Premier League Week 2 Results: Liverpool Wins Thriller At Newcastle; Chelsea Runs Amok On West Ham; Arsenal Punishes Leeds; Spurs Topple Manchester City; Everton Christens New Stadium With Win Over Seagulls; Burnley Bursts Sunderland Bubble; Palace and Forest Draw their Grudge Match; Manchester United Draws At Fulham

A valiant Newcastle effort went for naught on Monday when sixteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha scored deep into stoppage time to give Liverpool a 3-2 victory at St. James’s Park. The venerable stadium was electric for a Monday night football clash between the Magpies and a club which has largely ruined the Magpies’ summer off the pitch. First, Liverpool beat them to striker Hugo Ekitike. Now, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is demanding to join Ekitike at Liverpool in a stand-off with Newcastle ownership which is getting nastier by the day. Liverpool has had one bid rejected but is fully expected to come sniffing once more. Isak is meanwhile training away from his teammates and has not been present on matchdays. Hopefully, he was watching on television on Monday, or he will have missed the match of the season so far.

Ryan Gravenberch put Liverpool ahead early with his first goal since May of 2024, his 35th minute blast catching a slight deflection off a Newcastle defender and leaving Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope flatfooted. Things then got uglier for Newcastle on either side of the halftime break. First, the Magpies’ Anthony Gordon was red carded in first half stoppage time for a violent challenge on Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk. Ten-man Newcastle was then victimized by an Ekitike goal just seconds into the second half. Newcastle’s task was looking impossible until Bruno Guimaraes halved the deficit with a 58th minute header where the Brazilian midfielder clearly outmuscled Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez. Kerkez has not looked good in early days for the Reds, a situation which bears monitoring.

Rocked by the Guimares goal, Liverpool seemed to lose composure and cede control of the match to the undermanned Magpies. Newcastle substitute striker, 21-year-old William Osula scored an equalizer in the 88th minute to seemingly complete a remarkable comeback. Liverpool was not finished, however. Rio Ngumoha became the youngest goal scorer in Liverpool history at just sixteen years old when he silenced St. James Park in the tenth minute of stoppage time to provide a final dramatic turn on the evening and give Liverpool the 3-2 victory. Ngumoha became the fourth youngest goal scorer in Premier League history to steal Osula’s and Newcastle’s magic moment. Liverpool notched a second straight victory, but the defending champions have cause to worry about a defense that squandered two goal leads in each of those wins.

There was far less suspense when Chelsea’s attack erupted at London Stadium in a 5-1 Friday demolition of West Ham. Former Chelsea Manager Graham Potter could only look on in shock as his club was far too slow in reaction and footspeed to cope with Chelsea in a decidedly one-sided London derby. West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta offered false hope for the Hammers when the Brazilian thundered home a goal from distance in the sixth minute of play. That was it for the Hammers though as Chelsea rained in five consecutive goals. West Ham supporters first voiced their frustrations and then voted with their feet as Chelsea ran out the clock after its fifth goal in the 54th minute of play. The question now is how soon Potter may be on his way out after his side has allowed eight goals in two opening Premier League losses. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer watched the goal fest from the bench after feeling a muscle tweak during warmups. Eighteen-year-old Estevao Willian got the start in place of Palmer and proved well up to the task. Estevao’s assist, when Enzo Fernandez scored Chelsea’s third goal of the match, made him the youngest player in Chelsea history to notch a Premier League assist. Another new signing, Joao Pedro, scored his first Premier League goal for the club as Chelsea’s new additions made their presence known.

The other rout of the Premier League weekend saw Arsenal make easy work of Leeds in a 5-0 whitewash. New top gun Viktor Gyokeres scored twice in a match which saw 15-year-old Max Dowman become the second youngest player to appear for Arsenal. The celebratory mood at the Emirates began with the pre-match introduction to the crowd of Eberechi Eze, the former Crystal Palace midfielder who seemed on his way to rival Tottenham Hotspur before Arsenal intervened and steered him to the Emirates. A near perfect day for the Gunners, however, was marred by injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Early concerns as to the severity of the damage to Saka’s hamstring were somewhat alleviated by scans taken the next day. Still, the England international could be out for weeks while Odegaard is a question mark for this coming Sunday’s massive match versus Liverpool.

Even while faring poorly in this transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur has so far succeeded on the pitch under new manager Thomas Frank. Spurs defeated Manchester City 2-0 on Saturday for a second consecutive victory out of the gate for the north London club. Spurs has not conceded a goal yet this season while scoring five of its own as Richarlison and Brennan Johnson have formed a potent combination up front for Manager Frank. Johnson’s opening  goal for Spurs on Saturday was his second of the season. Richarlison assisted on Johnson’s goal a week after the former Everton man helped himself to a brace versus Burnley. Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford had a rough game at the Etihad, gifting one of the goals on a misplaced pass and being very fortunate in another instance when caught out of position well outside his net and colliding with a Manchester City player. Tolerant officiating allowed the former Burnley keeper to escape both a goal and a red card on the latter play but Spurs’ summer signing Joao Palhinha was quick to find the net and capitalize on Trafford’s other gaffe.

While Thomas Frank is undefeated so far at Spurs, his replacement at Brentford earned his first victory with the Bees’ 1-0 home win over Aston Villa. Former Bee forward Bryan Mbeumo has moved on to Manchester United, and his former running mate Yoane Wissa was left out of Saturday’s squad by new Manager Keith Andrews because of the noise surrounding Wissa’s own transfer demand. Instead, it was new signing Dango Ouattara who scored the winner on Saturday for the Bees. The former Bournemouth player was added to the squad just last week for a club record purchase amount to replace the departed Mbeumo. Aston Villa, meanwhile, failed to score for a second consecutive week. Including the final match of last season, Villa has failed to score in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time in five years.

Wolverhampton is the other Premier League side which has not scored this season after a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth. Goal prospects for the tame Wolves attack were not helped on Saturday when a red card reduced the side to ten men in the 49th minute.

Everton and Burnley both recovered from scoreless opening weekends to each find the net twice in victories over Brighotn and Sunderland, respectively. The Toffees christened their new Hill Dickinson Stadium in grand fashion by defeating the Seagulls 2-0 as Jack Grealish assisted on both goals in his first start for the Toffees. The England international is on loan at Everton this season after receiving only seven Premier League starting assignments for Manchester City last season. Burnley, meanwhile, threw cold water over the euphoria created by Sunderland’s opening week success and as the Clarets responded to their own opening week frustration by defeating the Black Cats 2-0 at Turf Moor. Jaidon Anthony and Josh Cullen took turns assisting on each other’s goals in the Claret victory.

