Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth battling the powerhouses for a Champions League place. No one predicted that.
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There is only a third of the Premier League season remaining and the race for the top four has arguably never been more intriguing.
Liverpool appears set to have one hand on the title, eight points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, but the next rung down is where things get fascinating.
Nottingham Forest third, Manchester City fourth and Bournemouth fifth.
The latter jumped into the top five after Forest, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Newcastle all dropped points last weekend.
Forest have won 14, drawn five and lost six, while Bournemouth have won 12, drawn seven and lost six.
It reads like a Forest or Cherries fan plugging away on Football Manager for hours to get their team to dizzying heights, but supporters in England’s midlands and on the south coast better stop pinching themselves.
They are not dreaming. This is real.
The struggles of regular top six clubs Manchester United and Tottenham, along with Champions League Round of 16 bound Villa slipping in the league, presented opportunities, and Forest and Bournemouth have snatched them with both hands.
The Forest story is famous.
A powerhouse decades ago with back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980 under legendary manager Brian Clough.
A year before their first continental breakthrough, Forest won the English top flight and they were runners-up the season after.
But following relegation from the Premier League in 1999, they fell into the football abyss.
Forest did not return to the Premier League until 2022 and barely avoided relegation by finishing 16th and 17th in their first two seasons back in the top tier.
Bournemouth were promoted from the Championship in the same season as Forest and initially found themselves in the bottom half of the table too.
A 12th place finish last season was preceded by coming 15th in their prior campaign.
Unlike Forest, however, Bournemouth is not a club with a rich pedigree.
Its first season in the Premier League came under now Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in 2015/16 and a ninth-place finish in their second season was the club’s best result in the top flight.
Years of mediocrity did not show too many hints of a breakout campaign in Bournemouth’s case, nor a stunning revival in Forest’s case.
But the dream of Champions League nights at the City Ground or the Vitality Stadium is alive and well, and this how they have put themselves in the hunt for midweek action against the best clubs in Europe.
Here is how they did it.
FOREST’S KIWI FRONTMAN
Like Forest’s, Chris Wood’s story is a fairytale.
The 33-year-old captain of the New Zealand national team has remarkably played for 12 different clubs in England.
He even went through a three-year period where he was sent out on loan six times by West Bromwich Albion.
Wood bounced around the various tiers of English football after moving to the UK as a 16-year-old to chase his dreams, and now the Forest talisman is a bonified star.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and AFC Bournemouth at City Ground on August 17, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The six-foot three striker is third in the golden boot race.
He has netted 18 goals so far this campaign, highlighted by a hat-trick in Forest’s 7-0 rout of Brighton earlier this month, to only sit behind Mohamed Salah (24) and Erling Haaland (19).
It is his best Premier League season, and he still has 13 more opportunities to add to his tally.
“When they talk about Mo Salah and Erling Haaland – they mention Chris Wood in the same breath – you can’t compete with that,” Wood’s high school coach former New Zealand international Mike Groom told Sky Sports.
“It’s theatrical, it’s magical, it’s the stuff of dreams and kids’ dreams are fuelled by those images and that exposure.
“We’re still a rugby-playing country, but Chris is single-handedly beginning to change that.”
Wood’s height automatically makes him an aerial threat as a target man, he has scored six headed goals this season, the most in the league, but his finishing is still underrated.
In fact, it is lethal.
Wood has had 28 shots on target for the season, and scoring 18 of them makes him the most effective of any of the Premier League’s top strikers in front of goal.
New Zealand’s record goal scorer, who is also nearing the record for most appearances for his country, has also endeared himself to football fans because he is not blessed with all the attributes of the likes of Salah and Haaland.
The biggest difference is pace.
Wood is not a quick player, and the fact he lacks speed seemingly contradicts the fact that Forest prefers to play counterattacking football.
But he makes it work by timing his runs perfectly and seizing big moments.
In some ways, it makes little sense but so has his entire football journey.
“It’s definitely exceeded what I dreamt of when I was a kid and hopefully, I’ve got a lot more I can achieve to make it an even better dream,” Wood told Sky Sports.
“I want to keep the path open for New Zealanders to hopefully make it into the Premier League one day – I want to grow that generation of new kids wanting to play football and wanting to dream of doing the best they can and ending up in the biggest league.”
BOURNEMOUTH CREATE CHAOS
Bournemouth’s blueprint in attack is not dissimilar to Forest’s.
The two sides are comfortably the Premier League leaders for playing fast and direct football.
They sit back and defend resolutely, and when they win the ball back, they are off to the races.
Once the ball is in their attacking half, they press high and try to force turnovers in dangerous areas.
It makes for exciting games to watch, and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been heaped with praise this season for his tactics.
“I sometimes value much more a player carrying the ball and forcing things to happen,” Iraola said in an interview with The Independent.
“We have to prepare [positional] patterns, but we cannot just prioritise them. If you can see that you don’t have a teammate ahead, forget about the pattern, just drive the ball and try to force things to happen. I want him to attack first.”
Meanwhile premierleague.com’s Alex Keble summed up the essence of their play as “disruption”.
“High risk, high reward: that’s the mentality of Iraola and his team, whether in hounding the ball with an all-action and full-pitch press or piercing opposition lines with sharp vertical football and attacking overloads,” Keble said.
“Perhaps the best word to encapsulate their tactical approach is “disruption”.
“Disrupt the other team’s play with furious pressing, and disrupt the expected rhythms of your own attack with improvisations and surges forward in high numbers.”
That philosophy has brought out the best in Justin Kluivert, who has scored 11 goals so far this campaign, four more than last season.
The Dutchman has really found his groove in the Premier League in recent times.
He was player of the month in January for scoring five goals and recording two assists in four appearances, of which Bournemouth won three and drew one.
The highlight of his season so far was a hat-trick, and an assist, in a 4-1 away win against Newcastle who were previously unbeaten in nine matches before that January fixture.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest FC at Vitality Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
That victory was followed up by a 5-0 victory against Forest, where Kluivert contributed a goal and an assist to help end Forest’s eight-game unbeaten run.
Knocking off several in-form teams led to Iraola taking home manager of the month, and David Brooks’ stunning volley against Everton made it a clean sweep of the awards by winning goal of the month.
All of that came amid a length injury list, including strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal.
But Kluivert’s breakout combined with the superb form of fellow attackers Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo, who have scored seven goals apiece this season, has prevented injuries from being an excuse.
No matter who is on the sidelines, once Bournemouth wins the ball back there are simply too many runners for opponents to attack.
Remarkably, one would expect such a style of play to make them vulnerable at the back.
But Iraola’s side do not play a high line, and they have the equal-third best defensive record in the league, alongside Forest, conceding 29 goals so far. Only Arsenal and Liverpool have been stingier at the back.
They key has been the centre back pairing of Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi, a combination Iraola landed on during the season.
In the 13 games they have started together, Bournemouth have lost once, to Liverpool.
Zabaryni is the rock that has played every minute this season, while 19-year-old Huijsen has been a revelation.
“Huijsen is undoubtedly the star of the two,” Keble wrote.
“Signed from Juventus for around £15 million last summer, his strength in the air, composure in possession, and – crucially – assertive front-foot style have catapulted Bournemouth to new heights.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 08: Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Everton and AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park on February 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
FOREST’S ELITE DEFENCE
ESPN’s Bruce Schoenfeld summed up Forest’s defensive brilliance in writing that manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s “football has hardly changed even though instead of a relegation battle, he has European qualification in his sights”.
Forest defends like their life depends on it.
They have comfortably made more clearances than any other team, including the equal most amount of clearances off the line.
They are level with Liverpool for the most number of clean sheets with ten.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels has punched away the aerial more than anyone else.
They are desperate.
And they are bringing an enormous amount of pride to the club’s greats.
“I haven’t watched a better pairing at the back than Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic in my 50 years of watching Forest,” former England and Forest midfielder Steve Hodge said on BBC Radio last month.
“I really mean that – pound for pound what they are as footballers and as a pair,” he added. “They have everything. As a pair, they complement each other perfectly and they both seem to be calm characters even under severe pressure.”
Nikola Milenkovic of Nottingham Forest celebrates victory during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on February 1, 2025. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Milenkovic joined from Fiorentina last summer and the 31-year-old Serbian is in many pundits’ team of the season so far.
He is an old-fashioned, no-nonsense centre back whose heading ability has led to him scoring two goals as well as clearing many attacking threats.
But in the coming games, Forest face arguably the biggest defensive test of the season.
Away at Newcastle, home to Arsenal and home to Manchester City are their next three league games.
They passed with flying colours earlier in the season, defeating Liverpool at Anfield and taking a point from them at home.
That shows that there is little to doubt that Forest’s steeliness will remain.
BOURNEMOUTH’S EXCELLENT ROAD RECORD
A major part of Bournemouth’s success has been their impressive away record.
The Cherries have won six, drawn four and lost three of their matches on the road this season, including going unbeaten in their last seven away games.
That streak has included a pair of 2-2 draws against rivals for the European places Chelsea and Fulham, as well as the Newcastle win mentioned earlier.
Their most recent away win was a 3-1 win against cellar dwellers Southampton in a south coast derby, and post-match Iraola identified fast starts as the reason for their away success.
“I think it’s key, especially when you play away,” he said.
“I think we are having good starts. I remember last games, Newcastle away, Everton the other day.
“Even the two goals in 16 minutes, but in the first minute I think we had two corners for us.
“It’s a good start and a message that we are coming here and we want to win this game and we are not happy with the 0-0 and we want things to happen quickly.
“Also, I think they are a team that now is aggressive in the press. I think there were spaces behind them. There were spaces behind us.
“The game could go very open and I’m happy, especially first half, I think we controlled the game very well.”
