What a weekend! After World Cup qualifying gave us loads of drama over the previous two weeks, Europe’s Huge 5 leagues kicked again into gear with a ton of speaking factors. In England, the break day clearly did not assist Liverpool an excessive amount of by way of fixing what’s flawed, as they staggered to a 3-0 dwelling defeat towards Nottingham Forest that put the league champions within the backside half of the desk. Oh, and Arsenal put 4 previous their north London rivals, Tottenham, to cement their place atop the Premier League.
In Serie A, we bought the delight of a Milan derby and a goalkeeping masterclass from Mike Maignan because the purple facet of the town loved a 1-0 win. In LaLiga, Real Madrid turned in a dud of a efficiency in a 2-2 draw with Elche that retains the title race firmly within the steadiness for the chasing pack.
Elsewhere we had speaking factors galore from Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Juventus, AS Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. It is Monday morning, so what higher time for some musings? Let’s get into it.
– Ogden, Lindop: Man City cap big week with Liverpool win
– Reaction: Spurs vs. Man United another rollercoaster for fans
– VAR Review: Why Van Dijk’s headed goal was disallowed
The unhealthy information for Liverpool is that it is unhealthy … and it will possibly worsen
It will possibly get higher too, after all. Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Anfield to Nottingham Forest — who, lest we neglect, are already on their third supervisor of the 2025-26 season — leaves Liverpool within the backside half of the desk, however second place Chelsea are simply 5 factors away. So let’s not panic. However let’s additionally acknowledge simply what number of issues are going flawed for Arne Slot.
Do not take my phrase for it. Ask his captain, Virgil Van Dijk, who stated: “In the mean time, it’s a mess. That is only a reality.”
Slot, charged with integrating eight new first-teamers — 5 of them with cheap expectations of beginning — has but to discover a cheap set-up. The early run of wins fuelled by late, inconceivable targets was idiot’s gold, and to his credit score, he recognised this and switched issues up. The issue is, he hasn’t discovered the precise method but and it seems like trial and error.
That is the meta-issue, however there are many particular person ones too. Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s “different” large summer time signing, has made eight appearances between the UEFA Champions League and Premier League and has thrown up a stinker almost each time — scoring zero targets. Milos Kerkez seems misplaced and like somebody taking part in out of place, no less than on this group. Jeremie Frimpong has began one league sport and is injured once more. Florian Wirtz seems a lot like a overseas object within the gap to the purpose that Slot has tried shuttling him out to both flank.
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McManaman surprised by Liverpool’s ‘terrible’ loss to Nottingham Forest
Steve McManaman reacts to Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest within the Premier League.
It isn’t simply the newcomers, both — removed from it. Mohamed Salah‘s heroics from final season solely seem in flashes, whereas a yr in the past he carried the facet offensively regularly. The midfield does not dominate like they did. On the again, Van Dijk himself has been inconsistent, whereas Ibrahima Konaté has been even worse. (Liverpool are on the right track to concede 63 league targets, their highest complete in additional than 60 years.)
To compound issues within the latter division, the botched Marc Guéhi deal means Slot has no actual choices there apart from Joe Gomez, who final began a league sport in 2024. And meaning issues can worsen. Damage or additional lack of from both central defender — by the way in which, Konate is a free agent in June, linked with a transfer to Actual Madrid — could be merely disastrous, which is why Liverpool will possible be compelled to make a transfer in January. That is sub-optimal on a group that has already undergone an overhaul.
I hesitate to get metaphysical, however it additionally seems like there is a lack of physicality (they have been bullied by Nottingham Forest within the 3-0 defeat and whereas not everybody can match Forest’s depth, it is not the primary time both) and management (Van Dijk apart, any person else must be the one fronting as much as the media — it will possibly’t be him each week).
One thing for the positivity nook? The league desk may be rotated comparatively shortly, and many of the groups forward of them have complications of their very own. Isak cannot be this unhealthy all yr; it is bodily unimaginable. This squad is gifted sufficient that even when Slot does not type them out performance-wise, there’s sufficient class to paper over a variety of cracks. And Slot seems to be humble sufficient and decided sufficient to maintain looking for options.