Fulham is yet to win but has salvaged a point with second half equalizers in each of their two matches. Substitute Emile Smth Rowe scored in the 74th minute on Sunday to offset an earlier Fulham own goal to draw with Manchester United 1-1 at Craven Cottage. Rodrigo Muniz, the victim of this week’s own goal, had been the hero a week earlier when his 97th minute delivered a similar 1-1 scoreline versus Brighton. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandez missed a penalty on Sunday after an odd physical collision with the referee as he prepared to take the kick. The draw ended a string of eight consecutive victories for the Red Devils at Craven Cottage and leaves the Red Devils winless after two matches. No Manchester United player has scored this season, leaving frustrated supporters to wonder why expensive striker signing Benjamin Sesko has yet to start a match.

Nottingham Forest is playing Europa League football this season at the expense of Crystal Palace which was disqualified from the competition due to a violation of multi-club ownership rules. Supposedly, that issue was self-servingly brought to the attention of UEFA by Forest. There was thus plenty of bad blood when the two sides met at Selhurst Park on Sunday. The clubs ground to a 1-1 draw as yet another common issue hovered over the day’s result. Despite each side taking major strides under their present managers, the tenures of both Nottingham Forest Manager Nuno Espirito Santo and Crystal Palace Manager Oliver Glasner are in question. Santo has publicly disclosed a rift between him and owner Evangelos Marinakis. Glasner, meanwhile, is in the last year of his contract and is highly regarded by other European clubs. The Austrian manager is frustrated with his club’s transfer policies which saw Michael Olise leave last summer, Eberechi Eze leave last week and Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton still at risk of leaving this summer. The manager also cannot be pleased with ownership’s bungling of UEFA multi-club ownership rules which deprived Glasner of a return to the Europa League which he won with Eintracht Frankfurt. Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish risks losing the manager to a bigger club. The Eagles need to demonstrate support for Glasner with their transfer actions before the window closes.  

Premier League Week 2 Preview

Things are not going great for Graham Potter. Once regarded as an up-and-coming managerial star after leading Brighton to its highest ever Premier League point total, Potter’s next step was a disaster, not all of his own doing. The chaotic early days of an ownership change at Chelsea was not the right environment for Potter’s step onto the larger stage of a top six club. With a revolving door roster and owners anxious for a quick payoff on their massive investment in young players, Potter was unable to deliver. He was sacked before the end of his first season as Chelsea manager with the Blues floundering in 11th place in the Premier League table. Potter spent more than a year and a half recharging and looking for just the right opportunity to redeem himself. He may have chosen wrong when he took over West Ham this past January. Potter returns to Stamford Bridge Friday with his Hammers having won only five times in 19 Premier League matches under his charge. 

The poor guy is again very much on the hot seat after newly promoted Sunderland decisively defeated the Hammers last weekend. Potter’s opposite number on Saturday meanwhile, seems to have Chelsea back on track. Manager Enzo Maresca led the Blues back to the top four last season, ensuring a return to Champions League football. In just the past 90 days, the Italian manager has also won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup. His players can thus be forgiven for their unimpressive opening draw with Crystal Palace last week which saw neither club find the net. Chelsea’s attacking futility was a bit surprising given significant spending this summer, including the purchase of two new strikers in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. Another goose egg Friday at London Stadium would mark the first time since the 1995/96 season that Chelsea would have failed to score in its opening two matches. Joao Pedro will relish this opportunity to score his first Premier League goal as a Chelsea player, having scored a career best six goals in his previous encounters with the Hammers. 

Transfer drama continues to hang like a cloud over these opening weeks of the Premier League season. The nastiest piece of business, or non-business, has been the rift between Alexander Isak and Newcastle over the striker’s demand for a move to Liverpool. The striker referenced broken promises by ownership in an explosive social media post this week and will again be nowhere to be seen when the Magpies host, you guessed it, Liverpool. Angry Newcastle supporters blame Liverpool for being complicit in the Isak affair. The Toon army is a bit hypocritical about the whole matter, however, as their club is trying to pry Yoane Wissa from Brentford. Wissa is also inactive for the Bees’ match versus Aston Villa as he has also tossed his toys out of the pram, demanding a move to the Magpies. Wissa has also deleted all references to his current employer from his social media. 

Isak and Wissa’s behavior stands in stark contrast to the more professional situation at Crystal Palace where Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi were both on the pitch versus Chelsea last weekend despite swirling transfer rumors. Eze was even ready to play in the Conference League Thursday for the Eagles before a lightning move by Arsenal has Eze now undergoing a medical on Friday to seal his transfer to the Gunners. Arsenal’s preemptive move, prompted in part by an injury sustained by Kai Havertz, was shocking for Tottenham Hotspur which thought it had reached agreement with Eze and Crystal Palace. Spurs, however, were left at the altar as the English international chooses to play for his boyhood club. 

After being outmaneuvered by archrival Arsenal and having earlier in the window failed to secure Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy is once again under fire for his negotiation strategy. Tottenham Hotspur Manager Thomas Frank is left to patch together a midfield which is without both Dejan Kulusevski and James Middleton due to long term injuries. Tottenham Hotspur faces a difficult visit to Manchester City on Saturday while Arsenal is home to Leeds. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, hosts Nottingham Forest. Having held onto their midfield creator in Gibbs-White and having smashed Brentford last week, the Tricky Trees may be feeling better about the immediate future than their Crystal Palace counterparts. 

Saturday’s clash between Burnley and Sunderland could have long term consequences as a six-point swing could loom large in the relegation battle to come between these two newly promoted sides. Sunderland takes to the road after trouncing West Ham at the Stadium of Light last weekend. Burnley limps home after a humbling beating at Spurs. 

Everton were losers to the third promoted squad, Leeds, last weekend. This week against Brighton, however, the Toffees will be buoyed by home supporters enjoying the inaugural match at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. The Toffees new home should be filled to its 52,888 capacity as a new era dawns on Merseyside. 

Manchester United fans are hoping for a new era to start under Manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese Manager was forced to play with a roster unsuitable to his style last season. A remaking of the roster was kickstarted this summer by spending spree which has introduced new stars to the club such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. The remade Red Devils played well in an opening 1-0 loss to Arsenal and now travel to Fulham which was curmudgeonly in the transfer market this summer, much to the chagrin of Manager Marco Silva. The only signing to date for the Cottagers is a backup goalkeeper. 

