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Tag: Nottingham Forest

  • Carabao Cup semi-final draw: Manchester United to face Newcastle United at Wembley?

    Carabao Cup semi-final draw: Manchester United to face Newcastle United at Wembley?

    Southampton’s reward for knocking Man City out of the Carabao Cup is a semi-final tie against Newcastle United, while Nottingham Forest face Man Utd.

    Goals from Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo secured Southampton a stunning victory over Pep Guardiola’s side. They will host the Magpies in the first leg.

    Newcastle have reached the semi-finals of the League Cup for the first time in 47 years. Dan Burn scored his first goal for his boyhood club in their 2-0 quarter-final victory over Leicester.

    Four-time League Cup winners Nottingham Forest were drawn at home to Manchester United following their 4-3 win on penalties against Wolves after the game finished 1-1 in normal time.

    Dean Henderson saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out to set up a clash with United after Erik ten Hag’s side beat Sky Bet League One outfit Charlton 3-0 on Tuesday.

    But on-loan Henderson will not be able to take part in the semi-finals against his parent club United.

    The semi-final ties will take place in the weeks commencing January 23 and 30.

    Saints boss Nathan Jones stated post-match that he is “not dreaming” of Wembley just yet.

    “It’s no different. Our cup ties have been against Premier League sides. Palace away is a tough game. Tonight we were playing against one of the world’s best sides, one of the best managers of all time. We just need to transfer that into the league.

    “I’m not getting carried away. We need time to change the direction of the club. The previous manager did a wonderful job but in the last year, they’ve not won a lot of games. Changing the momentum of a football club is tough. I’m clear, I’m strong. I’d like an element of realism elsewhere. If we get that then we’re all together and can do something here.

    “I’m absolutely not dreaming [of Wembley]. I’ll be up until 3am watching Everton. We have a long day tomorrow. I’ll have about 20 seconds with a glass of wine and then reality hits.”

    READ MORE: Man Utd have to treat Carabao Cup like the World Cup; Newcastle already celebrated like it

     



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  • Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves (4-3 pens): Henderson’s shoot-out heroics sends Cooper’s side into semi-finals

    Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves (4-3 pens): Henderson’s shoot-out heroics sends Cooper’s side into semi-finals

    Dean Henderson saved two spot-kicks as Nottm Forest beat Wolves in a penalty shoot-out to book their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

    The on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper saved efforts from Ruben Neves and Joe Hodge as Forest won 4-3 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 in normal time.

    Wily Boly netted against his former club as the hosts went ahead before Raul Jimenez equalised for Wolves. There was a mass brawl on the pitch after the penalty shoot-out.

    Forest are in the last four of a competition that they have special memories in, having won it four times, and now a return to Wembley looks a real possibility as they will play one of Manchester United, Newcastle or Southampton in the two-legged last-four tie.

    Steve Cooper reverted to their strongest XI, having made 10 changes for the FA Cup defeat at Blackpool on Saturday, and their intent to try and progress was clear from the off.

    They made a vibrant start with Morgan Gibbs-White cutting back for Gustavo Scarpa, but the Brazilian could not get his shot right and Wolves survived.

    Forest took a deserved lead in the 18th minute as the goal was made and finished by two Molineux old boys.

    Gibbs-White whipped in a dangerous corner to the near post, which was deflected on to the crossbar and Boly was on hand to poke home from close range.

    Boly showed his respect for the club he played for almost 150 times in a five-year spell by refusing to celebrate, but the rest of the City Ground made up for it.

    Henderson had been a spectator for the opening 35 minutes but the on-loan goalkeeper proved his worth with two saves in as many minutes to keep his side at bay.

    First, he got down well to keep out Jonny’s low effort and then produced a brilliant stop as he stayed big to beat away Jimenez’s effort from 12 yards after Wolves had cut Forest open.

    An even better save came four minutes later as Wolves began to threaten regularly.

    They broke down the right and Jimenez sent in an inviting cross for Hee-Chan Hwang, but the South Korean’s first-time effort was pawed away by Henderson.

    Having weathered the storm before the break, Forest regained the ascendency after the restart and had chances to extend their lead.