Their ability to get results on the road will be severely tested later in the season as they visit Arsenal and Manchester City in the final four games of their campaign.
Ruud van Nistelrooy savoured his first match in charge of Leicester with a 3-1 Premier League win over West Ham, while Crystal Palace edged Ipswich 1-0 on Tuesday.
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Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka got the goals as Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream start to his new role shortly after his departure from Manchester United.
“On a long-term basis we know the performances need to get better. But the spirit and how we want to do things we saw today because, if not, the Premier League is too brutal,” said Van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman said he had been “astonished” by the number of offers he received after a four-game spell as interim United boss, which included two wins over Leicester.
A lethal finisher in his playing days, Van Nistelrooy watched on approvingly as Vardy opened the scoring after just 99 seconds at the King Power.
The 37-year-old had initially been flagged offside, but a VAR review showed he was clearly on for his fifth goal of the season.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City interacts with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manager of Leicester City, as he is substituted during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and West Ham United FC at The King Power Stadium on December 03, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Defeat ramps up the scrutiny of Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui after a seventh defeat in 14 Premier League games.
The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and had 31 shots to Leicester’s eight but failed to make it count.
“A frustrating night because we deserved much more today,” said Lopetegui. “Normally we have to win this match but we didn’t because we didn’t score.” West Ham did have a goal controversially ruled out when Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen punched the ball into his own net and was relieved to be awarded a foul due to minimal contact from Tomas Soucek.
Conor Coady also cleared off the line from Crysencio Summerville in the second half.
But Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and doubled their lead when El Khannouss coolly stroked home Kasey McAteer’s pass.
Daka then blasted in to make it 3-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug netted a late consolation with his first West Ham goal.
Victory lifts Leicester up to 15th, four points above the relegation zone, and within two points of 14th-placed West Ham.
– Guehi defies FA –
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the only goal at Portman Road as Palace won the battle of two more sides at the bottom end of the table.
The Frenchman produced a classy finish from Eberechi Eze’s pass on the hour mark to secure the Eagles’ first away win of the season.
Palace pull three points clear of the bottom three, while Ipswich remain second from bottom and winless at home on their return to the top flight.
However, Palace captain Marc Guehi is now at risk of a suspension after defying a Football Association warning over displaying religious messages.
As part of the “Rainbow Laces” campaign to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, Premier League captains are wearing rainbow-coloured armbands.
IPSWICH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace acknowledges the fans, whilst wearing a rainbow coloured Captains Armband which reads “Jesus hearts You” after the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Crystal Palace FC at Portman Road on December 03, 2024 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Guehi’s armband bore the message “I love Jesus” during their 1-1 draw against Newcastle, prompting the FA to contact Guehi and Palace and remind them of rules forbidding the display of religious messages.
The England defender doubled down on his message with “Jesus loves you” displayed on his rainbow-coloured armband.
“Everyone now is about integration, no discrimination and Marc as well,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
“He has his opinion and we accept and respect every opinion.” Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, who also caused controversy by opting not to wear the rainbow armband against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, once again wore a regular armband.
His club issued a statement on Monday saying he chose not to wear the rainbow armband due to his religious beliefs.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said speculation over Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield is fuelling the Egyptian’s fine form ahead of a “special” week for the Reds.
Salah, who has scored 223 goals since joining Liverpool in 2017, is out of contract at the end of the season and expressed his disappointment at not yet receiving an offer of a new deal after netting twice in Sunday’s 3-2 win at Southampton.
The 32-year-old said he was “more out than in” as things stand despite scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists this season to spearhead a stunning start to Slot’s reign.
Liverpool is in first place in the Champions League ahead of the visit of holders Real Madrid on Wednesday and sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
“I don’t think it distracts Mo at all. Maybe it brings even the best out of him, if you look at his performances until now,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“I talked to Mo about what I expect from him, like I do with all the other players, and he’s in a good place at the moment.
“The only thing I can say is if I look at my line-ups, Mo is more in than out.” Salah is one of three Liverpool stars out of contract at the end of the season, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been linked with a move to Real.
“Honestly, for us as players, it’s nothing that we can really get involved in. All I can say is, you look at Mo today, you look at Mo yesterday, he’s the ultimate professional,” said Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
“It goes for all three of them. Mo, Virgil and Trent, who are all in similar positions. Every one of them is so focused on the next game and training and preparing properly. They’ve been leaders this year, that’s the way they’ve done it.”
Tillies back Fowler’s football break | 01:10
A fifth victory in five matches would edge Liverpool closer to securing direct entry to the Champions League last 16 via a top-eight finish.
But they have to overturn a horrible recent record against the Spanish giants, who are unbeaten in the last eight meetings between the clubs, including two Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022.
Struggling Premier League champions Manchester City then visit Anfield on Sunday to give Liverpool the chance to land a telling blow in the title race.
“I think Real Madrid and Manchester City dominated Europe and the league for a few years now, combined with Liverpool, because Liverpool was always up there as well, competing with these two clubs,” added Slot.
“If you are Liverpool, you always play big games, but these two are special because these three clubs have dominated the league in Europe for so many years recently. So that’s a special week to play.” Madrid is more in need of the points after losing two of their opening four games.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men, though, often save their best for when they need it most on the European stage and Slot conceded the 15-time winners have a special aura in this competition.
“If it’s difficult for them, they can still win the game, which is probably one of the reasons, apart from them having so much quality, that they won this tournament a lot,” he said.
Chants of ‘we’re going to win the league’ ringing around Nottingham Forest’s home, the City Ground, would have been unthinkable weeks ago.
The chorus of singing may be a bit tongue in cheek but the two-time European champions are lapping up their first tastes of success in decades and are daring to dream of pulling off football’s latest miracle.
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Forest demolished West Ham 3-0 at home on Saturday to move to third place on the Premier League – heights they have not reached for 26 years.
In fact, not since August 1998, when a 2-1 win over Southampton left them second on the table, have they sat so high.
They may be leapfrogged by Aston Villa and Chelsea – who face away days at Tottenham and Manchester United respectively on Sunday – by weekend’s end but regardless of other results, Forest are flying.
Their win against the Hammers – who played with ten men for more than a half courtesy of Edson Alvarev’s second red card of the season – was their third in a row in the Premier League after toppling Leicester City 3-1 and Crystal Palace 1-0 in recent matches.
It is the first time they have won three on the bounce in England’s top flight in more than a quarter of century, and it has all been underpinned by stellar defending.
Only league leaders Liverpool have conceded less than the seven goals scored against Forest in ten matches so far.
It is a remarkable turnaround for a team who let in 67 goals last season – only four teams conceded more – and battled miserably to defend set pieces.
Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic has been superb since he joined from Fiorentina for £12m, while Matz Sels is firmly establishing himself as the number one goal keeper has been crucial after the Belgian was one of three keepers Forest used last season.
Former Premier League goal keeper Ben Foster even dared to ask the question ‘are they the best defence in Europe?’ on his podcast after Forest defeated Liverpool on match day four.
Meanwhile up front, it has all been about a Kiwi.
United appoint Amorim as new head coach | 01:16
New Zealander Chris Wood has led the charge as he sits equal second in the race for the golden boot alongside Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, three behind Manchester City’s goal scoring Erling Haaland.
Wood headed home his eighth goal of the season against West Ham – Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ola Aina also got their names on the score sheet – and he is well on track to have a career-best campaign having never scored more than 14 goals in an entire Premier League season.
But the six foot three striker’s desperation at the other end of the pitch received the most praise from Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
In first half stoppage time, Hammers attacker Lucas Paqueta’s attempt on goal from the edge of the box was cleared off the line by Wood.
“Did you see that? Wow,” Nuno said. “There’s no better example. Wow. You cannot thank them enough. He’s been huge for us, huge. I hope he continues. The way he leads, the example, the voice, the belief that his teammates have in him.”
On the pitch, it makes sense that stoic defending and clinical finishing leads to strong results.
But it makes little sense that Forest are doing so well considering their issues off the pitch.
On the final day of last season they avoided relegation with a 2-1 win at Burnley – Wood scored both goals – after they were hit with a points deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules.
The drama surrounding the club has continued this season.
Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis is not even allowed in the stadium at the moment.
He was handed a five-match ban last month for spitting on the floor as match officials walked past in the tunnel following a 1-0 loss to Fulham last month.
Meanwhile Nuno was still banned from the touchline for Saturday’s match after he was shown a red card for swearing at match officials during their 2-2 draw at Brighton in September.
The players have not been distracted however.
“It is a positive moment. We worked very hard this week, this is what we are focused on. We have to work and work hard and improve much more,” Nuno said after the win.
“Nothing has changed since the beginning, we have to keep on going. Believe me, there is no other way. If you get distracted, football doesn’t forgive you.
“I think the longer the team is together, the better the players will know each other, the options we have coming back, the group should be stronger and as time goes by the bond will grow. This is my belief.”
Forest may not stay on cloud nine for long – away trips to title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal await in their next four matches – but their fans are daring to dream.
Supporters at the City Ground on Saturday were treated to celebratory fireworks after the final whistle, and talk of the good old days of 1979 and 1980 when they famously won back-t0-back European Cups is filling the streets on the south side of the river Trent.
They could follow in the footsteps of another proud club with a storied history Aston Villa who leapt into the top four last season to return to European football.
They may dare to dream of being another shock title winner like Leicester City in 2016.
It may all be a flash in the plan, but regardless of how the remainder of Forest’s campaign plays out, it is refreshing to have someone different rubbing shoulders with the behemoths at the top of the table.
After disappointing losses to Newcastle and arch rival Arsenal, the pressure was mounting on the Australian. But, in typical Postecoglou fashion, he has doubled down on his attacking style — affectionately dubbed ‘Angeball’ — which has yielded back-to-back Premier League wins amid four consecutive victories in all competitions.