Bournemouth and Wolverhampton each allowed four goals in opening weekend losses. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, however, scored two for the Cherries and put a scare into Liverpool. The homestanding Cherries seem the more dangerous side in this tilt versus Wolves. 

Premier League Week 1 Results: Black Cats Return With Smashing Win; Liverpool Survives Scare To Defeat Cherries; Arsenal Edges Manchester United; Spurs Spoil Burnley Return; Manchester City Tames Wolves; Chelsea Stymied At Home; Nottingham Forest Swats The Bees; Aston Villa And Newcastle In Punchless, Goalless Slog

Sunderland returned from its lengthy Premier League absence to delight supporters at the Stadium of Light with a commanding 3-0 win over West Ham. After eight years away from topflight football, the Black Cats teased that they may stay awhile. Sunderland scored three times in the second half to break open a tightly contested match and secure the first topflight August win for the Black Cats since 2010. Sunderland’s impressive showing  contrasted with that of Burnley which performed more like the “one and done” promoted sides of recent Premier League seasons.

Tottenham Hotspur swept past the Clarets 3-0 as Richarlison scored twice to give Manager Thomas Frank a victory in his first Premier League match for the club. Burnley looked very much like the yo-yo club that has either been promoted or relegated in each of the last four seasons.

Leeds, also newly promoted, was more competitive than the Clarets and came away with all three points at Elland Road, defeating Everton 1-0  on an 84th minute penalty kick. Lucas Nmecha converted the try for the Whites that resulted from a handball in the penalty area by Everton’s James Tarkowski. A tame Everton attack managed just one shot on target for the match. The hope for all three promoted sides is the clear weakness of some of the returning Premier League sides.

Brentford said goodbye to the highly regarded Thomas Frank and replaced him with a huge question mark. Keith Andrews had never been a first team manager before his debut in charge of the Bees on Sunday. Andrews served as set-piece coach under Frank, and it was ironically off a corner kick that Nottingham Forest scored in the fifth minute of a 3-1 victory over the Bees. Chris Wood scored the opener and would score a second goal as the Tricky Trees took a commanding three-goal advantage by halftime. Brentford’s untested new manager may not get a fair chance this season due to  transfer departures. The move of last season’s leading scorer, Bryan Mbeumo, to Manchester United is a major blow which will be compounded should fellow forward Yoane Wissa, scorer of 19 Premier League goals for the Bees last season, leave as well. Wissa was held out of the Bees’ opening match amid transfer speculation.

Chris Wood scored 20 Premier League goals last season, finishing as the league's fourth-highest scorer 😮

Straight back to business 🤷 pic.twitter.com/rOB94v7NdK

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) August 17, 2025

Unlike Andrews, Wolverhampton Manager Vitor Periera had a wealth of experience as a manager in far flung leagues in Europe, Brazil, China and Saudi Arabia before taking his first Premier League head job in December of last year. Wolves were in the relegation zone when ownership pulled the emergency cord and brought in Periera to replace Gary O’Neil. It proved the right move as Wolves finished a comfortable 12 points above the drop line. This off season has not been kind, however, for the Black Country squad. Departures of key players such as Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri Lead raise the specter of a potential relegation fight. A 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday had Periera emphasizing the need for new signings after the match. Manchester City, meanwhile, is already getting contributions from some of its new team members. Tijjani Reijnders notched a goal and an assist in his Premier League debut while new signing Rayan Cherki scored the Citizens’ fourth goal of the match versus Wolves. Returning stalwart Erling Haaland scored two of the Manchester City goals as he looks to recapture his crown as the league’s premier goal scorer. Haaland was third in the Golden Boot chase last season to top scorer Mohamed Salah and runner-up Alexander Isak. Haaland and Salah have each topped the league twice in the last four seasons, Salah jointly claiming a Golden Boot with Son Heung-min in 2021/22 before Haaland finished on top the next two seasons.

Salah notched his first goal of this campaign in a 4-2 Liverpool win over Bournemouth on Friday. The spotlight for the Reds, however, was on newly acquired striker Hugo Ekitike and the Frenchman delivered. Ekitike scored Liverpool’s opening goal of the season and assisted Cody Gakpo’s goal which gave Liverpool an initial 2-0 advantage at Anfield. Then things got interesting when Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo scored two goals in 11 minutes of the second half to knot things up. Substitute Federico Chiesa calmed the anxiety of the Anfield crowd with his 88th minute goal to regain the lead for Liverpool and Salah closed things out with his stoppage time goal.

Newcastle, meanwhile, clearly misses wantaway striker Isak who continues to demand a transfer to Liverpool and is currently training apart from his Magpie teammates. Manager Eddie Howe watched his Newcastle side fail to convert on Saturday even after Aston Villa went down to 10 men in the 66th minute of a goalless draw. Fortunately for Newcastle, Aston Villa were also toothless in attack as evidenced by the failure of Unai Emery’s men to launch a single shot in the first half of play. No Premier League home side had failed to attempt a first half shot in more than a year. Both Newcastle and Aston Villa would seem to need better options in attack before this window closes. For Newcastle, that could mean a reconciliation with the unhappy Isak.

Arsenal hoped to have solved its striker problem when the Gunners signed Sporting CP ace Viktor Goykeres this summer. That looks to still be a work in process after the Swedish striker did not attempt a shot, created no chances and made only four passes in 60 minutes before being substituted out in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Arsenal still took the three points on a first half header by left back Ricardo Caliafore, gifted by accommodating Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir who weakly pushed the ball to Caliafore when deflecting an Arsenal corner. Manchester United suffered its 15th  league defeat in Manager Ruben Amorim’s 28 matches in charge. Sunday’s loss came even as Amorim’s squad looked much improved and outplayed Arsenal for much of the game.

Like Arsenal, Chelsea did not see much return from recent investment in the striker position on Sunday. New additions Joao Pedro and then substitute Liam Delap had little impact up top in the Blues’ goalless draw with Crystal Palace. Chelsea had just three shots on target for the match and were fortunate that a first half goal by Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze on a free kick was chalked off. Eze’s goal was disallowed for the positioning of teammate Marc Guehi relative to the Chelsea wall under an obscure, seldom enforced rule. Both Eze and Guehi could have played their last match for the Eagles as both are expected to move on during the current transfer window. Those departures could seriously damage the trajectory of a Palace side which is now unbeaten in its last ten matches, a run which includes winning both the FA Cup and Community Shield. Crystal Palace will be playing in Europe this season, albeit in the Conference League after an ownership glitch deprived them of an earned Europa League berth.

