Champions League group phase leaders Liverpool virtually sealed a place in the last 16 with a tight 1-0 victory at Girona on Tuesday after Mohamed Salah struck from the penalty spot.
Liverpool have made a stunning start in the competition under coach Arne Slot, winning all six of their matches to move provisionally five points clear of second-placed Inter Milan.
The English giants, six-time winners of the competition, were given a tough night by Champions League debutants Girona, who fell to a fifth defeat and are on the verge of elimination.
Teams finishing in the top eight will avoid an extra round of play-off matches. “If you ask me about all six games, I’m really pleased with all the results… (but) I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight,” Slot told reporters.
“(We had) hardly any control at all over the game, maybe the second half was a bit better but then I’m trying to be positive.”
Slot started fit-again goalkeeper Alisson Becker after a two-month injury lay-off and the Brazilian showed no sign of rust on a busy night.
After their Merseyside derby clash at Everton was called off because of a storm at the weekend, Slot was able to pick a fresh side, going with arguably his strongest available team to try and assure a top eight finish as soon as possible.
Newcomers Girona, who lost several key players in the summer and are still rebuilding, opted for Arnaut Danjuma in attack with support from spritely duo Bryan Gil and Yaser Asprilla.
GIRONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 10: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, interacts with Joe Gomez of Liverpool after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at Montilivi Stadium on December 10, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Liverpool pinned the hosts back in the first 10 minutes and Girona stopper Paulo Gazzaniga pushed away a Joe Gomez header.
After that Girona found their footing on a chilly night at their sold-out Montilivi stadium, reduced to under 10,000 capacity due to UEFA regulations, and they began to put Alisson to the test.
– Alisson sharp on return –
The goalkeeper saved from Alejandro Frances and then denied former Tottenham winger Gil, who slipped as he ran through on Liverpool’s goal.
Alisson also beat away a Miguel Gutierrez drive as the qualities of the side which pushed Real Madrid close for the Spanish title last season shone through.
Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper #01 Alisson Becker celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)Source: AFP
“Maybe the players wanted to see how fit he really was, so they gave him so much work,” joked Slot.
“Alisson has been so important for this club for so many years, and showed today he is one of the best, the best in my opinion, goalkeeper in the world.” Darwin Nunez spurned Liverpool’s first big chance after Salah slipped him in, with Gazzaniga keeping out the Uruguayan striker’s low poke.
Alisson was tested again early in the second half by former Bournemouth forward Danjuma.
The Dutchman then gave Liverpool’s defence the slip with a clever dribble but fired over, as Slot’s words ahead of the game were proven true — Girona were better than the standings suggested.
Liverpool’s Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the opening goal with Liverpool’s Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)Source: AFP
Despite their valiant efforts, the Liverpool juggernaut is proving hard to stop and the Premier League leaders took the lead with a controversial penalty won by Luis Diaz.
The Colombian winger went down under a challenge from Donny van de Beek and after a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, much to the home side’s frustration.
Salah sent Gazzaniga the wrong way to net his 50th Champions League goal, pulling the Egyptian level with Filippo Inzaghi as the 10th highest goalscorer of all-time in the competition.
The winger is out of contract at the end of the season but his 16 goals across all competitions have been essential in Liverpool’s superb first half of the season.
Slot replaced the wasteful Nunez with Cody Gakpo as he tried to kill the game off, but Girona were deflated after conceding and unable to make further inroads as their Champions League dream draws towards a close.
“I almost feel sorry for them because they deserve so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have,” admitted Slot.
CELTIC KEEP HOPES ALIVE
Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb played out an uninspiring 0-0 draw in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The result leaves both sides still firmly in contention for a place in the next stage of the tournament, with the Scottish champions sitting 17th and Zagreb in 21st.
Teams placed ninth to 24th in the new league format will enter a play-off round to reach the round of 16.
Zagreb started their campaign with a 9-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich but have won two and drawn two of their subsequent five matches, and have eight points.
Celtic have enjoyed their best recent run in European football this term under Brendan Rodgers after several disappointing seasons, and are one spot outside securing themselves a seeded draw in the play-off round.
Rodgers’ side have nine points, the same as six-times winners Bayern in 13th and one more than 2023 champions Manchester City, though both sides now have a game in hand.
The first half was one of few chances for either side, with none of the four shots recorded in the opening 45 minutes troubling either goalkeeper.
Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second period but his rifled effort on goal was deflected over the bar by home defender Maxime Bernauer.
The match then opened up a bit, with the pace of Celtic’s attacking trio of Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi worrying Zagreb on the counter-attack.
Marko Pjaca unleashed from the edge of the box but his fierce goalbound effort was bravely blocked by centre-half Auston Trusty, before Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel made a comfortable save from Martin Baturina — the tie’s first shot on target, coming two minutes before the hour.
Furuhashi came close to touching in a cross and the previously underworked Danijel Zagorac palmed the ball out to Cameron Carter-Vickers, who blazed over from close range.
Zagreb and Celtic rang the changes, and inside the final 20 minutes the chances dried up again for both.
Schmeichel made a fine save from Pjaca on 80 minutes as the tie finished goalless, breaking Zagreb’s run of 43 games in European competition without a 0-0 draw.
The Premier League is entering the home stretch, with almost every team having 10 matches still to play.
For the first time in years, there’s a genuine three-way fight for the title. There’s also a tight battle for the European positions and a heated relegation race. From the top of the league to the bottom, there’s all to play for in a gripping run home.
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GUNNERS ADVANCE… JUST – ALL PENALTIES | 01:39
TITLE RACE
1st: Arsenal, 64 pts (P28, 20W, 4D, 4L, +46)
Run home: Manchester City (a), Luton Town (h), Brighton (a), Aston Villa (h), Wolves (a), Tottenham (a), Bournemouth (h), Manchester United (a), Everton (h), Chelsea (h – postponed)
2nd: Liverpool, 64 pts (P28, 19W, 7D, L2, +39)
Run home: Brighton (h), Sheffield United (h), Manchester United (a), Crystal Palace (h), Fulham (a), West Ham United (a), Tottenham (h), Aston Villa (a), Wolves (h), Everton (a – postponed)
3rd: Manchester City, 63 pts (P28, 19W, 6D, 3L, +35)
Run home: Arsenal (h), Aston Villa (h), Crystal Palace (a), Luton Town (h), Tottenham (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Wolves (h), Fulham (a), West Ham United (h), Brighton (a – postponed)
Three teams, three incredible storylines.
This season marks 20 years since Arsenal last won the Premier League, although they came agonisingly close to breaking the drought in the last campaign.
The Gunners sat in pole position but could not hold on, losing two of their final three games to hand the title to Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s side are once again back in the title frame and sit top of the ladder at time of writing with the most goals scored in the entire league (70).
Equal on points with Arsenal but in second place is Liverpool, who finished a disappointing 5th last season but have rocketed back into contention.
Yet this is long-serving Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield and his troops would love nothing more than finishing the German’s tenure with his second Premier League title.
One point behind Arsenal and Liverpool is City, who are out to win its sixth league title in seven seasons, a staggering run that underlines its stranglehold on the competition.
The titanic battle between Liverpool and Manchester City is set to go down to the wire again.Source: AFP
So, who takes it from here?
It’s hard to discern who has the easier run of fixtures to round out the season, although all three teams have the added bonus of playing at home in the final game.
However, the title-chasing trio must all face Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wolves, with the first two pushing for Champions League qualification (more on that later). But the key difference is that Arsenal play far more of their games against top-half opponents away from home – including Brighton, Wolves, Spurs and Utd.
The motivational factor of Liverpool’s players wanting to do it for Klopp is worth noting, but the Reds also are without several key players.
Alisson, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold all missed the 1-1 draw against Manchester City, with Klopp forced to play a number of youngsters. There’s no shortage of talent, but it could be a step too far for the talented teens to remain flawless in a nervy title race.
Yet City and Arsenal still have to face off – meaning at least one team will cop a setback to their title bid. City did the double over Arsenal last season, but lost 1-0 earlier this season. However, this time around the meeting will be on City’s turf – and their home-ground advantage is a huge boost to their chances of winning both the match and the title.
City have made winning a habit. They’re the best team in Europe if not the world, and they might just make history with a fourth crown in a row.
TITLE PREDICTION: Manchester City
Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on March 10, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
4th: Aston Villa, 55 pts (P28, 17W, 4D, 7L, +18)
5th: Tottenham, 53 pts (P27, 16W, 5D, 6L, +20)
6th: Manchester United, 47 pts (P28, 15W, 2D, 11L, 0)
Spurs’ fate is in their hands. With a game in hand, they could move above Villa by a point – and their recent 4-0 battering of the Villans surely delivered a major psychological blow to their top-four rivals.
Villa bounced back with a 4-0 win over 10-man Ajax in the Conference league today.
Both teams face Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool before the season is out. But what could prove a major blow for Spurs is that they face the trio back-to-back: a make-or-break run for their Europe ambitions. A couple of losses could be a major setback – a momentum killer on the run home. Conversely, strong results in those matches could carry them home to the finish line.
Sizzling Spurs sink 4 past Villa | 01:05
Villa play Liverpool (h) and Crystal Palace (a) in their final two matches, while Spurs host Burnley then travel to Sheffield United for their final two fixtures. By that point, the latter pair might already be mathematically relegated. It’s clearly an easier finish for Spurs – and if things are tight, that might just make the difference.
Manchester United are still in the hunt – but only just. They’re eight points off Villa as it stands but could benefit if their rivals drop points against the top teams – especially since United have already played both matches against Villa, Spurs, and Man City. But they also have a tricky run home, with their final two matches against Arsenal and Brighton. And their goal difference – and lack of goals in general – could kill off their dream of a late run to Champions League qualification.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREDICTION: Tottenham
We’re backing Aussie Ange to finish fourth in his first Premier League campaign.Source: Getty Images
RACE FOR EUROPE
4th: Aston Villa, 55 pts (P28, 17W, 4D, 7L, +18)
5th: Tottenham, 53 pts (P27, 16W, 5D, 6L, +20)
6th: Manchester United, 47 pts (P28, 15W, 2D, 11L, 0)
7th: West Ham United, 43 pts (P28, 12W, 7D, 9L, -4)
8th: Brighton, 42 pts (P28, 11W, 9D, 8L, +6)
9th: Wolves, 41 pts (P28, 12W, 5D, 11L, -2)
10th: Newcastle, 40 pts (P28, 12W, 4D, 12L, +11)
11th: Chelsea, 39 pts (P27, 11W, 6D, 10L, +2)
EUROPA LEAGUE PREDICTION: Aston Villa, Manchester United
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE PREDICTION: West Ham United
As it stands, the top four teams qualify for the Champions League, fifth earns a spot in the Europa League, and sixth qualifies for the Conference League playoff spot.
The winner of the FA Cup is given a Europa League spot – unless they finish in the top five, in which case sixth place in the league is then given a Europa League place (as happened last season).
It’s a similar situation with the EFL Cup – which Liverpool won, meaning they are guaranteed a berth in the Conference League play-offs.
That’s unless they qualify for the Champions League or Europa League thanks to their league finishing position.
In that case – and we’re assuming they do finish in the top four – their Conference League playoff spot goes to the next-highest placed finisher.
But there’s another big caveat this season: the Champions League is expanding and adopting a new format next campaign, meaning two of Europe’s big leagues will gain an extra automatic qualification berth. Which two nations get those spots depends on how well their clubs perform in European competition this season – meaning Premier League clubs will be willing their rivals to keep winning in Europe!
The Premier League could end up with five Champions League spots, plus another for the Europa League (or two, if the FA Cup winner finishes in the CL or EL qualification places) plus another spot for the Conference League (or two, assuming Liverpool finish in the CL or EL qualification spots).
Clear as mud, right?
Kudus rips through SC Freiburg for epic | 00:58
Oh, and winning the CL or Europa League gives you direct entry into next season’s CL, while the winner of the Conference League gets a place in the Europa League (like West Ham this season, who got a EL spot despite finishing 14th in the league).
The ‘top four’ race is dead. Now it’s a race for the top … eight? Nine? 11 (yes, it’s technically possible for 11 Premier League teams to make it to Europe).
Either way, we’re tipping Spurs to finish in fourth, as we said above.
Villa have a significantly harder run home than Man United (their remaining opponents’ average league place is currently 8.3, Utd’s is 11.3) – but they’ve scored 59 goals, 20 more than United so far. Ollie Watkins’ 16 goals and 10 assists in 28 matches is a huge part of that – but was forced off with a cut on his knee during their 4-0 Conference League over Ajax this morning. Luckily coach Unai Emery said it doesn’t appear to be too serious, and if Watkins can keep fit and firing, Villa seem likely to finish above United’s misfiring offence.
