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Spurs v Manchester City – Preview, Lineups, Betting, TV Coverage

Manchester City will travel to White Hart Lane for their season opener against Spurs on Sunday, August 15th at 4:30 pm.

Manchester City will come into the game even stronger than they were last season, with £100 million signing Jack Grealish on their books.

Spurs have added Olympic silver medallist Bryan Gil to their ranks alongside on-loan Atalanta duo Pierluigi Gollini and Cristian Romero

The side has got rid of Toby Alderweireld, Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth and Joe Hart.

Harry Kane is one of the players still on their books and the 28-year-old will play against a team interested in prying him away from the clutches of Daniel Levy this summer.

City are planning to bid £150 million plus add-ons for the English international before the window closes, per Fabrizio Romano.

Kane would add more firepower to an attack that includes Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, to name a few.

They can live without him this weekend though, with Gabriel Jesus and their impressive false-nine system both options for the focal point of the attack.

However, fitness doubts could weaken the Manchester City machine temporarily.

Kevin De Bruyne is one of the doubts for the weekend while Phil Foden has been ruled out for three to four weeks.

Ederson, Jesus, Sterling and Kyle Walker all returned to training following the loss in the FA Community Shield and will be available for selection.

Aymeric Laporte has only returned to training recently as well after being on the same flight as someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

Yet, manager Pep Guardiola may stick with players who have been in camp longer and the Citizens could field a weakened team in their first game of the season – by their standards at least.

With Spurs yet to plug all their holes, the weekend side may be enough for the Premier League champions.

Predicted Lineups

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Doherty, Romero, Sanchez, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Ndombelé; Moura, Alli, Son; Kane.

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko; Rodri, Gundogan, Grealish; Mahrez, Bernardo, Sterling.

Betting

Spurs 4/1

Draw 3/1

Manchester City 8/13

TV Coverage

The match will kick off on Sunday, August 15th at 4:30 pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

Meslier signs deal till 2026 at Leeds

Illan Meslier has put pen to paper to extend his stay at Leeds United until 2026

The Whites have confirmed that the French shot-stopper has renewed his contract at the club in a five-year deal.

Meslier had a record-breaking season for the club last season and he is still only 21. He managed to keep a remarkable 11 clean sheets while between the sticks.

This is considerably more impressive in the Leeds United team where their high-intensity style of play gets them a lot of scores but also can leave their defense vulnerable to counterattacks.

Meslier joined the club last year from Ligue 1 side Lorient while they were in the middle of promotion from the championship. He is believed by many to be the signing of the summer, until costing the White’s £5 million.

Speaking to Leeds Live about the goalkeepers at his club, Marcelo Bielsa said:

“A lot of what Meslier could achieve this year is linked to how Casilla lived through it with him.

“The way he collaborated with him, the keepers are a group within the group with a special coach and keepers where they spend two hours together between four of them, not 20.”

“They need each other. The climate of training is responsible for very few people. His support was very influential in this,” added Bielsa.

“It gave me great pleasure to see him play the game without having played against Southhampton.”

After signing from the club, Meslier ousted Spanish keeper Kiko Casilla from the position and it has been that way since. Casilla left for Elche on loan this season while the club signed a new young replacement goalkeeper, Kristoffer Klaesson from Valarenga in Norway.

Meslier will begin his second season in the Premier League this Saturday in Old Trafford against Manchester United at 12:30.

Ulster Rugby And Deloitte Renew Sponsorship

Deloitte has extended its deal with Ulster Rugby as the lead sponsor of the Ulster Women’s team, the Ulster U18 Girls team, and Ulster Rugby’s women’s domestic competitions for another two years.

Both the Ulster Women and U18 Girls squads are in the final stages of preparations for the eagerly anticipated 2021 interprovincial series, following a year’s absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senior team will kick off their campaign on Saturday 28 August, hosting Munster at the Kingspan Stadium. They will then face away trips to Leinster and Connacht in Rounds 2 and 3.

Ulster U18 Girls will face the same opposition on the same weekends, with the full details of the fixtures still to be confirmed.

At domestic level, 2021/22 will see the largest-ever number of teams competing in the provincial league and cup competitions, while the showpiece Deloitte Women’s Junior Cup Final is once again set to be played at the home of Ulster Rugby, Kingspan Stadium.

Commenting on the announcement of the renewal, Jonny Petrie, Ulster Rugby CEO, said: “Since Deloitte first came on board in 2017, women’s and girls’ rugby has developed into the fastest growing area of our game, and we are delighted to continue on this journey with such an invested and passionate sponsor.