Brighton and Fulham, meanwhile, are two mid-table clubs which would like to emulate Crystal Palace’s recent success. The two clubs played to a 1-1 draw at Brighton on Saturday when Fulham “super sub” Rodrigo Munoz stunned the Seagulls with a 96th minute equalizer. Munoz leads the Premier League with seven goals as a substitute since the beginning of last season.

Premier League Week 1 Preview: Retooled Liverpool Lifts Curtain On New Premier League Season

The Premier League begins its 34th season on Friday with defending champion Liverpool playing host to Bournemouth. The Reds refused to rest on their laurels this offseason, investing heavily in a squad which won the Premier League championship in Manager Arne Slot’s first season. Liverpool first broke the bank with its acquisition of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder was acquired for a Premier League record transfer fee, surpassing that which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023. Next on the Liverpool shopping list was highly sought French forward Hugo Entitike. Defensively, the Reds added full backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. The cost for all of Liverpool’s signings this summer is more than ten times what the club spent in last summer’s window preceding Slot’s first season with the club.

The new players made a good first impression  this past Sunday in The Community Shield versus Crystal Palace when Wirtz assisted a goal by Ekitike and Frimpong scored Liverpool’s second goal of the match.

Helping to finance Liverpool’s shopping spree of course has been the departure of players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz. The revolving door at Anfield may also see a few more turns which will likely include the departure of forward Darwin Nunez. Perhaps the biggest deal of the summer, however, would be a controversial poaching of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, the prospect of which continues to dominate headlines. Newcastle has so far refused to sell while their wantaway Swedish striker has stridently demanded a move to Liverpool and is currently not training with the Magpies. Even without Isak, Liverpool should again be a juggernaut in attack. Leading Premier league goal and assist leader Mohamed Salah leads a line which now includes Ekitike, a 15-goal scorer in his breakout 2024/25 season for Eintracht Frankfurt. Wirtz, meanwhile, added 10 goals and 12 assists in Bundesliga play. Wirtz and fullback Frimpong also have the versatility to play as wingers in line with Slot’s vision of a fluid squad with dynamic players able to interchange positions and roles.

The retooled Reds face Bournemouth on Friday with the Cherries also undergoing renovations from last season, in their case largely on the back line. Defender Dean Huijsen will now be earning his wages at Real Madrid while his partner last season at center back, Ukrainian Illia Zabarnyi, has signed with Champions League titlist PSG. Left back Milos Kerkez, another budding star at just 21 years old, will now play for Liverpool, the Cherries’ Friday opponent. Bournemouth has begun the painful process of rebuilding its defense with the signing of Lille center back Bafode Diakite.

Like Liverpool, both Arsenal and Manchester United have focused their transfer efforts on improving in the attacking end. The two meet at Old Trafford on Sunday to find out how successful those efforts have been. The bar for Manchester United in particular is exceptionally lower than that of league champion Liverpool. The Red Devils scored 42 fewer goals than their historic rivals last season. To remedy that sad state of affairs, Manager Ruben Amorim and the club’s ownership have aggressively moved to reshape the attack in the manager’s preferred style of play. The tip of the spear is Benjamin Sesko, the RB Leipzig striker signed this past week. Amorim earlier found the two Number 10 cogs for his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo who bring impressive Premier League resumes from Wolverhampton and Brentford, respectively. The new and improved Manchester United front line will debut at home Sunday against an Arsenal side which hopes to have solved a striker problem which many believe was the Achilles heel which made the club a bridesmaid in the Premier Leage for the last three consecutive seasons. The Gunners beat a host of other suitors this summer to the signature of Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker found the net 97 times in 102 appearances across all competitions for Portuguese side Sporting CP over the last two seasons. The Gunners also acquired winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea and talks reportedly continue for Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze. There has even been rumor that the Gunners may have interest in Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. A healthy Kai Havertz also returns after a season curtailed by a hamstring tear. Gyokeres and Havertz both scored in Arsenal’s recent tune-up friendly versus Athletic Club.

With Alexander Isak out of the line-up, Newcastle will likely need to start William Osula at striker when the Magpies meet Aston Villa on Saturday. The Danish youngster was signed last summer by Newcastle after short tours with Sheffield United and Derby County. Newcastle could also use some freshening in its midfield and Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is a reported target. Financial rules compliance has forced Villa to consider the sale of key players such as Ramsey, forward Ollie Watkins, defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara and goalkeeper Emi Martinez. Villa supporters nervously await that game of musical chairs to be completed.

Brighton, meanwhile, could be closing in on another financial windfall consistent with their history of developing and selling on players. Midfielder Carlos Baleba is coveted by Manchester United with Brighton holding out for a major fee. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder has proved a worthy successor at Brighton to Moises Caicedo who was sold for a record-breaking fee to Chelsea. The Seagulls will open at home on Saturday versus Fulham. Cottager supporters are unhappy with a transfer window which has delivered just one signing for the Cottagers, goaltender Benjamin Lecomte who played nary a minute as the backup for Atletico Madrid last season. Fulham risks not only a slide down the table but also the possible loss of respected manager Marco Silva if ownership focuses more on stadium than roster construction. The Kahn family recently invested heavily in a new Riverside stand at Craven Cottage.

Chelsea supporters, on the other hand, often hold their heads in witness to the seemingly crazed nature of the myriad signings by the club. A strong Premier League finish topped by this summer’s Club World Cup trophy, however, has bought around some of the club’s doubters. This summer’s acquisition of forwards Joao Pedro and Liam Delap strengthens a position where the club has long been frustrated with Nicolas Jackson’s inaccuracy in front of goal and lack of discipline across the pitch. With Pedro and Delap available to lead the line, Jackson could be the odd man out. The Senegalese striker will be sitting out Chelsea’s London derby versus Crystal Palace on Sunday due to an overhanging suspension from last season. Crystal Palace visits Stamford Bridge after securing another trophy in a penalty kick victory over Liverpool in last Sunday’s Community Shield. Following on May’s FA Cup win over Manchester City, the Eagles have claimed their first pieces of domestic silverware over the last two champions of the Premier League. Manager Oliver Glasner is rightfully being acclaimed as one of the better managers in the league after leading the Eagles to unprecedented heights.