Groups be taught who they’re in occasions of adversity. And Liverpool are getting a freaking PhD proper about now.
Max Allegri and “Magic” Mike Maignan get the final giggle in Milan derby
Name it voodoo, name it taking part in the odds, name it understanding what buttons to push, name it studying a sport in progress like few others — name all of it of these issues. Allegri was signed by AC Milan to play a sure approach, and it was on full present within the derby on Sunday evening as Milan gained 1-0.
It seems easy. Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic as a light-weight — however high-quality and extremely cell counterattacking — entrance two, a no-fuss midfield with the legs of Youssouf Fofana, the expertise of Adrien Rabiot and the magic of Luka Modric. A left-field gut-choice — the homegrown 19-year-old Davide Bartesaghi forward of Pervis Estupiñán on the left flank — and the excellence of a extremely motivated Maignan between the sticks. It isn’t one thing essentially constructed to final and develop, however in one-off video games it will possibly and sometimes does work.
Maignan’s mind-games — standing off-centre within the purpose — might have prompted the normally deadeye Hakan Calhanoglou to overlook his penalty. His saves from Marcus Thuram and Lautaro MartÃnez have been sensational. You would take a look at it and say that — plus Yann Sommer‘s feeble parry that led to Pulisic’s purpose — was the sport proper there. And in some methods, it was. Few perceive higher than Allegri that matches are sometimes determined by episodes.
Shedding a derby means you will get hammered, and Christian Chivu isn’t any completely different. What I do not like is how, after video games like this, the main focus shifts to the truth that it is the membership’s fourth defeat of the marketing campaign and that perhaps they wanted somebody extra skilled for the post-Inzaghi Period. His group hit the woodwork twice, gained the xG battle, missed a penalty and made a person error on the purpose they gave up. He confirmed bravery and persona in his selections, like changing Lautaro with Ange-Yoann Bonny or choosing Petar Sucic forward of Piotr Zielinksi in midfield.
It wasn’t sufficient towards Allegri’s voodoo, however the instruments are all there.
Eberechi Eze steals the present in North London derby, however Tottenham are absurdly unhealthy
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Why Arsenal’s squad depth is a recipe for achievement
Ale Moreno and Steve Nicol discuss how Arsenal’s squad depth has contributed to their present success.
Eze’s story — launched by Arsenal at 13, then Fulham, Studying and Millwall too — is well-known, which implies it is unimaginable to not rejoice him after the North London Derby, particularly given his backstory (he regarded sure for White Hart Lane in the summertime) and, most of all, his hat-trick. Eze is completely different to Martin Odegaard, however he has proven he can fill the Norwegian’s massive sneakers in his personal approach, with the persona and intelligence to guide the again 4.
However it could be remiss to not additionally observe simply how good a group efficiency this was, past Eze.
For Mikel Arteta, the derby was the primary leg of a triptych that features a Champions League date with Bayern Munich at dwelling in midweek, and a league conflict with Chelsea subsequent Sunday. He went into it with out his greatest defender this season (Gabriel), with out Odegaard and with each center-forwards (Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz) out.
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Nicol: Spurs have been ‘not adequate’ to face Arsenal
Steve Nicol critiques Tottenham’s efficiency of their 4-1 loss to Arsenal within the Premier League.
With Tottenham parking the bus, his facet created little — apart from the early Declan Rice likelihood — within the first half-hour, solely to make changes on the fly and get stronger as the sport progressed with out shedding their form or conceding a lot of something. I am not a Mikel Merino man, however the intelligence and coordination he and Eze confirmed in tandem was one thing to behold.
As for Tottenham, Thomas Frank owned as much as the efficiency saying he “took full accountability.” That ought to be a gimme since he picks the group, and on this event, he opted for an uber-defensive 5-4-1 that did not yield a single shot of any type till Richarlison‘s impressed chip 10 minutes into the second half however did yield 0.07 xG, the bottom complete this season.