“Like Ulster Rugby, Deloitte has a strong commitment to diversity, opportunity and excellence, so I am excited to see how we can continue to work together to grow the female game at both elite and grassroots level over the next two years.”

Jackie Henry, Office Senior Partner at Deloitte in Northern Ireland and Managing Partner for People and Purpose at Deloitte UK said: “The sponsorship is a perfect fit with Deloitte’s commitment to support sport at all levels and aligns to the core value of diversity and inclusion.

“We are really proud and excited to be renewing our sponsorship of these Ulster Rugby teams.”

Chris Sloan, Partner at Deloitte who is leading on the sponsorship said: “It is hugely encouraging to see Ulster Rugby prioritising the growth of the women’s and girls’ game and putting in place both plans to increase female participation in rugby, and pathways and other mechanisms to boost team performance.

“We want to play our part in supporting the development of the sport in Northern Ireland and helping boost the team’s performance.

“Maintaining the naming rights for all domestic competitions means we’ll be able to keep supporting the game at a grassroots level and hopefully introduce rugby to more young people, who may well be looking to give new sports a try as pandemic restrictions ease.

“There is a real buzz around female sport at the moment and this sponsorship renewal reinforces our support for diversity for all genders and for all sporting levels.”

Deloitte’s sponsorship also includes the naming rights to the following domestic competitions:

League Competitions:

  • Ulster Rugby Premiership
  • Ulster Rugby Championship
  • Ulster Rugby Conference


Cup Competitions:

  • Junior Cup
  • Junior Shield
  • Suzanne Fleming Cup
  • Suzanne Fleming Shield

Arteta believes Aubameyang will be back in the goals this year

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that he hopes captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will recover his world-class form this season

The Gabonese striker, now 32, was made famous in Borussia Dortmund and in early seasons at the Emirates for his speed and finishing. Last season he began to show signs of decline with his age.

Over a year ago, Aubameyang signed a huge £250,000 per week contract at Arsenal and his goalscoring prowess seemed to disappear. It does not help that this dip in form coincided with the Gunners’ worst league finish in 25 years.

In the entire season, playing mainly on the wing but also as a striker, he scored 10 goals and got three assists. This tally is even worse than his first season at the club where he joined them in the January transfer window, that year he scored 10 and assisted four.

Speaking at a press conference, Arteta was asked about his captain’s current slump in form:
“I don’t know – last season and everything that happened individually, collectively around the club for everybody, it was difficult to measure if that’s a trend or a one-off.”

The main problems for the talismanic player were that he was not getting himself in goalscoring positions, only taking two shots every 90 minutes and his finishing was below par with a less than 20 percent conversion rate.

The manager still has confidence in his captain and will most likely be giving him a major role in their opening game of the season.

“Our job is to help the players get the best that they have, and we know that with [Aubameyang] we are stronger. He scores goals and that’s one of the most important things in this game,” added Arteta.

Arsenal will begin their Premier League resurgence tonight away to Brentford at 20:00.

Brentford v Arsenal – Preview, Lineups, Betting, TV Coverage

The opening game of the Premier League season will see Arsenal take on Brentford in Brentford Community Stadium on Friday

The match will kick off at 20:00 on Friday 13th August. Sky Sports Premier will show live coverage of the match for those at home.

This is Brentford’s long-awaited return to the English top-flight, the last time they were in this league was in 1947. They made it up by the skin of their teeth after winning the play-off finals.

The Bees are an attack-minded side that successfully blends a strong pressing game with patience in possession. This attack is spearheaded by record goalscorer Ivan Toney, he managed 31 goals in 45 Championship games last season.

Arsenal, instead, is a team that has been in the Premier League since its inception but are at their lowest point in recent history.

Manager Mikel Arteta is attempting to bring this club out of its slump using Arsenal’s youth. Now, he is mixing in new transfers, expect to see former Brighton defender Ben White and Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga make their competitive debuts for the club.

Both sides will be hungry for the win this evening so if the game is not nervy then it should be full of entertainment.

Predicted Lineups

Brentford

Formation

3-5-2

Predicted Starting 11

Raya (GK), Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock, Roerslev, Janelt, Onyeka, Norgaard, Henry, Mbeumo, Toney

Injuries

Dasilva, Jensen

Arsenal

Formation

4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting 11

Leno (GK), Tierney, Mari, White, Saka, Lokonga, Xhaka, Aubamayang, Smith-Rowe, Pépé, Lacazette

Injuries

Nketiah, Gabriel, Holding, Partey

Betting

Brentford is underdogs with odds of 7/2 to win today.

A draw has odds of 5/2.

Arsenal to win away from home has odds of 4/5.