    Gibbs-White picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and forced Jose Sa into a low save and then, after the former Wolves man jinked into the area, his ball back was met by Serge Aurier, whose shot was blocked.

    Forest were made to regret not taking one of those chances as Wolves levelled out of the blue in the 64th minute.

    They worked the ball out to the right and Matheus Cunha, who had only been on for six minutes, put a ball across goal that Jimenez could not miss.

    Forest regrouped and were within inches of going back in front as an attempted pass inside the area ricocheted off Nelson Semedo and on to the post.

    Wolves thought they should have had a penalty late on as Emmanuel Dennis tangled with Cunha, but referee Graham Scott waved away protests, which sparked a melee between both sides and earned visiting boss Julen Lopetegui a booking.

    That meant the game ended up being decided from the spot as it went to a shoot-out.

    Penalty specialist Henderson came to the fore as he made saves from Neves and Hodge to send his side through, before ugly scenes on the full-time whistle.

    READ MORE: Premier League keepers ranked… Liverpool screwed without Alisson; De Gea’s stats slump

     



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  • Liverpool defender joins embarrassed Chelsea striker in Premier League’s Worst XI…

    Liverpool defender joins embarrassed Chelsea striker in Premier League’s Worst XI…

    It’s no surprise to see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the Premier League matchday’s worst XI, but how the bloody f*** is there only one Evertonian?

    Here is the worst XI from this week’s round of Premier League matches, according to Whoscored ratings…

     

    Vicente Guaita – 5.13
    Conceded four in 24 second-half minutes to Tottenham but the Crystal Palace keeper wasn’t directly responsible for any of them. The Spaniard was perhaps caught under the cross for Harry Kane’s opener but he didn’t just usher the ball drift across his goal like Kepa.

     

    Adam Smith – 5.91
    Smith is in just ahead of Everton right-back Nathan Paterson (5.95) but the 31-year-old wasn’t the worst-rated Bournemouth defender. That dubious honour belongs to Marcos Senesi (5.76). But there were worse centre-backs, including Virgil van Dijk (5.73), Conor Coady (5.74) and Lyanco (5.22).

     

    Ibrahima Konate – 4.67
    Konate was the worst centre-back of the lot. The Liverpool defender endured a torrid evening at Brentford in his first action since returning from the World Cup. He was flat-footed when marking Ben Mee which led to him diverting a corner into his own net and was shurugged aside with worrying ease when Bryan Mbeumo made the game safe for the Bees.

    READ MORE: Convenient Liverpool scapegoat makes Premier League winners and losers debut

    Marc Guehi – 4.86
    The Palace centre-back had a nightmare second half when Spurs showed up. His poor defensive header under no pressure gifted the visitors possession in the build-up to Kane’s opener; Guehi failed to get close enough to Kane for his second; and he was all over the place under a high ball before Son Heung-min rounded off a 4-0 defeat for Palace. Questions for Patrick Vieira?

     

    Pascal Struijk – 5.86
    Against West Ham, the Leeds defender had a torrid first-half, at the end of which he conceded a penalty that allowed the Hammers to go in level at the break. Regained his composure in the second half, but Struijk might be glad to se Max Wober arrive to play at left-back, allowing him to return to centre-back.

    Idrissa Gueye – 5.45
    To be the worst player in that Everton side takes some doing but the central midfielder achieved it with one of the worst, laziest passes of the season to give Pascal Gross a free run on goal for Brighton’s fourth. He also missed a tackle in the build-up to the Seagulls’ second before being hooked just after the hour. Wretched.

     

    Brenden Aaronson – 5.16
    The American struggled to give Leeds any impetus in attack in the 63 minutes before he was replaced, with his most notable contribution being the turnover that led to West Ham’s second immediately after half-time. Sums up his recent form and Jesse Marsch acknowledged the summer signing is struggling.

     

    Michael Olise – 5.84
    A second appearance in the worst XI over the festive period for Olise following a similarly poor performance in Palace’s last home defeat to Fulham. Things might have been different had Jordan Ayew passed rather than shot in the first half, much to Wilfried Zaha’s fury. But overall, Olise was successful with only one of 11 crosses while losing six of his eight duels and giving away possession 25 times before he was replaced on 73 minutes.