Taking part in on the counter is okay, and for some time it labored, however you have got to have the ability to tweak issues — past sending on Xavi Simons — when the wheels come off. In any other case you find yourself with the uninspired one-dimensional dross we noticed Sunday and, eventually, the gamers cease believing in you.
Xabi Alonso’s experiments backfire in Actual Madrid’s 2-2 stinker at Elche
Perhaps this wasn’t the time to strive one thing completely different. Not away to Elche, a small funds group who play fearless, attacking soccer.
Xabi Alonso’s swap to a again three (and Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s first begin since August) blew up badly in his face. Do not let the anticipated targets (3.49 to 1.44 in Actual Madrid’s favor) idiot you: Elche might have scored extra. So might Xabi Alonso’s facet, after all, however the distinction is that, once more, their probabilities got here largely from particular person sparks, not patterns of play. They twice needed to come from behind, and their two targets got here from a tussle within the field and a freakish sequence two minutes from time when the ball might simply as simply have gone out of play.
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Actual Madrid ‘not convincing in any respect’ in Elche draw
Julien Laurens was not impressed with Actual Madrid’s sluggish 2-2 draw at Elche in LaLiga.
Positive, there was a string of unavailable stars — Franco Mastantuono, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, whereas Fede Valverde and Vinicius Jr began on the bench — however that does not clarify the shortage of depth or lack of ability to provide you with a sport plan past absorbing strain and making an attempt to launch Kylian Mbappé on the break.
When critics say this seems like Carlo Ancelotti’s facet, they do not imply it as a praise. Xabi Alonso is a system coach, charged with instilling an identification and a system. It is OK to experiment with a again three, by all means, however now that he is achieved it, it is not one thing we have to see once more. And perhaps, no less than for this primary marketing campaign, we have to be at peace with the truth that if they are going to achieve success this yr, it’s going to have to be with the Ancelotti blueprint.
Fast hits
10. Barcelona return dwelling with a bang: After 909 days, Barcelona got here again to the Camp Nou on Saturday with a powerful 4-0 win over Athletic Club. Haters will level out that this occurred greater than a yr after president Joan Laporta stated they’d be again and the stadium itself will not truly be completed till August 2027 (on the earliest), which is why there have been solely 42,000-odd current slightly than the 105,000 it’s going to host when it is achieved. Nevertheless it’s a begin and to the Laporta camp, one other step within the lengthy and tortuous highway again from the devastation of the Jose Maria Bartomeu period.
As for the sport itself, Robert Lewandowski put Barça forward they usually by no means regarded again. Gerard MartÃn crammed in as an emergency middle again, Barça added targets both facet of half-time (with some assist from Unai Simón) and Oihan Sancet‘s sending off early within the second half closed out the sport. The damage record stays lengthy, the Champions League is arising, so, actually, Barça could not have requested for a greater homecoming.
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Gab & Juls react to Barcleona’s ‘excellent return’ to the Camp Nou
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens talk about a profitable return to the Camp Nou for Barcelona after their 4-0 win over Athletic Membership.
9. Bayern Munich slumber earlier than Michael Olise takes management: With Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich of their 30s, for those who have been to mission ahead and ask your self who Bayern could be constructed round within the subsequent three to 5 years, till lately you’d possible have picked the 22-year-old Jamal Musiala. However with the phenom out till the brand new yr, it is the 23-year-old Olise who’s staking his declare.
On Saturday, Bayern discovered themselves two targets down at dwelling to SC Freiburg: a mixture of set-pieces, post-break hangover, a visit to Arsenal in midweek and a reshuffled lineup (Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl each began). Then got here Olise’s masterclass: two targets, three assists and loads of spotlight reel fodder. It isn’t misplaced on anybody that with Serge Gnabry out, Olise deputized in a central function, the exact same one Musiala will presumably occupy when he returns. Flank or center, the prospect of those two teaming up for the following decade or so is horrifying.