Score Prediction

This will be a nervy game for Brentford, this first game back in the Premier League. Arsenal, on the other hand, is starting another rebirth in hopes of getting back to European football.

This game will be close but the Gunners will take a 2-1 win to earn their first three points.

Manchester United v Leeds United – Preview, Lineups, Betting, TV Coverage

Manchester United will host old rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the 2021/2022 Premier League season.

This game will mark the return of Premier League football for both Manchester United and Leeds United.

Man United will hope to hit the ground running after the acquisitions of Jadon Sancho and soon-to-be Raphael Varane. Making them title favourites alongside Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Finishing second last year, 12 points off Manchester City, The Red Devils will be eager to cut the deficit down this season.

Rivals Leeds enjoyed an exciting return to the Premier League last season, finishing 9th, with an impressive 59 points.

An old rivalry will resume at Old Trafford with a mouth-watering tie here.

Manchester United Retrospective

United’s summer transfer business has been a successful one so far, bringing in long-time target Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund and on the verge of announcing Raphael Varane from Real Madrid.

Sancho’s arrival fills up the much-needed wide play-maker that has frustrated United going forward for years.

In recent weeks, rumours of potential outgoings (Paul Pogba) and incomings for the central midfield spot have taken over much of the transfer speculation.

Leeds United Retrospective

Marco Bielsa’s Leeds finished in the top half of the Premier League table since being relegated in the 2003-2004 season.

Playing thrilling all-out attack football has impressed neutral fans alike.

Showcasing a brand of high-tempo football that sometimes has given Leeds fans chaotic yet exciting football.

They come into this season with the hope of progressing further into the European places, with some young left sided-players bought for a combined £26 million.

Bielsa has recently signed a new one year contract that keeps him at Elland Road.

Date, kick-off time and venue

This old English rivalry will resume with Manchester United and Leeds United set to kick-off at 12:30 pm BST (British Summer Time) on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at Old Trafford.

Where to watch Manchester United vs Leeds United

TV Channel: This match will be televised live in the UK via BT Sport 1, with coverage starting at 11:30 pm.

Manchester United vs Leeds United team news

Coming into this match, Man United will be without attacker Marcus Rashford for the first 2-3 months of the upcoming season with a shoulder injury and is set for surgery.

New signing Jadon Sancho will hope to make his debut in front of the Old Trafford fateful and is in contention.

Dean Henderson and Jesse Lingard are out after contracting COVID-19, while Alex Telles (ankle), Phil Jones (knee) and Eric Bailly (Olympic duty) are all unavailable.

For their opponents, Leeds have no serious injury concerns to look out for. £13 million summer signing Junior Firpo could be included in the matchday squad after returning from injury alongside Jamie Shackleton.

Manchester United vs Leeds United prediction

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a lot to prove in what will be his 3rd season at the helm. Winning a trophy will be their main objective this season, albeit the Premier League or a domestic trophy.

The last time these two sides met saw Manchester United thrash Leeds 6-2, when they faced off at Elland Road, it was a dull 0-0 draw, so predicting this match-up is a toss of a coin.

With the inclusion of Jadon Sancho and the incoming arrival of Raphael Varane, the confidence and hope around United are justified.

The Red Devils will fancy their chances here.

Prediction: Man United 2-0

Predicted Line-Up

Manchester United Predicted XI – (4-2-3-1)

D.Gea, W.Bissaka, V.Lindelof, H.Maguire, L.Shaw, Fred, S.McTominay, M.Greenwood, B. Fernandes, P. Pogba, E.Cavani.

Leeds United Predicted XI – (4-1-4-1)

I.Meslier, L.Ayling, R.Koch, L.Cooper, J.Firpo, K.Phillips, S.Dallas, M.Klich, Rafinha, J.Harrison, P. Bamford.

Betting Odds

Manchester United To Win: 1/2

Draw: 10/3

Leeds United To Win: 9/2

 

Chelsea v Crystal Palace – Preview, Lineups, Betting, TV Coverage

Chelsea will host Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in a London derby on the opening weekend of the 2021/2022 Premier League season.

This game will mark the return of Premier League football for both Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

Chelsea is coming into the game, having already been crowned the Super Cup champions after defeating Europa League winners Villarreal 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw AET.

On the other hand, Crystal Palace is entering a fresh new start under recently appointed Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.

Vieira was appointed in the summer after the departure of Roy Hodgson after four years in the Selhurst Park dugout.

His first task will be up against one of the title favourites.

Chelsea Retrospective

Thomas Tuchel has transformed Chelsea since his arrival in January after the sacking of head coach Frank Lampard.

