Vesper

the whole thing crashed for weeks, but Jim fixed it (but lost all the old posts) now he somehow fixed that too so all the old posts are back as well woot

2020-21 English Premier League Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion http://www.sportnews.to/mysports/2021/premier-league-tottenham-hotspur-vs-west-bromwich-albion-s1/#! https://www.totalsportek.com/arsenal-streams/

most overrated CB on the planet I detest him on so many levels slow, thuggish, not bright, and a criminal (literally, ask Greece) I go bonkers every time he and that trash Piggie start for England even old punchable-face Kane doesn't remotely come close to my dislike for Maguire, as he is absolutely the real deal as a player (and Kane is utterly vital to England's chances) I do get some limited joy as the very bright lads/ladettes over at Transfermarkt keep dropping him down the charts (causing the wanker manure fans to rage on about it, lol)

OGS really is a dislikeable cunt no redeeming qualities he is boring, whingey, not a good manager, and often petulant and sullen I think Lampard was ill-served coming here so soon he should have put in 4 or 5 years at a far less pressure club learning his craft ad THEN came to Chels Ole at the crash wheel DID put in his years as a manger before and still sucks the only teams on the planet (Pep doesn't have it, neither does Klopp, their teams never expect shit, they normally bust their fucking arses, my only beef with either is the cocky way Pepe reacted about the bribed off CAS shit, as he KNEW the sheik had paid off all the people) that think they are ENTITLED to win every time and that ANY thing against them is illegitimate are the same big 5 I always go back to (especially about that bullshit FFP) Barca Real Bayern Juve (uniquely due to the Agnelli mafia dynasty, who decades back kicked off the drive for FFP because they were perpetually butthurt over Berlusconi buying his way to crushing them, knocking them off as the perennial kings of Italy) and of course, Manure all 5 of those teams think it is literally their god-given right to win every time, to rule their nations like a king or queen Ole is the epitome of that that type of thinking, yet he is nothing more than a low class/low skillset usurper to the throne Finally, back to my mid-subject tangent: if history has symmetry, then there will soon be a FIFTH multi-billionaire (Berlusconi, Roman, PSG, and Shitty were the first 4 who those 5 old power teams freaked on about and forced in FFP as a protection racket) of such size that he will buy a team and finish blowing up FFP for good. My money is on Bezos or Elon Musk. Those 2 combined are worth almost 400 billion dollars and both LOVE to take on limiting factors, especially Musk, although he is so busy with his quest to colonise Mars.

getting all fancy with the game chat pics, lolol

he is SO overdue for some goals

I already liked the original post, but forgot to say huge thanks m8! 🏵️🌲🐬

crazy game (Manure v Everton) we were out at a party, so missed it, just watched a replay https://eplfootballmatch.com/manchester-united-vs-everton-full-match-premier-league-6-february-2021/ I will be shocked if manure wins the league, as Maguire is just horrific, he was lit up and burnt for pace so many times I cannot see them winning it with that back 4 (plus De Gea is pants) They made so many errors, including a dreadful unforced shit pass by AWB to give the ball back and set up that free kick it is shitty's title to lose if they beat pool today Ole really fucked up by making an injury time sub, as that delayed the game and allowed that foul (ironically by his sub) which resulted in the game-tying goal from a the free kick