Ollie Watkins’ best-ever season is igniting an impressive Villa charge.Source: Getty Images
Below them, West Ham and Brighton both have brutal fixtures ahead. The pair have made a habit out of scraping draws in tough matches, which could prove crucial in picking up points in the final few matches. But the Hammers’ defence is conceding far too frequently – their 49 goals against is more like a bottom-half team than one chasing Europe. It can partially be explained by big losses to Fulham (5-0 in December) and Arsenal (6-0 last month). And in their last three league games, they’ve scored nine goals – not to mention today’s 5-0 Europa League win over Freiburg to book their place in the quarterfinals. If they can tighten up their defence, they might just hold onto their position.
But below the Hammers, Wolves and Newcastle especially have significantly easier runs home. Newcastle are scoring plenty of goals – as many as Spurs or Villa, for example – and could make a late charge. With a goal difference of +11 – the best of any team outside the top five – they could sneak in to the European places. Recent games have made one thing clear: there’s going to plenty of goals at both ends of the field, and it’s never going to be boring.
West Ham’s five-goal thrashing handed them plenty of momentum for the run home.Source: Getty Images
20th: Sheffield United, 14 pts (P28, 3W, 5D, 20L, -50)
* = Everton were deducted six points for breaching PSR rules
Barring one of the greatest escapes in Premier League history, it seems a certainty Burnley and Sheffield United are set for an instant return to the Championship.
Sure, it’s possible – but both teams are 10 points off safety at this point, and they simply look out of their depth.
That leaves us with one spot up for grabs when it comes to relegation.
As it stands, Luton Town round out the bottom three – and the Hatters’ remaining 10 fixtures are the most difficult out of all the teams jostling for survival.
The average league position of Luton’s remaining opponents this season is 9.8, the highest figure of the group, with three of those fixtures including daunting trips to Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City.
A comparison between Luton’s relegation rivals in terms of average league position makes for worrying reading.
Nottingham Forest’s final 10 games spits out an average position of 12.7, while Brentford and Everton’s rivals have average positions of 12.6 – effectively the ‘easiest’ remaining fixtures of any team in the league.
Luton also suffered a horrific meltdown against Bournemouth yesterday. 3-0 up at halftime, they looked set to move out of the relegation zone – only to concede four goals without reply. It was the first time in 21 years that a team had lost from three goals up.
Cherries pull off insane 3-goal comeback | 02:11
However, the fight for survival could be determined off the field as Forest were charged with breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
Everton were initially docked 10 points before it was later reduced to six after an appeal for a similar breach, setting a precedent Forest will be desperate to avoid.
The hearing for Forest’s PSR breaches has begun, with a resolution expected in the coming weeks.
Brentford have just come out of a torrid run of games in which they played Tottenham, Manchester City twice, Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Wolves and Arsenal in consecutive games.
However, their final games are much kinder and they do not play a team higher than 12th on the table in their last six games, so expect Thomas Frank’s side to stay up.
Luton are hoping to avoid an immediate return to the Championship, but it won’t be easy. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Everton have a rather favourable run-in, with back-to-back games against relegation rivals Forest, Brentford, Luton and Sheffield United before a final day fixture away to Arsenal.
Toffees boss Sean Dyche is no stranger to a relegation battle and if it weren’t for a points deduction they’d be comfortably away from the drop, which has us believing they will preserve their Premier League status.
It essentially leaves a shootout between Luton and Forest for 17th place, with the two also set to play each other in a proverbial six-pointer on March 17.
Although Luton have shown more fight and desire than most across the Premier League this season, we’re predicting Forest’s superior quality will steer them to safety.
RELEGATION PREDICTION: Luton Town, Burnley, Sheffield United
Tottenham continued to make things harder for themselves with defensive issues, while a previously-maligned striker is finally showing his worth despite his team’s struggle for consistency.
The title race also took a major twist, but is one of the leading contenders set to fall behind the pace?
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at all of the big moments from the weekend’s Premier League action in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!
For the fourth time in their last five games, Tottenham gave themselves a mountain to climb after conceding the first goal.
But, unlike the other three encounters, Ange Postecoglou’s troops simply could not overcome the deficit and escape with at least a point, as Joao Gomes’ 63rd-minute strike helped Wolves seal a 2-1 victory.
The defeat was Tottenham’s first since a 4-2 loss away to Brighton on December 28 and also squeezed them out of the top four after Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Fulham, but it was one that had supposedly been coming.
After all, Postecoglou’s side had failed to keep a clean sheet since a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on December 15.
Even then, a look at the expected goals (xG) from that contest hints Forest were perhaps unlucky not to find the back of the net, accruing an xG of 1.71 to Tottenham’s 1.61, per Understat.
Prior to that, Tottenham’s last clean sheet was on October 23 in a victory over Fulham by the same scoreline.
“If you look at the bigger picture, rather than just this game or even the last three home games, it becomes more worrying for Spurs,” Pitt-Brooke wrote.
“There is a trend that has lasted for longer than the past few weeks. For months, Spurs have looked like a team not performing as well as they could.
Tottenham’s five-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Wolves. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“A team unable to dominate opponents over the whole game, conceding too many chances, often relying on individual quality at both ends of the pitch to get them over the line.”
Granted, there have been mitigating circumstances that can explain Tottenham’s demise at various stages, none more so than a lengthy injury list.
Postecoglou was again unable to start his full strength team against Wolves as Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro, his first choice at left and right back respectively, were unavailable through injury.
But he was able to start his best midfield trio of James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr as well as a front three of Heung-Min Son, Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski.
The Aussie boss reiterated he is “not a magician” and most, if not all are aware his project at Tottenham is in its infancy.
However, with no European football or domestic cup competitions to stress over, Postecoglou has the rare chance to focus solely on the Premier League, something a number of Tottenham’s rivals do not.
Tottenham’s next game is against Crystal Palace on March 3, gifting Postecoglou two weeks to get his squad fully fit and concoct a plan that doesn’t leave his team so defensively exposed.
Postecoglou is hoping to guide Tottenham back to the Champions League. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)Source: AFP
21YO ENTERS ELITE GROUP BUT UNITED REMAIN FRAIL
Who would’ve thought that after firing blanks for 14 consecutive Premier League games Rasmus Hojlund would find himself in the company of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eric Cantona?
Hojlund’s double against Luton Town not only steered Manchester United to victory, but it also meant the Dane had scored in six consecutive league games — something only Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy and Cantona had achieved prior.
Additionally, Hojlund became the youngest in Premier League history to achieve the feat at just 21 years and 14 days, eclipsing Newcastle’s Joe Willock who did it aged 21 years and 272 days.
Hojlund, who moved to Old Trafford from Atalanta in the summer for a staggering £64 million ($AUD123 million), now has seven goals in his last seven league games, a run that has coincided with the Red Devils winning five and drawing six in that same span.
However, a deeper look at United’s performances not just against Luton but across the entire season paints a slightly different, less rosy picture.
Hojlund’s record-breaking scoring run is a welcome distraction from United’s defensive struggles. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Williams gave an alarming comparison: since Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool in 2015, they have faced 20 shots twice … throughout his entire tenure.
It points to a rather chaotic team that isn’t quite riding its luck, but is shipping a staggering amount of chances and should be grateful their rivals aren’t able to capitalise on the opportunities.
A similar tale followed against Luton, a team assembled for less than £10 million.
After Hatters skipper Carlton Morris pulled one back for the hosts at Kenilworth Road, it was all Luton.
Remarkably, United held on for the three points, marking a fourth consecutive league win that inches them closer towards the top four.
“United were a mess, leaders such as Casemiro and Maguire giving no direction,” Winter wrote.
“Heaven knows what the watching Harry Styles thought.”
Winter added: “Another win, but hardly convincing.”
Manchester United continue to win, but they aren’t exactly dominating their rivals. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
DEVASTATING TITLE IMPLICATIONS IN REDS’ CRUEL INJURY CURSE
Last year felt like the closest title run in some time as Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way before the former simply ran out of gas, physically and mentally.
However, Liverpool have returned to the title race picture after last year’s struggles and are the league leaders with 57 points, two ahead of Arsenal (2nd) and four ahead of City (3rd), albeit with a game in hand.
Liverpool and Arsenal made major statements of intent on the weekend with a 4-1 win over Brentford and a 5-0 victory over Burnley respectively.
As for City, they needed an 83rd-minute equaliser from Rodri to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea.
With 13 games left this season, it’s shaping up to be one wild sprint to the finish.
However, of the three teams, it looks like Liverpool are the weakest of the bunch.
In the win over Brentford, Jurgen Klopp was forced to watch Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones all exit the game early with an injury.
Jones and Nunez were largely precautionary but Jota, who has been a vital component to Liverpool’s attack, appears set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
A day before the trip to Brentford, Klopp revealed superstar goalkeeper Alisson was out with injury and did not specify a return date.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai also missed the Brentford clash with a knee and thigh injury respectively, with Klopp claiming both are likely to return after the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on February 26.
Injuries to several key players would be an awfully cruel reason for Liverpool to fade out of the title race, especially in Klopp’s last season at Anfield.
But if City prove to be an inevitable force and Arsenal continue to score goals for fun — they’ve scored 21 goals in their last five league games for an average of 4.2 goals per game — Liverpool simply might not be able to keep up.
Dani Carvajal rammed home the winner in the 99th minute to settle a wild and hugely entertaining clash at the Santiago Bernabeu where Madrid had trailed 2-0.
Almeria took a two-goal lead through Largie Ramazani’s 38th minute strike and a screamer from Edgar Gonzalez.
Madrid battled back to triumph as Jude Bellingham converted a penalty and Vinicius Junior used his upper arm to divert home an equaliser, before Carvajal’s last-gasp winner.
Madrid had three key VAR adjudications go in their favour, including Vinicius’ goal which Almeria considered handball, a goal of their own ruled out and a penalty given to Madrid.
“(We leave) with the feeling we’ve been robbed,” complained Almeria midfielder Gonzalo Melero.
“The penalty, the goal with the hand, the gesture, the goal disallowed for a struggle.
“If we want to be the best league in the world, as is being said a lot… we are light years away. And it’s hard for me to say it, and it p***** me off, but it’s just that there’s no way to take it.”
Almeria defender Marc Pubill echoed his teammates’ sentiment.
“I think that someone decided that we weren’t allowed to win here at Bernabéu today, and that’s what happened,” Pubill told DAZN.
“Nothing more to say.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti disagreed.
Almeria were on the wrong side of contentious VAR decisions. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I understand Almeria’s anger with the VAR decisions, but I think they were well judged,” Ancelotti told reporters.
Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup last Sunday by thrashing Barcelona in Saudi Arabia and then lost 4-2 against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
“It was a tired team,” explained Ancelotti, who said the first-half display was one to forget.
Madrid came roaring back after that, with Bellingham at the heart of it, La Liga’s joint top scorer with Dovbyk firing home from the spot for his 14th goal of the campaign.
After Vinicius nudged in to level, Bellingham had a goal ruled out for offside and sent a superb overhead kick narrowly wide.
The England international helped create the winner by nodding the ball to the back post for Carvajal to smash home and spark jubilant celebrations after another epic Madrid comeback.
Barcelona, third, let a two-goal lead slip against Betis but recovered to stay in the title race.
Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti didn’t feel there were any controversial VAR decisions. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)Source: AFP
Torres scored twice to put Barca two ahead but they surrendered their lead as former Real Madrid playmaker Isco struck a brace of his own.
Joao Felix finished deftly in the 90th minute and Torres netted again to secure victory for the Catalans, who trail neighbours Girona by eight points.
Barcelona handed young defender Pau Cubarsi his first start and with Lamine Yamal also in the team, lined up with two 16-year-olds.
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez was pleased with their performances but also chose to express his concern at the refereeing in Madrid’s win.
“If we talk they will suspend us, but everybody has seen it,” said Xavi. “I already said … there were things that didn’t fit right with me in this league.
“There are things that we can’t control and everyone has seen that.”
After mounting a surprise title tilt last season, with Granit Xhaka enjoying one of his finest campaigns for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta still believed he could find an upgrade in the centre of the park – and he splashed a Premier League-record £105m for Declan Rice.
Now, Rice is becoming an integral cog in the engine room as the Gunners remain firmly in the mix for the title.
What impresses Arteta most about Rice? “The way he dominates key aspects of the game,” replied the manager.
“First of all, it’s the way he reads the game, his intelligence, his decision-making on and off the ball, when to pass the ball, how to pass it, where to look, how to execute, and the timing of that, which is very, very relevant, especially in his position.”
He’s only growing more and more connected with his teammates. He could be the key to going one better than last season and finishing with the coveted trophy.
Although the Gunners rounded out the first half of the season with a disappointing defeat at the Emirates to West Ham, it doesn’t take away from what’s been yet another dazzling run for Arteta’s side.
