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A return to passing and fireplace at Forest?
Nuno Espírito Santo mentioned that at Bournemouth final weekend, the place they had been humbled 5-0, his Nottingham Forest aspect had been “not correct and missed quite a lot of passes”. It’s attention-grabbing that 4 of Forest’s final 5 – and 5 of their final eight – Premier League video games rank of their backside eight of the season on cross completion. “We have now to carry out significantly better,” he mentioned. “We have now to be extra strong and play higher soccer. We have now so many issues to enhance.” Although leads to that interval, at the very least till final week, continued to be good they’ve relied on statistically unlikely shows of ending prowess. Earlier than their journey to Bournemouth, Forest had scored with 9 of their earlier 12 photographs on course in all competitions and the final time a Chris Wooden shot on course didn’t go in was earlier than Christmas. Each Nuno and Fabian Hürzeler had been despatched off for misconduct throughout a rancorous conclusion to the fixture between these sides on the Amex Stadium final September. Simon Burnton
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Eyes on the spots at Bournemouth
Darren England has by no means taken cost of a senior Liverpool sport, and has been refrained from the membership fully since he, as VAR, was key within the calamitous determination to disallow a Luis Díaz aim towards Tottenham final 12 months (the assistant VAR in that sport, Dan Prepare dinner, may have the identical position right here). England is being regularly reintroduced to the Reds – he was fourth official for Liverpool’s journey to Wolves in September – however remains to be not being let anyplace close to Anfield. This might be a take a look at of England’s nerve, ought to any member of the house staff go down of their opponents’ penalty space. Having awarded just one penalty within the Premier League this season (just one referee, Michael Salisbury, has given none), this sport between the league’s main penalty-winners – Bournemouth have been awarded seven this season, scoring six; Liverpool have scored all of their 5 – might be a selected take a look at. Bournemouth have already overwhelmed three of the present high 4 at house this season, and want to full a really spectacular set. SB
3
Everton hit by accidents for crunch sport
Sean Dyche registered three Premier League wins in 5 months and 19 video games earlier than being sacked as Everton supervisor. David Moyes can equal his predecessor’s tally in 14 days, and from 4 video games, with victory over Leicester. As Dyche knew solely too nicely, thought, obstacles typically emerge when Everton try to construct momentum. The dear away win at Brighton got here at the price of shedding Orel Mangala for the remainder of the season with an ACL harm, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a number of weeks with a hamstring downside. Each had responded brightly to Moyes’ arrival and depart holes that want filling earlier than Monday’s switch deadline. Beto is presently Everton’s solely match striker and should seize the chance introduced by Calvert-Lewin’s absence if he’s to have a long-term future at Goodison Park. A gathering of two groups hovering simply above the relegation zone ought to be tense however Moyes’ impression, and Leicester’s comeback to finish a run of seven successive league defeats at Tottenham final weekend, could liberate gamers for a sport of giant significance. Andy Hunter
4
Ipswich enter probably decisive run
Going into this weekend no staff has performed extra video games towards top-half sides than Ipswich and Wolves, 14 of whose 23 fixtures have been towards the division’s higher groups (Fulham have performed the fewest, with 9). However whereas Wolves’ subsequent few video games are additionally towards groups from the highest 10, 4 of Ipswich’s subsequent 5 are towards different members of the underside half, together with Tottenham and Manchester United. If they will push up the desk this would appear the time, particularly beginning at house towards the bottomest of all of them. After all, a sport towards the staff above them, one in all solely 4 that they’ve taken factors off this season, additionally presents a possibility for Southampton. “We’d like some constructive scenario. I believe if we win towards Ipswich, it will likely be large for us,” mentioned Ivan Juric, predicting it might infuse them with “a number of confidence, after which we are able to do good issues”. Saints are absolutely operating out of straws to clutch, and this fixture could reveal whether or not any rising desperation serves as inspiration or distraction. SB
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Tonali eyed to regular fickle Magpies
Newcastle is usually a chameleon aspect and, as they put together to host Fulham on Saturday, nobody is kind of certain of their true colors. Would possibly we see the irrepressible staff that lately accomplished a nine-match successful run, or the ensemble that surrendered 4-1 to Bournemouth of their final house sport? One factor is obvious: Newcastle invariably play nicely when Sandro Tonali excels deep in central midfield. Though Tonali remained one in all Eddie Howe’s higher gamers towards Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola’s aspect succeeded the place others have failed in proscribing the Italy midfielder’s room for manoeuvre and chopping the provision line to Alexander. Can Fulham do likewise in a pivotal month for Newcastle? Howe’s aspect have Premier League video games at Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool and at house to Nottingham Forest, along with Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at house to Arsenal. Louise Taylor