yes

An exemplary piece of public relations, featuring Didier Lamkel Zé Didier Lamkel Zé in training at Antwerp earlier this week. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock Paul Doyle @Paul_Doyle NOW THIS IS SOME TRANSFER BUSINESS The Fiver can’t remember whether we ever got round to commissioning a Yaya Touré Award for Services to Diplomacy, but we’ve been meaning to do so ever since 2006. That was when the silver-tongued midfielder, then of Monaco, reacted to news that Laszlo Boloni had been sacked as the club’s manager by declaring: “Boloni’s departure gives me great satisfaction, I was more than fed up with him.” Boloni’s name has appeared in the world’s most tea-timely email several times since then, usually because for sausage-based puns it’s an absolute banger. But we bring it up again because the manager is involved in another exemplary piece of public relations, one for which Didier Lamkel Zé will always have a place in The Fiver’s heart. Men's transfer window January 2021 – all deals from Europe's top five leagues Read more Antwerp supporters used to love the Cameroonian striker, too, because he scored lots of goals for them under the management of Boloni. But Lamkel Zé’s relationship with the club’s big cheeses turned sour at the end of last season when he demanded a pay rise, less than a year after signing an improved contract. In September Boloni was sacked over a style of play deemed unpalatable. The beef between Lamkel Zé and Antwerp continued, with the new manager, Ivan Leko, demoting him to the reserves in October. Since then the striker has used Social Media Disgrace Instachat to trumpet his determination to leave the club, regularly posting photos and videos of himself with other teams, including Panathinaikos, whose manager, a certain Boloni, is said to be keen on a reunion. With the transfer window having opened this week, and with Leko having surprised Antwerp by resigning in order to – well, whaddya know? – accept a massive pay rise in China, Lamkel Zé decided it was time to up the ante. So on Monday he sallied along to Antwerp’s training ground wearing a nonchalant expression and the shirt of rivals Anderlecht. Security staff reacted much like bouncers do when The Fiver rocks up in fashionably unwashed garb at The Discerning Publican, shutting the door and holding it closed despite attempts to gain entry. After a moment of unpleasantness, Lamkel Zé beat it. But he later promised on Instachat to return the next day in the shirt of another club, Beerschot. Unlike The Fiver, Antwerp fans were not amused and impressed. On Wednesday, to our chagrin, Lamkel Zé opted for a radical change of strategy. “I sincerely apologise to the club and Antwerp supporters because they are magnificent and wonderful fans who have always supported me,” announced the 24-year-old on the club’s official Twitter abomination. “If I reacted like that, it is because my head was elsewhere with the transfer, it wasn’t easy for me. I’m so sorry for my actions. I’m available for the club if the new manager [Franky Vercauteren] needs me. I hope to be in front of the supporters very soon on the pitch.” The end? Maybe. But if a move to Panathinaikos doesn’t happen this month, and given who Antwerp face in the Big Vase next month, perhaps folks at the Pope’s Newc O’Rangers superstore should look out for an order from Belgium. QUOTE OF THE DAY “Above all else, in 2021 football needs to build on the statements of intent from 2020 and commit time, energy and resources to convert that intent into action” – Sanjay Bhandari succinctly lays out what football needs to do to combat discrimination in 2021. It’s very much worth a read. Photograph: Getty Images RECOMMENDED LISTENING Football Weekly Extra is right here for you. FIVER LETTERS “Was Wednesday’s 2.55 race at Wolverhampton an omen for the Milk Cup final in April? Ridden by a jockey wearing sky blue silks, the favourite Cityzen Serg surged ahead of the field to win, leaving 50-1 shot Hotspur Harry in its wake. I should know, I was on at 4-1, which I reckon will be the score at Wembley. I am hoping to attend, although, being a senior ‘Cityzen’, this might well be jab-dependant” – Adrian Brodkin. “With Wednesday’s Rumbelows Cup outcome, Manchester United’s manager continued his repeated quest to emulate the lead actor from the Die Hard film series. The latter lost one Demi Moore, the former lost one more semi” – Leigh Tadeusz. “I don’t want to spoil everyone’s enjoyment with excessive pedantry, but I did raise an eyebrow at Alan Raybould’s mention of a Thai beer hall serving ‘German-style beer’ (yesterday’s letters). While I would guess it was probably a pilsner or lager labelled to be different from the very pale Thai beers that go well with spicy food, there are actually numerous distinct beer styles native to Germany. This is despite the Rheinheitsgebot permitting just four ingredients to be used in the production of beer (hops, malt, water, yeast). That said, an appreciation for the way an incredibly limiting range of things can be used over and over again to produce something slightly different is what keeps many of us reading The Fiver every day” – Ed Taylor. Send your letters to [email protected]. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’the day prize is … Adrian Brodkin. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie with Liverpool on Friday has been plunged into doubt after their first-team squad was forced into self-isolation by a Covid outbreak at the club. The scene at Marine before their tie with Spurs on Sunday. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA Shrewsbury face having to forfeit their place in the competition after a number of positive Covid tests forced the third-round tie against Southampton to be postponed. The WSL is counting the cost of Christmas trips to Dubai made by three Arsenal internationals and four Manchester City players, after the clubs’ games against Aston Villa and West Ham, respectively, were forced off by positive tests. Arsenal, meanwhile, have taken out a £120m loan from the Bank of England in an effort to ease cashflow issues that have mounted during the pandemic. Eric Dier, Érik Lamela and former teammate Jan Vertonghen have all been prosecuted after being caught by new speed cameras on the A10 near Spurs’ training ground. And Ajax are close to completing a deal to sign Sébastien Haller for £25m less than West Ham shelled out for him last year. STILL WANT MORE? “Mauricio Pochettinooooo, he’s magic, you kn …” – PSG drew their first game under the Argentinian, so Adam White and Eric Devin wrote this. Enrico Chiesa had a knack of scoring goals against Milan and it seems his son, Federico, has picked up the trick. Nicky Bandini has more on a Juventus win that could be seismic for the title race. Like father, like son. Composite: Getty Images “You can study all the data, watch all the videos, think and plot and cogitate, formulate your grand strategy, then it turns out the answer all along was John Stones.” Floating brain in a jar Jonathan Wilson on Manchester City. Oh, and if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO! IT’S NOT EXACTLY THE PODDINGTON PEAS

fucking piece of dogshit I still cannot believe that whoever rammed this deal through has not been sacked

so now the deadwood has hurt his knee FFS! so sick of this all

Shitty had a great leader after Toure, in Kompany.

well, so much for that shit prediction, lolol

woot, nil 2 fuck you manure!

2020-21 English Carabao Cup, Semifinals Manchester United Manchester City http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2021/capital-one-cup-manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-s1/ https://www.totalsportek.com/highlights/arsenal-vs-everton-2016-match/

CIES Football Observatoryn°319 - 06/01/2021 Values https://football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2020/wp319/en/ Biannual transfer value list: Rashford takes first place Issue number 319 of the Weekly Post presents the traditional biannual list of the big-5 league players with the greatest transfer values according to the exclusive CIES Football Observatory algorithm. The top estimated value was calculated for the 23-year-old Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford: €165 M. With only 18 months of contract remaining, the former leader Kylian Mbappé falls back to fifth place. The 20-year-old Norwegian prolific striker Erling Haaland ranks second with an estimated transfer value of €152M. The 22-year-old English full international Trent Alexander-Arnold completes the podium. The Liverpool’s full back is the most expensive defender ahead of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies (€139M) and Manchester City’s Rúben Dias (€127M). The top estimated values for midfielders and goalkeepers were recorded for Bruno Fernandes (€151 M) and Ederson Moraes (€80M). With only six months of contract remaining, Lionel Messi just makes the top 100 list: 97th with an estimated value of €54M. Despite his excellent performances, 35-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo (€47M) is only 131st. This is mainly due to his age and the relatively short duration of his contract with Juventus (until June 2022). The transfer value intervals for all big-5 league players are available for free on the CIES Football Observatory website.

