New Year's Day Premier League talking points with Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham all in action

Can Liverpool banish set-play blues?

Liverpool vs Leeds – 5.30pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Main Event

Liverpool have gained their final three league video games, having gained simply two of their earlier 10 beforehand. The ship is steadying. However Arne Slot nonetheless has issues to resolve. His most obvious headache should be the speed at which his aspect proceed to concede from set-pieces – 12 thus far, the joint-worst document in Europe.

When Liverpool went to Leeds in early December, they have been pegged again by this very problem, falling to a late Ao Tanaka equaliser from a nook.

Over 50 per cent of Liverpool’s targets conceded have been from set performs (together with penalties) this season.

Right here presents the chance to proper some wrongs, then. Leeds are exceptionally good from set-pieces – the anomaly amongst these ranked inside the highest 5 handiest. Daniel Farke’s aspect have scored 12 set-play targets, equal to Arsenal, and just one behind Manchester United’s league main 13. 48 per cent of their complete targets have been scored this manner.

This assembly is due to this fact the proper check of Slot’s vow to enhance on this space, having parted firm with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs simply this week. If they do not tidy up, Leeds are greater than able to inflicting punishment. And Slot can ill-afford extra gasoline on the set-piece fireplace.
Laura Hunter

Fulham boss Silva bidding for history against goal-shy Palace

Crystal Palace vs Fulham – 5.30pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Premier League

Two groups which can be stage on factors however in differing kind meet at Selhurst Park on New Yr’s Day.

Crystal Palace are winless of their final 5 video games in all competitions, with a busy month of December fixtures taking its toll.

However Fulham are on the march as they bid for a fourth consecutive league win – and solely as soon as earlier than have they ever gained 4 in a row within the Premier League.

The Cottagers will fancy their probabilities too of equalling their document run, with Palace struggling in entrance of aim proper now.

Oliver Glasner’s aspect had simply two pictures heading in the right direction in Sunday’s residence loss to Tottenham and have scored simply as soon as of their final three league video games.

It’s no shock to see Palace shifting for Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson after agreeing a £35m deal for the Wales worldwide, who was Spurs’ prime scorer final season.

If Fulham handle to maintain a clear sheet in south London, then it might be historical past for Marco Silva, as he would turn into the primary supervisor to have stored six consecutive away clear sheets towards the identical opponent within the Premier League.

A Fulham shut-out would additionally heighten Palace’s want for the arrival of Johnson and additional January signings if the Eagles are to begin shifting in the appropriate course in 2026.
Declan Olley

Man City becoming complete package again

Sunderland vs Man Metropolis – 8pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Main Event

Manchester Metropolis are hitting peak. On a six-game successful run, that is essentially the most formidable they’ve seemed because the again finish of 2023/24, once they gained their remaining 9 en path to the Premier League title.

A lot has and continues to be made from their flush assault, consistently evolving to disclose new dimensions: Rayan Cherki is the most recent revelation. He is been concerned in eight targets in his final 9 league appearances. However this squad is greater than type and sparkle on the prime finish.

Pep Guardiola has discovered a settled formulation on the again, too, naming the identical 4 to begin in 11 of 18 video games thus far. Of these 11 video games, 10 led to victory – the one exception being a 2-1 loss at Newcastle.

With Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias on the coronary heart of issues, Metropolis have two athletic centre-backs who can play, and steadiness the left and proper sides completely. Collectively they’ve additionally chipped in with six aim contributions.

Flanking these two are a pair of former central midfielders, Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes, completely outfitted to offer robustness off the ball and creativity on it. Their power to rise up and down is what Guardiola likes, akin to a main Kyle Walker, and means Metropolis are much less weak to counter-attacks.

With each full-backs offering width, Metropolis’s ahead gamers can flood central areas to create overloads and discover Erling Haaland extra constantly. Late underlapping runs, one thing O’Reilly is especially good at, are troublesome to trace and add one other layer of unpredictability.

This present Manchester Metropolis setup is in contrast to something we have now seen earlier than, and it might be incorrect to imagine its effectiveness is solely all the way down to Haaland and Co. Pep’s construction is stable at each ends; not far off being the whole bundle.
Laura Hunter

Frank returns to Brentford for first time aiming to earn same love at Spurs

Brentford vs Tottenham – 8pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Premier League

Earlier than the beginning of the season, not many would have anticipated Tottenham boss Thomas Frank to be going again to Brentford at the beginning of 2026 along with his new membership under his previous one.

However that’s the case on his first return to the Gtech Group Stadium, the place he was supervisor for six-and-a-half years and was universally worshipped.

“Brentford Soccer Membership, the followers and particularly the people who I labored carefully with, have a particular place in my coronary heart,” Frank mentioned at his pre-match press convention.

Six-and-a-half months into the job at Tottenham, he has but to really feel the identical love and affection from the Spurs supporters.

Sunday’s pressure-lifting win at Crystal Palace was much-needed and has given Frank hope of getting Thirteenth-placed Spurs shifting upwards with a good run of fixtures forward.

A win on New Yr’s Day would put them into the highest half of the desk and have them again in European rivalry.

However Frank of all folks is aware of his aspect face a sterner examination than at Selhurst Park, with Brentford a power at residence – one thing he masterminded, and that has been beautifully maintained by his successor, Keith Andrews.

The Bees have gained eight of their final 12 Premier League residence video games, together with 4 of the final 5 underneath Andrews. In truth, because the begin of that 12-game run in April, solely Man Metropolis (11), Aston Villa (10) and Arsenal (9) have gained extra residence league video games than Brentford.

Will probably be an unfamiliar feeling for Frank to be within the reverse dugout on the Gtech Group Stadium.

But when he sees a well-known Brentford residence efficiency unfold which his Spurs aspect can not counteract, then it may effectively be a depressing homecoming for Frank.
Declan Olley

Source link