     

    Harvey Barnes – 5.81
    It’s a similar story for Barnes, who featured in the same Worst XI midfield as Olise last week. The Leicester wideman wasted one big chance against Fulham, with 11 of his 13 duels going the way of his opponent. Conceded five fouls and lost possession 14 times.

     

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5.62
    Started on the bench and was back there with a quarter of the game still to play and Chelsea chasing a goal. In the brief time he was given, Aubameyang managed 13 touches, none of them significant in any way. “I thought he did everything he could for the team,” said Graham Potter, which probably wasn’t the compliment it appears to be.

    Che Adams – 5.67
    The Southampton striker edges out other sub-six scorers Darwin Nunez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins to partner Aubameyang after failing to fluster the Forest defence. Saints’ best chance fell to Adams but he skewed horribly wide early on. That set the tone for another defeat in which the hosts failed to have a shot on target.



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  • Nottm Forest 1-1 Chelsea: Ex-Spurs man Aurier nets equaliser as Cooper’s men hold the Blues

    Nottm Forest 1-1 Chelsea: Ex-Spurs man Aurier nets equaliser as Cooper’s men hold the Blues

    Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier netted an equaliser for Nottm Forest as they held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw on New Year’s Day.

    After beating Liverpool and Tottenham at home this season, Forest put in another strong performance against Chelsea.

    Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock in the first-half against the run of play but Aurier levelled the game just after the hour.

    On the balance of the game, Steve Cooper’s men arguably deserved to win as Morgan Gibbs-White hit the crossbar, but this will give them great encouragement in their bid to beat the drop this season.

    Chelsea did at least stop a fourth away defeat in a row but they will require a vast improvement if they are to close the seven-point gap on the top four.

    Forest’s impressive performance was soured, though, by alleged homophobic chanting from the Forest fans towards the travelling support.

    Having seen off Liverpool in October and Spurs in the Carabao Cup, there was early optimism for another scalp after the way they started as their pace troubled Chelsea.

    They forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into two saves as Gibbs-White played Brennan Johnson through on goal but his first shot was well saved by the visiting goalkeeper, with the follow-up effort easier to gather.

    Forest were on top when they fell behind in the 16th minute.

    Christian Pulisic was allowed too much space to get in a cross, which Willy Boly made a mess of trying to clear and it looped over Dean Henderson and off the crossbar, with Sterling waiting eagerly to fire home the rebound for his first Premier League goal since August.

    Despite their lead, Graham Potter’s side were not dominating, though did have the better efforts on goal with Cesar Azpilicueta seeing a deflected effort go just wide, while Pulisic shot straight at Henderson.

    Forest started the second half very well and were presented with a fine chance just four minutes in.

    Johnson raced clear down the right and a square ball to Taiwo Awoniyi looked the best option, but he instead opted to shoot and Kepa was equal to it with a low save.

    They were within inches of levelling five minutes later and it would have been a cracker as Ryan Yates’ cross was met perfectly by Gibbs-White but his first-time effort crashed off the underside of the bar and just to safety.

    A deserved leveller came just after the hour from an unlikely source as Aurier scored his first goal since January 2021.

    Chelsea failed to clear a corner and the former Tottenham defender controlled Boly’s header with his chest and then lashed home.

    Forest will have fancied their chances of going on to find what would have been a deserved winner, but they could not create any more clear-cut opportunities and had to settle for a point which leaves them in the relegation zone on goal difference.

    READ MORE: Transfer gossip… Mudryk hijack to take Chelsea January transfer spend to €270m

     



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  • Man Utd 3-0 Nottingham Forest: Rashford helps hosts keep Champions League pace – Football365

    Man Utd 3-0 Nottingham Forest: Rashford helps hosts keep Champions League pace – Football365

    Marcus Rashford continued his rich vein of form as Manchester United closed in on the Premier League top four with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

    Rashford, fresh from an impressive World Cup campaign with England, scored the opener and made the second for Anthony Martial as United moved to within one point of fourth-placed Tottenham.