Wednesday January 6 2021 Matt Law's Chelsea briefing FA Cup offers chance for Hudson-Odoi, Abraham and Gilmour to take the strain By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent Frank Lampard always knew this run of bad form could happen and insisted he was planning for it even when Chelsea were on a 17-game unbeaten run, when this column was leading the calls for him to be rewarded with a new contract. For the record, it is still the belief of this column that Lampard’s contract should be extended. Doing so would represent an unprecedented show of support from the Chelsea board that would allow everybody to focus on how to fix the problems rather than how long the head coach might get to turn things around. But that scenario appears unlikely at present, with Lampard more concerned about holding on to his job than about Chelsea extending their commitment to him. So how does Lampard fix Chelsea’s problems and guide his squad out of a rut in which they have lost four of their past six games? Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Morecambe will offer the chance to test one of the potential answers. Lampard’s initial success with Chelsea last season came from blooding the club’s youngsters and giving them a platform that previous managers had always been too scared to offer. He has stuck with that policy this season, keeping faith with the likes of Mason Mount and Reece James, despite the £220million summer spend. But Lampard’s best way to navigate his way out of the current mini-crisis, at least temporarily, may be to go a step further and turn to even more of Chelsea’s academy graduates - some of whom who have already proved their worth to him and others who have shown glimpses of their talent. One of the more startling statistics of Chelsea’s Premier League season is that the opening-day victory over Brighton remains the only game Lampard’s team have won in which striker Tammy Abraham has not appeared - either from the start or as a substitute, as was the case against Leeds United. Given that Abraham was Chelsea’s top scorer last season and is only one short of Olivier Giroud this term, the England international looks to be Lampard’s best option while he waits for Timo Werner to settle back down and work through his goal drought. Games against Morecambe and then Fulham in the Premier League look perfect for Abraham to add to his goal tally and bring some balance to Chelsea’s play from the top of the pitch, which has been sadly lacking in recent weeks. Either side of his central striker, Lampard has largely picked from Werner, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech this season, but Callum Hudson-Odoi can now argue that he has done enough to be given a run of games in which to impress. Hudson-Odoi was Chelsea’s brightest attacking player in the draw with Aston Villa, so could consider himself unlucky to drop back down to the substitutes’ bench for the City game in which Ziyech struggled. But, rather than sulk or feel sorry for himself, the winger stepped off the bench to score Chelsea’s consolation goal and Hudson-Odoi now looks ready to regularly contribute to games while Pulisic and Ziyech feel their way back to full fitness. Other than recently struggling to find the right formula in attack, the balance of Lampard’s midfield has been lost over the bad run, with Mateo Kovacic, who was terrible against Manchester City, Jorginho and Kai Havertz failing to prove consistently that they are worthy of a place alongside N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount. Lampard has been understandably reticent to throw Billy Gilmour straight back into his starting line-up while the Scotsman builds up his match fitness after injury, but the Morecambe game will surely provide him with enough minutes to then start against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Gilmour had jumped ahead of Jorginho by the time he was injured towards the end of last season and how Chelsea could do with his fearless energy and application to ease some of the burden placed on the often overworked Kante. Turning back to the academy may only provide temporary relief for Lampard, who, in the long-term, must bring the best out of Chelsea’s expensive signings such as Werner, Havertz and Ziyech, but it could provide him and his out-of-sorts stars with some much-needed breathing space. Get in touch at @Matt_Law_DT or via [email protected].