Declan Rice has looked worth every bit of Arsenal’s major investment. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA (3rd, +15 GD, 39 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Douglas Luiz
Plenty of expert predictions for this season had Villa finishing well out of the title race. Manchester United great Gary Neville predicted a sixth-place finish, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had them out of the top six. It’s fair to say precious few predicted a genuine title challenge, but that’s what Unai Emery’s men have served up. A staggering 15-game win streak on home soil came to an end just before Christmas, though they salvaged a draw with a 97th-minute equaliser against Sheffield United.
Villa’s inability to beat a number of lower-table teams this season — see Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Bournemouth and now Sheffield United — is their biggest blemish this season.
Three of those four games also came away from home, so if Villa are serious about a top four finish they must find a way to take maximum points when expected, especially against those who are struggling.
Ollie Watkins continues to turn in several all-action displays up front, contributing nine goals and six assists to date this season.
But the player most vital to Villa’s transformed fortunes is Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz who orchestrates every deadly move from midfield.
Luiz’s box-to-box displays have been something to behold as he breaks up opposition attacks only to drive the team up the field and thread the needle with aplomb.
Douglas Luiz is the midfield lynchpin driving Aston Villa forward. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
BOURNEMOUTH (12th, -5 GD, 25 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dominic Solanke
Last season was a shemozzle, a mess, a rollercoaster (but not the fun kind). Remember the 9-0 thumping from Liverpool that saw Scott Parker sacked in August? Then came an ownership takeover, a slump to last place in March, before a late-season resurgence to finish 15th under Gary O’Neil, who probably deserved to win manager of the season.
They embarked on a stunning spending spree in the off-season, with a whopping net spend of €126.19m – sixth in the Premier League and in front of Liverpool and Newcastle United. Then they sacked manager O’Neil before the season began. The new owners had high expectations – but while there’s been some promising signs, things haven’t been smooth sailing. They were 19th and winless after nine games (three points), but have since turned things around impressively to rack up 22 points from the next nine games (W7 D1 L1).
After a 6-1 defeat to Man City they could have fallen apart, but instead they’ve been one of the form teams in the league to soar out of the relegation battle.
The big difference from last season has been Solanke’s form, with the ex-Liverpool striker hitting 12 league goals in 18 games – more than last campaign’s top scorer Philip Billing (7) managed in a full season. If he stays at Bournemouth (amid interest from Tottenham and West Ham), the Cherries could even threaten a top-half finish.
Dominic Solanke is enjoying an absurd goalscoring run. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRENTFORD (14th, -3 GD, 19 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Bryan Mbuemo
It was always going to be a tall task spending half a season without star striker Ivan Toney, but Brentford have managed to survive.
Toney was banned from playing until early January after breaching the FA’s gambling rules, meaning the Bees had to rely on other sources for goals.
Cameroonian winger Bryan Mbuemo has largely shouldered the burden and has a club-leading seven Premier League goals to his name.
However, Brentford — and this will be a constant theme for a lot of these teams, so bear with us — have been crippled by serious injuries throughout the season.
Kevin Schade, who turned his loan move to Brentford into a permanent one in the summer, was meant to help share the goalscoring duties but has been out of action since late September with no return date set in.
Star defender Rico Henry is out for the season while right back Aaron Hickey has also been sidelined for several months among others.
The Bees’ form this season has also been quite patchy, winning just one of their first eight games before four victories in their next six. But they’ve now lost four in a row and six of their last seven, seeing them slide towards the relegation zone.
With Toney due to return in mid-January, it could be the boost Brentford need to kickstart their season once again.
Brentford have struggled without their star striker Ivan Toney this season. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON (8th, +5 GD, 30 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Pascal Groß
After the lofty heights of a sixth-place finish last season, high expectations had been set for the Seagulls in the 2023/24 campaign.
But a bright start in which Brighton won five of their opening six games is in the distant past, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side have tasted victory just three times in the following 12.
Although De Zerbi’s great entertainers have been kept scoreless just once this season, they have scored two or more goals just five times since a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in late September.
What is most alarming about Brighton this season is the number of goals they’ve shipped, which stands at 33.
For reference, 16th-placed Nottingham Forest and 18th-placed Luton Town have conceded 34.
Part of this is no doubt down to a backline crippled by injuries.
Star left back Pervis Estupinan had been out for some time before marking his return to action with a screamer against Tottenham, while Tariq Lamptey and Adam Webster have also spent time on the sidelines.
De Zerbi has also switched between Jason Steele and summer signing Bart Verbruggen in the goalkeeper position, offering little consistency in a crucial part of the field after Roberto Sanchez’s exit to Chelsea.
One shining light of consistency this season has been German stalwart Pascal Groß, who continues to be a vital cog in De Zerbi’s Brighton machine.
Another bright spot for Brighton is the goalscoring prowess of Joao Pedro, who joined from Watford for a club-record fee of £30 million.
And despite all of the things that have gone awry for the Seagulls this season, they’re still just three points away from the Europa League spots.
Joao Pedro (centre) leads the goalscoring charts for Brighton. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BURNLEY (19th, -20 GD, 11 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Josh Brownhill
Burnley won the Championship last season at a canter but life in the Premier League has most certainly not been kind.
There was plenty of intrigue as to whether Vincent Kompany’s brand of football at Turf Moor would hold up against the best England has to offer and so far, the answer has been a resounding no.
Kompany took a significant risk going into the season with the youngest squad in the Premier League with an average age of 24 years and 170 days.
So far, it is a risk that has not paid off as Burnley sit 19th and have conceded the second-most goals in the league.
Burnley lost 11 of their first 13 games, achieving a win and a draw over fellow relegation candidates Luton Town and Nottingham Forest respectively.
But apart from that, there hasn’t been much to sing about on the terraces of Turf Moor although a much-needed 2-0 victory away at Fulham will give Kompany’s troops a needed lift going into the second half of the season.
Skipper Josh Brownhill has been one of the few shining lights in this Burnley team, providing a wiser head in a team brimming with young and eager minds.
Staying up this season will be a mammoth task but with Kompany’s remarkable leadership skills, don’t count out the Clarets just yet in the fight for survival.
Vincent Kompany has a massive job on his hands to keep Burnley in the Premier League. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA (10th, +2 GD, 25 pts): F
Mid-season MVP: Cole Palmer
If Chelsea fans thought last year would be the worst of it, well, can only provide our condolences.
A fresh start under new manager Mauricio Pochettino as well as several of the players becoming more familiar with the Premier League had Blues fans hoping for the world.
Instead, they’ve been delivered an atlas.
Chelsea managed to ship off $AUD435 million worth of talent (per Transfermarkt) elsewhere including Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) and Mason Mount (Manchester United) to name just four.
But the players brought in — at an estimated total expense of $756 million — have simply not lived up to the billing.
Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo was the most expensive of the lot, joining Chelsea from Brighton for an eye-watering $187 million.
Yet the Ecuadorean continues to struggle to live up to his price tag and doesn’t look at home in Pochettino’s system.
Sure, Pochettino has been dealt a somewhat rough hand with injuries as skipper Reece James continues to spend more time off the pitch than on it while the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are sidelined for some time.
Yet for a team that has been so expensively assembled and one of Chelsea’s grand stature, just six wins from 17 league games is simply not good enough.
One summer signing who has looked sharp since arriving is Cole Palmer, who looked to be a seriously risky piece of business at $76 million.
But the Manchester City youth product has delivered several crucial performances for Pochettino’s side and is cold as ice when stepping up to take penalties.
Despite Palmer’s emergence, it cannot be ignored that Chelsea are a serious risk of failing to qualify for European football for a second-straight season.
And if that happens, it’s safe to say Chelsea’s answer will be to throw more money at it and hope it fixes itself.
Despite heavy investment in the summer, Chelsea are still struggling badly. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRYSTAL PALACE (15th, -9 GD, 18 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Eberechi Eze
After Roy Hodgson steered the club away from relegation at the end of last season, Crystal Palace rewarded him with a one-year extension.
It’s taken just 19 games for Hodgson, a boyhood Palace fan, to have the Eagles once again nervously looking over their shoulder at the drop to the Championship.
After just two defeats in the first eight games, Hodgson’s troops have suffered a massive nosedive in form.
Palace have lost seven of their last 11 fixtures, with only one win — against 19th-place Burnley — in that run.
The main issue crippling Palace is their inability to find the back of the net, with their tally of 19 goals the third-lowest in the league: only Burnley (18) and Sheffield United (15) are worse.
Talk is heating up about the Palace top brass eyeing up a move for Steve Cooper, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, as a mid-season replacement for Hodgson.
It could be what the team needs if it is to surge up the table and unlock the attacking talent it possesses.
The dynamic duo of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze is one of the league’s most exciting on paper, but largely due to injuries they have not been able to share the field.
If those two can start to fire, Palace theoretically should pull away from the danger zone.
Roy Hodgson has overseen a worrying run of form at Crystal Palace lately. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EVERTON (17th, -1 GD, 16 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dwight McNeil
It’s worth starting with the obvious: Everton copped a Premier League-record ten-point penalty for financial breaches last month that dropped them to 19th and level on points with the bottom-placed team. Without it, they’d be in the top half of the table right now. But the players have responded brilliantly to that hefty blow, beating Newcastle and Chelsea comfortably in recent weeks to climb out of the relegation zone. They are doing so even after recording a €42.30m transfer profit in the off-season – one of only four teams to receive more than they spent. After narrowly avoiding relegation in recent seasons, the points penalty has ignited a fire in their collective belly and they look set to push well clear of danger.
The key marker of improvement behind Everton’s resurgence is their defensive record, a hallmark of Toffees boss Sean Dyche.
Everton have conceded just 25 goals this season, a figure equal with heavyweights like Newcastle and Manchester United.
Although Everton have improved as a collective, one star who looks especially rejuvenated under Dyche is winger Dwight McNeil.
The winger burst onto the scene at Burnley during Dyche’s tenure and the two are once again getting the best out of each other, with McNeil constantly whipping in dangerous crosses that have opposition backlines scrambling.
Despite a 10-point deduction, Everton have not been feeling sorry for themselves. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
FULHAM (13th, -8 GD, 21 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: João Palhinha
After losing talismanic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi club Al-Hilal in the summer, serious questions were going to be asked about Fulham and Marco Silva this season.
Would they have the same goalscoring credentials? Will Silva tweak his team’s style of play to mitigate the loss of Mitrovic?
Could they actually replace Mitrovic and achieve the same results?
In short, no.
Summer signing Raul Jimenez and Willian lead the club’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League with just four to their names, followed by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Alex Iwobi who have three each.
However, Fulham somehow managed to score 16 goals in the space of four games, including back-to-back 5-0 wins at home over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.
Throw in a recent 2-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Burnley and you start to see why Fulham are just a very, very odd team this season.
One man crucial to Fulham’s hopes of a comfortable mid-table finish this season is defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, who almost joined Mitrovic out the exit door but to German giants Bayern Munich instead.
Palhinha could have easily downed tools given the move of a lifetime didn’t come off, but the opposite is true.
The Portuguese start leads the league in tackles by a massive margin and will be crucial to Fulham’s efforts in the second half of the 23/24 campaign.
Fulham are all but certain for a comfortable midtable finish. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL (1st, +23 GD, 42 pts): A+
Mid-season MVP: Mohamed Salah
They’re scoring goals for fun, have the best defensive record in the league and if it weren’t for an egregious officiating error, would be undefeated.
Oh, and they’re sitting in first place too.
It’s been some start to the season for Liverpool who have won 12 of their 19 league games so far.
Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah has been pivotal to Liverpool’s success this season thanks to his 12 goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
The new-look Reds midfield has also impressed, especially summer arrival Dominik Szoboszlai.
Despite all of the Reds’ success this season, they have not been without their flaws.
Liverpool have had to come from behind to either win or draw on eight occasions this season and of those eight games, a goal has arrived in second-half stoppage time.
One side of that argument plays into Jurgen Klopp’s previous comments about his players being “mentality monsters”.
On the other hand, it is an unsustainable trend that could come back to bite Liverpool dearly.
Of course, the biggest question that faces Klopp’s side is how they will cope without Salah when he takes off for the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Given he has been involved in 19 of Liverpool’s 39 league goals this season, his absence takes away the team’s best goalscoring threat.
But Klopp is one of the best managers in the world for a reason and will have devised a plan to make up for Salah’s absence.
Just how well that plan works will likely prove the difference between winning the Premier League and falling agonisingly short yet again.
Mohamed Salah is vital to Liverpool’s title hopes. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
LUTON TOWN (18th, -13 GD, 15 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Ross Barkley
They’ve got no money, the smallest ground in the league, and it’s fair to say they were given no chance of survival. From the start of the season, they showed they were up for the fight. But the big question was always around whether they had enough quality.
In their first 12 games, they had six points and had scored just 10 goals. It felt like they probably deserved more – they gave Man Utd a huge scare and came within inches of beating Liverpool.
