Author: Frank G. Barnes

Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won't be able to guess my favorite team.
Andoni Iraola confirms dreadful Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Andoni Iraola confirms dreadful Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news

Liverpool have a massive matchup against Manchester City this weekend in the Premier League, renewing their old title rivalry, though, technically, the Reds own hopes at getting back in the title mix are not over with signs of clear improvement apparent under new manager Andoni Iraola. But as Liverpool look to start the bleeding for a Man City side that should be truly reeling from their 114 charges soon, they will be up against it from an attacking perspective. Liverpool manager Iraola confirmed to reporters before the Man City matchup that star attackers Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both going to be out injured after suffering a thigh and ankle issue, respectively, over the September international break. Iraola said, “Yes, Alex Isak and Gakpo won't play, not ready unfortuna...
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Michael Carrick offers disappointing Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, and Nousair Mazraoui injury news
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Michael Carrick offers disappointing Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, and Nousair Mazraoui injury news

Manchester United are having a terrible time right now, as they are 12th in the Premier League after initially looking like a resurgent side under iconic midfielder Michael Carrick as their new manager, returning to the Champions League last season. Injuries are playing a huge role in their struggles, of course, and with the worst team in the league, Tottenham Hotspur, on the horizon, things still actually don't get any easier for the Red Devils due to their injury situation. Ahead of the Spurs game, Carrick told reporters that star wide man Patrick Dorgu is going to be out for weeks, striker Benjamin Sesko won't play, and defensive stud Nousair Mazraoui is also not ready to return either. Carrick said, "Patrick [Dorgu] came off and looks like he’ll be out for probably a number of...
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Mikel Arteta’s brutal Christos Tzolis injury news is a clear transfer message
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Mikel Arteta’s brutal Christos Tzolis injury news is a clear transfer message

Arsenal star left winger Christos Tzolis suffered a muscular injury over the September and October international break, and the initial speculation is that he could miss the rest of the month's games for the Gunners. Tzolis is a new signing from Club Brugge, and he has been every bit as decisive as Arsenal fans expected after he racked up the goals and assists in the Belgian top flight. An upgrade on Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli in the 11, the only concern with Tzolis is that now Arsenal only have him on the left wing and no real depth behind him after losing both Trossard and the disappointing Martinelli this summer. Speaking at the press conference before Arsenal vs. Leeds United in the Premier League's return, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Tzolis is inj...
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Mikel Arteta offers unclear Kai Havertz, Ezri Konsa injury updates for Arsenal vs. Leeds
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Mikel Arteta offers unclear Kai Havertz, Ezri Konsa injury updates for Arsenal vs. Leeds

Arsenal will battle Leeds United in their return to the Premier League after the September and October international break, and after their 3-0 blowout loss to surprise package Brighton, they will want to avoid a similar upset against a Leeds side that has really outperformed expectations in the top five themselves. The Gunners will be shorthanded after the break, as they suffered some key injuries. We already know star left winger Christos Tzolis will be out with a muscular issue, which is a huge blow. But another new signing, center back Ezri Konsa, could also be out, and the same goes for center forward Kai Havertz. Both men suffered injuries over the break with their countries. Mikel Arteta provided injury updates on both Havertz and Konsa before the Leeds game to the press, b...
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Liverpool get brutal Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news
8Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Liverpool get brutal Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news

Liverpool will face Manchester City this weekend in a massive Premier League battle, and while it is no longer one that involves the title race until the Reds can prove they are back in that mix, it is still a vital fixture for two clubs very much operating at a Champions League level. The Reds are worried about injuries to their two most important attacking players, striker Alexander Isak and playmaking left winger Cody Gakpo. They have been the team's best goal scorer and creator, respectively, with Isak finally showing the quality he displayed in 2024/25 with Newcastle United while Gakpo is bouncing back and looking like the stud that he is for the Dutch national team. But both star man are currently injured. Isak left Sweden's camp over the international break with a thigh injury...
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Ranking the 10 best players of the 2026/27 Premier League season heading into Matchday 6
8Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Ranking the 10 best players of the 2026/27 Premier League season heading into Matchday 6