Manchester United, Manchester City and a guarantee to take to the bank Yes, it’s composite image time! Photograph: Getty Images Scott Murray MAN UP It’s already been a good week for Manchester United, who won the Premier League on Monday night, we assume, if the way some folk are going on is anything to go by. But the new champions of England won’t want to stop there! They could take a step closer to trophy No 2 on Wednesday evening by booking a place in the final of the Milk Cup, which is scheduled to take place in April, and who knows, might even take place in April. It’ll certainly be played this season. Providing this season finishes. Which it will. Almost certainly. Probably. And that’s a Fiver guarantee you can take to the bank. Solskjær brushes off penalty complaints from Manchester United rivals Read more United are flying at the moment, unbeaten domestically since the start of November thanks to a cavalcade of devastating breaks, clever assists, ruthless finishes, improbable comebacks, questionable penalties, deflected last-minute winners, goals scored after the final whistle, unpunished wrestling manoeuvres, and spectacular game-changing long passes which curl over the head of opposing managers. It’s difficult to see who can stop them in this sort of form, quite frankly, they’ve got all the angles covered. But that’s what arch-rivals Manchester City have to do at Old Trafford. Godspeed, Pep. City will take heart from the manner in which they forensically dissected Nothing To Do With Me’s Chelsea the other night, their recent record in this competition – they’re looking to win it for the fourth time in a row – and their 3-1 win here at this stage last season. They’ll also be aware that United lost all three semi-finals they competed in last season, something which may or may not flash through their minds should they go three down in 38 minutes again. All of which should make for an exciting match. Unless City sit back and wait for United to do something, like they did last month, in which case hunker down for 120 turgid, goal-free minutes followed by a penalty shoot-out. Not that it matters too much either way in the long run, of course, because we all know who’s waiting eagerly to do a number on the winner in the final. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE! Join Scott Murray from 7.45pm GMT for hot MBM coverage of Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City in the Rumbelows Cup semi-finals, while Simon Burnton will be on hand at the same time for Milan 0-0 Juventus in Serie A. COLIN BELL (1946-2021) The antithesis of the modern gated superstar, it didn’t stop Colin Bell being a Manchester City legend and the complete midfielder, writes Simon Hattenstone. And you can look back on the life and times of the King of the Kippax in this lovely gallery. Colin Bell, pictured in 1969. Photograph: PA Photos/PA QUOTE OF THE DAY “The negative comments reminded me of the times people have made me feel ashamed for being different so I thought it was important not to leave them unchallenged because they may have made someone else feel ashamed in the same way. That person may then decide football isn’t for them, that they’re not welcome there. Nobody should feel that way” – comedian Tom Allen gets his chat on with Sachin Nakrani about popping up on Soccer Saturday and how football should be for everyone. Yes, even The Fiver. RECOMMENDED LISTENING Football Weekly is right here for you. FIVER LETTERS “I smiled at yesterday’s Fiver, but you’re underclubbing the Carabao brand. I think it is a water buffalo in the Philippines, as you say, but it’s also the name taken by a Thai ‘rock’ group that was originally formed in the Philippines and is now, several decades later, the biggest old-school band in Thailand. Their business interests include the energy drink but also Tawandang, a raucous beer hall in Bangkok that serves its own German-style beer and offers live music to hundreds of punters most evenings. Or it used to, in normal times. I remember going there a few times but can’t remember how I got home” – Alan Raybould. “Re: Edward Dean comparing endless suffering in the darkest depths of Hell to being a hardcore Arsenal fan (yesterday’s Fiver letters). One of the final sinners Dante speaks to is Count Ugolino who, blinded by rage, spends eternity vindictively cannibalising the skull of his treacherous neighbour Archbishop Ruggieri. Surely there’s a joke about AFTV in there somewhere …” – Jonathan Turpin. Send your letters to [email protected]. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’the day prize is … Alan Raybould. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Manchester City have returned a further three positive Covid-19 tests, with goalkeeper Scott Carson and 18-year-old midfielder Cole Palmer among them. José Mourinho is a serious man, doing serious things with a serious team. “I always took [the Milk Cup] seriously,” he honked after Spurs slayed Brentford to reach the final. “If there is any secret it is to take it seriously. That’s what I hope to do again on Sunday in Crosby against Marine.” Spurs rolling on, earlier Photograph: Clive Rose/EPA Ole Gunnar Solskjær reckons Jürgen Klopp is up to mischief by flapping his gums wildly about Manchester United penalties. “I don’t count how many penalties they have,” he roared. “Maybe it’s a way of influencing referees.” Having been bin-bagged by West Brom, Slaven Billic has bounced back into a rebound relationship with Beijing Guoan, who have given him a two-year deal to succeed Bruno Genesio. Meanwhile, Mick McCarthy’s love affair at Apoel lasted less than two months, with the former Republic O’Ireland boss being bundled out on to the Cypriot streets after four defeats in four. Big Phil Neville is understood to have been approached by Inter Miami about their managerial role. Honk! After leaving Fleetwood Town, Ched Evans has rocked up at Preston on loan. “Getting back to the Championship is brilliant,” he tooted. And Mesut Özil is weighing up the possibility of grinding out the rest of his career at DC United after being offered the chance to expand his coffee company at the MLS Soccerballers. Fenerbahce have also been linked with the PR expert. STILL WANT MORE? Ewan Murray takes us inside the world of Dutch upstarts Vitesse Arnhem, where the mantra “work harder, think smarter” is just like ours. “He was a joy”: when Tino Asprilla lit up Newcastle – and its trendy nightspot Julie’s – 25 years ago. By Harry De Cosemo. Tino and the Toon. Photograph: Gerry Penny/EPA What’s the furthest from goal a player has been sent off for a professional foul? The Knowledge answers another of life’s big philosophical questions. Oh, and if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO! WHAT. A. SHOT

I think AC Milan wins tonight, and I rate them as the Serie A favourites for sure if they do. If they win tonight, they are 13 points up on Juve, and Juve's game in hand is against 4th place, CL place battling Sassuolo

Your own article says you are wrong m8. Lol. No. 10 , not an 8

Spuds COVID Party Tonight sung along to this little ditty

already 1 nil Sissoko header

2020-21 English Carabao Cup, Semifinals Tottenham Hotspur Brentford http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2021/capital-one-cup-tottenham-hotspur-vs-brentford-s1/ https://www.totalsportek.com/arsenal-streams/