Sadly for the Eagles, however, their appeal to retain their Europa League place for this season has been denied. Nottingham Forest will inherit that spot from the Eagles who were prohibited from the competition due to multi-club ownership rules. The Tricky Trees, who open at Brentford on Sunday, were successful in keeping Morgan Gibbs-White from the clutches of Tottenham Hotspur and the attacking midfielder has signed a new three-year contract with Forest. Anthony Elanga, however, has moved on and the Tricky Trees have not been aggressive in seeking reinforcement this offseason. That could be problematic for a squad which became fatigued in the late stages of last season and must now juggle European competition as well. Brentford, meanwhile, has been ravaged by a difficult offseason marked by the departure of Manager Thomas Frank and leading scorer Bryan Mbeumo. Forward Yoane Wissa is also a possible loss before this window closes for the beleaguered Bees.

Frank and Tottenham Hotspur will have a quick turnaround from their loss in penalty kicks to PSG in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup. Spurs will host newly promoted Burnley on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Burnley Manager Scott Parker, with an admittedly less than pristine resume, needs be recognized for guiding three different clubs to promotion form the Championship to the Premier League. His problem has been keeping those clubs up.

Daniel Farke has similarly experienced Premier League promotion and relegation before. Farke, the former Norwich manager, now helms newly promoted Leeds, which will host Everton on Monday. The visiting Toffees became a more interesting watch this week when Jack Grealish was acquired on loan from Manchester City. The former Aston Villa icon and English international had become a forgotten man at Manchester City in recent years and will try to resurrect his career on Merseyside this season.

Manchester City visits Wolverhampton on Saturday as Manager Pep Guardiola tries to right the ship after a disappointing 2024/25 season. A third-place finish in the league ended a four-year run of consecutive titles and marked only the second time in eight years that Manchester City has not won the league. A loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final put an exclamation point on a frustrating season which resulted in no trophies for Guardiola for the first time since his maiden 2016/17 season in Manchester. City has added midfielders Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki to the fold this summer but the renovations have surprisingly fallen short of the investments by other title contenders, surprising for the notoriously big spending club. Wolves have also invested little this summer and must overcome the losses of Matheus Cunha and Ait-Nouri. Manager Vitor Pereira seemed to inspire Wolves last season to a level beyond what their talent would indicate. Replicating that will now be more difficult for the manager with many predicting Wolves are headed for a relegation fight.

One of the clubs who could be battling Wolves for survival is newly promoted Sunderland. The Black Cats return to the big stage after eight years in the wilderness, a torturous period of multiple relegations and failed promotions that was the subject of Netflix documentaries. The Stadium of Light is now once more home to Premier League football and Wearside supporters fervently hope it stays that way. The Black Cats have been active in the transfer market to help their survival hopes. Among the new players is Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal captain who returns to the Premier League after having won a Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen two seasons ago. Xhaka is joined by 21-year-old Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra, signed this summer from Strasbourg for a Sunderland club record fee. Bolstering the Black Cat defense is former West Ham left back Arthur Masuaku. The Black Cats make their return to the Premier League at home versus West Ham on Saturday. Hammer Manager Graham Potter is already in the hot seat after a miserable debut with the club last season. Potter took over in January from beleaguered Julen Lopetegui and was unable to positively impact the club, winning but five of 19 matches as the Hammers sank to 14th in the Premier League table. Potter has received little help in this summer’s transfer market. West Ham is gambling that Callum Wilson, last of Newcastle, can take some of the scoring load off Jarrod Bowen. That is unlikely, witnessed by last season’s injury plagued campaign which saw Wilson fail to score in his 18 Premier League appearances.

Double Blow For Tottenham Hotspur

Things just got a lot more difficult for new Tottenham Hotspur Manager Thomas Frank. The former Brentford manager has inherited a tricky situation in north London. Much has been made about the club’s Europa League trophy, a significant achievement for a silverware starved club. However, that title was won over a tournament field weakened by an expanded Champions League. A flawed Spurs club recognized the opportunity presented by a diluted field and put all its focus on being the tallest of midgets in a second-rate competition.

Thomas Frank

The strategy succeeded when Tottenham Hotspur were able to dispatch Manchester United 1-0 in a sad tournament final in which the title winners had only one shot on target and 26% of possession. Spurs fans were understandably thrilled with their first silverware in 17 years, but the truth of the matter was that the 17th place Premier League side merely upset a historically bad Manchester United side which was 15th in the Premier League table. Thomas Frank takes over a title winner but also is now in charge of a club who, at the same time, lost more Premier League matches last season than any club but for those relegated from the league. Spurs Premier League season was historically embarrassing for the Europa winners. No club ever before has lost 22 times in a 38 match Premier League season and not been relegated.

Premier League infamy outweighed the European success in the mind of Spurs Chaiman Daniel Levy who made Ange Postecoglou the 15th Tottenham Hotspur manager to be sacked by Levy. Thomas Frank was hired as the new man on the touchline. The Danish Manager, who maser minded Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League six years ago, led the Bees to a top half finish in 2024/25, 18 points above his new and more storied club. Despite his success at Brentford, Frank recognized at the time of his appointment that “There’s much more pressure at Tottenham Hotspur than at Brentford.” Testament to that is the fact that none of Spurs’ last three permanent managers have lasted more than two seasons at the helm.

Now, before this new season even starts, Frank’s chances for success have received two hammer blows. Club icon Son Heung-min is taking his talents to Los Angeles FC in America’s MLS league. The Korean international battled injuries last season when he failed to score in double digits for the first time since his initial Premier League season ten years ago. Son leaves the club with the most appearances in club history and 173 goals across all competitions. An indispensable wing man to Harry Kane for many of his years at Spurs, Son enjoyed a breakout 2021/22 season when he scored 23 Premier League goals, joining Mohamed Salh as joint Premier Lague Golden Boot winner. The 33-year-old Korean international will now embark on a retirement tour from a Los Angles base that includes the most South Korean residents of any city outside of South Korea itself. The announcement of Son’s departure coincided with Spurs’ Asian preseason tour, facilitating an emotional celebration in Seoul.

The newly arrived Frank, however, soon had even less to celebrate when James Maddison went down with what is believed to be a serious knee injury in that same game in Seoul versus Newcastle. Last week’s non-contact injury is to the same knee which ended Maddison’s 2024/25 season. His appearance versus Newcastle was his first since that May injury and it now appears that Manager Frank will be starting the season without the midfielder who scored nine goals and provided seven assists last season. Without Maddison, Spurs lacks creativity in its midfield with attacking options also limited by the continuing absence of Dejan Kulusevski who is still recovering from his own May knee injury.