Reaching the FA Cup final and then becoming only the second manager in the club’s history to guide them to a Champions League victory after defeating Manchester City 1-0.

Building a blues squad that ”nobody wants to play against”. Transforming Chelsea’s defensive woes into one of the most solid defences in Europe in the span of five months.

In recent weeks, they have searched for that world-class goalscoring striker and have just signed ex-striker Romelu Lukaku in a club-record fee of £97.5 million that will make them strong contenders in all competitions.

Crystal Palace Retrospective

Coming into this season, Crystal Palace is in a year of transition after parting ways with Roy Hodgson.

Appointing Patrick Vieira to turn them from mid-table mediocrity to European challengers in the coming years.

Since his arrival, Palace has bought acute acquisitions for the upcoming season. Signing centre-backs Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen for a combined £36 million, while bringing in attacking midfielder Michael Olise from Reading for £10 million and Chelsea starlet Conor Gallagher on a season-long loan to reinforce their squad.

Date, kick-off time and venue

This London Derby between Chelsea and Crystal Palace will kick off at 3 pm BST (British Summer Time) on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at Stamford Bridge.

Where to watch Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

As the Premier League returns to its original 3 pm scheduling format with the return of fans to stadiums, this match will not be televised live in the UK.

However, live commentary from talkSPORT will be available.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace team news

During Chelsea’s Super Cup victory on Wednesday, goalscorer Hakim Ziyech suffered what looked like a shoulder injury in the first half.

Manager Thomas Tuchel reacted to the incident stating, “If you take a player out during the first half, it is serious. It was unfortunate because he has been a very decisive player in the last games.”

New signing Romelu Lukaku is unavailable for the opening game due to a late registration so he will have to wait for next weeks clash against Arsenal.

Palace will be sweating on the fitness of recent signing Michael Olise, who has picked up an injury ahead of Saturday’s meeting.

While Eberechi Eze remains a major doubt after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained during training in May.

Loanee signing Conor Gallagher will also miss out due to facing his parent club.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace prediction

If Chelsea is to put in a title challenge, they will have to make an early-season marker.

They have enjoyed a successful pre-season, capturing the Super Cup and with the recent signing of Romelu Lukaku, they look like a phenomenal side with a world-class manager.

On the contrary, Crystal Palace is coming into the new season losing numerous experienced players. Andros Townsend, Mamadou Sahko and Patrick Van Aanholt have left a gaping hole from the previous regime.

Patrick Vieira has been backed in the transfer market but will need time and patience to execute his style and ideology in what is a transitional period for the club.

But, they face a confident Chelsea side who have been tipped to win the league by many.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-0

Predicted Line-Up

Chelsea Predicted XI – (3-4-2-1)

E. Mendy, C.Azpilicueta, T.Silva, A.Rudiger, B.Chilwell, N.Kante, Jorginho, R.James, M.Mount, K.Havertz, T.Werner.

Crystal Palace Predicted XI – (4-4-2)

V.Guaita, N. Clyne, C. Kouyate, M. Guehi, T. Mitchell, J. Schlupp, J. Riedewald, J.McArthur, W.Zaha, J. Philippe Mateta, C.Benteke.

Betting Odds

Chelsea To Win: 1/4

Draw: 9/2

Crystal Palace to Win: 12/1

 

Newcastle United v West Ham United – Preview, Lineups, Betting, TV Coverage

Newcastle will host David Moyes West Ham United at St.James Park at the opening weekend of the 2021/2022 Premier League season.

This game will mark the return of Premier League football for both Newcastle United and West Hame United

Newcastle United is coming into the game with a lot to prove after another mid-table finish, finishing on a whimper with 45 points, losing 17 games, more than they won (12).

On the other hand, West Ham United overachieved last season, finishing 6th and gaining a Europa League spot for the upcoming season. They will hope to go one step further this term.

Newcastle United Retrospective

Under Steve Bruce, Newcastle has been nothing short of awful to watch. While they did pull off the double over West Ham during last season. The Magpies were miles behind West Ham.

This season, Newcastle’s transfer business has been non-existent, and with the ongoing issue with the potential takeover still a negative cloud over the club.

Reports coming from the UK has reported that Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock will return to the club on a permanent basis after a successful loan last season for a fee in the region of £22-25 million.

Steve Bruce will need a good opening day performance and result to please the vocal Newcastle fans on their return to St.James’ Park.

West Ham United Retrospective

The Hammers enjoyed a surprisingly successful 2020/2021 season, finishing sixth, only missing out on Champions League football by 2 points.

David Moyes has turned a lot of people’s heads, turning West Ham from relegation favourites into European contenders.