Spurs now sit eighth on the Premier League table with ten points from six games after they humiliated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The post-match coverage focused on growing calls for United manager Erik Ten Hag to be axed, but among the hysteria was high praise for Postecoglou’s aggressive tactics which delivered a win against a ‘big-six’ rival for the first time in a year.
So effective they were that the Red Devils would be somewhat thankful the damage was not worse.
Spurs were wasteful in front of goal at times – missing two one-on-ones with United goalkeeper Andre Onana – in the absence of injured star Son Heung-min.
Their inability to pile on more pain was reflected by the expected score statistic stating that Tottenham was expected to score 5.33 goals based on the chances they created.
Nevertheless, Postecoglou would have few complaints as the pressure on him starts to ease.
Spurs lead the Premier League for shots on targets, touches in the opposition’s box and expected goals as well as having the second most shots and the third most goals to affirm themselves as arguably the best team to watch in the competition.
One of the signature ‘Angeball’ ploys in Sunday’s statement victory was centre back Micky van de Ven strolling around the field gathering touches all over the pitch and providing an assist like a midfielder in a player of the match performance.
To The Telegraph’s chief football correspondent Jason Burt, it came as no surprise that Postecoglou’s side roamed more freely and pressed harder than they had earlier in the season.
“It is typical of Ange Postecoglou’s boldness that his response to questions being asked about how he has set Tottenham Hotspur up is to even more attacking,” Burt said.
“Maybe it would have been expected that under such pressure a coach would choose to be conservative and bring in another defensive-minded player such as Pape Sarr or Yves Bissouma. Not Postecoglou.”
On commentary for Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Gary Neville took time out from blasting his former side – he labelled them as playing “pub football” — to heap praise on Postecoglou and his players.
“Tottenham have been really good and have got the scoreline their performance deserved,” Neville said.
“A really good day for Ange Postecoglou, who has had a few questions asked of him in recent weeks.
“I love watching them. I have loved Ange Postecoglou since he came to England. He has had a rough patch, it has not been as good as he would have liked, but he is a massive asset to the Premier League.
“The style of football, his personality – he hasn’t had the backing of some of the other top clubs in Europe. He has been backed, but not to the level of others. But they are always a good watch. They won this game today. They dominated and absolutely deserved it.”
The love for Postecoglou continued from Neville’s Sky Sports colleague Chris Sutton.
The pundit, who also works for BBC Sport, posted on X his admiration for Postecoglou while spelling a warning for his counterpart.
“No finer sight in the Premier League than Angeball played at its best,” Sutton said.
“The pile-on earlier on this season was so over the top…”
For all the critique of Ten Hag and United,The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew insisted that the Red Devils’ insipid performance was just as much of Tottenham’s doing as it was their own.
United certainly did not help themselves as they played more than a half with ten men courtesy of captain Bruno Fernandes’ controversial red card, but Tottenham had 61% possession, took 24 shots – ten of which were on target – and passed the ball with an impressive accuracy of 88%.
“For Ange Postecoglou, this may well have been the most impressive win of his Spurs tenure,” Liew said.
“Not simply because of the magnitude of the opponent, the weight of history, the late withdrawal of Son Heung-min, but because this was a game they willed and bent into their own weird shape.
“United did not simply turn up dazed and disintegrated; in large part they were rendered that way by a dazzling first-half performance that forced them to doubt everything.
“Take the starting line-up, which on the face of things felt like a system inspired by the Garth Crooks ‘team of the week’ on the BBC website: heavy in forwards and almost entirely devoid of midfield cover, with Rodrigo Bentancur the sole shield behind James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, and then a front three ahead of them.
“It felt either like a monumental gamble or a monumental ruse, and in a way, it turned out to be both.”
Tottenham have an away trip to Brighton at 2:30am AEST on Monday 7 October as their next Premier League assignment, but before then they travel to Budapest, Hungary for a Europa League date with Ferencváros at 2.45am AEST on Friday.
John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Manchester City against 10-man Arsenal in an ill-tempered clash between the two title heavyweights.
The visitors’ enormous task was made even harder when forward Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card deep in injury time at the end of the first half for kicking the ball away, similar to Declan Rice’s sending off against Brighton earlier in the year.
Despite this the Gunners were seconds away from inflicting City’s first home defeat since November 2022, with Stones’ poked finish following a penalty box scramble seconds from full time saving City’s blushes, and ensuring Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their place atop the Premier League table.
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EPL Wrap: Ange’s Spurs bounce back | 02:28
An intense and emotional contest was expected and within seconds the signs of fight in both sides were evident when Kai Havertz charged into Rodri to leave the Spaniard needing treatment.
The game couldn’t have started any better for the hosts when Erling Haaland found the back of the net in the ninth minute following a dazzling run from Brazilian recruit Savinho.
Not only was the strike significant for lifting City into the lead, but it also marked the Norwegian’s 100th goal for the club in all competitions.
Prior to kick off, Arsenal’s centre back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel had restricted Haaland to just one goal in 359 minutes of action, but were helpless to prevent him scoring in this clash.
Controversy soon followed Haaland’s strike when a quickly taken Arsenal free kick caught City captain Kyle Walker out of position and released winger Gabriel Martinelli down the left touchline.
Martinelli approached the box before laying a pass off to Italian recruit Riccardo Calafiori, who bent a wonderful strike beyond an outstretched Ederson to breathe life into Arsenal.
Furious City players surrounded the referee in protest, with footage showing Arsenal midfielders Rice and Thomas Partey moving the dead ball forward and away from the mark of the original foul.
However, the goal stood, much to Arsenal’s delight, providing the visitors with hope they could secure a crucial win in the grand scheme of their title tilt.
City were dealt a major blow moments before Calafiori’s strike when Rodri was substituted after appearing to injure himself attacking a corner at the near post, with Mateo Kovacic replacing the Spaniard in the 21st minute.
Post-game, Guardiola labelled the holding midfielder a “strong man,” and noted he wouldn’t leave the field unless it was necessary.
“If he leaves the pitch in this action, it is because he felt something, otherwise he would stay there.”
Arsenal’s Gabriel is one of the best set piece threats in the Premier League, evidence by his towering first half header against Manchester City.Source: Getty Images
A week after he was the deciding factor in the North London derby, Brazilian centre back Gabriel towered over everyone to nod home from a corner in the 46th minute, sending the away side into delirium.
Walker, who was responsible for some questionable defending in the lead up to Gabriel’s goal, was singled out by Guardiola post-game.
“He has to (do better) and didn’t,” City’s manager said.
Arsenal’s hopes of victory took a hit right on half time when Trossard received his marching orders for kicking the ball away after a City foul, resigning Arsenal to tackling this incredible City side with a man disadvantage.
Speaking post-game, Mikel Arteta said he expects “100 Premier League games to be 10 against 11 or nine vs 10 this season.”
And while the Spaniard was upset with the sending off, he was more than proud of his side’s resolve in the second to restrict City despite being a man down.
“Obviously, it is already a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with 10 men. It is unbelievable what we have done,” he said.
“We adapted in the best possible way, the way we compete – I’m so proud of them. It couldn’t be a more difficult situation and the way we handled it.”
Arteta made the bold call to remove captain Bukayo Saka from the contest, replacing the winger with fullback Ben White in a bid to make his side more compact and harder to break down.
That decision proved rather effective for much of the second half, with 16 of City’s shots in the second half coming from outside the box, with goalkeeper David Raya twice denying sharp efforts from Joski Gvardiol to preserve his side’s lead.
However, it was another City defender who finally found the back of the net, with Stones nodding home at the death to steal a point from the visitors.
When all’s said and done this season, the Englishman’s goal could prove the deciding factor in this year’s title race, and would be the second time in recent years Stones has played a key part in a Premier League title after his goal line clearance in 2018-19 against Liverpool, which was the determining factor in City winning that year’s title by a single point.
John Stones pokes home his last-gasp equaliser against Arsenal to rescue a point for City.Source: Getty Images
Post-game, Guardiola said “a lot of things happened in the game, we have time to analyse it after.”
“We have created a good rivalry with Arsenal. It was before with Jurgen (Klopp), now it’s in a different way.
“They have a lot of personality, but we have it (too).”
However, some of the Spaniard’s players weren’t as complimentary of their hosts, who finished the game with 22% possession and appeared hellbent on frustrating their opponents, similar to how former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho set his side up in crucial games.
City’s hero, Stones, questioned Arsenal’s antagonising tactics throughout the contest after the Gunners conceded 10 fouls and looked to slow the game at every possible point.
“I don’t know if they have mastered it, they’ve done it for a few years, and we know to expect that,” the 30-year-old said.
“You can call it clever, or dirty, whichever way you want to put it.
“They break up the game, and obviously it upsets the rhythm for everyone. They use it for their advantage, and I thought we dealt with it really well.”
City midfielder Bernardo Silva was also critical of Arsenal’s tactics, stating: “There was only one team that came to play football.”
“The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee, unfortunately.
“At the end we got a draw, the best we could get considering the context of the last moments of the match.”
Not only did Silva criticse his opponents, but he also took aim at referee Michael Oliver’s complicity in Arsenal’s tactics.
“We had a player injured after they sent him to the ground twice in ten minutes. We had a goal conceded after the referee called our captain and then didn’t allow him to recover his position,” he said.
Things got heated between Arsenal and City during their recent clash.Source: Getty Images
“The second goal is already their usual block to our keeper allowed by the referee.
“And then the referee allowed a sequence of time-wasting events.
“The thing that bothers me the most is having a lot of meetings with the FA at the beginning of each season. They tell us they will control this kind of situation and will stop them, but in the end it doesn’t have any worth. They say a lot but nothing happens.”
