Football News: Premier League Previews 25 August 2018

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City

It's not been the best of starts to a Premier League season for Wolves; they twice had to come from behind in their season opener against a ten-man Everton side to draw 2-2, and were beaten 2-0 by Leicester in their next game. So not the best of form going into a match against the defending champions.
Wolves last failed to win each of their opening three games to a league campaign back in 2004-05 in the Championship, and it will take a monumental effort for them to avoid that this year.
But at Molineux, Wolves are unbeaten in their last 10 matches, and have lost just one of their last 24 there in all competitions. And they were one of only two sides Manchester City faced last season without scoring against them - along with Wigan Athletic - having drawn 0-0 with them in the League Cup in October last year (albeit they did lose on penalties).
As for the Citizens, they come into this game back at the top of the league table already, not that that means much after two games of the season, having thumped Huddersfield Town 6-1 last week. They actually have more points now than they did after two league games of last season having drawn with Everton on MD2 in 2017.
Perhaps most worryingly for Wolves is the fact that Man City are unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League games against newly promoted opposition, including all 12 such matches under Pep Guardiola. They are ruthless against "underdogs", and that makes the task facing Wolves all the more difficult.
Key players:
Willy Boly - Top, or at least joint-top, of all Wolves players for tackles won, blocks, interceptions, and ball recoveries in their two Premier League games so far, Boly is going to have to be on top of his game again here for Wolves to make more of a game of this than Huddersfield managed last week. Wolves' back three will be severely tested, and that includes the Frenchman.
Sergio Aguero - Already on five goals for the season and fresh off the back of a third Premier League hat-trick of 2018, the Argentine forward will take some stopping. He has scored a frankly absurd 21 goals in his last 18 starts in all competitions for his club, and has scored at the Molineux before in a 2-0 Premier League win for Man City in April 2012.

 

 

Arsenal v West Ham United

Finally for Arsenal they face a side who did not finish above them in the Premier League last season. Both of these sides have lost their opening two games of this season, and will want to put some points on the board quickly to build some confidence.
However, Arsenal are not an opponent that the Hammers have enjoyed playing in recent years. Just one win against them in the last 22 meetings in all competitions, and they only scored once against them in three matches last season, and that came in a 4-1 defeat at the Emirates.
Arsenal's home record in general was fantastic last season, despite losing to Man City in their opening home match this season. They lost just three of their 30 matches at the Emirates last season. In fact, if the Premier League table only counted results at home, Arsenal would have finished second behind Man City in 2017-18, and only by a gap of three points.
For the two managers, Unai Emery and Manuel Pellegrini, this sees them face off for the first time since their days in La Liga, and they shared a pretty even record there - in 10 league encounters, Emery won three to Pellegrini's four, with three draws.
But both are getting increasingly desperate for a win; Arsenal haven't lost all of their opening three league games in a season since 1954-55, whilst West Ham could do so for the second successive season, and both sides will be wanting to avoid that fate here.
Key players:
Mesut Ozil - Directly involved in five goals in his last four league appearances against the Hammers (three goals, two assists), the German will hope to get his season up and running here and start providing the kind of service we all know he can for the likes of Lacazette and Aubameyang.
Marko Arnautovic - West Ham's only goal scorer against Arsenal last season, how Arnautovic performs here will be key to their success. He was an isolated figure in their last away match against Liverpool but he scored last week against Bournemouth, and will hope to have more to feed off at the Emirates than he did at Anfield.

 

 

Bournemouth v Everton

In Bournemouth and Everton's six Premier League meetings, the side playing at home has won on five occasions, the only exception being a 3-3 draw in their first ever clash in the competition in November 2015.
These matches have not come without entertainment over the years; 25 goals in six previous Premier League games, with both sides scoring at least once in all of them aside from a 1-0 Bournemouth win at the Vitality Stadium in September 2016.
Everton boss Marco Silva has beaten Bournemouth both times he has faced them in the English top-flight; as Hull manager in January 2017 and Watford boss in August last season. He'll be looking to make it three in a row as he hopes to continue his impressive start as Toffees boss.
But you can never rule Bournemouth out; they have recovered 24 points from games in which they have been behind since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League club, and having won both of their first two league games this season, will be very high on confidence going into this game.
Indeed, the Cherries are currently on their best ever winning streak in the Premier League; four straight wins is an ongoing run of form no other Premier League club can better right now (Spurs and Man City have also won their last four league games in a row), and at home they have lost just two of their last 11 in the competition. A fine run of form that Eddie Howe will be hoping will help them in this match too.
Key players:
Callum Wilson - Wilson has scored in both of Bournemouth's first two league games of 2018-19, and in fact has scored in three on the bounce including the final day of 2017-18. His goal against West Ham was a wonderful solo run and finish, and he will be a real handful for Everton's defence.
Richarlison - Like Wilson, Richarlison has made a flying start to the season, scoring in both of Everton's opening games, and he will be looking to become only the second player to score in each of his first three Premier League games for Everton, after Romelu Lukaku. He also scored against Bournemouth for Watford at the start of last season at the Vitality Stadium, so there's every chance he can do so again here.