Who will win the most open Premier League title race in years? https://theathletic.com/2303020/2021/01/05/who-will-win-the-premier-league/ Liverpool have gone three games without a win, Manchester City appear to have rediscovered their spark, Manchester United could go top of the Premier League this month and only seven points separate the top 10. It is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Premier League title races in years and here our writers give their verdicts on who will win out, who will make up the Champions League places, who will win the Golden Boot and who is heading for relegation. Who will win the Premier League? Oliver Kay: Manchester City. I have been so disappointed by Pep Guardiola’s team so far this season. They have looked lethargic, uninspired, lacking spark. And yet they find themselves just four points behind leaders Liverpool with two games in hand. Their defence has settled down and now it is a question of rediscovering rhythm and fluency elsewhere in the team; the victory at Chelsea was encouraging in that regard. I don’t think they are anywhere near the level they were when they racked up 100 points and 98 points when winning the title in 2018 and 2019… but they won’t have to be. The required level this season is not going to be anywhere near that, which is why Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and maybe Leicester City should all fancy their chances. So, too, should Liverpool, who, after all, are still top despite their recent stumbles. But it has felt like heavy going for Liverpool since losing Virgil van Dijk to injury and then losing Joe Gomez and Joel Matip. This is their toughest spell in two and a half years. Manchester City seem to have re-emerged from theirs with their hopes still intact. And I don’t discount Manchester United at all. I would have done a month or two ago, but a) they look much more sure-footed now and the number of points required is not going to be anything like as high in previous seasons. Right now, with momentum growing, they look like a team capable of getting 80-85 points. This season, that might be enough. Daniel Taylor: It isn’t easy knowing what is troubling Liverpool. But then again, there have been plenty of times over the last few months, and longer, when the same question has been asked of both Manchester clubs, too. It hasn’t made it an orthodox season or one that is easy to understand. Manchester United have, at various times, been in a crisis, scorched in Europe and knocked for six by Spurs, but now look like authentic title challengers. Manchester City have lurched from one extreme to the other. My money, though, is still on Liverpool to come through because we have seen enough of Jurgen Klopp’s team to know they can handle the pressure. Michael Cox: From August until last night I thought Liverpool, but with Klopp’s side dropping points and Manchester City finally looking like their old selves, Guardiola’s side are favourites. I can’t get my head around a side as limited as Manchester United being in the running, but this is obviously the most open title race since 2015-16, and will certainly produce the weakest winner since Leicester triumphed that season, so we probably need to adjust our perceptions of what constitutes a title-winning side. Jack Pitt-Brooke: Liverpool. Maybe I am underthinking this but they still look like the best team to me. On their day, there is no one else quite like them, with and without the ball. Obviously, they are going through a rough patch right now, with injuries and fatigue catching up with them, but their underlying performances are not terrible. And they are doing all this while suffering the worst injury crisis of Klopp’s tenure. Their best players will return and, eventually, so will their results. Tom Worville: Manchester City. They’ve taken a while to get up and running, but the performance against Chelsea showed that, even with a depleted squad, they can still play some of the best attacking football in the league. Kevin De Bruyne as a striker is an enticing prospect — especially given the limited roles played by Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus this season — and they have a nice run of fixtures in which to rack up points before facing Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal in February. Simon Hughes: Manchester City. They look as strong defensively as they have been since Guardiola took charge and Sunday’s victory over Chelsea reminded of their threat in the attacking third. Aguero’s goal drought cannot continue for much longer surely and if he returns to his best over the next few months ahead of his likely departure from the club, it will give them an edge. Carl Anka: Manchester City. This is the most open title race since The Last Time Someone Said That, and when that happens one of three things tend to follow: 1) The title race remains open as the traditional superpowers trip over themselves, Spurs hint they may become a superpower before eventually falling away and a thrilling conclusion is met. 2) The superpowers spend a bunch of money/change managers/cover the exhaust valve on their respective Death Stars and it becomes a closed shop again. 3) The same as option one, but the conclusion is Manchester City win. Everyone is having far too much fun about a Liverpool-Manchester United slobberknocker on January 17, they forgot City are now in fifth place, ready to strike and ruin everyone’s fun. Dominic Fifield: I suspect Liverpool, stung by their recent dip, will recover their poise and rhythm over the second half of the season and ease themselves marginally clear, though both Manchester clubs will push them hard. Whichever club can string together eight or nine successive wins in the last third of the season should prevail, and Klopp’s side may be best placed to do that. George Caulkin: Predictions are for idiots, particularly in this season in this era in this life. Existence was supposed to be back to normal for Christmas, wasn’t it? Schools were safe to stay open on Monday morning, weren’t they? The Premier League has followed this pandemic’s volatile trend. My answer is Liverpool. Why? Well, that’s what I said at the start of the season and although they don’t have momentum behind them and also have a chasm in the centre of their defence, if 2020 taught me anything it’s that if Liverpool don’t win it, I’ll just refuse to accept the result anyway. Jack Lang: Manchester City. Clearly, no one would describe this as a vintage Premier League season. All of the contenders for the title have obvious flaws. But City are starting to look ominous, like a killer robot slowly hauling itself from a bullet-strewn warehouse floor. Guardiola appears to have found the right balance at the back, with the Rodri-Gundogan midfield axis providing added cover. That approach has dimmed