Thank you very much for joining me. Have a cracking weekend of football!
Jacob Steinberg has had a big old chat with Tomas Soucek about his love for Hackney Marshes.
“My wife was sometimes giving me the ball and helped me enjoy it. Sometimes I enjoyed it with my daughter and her. It was a good time. I heard all about the tradition for playing Sunday League football there, though there was nothing like that during these times. At that time there were only a few five-a-side teams using it.”
A couple more match previews.
West Ham v Man City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Fulham are playing against Crystal Palace this weekend, so let us all remind ourselves of this beauty.
Pleasingly, I interviewed the great man about it.
Scott Parker thinks Aleksandar Mitrovic will recover from his mistakes against Sheffield United last week, where he missed a penalty and scored an own goal in Fulham’s 1-1 draw.
“He’s fine, he was bitterly disappointed,” Parker said when asked about the Serbian. “He was very quiet after the game, what you’d expect from any player. He had a bad game, the last game in his eyes, and this can happen.
“I said that after the game, this is what happens in football and it can happen to any player. At times you can have one of those days and Aleksandar will be the first to put his hand up and say it wasn’t his day and it didn’t go well for him.
“I said after that what would be the making of him is how you react to those adverse times or those bad times as such are the real character of people and what determine them.”
Peter Oh has emailed to say: “The photo of Pickford launching himself at Van Dijk’s legs is still hard to look at. I’ve heard of the Flying Dutchman, but not Flying into a Dutchman.”
Hannah Jane Parkinson on goals and grounds.
Sean Dyche is still enjoying working for Burnley, despite their failings in the transfer window and winless start to the season. The Clarets boss is the longest-serving Premier League manager but rumours have abounded that he may leave the club, however he made abundantly clear before the visit of Spurs on Monday, that he is loving life still.
“I spoke at my first press conference to say that we’d play for the shirt and we’d build a real club mentality and we’ve certainly done those two things,” Dyche said.
“The demands are getting higher all the time. I’ve enjoyed all the challenges, even the not so good stuff when we first started.
“You have to come through those periods to believe in yourself and for the players to buy into it. And we came through those periods, so overall, yes, the job has got harder but it’s still an enjoyable challenge.”
Zinedine Zidane has backed his Real Madrid players to return to form against Barcelona on Saturday. The Spanish giants lost at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek in a surprise defeat but have the chance to make amends for their fans in El Clásico.
The Frenchman’s position has been questioned following a slow start to the season but he is confident he can hold onto his job.
“I’ve won a lot with these players, they’ve won a lot for me and I’ll always be with them until the end, it’s they who battle, run and fight and I can feel their support,” Zidane said.
“But right now the most important thing is changing the dynamic, and we’ve got good games coming up to be able to do that in, and that’s what makes football so great. When things go wrong, you need to show your character and quality.
“... I can’t deny people are saying my future is at stake, but it was the same last year and it was like that in my first spell here, too. I just need to do my job and forget about everything else.”
Transfer news!
Shrewsbury have signed former Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels on a short-term contract. Daniels, 34, who departed Bournemouth in the summer, has agreed a deal until January.
Shrews boss Sam Ricketts told the Sky Bet League One club’s official website: “Charlie was at Bournemouth for nearly 10 years and went through the leagues with them.
“He’s been a model professional and has played at the highest level. Last season he was playing in the Premier League.
“He’s someone we are delighted to have at the club. We are looking forward to working with him.”
Pele is 80!
Jurgen Klopp says he does not want to know how long Virgil van Dijk will be absent. The Dutchman faces a lengthy layoff after suffering knee ligament damage in the Merseyside derby last week and is awaiting an operation on the injury.
“We don’t even want to know it, to be honest. It will take time, that’s clear,” said Klopp. “In the end, it’s really like this: all people are different and so we should not limit that by saying ‘for him it was that long, for him it was that long’.
“I think it makes sense from a specific moment in the recovery, in the rehab time, that it becomes individual because then everybody copes differently with it and each body. That’s why (there is) no need for (a timeframe).
“Virgil was here, he’s OK. But about when the surgery will happen and stuff like this, I don’t think it makes sense that we give pretty much a time schedule every day. But it will be fine and will happen in an appropriate time. So, that’s it pretty much – he is as good as possible.”