 

 

Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City

The Premier League's bottom side after two games face the only team without a goal in the competition this season in a game in which both teams will be looking to pick up their first win of the season.
The Terriers haven't actually beaten Cardiff since January 2003 in the third tier, losing seven of their nine meetings since in all competitions. And this will be the first time these teams will meet in the top flight since February 1956.
David Wagner's side are winless in their last six Premier League games, scoring only two goals, and they have lost three in a row at the John Smith's Stadium. With Cardiff yet to score a goal this season, it doesn't seem like this match has the makings of a goal fest.
For Cardiff boss Neil Warnock, this is a return to a ground he used to manage at, having previously been in charge of Huddersfield in his lengthy managerial career. He enjoys coming to the John Smith's as a visiting manager too - just one loss in five visits there, winning both of his two most recent trips, including one as Cardiff boss.
Indeed, he has won both of his games as Cardiff manager against David Wagner's Huddersfield side in the 2016-17 Championship, in which the Terriers won promotion.
But this is the Premier League, and both sides will be desperate to get their first three points of the campaign in a game in which both teams will have pinpointed as one they feel they can win.
Key players:
Steve Mounie - Having assisted Huddersfield's goal against Man City last week, Mounie has been directly involved in five of the Terrier's last 10 Premier League goals, scoring three and assisting two. He is their top Premier League scorer with seven goals, and he probably needs a more injury-free campaign in 2018-19 in order to improve upon that return and fire his side to safety.
Junior Hoilett - The wide man has two goals in his four previous league games against Huddersfield, and was directly involved in more league goals than any Cardiff player in 2017-18, scoring nine and assisting 11. His creativity and experience will be key for the Bluebirds here.

 

 

Southampton v Leicester City

Whilst the Saints come into this game without a win to celebrate yet this season, Leicester earned their first of the season last week against newly promoted Wolves.
Under Mark Hughes, the Saints have only lost two of their last seven league games, having lost their first three after he joined. However, the Welshman has just one Premier League win against Leicester to his name in eight games against them as a manager, and is winless in his last six.
But the Foxes have lost each of their last four away league games, their worst such run in the top-flight in almost four years, and have only won two of their last nine matches overall in the Premier League under Claude Puel.
Of course, Puel returns to Southampton, where he began his Premier League journey, and he is undefeated in this fixture - two wins and two draws (one of each as Saints and Foxes manager) in the Premier League.
However, Leicester generally don't like visiting Southampton, winning only twice in their last 12 visits, so they will have to improve on that to get something here against a Saints side that will be determined to pick up their first win of 2018-19.
Key players:
Danny Ings - Off and running for the season after his goal against Everton, Ings has two goals in his last three league starts, and if he can avoid the injuries that plagued his time at Liverpool, he will be a great addition to this Southampton side. He has the quality to make the difference for them this season, and few players work harder than the former Burnley man.
Kelechi Iheanacho - In Vardy's absence, the pressure to find the goals for Leicester falls to the Nigerian. Three goals in his four Premier League games against Southampton is more than he has against any other club in England, and he has scored in two of his last three league starts, albeit both coming at the end of last season. If he doesn't show some form this season, he won't be keeping Jamie Vardy out of the team for any longer after his suspension.

 

 

Liverpool v Brighton and Hove Albion

Fresh off the back of a huge victory against Manchester United, Brighton visit Anfield to play the only side yet to concede a goal in this season's Premier League.
Indeed, the Reds haven't conceded a league goal at Anfield since February, and haven't been on a longer such streak without conceding since Rafael Benitez was in charge. Much has been made of their defensive improvement with the arrival of Virgil van Dijk in January and goalkeeper Alisson in the summer, and their record of clean sheets and goals conceded has indeed been the best in the division in 2018.
Jurgen Klopp's side are unbeaten in 22 home league games; by contrast, Brighton are winless in 14 away. So on paper, this looks a very steep mountain for the Seagulls to climb. However, they won't be short of confidence after beating Jose Mourinho's Man Utd team last week, and will feel another upset is possible here.
But Chris Hughton's Premier League record against Liverpool as a manager is dire to say the least. Five games, lost them all, conceded 4+ goals every time (24 in total). He surely has to improve on that sooner or later!
And it's not just their manager who struggles against the Reds; Brighton haven't beaten Liverpool since 1984, and the aggregate score in seven meetings since then is 26-7 to Liverpool.
Key players:
Mohamed Salah - With a goal and two assists against Brighton last season, as well as starting this campaign with a goal and an assist (not to mention being fouled for Liverpool's penalty against Crystal Palace), Salah will look to improve upon his remarkable record at Anfield for Liverpool. He has 28 goals in 28 games at Anfield for the Reds in all competitions, and if Liverpool are to win this game, they will look to him to provide the quality in and around the box.
Glenn Murray - Liverpool will have most of the possession here, so Murray will have to hold the ball up superbly well in order to allow his side to mount attacks. He has scored 40% of Brighton's 10 away Premier League goals, and he will look to use his experience and physicality to cause the Liverpool back line problems.

 

 

Written by Reid the Red August 25 2018 09:04:42