Matchday 6 of the 2026/27 Premier League season is upon us after a lengthy international break. Let's take a reset and rank the top 10 players of the season so far. 10. Liverpool LW Cody Gakpo Cody Gakpo is having a phenomenal start to the season under Andoni Iraola, and hopefully the Liverpool forward does not miss much time with injury. He is one of the best creators in the league and can also finish off his chances. 9. Manchester United AM Bruno Fernandes The reigning Premier League Player of the Season can be too one-dimensional, but with 3 goals and 2.6 key passes per game, Bruno Fernandes is once again carrying a pretty subpar Man United team that is sitting in the bottom half of the table. 8.  Leeds CB Tarik Muharemovic Tarik Muharemovic looks even better than advertised at Sa...
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Jeremy Jacquet is already proving he is Liverpool’s heir to Virgil van Dijk is 1 key way
8Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Jeremy Jacquet is already proving he is Liverpool’s heir to Virgil van Dijk is 1 key way

New Liverpool center back Jeremy Jacquet has been taking the league by storm, and after last season's disappointing performance by the Reds defense, the Frenchman is giving the club real hope that this season they can be back in the mix again. Right now, it's hard to argue against the point that Jacquet has been the most impressive center back in the Premier League, and Gradient Sports actually have him graded as fifth best overall, which is a huge accomplishment for a 21 year old. Furthermore, Jacquet's one on one defending grade is apparently first in the Premier League and a full 12 points higher than the Liverpool star next to him, Virgil van Dijk. Now, that speaks to VVD no longer being in his absolute prime, but the Dutchman is still going strong as one of the best center ba...
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Micah Richards hit the Myles Lewis-Skelly problem on the head
8Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Micah Richards hit the Myles Lewis-Skelly problem on the head

Arsenal have one of the most stacked rosters in the Premier League, especially when looking at their defense and midfield. They can withstand any injury to those positions with the most enviable depth in European football, and the case of Myles Lewis-Skelly best exemplifies that. Mikel Arteta took one of the best left back prospects in the world and converted him to a midfielder with the staggering depth he has accrued on the left hand side of the defense, and right now, MLS has been one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League, showing an accuracy of passing, defensive quality, and press resistance that would put him up there with anyone in the Premier League. But of course, Lewis-Skelly's days as a starter are going to be numbered because new signing Bruno Guimaraes is r...
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Arsenal dominate Transfermarkt’s most valuable Premier League 11
8Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Arsenal dominate Transfermarkt’s most valuable Premier League 11

It's no surprise that Arsenal continue to rack up the plaudits after winning the Premier League title last season, and even though they are second in the league to start the 2026/27 season after a shock blowout loss to a roaring Brighton, most still see them as the No. 1 contenders in English football. Transfermarkt recently provided an updated most valuable 11 of Premier League players, and the Gunners were totally dominating the list with the most players in the 11, beating out Manchester City by 5 to 4. The other players to make the list were one from Chelsea and one from Liverpool in new signings and former Gunner transfer targets Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola, respectively. But Arsenal had almost the entire back line, obviously locking down the center back pairing of William...
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Ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of the 2026/27 Premier League season so far
8Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of the 2026/27 Premier League season so far

The Premier League returns this weekend after an even longer international break than usual. So let's hype up the games being back by giving some love to the goalkeepers, using analytics to rank the best 10 keepers using only the first five games of the season. 10. Emiliano Martinez, Chelsea The save percentage does not fully capture how well Emiliano Martinez has been playing. He's not an elite Premier League goalkeeper anymore, but he is still excellent and a definite upgrade on Robert Sanchez for Chelsea. And honestly, his defense isn't making him look any better. 9. Bart Verbruggen, Brighton Bart Verbruggen needs to get more love as one of the world's top goalkeepers, and there's a reason why so many club have tried to steal him from Brighton. The Seagulls are getting a lot of pres...
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