Nuno Espirito Santo anticipates that standards will rise as the season goes on after some questionable defending in the opening stages of the Premier League campaign. Wolves face Newcastle on Sunday, having won three of their opening five games in a season which has only see one goalless draw.
“Every team is improving and needs time,” Nuno said. “As the competition goes by it will be a lot harder because the standards will grow. It’s too early to predict what is going to happen, we go game-by-game which is always our approach but it’s too early to predict what is going to happen.
“The Premier League is very hard and every game is very tough and you cannot predict anything. It’s very important when you are able to perform and to sustain the level of performance, which is what we aim for.
“I’m expecting a very tough match on Sunday, Newcastle have a good manager, we know him well. They have talented players and it is going to be very tough. It’s very early in the competition to establish the difference between the teams.”
That is a lovely stat.
♾ - Carlos Tevez is now both the youngest and the oldest player ever to score a Copa #Libertadores goal for Boca Juniors. Longevity.
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) October 23, 2020
🔙In 2002 he scored v Olimpia aged 18y 92d
➡️Tonight he scored v Caracas aged 36y 261d pic.twitter.com/JpFYYFINB0
Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl is fearful players could contract Covid-19 when on international duty. Saints midfielder Stuart Armstrong tested positive for coronavirus after joining up with the Scotland squad but has since recovered.
“Stuart is good,” Hasenhuttl said. “He is back and did not have a lot of symptoms to be honest, just a little bit. “He could immediately train hard with us and had no further issues. This is a positive thing.”
The Southampton manager added: “It was disappointing, because Stuart was in perfect form and one of our most important players, then again he was out. It shows how much we have to stick to our social distancing.
“We have seen a few examples in the past where the protocols because somebody is positive, (means) a lot of people in your surrounding (contacts group) have to go into quarantine. This is the bigger problem for me. We do it here on a high level to make the risk as low as possible, so hopefully as long as they are here, we have no issues with this.
“But when they are travelling somewhere else, this is where I see it being in a very critical moment to let them go again with the international break. I think that we (will) have the same issue again, they are again travelling somewhere and coming together with people they are not normally around.
“This is something you do not have the control over, so it is definitely something to think about if it is necessary to have these international games. It is good that Stuart is back now, but it was a big impact, that is for sure.”
Burton Albion show some solidarity with Marcus Rashford.
💛🖤Burton Albion will by providing up to 100 children per day with free takeaway packed lunches throughout half term 🥪
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) October 23, 2020
The club is echoing the passionate calls of footballer @MarcusRashford to help tackle child poverty.
Read more 👇#BAFC
Never forget.
Four years ago today Victor Anichebe spoke from the heart.
— It’s A Funny Old Game (@sid_lambert) October 23, 2020
Beautiful words. pic.twitter.com/8XvZ8iFDVC
Get ready for the weekend’s action with some high quality previews.
Manchester United v Chelsea
Liverpool v Sheffield United
Alisson could be fit to face Sheffield United this weekend, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed. The Liverpool boss is hopeful his No 1 could return to action after missing the last three matches with a shoulder injury and will make a late check on the Brazilian.
Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Joel Matip could also be fit enough to be part of the squad.
Ronald Koeman has backed Gerard Pique following his criticism of Barcelona in an interview. The Dutchman will be hoping to put the focus back on football on Saturday when they play Real Madrid.
“He’s been here a long time and I’ve been here three months. He’s got his opinion and I respect that,” Koeman said. “He’s a clever guy and he knows when he does these interviews that he’s got a game the next day and that he’ll play well.”
Kilmarnock have vowed to defend themselves against allegations they broke coronavirus protocols ahead of their postponed game against Motherwell.
Killie are facing the prospect of a 3-0 defeat being imposed on them for the October 2 fixture after the Scottish Professional Football League instigated disciplinary proceedings.
An investigation was launched after six positive Covid-19 tests led to the entire Killie first-team squad being instructed to self-isolate.
The SPFL has now announced that a hearing will be held before a sub-committee of the board, chaired by an “independent legally-qualified chair”. The date of the hearing is still to be announced.
A brief Kilmarnock statement responded: “The club will defend our position fully.”