6
Pereira eager to strengthen Wolves pack
Final weekend, Wolves’ slender defeat at house to Arsenal proved a sapping expertise after which Leicester’s shock win at Tottenham pushed Vítor Pereira’s aspect again into the relegation zone. The supervisor minimize a relaxed determine at Molineux regardless of a 3rd successive loss however desires reinforcements earlier than Monday’s switch deadline. Wolves’ sporting director, Matt Hobbs, has burdened the significance of being environment friendly this month however with time ticking, defender Emmanuel Agbadou – a £16.6m purchase from Reims – is their solely new face. Talks for an additional centre-back, Lens’ Kevin Danso, have stalled and Wolves require additions in all departments, with the Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine midfielder Volodymyr Brazhko a goal. Pereira can also be eager on signing a ahead, with Jørgen Strand Larsen sidelined with a hamstring harm. With 15 video games to go, the primary at house to Aston Villa, it doesn’t really feel an overstatement to counsel the following few days might outline their season. Ben Fisher
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7
Bees’ house appointment with Spurs
After successful seven of their first eight house video games this season (and drawing the opposite), Brentford have misplaced three of their final 4 (and drawn the opposite), the whole collapse of what was much less a fortress than a statistical curiosity coinciding with the visits of Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool, the division’s present high 4. The query is whether or not that has performed any harm to the swagger with which they till lately went into house fixtures. There’s the potential for a Lads-it’s-Tottenham impact on Sunday, given the guests’ haul of seven factors from their final 11 video games (exactly half of Brentford’s tally in the identical interval). The inevitable consideration on Ange Postecoglou will distract from that on Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, the topic of appreciable switch buzz this month and linked with a transfer to Spurs this week, who has missed the final two video games between these sides. SB
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Switch clock ticks for exiled Rashford
January’s episode of The Trials and Tribulations of Ruben Amorim has been dominated by Marcus Rashford’s future and whether or not the ahead will depart Manchester United on mortgage. In the meantime the pinnacle coach has to win video games, a requirement that will be simpler, if, as he mentioned on Wednesday, he might use the ahead’s pacy “one-on-one” smarts. However no. Rashford stays unlikely to be within the squad for the go to of a Crystal Palace aspect that has misplaced solely one in all their final seven video games. The reverse did come of their final outing – 2-1 toBrentford. With Rashford in exile, Amad’s verve and pace is United’s greatest hope of securing a second Premier League win in a row for the primary time on this troubled marketing campaign. Jamie Jackson
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Arteta eager to ‘humble’ former employers
So much has modified since Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis final locked horns in a bad-tempered conflict again in September, with issues not precisely going to plan for both Mikel Arteta or Pep Guardiola since. However together with his aspect on a four-game unbeaten run towards their former title rivals, and 6 factors away from them as they try to chase down the leaders Liverpool, Arteta can prolong the hole even additional on Sunday on the Emirates. Arsenal brought about Metropolis’s defence a number of issues from set-pieces within the 2-2 draw earlier within the season. They went forward after Gabriel Magalhães scored from a nook, just for John Stones to pop up with a late equaliser after Rodri was compelled off with a severe knee harm. Erling Haaland needed to be pulled away from Arteta on the full-time whistle after telling him to “keep humble,” and there might be no room for sentiment once more because the Arsenal supervisor makes an attempt to pile extra distress on his former employers. Ed Aarons
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Will Sánchez get one other probability?
Enzo Maresca has been defending Robert Sánchez however the goalkeeping scenario at Chelsea isn’t sustainable. Sánchez has made 5 errors resulting in a aim this season – a division excessive, placing the Spaniard degree with Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric – and he was poor towards Metropolis final weekend. Erling Haaland couldn’t imagine it when Chelsea’s goalkeeper got here hurtling out of his space to attempt to take care of an extended ball from Ederson within the second half. The outcome was a straightforward aim for Metropolis and tougher questions for Maresca to reply. It isn’t clear why Sánchez was chosen as his No 1, particularly as he was behind Djordje Petrovic final season. Petrovic did nicely however is now on mortgage at Strasbourg. Sánchez didn’t persuade underneath Mauricio Pochettino. Not a lot has modified. He was erratic then and is erratic now. Filip Jörgensen was signed final summer season and has not had many alternatives within the league. Maresca should think about bringing him in towards West Ham. Sánchez is clearly making his defenders nervous. Jacob Steinberg
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Premier League high scorers: see who’s main the race.
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