But they turned things around after that. Since then, they’ve scored 10 goals in six games and racked up nine points!
After being all-but-written-off in pre-season, they’re mounting a genuine run at avoiding relegation.
The Hatters have now won both games since captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, including a genuine ‘six-pointer’ over Sheffield United.
Ex-PL defender Stephen Kelly told BBC Radio: “Sometimes it can be a horrendous moment like that that galvanises you as a group of players.
“Quality-wise I don’t think Luton are there when it comes to the Premier League and they can’t compete with the finances. But they compete with hard work, energy and desire.”
Maybe the magic touch of quality comes from Barkley, who has slotted in perfectly after joining from French first-tier team Nice in the off-season.
The former Everton and Chelsea midfield star is shining in a deeper role, picking up the ball deep and driving forward. His long balls and ability to draw in defenders has been crucial for Luton’s attack. The 30-year-old is undergoing a career resurgence – and it might just carry the Hatters to survival.
Ross Barkley is enjoying a career resurgence at Luton Town. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER CITY (4th, +22 GD, 37 pts): A-
Mid-season MVP: Rodri
The status that comes with winning four Premier League titles in a row explains why this season so far feels a little below par for Manchester City.
It’s been a rather bizarre season for Pep Guardiola’s side, who found themselves in fourth at the halfway mark of the 23/24 season.
Some things remain relatively normal: Erling Haaland leads the golden boot race with 14, City are the league’s highest scorers with 43 and have conceded the third-fewest goals (21).
But there’s a feeling City, for the first time in a long while, might be a little vulnerable.
The absence of star Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has no doubt played a major role in that sentiment, while Haaland’s recent injury has lightened the load on opposition backlines.
Yet there’s one alarming stat which suggests those two aren’t the vital pieces to City’s title charge.
Instead, it’s Spanish midfielder Rodri.
Granted he’s not going to provide the mind-boggling assist and goal numbers De Bruyne and Haaland provide.
But from the three games City have not had Rodri available, they have lost all three: a 2-1 loss to Wolves as well as 1-0 defeats to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
City also could and perhaps should have a better defensive record, if not for the 4-4 and 3-3 goalfests against Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.
In fact, City have conceded goals in the 90th minute and beyond for three of their four draws this season, pointing to a serious concentration issue that has crept in for Guardiola’s side.
However, there’s always a sense of inevitability with City given they know exactly when to peak during the final run-in and simply cannot be counted out until it’s mathematically impossible.
Manchester City have not won when Rodri has been absent. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
MANCHESTER UNITED (7th, -4 GD, 31 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Bruno Fernandes
Let’s start with the positives. They’re seventh on the ladder and still in top-four contention. Bruno Fernandes is putting together a season for the ages when it comes to playmaking (more on that below). But it’s fair to say there are still big problems.
Ten times this season, Manchester United have conceded more than one goal in the space of 10 minutes or less. This month alone that has included two in five minutes (Villa), two in six (West Ham), two in five (Bournemouth).
Then there’s the attack. United have scored just 21 goals this season, which is the equal-third fewest of any team in the Premier League.
Before their impressive comeback win over Aston Villa, United’s forwards had scored a combined four league goals from open play in 18 games. The team had gone over 420 minutes without scoring before Garnacho’s opening goal against Villa. Big-money signing Rasmus Hojlund’s goal in the game was his first in the league … in his 15th appearance!
“Too many people talk about the strikers at Man Utd,” Garnacho said after the game.
United fans will be hoping their forwards can finally find some form and shut up the critics.
Thankfully, they’re getting plenty of service from Fernandes, who keeps creating chances at a remarkable rate. His expected assists this season stands at 6.47 per understat, while his actual assists is just three. If his teammates can stop missing so many chances, United can still make something of this season.
Bruno Fernandes is providing chances but his United teammates are struggling to finish them. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
NEWCASTLE (9th, +12 GD, 29 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Anthony Gordon
It was always going to be a difficult ask for Newcastle to build on the wild ride all the way to the Champions League they enjoyed last season.
And so far, that’s exactly what it’s proving to be.
A 5-1 win over Aston Villa and an 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United are distant memories as Eddie Howe’s side limped its way to the halfway mark, losing four of their last five games.
The depth of Eddie Howe’s squad has been tested beyond belief as the addition of a European schedule has placed plenty of strain on a playing group desperately short on depth.
Couple that with lengthy injury spells to key players like Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes and Sven Botman to name three and it’s easy to understand why the Magpies are suffering this season.
There’s also been the unwanted distraction of marquee summer recruit Sandro Tonali’s suspension for gambling, robbing Newcastle of a player deemed pivotal to their domestic and European hopes.
But amid all the doom and gloom in the Toon, winger Anthony Gordon has been a shining light.
Gordon wears his heart on his sleeve and it’s his relentless energy that has resulted in vital goals for Newcastle.
The 22-year-old has six league goals to his name but, most crucially, has started 17 of 19 games.
Having guided Newcastle back to the Champions League last season, Howe’s job is extremely likely to be safe despite the team’s struggles this season.
But given it is the first sustained period of on-field woes, it will be extremely intriguing to see how patient Newcastle’s Saudi ownership are.
Newcastle are struggling to emulate the highs of last season. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (16th, -12 GD, 17 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Morgan Gibbs-White
It wasn’t anything close to the transfer extravaganza prior to their Premier League return last year, but Nottingham Forest still decided to loosen the pursestrings and bring a raft of stars to the City Ground, including star wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga.
Despite the high-profile additions, Forest boss Steve Cooper couldn’t quite get them firing when he needed to and as a result the cult hero was sacked.
Looking at Forest’s results this season and it’s hard not to see why club owner Evangelos Marinakis lost patience with Cooper.
Things appeared reasonably bright for the Reds at the start of the season having lost just four of their opening 11 games and even then, those defeats were to Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
But after a surprise 2-0 win at home against Aston Villa, the wheels fell off for Cooper and his team.
Four straight losses — including a 5-0 humiliation away to Fulham which resulted in Marinakis hurling his matchday accreditation into the front garden of a home near Craven Cottage — cranked up the pressure on Cooper.
A 1-1 draw against Wolves only proved to be a brief stay of execution, as a 2-0 loss to Tottenham the following week brought an end to Cooper’s time at the club.
Former Wolves boss Nuno Esperito Santo has now arrived and although he tasted defeat amid controversial circumstances in his first match in charge, Forest looked a brighter side in a 3-1 win away to Newcastle.
Although Forest may privately harbour aspirations bigger than just survival, Nuno’s remit will no doubt be to avoid the drop.
Dynamic forward Morgan Gibbs-White will be vital to achieving this aim, as will the goalscoring prowess of Kiwi striker Chris Wood.
Morgan Gibbs-White (left) is one star who is set to play a big role in keeping Forest up. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SHEFFIELD UNITED (20th, -32 GD, 9 pts): E
Mid-season MVP: Gustavo Hamer
The Blades have lacked a cutting edge (sorry) up front, but they’ve also been sliced apart defensively. They’ve got the worst offensive and defensive record in the league by some distance. In fact, after 19 games, they hold the second-worst defensive record in Premier League history. Their 47 goals conceded is second only to Barnsley 1997-98 (50 conceded).
But to be fair, expectations were low this season, especially when they sold two key players in Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and Sander Berge to rivals Burnley. At times they have been a shambles that feels more like a bunch of individuals than any sort of united team. They’ve lost two games 5-0 and another 8-0, sacked a manager and need a miracle to avoid relegation. It’s been a sorry season.
Hamer, a 15 million pound signing, has been a rare shining light. He struck an absolute screamer on his Premier League debut and has impressed with his workrate on and off the ball. He is creative and courageous – which sometimes results in gifting possession to the opposition too frequently – but he has the kind of intensity and drive to win that is infectious. At least, Sheffield fans will hope so, otherwise it will be straight back to the Championship for the Blades.
Sheffield United are favourites to be relegated. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TOTTENHAM (5th, +11 GD, 36 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Ange Postecoglou (we had to!)
From leading the league in October, to managing to find a way to score goals after losing arguably the club’s greatest-ever striker Harry Kane, and most importantly playing an attractive style of football, it’s been one hell of a start to the season for Spurs. They’ve faced a major injury crisis that’s about as bad as any team in the league, and took out two of their star signings (and most important players overall) James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
At the same time, they’ve been struck down by suspensions – like Cristian Romero, who sums up their season with his two red cards followed by a big injury.
Sure, they had a poor November, but overall the first half of the season has been more than impressive.
They lost 14 games last season. At the mid-point of this season, they’ve lost five.
And if Postecoglou thought he had already undergone a brutal test with a casualty ward at capacity as well as constant suspensions, he’s got a nightmare scenario in the very near future.
He’s about to lose star midfield duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr to the African Cup of Nations as well as club captain Heung-Min Son to the Asian Cup.
But the Australian boss has never shied away from a challenge and he won’t be about to do so now.
Perspective is also needed when viewing Postecoglou’s achievements amid the brutal hand he has been dealt when it comes to the unavailability of several of his first team stars.
When he’s had everyone free to play, we’ve seen just how good this Tottenham team can be.
Postecoglou has enjoyed a true rollercoaster of a Premier League season and we’re only at the halfway mark. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WEST HAM (6th, +3 GD, 33 pts): B
Mid-season MVP: Jarrod Bowen
Prior to the season, the big question surrounding West Ham was about how they would navigate life without talismanic midfielder and captain Declan Rice after his £105 million move to Arsenal.
Granted, a direct replacement of Rice’s quality was just about impossible.
But thanks to the summer additions of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, Rice’s absence is not as keenly felt as first feared.
Hammers boss David Moyes also began the season as one manager tipped as a likely chance of getting sacked and, for a brief period this season, it looked like that could have eventuated.
A run of five defeats in seven games heaped pressure on the Scot, but in typical Moyes fashion, he managed to turn the ship around.
Since that run, West Ham have lost just once — a rogue 5-0 hammering at the hands of Fulham — and have won six of their last eight to rocket up from 12th place all the way to sixth.
Pivotal to this uptick in form is the dynamic trio of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
Paqueta leads the league in the most through balls with 19, ahead of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard, and has five assists to his name.
After a slow start, Kudus has found his feet in the Premier League and has four goals in his last six league games.
But it is Bowen who has been the real shining light of West Ham, with his 11 goals to date proving vital.
His pace and ability to stretch opposition backlines is crucial to the Hammers hitting teams in transition and, as it stands, should be considered a lock for England’s squad at EURO 2024.
Jarrod Bowen is in sensational form for West Ham this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WOLVES (11th, -4 GD, 25 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: Matheus Cunha
When Julen Lopetegui resigned on August 8, many Wolves fans would have been forgiven if they feared the worst going into this season.
The relatively underwhelming appointment of Gary O’Neil — who was sacked by Bournemouth not long after the end of the 2022/23 season — did little to allay those fears.
Despite the initial fears, Wolves fans backed O’Neil to the hilt and that bond has strengthened over the course of this season.
The highs have been very high for Wolves so far, with home wins against the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City giving the Molineux faithful plenty to sing about.
But the one thing that has tightened the bond between Wolves fans and O’Neil is the fact the club has been on the wrong side of an alarming number of VAR calls.
It began in the first match of the season when Wolves were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic.
Wolves also had two penalty calls go against them in the 3-2 defeat to Fulham, with O’Neil even claiming referee Michael Salisbury told him he made a mistake in awarding one of the penalties.
It led O’Neil to state his team had lost seven points as a result of VAR’s ineptitude, but it also helped create a siege mentality amongst the entire club.
To an extent it’s paid off, with Wolves sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone and only six points off seventh, the position which qualifies a team for the Europa Conference League.
Matheus Cunha, who joined on a permanent deal in the summer, is a big reason for Wolves’ improvement this season as are the goals from Hwang Hee-Chan.
Cunha’s four goals and five assists goes some way to explaining the attacking threat he provides for O’Neil’s team and will look to continue to be a nuisance for the opposition.
Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa into fourth place in the Premier League as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Tottenham on a day the hosts paid tribute to former boss Terry Venables.
Unai Emery’s side trailed to Giovani Lo Celso’s first goal of the season in the first half in north London.
But Pau Torres equalised just before the break and Watkins’ 12th goal this term wrapped up an impressive result for revitalised Villa.
Villa moved above Tottenham into fourth, with Ange Postecoglou’s team falling two points behind them in fifth after a third successive defeat stalled their early-season momentum.
Tottenham have squandered the lead in all three of their defeats, but Postecoglou could point to the injuries that have robbed him of several key players including James Maddison.
Darwin restrained in tense confrontation | 00:42
“Tough outcome but I couldn’t be happier with the way the boys played. I’m really proud of them,” he told Sky Sports.
“I thought we played some fantastic football and on another day we’d have probably won the game comfortably.