their attacking vibrancy just a touch, but if you’re keeping clean sheets you can afford to be patient and wait for De Bruyne and the gang to find an opening. They won’t waltz it, but Liverpool and Manchester United will need to find deeper gears if they’re going to stop them. Stuart James: First things first, it’s good that we have a genuine title race this season. Although the league table currently says otherwise, I’d argue that it comes down to a straight fight between two clubs: Liverpool and Manchester City. It’s extremely hard to call. City seem to have played within themselves for much of this season, yet you do get the sense that Sunday’s win over Chelsea could be a sign of things to come – they are more than capable of winning seven or eight games in a row. So are Liverpool, of course, but I can’t overlook the impact of the injuries to Van Dijk and Gomez in the heart of their defence. In short, City. Phil Buckingham: Manchester City, just. At the risk of getting carried away by their win at Chelsea, there’s clearly something clicking after an uncertain start to the season. City are looking as strong as anyone defensively and the moment they begin to function in attack is the time the rest of the Premier League should worry. The number of games they’ll have in the second half of the season invites some doubt but this, at last, is more like the City of old. Liverpool, for all their current difficulties, will not be far away. Who will finish in the top four? Oliver Kay: Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham. Last season there was a 33-point gap between first place and third. This season it feels unlikely there will be much of a gap between first and fifth. It’s going to be about consistency, resilience, being able to put a run of wins together. I don’t discount Chelsea or Leicester at all (or Aston Villa or Everton) but right now Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham look most capable of doing that. And all of them should be setting their heights higher. Daniel Taylor: Liverpool and Manchester City are certainties. Manchester United should be, too — though let’s not get too carried away just yet when we should know by now they still have the ability to go on a bad run. That leaves only one position and Spurs should probably edge out Leicester City and Chelsea. Michael Cox: Manchester City and Liverpool are nailed on for a top-four finish. Manchester United still seem liable to drop silly points, Tottenham are probably roughly where they should be, Chelsea haven’t been as bad as their recent run makes them look, while Leicester are outperforming their expected goals (xG) by quite a lot, which probably won’t last. Manchester United and Tottenham are probably the most likely to fill the last two spots. Jack Pitt-Brooke: Manchester City have rediscovered their stability thanks to the Ruben Dias-John Stones partnership, and their 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge was their best performance in years. They will run Liverpool close and if anything will cost them the title, it will be the fitness of Sergio Aguero and the form of Gabriel Jesus. Then Manchester United should come a close third, now that Solksjaer’s light-touch management is getting the best out of his multi-talented front line. Fourth place is harder, but I’d just about bet on Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham to scrape over the line ahead of Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City, as long as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min stay fit. Tom Worville: Manchester City, for obvious reasons. Liverpool — their struggles in recent weeks are probably overblown, and can consider themselves a little unfortunate. They will slowly get back the likes of Diogo Jota and Gomez, which will no doubt help the team. Manchester United — their recent form looks sustainable, they might finally have found a role for Paul Pogba that brings the best out of him and defensively they’ve improved a lot after a sluggish start to the season. Chelsea — a bit of a toss-up between Chelsea and Villa, but I’ve decided on the former. Similar to Liverpool, have had a bad spell of late but Lampard practically has a fully-fit squad at his disposal. Aston Villa’s underlying numbers paint them as the better side so far, but Chelsea’s strength in depth is far better, and Villa have been lucky to not have to rotate much so far this season. If Lampard does go, I’d expect to see someone with good attacking pedigree replace him. Simon Hughes: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United. Though I can understand the economic reasons why it is more difficult for Liverpool to enter the market for a defender, it will cost them. Spurs have the best attack in the country and United will creep through just as they did last season. Carl Anka: Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Leicester. Liverpool are still A Great Football Team and United possess A Great Collection of Attackers. There’s something about Leicester when they have their tails up that makes me think they’ll squeeze out a Spurs side that still need a handful of players to perform at close to their maximum to take care of tasks. Dominic Fifield: Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and, if they have learned lessons from last season’s late slump, why not Leicester? They seem to boast greater depth this time around and, if they can become more consistent at home, can steal a march on the rest. George Caulkin: Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and one other, which will probably be Tottenham. It would be great to see a different name up there, if only for a bit of novelty, although I’m not sure how much most people really care about “the top-four” as an entity, unless you’re in it. I’d still expect the strongest clubs to power through and then they’ll all get together to talk about how much more money they should be making and why it’s terribly unfair that any of the rest get any money at all and then they’ll play each other again and it will be dull. Jack Lang: Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Leicester. The first three are fairly self-explanatory, and I think the final spot will ultimately be between Tottenham and Leicester. Spurs are great on their day, particularly when Kane and Son are given space, but the supporting cast of attackers has been deeply underwhelming. Leicester have a more convincing midfield and players coming back into form and fitness. They’re third without really having hit top gear, so the omens look positive. Phil Buckingham: If Manchester City and Liverpool look a given, I’ll put Manchester United and Tottenham as the two teams most prominent in the rear-view mirror. Manchester United have fallen into enough troughs to suggest there will be another at