 1-0. They’ll trust themselves not to concede, but dare they sit on a one-goal lead? They’ve got a very friendly run of games coming up and no players going to Afcon; a win here will set them up for that very nicely.
HAL-TIME: Leeds United 2-0 Chelsea
The home side have been much the better one, and a win tonight takes them out of the bottom three, at least until tomorrow.
GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Igor Jesus 72)
Great work from Hutchinson out wide, but the defender – I think it might be Hwang – should ay least be in the same postcode to try and block what is, in the end, an inswinging cross. But he’s not, Jesus heads down, and the bottom club are in serious trouble.
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HALF-TIME: Liverpool 0-0 Sunderland
The visitors have been the better side. They’re bigger, stronger and better organised than the champions, who look to be relying on individuals and moments.
“Technically, Ljungberg isn’t in the same conversation as Saka, Pires or Overmars,” reckons Tom Atkins, “but he had the knack of popping up and delivering a moment – a bit like Botham or Stokes, someone with a knack of getting the big wicket when it was needed. It happened too often for it to be luck.”
It definitely wasn’t luck. Brilliant off the ball, brilliant in front of goal, brilliant in the biggest moments. I don’t actually think any of the others could say that of themselves.
WHAT A GOAL! Leeds United 2-0 Chelsea (Tanaka 43)
Now then! Fernandez loses it deep inside his own half, left-hand side, Leedas work it to Tanaka, on the edge, and on the swivel, he dematerialises a low shot, caught perfectly, past Sanchez! Things happen at nighttime!
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At Elland Road, Estevao is robbed by Gudmundsson, so boots him. He’s booked, and somewhere in heaven, Eric Jennings (Stourbridge) sadly shakes his head.
GOAL! Brighton 2-3 Aston Villa (Onana 60)
The comeback is complete! A corner to the back post, Onana is up along, though I’m not sure it matters if anyone jumps with him, and he heads home!
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Chelsea have done absolutely nothing so far tonight. They’re missing Caicedo, of course, but as I type, nice combination-play sees Pedro feed in Delap who doesn’t trust his left foot, poking with his right instead, and that’s easy for the keeper.
Ch ch changes at Arsenal, and for both sides. Andrews removes Jensen, Janelt and Schade for Damsgaard, Henderson and Thiago; Arteta sends on Eze and Saka for Madueke and Martinelli. Both managers think they can win this.
“Sunderland have been great, Liverpool have been awful,” summarises Carragher.
Liverpool give it away in a dangerous area, Hume collects possession, has a dig … Van Dijk makes sure not to ruin his barnet … and Alisson palms on to the bar!
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Martinelli gets around the outside down the left, but Brentford are defending well, and close down the spaces.
Credit where it’s due, Sunderland’s 80s revival kits and accompanying stash are excellent; even my wife, who is not so interested in football, has commented on it.
“In the spirit of not being able to compare eras...” begins Chris Milner, “Overmars was twice the speed of any other defender at a time they were transitioning from a diet of curry and lager to ... pasta and champagne.
To be a ‘quick’ winger now you have to be a more insane athlete, probably one of the reasons why inverted wingers became a thing. Cut inside if you can’t beat your man for pace. Or because you are so one-footed you have no choice. Or both (Antony).”
Not sure – there were some pretty swift full-backs around at that time. I think inverted wingers became a thing more because teams went to one striker, meaning they needed goals from different areas.
Liverpool are starting to take control at Anfield, but we know Sunderland can defend their box and pose a threat on the counter.
At Arsenal, Brentford have started the second half on the front foot, winning a corner down the right; it’s curled straight into Raya’s gloves.
Gosh, Wolves come down the right, the cross is a goodun … and Arias stoops to conq nod wide.
A huge cheer at Anfield greets Wirtz’s first Liverpool goal, but the ball went into the side-netting as he bundled through.
We’re away again at Burnley and Wolves; Brighton and Villa are almost there.
Stach marauds forward, cuts back into Tanaka’s stride … and the shot is weak, screwed wide from the edge. We’ve seen very little of Chelsea as an attacking force.