Frank Lampard wants the big personalities in the Chelsea squad known and drag the team forward. The Blues boss was speaking after Ziyech said he would not mind being outspoken if he helps get the best out of his teammates.
Asked if strong personalities off the pitch can help players thrive on it, Lampard replied: “Yes, I certainly think it can help. I certainly want to help grow the ideas of leaders within the group, personalities within the group.
“Within the course of long, difficult seasons where we play so many games there will be moments when you rely on them to help you in tough times, and also to push the good times along, and to try and improve every day. I don’t think you can get on in elite sport, in any elite team sport, with people without any personality and character in your team.
“I have seen that with Hakim and I have seen it in Edou Mendy as soon as they walked through the door. Hakim has confidence about him and his fitness is coming on individually and he still needs time to get up his match fitness now his knee injury has cleared up.
“Both of those will be great additions on that front and I encourage personality and communication between players. We need more of that.”
Thanks Dave. Now we get onto the excitement of more press conference quotes. Surely Frank Lampard discussing tactics is more interesting than Pele.
Before I start transcribing the entire commentary from the 1970 World Cup final, I best hand back over to Will Unwin. Here he is...
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Okay, another from Pele. This time in the 1970 semi v Uruguay. Still the best thing ever done on a football pitch. No wonder Kenneth Wolstenholme was temporarily befuddled.
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Liverpool v Sheffield United will mark the 100th Premier League appearance of Andy “great energy up and down that left flank” Robertson.
Here’s more from Klopp on his bargain signing from Hull: “A wonderful story from the moment he arrived here. He has established himself on a really high level. So far, absolutely good or even better. I like him as a person. He’s pretty chatty.
“We had a few words in Amsterdam. I was shouting at him like a devil and with his character he cannot hold back completely in his response (booming Klopp laugh).
“But he is like me as well, when it’s over it’s all fine. As long as you keep yourself together it’s all good. I like working with him because he is a brilliant character and a super player.”
Jurgen Klopp is being somewhat coy about his team selection ahead of Liverpool’s home game against Sheffield United on Saturday evening.
Asked about the fitness of midfield rolls-royce Thiago and injury-prone centre-back Joel Matip, Klopp replied: “I don’t know. We have training after the press conference.
“They have to train to be in contention. We will see who is out then. I don’t want to rule anybody out until somebody tells me different.”
The Mesut Özil saga (add to list of prog-rock names) rumbles on. Here’s Nick Ames on the latest:
Pele and Geoff Boycott have both turned 80 in the last few days. Who is the better sportsman? Geoff would say himself (“How many Test runs has Pele scored? Exactly.”).
Anyway, here’s Pele doing loads of overhead kicks. And not just THAT one from Escape To Victory.
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This Premier League season is officially weird. Perhaps seeing Everton and Aston Villa as the top two is evidence enough.
But if you’re a goal difference fan - and I know I am - here’s a fun stat: Liverpool and Manchester City both have a goal difference of exactly zero. That’s right, they’ve both conceded as many as they’ve scored.
To give that context, both were +11 at the same stage (Liverpool five games, City four) last season. That’s an eye-popping 22-goal swing.
It won’t last but, right now, it’s in my top three GD stats.
Top two? Man City being relegated from England’s second tier in 1997/98 with a goal difference of just -1. Norwich finishing third in the Premier League in 1993 with a goal difference of -4!
More stuff like this in The Knowledge.
If you have a few minutes, Marcus Rashford’s Twitter timeline really needs a scroll. Well done to all those council/venues offering help. Will just said that, actually. But no apologies for saying it again.
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Thanks Will. Yes, I’m known as the Pavlova of the Parallels...
I am nipping for a bit of lunch and to phone a man about a dog. Do not fear, the unparalleled David ‘Dave’ Tindall will be taking over for a period of time.
Marcus Rashford’s Twitter feed is a pleasing read today, as he states which councils, restaurants and companies have committed to help feed hungry children. The list is growing very quickly.
Kensington and Chelsea Council https://t.co/mHoiqpeito
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 23, 2020
Some good news for Everton.
James Rodriguez returned to "partial training" today says Ancelotti and, as a result, is back in contention for Southampton on Sunday. Jonjoe Kenny still out.