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Gary Neville Podcast, former Manchester United right back and perennial title winner Gary Neville described the clash as “exhausting to watch.”
However, given the pre-match expectations of a boring stalemate between the two sides, Neville credited the contest as being “how a big game should be.”
He noted that while Arsenal will be disappointed to not return to London with the three points, Arteta’s side can “take a lot out of that.”
“What they are doing, Arsenal, is impressing us enormously with the way in which they apply themselves; set piece wise and defensively they’re a joy.”
Jamie Carragher, however, felt the Gunners will be bitter with themselves for not seeing out the win, especially considering “City didn’t look that threatening” during the second half.
“We know how vital and how small the margins are, but I just think psychologically to be at that end with your supporters, your coaching staff, on the pitch celebrating that win against Manchester City (is massive),” he said.
Speaking of the animosity between the two sides, Carragher was all praise, noting it reminded him of contests between fierce title rivals in previous eras.
“There’s needle. You can feel that. I can’t wait for the return fixture. I think there’s a real animosity and that wasn’t there at the start when Mikel Arteta first got the job because Arsenal weren’t a threat to Manchester City,” he said.
“This animosity is going to keep building. You think of Manchester United versus Arsenal. You think of what we (Liverpool) had with Chelsea all those years ago.
“You can’t help it, there’s that feeling in your stomach.
“There’s a nastiness about it. I think it’s needed. I love it. I love them coming together. That little bit of friction, as long as it doesn’t cross the line it just adds a little bit of something to the fixture.”
The 2023-24 summer transfer window has drawn to a close, with some clubs nailing their business while others have fallen well short of the mark as financial regulations heavily influence the Premier League’s spending habits.
Unlike windows of the past, where the Premier League attracted some of the biggest names in Europe, this year has felt a little different, with clubs focused more on ensuring safer financial practice as opposed to nailing their big money signings.
We saw less deals akin to the ones that brought Erling Haaland to Manchester City and Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea in recent seasons, and more like Elliot Anderson’s to Nottingham Forest and Conor Gallagher’s to Atletico Madrid: transfers done to appease accountants more than managers.
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‘It’s not like I am Harry Potter’ | 00:22
The strict Premier League crackdown on its Profit and Sustainability rules in recent seasons, exemplified by Everton and Forest’s respective points deductions, appear to have frightened clubs.
This was highlighted in the 10 days preceding the June 30 accounting deadline when six clubs – Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester – sold 15 players for a grand total of £323 million ($631.8 million AUD) in a late attempt to meet PSR requirements.
According to a report from The Athletic, those 15 deals accounted for 16% of the Premier League’s spending this window, with some of those clubs enacting creative accounting to ensure their books comply and a costly points deduction is avoided.
Though this did not slow Premier League spending, with 14 clubs parting with over $150 million on players during the window, but did create a strange spending environment that will surely become a mainstay in the coming seasons.
Changed spending conditions have coincided with changing spending habits, which have been on show throughout the window and go in part to explaining the business of some sides.
The average age of the league’s 10 most expensive signings this season is 23.3 years old, highlighting how clubs are targeting younger players with high potential and resale value, as opposed to proven products in the prime of their careers.
Foxsports.com.au rates every Premier League team’s summer dealings in our Transfer Report Card!
Arsenal
Biggest signing: Riccardo Calafiori ($81.3m from Bologna)
Total spend: $186.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Emile Smith Rowe ($65.8m to Fulham)
Total income: $161.4 million (AUD)
Having finished second last season, Mikel Arteta’s side needed a strong transfer window to strengthen their side and solidify their title push. They did just that.
Riccardo Calafiori arrives after a strong season with Bologna and a good Euros campaign with Italy to strengthen one of Arsenal’s problem areas last season – left back, with the Italian’s ability to seamlessly invert into midfield key to Arteta’s tactical shape. Mikel Merino provides midfield strength, and allows Arsenal to push Declan Rice into a deeper role whenever required, while the move to permanently sign David Raya, and sell Aaron Ramsdale, cleared up one of the biggest clouds over the club’s 2023-24 season.
Raheem Sterling’s deadline day arrival from Chelsea is a great move, providing cover on both wings as well as title-winning experience. If Arteta can get the Englishman to perform at his best, like he did when the pair were at Manchester City, it’ll provide Arsenal with an additional goal scoring threat this season and afford Bukayo Saka a chance to rest his legs after an intense year.
Fighting off interest in Leandro Trossard from the Saudi Pro League is shrewd too given the Belgian’s impact off the bench and versatility, which will come in handy given Gabriel Jesus’ recent injury record.
Crucially in modern football the sales of Emlie Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, which will appear as pure profit on the club’s books, ensure they remain compliant with the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.
Where some feel Arsenal’s window missed the mark is their failure to bring a world class No.9 in, with Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney but avoided for various reasons. Arteta has faith in Kai Havertz, who scored eight goals in 13 games as striker last season, with Trossard, Jesus and Sterling as cover.
Grade: B+
Arsenal’s Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori challenges for the ball with Brighton’s Paraguayan attacker Julio Enciso during a English Premier League match between the Emirates Stadium.Source: AFP
Aston Villa
Biggest signing: Amadou Onana ($96.8m from Everton)
Total spend: $295.8 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Moussa Diaby ($97.7m to Al-Itthad)
Total income: $271.2 million (AUD)
Villa were dealt a massive blow this window in losing Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz, two of their strongest performers last season.
The club signed Belgian holding midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton, with the 23-year-old already hitting the ground running by scoring twice in his first three games. Onana adds size, power and strong ball-winning skills to Villa’s midfield, though lacks the passing range and set-piece threat of Luiz.
Not to worry Villa fans, given the club already possesses Youri Tielemans, one of the Premier League’s strongest passers and a set piece specialist to rival the best of them.
Ian Maatsen, who was key in Dortmund’s run to last season’s Champions League final, gives good depth at left back, though there are concerns about the drop off between right back Matty Cash and his understudy, particularly with injuries in central defence not allowing Ezri Konsa to shuffle across.
Diaby’s loss is massive, even if the Frenchman’s performances tailed off at the end of last season, but Unai Emery already has the pieces to compensate for his departure.
Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barenechea, both signed from Juventus as part of the deal to send Luiz the other way, are young and unproven but could become integral cogs in the Villa machine once they return from their respective loans.
Villa haven’t just signed Ross Barkley is an underrated piece of business. The former Chelsea man provides Emery with experience and brilliant midfield cover following an impressive Premier League season with Luton Town.
Omari Kellyman, Tim Iroegbunam and Cameron Archer’s sales will go towards balancing the club’s books, even if the latter was re-signed from Sheffield United before being sold to Southampton, while Philippe Coutinho’s loan move to Vasco da Gama lightens the club’s wage bill.
Grade: B
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: New signing Ian Maatsen acknowledges Aston Villa fans after the team’s victory against West Ham United FC (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Bournemouth
Biggest signing: Evanilson ($61.3m from Porto)
Total spend: $172.3 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Dominic Solanke ($106m to Tottenham Hotspur)
Total income: $110.3 million (AUD)
There was no more important player to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side last season than striker Dominic Solanke, who finished the campaign with 19 goals and three assists.
Brazilian striker Evanilson joins for a club-record fee having scored 13 Portuguese league goals last season for 3rd placed Porto.
An unknown quantity in England, Evanilson has all the makings of a well-rounded striker and joins a side that had more shot creating actions last season than Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, though it will be hard for the striker to have link up play as exceptional as Solanke.
First-choice goalkeeper Neto joins Arsenal on loan, with Kepa arriving from Chelsea to replace the Brazilian, marking a significant downgrade in the club’s goalkeeping ranks. The Spaniard is a gamble for Iraola’s side given his failure to set the Premier League alight, weak shot stopping and shortcomings when competing for crosses.
19-year-old Spanish-Dutch defender Dean Huijsen has all the makings of a serious transfer coup, with multi-Premier League winning manager Jose Mourinho once describing the centre back as “one of the highest-quality prospects in European football at this age level.”
Grade: C-
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: AFC Bournemouth’s Evanilson during the club’s Premier League match against Newcastle United. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Brentford
Biggest signing: Igor Thiago ($58m from Club Brugge)
Total spend: $169.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Ivan Toney ($77.4m to Al-Ahli)
Total income: $129.7 million (AUD)
Sometimes a transfer window is less about what you gain and more about what you lose.
In letting Ivan Toney walk, Brentford offloaded a player who evidently did not want to be at the club for some time, at a significant fee that allowed them to invest in the future of their club by bringing several talented youngsters in, such as Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Gustavo Nunes.
Not only does Toney’s transfer have significant financial benefits for the Bees, but it should also create a harmonised Brentford squad this season.
Igor Thiago was signed as Toney’s replacement after 29 goals in the Belgian league last season but is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa have led Frank’s line brilliantly to begin the season, with the club’s ability to hold on the latter arguably their most important piece of business.
Keep an eye on teenage left back Jayden Meghoma, viewed by many good judges as one of England’s brightest young prospects. Injuries could pave the way for the flyer to break into Thomas Frank’s side at left back at some point this season.
Grade: B
Brighton
Biggest signing: Georginio Rutter ($77.4m from Leeds United)
Total spend: $381.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Deniz Undav ($49.7m to VFB Stuttgart)
Total income: $90.4 million (AUD)
Only Chelsea spent more money than Brighton, which comes as a surprise given the South Coast club’s highly successful ‘moneyball’ style tactics in recent years.
Those tactics are still at play, with the club not splashing huge cash on a big name signing this summer. Instead, they’ve picked up several highly promising footballers who add to 31-year-old coach Fabian Hurzeler’s squad.