“I can’t fault the effort, the intent and everything they put into the game.
“There’s no frustration. We played well and as a manager that’s all you can ask for.
“Sometimes the outcomes don’t go the way you want but as a manager, you’re looking for how the players are committed to what we’re trying to do and they were totally committed to it today.”
Villa’s resilient third away win in their last 11 league games underlined the improvements made by Emery since he replaced the sacked Steven Gerrard last season.
Sitting just two points behind leaders Arsenal, Villa have won four of their last five league games to spark genuine hopes of a top four challenge.
It was mixed reactions for Ange Postecoglou. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It was an amazing match. Both teams created chances. We were efficient and clinical in our attacking. I enjoyed it but I lost my energy!” Emery said.
“Of course we can get confidence when we are winning matches like today. We are willing to fight. I tell the players ‘enjoy our position but we are not content’.” As an innovative former manager of England, Barcelona and Tottenham, where he won the FA Cup in 1991, Venables would have appreciated the attacking quality of both teams on the day he passed away aged 80.
With both teams wearing black armbands, a picture of Venables was displayed on each of the big screens during a minute of applause in celebration of his life before kick-off.
Tottenham were on top in the opening stages and Dejan Kulusevski blasted against the post after showing nimble footwork to prise open the Villa defence.
Postecoglou’s men were back on the offensive as Bryan Gil was denied by a fine save from Emiliano Martinez.
Their enterprising play reaped a deserved reward in the 22nd minute when Villa could only clear a corner to the edge of the area, where Lo Celso hammered a powerful strike that deflected in off Carlos.
VAR denies City goal in draw with Reds | 00:43
Villa thought they had mustered an immediate response as Watkins glanced his header past Guglielmo Vicario from Lucas Digne’s cross.
But, after a VAR check of almost three minutes, the goal was disallowed for a tight offside against Watkins.
Kulusevski was inches away from doubling Tottenham’s lead with a curler before Son Heung-min’s goal was chalked off for another offside.
For all their dashing play in attack, Tottenham were vulnerable at the back and Villa took advantage in first half stoppage-time.
Douglas Luiz’s free-kick found Torres unmarked 10 yards out and the Spanish defender thumped his header past Vicario, with the goal surviving another extended VAR check.
Villa were nearly gifted the lead early in the second half when Vicario allowed Leon Bailey’s shot to squirm under him before gratefully grabbing the ball after it rebounded off the post.
Emery’s men exposed the flaws in Tottenham’s defence again to take the lead in the 61st minute.
A neat move climaxed with Watkins playing a one-two with Youri Tielemans to open up the creaky Tottenham rearguard before the England striker guided a clinical finish into the far corner from 12 yards.
Martinez made excellent stops to repel efforts from Brennan Johnson and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg before Son’s strike was disallowed for offside to cap a frustrating afternoon for Tottenham.
Australian manager Ange Postecoglou has joined rare air in the Premier League with a third consecutive Manager of the Month award – but there’s been a brutal injury update that will make claiming a fourth-straight award much tougher.
Postecoglou led Tottenham to a perfect trio of wins in October, beating Luton Town and Crystal Palace away and Fulham at home – enough to scoop him the award for the third month in a row.
It makes him just the fourth manager to achieve the feat, but the first to do it at the opening of the season.
Antonio Conte (Chelsea), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) and Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) each won the award three months’ running, while Postecoglou will have Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola in his sights, the manager who holds the record for four consecutive awards (September-December 2017)
Postecoglou has also revealed that Tottenham are expected to be without James Maddison and Micky van de Ven until 2024.
Dutch international centre-back Van de Ven suffered a hamstring injury while midfielder Maddison injured his ankle in Monday’s 4-1 loss at home to Chelsea.
Spurs also had Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie sent off during their first defeat of the league season, which means Postecoglou will be without several key players for Saturday’s trip to Wolves.
Brighton too good for Ajax in Europa | 00:50
“Fair to say a fair bit happened after Monday,” Postecoglou said on Friday. “Micky obviously with that hamstring injury, we knew it was fairly significant, probably a couple of months for him looking into the new year.
“Madders is a lot worse than we thought. He came off with an ankle injury and the next day wasn’t great, so we sent him for a scan. Again probably into the new year for him.” Tottenham, who are second in the Premier League table, a point behind champions Manchester City, earlier Friday confirmed that Maddison had withdrawn from the England squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Erling Haaland ended his Champions League goal drought as Manchester City extended their perfect start to the tournament with a 3-1 win at Swiss side Young Boys.
Haaland arrived in rain-lashed Bern without a goal in his previous five Champions League matches.
The City striker had scored 35 goals in his first 30 Champions League appearances and he got back on track in the competition with a second-half double at the Wankdorf Stadium.
Haaland’s penalty restored City’s lead after Meschack Elia had cancelled out Manuel Akanji’s second-half opener for the holders.
Switzerland defender Akanji’s first goal for City this season came on his return to his homeland, just days after he was sent off in the treble winners’ victory over Brighton in the Premier League.
Haaland struck again in the closing stages to wrap up the points and take him to 11 goals in all competitions this term.
Erling Haaland celebrates with his teammates. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)Source: AFP
Pep Guardiola’s side sit top of Group G after a third successive victory following their wins against Red Star Belgrade and RB Leipzig.
Another success against Young Boys at the Etihad Stadium next month would ensure City qualify for the knockout stages with two matches to spare.
Guardiola has admitted City are suffering a mild hangover from winning the treble, with consecutive Premier League defeats against Wolves and Arsenal recently following a League Cup loss to Newcastle.
But City are unbeaten in their last 16 Champions League matches and even the unique challenge posed by Young Boys’ synthetic pitch could not derail their dominance in the tournament.
They remain a potent force even at less than 100 percent and should have taken an immediate lead against Young Boys when Rodri stooped to head just wide from Matheus Nunes’ corner.
Young Boys keeper Anthony Racioppi repelled Jeremy Doku’s blast after the City winger was set up by Jack Grealish.
As City’s pressure mounted, Grealish’s shot was dropped by Racioppi, but Nunes’s close-range effort was cleared off the line by Loris Benito.
Despite their dominance, Guardiola’s men were almost caught by a pair of sucker punches.
Nathan Ake’s last-ditch tackle stopped Sandro Lauper in his tracks as he prepared to shoot, while Cedric Itten’s header looped onto the roof of Ederson’s net.
Racioppi came to the hosts’ rescue on the stroke of half-time with a fine save from Doku’s curler and then another impressive stop to keep out Rodi’s flicked effort.
Erling Haaland (R) scores his team’s second goal on a penalty shot. (Photo by GABRIEL MONNET / AFP)Source: AFP
City finally made the breakthrough in the 48th minute when Ruben Dias’s header was pushed onto the bar by Racioppi and Akanji was on hand on to poke home from close range.
Their advantage lasted only four minutes as Cheikh Niasse’s defence-splitting pass from deep inside his own half sent Elia sprinting clear.
Ederson raced off his line in a bid to avert the danger but Elia lofted a superb chipped finish over the Brazilian from the edge of the area.
Having unexpectedly squandered the lead, City quickly went back in front after 67 minutes.
Rodri was sent crashing in the area by Mohamed Ali Camara and Haaland stepped up to smash home the penalty.
Julian Alvarez’s 74th-minute goal was disallowed for a handball by Grealish in the build-up.
But Haaland ensured City would head home with their 100 percent start intact, taking a touch from Rodri’s pass before whipping a fine finish into the far corner from just inside the area in the 86th minute.
BARCELONA CONTINUE WINNING WAYS
Elsewhere, Barcelona continued their perfect start in the Champions League and warmed up for the Clasico at the weekend with a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Spanish champions held off their Ukrainian visitors to take their third win from three games and put one foot into the knock-out stages after failing to progress in the past two seasons.
Ferran Torres opened the scoring for Barca with 20-year-old midfielder Fermin Lopez smashing home the second from the edge of the box.
After 17-year-old debutant Marc Guiu struck the winner against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend, Lopez’s display meant it was another fine night for Barcelona’s La Masia talent factory.
Ferran Torres celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) *BESTPIX*Source: Getty Images
Heorhiy Sudakov pulled one back for Shakhtar after a Barca defensive lapse, creating a nervy finale for the hosts, but they held on to the three points.
Barca took forward Joao Felix off hurt in the final stages, with another injury to add to a long list the last thing they need.
Barcelona were already without several key players, including Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, leading Xavi to deploy winger Torres in the middle of the attack.
The former Manchester City player said he was ready to step up a level in an important week for the club, with Real Madrid visiting on Saturday.
He started brightly and hammered home before the half-hour mark after Ilkay Gundogan sweetly teed up Lopez, whose effort came back off the upright.
The goal was initially ruled out but VAR showed Lopez had timed his run to perfection to reach the German midfielder’s nicely weighted chip over the top.
Lopez, who made his debut in August, rescued Barcelona a draw earlier this season at Real Mallorca and staked his claim for a start against Madrid with his best performance to date, in for the suspended Gavi.
Dmytro Riznyk had saved well from the midfielder early on but could do nothing about his goal, a cannonball strike, in off the post to shore up Barca’s position.
Riznyk did well to save a Felix header early in the second half and was relieved to see the offside flag up against Torres as he clipped home after an hour.
Just a couple of minutes later, Shakhtar earned a foothold in the game. Joao Cancelo did not get back into position after yet another foray forward, and Oriol Romeu was left in the dust by Sudakov, who finished well at the near post.
It was the first goal Barcelona have conceded in the campaign. Lopez hit the post with another long-range effort and then had a header ruled out for offside as he continued his all-action display.
Barcelona wound down seven minutes of stoppage time to take the points as supporters in the stands turned their attention to the impending Clasico.
Shakhtar are third, provisionally level with second-placed Porto on three points, who visit bottom side Antwerp later, while Barcelona lead with nine.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND BLOW GROUP OF DEATH WIDE OPEN
Borussia Dortmund blew the Champions League’s group of death wide open as Felix Nmecha’s goal beat Newcastle 1-0 at St James’ Park.
Newcastle twice hit the woodwork in the closing stages through Callum Wilson and Fabian Schar, but now have work to do to reach the last 16 on their return to the competition after 20 years.
The German giants’ first win in Group F lifts Dortmund above Newcastle on head-to-head record with both sides on four points.
Paris Saint-Germain lead the section on six points with last season’s semi-finalists AC Milan bottom on two.
Newcastle had announced their return to the Champions League stage in style with a 4-1 demolition of PSG three weeks ago.
But the Magpies were handed a deserved reality check after a surprisingly flat performance.
Dortmund had failed to score in their opening two games in the toughest group in the draw.
But their defeat by PSG last month was the only time they have lost in 12 games so far this season.
Borussia Dortmund’s players celebrate. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
Dortmund dominated the opening 45 minutes, but should still have fallen behind when Anthony Gordon fired straight at Gregor Kobel with just the Swiss goalkeeper to beat.
Newcastle were then dealt a major blow when former Dortmund striker Alexander Isak was forced off with injury.
Donyell Malen and Niclas Fullkrug tested Nick Pope but it was an inspired piece of play from a centre-back that eventually helped Edin Terzic’s men break their duck.
Nico Schlotterbeck robbed Gordon of possession in midfield and burst forward before crossing for Nmecha to stroke into the far corner in first-half stoppage time.
Sandro Tonali is expected to be handed a 10-month ban in the coming days for alleged breaches of betting rules during his time with AC Milan.
However, Eddie Howe still turned to the Italian international off the bench to try and inspire a turnaround.
Newcastle were left to rue one huge missed opportunity when Isak’s replacement, Wilson, fired into Kobel’s legs with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Wilson then saw a flicked header come back off the crossbar. Howe’s men came even closer in the dying seconds of stoppage time as Schar’s deflected effort looped over a helpless Kobel and bounced kindly back off the bar for Dortmund into the path of a covering defender.
But the visitors clung on to leave the group delicately poised heading into another clash between the sides in Dortmund on November 7.
PITCH INVADER’S CHEEKY ACT AS PSG STORM TO BIG WIN
Kylian Mbappe, Randal Kolo Muani and Lee Kang-in were all on target as Paris Saint-Germain got back to winning ways in the Champions League with an impressive 3-0 home victory against AC Milan.
PSG were eager to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat away to Newcastle United three weeks ago and they ultimately had too much attacking quality for their Italian visitors at the Parc des Princes.
Mbappe opened the scoring with a lethal finish just after the half-hour mark for his 10th club goal this season, and his France teammate Kolo Muani added another shortly after half-time.
Lee Kang-in then came off the bench to net the third late on, the South Korean star’s first for the club.
PSG thoroughly deserved their win, with the Ligue 1 side a completely different proposition from the disjointed team that was overloaded with forwards and overrun in midfield in the defeat by Newcastle.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates with teammates. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
Having started their European campaign with a 2-0 home win against Borussia Dortmund, Luis Enrique’s PSG side top Group F at the halfway stage with six points ahead of a trip to Milan early next month.