some point but they’re clearly improving, even if it won’t be quite enough. Tottenham are in the same bracket; very good at their best but falling short of standards tends to lead to costly slip-ups. Chelsea will come again, be sure of that. Then there’s the supporting cast of Leicester, Southampton and Everton. It could well be as tight as it is now. Stuart James: Squad depth is always a big factor at the top end of the table and you imagine that will apply this season more than any other. With that in mind, I’m going to rule out a storyline that would appeal to a lot of neutrals — Southampton, Everton or Aston Villa qualifying for the Champions League. Liverpool and Manchester City are nailed on for a top-four finish and it’s also hard to overlook Manchester United, whose charge up the table has reminded everyone that Solskjaer has no shortage of attacking talent (even if the defence needs plenty of work). With Chelsea off the pace, that leaves Leicester and Spurs. Personally, I’d like to see Leicester finish fourth after they ran out of steam last season. But if Kane and Son stay fit, I think Mourinho’s team will pip Leicester to that other place. Who will win the golden boot? Oliver Kay: Mohamed Salah. The data confirms he is getting fewer chances this season, other than penalties (and Liverpool are not getting as many of those as Klopp feels they should). But still, even without having hit top gear, Salah is top of the scoring charts, with 13 goals in 16 appearances. In terms of goalscoring threat, he was quiet in the last three matches, when Liverpool struggled. But he is never quiet for long. Daniel Taylor: Kane would be the obvious choice if he can remain fit for the rest of the season. The problem is he usually gets an injury to two and the same applies to Son, the player with whom he links up so effectively. On that basis, Salah looks a decent bet to win it for a third time. Yes, Liverpool aren’t having a great time recently. Yet Salah plays for the most attacking team in the country and has shown consistently that he can trouble any defence. Michael Cox: Bruno Fernandes has a serious claim here, partly because Manchester United’s high rate of winning penalties is no fluke — it’s the consequence of the changed interpretation of laws in the VAR era and their players being wily enough to buy cheap fouls from opponents. He’s also capable of striking from range and pushing into the box to get on the end of crosses. But Salah is the favourite, and we’re probably still underestimating how incredible his performance has been since joining Liverpool — he’s won the Premier League golden boot twice already, and only Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry have won a third. Jack Pitt-Brooke: Kane is not currently top of the charts but I would expect him to be there by the end of the season. He is playing the best football of his career, not quite as the rampaging No 9 of the mid-2010s but as a more complete player, a deep-lying nine-and-a-half who sets up as many for Son as he scores himself. But he is still just as deadly from 20 yards and impeccable from the penalty spot. I think he can overtake Son and Salah over the back nine this season and finish with the individual awards, too. Tom Worville: Patrick Bamford. Leeds never stop attacking, irrespective of the scoreline, which will play into Bamford’s favour and has done already given he has the best xG per 90 minutes in the league. His tally hasn’t been boosted as much by penalties, which we have seen with Salah and Jamie Vardy, who have both struggled of late. Son’s 12 goals from an xG of 4.6 indicates that he either won’t keep up his hot finishing streak or he’ll put this prediction in the mud and we’ll have to tear up the models and start again. Simon Hughes: Son. He’s brilliant. The best forward in the Premier League right now. Right age. Right form. Just about the right momentum for his team, one that is built around his strengths. Carl Anka: It’s the striker who also takes the penalties. *Looks up current golden boot totals*. Jamie Vardy won it last year so I’ll say… Kane. Dominic Fifield: If Liverpool are to prosper, then Salah will have to remain prolific. George Caulkin: Why are you asking me all these questions? How can I possibly know? Salah. Liverpool have mustered more shots, more goals and more passes than any another team in the Premier League, while only Leicester and Manchester United have more victories. Salah is already top of the scoring charts with 13 and although he has just gone three games without a goal, wobbling along with the rest of his team-mates, he is in the best company to build on the foundations he has already laid. Only Bamford and Kane have had more efforts on goal. This is pure statistical analysis. Jack Lang: Salah. Liverpool haven’t been brilliant recently, and nor has he. But it’s hard to look past a forward who takes so many shots, is on penalties, and plays for a team that dominates possession to the degree that Klopp’s side do. He has already scored 13 times and it is surely only a matter of time before he scores a hat-trick and goes on one of his manic scoring runs. Phil Buckingham: Another open contest but Salah gets the cautious nod. He doesn’t really do droughts and so long as he’s fit, there’s no reason to believe he won’t get 25 or more goals by May. Is anyone else capable of that? You wouldn’t rule out Son, Vardy or Kane. Fernandes is another up there in the rankings but surely a midfielder can’t win the golden boot… Stuart James: A penalty taker. In fact, when I interviewed Bamford in December, I asked him why he wasn’t taking them at Leeds given the number that’s being awarded this season — it’s good to see he listened and that he’s now taken over spot-kick duties. If Son did the same at Spurs (that’s never going to happen), I’d back him to win the golden boot this season. So, in my eyes, it probably comes down to one of Salah, Vardy or Kane (his assist record this season, by the way, is outstanding). Salah gets the nod on the basis that Liverpool are the most free-scoring team. Who will be relegated? Oliver Kay: Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham. The first two look close to certainties at the moment. I do expect Sheffield United to improve — they’re a better team than results suggests — but they’ve left themselves with so much to do. West Brom looks like a survival mission too far for Sam Allardyce. There’s a temptation to wonder if Crystal Palace or Newcastle might get sucked into trouble, but they and Burnley have more know-how and resilience than the teams below them. So that leaves Fulham and Brighton to battle for the final place. Fulham have been more impressive over the past couple of months, but Brighton might be stronger over the long run. Daniel Taylor: Apart from Sheffield United, you mean? Chris