Tag: Liverpool

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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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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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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Dominik Szoboszlai quietly matched Jude Bellingham’s record
7Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Dominik Szoboszlai quietly matched Jude Bellingham’s record

Everyone knows Jude Bellingham is a special player, and after watching the World Cup, the Real Madrid man and England international is the undisputed greatest midfielder in the world right now. He had eight chances created in a single game against Croatia this past international break in UEFA Nations League action, but Liverpool star midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai actually matched his record with eight chances created against Georgia, making Jude and Szobo the joint top players in terms of chances created in a game. That record is actually important for Szoboszlai, because people need to put some respect on his name. Before it all fell apart for Liverpool last season, Szoboszlai was the best midfielder in the Premier League, and we can't forget how crucial he was to Arne Slot winning ...
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Projecting the Premier League top 5 heading into Matchday 6
6Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Projecting the Premier League top 5 heading into Matchday 6

It's time to start thinking about the Premier League again now that the September/October international break is wrapping up. After 5 Matchdays, it's time to project the teams that will make it to the Champions League from the English top flight next season by finishing in the top 5. And with the way the season has gone thus far and how poorly a few of the big clubs have been, it's not easy to predict who is Champions League bound for the 2027/28 campaign. 5. Manchester United Why they could be this high: We can't forget that Manchester United finished third in the Premier League last season and showed real improvement in terms of how they created chances and played with the ball under Michael Carrick, who was a great midfielder himself. When everyone is healthy, Man United are above ave...
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The 5 Premier League players under the most pressure after the international break
6Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

The 5 Premier League players under the most pressure after the international break

It's time to talk Premier League again, as the season will return after the break in just a few days, starting with reigning champions Arsenal taking on surprise package Leeds United on Saturday. Although the break is a reset point for most, there are a handful of players who find themselves under immense pressure right now and are going to be squarely under the microscope when the action returns. Manchester United LW Marcus Rashford Marcus Rashford has started four games for Manchester United this season, and while he's had at least three key passes in three matches and has been pretty good on the ball with his dribbling, he really hasn't emerged as a clear option in the 11 for the Red Devils. And he wasn't even a player they wanted to keep for this season; they just had to take him bac...
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5 Premier League teams we still don’t know what to make of
6Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

5 Premier League teams we still don’t know what to make of

The 2026/27 Premier League season is back in action again this weekend with Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City vs. Liverpool headlining a host of tantalizing matchups. But as we await the next games, let's take a look at five teams that we are all having a hard time figuring out just where they will end up in May when the season concludes. Chelsea Chelsea sit 10th in the Premier League table right now, and their defense looks like a mess. They have clearly missed Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park both defensively and even going forward in possession, and they have to be honest and say that losing Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City was a pivotal switch that does not bode well for their hopes of getting back to European football. The Blues have talent on t...
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Premier League Grades for every Big 6 club heading into October after the international break
5Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Premier League Grades for every Big 6 club heading into October after the international break

The 2026/27 Premier League season is back in action after the September/October international break, and now that the cobwebs are clearing and our minds are getting integrated back into thinking about club football, it's time to take a step back and grade how all the Big Six clubs have been doing so far this season. Arsenal Honestly, even though Arsenal are not in first place right now. I have been blown away by the job Mikel Arteta has done thus far, and I really like how the attack looks with Greek star Christos Tzolis out on the left as compared to Gabriel Martinelli. On paper, Tzolis is less dynamic, but I don't really think Martinelli was doing enough to take players on and stretch the pitch anyway. So that small drawback is nothing compared to the huge benefit of having a player wh...
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