Milan, the seven-time European champions, are bottom of the group with two points and a big concern for Stefano Pioli’s side will be that they have yet to score a goal in the competition this season.
This game saw French international brothers Lucas Hernandez, the PSG defender, and Theo, the Milan captain, come up against each other for the first time.
It also saw PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and his Milan counterpart Mike Maignan come up against the clubs with whom they started their careers.
But the stars of the show were elsewhere, with Mbappe — who was hugged by a pitch invader in the first half — looking arguably sharper than he has done at any point up to now this season for PSG.
A pitch invader embraces Kylian Mbappe. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesThe pitch invader then quickly bolts. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)Source: AFP
Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery was exceptional in the PSG midfield and his latest impressive performance will not have gone unnoticed by France coach Didier Deschamps, who was watching from the stands.
There were seven current full French internationals on the field at kick-off and it was national team captain Mbappe who opened the scoring in the 32nd minute.
Zaire-Emery collected possession just inside his own half, burst away from Tijjani Reijnders and found Mbappe, who advanced into the box before beating Maignan with an early, low shot into the corner.
That was a blow to Milan, who had started well and upset the Paris defence with their high pressing, and also saw Rafael Leao curl an effort not far wide shortly before the goal.
It was not just Zaire-Emery who impressed in the home midfield, with Vitinha continuing his fine form this season in a position close to Mbappe on the left.
Meanwhile Manuel Ugarte is the man who holds it all together, but his physical approach denied PSG a second goal three minutes into the second half.
Ousmane Dembele thought he had scored his first goal for the Qatar-owned club since signing from Barcelona in the close season, as he ran through to plant a low shot beyond Maignan into the far corner.
However, Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic disallowed the goal following a VAR review for a foul by Ugarte on Yunus Musah in the build-up.
PSG didn’t have to wait long to make it 2-0 though, as Kolo Muani turned the ball into an empty net in the 53rd minute after Maignan had pushed out a Dembele shot.
Milan tried unsuccessfully to find a way back into the game, while Maignan intervened more than once to stop Mbappe scoring again, notably touching a shot onto the outside of the post.
But the home side made it three in the 89th minute as the outstanding Zaire-Emery powered forward down the right and set up Lee to score with a first-time strike.
CELTIC HOLD OFF 10-MAN ATLETICO
Celtic earned their first Champions League point of the season but were left to rue twice letting a lead slip in a pulsating 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid.
The Scottish champions struck after just four minutes through Kyogo Furuhashi before Antoine Griezmann levelled on the rebound after his penalty was turned onto the post by home goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Luis Palma restored Celtic’s lead before half-time, but Alvaro Morata’s header ensured Atletico’s unbeaten run stretches to eight games.
The Spanish giants had Rodrigo De Paul sent off in the closing stages. Celtic, though, could not make the man advantage count in the final eight minutes plus stoppage time as their 10-year wait for a Champions League group-stage win at home goes on.
A draw takes Atletico to within a point of Group E leaders Feyenoord, who beat Lazio 3-1.
Ange makes history! Spurs v Fulham wrap | 03:32
Celtic remain bottom, three points adrift of the third-placed Italians. There could also be further ramifications from the match for Celtic after fans defied a club plea by waving Palestine flags in a show of support to people in Gaza during the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.
A leading Celtic fans’ group announced they would distribute flags outside the stadium.
In a statement before the match, Celtic asked for “banners, flags and symbols relating to the conflict and those countries involved in it are not displayed at Celtic Park at this time”.
Once the action got underway, the home side were inspired by the hostile atmosphere.
Matt O’Riley’s through ball sliced open the Atletico defence for Kyogo to dink home his seventh goal of the season.
But Brendan Rodgers’ men have found the step up to Champions League level tougher defensively and a naive challenge from Greg Taylor on Nahuel Molina handed the visitors a glorious chance to equalise.
Hart tipped Griezmann’s spot-kick onto the woodwork, but the ball bounced back kindly for the French international to roll into an empty net.
Celtic hit back within three minutes when Palma blasted into the far corner from Daizen Maeda’s cross.
Atletico thought they had levelled again before half-time only for Axel Witsel’s header to be ruled out for offside.
Diego Simeone’s men did not have to wait long after the break to equalise when Morata stooped to divert a brilliant header high past Hart from Marcos Llorente’s cross on 53 minutes.
Atletico then looked set to go on and win the game as Celtic paid for their first-half efforts by tiring in the second period.
But De Paul dived in on Paulo Bernardo to earn a second yellow card and at least give the hosts some breathing space in the closing stages, even if they failed to find a winner.
The Bucks pulled the trigger on one of the biggest trades in recent seasons, landing point guard Damian Lillard to partner Giannis Antetokounmpo as they aim to head back to the NBA Finals.
Meanwhile, can Australia’s very own Josh Giddey and his emerging Oklahoma City Thunder squad progress to the playoffs after falling agonisingly short last season?
Here at foxsports.com.au, we’ve run our eye over all 30 teams. Read on for our bumper NBA season preview!
Analysis: It was only three seasons ago that the Hawks made the Eastern Conference Finals, but in the two campaigns since, they’ve been bundled out in the first round. It’s clear what this team wants to do, considering they possess a stack of shooters, including Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic and the emerging Saddiq Bey. They also added Patty Mills and Wesley Matthews in the offseason as well as drafting shooting guard Kobe Bufkin. The back-court of Young and Dejounte Murray, who signed a 4-year, $120 million extension, is one of the best in the league. They compliment each other well and showed that in the first round of the playoffs, when taking two games off the Celtics. Quin Snyder took over as coach towards the end of last season and is an upgrade on Nate McMillan, who was fired heading into the All-Star break. Snyder has had a full offseason with the Hawks which is important, and that, coupled with the addition of two savvy veterans, should see Atlanta improve on last season and make some noise in the East.
Prediction: 6th in the East
BOSTON CELTICS
Gained: PF Kristaps Porzingis, PG Jrue Holiday, G Oshae Brissett
Lost: SG Marcus Smart, F Grant Williams, F Robert Williams, PG Malcolm Brogdon
Analysis: The Celtics have made the conference finals in three of the last four seasons but keep finding a way to fall short. Favoured by many to win it all in 2022-2023, it was a disappointing playoff campaign last season, taking six games to beat the Hawks, seven to progress over the 76ers in the conference semis before losing in seven against the Heat. Something needs to give in order to get over the hump, so GM Brad Stevens decided to make a number of huge moves this offseason, including orchestrating a bumper trade to acquire Porzingis. Unfortunately, that mean tough-nosed fan favourite Marcus Smart had to go. The Celtics also picked up Jrue Holiday in the Damien Lillard-to-Milwaukee three-team trade. In addition, star forward Jaylen Brown ensured his future in Boston by signing the richest NBA deal ever. Throw in MVP candidate Jayson Tatum and the Celtics boasts one of the most potent offenses in the NBA and are as well as they’ve ever been placed to win their first title in 15 years.
Prediction: 1st
BROOKLYN NETS
Gained: PG Dennis Smith Jr, G Lonnie Walker, F Noah Clowney (draft), G Dariq Whitehead (draft)
Lost: F Yuta Watanabe
Analysis: The question on the lips of many is ‘will Ben Simmons ever get back to his best?’ The Aussie star has barely been sighted over the past two seasons (just 42 games) and has become an NBA whipping boy. However, there have been good signs in the offseason/preseason that Simmons is ready to perform like we know he can. Simply put, he’s going to have to for this Nets team to have any chance of winning at least one playoff series. Defensively, Simmons makes this team much better, and that aspect is going to have to be a strength for a Nets side who lack a superstar. Mikal Bridges emerged last season after being traded from Phoenix as a part of the Kevin Durant deal. Of course, the Nets boast several draft picks from the Durant and Kyrie Irving (Dallas) trades, so perhaps the front office could use those in future deals to improve their team immediately. However, until that happens, the Nets are just a middle-of-the-road team.
Prediction: 12th
Ben Simmons.Source: Getty Images
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Gained: Brandon Miller (1st round draft pick)
Lost: G Dennis Smith Jr, Kelly Oubre Jr, Kai Jones
Analysis: The Hornets were never in the hunt last season, finishing with one of the worst records in the league (27-55). They are likely to be significant improvers this time around, even though it likely won’t end in a playoff berth. Charlotte drafted Alabama guard/forward Brandon Miller with the second overall pick, and he’s a player who should boost this team right away as he was the most-ready-made prospect in the entire draft. LaMelo Ball is a star, who inked a massive five-year extension, but his absence through injury for most of last season was noticeable. The Hornets really could have used Miles Bridges, but his future on the team is uncertain. Bridges, who didn’t play at all last season, was suspended 30 games by the league after being charged with domestic violence. He was due back this season but has since violated a protection order. There are some good, young pieces on this roster (Ball, Miller), and underrated players who are more than capable (PJ Washington, Mark Williams) and will improve from last season, I just don’t think there are a team primed to challenge in the East just yet.
Prediction: 13th
CHICAGO BULLS
Gained: G Jevon Carter, F Torrey Craig
Lost: G Pat Beverley, F Derrick Jones Jr.
Analysis: It’s fair to say the 2022-23 Bulls were a big disappointment. The 40-42 record indicates a mediocre team, which is what they were, despite boasting Zach Lavine, Demar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. With so much money tied up in those three players, there isn’t much wiggle room for the Bulls to improve their roster and barring the pick-up of some needed point guard depth in Jevon Carter, they didn’t really get a whole lot better in the offseason. Sadly, Lonzo Ball will again miss yet another season with his troublesome left knee. He would have been a huge help. High draft pick Patrick Williams hasn’t kicked on like the franchise would have expected, and if anything, regressed last season. At this stage, the Bulls are a middling team and with Lavine, DeRozan and Vucevic not getting any younger, I don’t envisage them scaring anyone in the East.
Prediction: 9th
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Gained: G Max Strus, F Georges Niang, G Emoni Bates (draft)
Lost: F Cedi Osman
Analysis: Donovan Mitchell was excellent in his first season with the Cavs, averaging over 28 points a game, building a strong back-court with the talented PG Darius Garland who should only improve again in what is his fifth year in the league. Evan Mobley impressed in his second season, showing off plenty of versatility. After winning 51 games in the regular season, was an anticlimactic end for the Cavs, losing to the Knicks 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs. They were able to get better in the offseason as they didn’t lose any key players but were able to add a couple of sharpshooters in Max Strus and Georges Niang. The Cavs are one of the better teams in the East, but until they can win at least a series in the postseason, they aren’t yet a serious threat for the title.
Prediction: 3rd
Donovan MitchellSource: Getty Images
DETROIT PISTONS
Gained: F Joe Harris, G Monte Morris, G Ausar Thompson (draft)
Lost: G Cory Joseph
Analysis: The Pistons have a new coach in the well-regarded Monty Williams and plenty of young pieces who should enjoy long NBA careers. The return of Cade Cunningham is key. He was very good as a rookie and improved in his second season but only played 12 games before a stress fracture ended his season, although there was seldom a shot he didn’t like which affected his shooting percentage. Jaden Ivey is Cunningham’s running mate in the back court and he made huge strides last season. Jalen Duren is Detroit’s centre of the future while rookie Ausar Thompson will have an immediate impact defensively. It won’t be hard to win more games than they did last season (17) but it won’t be for at least a couple of years until we see the Pistons be in a position to challenge for a championship.
Prediction: 14th
INDIANA PACERS
Gained: G Bruce Brown, F Opi Toppin, G Ben Sheppard (draft), F Jarace Walker
Lost: G Chris Duarte
Analysis: There were plenty of decent signs from this Pacers team last year, despite missing the postseason with a 35-47 record. Tyrese Haliburton was one of the league’s best point guards and was rewarded with a new contract. The Pacers added the tenacious Bruce Brown from the championship winning Nuggets and playing around him will only improve this team’s effort. Bennedict Mathurin looks set for a very good career in this league after showing out as a 6th man in his rookie season. Expect to see him in the starting line up in the near future. The Pacers should improve on last season’s record.
Prediction: 11th
MIAMI HEAT
Gained: C Thomas Bryant, F Jaime Jaquez (draft)
Lost: G Gabe Vincent, G Victor Oladipo, F Max Strus
Analysis: It was a remarkable run from the Heat last season, progressing to the NBA Finals from the Play-In Tournament. The catalyst for that run was the play of Jimmy Butler, who had one of the all-time finals series. There was a time during the offseason where it appeared Damian Lillard would end up at the Heat, but it was the Bucks who swooped in, which caught the ire of a few Miami players, notably Butler. However, they have to let bygones be bygones and focus on the team they have. Tyler Herro’s return from a wrist injury is a big boost but the losses of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus will be felt as both players were strong contributers last season. With that said, the Butler-led Heat will again be competitive with Herro and Bam Adebayo to feature prominently. After last season, you just can’t count this team out.