The failed attempt to acquire Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest earlier this transfer window thus looms larger for Tottenham Hotspur. Of partial consolation is the July purchase of Mohammed Kusus from West Ham. The Ghanian attacking midfielder is recognized as an elite dribbler whose decision making and inconsistency can hopefully improve under Thomas Frank’s tutelage.

Meanwhile, another incoming transfer this window has seen Tottenham Hotspur at least partially address another gaping problem from last season. Only Wolverhampton conceded more goals than Tottenham Hotspur among the clubs that return to the Premier League this season. A big part of that issue was the absence of a defensive midfield presence; a flaw being addressed by a loan deal for Joao Palhinha. The former Fulham defensive midfielder had a difficult transition to Bayern Munch last season and now returns to the Premier League on loan to Spurs. The hope is that Palhinha can anchor things in back and help Frank install more discipline to a club which was often wide-open playing “Ange Ball” the last two seasons. The loss of Son and Maddison from the lineup only heightens the need for that defensive improvement.

Howe Bad Can It Get For Newcastle?

Eddie Howe

A disturbing summer for Newcastle is nearing catastrophe as Alexander Isak has reportedly agreed personal terms with Liverpool, risking a departure which could prove devastating for the Magpies. Isak was the Premier League’s second highest goal scorer behind Mohamed Salah last season when the Swedish striker found the net 23 times in league play. Replacing more than a third of the club’s goal production from last season would be problematic under any circumstances but Newcastle already seems to be struggling in this summer’s window. Winger Anthony Elanga, who scored six league goals for Nottingham Forest last season, has been the only noteworthy attacker added to date while pursuits of higher profile targets such as Hugo Etitike, Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro have failed.

The intent heading into the summer was clearly to complement Isak’s quality up front. Callum Wilson was a non-factor last season, scoring just a single league goal, and has now departed after a five-year, injury plagued run on Tyneside. Should Isak leave, the club could be looking for two replacements up front in a market which has largely been picked over already.

An unstable management situation does not provide a lot of optimism. The club is operating this summer without a permanent sporting director after Paul Mitchell left at the end of June after less than one year in his position. Mitchell had filled a sporting director vacancy created when predecessor Dan Ashworth was put on “gardening leave” prior to a messy departure to Manchester United. In addition to Mitchell’s departure, CEO Darren Eales, who joined the club in 2022, has also announced he will be stepping down to deal with personal health issues. Recruitment, meanwhile, is currently in the hands of former Mitchell subordinates Steve Nickson and Andy Howe, the nephew of Manager Eddie Howe. Family ties have not prevented Manager Howe from being understandably vocal on the lack of success in this summer’s market.

The Toon Army is unhappy as well with supporters even calling for the return of former owner Amanda Stavely. The English businesswoman was a key driver of the 2021 purchase of the club from former owner Mike Ashly to a consortium dominated by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. Staveley fronted that takeover and was actively involved in transfer negotiations and importantly developed personal relationships with some of the key stars, including Isak. Purportedly, Stavely had spoken with Isak on a new contract before she and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi shockingly divested their ownership interest in the club and departed a year ago. Mitchell subsequently halted any talk of a new contract for Isak due to Profit and Sustainability concerns. Bad feelings ensued. Isak wants to play for big trophies and is probably a bit disillusioned with the top-level changes at the club and a perceived lack of vision.

Newcastle’s most important player is currently training on his own in Spain at his former club Real Sociedad while his teammates are on tour in Asia. Newcastle, for its part, remains adamant that Isak, with three years left on his current contract, is not for sale. An unhappy star, however, can be fatal to a club’s morale and performance and everyone has a price.

Liverpool’s first bid for the player was rejected this week. It is likely not the last bid from the recently free spending Reds and other suitors may well come to the fore now that the schism between Newcastle and its star is known. There has been rumored interest already from Saudi Arabia though Isak reportedly prefers the chance to compete for major European trophies. While claiming publicly that it will not sell Isak, the club has no choice but to explore other options. Benjamin Sesko, the RB Leipzig striker who has recently been linked with a Manchester United move, is one possibility. Brentford’s Yoanne Wissa is another name.

Trying to hold it all together now for the Magpies is Manager Eddie Howe. The former Bournemouth manager did a masterful job of turning things around last season when the club stumbled from the gate in league play and players were unnerved by the Stavely exit. The Magpies recovered in magnificent fashion to capture fourth place and a Champions League invitation. Even more exhilarating for the Toon Army was winning the Carabao Cup, capturing Newcastle’s first domestic cup in 70 years. Howe can now use some help bolstering his squad to contend with the demands of both Premier League and Champions League competition this season. The last thing he needs is the loss of 23 goals from last season’s Premier League roster as the Magpies prepare for their August 16th league opener at Aston Villa.

Transfer Update – The Search For Goal Scorers

The top Premier League clubs are once again scouring the globe for players who can find the net and enhance their club’s title chances. One of the more coveted goal scorers in this summer’s window came off the board this week and the winner is…last season’s Premier League champion and top goalscoring team, Liverpool.

Frenchman Hugo Ekitike, a twenty-three-year-old forward who scored 22 goals, adding 12 assists, across 48 matches for Eintracht Frankfurt last season, bolsters a front line for Liverpool which was rocked by the tragic death of Diogo Jota earlier this summer and could still see the departures of forwards Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz before the window closes. Ekitike boasts size and pace similar to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who was the Premier League’s second leading scorer and was also a rumored target to become the Reds’ latest center forward. The champions have been active this summer with a total outlay for acquired players, including incentive add-ons, exceeding $250M. Ekitike joins former Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz as the featured offensive threats in this summer’s haul for the Reds. Liverpool beat German power Bayern Munich to Wirtz’s signature after a meeting with Arne Slot convinced the young midfielder of a prominent role in the Reds’ attack next season. Liverpool was also in a battle with other clubs for Ekitike’s signature.

An interesting dynamic arose with fellow Premier League side Newcastle which was chasing the French forward even as Liverpool was making overtures regarding Isak. In the end, Newcastle was unable to meet the financial demands of Eintracht Frankfurt and Ekitike. The Magpies, trying to strengthen a roster which will compete in the Champions League this season, also fell short in races with Chelsea for Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. To make matters worse, Isak was reportedly hot for a Liverpool move and is now a bit sulky as the Magpies, who have also said goodbye to striker Callum Wilson, begin preparations for the upcoming season.