At Anfield, Jamie Carragher is lamenting how easy it is for Sunderland to get out.
Ultimately, it was always likely that the further away Liverpool got from Klopp, the less good they’d get. Slot is decent, but he isn’t a genius.
We’re away again at the Emirates, and the teams are ready at Burnley.
“Not sure if you caught it,” says Gareth Davies, “but Mosquera went off injured for Arsenal just before half-time. Timber came on as a substitute. Not ideal when Gabriel and Saliba are already out...”
Thanks, I didn’t see that. Timber is a pretty useful centre-back, though, and White is a more than able deputy. Arsenal wouldn’t want it long-term, and this time of year is especially suboptimal, but they should be able to cope.
Which of course isn’t to say Overmars was thick or Saka is slow. Anyhow, back at Leeds, Struijk has just arranged himself a free header from a corner … that goes wide.
“Tuning into this from the curry house, and what a sensational chat,” says Chris Lambert. “Overmars is one of the most underrated players we’ve ever had, because – as you mentioned – of the company he played with. That said, he was a sword. He could be scattergun at times. Saka is a scalpel and still ludicrously young. I’ve got to put him top spot.”
I guess Overmars’ pace was so extreme, it felt impossible to defend. Saka is the better all-round player, and it’s not close, but as a pure winger I’m going for speed not intelligence.
HALF-TIME: Brighton 2-2 Aston Villa
What a half at the Amex. The second should be a belter, and already, this is a great night of Premier League FootballTM.
HALF-TIE: Wolves 0-0 Forest
This is surely the kind of game Wolves must win if they’re to even have a shot at staying up.
The goal stands! What a response from Villa!
GOAL! Brighton 2-2 Aston Villa (Watkins 45+6)
A fantastic long pass from Rodgers, deep inside his own half, picks out Watkins through the middle, he controls well, losing Van Hecke, and drills low past Verbruggen. He now has more goals tonight than previously this season, but was he offside?
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GOAL! Leeds United 1-0 Chelsea (Bijol 6)
A corner curled to the front post, Bijol runs free, leaps, and powers a fantastic glancing header that the keeper can’t keep out. The celebrations are leibedik.
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HALF-TIME: Burnley 0-1 Crystal Palace
Scott E. Parker’s boys just can’t grab a break.
We’re away at Anfield and Elland Road; we will of course cover those as the other sides take their breathers.
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Brentford
Arsenal are worth their lead, but Brentford are well in the match.
GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Crystal Palace (Munoz 45)
Left of centre, Guehi curls a gorgeous ball from about 25 yards out into the far post and Munoz, on the burst, heads home. He is a very, very good player, and that’s exactly the kind of run and finish a 3-4-3 demands from its wing-backs.
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“Rice was underrated at West Ham,” reckons Dan Christmas. “I know Arsenal paid £105m but there were a lot of eyebrows raised at the time – back then he could pretty much run the game from deep midfield. I had no idea he could run the game all over the pitch though, £105m was a bargain on the last 2 years’ form. Also, does anyone else keep calling him Damien Rice by mistake? I’m guessing you have to be around 42 years old...”
For a time, he looked to me like a defender playing midfied, but his strength has always been his physicality, so it makes sense to have him charging about all over, and now Zubimendi is installed, he can. I’d still like more quality on the ball, but the set-piece delivery makes that less of a problem.
NO GOAL! Wolves 0-0 Forest
Ndioye was indeed offside.
At Molineux, VAR is still looking. At what, I don’t know: it’s obvious.
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“Zac Sapsford has given Dundee United the lead at Tannadice with a magnificent run and finish,” advises Simon McMahon, “while Celtic have also taken an early lead against Fundee.”
Leaders Hearts are 0-0 with Killie.
“My brother (an Arsenal fan of longstanding) would ask where Limpar is in your list,” says Neal Butler, “or are you only counting wingers in the post-Graham era?”
