Spurs confirm major news ahead of key Premier League clashes
Tottenham Hotspur are facing a tough season ahead as they lose Ivan Perisic to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. The 34-year-old Croatia international will miss the rest of the season after injuring his right knee in training. This comes as a significant blow to Spurs, as they prepare for their upcoming matches against Arsenal and Liverpool. Other players, including Rodrigo Bentancur, Bryan Gil, Ryan Sessegnon, and Giovani Lo Celso, are also currently out of action for Tottenham.
The EFL Championship is renowned as an unpredictable and physical football division, widely known for its surprise outcomes and intense competitiveness. This often results in numerous fouls, requiring strict refereeing and resulting in many cards being issued throughout matches. Certain teams in the English second-tier have significantly high foul totals, making them statistically among the 'dirtiest' players. The assessment of the teams is based on points, with one for a yellow card, three for a second yellow, and five for a red card. The comparison of all 24 clubs reveals interesting statistics.
Chelsea's owners are planning a significant investment of £400m as part of a multi-club expansion plan. This funding is expected to transform all areas of the team, including the women's side. The cash injection comes from US firm Ares Management and will be used for projects such as the redevelopment of Cobham and a new stadium. Despite spending heavily in the transfer market, Chelsea finished 12th last season and are focusing on improving their on-field performances, aiming to compete with dominant teams like Manchester City. This season, Chelsea are not participating in any European football.
Birmingham City are set to host Queens Park Rangers at St Andrew’s Stadium on Friday, aiming to bounce back after two successive defeats in the Sky Bet Championship. Despite a promising start to their season, the Blues have slid close to the bottom half of the table. Their opponents, QPR, are in the 20th position, making this match an opportunity for Birmingham to regain momentum. Manager John Eustace is expected to make changes in the starting line-up, given the close scheduling of the matches.
Liverpool kicked off their Europa League campaign with a 3-1 victory over LASK in Group E. Despite falling behind early, they rallied with goals from Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Mo Salah, who came off the bench to seal the win. This marks Liverpool's fourth comeback in five matches and their fifth consecutive win in all competitions. Although not a flawless performance, Liverpool showed their resilience and fighting spirit.
Paul Scholes has criticised Manchester United's summer recruitment, blaming it for preventing the club from moving to the "next level". Following a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich, Scholes noted a "weakness" in the team, akin to last season's start. He argued that despite the club's improvement under Erik ten Hag, their summer signings did not elevate the team, leaving them far from competing for Premier League or Champions League titles. He believes United's challenging start this season mirrors the previous one, as they continuously commit individual mistakes, particularly highlighted in their goalkeeper, Andre Onana.
West Brom are set to face Millwall in their EFL Championship match this Saturday, following a 2-2 draw with Watford. Carlos Corberan's team are dealing with injuries, including Josh Maja's ankle damage which leaves them short on striking choices. Millwall, who recently won 3-0 against Rotherham, are also dealing with injury concerns. Kevin Nisbet is likely to miss the weekend match due to an ankle injury, while George Honeyman and Matija Sarkic are doubtful. Despite the challenges, both teams remain optimistic for the upcoming clash.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to face Luton Town on Saturday afternoon at Kenilworth Road in the Premier League. With a struggling start to the 2023/24 season, having earned only three points out of 15, the Wolves are eager to amend their record. Given that they have one of the worst defensive records in the division, their priority is to keep a clean sheet. Changes in the starting eleven are anticipated due to issues in the offensive play. The players we predict will start for O'Neil's side will be announced shortly.
Pep Guardiola may modify his defence as Manchester City welcome Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Sergio Gomez's league start is unlikely, despite his recent Champions League performance. Possible defensive substitutes include Rico Lewis, Manuel Aknaji, and Josko Gvardiol. However, Guardiola has fewer options in midfield and attack due to Bernardo Silva's unavailability and Kevin De Bruyne's extended absence. Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic may return, although their ability to start remains uncertain. Guardiola revealed City are facing difficulties due to several absent players amidst a busy schedule. The upcoming match with Newcastle United could provide rest for tired players.
Thiago Silva, Chelsea footballer, expressed his disappointment on social media as the club are sitting out of the Champions League for the first time since 1996. This came after Newcastle United marked a triumphant return to the competition with a draw against AC Milan. Manchester City were victorious, while Manchester United and Arsenal are set to launch their campaigns. Silva has voiced concern about the direction of Chelsea, following a 12th-place finish in the Premier League and a significant change in management and squad size. The club have won only one league match so far this season.
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