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Moreno: No Bundesliga group can compete with Bayern at their greatest
Alejandro Moreno reacts to Bayern Munich’s 6-2 win over SC Freiburg within the Bundesliga.
8. Heads cleared by the break, Napoli make their tweaks and roar again: Typically you want just a little break day. Particularly after your coach rips you a brand new one. In opposition to Atalanta — a facet who simply sacked their coach however who can journey up anybody — Antonio Conte redrew Napoli’s set-up. We noticed a again three, Scott McTominay approach deeper in midfield and two wingers — Noa Lang and David Neres — coming inside to help Rasmus Hojlund.
It labored a deal with within the first half, with Napoli successful the ball again excessive and racing to a 3-0 lead. Much less so within the second, however by that stage Napoli have been out of sight. It is three massive factors and, perhaps, some psychological button-pushing within the case of Lang, who did not appear Conte’s cup of tea. However with many massive items out — Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa — he will want to make use of his complete squad, not simply his core group. These tweaks — and the break day — did the trick. No less than this time.
7. Chelsea rotate at Burnley and discover themselves in second place: Typically it seems like Enzo Maresca has a distinct job than his fellow managers. Few coaches, no less than within the Premier League, embrace rotation as closely as he does. Away to Burnley, he left Moisés Caicedo, Estêvão, Alejandro Garnacho and Malo Gusto on the bench, whereas limiting Reece James to simply 45 minutes. Given it is the primary sport again from the break, his subsequent two opponents are Barcelona and Arsenal, and Cole Palmer harm his toe in a freak damage, prolonging his layoff, you possibly can see Maresca’s logic.
Nonetheless, it was an enormous name to make, away to a prickly opponent like Burnley. Chelsea took the lead late within the first half and needed to wait till two minutes from time to place it out of attain within the 2-0 win. Not all his second-stringers impressed, however the truth that Burnley solely managed two photographs after the break once they have been chasing the sport counsel he was vindicated. And defeats for Liverpool and Manchester City means the Blues are second within the desk.
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Are Chelsea within the Premier League title race after Burnley win?
Shaka Hislop talks about Chelsea’s probabilities to problem Arsenal within the Premier League title race.
6. Paris Saint-Germain’s (largely) B-team bests Le Havre AC, but when might have gone in a different way: It was the basic sport that would simply as simply completed 6-2. Luis Enrique — once more — continued his model of “load administration.” Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Achraf Hakimi are injured, after all, however a gaggle of different regulars have been neglected for the go to of Le Havre. PSG created loads — beginning with the prospect Gonçalo Ramos squandered early on — but in addition conceded greater than they’d have preferred towards an opponent which are most likely higher than their place within the desk. Lucas Chevalier carried out a minor miracle and Le Havre’s Issa Soumaré hit the woodwork.
It is fascinating that amid the wholesale change up entrance and on the again, the Portuguese duo of João Neves and Vitinha stay fixtures in the course of the park. The latter is the man who retains this group ticking in possession, the previous is on a veritable scoring spree (six in his final 5 for membership and nation) and is shortly turning into one of many higher two-way midfielders on the market.
5. Newcastle United rattle Manchester Metropolis, who hunch to 4 league defeats: If it weren’t for the existence of Liverpool perhaps extra could be fabricated from Manchester Metropolis’s league losses this season. After the 2-1 setback away to Newcastle on Saturday (extra complete than the rating suggests) they have already got 4, and it is nonetheless November. That is the earliest they’ve hit the four-loss mark in Pep Guardiola’s 10 seasons in cost.
Watch the highlights and, certain, they might have averted defeat. Phil Foden might have been awarded a penalty. Perhaps Newcastle’s second purpose should not have stood. Positive. However then it’s essential acknowledge that Harvey Barnes missed a first-half sitter and Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a shocking save to disclaim Nick Woltemade.