    He was off the pitch by the time that Fred added late gloss to the victory that Rashford spearheaded.

    The 25-year-old has been back to his best this season and scored his eighth goal in 13 games for club and country, looking a real threat throughout the match.

    The way he combined with Martial and Antony in attack suggests that United will fare just fine without the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.

    And with the possibility of additions next month, Erik ten Hag’s side will be making a real push to break into those Champions League places and stay in them through the second half of the season.

    For Forest, who had a goal ruled out by VAR, this match went a little better than the last time they played United when they lost 8-1 in 1998, but they remain in the bottom three and with Chelsea to come on New Year’s Day it does not get any easier.

    Having conceded six at Manchester City and five at Arsenal, Steve Cooper’s side will have arrived at Old Trafford with a sense of trepidation about what was to come.

    They had a taste of what might be in store as early as the fourth minute as Wayne Hennessey – making his first Premier League start since January – turned a Tyrell Malacia shot onto a post.

    The next 15 minutes were actually of promise for Forest as they probed United without the prospect of creating anything and then it all fell apart inside the space of four minutes.

    The hosts took the lead in the 19th minute with a goal straight off the training ground as Rashford darted to the front post to meet Christian Eriksen’s low corner and swept into the far corner to draw level with Eric Cantona on 64 Premier League goals for United.

    A mere 185 seconds later it was 2-0 as United produced a scintillating counter-attack with Rashford this time the provider, breaking at pace and then squaring for Martial, whose low shot squirmed through the hands of Hennessey, who will not be too keen to see any replays.

    Unfortunately for Forest, VAR official Robert Madley watched plenty of replays of the goal Forest thought they had scored five minutes before the break.

    Renan Lodi whipped in an inviting cross that Ryan Yates appeared to head into the far corner.

    However, Madley first checked for a handball on Yates as his arm was outstretched and then when it became apparent that the ball deflected off Willy Boly on the way in, he ruled the defender was in an offside position and Forest were denied a first away goal since August.

    Forest needed a goal early in the second half and they briefly threatened, but it was United that continued to create the meaningful chances.

    Rashford was at the heart of another lightning break, feeding Bruno Fernandes, who teed up Antony, but Hennessey made a good save.

    The goalkeeper, playing his first game since being sent off for Wales at the World Cup, was being kept busy and went some way to atoning for that first-half error making a string of stops to keep it at two.

    He denied Rashford with his feet, kept out Martial with a smart stop and then tipped over from Casemiro’s chipped effort.

    It looked like Ten Hag’s men would have to settle for two, but Fred killed the game in the final five minutes, coolly converting after Casemiro’s clever pass.



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  • Manchester United look very comfortable with Casemiro pulling the strings

    Manchester United look very comfortable with Casemiro pulling the strings

    Manchester United didn’t have too many difficulties in seeing off a tepid Nottingham Forest, with Casemiro adding a sense of calm to their midfield.

     

    It’s getting tight at the top. Following their 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, Manchester United are just a point off fourth place in the Premier League and are just four points off second-placed Newcastle United. They’re still 11 behind Arsenal, but a comfortable win against accommodating but ultimately fairly doughty opposition with a couple of key players missing told us more than anything else that this United are a team heading in the right direction.

    Manchester United are better than last season, but that’s a bar so low they’d need to limbo to not clear it. They remain capable of underwhelming, the latest example of which came at Villa Park in their penultimate Premier League game, but it has looked as though there is finally a plan at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag has improved players whose careers had seemed at risk of stalling completely, while new arrivals have been successfully integrated.

    Obviously, the biggest cause of strife throughout the first half of this season, the distraction they could have done without, has now burned his bridges and left. Their transfer dealings have been good, even if they didn’t get the one player they sought more than any other during the summer. There is an element of uncertainty surrounding the club’s future over who the new owners might be, but that seems unlikely to be a quick process. They’re still a little way of being the finished article, but they’re heading in the right direction and Arsenal have already demonstrated this season how quickly fortunes can turn in the modern game if you’re canny enough in the transfer market.

