Can Liverpool banish set-play blues?
Liverpool vs Leeds – 5.30pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion
Liverpool have received their final three league video games, having received simply two of their earlier 10 beforehand. The ship is steadying. However Arne Slot nonetheless has issues to unravel. His most obvious headache should be the speed at which his aspect proceed to concede from set-pieces – 12 to date, the joint-worst file in Europe.
When Liverpool went to Leeds in early December, they had 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 simplest. 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 right 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 gas on the set-piece hearth.Laura Hunter
Thursday 1st January 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
Fulham boss Silva bidding for historical past towards goal-shy Palace
Crystal Palace vs Fulham – 5.30pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League
Two groups which can be stage on factors however in differing type 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 received 4 in a row within the Premier League.
The Cottagers will fancy their probabilities too of equalling their file run, with Palace struggling in entrance of purpose proper now.
Oliver Glasner’s aspect had simply two photographs 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 transferring for Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson after agreeing a £35m deal for the Wales worldwide, who was Spurs’ high scorer final season.
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After Crystal Palace agreed a payment of £35m for Brennan Johnson, we check out his finest Premier League targets for Spurs
If Fulham handle to maintain a clear sheet in south London, then it might be historical past for Marco Silva, as he would turn out to be 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 start out transferring in the correct path in 2026.Declan Olley
Thursday 1st January 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
Man Metropolis turning into full package deal once more
Sunderland vs Man Metropolis – 8pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion
Manchester Metropolis are hitting peak. On a six-game profitable run, that is probably the most formidable they’ve appeared because the again finish of 2023/24, after they received their last 9 en path to the Premier League title.
Lots has and continues to be manufactured from their flush assault, continually evolving to disclose new dimensions: Rayan Cherki is the newest revelation. He is been concerned in eight targets in his final 9 league appearances. However this squad is greater than model and sparkle on the high finish.
Pep Guardiola has discovered a settled components on the again, too, naming the identical 4 to start out in 11 of 18 video games to date. 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 purpose contributions.
Flanking these two are a pair of former central midfielders, Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes, completely geared up to supply robustness off the ball and creativity on it. Their power to stand 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 persistently. Late underlapping runs, one thing O’Reilly is especially good at, are tough to trace and add one other layer of unpredictability.
This present Manchester Metropolis setup is not like something we’ve got 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 entire package deal.Laura Hunter
Thursday 1st January 7:45pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Frank returns to Brentford for first time aiming to earn identical love at Spurs
Brentford vs Tottenham – 8pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League
Earlier than the beginning of the season, not many would have anticipated Tottenham boss Thomas Frank to be going again to Brentford initially of 2026 along with his new membership under his outdated one.
However that’s the case on his first return to the Gtech Neighborhood 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 intently 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 transferring 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 drive at residence – one thing he masterminded, and that has been fantastically maintained by his successor, Keith Andrews.
The Bees have received eight of their final 12 Premier League residence video games, together with 4 of the final 5 beneath Andrews. In truth, because the begin of that 12-game run in April, solely Man Metropolis (11), Aston Villa (10) and Arsenal (9) have received extra residence league video games than Brentford.
Thursday 1st January 7:45pm
Kick off 8:00pm
It is going to be an unfamiliar feeling for Frank to be within the reverse dugout on the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium.
But when he sees a well-recognized Brentford residence efficiency unfold which his Spurs aspect can’t counteract, then it may properly be a depressing homecoming for Frank.Declan Olley