— Andy Hunter (@AHunterGuardian) October 23, 2020
Won’t somebody think of the children?!
Pep Guardiola has been discussing his injured players during his press conference. Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy are among those who have been absent recently but there is not much clarity on who will be available to face West Ham.
“Some will be involved, some will not,” Pep said. “You will know tomorrow.”
Cheers Pep.
Son Heung-min, a Spur for life?
More of this tomorrow, please.
New Crystal Palace signing Jack Butland has tested positive for coronavirus, Roy Hodgson has confirmed. The goalkeeper is confined to a hotel in London as he self-isolates. Not a great start to his Palace career.
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Will Son Heung-min’s fine form earn him a new contract? Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is keen to reward the South Korean after a fine start to the season. The forward’s current deal runs until 2023 but the club will be keen to tie him down for as long as possible.
“I would love that,” he said. “Son has three years of contract so it’s not like we’re in an extreme situation of everybody being worried. It’s more that Son loves it here. I believe that he would like to commit his future to the club for a long time.
“Everybody at the club is totally in love with this player and this boy and is trying also to make him feel part of the furniture. It’s normal the club tries to go from three years to four or five or six, I don’t know. It’s normal. But it’s a very calm situation because Sonny has three more years of contract.
“But I wish [for him to get a new contract]. He deserves one. The club knows that and sooner or later, without any pressure, they will arrive into a decision.”
Former Blackburn boss Steve Kean is back in the game after appointed assistant coach at A-League side Melbourne Victory.
Steve Kean will be joining Grant Brebner's football staff as Assistant Coach #MVFC #Since05
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) October 23, 2020
I enjoyed this Nick Ames interview with Steve Morrow this week. You should, too.
West Ham v Manchester City is the Pablo Zabaleta derby. The Argentinian defender announced his retirement recently after an incredible career and, in normal circumstances, probably would have been paraded before the match. As a City fan, I loved him. I still do. Come to me, Pablo. He scored the opener in *that* win over QPR, which many people forget for some reason or other.
What a man.
Full OGS on Mason Greenwood.
The lad Messi will be hoping to add to these tomorrow against Real Madrid.
David Moyes wants fans to return to stadiums and is wondering why people can watch matches in cinemas but not in open air stadiums. The Vue Cinema at the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, a 10-minute walk from the club’s stadium will be screening West Ham v Manchester City, which will be played in front of zero spectators, a situation which has confused Moyes.
“Firstly the best I can do is the leave the Government, the people who know the best and are speaking to all the advisors, to that because I’m certainly not an expert on a pandemic,” said Moyes. “But I watched the European games this week and have seen crowds back in different countries, and it’s hard to believe we can’t do that. I don’t think any of us want 500 or 1,000 people back in the grounds, we need a good percentage of capacity – 25 or 30 per cent. Why can those countries be doing it and not us?
“Are we so much worse than the others? Again, it’s not probably not my bag but I feel it’s not right. And people going watch a game in a cinema, close to here, why can we not be sitting outside in the open air doing it? Maybe there’s other reasons – maybe it’s the travelling on the tube, the bus, maybe it’s the pubs. But if that is the case, please come out and give us an explanation as to why we can’t do it.”
Do not worry, Bernd Leno! David Luiz has your back. The Brazilian defender has jumped to the goalkeeper’s defence after his gaffe against Rapid Vienna, which resulted in the Austrians taking the lead before the Gunners fought back to win.
Luiz is a man who knows plenty about errors at the back, so he knows a good one when he sees it.
“I think Bernd is amazing,” he said. “It is part of our philosophy to build from the back, this is a normal thing. You always play to eliminate players from the beginning when you build, then it is going to be much easier for the strikers.
“So, if you count how many times did it go well? But just one he did wrong and this is part of our philosophy. He is great and he gives us the opportunity to play from the back and try to help us.”
Women’s Super League fixtures will be staggered across a weekend for the first time next month, the Football Association has announced.
Women’s Football Weekend, allowing all six matches to be watched without any kick-off clashes, will take place during the men’s international break, on November 14-15. The games on Saturday will begin with the derby between Manchester United and Manchester City, followed by another as Aston Villa host Birmingham. Everton are then at home against Reading, and Bristol City entertain Tottenham in the final game of the day.