Another, perhaps even more coveted goal scorer appears on the verge of signing after a dramatic battle between Premier League suitors. Viktor Gyokeres, a Swedish international who scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP, appears poised to undergo his medical tbs week for a move to Premier League runner up Arsenal. The runner up in the Gyokeres sweepstakes is Manchester United, which was still bidding on the striker mere days ago. Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta will breathe easier once Gyokeres is on board and fills a blatant hole at the point of the Gunner attack which may well have accounted for failed title chases in each of the past two seasons.

Manchester United was also a late entrant to the Ekitike chase, reportedly mounting a competing bid to the winning Liverpool proposal after Newcastle bowed out of the pricey pursuit. Despite missing on both Gyokeres and Ekitike, the Red Devils have completed other moves to rework their dismal attack. The Red Devils signed two of the top eight Premier League goal scorers last season in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Wolverhampton’s Matheus Cunha. Mbeumo enjoyed a breakout season with 20 league goals last season for the Bees. Cunha found the net 15 times for Wolves, leading his club in chances and shots created. The two players inject exciting possibilities into the stagnant front line of a club which Manager Ruben Amorim freely admits was the worst in Manchester United history. Departing from that dreary group of last season will be Marcus Rashford who is close to a loan deal with Barcelona and Alejandro Garnacho whose destination is unknown but for the fact there is no place for him in Amorim’s line-up. Failed striker Rasmus Hojlund may also be on the move if a suitor can be found for a striker who scored but four goals last season. Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, has been connected with a move to Juventus after a failed loan stint with Chelsea last season. Manchester United can use the money from offloading these players to further improve an attack so feeble last season that only Everton and the three relegated sides scored fewer goals. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko could be part of those plans. He was among the top names expected to move this transfer window but, somewhat surprisingly, rumors had quieted until the past few days when Manchester United interest was reported. Sesko bagged 21 goals across all competitions for the German squad last season.

Another striker rumored to be a possibility for the Red Devils is Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson who has bedeviled the Blues with inconsistency and lack of discipline. The Club World Cup winners could now find the Senegal international expendable after adding Liam Delap and Joao Pedro this offseason as key men to play alongside franchise player Cole Palmer to keep the goals flowing for the Blues. A change of address could be just the thing for Jackson who could still have untapped potential at the age of 24 after scoring 30 goals since his arrival in England from Villareal in 2023.

Chelsea Are World Champions

Chelsea upset reigning Champions League titlist PSG 3-0 in the Club World Cup on Sunday as Cole Palmer put on a dazzling display, PSG Manager Luis Enrique lost his mind and American President Donald Trump awkwardly inserted himself in Chelsea’s trophy lift.

Palmer scored twice and assisted on Joao Pedro’s backbreaking third goal to give Chelsea its three-goal advantage before halftime. Many thought underdog Chelsea would need to sit back and cautiously defend against the French champions. Chelsea Manger Enzo Maresca never bought into that idea in pre match comments, however, and unleashed his attackers from the onset. Rather than sit back, Chelsea pressed their opponent high on the pitch from the opening whistle, quickly fatiguing the French side in the searing heat at Met Life Stadium. PSG turnovers would lead to counterattacks where Chelsea sought to overload a vulnerable left side of PSG’s defense. Newly acquired Chelsea forward Joao Pedro drifted from the center of the field to combine with Palmer on the right flank and give PSG fits.

Palmer has looked comfortable in this tournament on the right wing where he first found success in the 2023/24 season whereas this past season saw him struggle at times in a more central Number 10 role. He was at the top of his game on Sunday putting Chelsea ahead by two goals before 30 minutes had expired with two almost identical strikes past PSG goaltender Gianluigi Donnarumma. The English phenom would then assist new teammate Joao Pedro just before halftime to essentially put the match to bed.

A tired PSG had no answers and became increasingly truculent in the heat and frustration of a scoreless second half. Joao Neves was tossed in the 83rd minute for pulling the hair of Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella. Joao Pedro was another target for PSG’s petulance, perhaps tracing to his exuberant celebration after his first half goal that spelled doom for the Parisians. Following the match, the Brazilian was at the center of a scuffle where the defeated PSG players and their manager decided to humiliate themselves even further. PSG defender Achraf Hakimi and towering goalkeeper Donnarumma seemed to initiate the verbal sparring with Chelsea’s new addition post-match. Manager Enrique then made a fool of himself by physically assaulting the opposing player, an action that could earn him a FIFA imposed suspension.

No one would have predicted Chelsea to have inflicted such pain on a Champions League winner which had conceded only one goal across its first six matches of this Club World Cup. It was a tough pill for PSG to swallow on Sunday but euphoria for Chelsea and its supporters. One new supporter, however, was not entirely welcome. US President Donald Trump awarded the medals and trophy to the winners and then seemed unwilling to leave the center of the trophy lift celebration. FIFA President Gianni Infantino finally escorted Trump away as Chelsea captain Reese James and Cole Palmer looked on confusedly before finally letting loose with their well-earned exultations.

This championship will only stoke the growing expectations of Chelsea supporters who will see their club as a Premier League title contender next season. Chelsea won five of their last six Premier League matches this past season to earn fourth place in the table and a Champions League berth. A European Conference League title followed just days after the Premier League ended. That momentum continued into this tournament with the Blues now having  won 14 of their past 16 matches. Recent transfers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap already look to be smart acquisitions. Jamie Gittens, another new signing from Borussia Dortmund, awaits his new teammates back in England. Estevao Willian, an 18-year-old referred to as “Little Messi,” scored against Chelsea in a Palmeiras jersey this tournament but will be donning Chelsea blue for this upcoming Premier League season. Andrey Santos, a substitute in Sunday’s title match, has returned from a successful loan at Strasbourg and is expected to be in the squad next season.

The influx of talent will, of course, require some outgoings. Perhaps the most significant departure is the in-process transfer of winger Noni Madueke to Arsenal. Madueke is expected to undergo his medical this week. Chelsea also has an “island of lost toys” who are not in Manager Maresca’s plan. That group would include Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix. Benfica is purportedly interested in Félix.