Georginio Rutter, Matt O’Riley, Mats Wieffer, Ferdi Kadioglu and Brajan Gruda all have the makings of quintessential Brighton signings and will no doubt be sold for triple their purchase price in 18 months.
Over the opening three games of the season, fresh faced winger Yankuba Minteh has been incredibly impressive, playing with little fear and plenty of creativity and drive, frightening opposition left backs with his relentless attack.
Billy Gilmour’s deadline day move to Napoli weakens the club’s holding midfield stocks, which took a hit earlier in the window with Pascal Gross’ departure to Dortmund. Hurzeler has said as much in recent days, noting the club “don’t have enough players at (No.) six.”
Grade: B
Right winger Yankuba Minteh during Brighton’s Premier League win against Everton. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Chelsea
Biggest signing: Pedro Neto ($104.6m from Wolves)
Total spend: $400.6 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Conor Gallagher ($65.9m to Atletico Madrid)
Total income: $303 million (AUD)
Deep breath in. And another. 11 players arrived at Stamford Bridge over the summer, bloating Enzo Maresca’s first team squad out to a whopping 30, with a further 12 out on loan.
“You want to ask about where Joao Felix is going to play, I’ve got another question – where’s he going to get changed at the training ground?” Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher questioned.
“How are all these players in one dressing room? How are you putting on a training session?”
The Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling sagas were sour, and typified the current Chelsea regimes cold, and seemingly senseless, approach to business, but the deals to offload Ian Maatsen, Romelu Lukaku, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson were savvy moves that will go towards balancing the club’s books.
In amongst the madness of moving on Sterling and Gallagher, uncertainty around Trevoh Chalobah’s future, the lack of resolution around Ben Chilwell’s situation, and signing three left wingers, there is some small semblance of method.
Chelsea have made their intentions clear with their business; they are backing Maresca in the market and signing players whose profile fits his needs.
There is little risk to the Jadon Sancho deal, while Joao Felix’s signing could be viewed differently if the Portuguese star hits the heights expected of him when he burst onto the scene six years ago.
And yet, despite these faint glimmers of hope there is still the overwhelming sense of restlessness at the Bridge, not only given the way the club has conducted business this summer, and the enormous squad size, but also given the club spent more money than any other Premier League side while failing to address their widely perceived problem area: striker.
Toney and Osimhen were both on the table, though moves for either failed to materialise, with finances key to this. A lack of depth in holding midfield remains a concern for Maresca with Romeo Lavia’s injury history meaning the club are a Moises Caicedo injury away from a near unpluggable hole in their midfield.
Grade: B-
New signing Jadon Sancho is presented to the Chelsea fans before his side’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Crystal Palace
Biggest signing: Eddie Nketiah ($48.3m from Arsenal)
Total spend: $130.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Michael Olise ($87m to Bayern Munich)
Total income: $174 million (AUD)
Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace shocked the Premier League at the back end of last season, winning six of their last seven from 14th to 10th.
The pre-season expectation was for them to build on this, even with Michael Olise’s big money move to Bayern Munich removing one of the stars of last season from the fold.
Joachim Andersen left for Fulham not long after, and things could’ve gone from bad to worse if Newcastle’s aggressive pursuit of captain Marc Guehi paid off.
It didn’t, and Palace’s defence was stronger for it. Trevoh Chalobah arrived on loan from Chelsea, while the promising French Maxence Lacroix joined from Wolfsburg, further strengthening Glasner’s backline.
Japanese international Daicha Kamada and Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr strengthen his frontline, so too does the signing of Eddie Nketiah – who just feels like a Crystal Palace player.
While they’re yet to reap the rewards on the field, Palace have had one of the better windows in the Premier League, defined not so much by who they brought in as much as who they didn’t lose – Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton.
Grade: B+
Everton
Biggest signing: Jake O’Brien ($33m from Lyon)
Total spend: $83 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Amadou Onana ($96.8m to Aston Villa)
Total income: $133.6 million (AUD)
Much like Palace, Everton’s best bit of business in the summer window was not allowing their most important defensive cog to leave the club.
That Jarrad Branthwaite remained at Everton is a massive win for Sean Dyche, even if the defender has missed the opening games of the season through injury.
The 22-year-old was ranked sixth for clearances and seventh for interceptions last season and was a key reason behind Everton keeping 13 clean sheets, second only to Arsenal.
However, the Toffees lost Amadou Onana to Everton, denting their midfield stocks for perhaps the most important Premier League campaign in the club’s recent memory.
Iliman Ndiaye, Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom headline a suite of creative signings that have their work cut out for them in trying to inspire a side that scored just 40 goals last season.
There’s no doubting Everton have made some smart additions. Whether they’ll be what’s needed to keep them away from the relegation fight is a question only time has the answer for.
Grade: D+
Amadou Onana traded Everton for Aston Villa this transfer window. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Fulham
Biggest signing: Emile Smith Rowe ($65.8m from Arsenal)
Total spend: $173.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Joao Palhinha ($81.9m to Bayern Munich)
Total income: $112.9 million (AUD)
One of the smaller Premier League clubs who executed a smart summer window that leaves their squad stronger this year than when it ended last season.
Of course Joao Palhinha’s departure to Bayern Munich leaves a massive hole in Marco Silva’s midfield – no player made more than his 152 tackles last season. Not signing a replacement may come back to bite them, though Harrison Reed, Sasa Lukic and new signing Sander Berge are more than capable in that role.
At the back Joachim Andersen rejoins from Palace, softening Tosin Adarabioyo’s departure, while Jorge Cuenca offers Silva an additional left footed centre back following Tim Ream’s departure.
In attack, Fulham’s have invested plenty in Emile Smith Rowe, a brilliant attacking talent who’s been stifled by injuries and falling out of Mikel Arteta’s favour in recent years. The winger/attacking midfielder has hit the ground running, scoring in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Leicester City, and could be viewed as a bargain in coming seasons if he can match, or exceed, the 10 goals he scored for the Gunners in 2021-22.
Reiss Nelson provides depth out wide following Willian’s departure for Olympiakos and could potentially push Alex Iwobi into a central midfield role he excelled at for Everton a few seasons ago.
While their business hasn’t set the world alight, it’s quietly done what it’s needed to do: make up for their outgoings and strengthen where possible.
Grade: B-
Fulham attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe joined the club this summer for $65.8 million from Arsenal. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ipswich Town
Biggest signing: Omari Hutchinson ($42.6m from Chelsea)
Total spend: $205 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: George Edmundon (loan to Middlesbrough)
Total income: N/A
Only two players contributed more than Omari Hutchinson’s 16 goals in Ipswich’s promotion campaign last season. A deal to bring the England youth international back to the club is massive towards their bid to stay up, with the attacking midfielder showing lots of promise in the season’s opening games.
Jack Clarke, Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap all have the potential to be great signings, especially for the price tag they were collected at, and could all benefit from Kieran McKenna’s brilliant management, while signing last season’s Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics for just over $17 million is smart business.
This quartet are good enough to cut it in the Premier League, but also have the added benefit that, in the event of relegation, Ipswich can extract a high resale value or utilise their talents to earn promotion back to the top flight.
The deal to bring Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City has rocks or diamonds potential. At his best Phillips is a brilliant defensive midfielder with an exceptional passing range and wonderful ability to bait and beat opposition presses. At his worst he is injury riddled, just ask Manchester City, and error-laden, just ask West Ham.
Ipswich will be praying he’s more of the former, especially considering the 28-year-old’s experience keeping freshly promoted sides in the Premier League.
Grade: C
Omari Hutchinson during Ipswich’s Premier League match against Liverpool FC. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Leicester City
Biggest signing: Bilal El Khannouss ($38.7m from Genk)
Total spend: $153.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ($58.1m to Chelsea)
Total income: $58.1 million (AUD)
A few seasons ago the Foxes had a reputation as one of the savviest market operators in Europe. Deals for N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi, Wesley Fofana and Ricardo Pereira were struck with little interjection from other clubs and to great benefit for Leicester.
Relegation zapped that reputation. And while it will be hard to replicate their previous market success there are at least several positives to take from Leicester’s transfer window.
Bilal El Khannouss arrives from Genk as the Belgian league’s Young Player of the Season and an Olympic Bronze medallist who was involved in nine goals last season. The Moroccan’s stats may fail to flatter, but he’s a highly technical and intelligent footballer who glides across the park and could provide some necessary creative spark.
That creative spark takes on greater importance without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the attacking lynchpin around which the club won promotion last season. Dewsbury-Hall’s move to join Enzo Maresca is the club’s only major outgoing – a big plus in their bid to keep their top-flight status intact.
Dewsbury-Hall’s is also major for Leicester given the fee he collected will register as pure profit on the clubs’ books, an important factor given they had significant financial restraints throughout the window.
Elsewhere, Oliver Skipp is a reliable Premier League footballer signed at a good price, while making Abdul Fatawu’s loan permanent is savvy too. Both will be crucial for Steve Cooper this season.
Where their window fell short is really strengthening at striker, especially considering Jamie Vardy’s age and recent injury history and the departure of Kelechi Iheanacho to Sevilla.
Odsonne Edouard has Premier League experience, and was once a prolific goalscorer at Celtic, yet found the net just 21 times in his 103 Palace games. Given the importance of reliable goalscoring in staving off relegation.
Grade: C
Liverpool
Biggest signing: Federico Chiesa ($19.4m from Juventus)
Total spend: $19.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Fabio Carvalho ($43.7m to Brentford)
Total income: $102.6 million (AUD)
This summer always loomed as the end of an era at Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club had drawn to a close, with Dutchman Arne Slot taking the reins of Anfield.
Immense change was expected, with new personnel viewed as a guarantee in order to assist Slot’s transition in the Liverpool managerial role.