    Nottingham Forest went into the midwinter break on a slight upturn, taking seven points from their last four games before everybody broke up with a draw against Brentford and wins against Liverpool and Crystal Palace. They needed them. Even this, with the assistance of results elsewhere, had left them one place off the bottom of the Premier League, with only crisis club du jour Southampton below them.

    It’s easy to criticise Forest for their unique decision to bring in 23 new players over the course of the summer, but we’re now approaching the halfway point in the Premier League and although they had been looking slightly more cohesive before the mid-season, they remain too prone to basic collective lapses. Forest’s defence did this twice by the midway point in the first half, the defence falling asleep at a corner and getting caught on the break with an attack that came at them like a hot knife through butter.

    Manchester United’s two first-half goals were a combination of the nicely integrated and the revitalised. Christian Eriksen’s low corner was met by a fine side-foot shot for Marcus Rashford following some training ground chicanery for the first goal. Casemiro’s tackle and pass started the move that released Rashford on the left to find Anthony Martial for the second. But United do remain a work in progress and they allowed Forest back into the latter stages of the first half, leading to a joy-sucking wait for a VAR decision when Ryan Yates’ downward header flicked off an offside Willy Boly and in. The decision took a long time to get round to being given, but it was at least correct.

    Much of the second half was played at a slower pace. Forest hadn’t scored an away goal in the Premier League since August 20. The likelihood of them pulling back a two-goal deficit was practically non-existent, certainly after Yates’ goal was disallowed. But they didn’t fold. Indeed, they gave as good as they got for periods in the second half, particularly in its opening stages.

    But for all that Forest didn’t play that badly, they seldom truly threatened throughout the second half and were playing a Manchester United team who seemed fairly content with what they had. With three minutes to play Casemiro, the player who more than anybody else has brought a sense of calm to United’s defensive midfield this season, slid an absolutely perfect pass through the Forest defence for Fred to extinguish any remaining hopes of the improbable.

    This wasn’t quite the mauling that Forest got at Manchester City, Leicester or Arsenal, and perhaps it would have been optimistic to ever believe that they could ever have taken a win from this game. But while they played OK throughout the second half, those moments of collective defensive lapse are simply something that they cannot afford to keep doing.

    It’s not difficult to see how their goal difference is six worse than anybody else’s in the entire division. A defence is a team within a team. When you build a complete playing squad from scratch, the players involved will take a while to know what the rest are doing at any given moment, and when the margins are as tiny as they are at the elite end of professional sport, moments such as that at the corner from which Manchester United scored their opening goal in this game will usually be punished. Can this be fixed by spending even more money in the January transfer window? It seems doubtful; as ever this season, a decent Nottingham Forest team feels just out of reach.

    But Manchester United are coming together. There was a time not so long ago when every United game felt like an exhibition of self-loathing, a team finding new ways to scrape deeper and deeper barrels on an apparently weekly basis. That is certainly no longer the case. The head coach seems to be the right man for the job. He’s bringing out the best in players who had previously been underperforming for substantial periods of time. And in bringing in players such as Casemiro, who probably is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, they head into 2023 looking forward rather than nervously over their shoulders. The title may be beyond them this season, but a top four finish seems very possible, and that alone is a substantial upgrade on time around.



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  • Every Premier League club’s plan for World Cup break – training camps, trips and friendlies

    Every Premier League club’s plan for World Cup break – training camps, trips and friendlies

    Dubai is a popular destination for Premier League clubs during the World Cup, while others opt for Abu Dhabi or Spain. One club is squeezing in two trips; two are staying at home.

    Here’s how every Premier League club is spending their World Cup break…

     

    Arsenal
    Mikel Arteta has given his Premier League leaders between 10 and 14 days off before reconvening ahead of a behind-closed-doors friendly with next-door-neighbours Watford on November 28. Arsenal then head to Dubai for warm-weather training and friendlies against Lyon (December 8) and AC Milan (December 13). Arsenal are also reported to be in talks with Barcelona over a possible friendly at the Emirates before Christmas.
    First game back: West Ham (H), Boxing Day.