Wilder’s team haven’t won a match yet and, barring something improbable, there hasn’t really been a flicker of evidence they are capable of a feat of escapology. West Brom are the interesting one now Sam Allardyce is in charge and, plainly, something is going to have to change if they are to get out of the bottom three. Fulham have taken the different approach of sticking with the manager, Scott Parker, who took them up. It might be that neither approach works. On the evidence so far, these are the three worst teams in the league. Michael Cox: Six sides are seriously involved. Sheffield United will get better, but they’re 12 points adrift already. They’re down. West Brom will probably improve under Allardyce, but his call for a COVID-19-enforced break suggests he’s terrified how little time he has on the training to get the side organised. Fulham have already improved significantly, and four straight draws suggest they’re not far away from getting things right. Brighton are underperforming their xG numbers to a staggering extent and their results will surely improve. I always trust Sean Dyche to get Burnley out of trouble, although if there was a fallout with the new owners and a new manager arrived, I’d worry for them. Newcastle have been flattered by their results but they do have points on the board and probably only need another five wins. Boringly, it’s probably the current bottom three. Jack Pitt-Brooke: One of the stories of the second half of the season will be whether Sheffield United can avoid being the Premier League’s first-ever single-digit point team. With two points from 17 games, they are on course to smash the record. They’re projected to earn four or five points. I think they’re better than Derby County’s legendary 11-point gang from 2008, but not good enough to make up the deficit to stay up. Going down with them, I fear Allardyce has too much to do at West Brom to turn things around. And then one out of Brighton and Fulham, I’d probably say Fulham, just about, because of their lack of experience, but at the same time, they’ve got good enough players to get out of it. Tom Worville: Sheffield United. I expect them to bounce back a little — scoring 6 goals from an xG of 14.4 is astounding — but it’s probably going to be too late to prevent relegation. West Brom. Big Sam probably won’t get the reinforcements he needs in January and will struggle to improve a side that currently — in terms of xG for and against — is one of the worst in the Premier League in recent years. Newcastle — they have been the third-worst side in the Premier League by xG difference since the start of November. The only thing staving off relegation is that they have enough points in the bank and can eke out a few more to outrun Fulham, Brighton and Burnley, who are all playing better than results suggest. Simon Hughes: Sheffield United, Fulham, West Brom. Wilder’s team have too much to do. Fulham do not have enough Premier League standard players and neither do West Brom. Carl Anka: Sheffield United are done for. West Brom don’t have the squad or the time for Allardyce to get his methods across. I maintain that Brighton are in the, “No, really they’re good” ghost zone that spreadsheet nerds argue with their parental figures about, so while Fulham have been improving at a decent clip, I think the current bottom three will be the teams to go down. Dominic Fifield: Sheffield United already look doomed and even replicating last season’s form would not be enough to save them, while Allardyce would need a huge transfer budget in January for West Brom to be competitive. Given how volatile this season has been, no one currently in the bottom half will feel entirely safe as they scramble towards 35 points, particularly if Fulham can turn solid draws into wins. At present, the onus is on them to maintain their improvement and drag Brighton or Burnley beneath the cut-off. George Caulkin: Ah, thank you, my natural domain: wasteland. Sheffield United are gone, one of the most startling season-to-season declines in the Premier League’s history. Teams expend so much energy and build so much momentum getting up and staying up and it’s as if adrenaline has deserted them. Shame. Theirs is a great story. West Brom will go and so will Allardyce’s record of never being relegated in the top flight. Sometimes you can just be the wrong manager at the wrong club at the wrong time. And then A.N. Other. I’ll say Fulham, as they’re in possession. Newcastle will stay up in 15th place and Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton will kindly tell their fans what a brilliant achievement that is. Jack Lang: Sheffield United, West Brom, Fulham. I don’t think Sheffield United are a terrible side, but you cannot give the team in 17th a 12-point headstart and expect to stay in the division. I thought West Brom’s decision to appoint Allardyce was a decent one, but the last couple of games have really underlined the size of his task. It’s a Championship squad in all but name. I expect them to put up a fight but can’t see them escaping the drop. The final spot is a tough one to call. Burnley have improved and will be fine. Newcastle will grimly scrape together enough points. It will likely boil down to Brighton or Fulham, and although the former have been deeply unconvincing, they should have enough talent to start picking up wins at some stage. Fulham have tightened up at the back but I don’t see who is going to fire them to safety. Phil Buckingham: It’s hard to see beyond the current bottom three. Sheffield United are as good as gone and it’ll be hard for Sam Allardyce, savvy as he is, to mask West Brom’s lack of Premier League quality. Fulham look the most likely club to escape the relegation zone given the way they’ve at least become hard to beat but Brighton and Burnley, clubs that have been through all this before, look better equipped over a long run of games. Above that, there’s only Newcastle capable of being sucked in. Stuart James: Sheffield United are surely doomed. Without a victory on the board, they are already 12 points adrift and the season is not even at the halfway stage. Maybe the most optimistic Sheffield United supporter will cling to that as a reason for hope — there are enough games remaining to turn things around. Realistically, though, that isn’t going to happen. West Brom have relegation written all over them, too. The final place is less clear cut. Burnley, with games in hand and a better defensive record than the top three, look a fairly safe bet to pull clear. I wouldn’t say the same about Brighton — two wins from 17 is troubling. Ultimately, though, it is hard to see Fulham capitalising on the weaknesses of those above them. In other words, the bottom three now will be the bottom three when the season ends. Have your say here (or follow this link)