I guess I was doing PL era, but the flat corners I mentioned earlier were often taken by Limpar. I’m not sure he was as good as those I named, but on the other hand he was the flair player in a Graham championship side, and you’ve got to respect that.
GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Forest (Jesus 37)
A corner and header, but Ndioye is right in front of the keeper and in an offside position. This’ll surely be disallowed.
GOAL! Brighton 2-1 Aston Villa (Watkins 37)
Maatsen battles down the left, drags over a low cross, Guessand and Watkins attack on the slide, with the latter applying the decisive touch.
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“I’d put Pires top based on the period at his very best just prior to first bad injury,” says Robert Lowery. “For a while it looked like he was on course to be the, IMO, best player in league … didn’t quite get back to that level of promise or delivery. But had more weapons than the others.”
I guess I always found him a bit weak, good for your Charltons and your Evertons, but too often ineffective in big games and pretty much anonymous in the Champions League. It would’ve been hard not to look good down that left with Cole and Henry; Overmars, on the other hand, was terrifying.
At Brighton, Var is wondering if Baleba tripped Maatsen, who went at him on the outside; I don’t think he did and neither do the officials.
At Arsenal, the hosts are going for more goals, Rice powering into the box – this is exactly what he should be doing and it’s great we’re seeing more of it – but his cross is stuck behind, then the corner is cleared, eventually.
GOAL! Brighton 2-0 Aston Villa (Pau Torres own goal 29)
That high line. Hinshelwood gets in behind, down the left, powers away with 39 defenders in pursuit, squares when he should probably shoot, and Torres, sticking out a foot, takes the ball at source to toe past his own keeper.
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Question: where do we rank Saka among Arsenal wingers of the modern era? I’d go:
Overmars
Saka
Ljungberg
Pires
Arsenal work it nicely down the right – even without Saka, most of their attacks are coming from that side – and when it’s cut back Martinelli’s head goes up and back, the ball following suit.
Brighton haver a free-kick 25 yards out, just right of centre … and De Cuyper’s effort is helped over the top by Bizot.
To Molineux now, where a cross into the Wolves box picks out Ndioye … who, looking to glance home, doesn’t get anything. That can happen when you only want a tiny piece of something, though with cake one tends to err towards the opposite extreme.
At Burnley, Pino has just squared when he should’ve shot. I think Burnley have a good chance tonight, at the wekeend, Palace looked bushed in the second half.
A Brentford corner yields another, Janelt picks out Schade, who thuds a concussive header … and Raya tips against the bar! Brilliant save, because that was close and travelling. The visitors are in this game.
At Molineux, it’s Forest in the ascendancy, whole Arsenal are looking for more goals against Brentford. I don’t know if I’m scarred by England’s 1992 cricket World Cup final defeats, but I can’t have baby blue as the colour of a serious sporting outfit.
“Warmest greetings of the season, Dan,” begins Simon McMahon. “It’s Dundee v Glasgow in the fitba tonight, with Steven ‘Elvis’ Pressley’s Dundee looking to spoil Martin O’Neill’s last game as caretaker at Celtic. Dundee won their first meeting earlier this season, but I predict trouble tonight for the moody blues. Meanwhile at Tannadice, Jim ‘Not Elvis’ Goodwin’s Dundee United welcome Rangers. After a poor recent run, I’m hoping I can’t help falling in love with United again tonight. If you allow me to dream, that is.”
I just want O’Neill’s tracky, and if I’m allowed to dream, so are you. I’d tolerate an early or mid-80s Arabs one too.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Brentford (Merino 11)
Nice from Madueke, a clever touch allowing him to backheel White away on his outside, the cross is caressed into the middle, and Merino applies a striker’s header, down and across the keeper, into the far side-netting. What a terrific purchase he’s turned out to be.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino celebrates after opening the scoring against Brentford.
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Var wants a look, but I think this’ll be fine.
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa (Van Hecke 9)
A flat corner, Bizot, the sub keeper comes to grab fresh air, the ball bobbles off bodies, and Van Hecke eventually extends a telescopic leg to hook in with the outside of his right foot.