Yet, for much of the window Liverpool were the only club in Europe’s top five leagues to have not signed a single player. That was until Giori Mamardashvili was signed from Valencia before being immediately loaned back to Spain, while a bargain move for Federico Chiesa is as risky as it is promising given the Italian’s recent injury history.
Their lack of market activity has not significantly impacted Liverpool, who have begun the season brilliantly.
Even more impressive is the club’s failure to panic once Martin Zubimendi informed them he would remain at Real Sociedad. The Spaniard, who impressed in the Euro final, was billed as the No.6 the Reds desperately needed, with many doubting who would be shoehorned into the role in his place.
Enter Ryan Gravenberch, who has done so seamlessly, bringing a unique profile into the defensive midfield role and justifying Liverpool’s lack of panic in the market.
Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark all left for good deals given their experience, while Stefan Bajcetic’s loan to RB Salzburg will be beneficial to the club in the coming seasons.
Thiago retired and Joel Matip was released, with the club opting not to dip into the market to replace the experienced Cameroonian centre half. A move for Frenchman Castello Lukeba never materialised, meaning the club only have four recognised central defenders, which could prove their Achilles heel down the line.
Liverpool great Jamie Carragher believes the club “are still short – not in terms of numbers but maybe in terms of quality – at centre-back and in holding midfield,” though credited them for not panic buying, which rarely ever works.
Grade: C+
(FILES) Liverpool new signing Federico Chiesa celebrates scoring a goal for Juventus. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)Source: AFP
Manchester City
Biggest signing: Ilkay Gundogan (Free from FC Barcelona)
Total spend: $40.7 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Julian Alvarez ($125m to Atletico Madrid)
Total income: $264.6 million (AUD)
When Julian Alvarez traded Manchester for the warmth of Madrid and the intensity of Diego Simeone, there was a sense that this may be the season City finally trips up.
At times filling in for both Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, the Argentine World Cup winner played the fifth most minutes for Pep in the Premier League last season, scoring 11 and creating eight.
Where exactly would City find a player capable of filling in for both their striker and chief creator? The answer, it seems, had been hiding in plain sight.
Released from the final two years of his Barcelona contract, former City captain Ilkay Gundogan has been deployed as a false nine many times for Guardiola but is naturally a brilliant creative midfielder. There is arguably no better Alvarez replacement in world football.
The German headlines a quiet summer of incomings for City, which includes tricky Brazilian winger Savinho – who joined from Girona and has already shown what a delight he is with the ball at his feet. Both are smart additions that boost an already exceptional squad.
Even still, City enter the campaign without a recognised back up striker on their books.
For any other side this would be deeply concerning. For City, it’s a problem, given Haaland’s relatively good injury record, without yet being a major issue, yet.
Pep noted as much, stating the club’s choice not to replace Alvarez could be a “problem” that may turn into a “mistake” but believes the club have enough players in house who can fill in for Haaland, including Gundogan, Phil Foden and youngsters James McAtee and Oscar Bobb.
Where City were smart this window is their ability to offload unwanted, but talented, academy products for strong fees that allow them to clean their books.
Liam Delap, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tommy Doyle all permanently moved away from the Etihad. Offloading Joao Cancelo’s contract from the club’s books can also not be understated.
Grade: B-
lkay Gundogan re-joined Manchester City from FC Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Manchester United
Biggest signing: Lenny Yoro ($101.4m from LOSC Lille)
Total spend: $354.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Scott McTominay ($49.9m to Napoli)
Total income: $164.5 million (AUD)
As has been the case for the last decade, it’s incredibly hard to get a read on whether or not United’s transfer window has been good.
On paper they’ve brought in good players. Lenny Yoro has massive wraps on him and may just be the best centre back at his age group, Joshua Zirkzee is a unicorn of a striker as capable of dropping deep and creative as many attacking midfielders, and Manuel Ugarte appears the kind of no-nonsense midfield anchor they’ve been crying out for.
Matthijs De Ligt was once Europe’s finest young centre half but has failed to impress at two of the continent’s biggest clubs. He arrives with a major question mark. While at just over $25 million, Noussair Mazraoui has all the makings of a bargain.
And yet there is an element of groundhog day about this window. United have had good windows in the past. Remember 2021, When the club signed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo? Or 2022, when Casemiro, Antony and Lisandro Martinez arrived at Old Trafford? Or last year, when Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund joined?
All of these windows were rightly perceived as great windows on face value of the signings. And the same can be said for this window. All of United’s deals look good on paper, but that matters for very little if the club’s form doesn’t turn around.
Where United, and their restructured footballing ownership, deserve credit is offloading Mason Greenwood to Marseille, clearing the club of the winger’s baggage. Allowing Aaron Wan-Bissaka to move to West Ham is also smart given he doesn’t fit the profile of an Erik Ten Hag fullback.
At nearly $50 million, the club would have been foolish to reject Napoli’s offer for Scott McTominay, though his passion and versatility could well be missed dearly.
Grade: B-
Manchester United’s new signings (L to R) Matthijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro (using crutches due to a metatarsal injury), Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui acknowledge the fans prior to United’s clash with Fulham. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Newcastle United
Biggest signing: Lewis Hall ($54.6 million from Chelsea – loan move made permanent)
Total spend: $74.2 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Elliot Anderson ($68.3 million to Nottingham Forest)
Total income: $132.8 million (AUD)
Arguably no Premier League club had their hands tied behind their back by financial constraints more than Newcastle United.
Manager Eddie Howe described it as “challenging,” before sharing his hopes the club’s minimal business helps them strengthen in future windows.
Out went Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, both of whom would have pushed for a place in Howe’s squad, and potentially starting XI, with Anderson’s move to Forest facilitated purely for financial reasons.
The club’s financial constraints meant they were limited in their ability to dip into the transfer market, with Lewis Hall’s loan move being made permanent and William Osula’s signing the only two the club splashed cash on.
Lloyd Kelly adds much-needed defensive depth, and will be a valuable squad player once everyone is fit, but is hardly a signing to set the world alight.
It would be harsh to judge Newcastle’s incomings too severely due to the club’s financial constraints, though questions need to be asked about their failed pursuit of Palace centre back Marc Guehi, as well as their inability to offload Kieran Trippier – who begins the season as Howe’s right back deputy.
Clearly the money was there, just not used in ways that strengthen the players at Howe’s disposal. What did strengthen Howe’s side was keeping Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, which is about the only commendable business Newcastle conducted.
At best, Newcastle will reflect on this window as one that boosted their squad and brought in two fine young talents. At worst, it will be seen as a failure that failed to achieve anything other than balance the club’s books.
Grade: D+
Nottingham Forest
Biggest signing: Elliot Anderson ($68.3 million from Newcastle United)
Total spend: $175 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Moussa Niakhate ($52.8 million to Lyon)
Total income: $88.9 million (AUD)
Dare we say it… did Forest have a strong transfer window?
Considering the club have had an even more scattergun approach to transfers in recent years than even Chelsea, their activity was measured, geared towards strengthening Nuno’s squad as opposed to signing as many players as possible.
Elliot Anderson is a wonderful footballer, Nikola Milenkovic has been impressive in recent seasons for Fiorentina, Jota Silva has massive wraps as an elusive winger with goal scoring nous, while James Ward-Prowse’s loan adds depth, experience and set piece threat to Nuno’s midfield.
Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga remain at the City ground, highlighting how their astute incomings came without expensive outgoings.
Given the club targeted seven goalkeepers throughout last season, and current No.1 Matz Sels had the lowest save percentage (57.4%) of all 25 goalkeepers in the Premier League last season, not bringing in a new goalkeeper is the one glaring negative against Forest’s window.
The club lagged in their attempt to sign Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Southampton instead, saw their advances for Neto knocked back, missed out on Sam Johnstone to Wolves, failed in their attempt to bring French international Brice Samba back to the club and were unwilling to meet Liverpool’s valuation for Ireland international Caoimhim Kelleher.
Another clear area the club were attempting to strengthen but failed to do is up front, with their pursuits of Eddie Nketiah, Yoane Wissa, Omar Marmoush, Evanilson and Santiago Gimenez all ending in nothing.
While this is disappointing for Forest fans, their manager reportedly has no qualms with Sels as first choice keeper, while New Zealand international Chris Wood has begun the season in red-hot scoring form.
What isn’t disappointing for Forest fans is the fact their club didn’t panic buy when missing out on their targets and instead stuck the course with what they had and trusted Nuno to get the best out of them.
Grade: B-
Elliot Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle just before the June 30 PSR deadline. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Southampton
Biggest signing: Aaron Ramsdale ($35.2 million from Arsenal)
Total spend: $205.4 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Carlos Alcaraz ($29.7 million to Flamengo)
Total income: $82.5 million (AUD)
For much of the window, Southampton seemed to sign players with one eye on remaining in the Premier League and another on gaining promotion in the event they’re relegated this season.
Given last season’s promoted contingent – Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United – all went straight back down at the end of 2023-24, this business approach is as smart as it is sad.
Aaron Ramsdale’s signing late in the window shows the hunger is there for Russell Martin’s side. He headlines a savvy window for the Saints, who also made Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes’ loan moves permanent, while Ben Brereton-Diaz should add goals.
Goals will be a problem for Southampton this season given Adam Armstrong’s never scored more than two Premier League goals in a single season, and Brereton-Diaz has the potential to provide a threat upfront after scoring six times in 14 Premier League games on loan at Sheffield United last season.
There is hope Cameron Archer can blossom into a reliable Premier League striker, which is why the Saints paid Villa $29 million for his services, even if he’s scored more than 10 goals in a season once in his career.
At the very least, should Southampton fail to find the goals they’ll need to survive, their signings this window have a high enough ceiling to serve them well in the coming years.