Prediction: 7th
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Gained: PG Damian Lillard, G Malik Beasley, C Robin Lopez
Lost: PG Jrue Holiday, G Grayson Allen
Analysis: After being bundled out in the first round last year (the sixth ever No.1 seed to lose to an 8 seed), superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo made no secret that the Bucks had to make improvements soon or he might be out of there. The front office were obviously listening as the Bucks pulled off one of biggest trades in recent memory when acquiring Portland point guard Damian Lillard. Unfortunately, they had to part ways with fan favourite Jrue Holiday but it was clear it was a move Milwaukee had to make to get back into the NBA Finals. It’s the first time both Lillard and Antetokounmpo have played with another star player and the veteran point guard’s best chance of winning a championship after toiling away in Portland in recent seasons. Giannis may have only just signed a new three-year extension worth $186m (USD), but the clock is ticking on this new partnership. The Bucks have to win now as the franchise have committed so much money to both Antetokounmpo and Lillard to the tune of over $122m (USD) a year between the two of them. In fact, Antetokounmpo and Lillard are the two highest earners in the NBA annually ($62m, $60.8m respectively). The Bucks’ first round exit last season resulted in coach Mike Budenholzer’s firing. He’s been replaced with former Toronto assistant and rookie head coach Adrian Griffin.
Prediction: 2nd
Milwaukee’s trade for Damian Lillard sent shockwaves through the NBA.Source: AFP
NEW YORK KNICKS
Gained: G Donte DiVincenzo
Lost: G Derrick Rose, F Obi Toppin
Analysis: The Knicks won just their second playoff series in 10 years when defeating the Cavs 4-1. It was one of their better seasons in recent memory and they’ll hope to build off that. The Jalen Brunson acquisition was a terrific move with the point guard taking his game to a new level in New York after getting out from under Luka Doncic’s shadow in Denver. Immanuel Quickley also had a career-best season, resulting in a runner-up finish in the sixth man of the year race. There are no out-and-out superstars on their roster, but they have a very good core of Brunson, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and are a well-coached team. They will be thereabouts again.
Prediction: 5th
ORLANDO MAGIC
Gained: G Anthony Black (draft), F Jett Howard (draft)
Lost: F Bol Bol
Analysis: There’s plenty to like about this team and the way they finished off last season, and if it wasn’t for such a sluggish start, the Magic would have likely made the Play-In Tournament. Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero was immense from day dot for the Magic, averaging nearly 21 points and seven rebounds a game. He leads a young team that just got younger in the offseason, adding Anthony Black (6th overall) and Jett Howard (11th overall) in the draft. Orlando just inked an extension with handy guard Cole Anthony who is plenty versatile and will be a sixth-man of the year contender this season. Are the Magic a serious threat? Far from it, but they should provide plenty of entertainment as they continue navigating through a rebuild.
Prediction: 10th
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic may surprise some people this season.Source: AFP
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Gained: G Pat Beverley, F Kelly Oubre
Lost: F Georges Niang, G Shake Milton
Analysis: We will start with the elephant in the room. What in the world is going on with James Harden? At this stage, it doesn’t appear he’ll be on the floor for the 76ers’ opening game against the Bucks on Friday (AEDT). What happened? Well the relationship between Harden and GM Daryl Morey has disintegrated badly with the star guard publicly calling out Morey numerous times this offseason in addition to requesting a trade (which hasn’t been granted). Harden opted into his contract and picked up his $35.6 million (USD) option but then wanted to be traded. In Harden’s eyes, he should have been offered a long term deal and wasn’t so Morey can’t be trusted. New coach Nick Nurse will have to go on without Harden, who led the league in assists last season. Joel Embiid was able to win his first MVP this season, and while he will still be one of the best players in basketball with or without Harden, he may not be as effective as last season without Harden running point. The 76ers have picked up a couple of good role players in Beverley and Oubre Jr, the latter who will instantly improve the team’s three-point shooting.
Prediction: 4th
Has James Harden played his last game for the 76ers?Source: AFP
TORONTO RAPTORS
Gained: G Dennis Schroder, G Gradey Dick (draft)
Lost: G Fred VanVleet
Analysis: It’s a new dawn for the Toronto Raptors, who fired Nick Nurse after an underwhelming 10th placed finish last season and replaced him with rookie NBA head coach Darko Rajakovic. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam is the star of the show, but he’ll need help from the likes of Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby with Fred VanVleet leaving in free agency. It was somewhat of a sophomore slump for Barnes last season but expect him to bounce back. He’s a stat sheet filler who is improving his shooting range so if the Raptors are to play well, he’ll need to be better. Rookie Gradey Dick is a three-point threat which is desperately needed, especially in VanVleet’s absence. They are a long way from getting back to a championship, but their best form would be good enough to progress to the playoffs and perhaps win a series.
Prediction: 8th
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Gained: G Jordan Poole, G Tyus Jones, G Landry Shamet, F Bilal Coulibaly (draft)
Lost: G Brad Beal, G Monte Morris, F Kristaps Porzingis
Analysis: The Wizards said farewell to Brad Beal and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason, their two best players. Beal is a huge loss as he was the heart-and-soul of this team, but it was a necessary change to trade him onto a contender as they weren’t getting anywhere with him as the team’s first scoring option. Instead, they’ll rely on walking bucket Jordan Poole and the newly extended Kyle Kuzma. Poole has his shortcomings, but he proved when given the chance to start at the Warriors, that he could post big numbers. Bilal Couliabaly is a promising high draft pick who should find himself playing quite a bit in his rookie year. They might prove to be a plucky team at times, but make no mistake, the Wizards will be finishing near the bottom of the standings in the East.
Prediction: 15th
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dallas Mavericks
Gained: F Grant Williams, G Seth Curry, G Dante Exum, C Richaun Holmes, C Dereck Lively II (draft)
Lost: F Reggie Bullock
Analysis: The Mavs suffered a late-season collapse, missing the playoffs despite heading into the All-Star break with a 31-26 record. That collapse coincided with the arrival of Kyrie Irving in late February. Whether Irving and Luka Doncic can coexist is the big question. They went 5-11 when playing together last season, but with the benefit of a full offseason under their belt together, expect that record to prove to be an outlier. Dallas added several handy role players which will help defensively, including Grant Williams from the Celtics. Aussie Dante Exum is back in the NBA with Dallas and he too will had plenty of starch defensively. Tipping the Mavericks to hit back from a disappointing 2022-2023 and progress to the postseason.
Prediction: 7th in the West
Can Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic coexist in Dallas?Source: AFP
Denver Nuggets
Gained: G Justin Holiday
Lost: G Bruce Brown, F Jeff Green
Analysis: Last season’s champs did it with the ears pricked in the end as the nonchalant, harness racing-loving Nikola Jokic proved he was the best player in the NBA with his first title. Guard Jamal Murray made a big leap last season, earning a place on the All-NBA team while Michael Porter Jr. hit big shots time and time again. The departure of Bruce Brown is hard to replace, but there a couple of younger players like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson who can play a similar role. The Nuggets didn’t get much better, but they won’t need to to go back-to-back as was the ease they cruised to a championship last season. At this early stage, the West is between the Nuggets and Suns with a bit of a gap to the rest of the teams.
Prediction: 2nd
Golden State Warriors
Gained: G Chris Paul, G Cory Joseph, Brandin Podziemski (draft)
Lost: G Jordan Poole, G Donte DiVicenzo
Analysis: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green may be in the twilight of their careers, but as long as that core is on the floor, Golden State can never be counted out. Jordan Poole was traded to the Wizards, with veteran PG Chris Paul joining the Warriors. It’s hard to envisage what Golden State will look like with Paul joining the fray, but there’s no doubt he adds another level head and basketball smarts to a team that aren’t lacking in those areas. The key is Steph Curry and whether he can continue to play at such a high level. The Warriors adding a savvy vet in Cory Joseph while Jonathan Kuminga improved vastly last season and has been near outstanding in preseason action. Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski is another who has been balling out for the Warriors this preseason. They’ll shock some people and make a deep run.
Prediction: 5th
Houston Rockets
Gained: G Amen Thompson (draft), G Cam Whitmore (draft), F Dillon Brooks, G Fred VanVleet, C Jock Landale, F Jeff Green
Lost: G Kevin Porter Jr, F KJ Martin
Analysis: Were willing to make a splash in free agency, giving rich deals to Fred VanVleet and the polarising Dillon Brooks. From an outsiders perspective, it may look like Houston paid overs for these two players, but for a young team yearning for experience, they are good acquisitions. VanVleet will be good for 20 points a night, while Brooks’ defensive prowess can’t be overstated, despite his shortcomings. Houston traded last season’s point guard Kevin Porter Jr. because of serious legal issues, so VanVleet will be required to earn every cent of his $128.5m (USD) contract. The Rockets drafted Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore in the first round to add to a young core of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr and the very impressive big man Alperen Sengun. There will be more growing pains for this group this campaign, but they should eclipse last season’s 22 win total.
Prediction:13th
LA Clippers
Gained: G Kobe Brown (draft), Kenyon Martin Jr
Lost: G Eric Gordon
Analysis: This shapes up as a huge season for the Clippers. In what has been indicative of the past few seasons, they were bundled out after a 4-1 first round series loss to the Suns with Paul George missing the entire series. When Kawhi Leonard and George joined the team in July 2019, many thought the Clippers would soon be winning championships or at the very least, contesting the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case with injuries playing a big factor as Leonard and George have only played together in 142 of a possible 308 games, going an impressive 96-46. That stat alone should give Clippers fans hope that if these two superstars can stay on the court, it bodes well for their title chances. However, from what we’ve seen recently, it is a big if.
Prediction: 3rd
LA Lakers
Gained: C Jaxson Hayes, F Taurean Prince, F Christian Wood, G Gabe Vincent
Lost: G Malik Beasley, G Dennis Schroder
Analysis: The Lakers have probably one of the more well-rounded rosters heading into a new season than they have in years past. Depth has been the concern in those recent seasons, but the Lakers were able to add some handy pieces such as Christian Wood and Gabe Vincent, which will potentially be low risk, high reward signings. Both are very handy players, Wood especially on his day. With that said, the burning question is whether 38-year-old LeBron James shows any sign of slowing down. It doesn’t appear he is just yet and with running mate Anthony Davis at the peak of his powers, the Lakers look well placed to make another deep run with these added parts to the roster expected to be key.
Predicition: 6th
LeBron James is gearing up for season 21.Source: AFP
Memphis Grizzlies
Gained:
Lost:
Analysis: The Western Conference will be extremely competitive this season, and despite winning 50 games in 2022-2023 to finish second, the Grizzlies are a team who may find themselves sliding down the standings. Star point guard Ja Morant will miss the first 25 games and centre Steven Adams is out for the entire season with a knee injury. The conference is so strong and a slow start without Morant might be too tough to overcome later in the season. Adding Marcus Smart via trade was a shrewd move after gun defender Dillon Brooks left for Houston in free agency. The Grizzlies are a tight-knit bunch who are well-coached, but their lack of top-tier talent outside of Morant may hurt them in a season a number of teams in the conference are expected to ascend.
Prediction: 10th
Minnesota Timberwolves
Gained: G Shake Milton
Lost: F Tauren Prince
Analysis: Intriguing team are the Wolves. On paper, they have one of the more talented starting fives in the league, but for one reason or another, they can never seem to gel as a unit. Anthony Edwards as a bona fide superstar and has earned every cent of the bumper new $260 million (USD) deal he signed in the offseason. For mine, he’s Minnesota’s most important player, however what will also be critical to the Timberwolves’ success will be how the frontcourt pairing of Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert will work. Minnesota sold the farm for Gobert before last season but his form was mixed at best. He didn’t see much time on the floor with KAT though with the latter only appearing in 29 games last season. One thing that this team doesn’t lack though is confidence. Point guard Mike Conley isn’t short of belief in this group, stating at Minnesota’s media day, “I think that last year our team, if we were healthy, we were a team that could have been the Denver Nuggets of last year”. Huge call, but it’s hard to disagree that if these talented group of players can find a way to put it altogether, the Timberwolves can make some noise this season.
Prediction:8th
Timberwolves star Anthony EdwardsSource: Getty Images
New Orleans Pelicans
Gained: G Jordan Hawkins (draft)
Lost: C Jaxson Hayes
Analysis: After a terrific first couple of months, the Pelicans dropped off to finish 9th in the West last season and were eliminated during the Play-In Tournament after a loss to the Thunder. At the moment, they are simply a middling team who don’t have the firepower to challenge for a title. Australia’s own Dyson Daniels, Herbert Jones and sharpshooter Trey Murphy III are three players set to make a big leap this season and improve on their strong end to 2022-2023, but outside of them, a lot of guys have hit their ceiling. There’s talent on this roster, notably Zion Williamson, but he just can’t stay healthy. If the Pelicans were to make into the playoffs, it wouldn’t be a shock, but there’s as good a chance they miss out completely. The concern is that they didn’t really improve in the offseason other than adding rookie Jordan Hawkins in the draft whereas other teams around them in the standings in the West, did.