     

    Aston Villa
    Unai Emery discussed his plans for the World Cup break in his first interview as Villa boss: “The break will help us. After 10 days we are going to be off, we are going to start again, we will have training days to improve and create identity and our style.” Villa then face Cardiff in a memorial match for Peter Whittingham on November 30 before flying to Dubai, where they will take on Brighton in a friendly. Emery has also scheduled a friendly against his former side, Villarreal, for December 15 at Villa Park.
    First game back: Liverpool (H), Boxing Day

     

    Bournemouth
    The Cherries squad was given a fortnight off after Saturday’s win over Everton. Upon returning to training, they will fly to Dubai on November 30 before taking on Royal Antwerp on December 4. Bournemouth are also planning a couple of friendlies when they return to England, though they are probably prioritising the appointment of a manager.
    First game back: Newcastle (A, Carabao Cup), December 20.

     

    Brentford
    Thomas Frank explained the Bees’ plans: “First there is a couple of weeks off for everyone. Then the rest of the players and the staff come back in. We move to our new training ground in that period which is nice. Then we are going away for a week to Spain and we are playing friendlies.” No word yet on who they will face in Spain.
    First game back: Tottenham (H), Boxing Day

     

    Brighton
    The Seagulls will fly to Dubai after a fortnight off in the wake of their defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. Once in Dubai, they will have a chance for revenge – of sorts – when they take on the Villans in a friendly.
    First game back: Charlton (A, Carabao Cup), December 20

     

    Chelsea
    “We’ll have a few days break,” Graham Potter said last Friday. “There are only about three or four players left. Then we will reconvene, a bit of training and off to a warm-weather camp and couple of games to prepare for the restart.” The Blues will be heading to UAE, but that’s all we know at this stage.
    First game back: Bournemouth (H), December 27

     

    Crystal Palace
    Patrick Vieira has give Palace players a fortnight off before ‘a mini pre-season’, part of which will be spent in Turkey where the Eagles will face Napoli. Palace will also host Botofogo at Selhurst Park on December 3 and they are looking to arrange a game against Real Valladolid. On the trip to Turkey, Vieira said: “It will be really important. That’s why we will bring everyone, even the injured players. It’s important to spend time together and go even more into the tactical details to improve ourselves as a team.”
    First game back: Fulham (H), Boxing Day

     

    Everton
    There is no immediate break for the Toffees after their two Bournemouth beatings, with Frank Lampard taking his men to Australia to play in the inaugural Sydney Super Cup. They will face Celtic on November 20 and, three days later, Western Sydney Wanderers. Lampard will then give his players some time off before returning for some as-yet-unscheduled friendlies.
    First game back: Wolves (H), Boxing Day

     

    Read more: Everton and Frank Lampard slip back into a familiarly tetchy place for the winter break

     

    Fulham
    Marco Silva has given his players a fortnight off before they gather to travel to Portugal for a week-long training camp. A week before they recommence the Premier League season, the Cottagers will host West Ham on December 17.
    First game back: Crystal Palace (A) Boxing Day

     

    Leeds
    Jesse Marsch has issued some strict instructions to his players: “They will all have a week off then we give them a physical programme for another week to do on their own. So they will have two weeks off but the first week they do absolutely nothing.” Nice. The squad will report to Thorp Arch on November 28 and though there was talk of heading to California, Leeds will stay in Europe, possibly heading to Spain. They will also host Spanish opposition, Real Sociedad, at Elland Road on December 16.
    First game back: Man City (H), December 28

     

    Leicester
    The Foxes have earned themselves a fortnight off with their recent form. Upon returning to work, the players not involved in the World Cup will head to Abu Dhabi for some winter sunshine. The plan is then to play friendlies at the training ground. “It’s a strange one,” said Brendan Rodgers. “There’ll be a period of rest at the beginning but then we’ve got to get to work, and we’ve got to build our way through into a good place physically, mentally and tactically, ready for the first game. For that, it will mean hard training and hard work, but also getting minutes under the belt in organised games. We’ll have some games confirmed over the coming days to play.”
    First game back: MK Dons (A, Carabao Cup), December 20

     

