Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is clinging to his job after United’s
humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool last week. His side have taken
just one point from the past 12 on offer.
Leaders Chelsea, Liverpool and defending champions City all
have winnable matches this weekend while Leicester and Arsenal go head to head
in an intriguing battle between two sides who have found their form.
AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of
the action.
Solskjaer on the brink
Solskjaer called his team’s humbling by Jurgen Klopp’s men
at Old Trafford his “darkest day” as Red Devils boss.
The Norwegian has reportedly been given three games to save
his job but the fixtures are daunting — trips to Tottenham and Atalanta before
a derby against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Liverpool drubbing came a year after 10-man United
collapsed to a 6-1 home defeat against Spurs.
“This is miles worse,” Solskjaer said. “We have big games
coming up, so no time to sulk, no time to feel sorry for yourself. We have to
come together.”
United have flattered to deceive since Solskjaer replaced
Jose Mourinho in December 2018, failing to win silverware or mount a realistic
title challenge.
Despite recently recruiting Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho
and Raphael Varane, they find themselves eight points off leaders Chelsea and
realistically out of the title picture.
They have kept just one clean sheet in all competitions this
season and will be without the suspended Paul Pogba in London.
It would take a brave punter to bet against either Chelsea,
Liverpool or defending champions Manchester City winning the Premier League
table.
Just two points separate the clubs, with fourth-placed West
Ham three points behind third-placed City.
The title favourites have made their moves early this season
in contrast to the 2020/21 campaign, when Everton, Arsenal, Leicester,
Southampton and Tottenham all took turns at the top before City surged to their
third title in four years.
Fresh from their stunning Old Trafford rout, Liverpool host
a Brighton side struggling to convert their positive play into goals and
victories.
The Seagulls are fifth in the table but have only scored
nine times in nine matches and are winless in their past five games in all
competitions.
Chelsea, who smashed Norwich 7-0 last weekend, will fancy
their chances against struggling Newcastle, who are being managed by interim
boss Graeme Jones after this month’s Saudi-led takeover and the sacking of
manager Steve Bruce.
City take on struggling Crystal Palace, who have won just
one and drawn six of their nine league games under new boss Patrick Vieira.
Arsenal and Leicester suffered poor starts to their league
campaigns but are both only three points off the top four following a sharp
uptick in form.
Mikel Arteta’s men were bottom of the table after losing
their first three matches without scoring a goal — their worst start to a
season in 67 years — but are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions.
The Gunners have not competed in the Champions League since
2017 and Leicester have replaced them as top-six regulars.
The Foxes followed their Community Shield triumph against
Manchester City with just two wins from their opening seven Premier League
fixtures but are buoyant after back-to-back victories against Manchester United
and Brentford.
Brendan Rodgers’s side have narrowly missed out on Champions
League football for two seasons running despite spending more time in the top
four than any other team during that time.
“It might be different this season compared to the last two
when we started on fire and dropped off,” said Rodgers. “This can be the season
where we build and finish the second part really strong.”
Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)
Saturday
Leicester v Arsenal (1130), Burnley v Brentford, Liverpool v
Brighton, Manchester City v Crystal Palace, Newcastle v Chelsea, Watford v
Southampton, Tottenham v Manchester United (1630)
Sunday
Norwich v Leeds, Aston Villa v West Ham (1630)
Monday
Wolves v Everton (2000)
0 comments:
Post a Comment