Grade: C-
Ange bullish wins will come soon | 00:25
Tottenham Hotspur
Biggest signing: Dominic Solanke ($107m from Bournemouth)
Total spend: $234.8 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Oliver Skipp ($39 million to Leicester City)
Total income: $114.6 million (AUD)
12 months after Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich, Spurs have finally landed on their replacement for the England captain.
In Dominic Solanke, Ange Postecoglou has a striker moulded similarly to Kane as you can get on the market. A career-high 19 goal haul last season is the headline figure for the former Bournemouth man, but his link up play and ability to drag opponents out of position and bring teammates into play is among the best in Europe.
An early injury setback following a disappointing debut has soured the early weeks of Solanke’s time at Spurs but Postecoglou has made it no secret that he feels the 26-year-old will succeed at the club.
“He is a presence and scores different types of goals. I think the way we play suits him,” the Spurs coach said.
Elsewhere, the club brought in Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall in, all three of whom are fine young footballers with the potential to grow into exceptional players around which Spurs’ side can be constructed.
18-year-old Gray in particular marks a significant transfer coup, with the 2023-24 Championship Young Player of the Season already a fine holding midfielder, and capable right back, who was highly-rated by former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Last season, Gray led Leeds in tackles, was ranked third in tackles and won possession back more often than just about anyone at the club.
Away from new signings, Spurs were able to offload several high-wage, low performance players, namely Tanguy Nbombele, and find new homes for footballers who don’t suit Postecoglou’s style, such as Eric Dier, Emerson Royal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
For his part, the Australian described the club’s activity as a “real positive” but noted there were shortcomings with their activity.
“We know there’s still some areas where I look at squad management and we can improve. Again, it’s got to be the right person, the right player and right person,” Postecoglou said, before hinting at potential reinforcements joining the club in January.
One area the club are undoubtedly assessing depth options for is defence. Last season, Spurs’ campaign was derailed by injuries and suspensions to Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.
At present, Spurs have just four centre backs on their books, with one of those being Ben Davies – who began his career at left back. Depth in this area is a must if Spurs are to blossom in the coming seasons, with a potential January defensive signing on the cards, one in a similar mould to Radu Dragusin.
Grade: B
Spurs record signing Dominic Solanke joined Spurs from Bournemouth during the summer window for $107 million. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
West Ham
Biggest signing: Max Kilman ($78.2 million from Wolves)
Total spend: $247.5 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Flynn Downes ($35.2 million to Southampton)
Total income: $81 million (AUD)
It’s almost impossible to ignore West Ham’s business and suggest the club aren’t the winners of this year’s summer transfer window.
And the fact they’re the winners is not because they’ve signed a lot of players (nine). If that were the case Chelsea would’ve won by many country miles.
No, it’s the type of players the Hammers have brought in. Good players, with a clear place in the squad, that add value to Julen Lopetegui’s side while coming at largely affordable prices.
Picking up Max Kilman from Wolves is such astute business; only three players made more clearances last season and only four won a higher percentage of their tackles.
He is one of several defence reinforcements joining the Hammers, alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who’s defensive excellence compensates for his offensive limitations, and Jean-Clair Todibo, who joins on a loan with an obligation to buy.
Given the two-time French international was on the radar of many clubs, including Manchester United, West Ham’s ability to sign him represents a significant transfer coup.
Last season’s Championship Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville bolsters an already stacked attack line. The Dutchman’s importance could grow depending on the outcome of an FA investigation into Lucas Paqueta’s potential betting breaches.
Spanish international Carlos Soler and Argentinian midfielder Guido Rodriguez provide depth to Lopetegui’s midfield too, especially with James Ward-Prowse’s loan to Forest.
West Ham’s smart signings have been counteracted with necessary outgoings, including Said Benrahma, Thilo Kehrer, Maxwel Cornet and Nayef Aguerd, all of whom had rather forgettable spells with the Hammers.
Grade: A+
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Biggest signing: Andre ($41 million from Fluminese)
Total spend: $120.3 million (AUD)
Biggest exit: Pedro Neto ($104.6m to Chelsea)
Total income: $192 million (AUD)
Club captain, gone.
Best player, gone.
Fair to say, it hasn’t been the best window for Gary O’Neil’s Wolves. Max Kilman left for West Ham and Pedro Neto for Chelsea, significantly weakening the manager’s defensive and creative options.
“Those guys, we need to replace them,” O’Neil told Sky Sports. That they didn’t could prove damning for the club, even if they have faith in the in-house options they have to make up for their two big losses.
Andre, signed from Fluminese, shapes as smart business, with the ball-winning midfielder a wild success in his homeland. He adds to a strong midfield contingent at the club.
Tommy Doyle’s return is positive after he impressed on loan last season, with Jorgen Strand Larsen has already shown his immense presence up top.
Sam Johnstone is a fine goalkeeper, but is he better than Jose Sa? While question marks remain about the rest of the clubs’ signings, many of whom have high ceilings while lacking Premier League experience.
Speaking to Sky Sports, O’Neil indicated earlier in the window that the club needed to look at bringing in players capable of helping them win now.
“Recruitment has been asset-driven and we are hopeful that we can balance that slightly, to get some that are Premier League ready,” he said.
For the large part the club didn’t, and if their start to the season is anything to go by that strategy will do more short term harm than long-term good.
Liverpool’s perfect start to life under Arne Slot has continued with a solid victory over Brentford, with two key attackers getting their names on the score sheet.
However, the new boss has made no assurances the club’s big-name stars will be retained beyond this season.
Elsewhere, a Chelsea star quickly deleted his foul-mouthed criticism of Wolverhampton before slotting a hattrick past the Wolves.
Newcastle, meanwhile, were lucky to come away from the Vitality Stadium with a draw.
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LIVERPOOL’S PERFECT START UNDER SLOT AMID VAN DIJK DOUBTS
Arne Slot enjoyed a winning bow as Liverpool boss at Anfield with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scoring in a 2-0 win over Brentford on Sunday.
The Reds join Manchester City, Arsenal and Brighton as the only sides with maximum points from two games of the new Premier League season.
Tougher tests lie ahead of Slot in his daunting task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp, starting with a visit to Manchester United next weekend.
But the early signs are positive for the Dutchman as his side are yet to concede and showcased their wealth of attacking options, spearheaded by Salah.
Slot is expected to instill a more possession-focused approach than the one adopted by Klopp in his near nine years in charge.
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, interacts with Harvey Elliott of Liverpool after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield on August 25, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, Liverpool’s opener was straight out of the Klopp copybook. From a Brentford corner, Salah released Diogo Jota, who timed his pass perfectly into Diaz to charge through on goal and fire into the top corner on 13 minutes.
Thereafter there were only flashes of the football Slot is hoping to bring in the first half.
Brentford were again missing Ivan Toney, who is expected to leave the club before Friday’s transfer deadline.
But the Bees still posed a threat without the England striker and should have levelled 10 minutes into the second half.
Nathan Collins met Mathias Jensen’s enticing cross with a bullet header that Alisson Becker did brilliantly to parry.
That warning awoke Liverpool from their slumber early in the second period. Collins made a goal-saving block moments later to deny Jota turning in Alexander-Arnold’s low cross.
Vitaly Janelt was next to get a vital foot in to prevent Salah rounding off a slick team move.
Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken then produced a brilliant stop to turn Diaz’s powerful effort behind.
As is so often the case, the Reds had to turn to Salah to provide the clinical finish to finally make the points safe.
The impressive Diaz this time bagged the assist and the Egyptian managed to time his run perfectly to remain onside and dink the ball over Flekken.
Meanwhile, captain Virgil van Dijk said his focus is on leading the Reds’ transition under their new manager this season despite doubt over his future at Anfield.
The Dutch centre-back has less than a year remaining on his contract with no signs of an immediate agreement on a new deal.
Van Dijk has been fundamental to Liverpool’s success since joining for a then world record £75 million ($99 million) fee for a defender in January 2018.
“I’m very calm,” van Dijk told Sky Sports.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool interacts with Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield on August 25, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I want to be important and stay important for the club. What happens? Let’s see, but I’m very calm about my situation. There’s no reason for me to think about something else because I have the whole season to play.”
Van Dijk has won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups during his time at Liverpool.
The 33-year-old is expected to be vital to helping his compatriot Slot instill his ideas as he faces the daunting task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
“Whatever happens now, Anfield has a special place in my heart. And it’s been successful. Let’s see what happens,” added van Dijk.
“Playing for Liverpool, one of the most if not the most successful club in the world. It feels great to wear the shirt.
“But there’s so much for the club to improve on, for myself and the team, let’s see what (the season) it brings.”
Slot was serenaded in the closing stages by the 60,000 crowd chanting his name – as they had been instructed to do by Klopp at his farewell in May.
Van Dijk isn’t the only big-name player potentially playing for their future at Anfield, with Slot revealing no one is a certainty to earn new contracts.
“If we bring the best out of them, and they perform really well, then it’s up to them if they want to sign, it’s up to us [the club] if we give them a new contract.”
Van Dijk, alongside Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the players with contracts that expire at the end of the season.
Madueke hat-trick sinks Wolves | 00:33
MADUEKE CAUGHT OUT
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke apologised for his foul-mouthed criticism of Wolverhampton after responding to the controversy with a hat-trick in Sunday’s 6-2 victory at Molineux.
Madueke posted and then deleted a critical opinion about Wolverhampton just hours before playing in the city, whose industrial heritage includes coal mining and steel production.
Madueke shared his location, which was Wolverhampton, in the post, which read “this place is s**t”.
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke’s accidental social media post.Source: FOX SPORTS
The 22-year-old later shared: “Damn wrong Instagram account. You lot are too fast.” Madueke was booed by Wolves fans but he silenced his tormentors with a treble and then said sorry for his social media faux pas.