    Liverpool
    After a fortnight off and a week back at Melwood, Jurgen Klopp will take his remaining players to Dubai on December 4. Once there, like Arsenal they’ll take on Lyon (December 11) and AC Milan (December 16). Assistant manager Pep Lijnders explained the choice of Dubai: “It’s close to Qatar so players can come quickly back, so they can prepare quick with the team again, and it gives us real time to prepare for the second sprint of the season.”
    First game back: Man City (A, Carabao Cup), December 22

    Manchester City
    Pep Guardiola is the manager most affected by World Cup call-ups and he has given the players left in Manchester some time off until November 28. Then City will head to Abu Dhabi for a week-long training camp on December 5. Will Guardiola head to Qatar to watch any of his players? “The best way to enjoy the matches is at home with red wine,” he said. While he’s got his feet up, reports suggest Guardiola might be contemplating his future.
    First game back: Liverpool (H, Carabao Cup), December 22

     

    Manchester United
    Aside from searching for whatever channel Piers Morgan is spouting off on these days, United players are still training while most other squads are resting. “We will train here at Carrington for one week, or eight or nine days, and then we will have a short break,” said Erik ten Hag last week. “Then we will train and go to Spain for a training camp for one week.” In Andalucia, United will face Cadiz on December 7 and Real Betis on December 10.
    First game back: Burnley (H, Carabao Cup), December 21

     

    Newcastle
    Like Leeds, Newcastle players have been given the first week off before they embark upon personal training schedules prior to returning to the training ground. On December 4, Eddie Howe will take his men to Saudi Arabia for a week, during which time they will take on Al-Hilal in a friendly on December 8. Upon returning to Tyneside, Newcastle will welcome Rayo Vallecano to St James’ Park on December 17. They are also expected to squeeze in another friendly, possibly against Championship opposition.
    First game back: Bournemouth (H, Carabao Cup), December 20

     

    Nottingham Forest
    “We do have a plan for the break, in terms of scheduling, training content and games, which we will announce soon,” said Steve Cooper recently. “It’s taken a little bit of finalising.” And Forest are certainly squeezing a lot into the break. They will travel to Greece and Spain, with friendlies confirmed against Olympiacos (December 10) and Valencia (December 16).
    First game back: Blackburn (A, Carabao Cup), December 20

     

    Southampton
    Saints were due to head to Miami before they sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl. His replacement, Nathan Jones, did not confirm if they were sticking to that itinerary but the new boss has a great opportunity to get his message across with just Mohammed Salisu and Armel Bella-Kotchap heading to the World Cup. “We’re pretty much set on what we want to do,” he said after the Liverpool defeat. “First, I’m going to sleep. I’ve had a month with literally no sleep so I’m going to do that first, and spend some time with my family. We will be back in next week and will plan everything, leaving us just over four weeks to work with the group before the Brighton game. We’ve got games arranged and a trip away.”
    First game back: Lincoln (H, Carabao Cup), December 20

    Tottenham
    Antonio Conte wanted to take his Spurs players, those that are left, away during the break but the club have decided against it. “Before, our idea was to try to find a solution to go away from London and to stay in a place with sun, but in the end it was difficult to find this type of solution. For this reason we continue to stay here, having training sessions and using our training ground.” Spurs are planning to arrange friendlies, perhaps as many as three, but no details have yet been confirmed.
    First game back: Brentford (A), Boxing Day

     

    West Ham
    The Hammers are also staying local after an extended break that allows the players time off until December 1. There is a friendly scheduled against Cambridge United on December 6 and West Ham will also travel to Fulham on December 17, just over a week before the Premier League recommences.
    First game back: Arsenal (A), Boxing Day

     

    Wolves
    Like Saints, Wolves will use the World Cup break to integrate a new manager, with Julen Lopetegui taking over from Steve Davis after the defeat to Arsenal on Saturday. The Spaniard, though, won’t see his players for 10 days after they were given a break. Upon their return, Wolves will spend a week in Marbella, with the intention of playing a friendly or two.
    First game back: Gillingham (H, Carabao Cup), December 20

    Read more: World Cup squads: Every final 26-man squad for Qatar here now



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