Tottenham lived as much as pre-season hype they might problem for the Premier League title by going high of the desk on the opening weekend of the season, however face a more true test of their credentials away to Chelsea on Sunday.
Tottenham gamers have fun with Tottenham Hotspur’s English defender Eric Dier, after he scores their second aim in the course of the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on 6 August 2022. Picture: CHRIS RADBURN/AFP
MANCHESTER – Tottenham lived as much as pre-season hype they might problem for the Premier League title by going high of the desk on the opening weekend of the season, however face a more true test of their credentials away to Chelsea on Sunday.
Antonio Conte has been closely backed in his first full season as Spurs boss with the signings of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Djed Spence, Clement Lenglet and Fraser Forster within the switch window.
But not one of the six new faces began in a formidable 4-1 win over Southampton to underline the energy in depth now on provide to Conte.
Spurs, although, have solely gained as soon as within the league at Stamford Bridge in 32 years and beating the Blues would ship an early season assertion of intent that they will bridge the hole to Manchester City and Liverpool.
Chelsea additionally obtained off to a profitable begin in much less flamboyant vogue as they wanted a Jorginho penalty to see off Everton 1-0.
Thomas Tuchel has demanded an enchancment this weekend, however believes Chelsea will get higher because the season goes on after a turbulent 2022 that noticed the membership endure sanctions earlier than Todd Boehly’s consortium took management from Roman Abramovich.
The American has not held again in backing Tuchel with the signings of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and Carney Chukwuemeka.
And Sterling believes Chelsea are additionally on the up as he outlined his reasoning for leaving Manchester City on Thursday.
“You look at Chelsea in the last couple of years, it’s four or five finals that they’ve been in,” stated the England worldwide.
“It’s a team that shows that they are competing and they’re only going to get better. So with the new ownership and the takeover it made a lot of sense.”
PRESSURE ON GERRARD, LAMPARD
Former England teammates Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard go head-to-head on the touchline for the primary time on Saturday as Aston Villa host Everton with each searching for their first factors of the season.
Gerrard’s choice to strip Tyrone Mings of the Villa captaincy and drop the England worldwide for a desperately disappointing 2-0 defeat to promoted Bournemouth on Saturday has upped the stress on the previous Liverpool captain.
Expectations have been excessive for Villa in Gerrard’s first full season after Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara turned their backs on Champions League soccer with Sevilla and Marseille respectively to signal over the summer season.
But Gerrard’s males have gained simply two of their final 12 Premier League video games courting again to final season and people have been in opposition to relegated Norwich and Burnley.
Everton solely narrowly prevented the drop final season and one other tough marketing campaign lies forward with Richarlison offered to Spurs and England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured for the primary six weeks of the season.
Despite the Toffees struggles to adjust to monetary truthful play, Lampard has been given the assets to usher in Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana from Lille and Conor Coady on mortgage from Wolves this week.
“He’s one of the greatest English players of all time, one of the greatest midfielders of all time. It’s probably one of the best phone calls I’ve ever had,” stated Coady on the dialog with Lampard that satisfied him to signal.
Man Utd face Bees sting?
Manchester United had arguably the worst opening weekend of all as Brighton gained for the primary time at Old Trafford to burst any bubble of optimism for a contemporary begin beneath Erik ten Hag.
The Dutch coach’s choice to start out Christian Eriksen in an unfamiliar function as a false 9 has been criticised after the Dane shone as soon as he was restored to his regular midfield function within the second-half.
Ten Hag is badly in want of a response at Brentford this weekend and has a giant choice to make on whether or not to recall Cristiano Ronaldo to the beginning line-up.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner began on the bench in opposition to Brighton as a result of an absence of pre-season coaching as he appears to be like for an exit to hitch a Champions League membership earlier than the top of the switch window.
Fixtures (all occasions GMT)
Saturday
Aston Villa v Everton (1130), Brighton v Newcastle, Manchester City v Bournemouth, Southampton v Leeds, Wolves v Fulham, Arsenal v Leicester (all 1400), Brentford v Manchester United (1630)
Sunday
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (1300), Chelsea v Tottenham (1530)
Monday
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (1900)