Sunday will see West Ham v Brighton followed by Arsenal v Chelsea. The matches will be available to watch via either the BBC, BT Sport or the FA Player. Also on November 15, the Women’s Championship clash between Blackburn and Liverpool will shown on the FA Player, while Charlton v London City Lionesses and Coventry v Leicester will be streamed by the home clubs.
Over 75,000 fans attended WSL and Championship fixtures during the inaugural Women’s Football Weekend in November 2019, which included Tottenham v Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Liverpool v Everton at Anfield.
Barcelona in crisis? Gerard Pique on the current situation.
Manchester City head to West Ham tomorrow lunchtime, a place they have enjoyed in recent years. Guardiola’s side have scored 22 times in their last five visits to the London Stadium. West Ham have found some form under Moyes, so will be aiming to avoid another thrashing against a City side who are yet to fully click this season.
Happy 80th birthday Pele!
Marcus Rashford does not give up.
Never forget that the pig’s head thrown at Luis Figo by Barcelona fans was then preserved and put on display.
Another weekend without fans in the ground. Paul Doyle had a look at what the game is like without the noise.
Frank Lampard’s first game in charge of Chelsea was at Old Trafford last season. He will not have many great memories of the occasion, as they were thrashed.
We will probably hear plenty about Van Dijkgate today. Here is what Carlo Ancelotti had to say on the matter yesterday.
Get in the mood for Barcelona v Real Madrid with Ronald Koeman looking at photos of players when they were kids and trying to work out who is who.
Here is Ben Fisher and his managerial hero Dean Holden in conversation.
Steve Bruce could be forced to turn to third-choice goalkeeper Mark Gillespie this weekend after Karl Darlow suffered an injury against Manchester United. The former Forest man was deputising for No 1 Martin Dubravka, who is injured.
Gillespie has featured in three Carabao Cup games after arriving this summer on a free transfer. The goalkeeper started his career at Newcastle but was released as a teenager and could now make his Premier League debut against Wolves.
“He’s [Darlow] still sore, but he’s made a huge improvement from where he was on Saturday night. We’re going to have to take it down to the wire.
“It’s an impact injury, there’s no tear, but it’s in a very sore region where he’s taken an awful knock. He’s better than he was but whether he’s going to be fit or not, we’ll have to see over the next 48 hours.
“It’s why we brought him [Gillespie] here. He’s played three times in the cup and that looks a good shout now, especially if he has to make his debut. He’s had some sort of football, anyway. He’s an experienced goalkeeper who has played in the Scottish Premiership, so he’ll be fine.”
Anyway ... you can contact me in the various places mentioned above. Fire away with your favourite El Clásico moments and forgotten Barcelona and Real Madrid players.
I will start us off with this beauty from Lionel Messi.
Here is a bit more from OGS on Greenwood, who has had his professionalism questioned in recent weeks. The United forward was dropped from the England squad after inviting a woman back to the team hotel in Iceland and his timekeeping has come under review.
“You do (make a target for yourself) when you play well and I’m not concerned at all with Mason making a target of himself,” the United boss said. “He’s come in, he’s played fantastic, he played his first league game against Tottenham last season, was brilliant and just kicked on.
“Yeah, he’s made a mistake this summer with England and suddenly the whole English press go after him and that’s something we’ve got to look after. He’s a fantastic boy to work with. I have to disappoint you, he’s never, ever late for training, he’s never a problem when he’s in the training ground.
“He’s always on time. I’ve seen the stories, actually some ex-United players talking about him and they don’t really know anything what they’re talking about because, well, we’ve got photographers outside the training ground every day so they can check the time every day.
“I don’t know where these stories have come and I’ve just got to say he’s got a good family behind him, he’s had a good background in the academy. He’s a good trainer, he trains really well, and I cannot believe all these stories about him not being professional. So, anyway, that’s something we have to deal with with many players, many other players at United have had that.”
Nick Ames and Hakim Ziyech is a dream combination.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been speaking about Mason Greenwood. Our man Jamie Jackson was in the press conference. The United boss also said Cavani will be available this weekend to face Chelsea.