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Jensen at Arsenal can only mean this…
I find it interesting that Arsenal generally go back post. George Graham’s team were famous for flat delivery to the near, Bould flicking on for someone arriving to head or bundle in. That corner, when executed well, is almost impossible to defend, but now Brentford have one … curled by Jensen beyond the back post and out.
At Arsenal, the home side have a corner, Rice to swing in. Brentford make first contact and see away the danger.
Anyone got any spare eyes? Send to the address at the top of the page.
“Worried about Villa away at the weekend,” confesses David Penney, “but if we can win tonight and win there, we have a not-too-horrific 60 days ahead where we could pull away all going well.”
Pulling away depends on City and Chelsea too, though. I can’t see the latter staying the course, but City are a threat. Thing is, the teams at the top are, I’d say, among the least good in the Premier League era, but the standard below that has never been higher because there’ve never been more good players in the world and there’s never been more money sloshing about the top of the English game.
Out come our various teams. Arteta asked for “animals” in the crowd at Arsenal. I’m not sure he’s going to like the result…
“In teeth-gnashing news,” advises Charles Antaki, “pity poor young Myles Lewis-Skelly who has to watch Ricardo Calafiori gallop up and down the left wing while he sits and worries about Getting On The Plane , or at least appearing somewhere on Thomas Tuchel’s team sheet doodles. But Calafiori has been pretty terrific, so it may have to be the cup games – though whether Tuchel takes much interest in the Carabao is uncertain.”
It’s a tricky one isn’t it? I guess Lewis-Skelly got lucky last season because Calafiori spent most of it injured, but ultimately Arteta has signed players to go in front of him, at both left-back and in midfield. If he wants to be a regular at Arsenal, he’ll have to wait.
We’ve also got a full SPL programme tonight.
I’d also take a job that got me this tracksuit.
So which matches to watch? I don’t think I can do better than three, and we’re covering Liverpool v Sunderland – join the great Rob Smyth for that one.
So I’ll start with Arsenal v Brentford, Brighton v Villa and the goals as they go in; I guess I’ll swap one for Leeds v Chelsea when that gets going.
Emi Martinez injured and won't play for Villa
Marco Bizot comes in.
Email! “Could this be the first time that a player with the surname Henry will grace the Arsenal pitch since Thierry’s retirement? wonders Peter Oh – no, I’m sure Karl Henry played there for Wolves, as well as Rico himself, and how good it is to see him back.
“As a Liverpool fan I would love to see Arsenal drop points today and feel some Schade-freude. Ouattara the chances?”
It’s always possible because, as I said below, Arteta’s Arsenal tend to be methodical rather than devastating and may lose some fluidity without Saka and as Odegaard gets back to it. I’d back Arsenal to win 2-1, and I’d not be staggered if they’ve to come from behind to do it.
So Salah remains on the Liverpool bench; this feels like the beginning of the end doesn’t it? Even this time last year, his run of form felt unsustainable – it reminded me of Robin van Persie’s in 2012-13. Good enough August-January to secure the title, before tailing off thereafter, never to return. If Liverpool get a decent offer for the summer, my sense is there’ll be a hug, a handshake, and a long goodbye.
Late kick-off teams
Leeds: Perri, Bogle, Gudmundsson, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Ampadu, Tanaka, Stach, Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin. Subs: Darlow, Justin, Bornauw, Gruev, Harrison, Aaronson, Gnonto, Okafor, Piroe.
Chelsea: Sanchez; Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Cucurella; Fernandez, Andrey Santos; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Gittens; Delap. Subs: Jorgensen, Gusto, Acheampong, James, Hato, Palmer, Garnacho, Neto, Guiu.
**
Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Mandava, Alderete, Talbi, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Brobbey. Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruda, Neil, Mundle, Adingra, Traore, Mayenda, Isidor.
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak. Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Kerkez, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
And finally, Wolves are unchanged; Forest leave out Dominguez, with Hutchinson coming in while Murillo, whose nickname I sincerely hope is Lisbon, remains injured.