Prediction: 11th
Oklahoma City Thunder
Gained: F Davis Bertans, G Cason Wallace (draft)
Lost: F Dario Saric, C Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Analysis: Every Aussie’s first or second favourite team made huge strides last season. The Thunder were one game away from progressing to a seven-game playoff series, but were defeated by Minnesota in the Play-In Tournament. Conventional wisdom suggests they’ll improve on that result with last year’s number two overall pick Chet Holmgren to now feature in the line-up. It’s essentially Holmgren’s rookie year after missing all of last season with a foot injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved he is one of the most prolific scores in the league last season and the Thunder will go as far as he takes them, while Josh Giddey took a huge leap in his development Giddey was able to score more effectively last season, and many experts expect him to enjoy a breakout campaign in 2023-2024. A starting five of Giddey, SGA, last season’s outstanding rookie Jalen Williams, Holmgren and Lu Dort will make some noise in the West, and if they can keep those four core players together, success appears imminent at some stage over the next four to five seasons.
Prediction:9th
Phoenix Suns
Gained: G Brad Beal, C Jusuf Nurkic, G Grayson Allen
Lost: G Chris Paul, G Landry Shamet
Analysis: The Suns arguably possess the most potent trio of scorers in the league with Brad Beal joining Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in Phoenix. The Suns gave away quite a bit to land Beal, including giving away Chris Paul and a number of draft pick swaps. Phoenix will be hoping Beal can be that piece that can help them get back to the NBA Finals after failing to progress pass the second round in the last two seasons. In addition, Durant has had the benefit of a full offseason with the Suns after arriving halfway through 2022-2023 campaign. They loom as the biggest threat to Denver in the West, and betting markets reflect that with the Suns and Nuggets $3.75 joint favourites to win the conference. While centre Deandre Ayton is a loss, former Trail Blazer Jusuf Nurkic is no slouch, and will certainly be an offensive threat down low that opponents can’t take lightly. The additions of bench players Grayson Allen, Bol Bol and Chimezie Metu ensures the Suns’ depth won’t be an issue.
Prediction:1st
The NBA’s newest superstar trio: Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.Source: Getty Images
Portland Trail Blazers
Gained: G Scoot Henderson (draft), F Kris Murray (draft)
Lost: G Damian Lillard
Analysis: The end of an era in Portland. Star guard Damian Lillard, after 11 seasons of tremendous service, was traded in the offseason to Milwaukee. It was a move both teams had to make, as the Trail Blazers weren’t able to build a strong enough team around Lillard to contest. However, as sad as it is to see a player like Lillard go, Portland fans are ready for the Scoot Henderson show. Henderson fell to the Trail Blazers at pick number 3 in the 2023 NBA Draft, and will probably be the main option offensively. Anfernee Simons is a future All-Star who improved last season while Jerami Grant, who inked a rich five-year extension, can score from anywhere on the court while former number 1 pick Deandre Ayton will command plenty of respect from opponents. Depth is the concern for the Trail Blazers, but even though they are in the midst of a rebuild, they will have their moments this season.
Prediction: 14th
Sacramento Kings
Gained: G Chris Duarter, C Nerlens Noel, G Sasha Vezenkov (Euroleague)
Lost: C Richaun Holmes
Analysis: The question is, can they back up last season’s somewhat surprising third-placed finish in the West? They had the talent, but they were able to put it altogether and break a lengthy playoff drought. They wound up being bundled out by the Warriors in the first round, but that’s nothing to scoff at. The West is always a tough conference, so it’s hard to be confident they’ll nab a top four seed, but one thing is for sure – the Kings haven’t got worse. Sacramento have added Sasha Vezenkov from the Euroleague, and he’s shown in the preseason that he’ll be a player that has to be closely guarded on the perimeter from opposition defenses. Superstar point guard De’Aaron Fox is just hitting his prime so expect him to build on last season’s career best campaign, which resulted in a maiden All-Star appearance.
Prediction:4th
San Antonio Spurs
Gained: F Victor Wembanyama (draft), F Cedi Osman, G Reggie Bullock
Analysis: It’s safe to say they’ll be one of the most-watched teams this season, particularly early on because of the addition of one Victor Wembanyama. The 224cm, 19-year-old is the most hyped prospect since LeBron James and for good reason. His rare size blends with an unique skillset blends which creates a type of player that hasn’t been seen before in the NBA. While Wembanyama will undoubtedly make this team better, it’s still a very young roster in San Antonio. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are nice pieces who are improving but growing pains are to be expected again from the Spurs. Plenty will disagree, but this team will struggle to finish better than the bottom two in the West even with their shiny new toy.
Predicition:15th
Victor WembanyamaSource: AFP
Utah Jazz
Gained: F John Collins, F Taylor Hendricks (draft), G Keyonte George (draft), Brice Sensabaugh (draft)
Lost: C Juan Toscano-Anderson
Analysis: The acquisition of John Collins from Atlanta in a trade will help this burgeoning roster. Collins joins a frontcourt consisting of the up-and-coming centre Walker Kessler and All-Star Lauri Markkanen. In the back-court, Jordan Clarkson is a sharpshooter who can go on a tear with the drop of a hat, while Collin Sexton has flashed glimpses. Consistency is the issue with him, but if he can figure that out, he has a tonne of upside. There’s plenty to be excited about for Jazz fans, including three first round draft picks. But while they might not go deep into the playoffs, it wouldn’t shock to see them nab a lower seed and contest a Play-In match.
736 players will compete in the Women’s World Cup 2023, which begins this Thursday in New Zealand and Australia – and there’s no shortage of superstars.
We’ve picked out ten players that could light up the tournament, from young stars set to explode onto the world stage to legends of the game who have dominated the game for decades.
And we’ve restricted it to just one player per nation, so we’re not just writing about our awesome Aussies!
The 29-year-old attacking midfielder is considered by many to be the best women’s footballer in the world.
Winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or in each of the last two years, in February she retained her crown as The Best FIFA’s Women’s Player for 2022, despite missing the second half of the year with a serious knee injury.
Barcelona star Putellas is the first woman to reach 100 caps for Spain and they badly missed her creativity and goals at the 2022 European Championship, where they lost to eventual champions England in the quarter-finals.
Putellas was among the Spanish players demanding change within the national side, but did not join in with 15 players who last year asked not to be called up, amid differences with coach Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation.
Sam Kerr (Australia)
We’d be crazy not to include her.
If the co-hosts are to go far at the World Cup they will need Chelsea forward Kerr firing on all cylinders.
The 29-year-old Australia skipper made her international debut aged just 15 and has played over 120 times for her country, averaging a goal every other game. She scored five times at the 2019 World Cup.
Her numbers are just as impressive at Chelsea, hitting 29 goals in 38 appearances this season.
Kerr is such a big name at home that she was Australia’s flag-bearer at the coronation of King Charles.
Ange’s first press conference for Spurs | 28:48
Megan Rapinoe (United States)
She needs little introduction as the most instantly recognisable player in women’s football.
The attacker has played 199 times for the United States, scoring 63 goals and making 73 assists. She has won the World Cup twice and Olympic gold in 2012, as well as the Ballon d’Or Feminin as the best player in women’s football.
Now Rapinoe plays in the United States for OL Reign.
She is set for retirement at the end of this season and is something of a fading force at 38, but she remains the face of women’s football for the casual fan.
Off the field, the openly gay Rapinoe is outspoken on a number of issues that go beyond sport, including advocating for LGBTQ rights and equal pay for women.
That saw her earn the USA’s highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rapinoe is one of women’s football’s most recognisable stars.Source: AFP
Keira Walsh (England)
England’s hopes of winning the World Cup for the first time have taken a hit with the injury loss of several key players, putting even more onus on midfielder Walsh.
Barcelona snapped her up from Manchester City for a reported 400,000 pounds last September, a world record for a woman footballer.
With her passing, reading of the game and ability to win the ball back, Walsh was instrumental in Sarina Wiegman’s England winning the Euro on home soil in 2022.
She was named player of the match when England defeated Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley in extra time.
Ada Hegerberg (Norway)
The Norwegian was the first winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, in 2018, and is a prolific striker with leading French side Lyon.
Her Norway career has been stop-start, however. She withdrew from the international scene in 2017, citing concerns over the inequality of treatment given to men’s and women’s teams by the Norwegian federation. She only returned last year.
The 28-year-old forward has also been dogged by injuries.
But when on form and firing she is one of the best players in the world, and averages more than a goal a game for her club.
She is the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with 59 goals.
Marta (Brazil)
A legend of the game and firmly in the conversation for the greatest player of all time, the 37-year-old is heading to her sixth World Cup.
In 2019 she became the first player – men’s or women’s – to score in five different World Cups, something which was matched later that tournament by Canada’s Christine Sinclair, who is also appearing at this tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo subsequently reached that incredible mark in 2022 in Qatar, but no-one can match Marta’s record of 17 World Cup goals.
She had a season-ending ACL injury in 2022 but is back to guide a young Brazil team still searching for their first World Cup triumph.
Marta has recovered from a horror injury to reach her sixth tournament.Source: AFP
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica)
31 goals in 30 games for Manchester City last season has Shaw, known as ‘Bunny’, ready for a breakout World Cup campaign.
Shaw played every minute of Jamaica’s maiden World Cup campaign in 2019 despite an injury that saw her perform well below her best. This time around, she’s out to lead the underdog ‘Reggae Girlz’ to some big upsets in a group featuring France and Brazil.
With a nickname ‘Bunny’ was given to her by her brother, Shaw will be key for Jamaica – both with her goalscoring nous and her work off the ball drawing defenders with her to create space for teammates.
At just 26, she is Jamaica’s all-time top scorer for men’s or women’s football with 56.
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)
If there’s one player the Matildas must be wary of when they face Nigeria in the Group Stage, it’s Oshoala.
The 28-year-old is a five-time African player of the year and also became the first African to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or Feminin.
That’s not her only slice of history.
The Barcelona striker won the Women’s Champions League in 2021 – becoming the first African player to do so – before repeating the feat this year, despite missing out on the final due to injury.
That was after moving to Liverpool in 2015 then Arsenal, making her the first African player in England’s top flight.
She struck 21 goals in 28 league games for Barcelona this season and five in nine in the Champions League, and scored for Nigeria at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
With over 100 goals in four seasons at Barca, the goalscoring machine will be a huge concern for the Australian defence.
Linda Caicedo (Colombia)
There are plenty of incredibly talented teenagers at this World Cup – four 16-year-olds, three 17-year-olds, and a full dozen 18-year-olds. But arguably the most promising of the lot is Caicedo.
Her first coach, Diego Vasquez, recently told AFP she is: “one of those people touched by God, who were born for this.”
It was clear from a young age that Caicedo was a prodigy. As a 14-year-old she debuted for Colombian team America de Cali – yes, the senior team. She topscored in that maiden season in 2019 and helped the club win their very first league title.
She debuted for the national team that same year, and has since soared into prominence as one of South America’s most talented players of any age.
Caicedo’s last 12 months have been simply incredible, playing at the U17 World Cup, U20 World Cup and for the senior team in the Copa America.
She scored an equal-best four goals at the U17 tournament and was awarded the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player after captaining the team to Colombia’s first-ever final in a World Cup (any age, men’s or women’s).
At the Copa America, she guided Colombia to an incredible runners-up finish to Brazil, scoring the winner against Argentina in the semi-final, and was awarded Player of the Tournament as a 17-year-old.
She sealed a move to Real Madrid in January, but there’s plenty more to come from a young star who thought her career was finished after being diagnosed with cancer as a 15-year-old.
Colombia’s Linda Caicedo is a lightning rod for her national team.Source: AFP
Alexandra Popp (Germany)
Germany is the only team outside of the US to have won more than a single World Cup, but the world number two side is somewhat flying under the radar ahead of this tournament, with Euros winners England viewed as second-favourites behind the American juggernaut.
But Popp is a genuine superstar and is out to deliver Germany a first World Cup since they went back-to-back in 2003 and 07.
Popp is a sensational striker, physical and hardworking as well as clinical in front of goal, but can also play as a midfielder.
She captained Wolfsburg to the domestic double this season – her SEVENTH league title in Germany – and took them to the Champions League final against Barcelona.
Germany might have a young team, but Popp has the experience and a stacked trophy cabinet to boot: Olympic gold, Champions League winner, Euros runner-up, and of course the seven women’s Bundesliga titles.