Solskjaer on Greenwood: "I'm not concerned at all with Mason making a target of himself because he’s come in, he's played fantasic, played his first league game against Tottenham [of] last season and just kicked on..."
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) October 23, 2020
Could Chris Wilder hand record signing Rhian Brewster his first start against former club Liverpool this weekend. The £23m striker made his debut as a sub against Fulham last time out but could get the nod from the first whistle at Anfield on Saturday.
Brewster rose through the ranks at Liverpool but with his pathway blocked he was allowed to join the Blades this autumn, after proving himself on loan at Swansea last season.
“He’s settled in well, he’s an infectious character and I’ve no hesitation (in playing him), he’s pushing,” Wilder said. “His natural ability and talent is there to be seen by everyone, and everyone has seen that already, it’s just the physical side of it and not opening him up to injury and damaging him early in his Sheffield United career.
“It was a difficult decision for me on Sunday whether to start him or bring him on from the bench. Having not played much football, you can find at times when players get caught up flitting between Under-23s and the first team that their fitness isn’t where it needs to be.
“We want him to play and we want to get him into the team but always the big decision for the manager is the timing of that. But obviously he’s had another week’s training, which won’t have done him any harm at all, so he has put himself right in the frame to – certainly be involved at the weekend – and to start as well. He’s really at the forefront of our thinking.”
Marcelo Bielsa says he would not hesitate to repeat his act of sportsmanship against Aston Villa from a few years ago, which won him a Fifa award. I cannot see lightning striking twice, to be honest, but it’s worth rewatching.
The arrival of Ross Barkley has helped Aston Villa in their fine start to the season. Paul Doyle had a natter with him.
Carlos Vinicius looked in fine form for Spurs last night on his debut, putting in a man of the match performance. The Brazilian moved in with Lucas Moura for five days after arriving on loan from Benfica. Vinicius paid back his B&B host with an assist for the opening goal against Lask in the 3-0 victory.
“I’m helping him especially with the language,” Moura said. “It’s very hard when we don’t speak the language and understand. It’s normal between us, the Brazilian guys. We’re very close, he stayed at my home the first five days. Now he found a house and has his family with him. Yes, I helped him. He’s a very good guy, very humble and I’m happy he’s here with me.”
Marcus Rashford is still the fighting the good fight. Shame about the Tory MPs who voted against feeding hungry children, though. As someone who was brought up in an area of Manchester similar to Marcus, I know what families are going through there and the United striker makes you proud to be Mancunian. Keep going, Marcus.
This weekend will also see the first El Clásico of the season. Sadly, neither teams is pulling up trees at the moment, with hosts Barcelona sitting in ninth, while Real Madrid are a more respectable third in the table. Considering the failures of Zinedine Zidane’s side this week is critical for both teams to get a result and could finally kickstart faltering seasons.
There is plenty of intrigue in the Premier League this weekend. Conveniently, we have boiled it all down to 10 delicious things to look out for.
While I attempt to come up with something original to say, here is Kemar Roofe’s goal from last night.
This really happened 🤯
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 23, 2020
Yes, Kemar Roofe really did score from his own half for Rangers last night! pic.twitter.com/qqFjnXxf2e
Good morning!
It’s that Friday feeling for football managers. They will all be asked riveting questions over Zoom based around their team news, whether winning the next match is important and if Jordan Pickford meant to injure Virgil van Dijk. I cannot wait for the answers which I will relay to you lovely lot.
There is even a Friday night match as Aston Villa will look to continue their 100% record against Leeds. They could be clear at the top of the Premier League table tonight, which would be a fine achievement for Dean Smith, even if they will be chased down over the weekend.
This weekend’s games are spread out over four days following a night of Europa League action, which saw Spurs, Arsenal and Leicester victorious. Additionally, Rangers’ Kemar Roofe scored from his own half in Belgium, so it was a fun evening for most of Britain’s clubs.
The most attractive Premier League game will be Saturday tea time’s Manchester United v Chelsea clash. It should be another testing 90 minutes for a frail Chelsea defence but they did keep a Champions League cleansheet against Sevilla. However, their opponents downed PSG to follow up a victory against Newcastle, so confidence should be high at Old Trafford.
Anyway, it should be an enjoyable day.
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