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At Burnley, Anthony and Ekdal come in for Mejbri and Tuanzebe; Palace try Lerma for the injured Sarr.
OK, I’ve failed in my bid to get SkyGo going in different browsers; bah. Meantime, Brighton leave out Ayari and Welbeck, with Baleba and Tzimas coming in; Villa swap out Malen, Digne, Buendia and Tielemans, for Watkins, Maatsen, Guessand and Onana.
The key point here is: goodness me, what a squad Arsenal have bought. They have two players for every position, almost all of them are physical brutes, and though there will be a few they can’t do without for a period because the best players are irreplaceable, they look very strong. It might not be enough for the title – they lack, perhaps the attacking verve that means you rarely get involved in close games – but this time, they’re not running out of steam.
Lots of changes at the Emirates. Arsenal make three, with White, Odegaard and Madueke coming in; Timber, Eze and Saka drop out. Oh, and Gyokeres and Jesus are back on the bench after spells out with injury.
Brentford, meanwhile, make five alterations. Igot Thiago, their top scorer in on the bench and so are Hickey, Damsgaard, Henderson and Collins; Henry, Pinnock, Yarmoliuk Janelt and Ajer replace them.
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Teams!
Arsenal: Raya, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Merino. Subs: Kepa, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Eze, Saka, Jesus, Gyokeres.
Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Pinnock, Van den Berg, Henry, Jensen, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Schade, Ouattara. Subs: Valdimarsson, Henderson, Thiago, Onyeka, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Arthur, Donovan.
**
Brighton: Verbruggen; Dunk, Van Hecke, Gruda, Kadioglu; Baleba, Wieffer; Tzimas, Minteh, Gomez; De Cuyper. Subs: Steele, Hinshelwood, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Veltman, Coppola, Knight, Oriola.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Guessand; Watkins. Subs: Bizot, Digne, Lindelof, Garcia, Bogarde, Tielemans, Sancho, Buendia, Malen.
**
Burnley: Dubravka, Walker, Esteve, Ekdal, Hartman, Florentino, Cullen, Tchaouna, Anthony, Foster, Flemming. Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Pires, Broja, Hannibal, Laurent.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Wharton, Kamada, Pino, Mateta. Subs: Matthews, Benitez, Nketiah, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Canvot, Devenny.
**
Wolves: Johnstone, Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Mosquera, Toti, Wolfe, Andre, Gomes, Bellegarde, Arias, Strand Larsen. Subs: Sa, Doherty, Bueno, Munetsi, Hwang, Arokodare, Chirewa, Hoever, Mane.
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Savona, Morato, Milenkovic, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Ndote, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Igor. Subs: Abbott, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo, Victor, McAtee, Cunha, Yates, Boly.
Preamble
There are certain types of day that are good for football: clear, crisp ones; surface-slickening drizzly ones; matter-of-principle hosing down with rain ones; snowy orange-ball ones; or, in other words, a kick-about is always a blinding idea.
But how many decent matches do you see in that nause of a lunchtime slot? Some, of course – one of the first was one of the best, Crystal Palace 4-3 Liverpool in the 1990 FA Cup semi-final – but generally speaking, the craziest stuff happens at night. Just look at last evening, for example, which gave us ridiculous wildness in two out of three fixtures.
So we can approach today with hope. At the top of the table, Arsenal will hope to restore their five-point lead, but know Brentford are wise to the set-piece ruse; at the Amex, it’s fifth against fourth as Brighton entertain Villa; Burnley and Wolves, second-bottom and bottom, are scrapping for home points against Palace and Forest respectively; Chelsea, on a bit of a buzz, visit old friends Leeds; and Liverpool, who’ve lost six in eight, welcome to Anfield a Sunderland side fresh off their latest miraculous victory. Or, in other words, this could be mayham.
Kick-offs: Arsenal v Brentford, Brighton v Villa, Burnley v Palace and Wolves v Forest: 7.30pm GMT. Leeds v Chelsea and Liverpool v Sunderland 8.15pm GMT.
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