One individual performance on Sunday could give pause to a widely expected piece of Chelsea’s transfer strategy. Much maligned goalkeeper Robert Sanchez impressed Sunday with his six saves. The former Brighton keeper has been under fire from the moment he joined Chelsea, and he has fanned those flames with some poor decision making and critical mistakes. Sanchez was benched at one point his past season for Filip Jorgensen. Just this past week, Chelsea was rumored to be considering a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Sanchez, however, once again proved himself a solid shot stopper on Sunday and made none of the mistakes that have angered Chelsea supporters in the past.

There will be mixed opinions as to whether World Champion Chelsea can win the Premier League with their present goalkeeping.

Chelsea To Face Familiar Face in Club World Cup Semifinal

The assumption was that Premier League fans had seen the last of Thiago Silva when he left Chelsea to return to Brazil this past season. The now 40-year-old defender stepped away from European football after four years at Chelsea and a lengthy and distinguished career in Europe which included Serie A, Ligue 1 and Champions League titles. He returned to Fluminense, a club he once played for at the age of 21. A quiet retirement tour, however, has been interrupted by a run in the Club World Cup which will see Silva lined up against Chelsea in Tuesday’s semifinal.

The Brazilian club’s advancement from a weak group was not a major surprise. In their first knockout game however, they toppled Champions League finalist Inter Milan. In the next match, they defeated the man that led Inter Milan to that final, the Brazilians triumphing over Simone Inzaghi and his new club, Al-Hilal. Al-Hilal was the underdog story after the Saudi side defeated Manchester City in their Round of 16 matchup. Fluminense prevailed in a tense 2-1 matchup, however, which saw Silva battling, quite testily at times, with former Chelsea teammate Kalidou Koulibaly.

Center back Silva has been a stable force in front of 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio. Not all Fluminense’s key players are senior citizens, however. Twenty-four-year-old Hercules has been a strong performer with goals against both Inter Milan and Al-Hilal, his 70th minute strike in the quarterfinal proving the winner against the Saudi Arabian side and putting the Brazilians into the semifinal. Their Premier League opponent in that semifinal was drilled by Fluminense’s Brazilian archrival Flamengo in group play, needed extra time before knocking out Benfica with a flurry of late goals and then nervily got by Palmeiras, yet another Brazilian side, 2-1 on an 83rd minute own goal. This last victory was noteworthy on two fronts. Cole Palmer scored to break an eight-game scoring drought for club and country.

Meanwhile, the scorer of the Palmeiras goal, Estevao, will now join Palmer and his mates in London. Chelsea signed the then 17-year-old winger in May of 2024 with the understanding that he would play one final season for Palmeiras. Chelsea secured his signing despite the interest of many of the major European giants who were interested in a young man referred to as “Messinho” or “Little Messi.” Against Chelsea on Saturday, the Brazilian would alternately orchestrate the Palmeiras attack from a central midfield position and then harry his future employers with attacks down the right wing. His initial time at Chelsea is likely to be on the wing and that has surely fueled the rumors that Noni Madueke could be leaving Chelsea, potentially to join London rival Arsenal.

Estevao’s three player of the match acclimations during his now concluded Club World Cup run inspire optimism but only time will tell if his potential translates to the English game. Chelsea will be without Liam Delap and Levi Colwell for the Fluminense matchup due to suspension. If the Blues advance on Tuesday, they are guaranteed to face another European power in the July 13th final as Wednesday’s other semifinal match  features heavyweights PSG and Real Madrid. 

Chelsea Carries Premier League Hopes In Club World Cup

Chelsea is the last Premier League side to remain in this summer’s Club World Cup. The London squad advanced to the quarterfinals when the Blues defeated Benfica last Saturday in a match which took almost five hours to complete. Chelsea, courtesy of a Reese James goal, was leading 1-0 in the 86th minute when warnings of a lightning storm caused the pitch to be cleared. Two hours later, the match resumed. It then seemed Chelsea would put this one to bed with ease after the Portuguese side went down to 10 men two minutes into stoppage time. Unfortunately for the Blues, however, more work was required after a Malo Gusto handball. Angel di Maria equalized the score with his penalty kick just three minutes after teammate Gianluca Prestianni was dismissed with his second booking. The 37-year-old Di Maria, who counts Manchester United as one of his seven career stops and won a Champions League with Real Madrid, is returning to his boyhood club Rosario following this tournament to end his career where it all began. Di Maria’s final goal for Benfica necessitated extra time to end a long day for Chelsea in Charlotte, North Carolina. Benfica would have hoped to hang on for penalties, but Chelsea overwhelmed the undermanned and tiring Portuguese side with a trifecta of goals in the second interval of extra time to win 4-1. Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall provided the goals in a nine-minute blitzkrieg for the Blues.

Chelsea now faces Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarterfinals on Friday. Another weapon could be available for that match in the form of former Brighton star Joao Pedro. The Brazilian forward was signed this week by Chelsea, has already been added to the tournament roster, and is physically present in the United States. Should Chelsea win on Friday, their semifinal matchup will be the winner of the Al-Hilal versus Fluminense match. Al-Hilal knocked a heavyweight from Chelsea’s path when the Saudi Arabians defeated Premier League power Manchester City in a battle of oil financed clubs in the Round of 16. Al-Hilal is principally owned by the Sudi Arabian Public Investment Fund while Manchester City is majority owned by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Twenty-two-year-old Marcus Leonardo scored two goals, including an extra time winner, to give the Saudi club an exciting 4-3 victory over star studded Manchester City on Monday. Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden found the net in City’s losing effort.

The Saudi side, however, is not without its own familiar Premier League names. Joao Cancelo, a former Manchester City player who had a difficult relationship with Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola, assisted on Al-Hilal’s second goal. Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly scored to give Al Hilal a 3-2 lead before an equalizing goal by Foden. Reuben Neves, who plied his trade for six seasons at Wolverhampton, then assisted on Leonardo’s winner. The Saudi Arabia club, which also raised eyebrows earlier in the tournament with a draw against Real Madrid, is also helmed by a manager who is well familiar with a big stage. Italian manager Simone Inzaghi joined Al-Hilal just days before the Club World Cup began, shortly after leading Inter Milan to the Champions League final for the second time in three years. Inzaghi and Al-Hilal will face Fluminense in Friday’s other  quarterfinal.

Saturday, meanwhile, features a marquee matchup between PSG and Bayern Munich followed by a battle between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. FIFA officials will be hoping weather cooperates for the quarterfinal contests. Six different matches have been suspended to date due to adverse weather, led by Chelsea’s delay which Manager Enzo Maresca termed a “joke.” The tournament has also been plagued by intense heat which has many questioning the wisdom of playing next summer’s World Cup in North America.