“I just want to apologise to everyone that I might have offended. It is just a human mistake, an accident. It wasn’t meant to be out on my socials like that. I’m sure Wolverhampton is a nice town and I’m sorry,” he said.
“In terms of the boos I expected it but it is part of the game. You have to be able to play under that sort of pressure.” Madueke’s hat-trick was aided by three assists from Cole Palmer. Palmer has been nicknamed ‘cold’ for his ice-cool approach to finishing, especially from the penalty spot.
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke quickly deleted his post.Source: FOX SPORTS
Madueke said his more emotional style of play made them the perfect combination.
“It is unbelievable. He is cold and I am fire so it mixes well. He has the ability to always play a pass at the right time,” he said.
“I like to get the ball in space, beat people and make things happen, so luckily today it worked.
“The first one was a bit lucky. Second one was all Cole, two brilliant passes. I’m made up for the hat-trick but more made up we won the game.” Madueke’s treble inspired Chelsea’s first Premier League win under new boss Enzo Maresca.
Beaten by Manchester City in their league opener last weekend, Chelsea beat Servette in a UEFA Conference League playoff on Thursday, with Madueke on the scoresheet against the Swiss side before his demolition job at Molineux.
“Everyone saw what he did at Leicester last year, he is mad about the details,” Madueke said of Maresca’s promotion-winning campaign with Leicester.
“Even in the first game against City there were some nice patterns of play but we just couldn’t finish it off. It is a great day today, I am happy he has got his first Premier League win for Chelsea.” Showing the attention to detail that Madueke referenced, Maresca praised his winger’s contribution but still found one small fault.
“In the first 10 minutes he had two chances and overall he was very good. The only thing I didn’t like from Noni is the free-kick he gave away before halftime and we can avoid that, especially against a team who are good from set pieces,” he said.
“In the first 10 minutes we created two or three chances and scored a goal and then we started to lose the ball, but overall a good performance.
“Absolutely there always things we can improve on. We can learn many things.”
Gundogan set to return to Man City? | 01:06
CONTROVERSY AT THE VITALITY STADIUM
At the Vitality Stadium, Newcastle rescued a controversial 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
Newcastle trailed when Joelinton carelessly lost possession and Antoine Semenyo’s low cross was touched in by Marcus Tavernier in the 37th minute.
Eddie Howe’s team equalised in the 76th minute as Harvey Barnes floated in a cross that Anthony Gordon slotted home from close range.
Bournemouth were furious to be denied a stoppage-time winner when VAR ruled Dango Ouattara had handled before heading in.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said: “It’s very difficult to digest. It’s obvious what happened. We should have won the game.
“The ball touched his shoulder. The referee could not do anything else, someone call him and said he have to disallow it. No-one will remember this in two weeks. I’m very frustrated.”
Jack Grealish was a shock omission from England’s Euro 2024 squad as Gareth Southgate axed the Manchester City winger on Thursday after his disappointing end to the season.
Grealish paid the price for a significant dip in form in the second half of the Premier League campaign as he became the most high-profile star to be dropped from Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad.
The 28-year-old wasn’t the only big name to suffer Euros heartache as Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Tottenham playmaker James Maddison also missed out.
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Grealish was an unused substitute during City’s FA Cup final defeat against Manchester United in May after being left out of the Premier League champions’ title-winning game against West Ham.
He did feature for England as a substitute in their win in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, but it wasn’t enough to convince Southgate to take him to Germany.
Maguire was unable to prove his fitness after struggling with a calf injury, while Maddison endured a poor end to the domestic season.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah were the other omissions from Southgate’s final 26-man squad.
The Football Association revealed the squad ahead of schedule as players who missed out made their omissions public.
“All the players took the news really respectfully. Of course, all players will think they should be in and that’s why they are top players,” Southgate told reporters.
“They have that self-belief and mindset, but the fact is we have some players who have been playing extremely well in the league all season.
“We just felt other players had stronger seasons particularly in the last six months or so.”
Maguire has been a mainstay of Southgate’s defence throughout his reign as coach.
But the 31-year-old centre-back’s failure to recover for United’s FA Cup final win against Manchester City in May – after spending several weeks on the sidelines – left him with little chance of winning his fitness battle.
“Harry has made some progress but it’s been complicated, we definitely wouldn’t have had him for the group stages,” Southgate said.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, Liverpool’s Joe Gomez and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa will compete to play along Manchester City’s John Stones at the heart of England’s defence.
“I am devastated not to have been selected to play for England at the Euros this summer,” Maguire said on Instagram.
“Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to overcome an injury to my calf. Maybe I pushed myself too hard, to try and make it. Simply, I am absolutely gutted.”
Maddison’s recent struggles at Tottenham – combined with stiff competition in his position from Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka – delivered a fatal blow to his hopes.
“Devastated doesn’t quite cut it,” Maddison said on social media.
“Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set.”
United left-back Luke Shaw is in the squad despite not playing since February, while his club teammate Kobbie Mainoo, 19, is the youngest member of the group.
“At the moment we think he could have some involvement in the second group game, but you have to keep hitting the markers,” Southgate said of Shaw.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, 20, is included after a strong spell since his move from Blackburn in January.
England, chasing a first major trophy for 58 years, start their Euros campaign against Serbia on June 16 before facing Denmark and Slovenia in their other Group C fixtures.
Southgate, whose side host Iceland in their last warm-up on Friday, said: “It’s a very open tournament. We’re excited about our prospects.
“We’re experienced, but we know we have to deliver in this moment.”
ANGE MAKES EARLY TRANSFER SPLASH AS $49M STAR LINKED WITH EXIT
Tottenham’s off-season has barely begun but it hasn’t stopped Ange Postecoglou from making his first signing for next season as Timo Werner will return to the club on loan from RB Leipzig.
Once again, Tottenham will have the option to make the deal permanent if the German international impresses.
However, the fee to sign Werner has dropped from $AUD28 million to $16 million.
Werner joined Tottenham in the January window until the end of the 2023/24 season, scoring twice and providing three assists in 14 appearances before thigh issues ruled him out of the final five games.
With Werner now retained for the season, Postecoglou may have to turn his attention to adding a defender amid reports Emerson Royal could be on the way out.
According to Sky in Italy, AC Milan have made Royal one of their main targets for the window as they look to bring in a right-sided defender.
The 25-year-old, who is a right back by trade, was forced to deputise at left back and even centre back amid an injury crisis that exposed Tottenham’s lack of depth in defence.
Royal moved to Tottenham from Barcelona for $49.9 million in September 2021, so the club will no doubt look to recoup as much of that figure as possible should Milan decide to swoop for the Brazilian.
Timo Werner has returned to Tottenham for next season. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
GERMAN GIANTS REFUSE TO RULE OUT SHOCK SWOOP FOR CONTROVERSIAL RED DEVIL
Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl refused to rule out a shock move for Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
Per the Daily Mail, German reports claim Dortmund could sign Greenwood on loan for next season.
And Kehl, speaking to media prior to Dortmund’s Champions League final against Real Madrid, did little to quash any speculation.
“I don’t want to talk about any rumours at the moment because it doesn’t make sense,” Kehl said.
“Let’s play the final on Saturday first.
“Of course, we have plans for next season and we have discussed many scenarios but let’s focus on Saturday and then we’ll see how we move on.”
When asked if Greenwood is a player Dortmund may be keen on, Kehl responded: “I don’t want to talk about that now.”
Greenwood has not pulled on a shirt for the Red Devils since January 2022 after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
All charges against Greenwood were dropped in February 2023 but was immediately suspended from training and matches by the Red Devils until further notice.
There were plans to bring Greenwood back into the fold at United but severe public backlash forced the club to change their approach as the 20-year-old was loaned out to La Liga side Getafe for the season, scoring eight goals from 33 league appearances.
Greenwood is reportedly wanted by Borussia Dortmund. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LEEDS BRACE FOR $57M EXIT AS PL VULTURES PREPARE TO SWOOP
The vultures are preparing to pick apart Leeds after the club failed to achieve promotion back to the Premier League, with star forward Crysencio Summerville the likeliest to move on.
Summerville was pivotal to Leeds’ promotion tilt with 19 league goals but could not make the desired impact in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the playoff final.
Having missed out on the riches of the Premier League, Leeds will have little choice but to sell some of their star players.
Summerville was previously linked with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool, but a switch to Chelsea would be somewhat surprising given their plethora of young forwards.
Summerville looks almost certain to leave Leeds in the summer. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NEW UTD BOSS EYES TOFFEES GUN IN BOLD STATEMENT OF INTENT
Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to be wasting little time in improving Manchester United’s squad and is eyeing up an Everton defender to kickstart the club’s business.
According to The Sun, Ratcliffe is hoping to bring Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite to Old Trafford in a $76 million deal.
Branthwaite quickly cemented himself as one of the best young defenders in the Premier League, playing a key role in Everton conceding 51 goals, the fourth-fewest in the entire competition.
Unfortunately for the Toffees, uncertainty regarding 777 Partners’ takeover of the club could force cut-price exits of some of their key players, including Branthwaite.
The arrival of Branthwaite would be a major statement of intent from Ratcliffe after his INEOS group took control of the Red Devils’ football operations via his acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in the club.
SERIE A STAR CATCHES LIVERPOOL’S EYE
Liverpool scouts attended an Atalanta match with the intention of watching Teun Koopmeiners.
However, a report from Tuttosport claims Koopmeiners’ teammate Ederson wowed the Reds so much that they’re prepared to make a play for him.
Ederson, a midfielder, scored six goals and assisted one in 35 Serie A games for Atalanta and even earned a call-up to the Brazil team for the upcoming Copa America.
Should Ederson end up moving to Liverpool, he would be new manager Arne Slot’s first signing since replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