Guardiola did not blame his gamers, saying “they’ve every thing.” Perhaps it was his approach of claiming Newcastle have been merely higher and that he was outcoached on the evening. Hindsight is 20/20, however the Man Metropolis boss waited far too lengthy (his first change was with 13 minutes to go) to regulate a midfield that was being bossed by the opposition.
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Will Newcastle problem for a UCL spot this season?
Shaka Hislop reacts to Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League.
4. Roma prime Serie A because the Gian Piero Gasperini bandwagon rolls on: As soon as once more, he is proving the doubters flawed, simply as he did at Atalanta. And he is doing it — for now, no less than — with out the form of soccer he performed in Bergamo, which presumably bought him the job. However Roma are getting outcomes — as they did within the 3-1 win at Cremonese on Sunday — as they be taught the Gasperini approach, nevertheless slowly.
Gasperini will get credit score for getting the very best out of Matìas Soulè, who’s having a breakout season, for serving to Manu Koné regain his mo-jo (and a spot within the French nationwide group), for regenerating the outdated guard (Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gianluca Mancini) and pushing children (Wesley, Tommaso Baldanzi, Evan Ferguson, Jan Ziólkowski) to enhance. In fact, his persona stays a difficulty — you possibly can’t gather two yellows within the area of a minute and get despatched off once you’re 1-0 up — however at his age, he is not going to vary that.
3. Atletico are again to successful ugly: It is a cliché that once you play Getafe you typically sink to their degree (which is not essentially poor, simply distinctly unattractive) however there’s greater than a grain of reality to it. With out Giuliano Simeone, Jan Oblak, Robin Le Normand and, within quarter-hour, Marcos Llorente, Atleti regarded uninspired and devoid of high quality.
The break-through got here late with substitute Jack Raspadori, whose wonderful cross compelled Domingos Duarte‘s personal purpose. You’ll be able to embrace the “discover a technique to win” narrative for those who like or rejoice the actual fact they’ve sufficient people who can step up at any time like Raspadori did), however they’re going to need to kick it up a notch, beginning with Inter in midweek.
2. Borussia Dortmund get “Undav-ed” in wild 3-3 draw with VfB Stuttgart: As in Deniz Undav, who bagged a hat trick, together with a vastly inconceivable blind flick and an injury-time equalizer. Credit score Stuttgart who proceed to remain aggressive (they’re one level off second place) regardless of shedding massive items each summer time (most lately Woltemade and Enzo Millot; Serhou Guirassy, Hiroki Ito and Waldemar Anton the yr earlier than). However once you see Dortmund expend a 2-0 lead after which concede in damage time you possibly can’t assist however ask your self: are their true, fickle selves coming again?
The reply, I feel, is “no.” Giving up three at dwelling — and dropping two factors — hurts, however the defending was nowhere close to as poor because the numbers counsel. Nico Kovac stays heading in the right direction by way of stabilising the membership, which was his transient. Let’s not neglect, this can be a transition season.
1. Juventus nonetheless do not click on away to Fiorentina, however Luciano Spalletti takes (some) accountability: That is now three video games and not using a win for Juventus, which implies the sky is falling. A part of the problem right here is that when putting outcomes forward of efficiency is a part of your DNA, the truth that their three consecutive attracts might simply as simply been three wins (they bossed the xG in every of them) does not register in Juve-land. However perhaps that is a very good factor. As a result of if it had, they may suppose every thing is okay, which it most actually is not.
Spalletti made that very level, whereas additionally admitting that ready till two minutes from time to ship on Jonathan David and Loïs Openda was “too late.” He once more put his religion in Dusan Vlahovic (who was the sufferer of discriminatory abuse that compelled the sport to be interrupted on two events) and the massive man missed a sitter, however in any other case confirmed loads of battle.
Juve’s problem although is a definite lack of rhythm and creativity and that is not one thing you repair in a single day. Can he repair it? In time, probably. Nevertheless it’s not misplaced on anybody that his deal is just by means of the top of the season … until he will get them within the Champions League.