Europa League qualification will mean Moyes and co will have to strengthen and keep their prized assists for the upcoming season.

They will hope to keep Declan Rice away from both Chelsea and Manchester United after it was reported he had turned down two contract offers.

Date, kick-off time and venue

This meeting between Newcastle United and West Hame United will kick off at 2 pm BST (British Summer Time) on Sunday, August 15, 2021, at St.James’ Park.

Where to watch Newcastle United vs West Ham United

TV Channel: This match will be televised live in the UK via Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, with coverage starting at 1:00 pm.

Newcastle United vs West Ham United team news

For Newcastle, Steve Bruce will be without some key players for their opening game on Sunday.

Numerous players such as Martin Dubravka (ankle), Paul Dummett (calf) are doubts but could play, while Karl Darlow and Elliott Anderson are out due to groin issues.

Meanwhile, for West Ham, David Moyes will be without Angelo Ogbonna (thigh) and is currently being assessed. Arthur Masuaku (knee) is out while Manuel Lanzini is a doubt from a knock.

Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is also in contention to make his West Ham and Premier League debut.

Newcastle United vs West Ham United prediction

It has not been a successful summer transfer window for either side, with little money spent at the time being.

However, West Ham will be confident heading into this game with a better overall squad and less negativity surrounding the group of players and management.

Jesse Lingard is going to be a major loss for The Hammers, they should have enough going forward to beat The Magpies.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1

Predicted Line-Up

Newcastle United Predicted XI – (3-5-2)

K.Darlwo, F.Fernandez, C.Clark, E.Krafth, J.Shelvey, M.Ritchie, J.Murphy, M.Almiron, I.Hayden, A.Saint-Maximin, C.Wilson.

West Ham United Predicted XI – (4-2-3-1)

L.Fabianski, V.Coufal, I.Diop, C.Dawson, A.Cresswell, D.Rice, T.Soucek, S.Benrahma, A.Yarmolenko, P.Fornlas, M.Antonio

 

Betting Odds

Newcastle To Win: 11/5

Draw: 12/5

West Ham To Win: 23/20

 

Tuchel worried about league opener after Super League extra time

Chelsea lifted their first piece of silverware of the season after beating Villareal in the Super Cup after extra time

Blues’ manager Thomas Tuchel has told the press that extra time was the worst thing physically going into their first game of the season. Just three days after the final, Chelsea will face Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener.

The Super Cup finished 1-1 after 90 minutes with Hakim Ziyech and Gerard Moreno scoring. Extra time was a stalemate and the game was decided on penalties, where substitute Kepa Arrizabalaga made the winning save.

Tuchel has also said that winning the cup was the perfect message for the squad “mentally and psychologically.”

Speaking after the game, the Chelsea manager said:

“Physically this was the worst thing that could happen to us, playing extra time.

“Mentally, it was the best thing to happen. First, because there was no delay or playing it in four weeks. It was the moment we needed to start and that is why we choose the line-up.”

Tuchel’s lineup for his next game may include a few changes to the one that played the Super Cup final. Goalscorer Ziyech was forced off before halftime with a shoulder injury and is likely to be out for a few weeks.

Players such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mateo Kovacic, and Trevoh Chalobah were also given rare starts in the final. There is a good chance that they will be left out for Tuchel’s preferred choices, Reece James, Jorginho, and Thiago Silva.

With Romelu Lukaku yet to confirm his return to Chelsea, it is unlikely that he will make an appearance on the pitch at the weekend.

Chelsea will mount their Premier League title charge on Saturday 14th at 15:00 in Stamford Bridge against Crystal Palace.

 

Leicester Injury Update Ahead Of Season Opener

Leicester City FC manager Brendan Rodgers has given the media an injury update ahead of their first game of the season against Wolves on Saturday.

The Leicester boss discussed wing-back Timothy Castagne and centre-halves Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana.

Castagne will be assessed by the club’s medical team later this week.

Castagne suffered an eye injury while playing for Belgium at UEFA Euro 2020 this summer but is recovering well and may play a role for the Foxes before the first international break.

“We’re just going to make a final decision on Timothy tomorrow (Friday),” Rodgers said at LCFC Training Ground. “He’s trained well this week. He’s obviously been doing physical preparation work without joining in with the squad and then, this week, he’s joined in.

“He’s got his mask now that he feels comfortable in and he’s virtually done everything that he would want and we would want to see to participate in the game, so we’ll have a chat tomorrow after training, just to see how he feels, and then we’ll take from there.”

Evans is also expected to be close to returning after the first international break of 2021/22 after injuring his foot in the FA Cup final against Chelsea in May.

Rodgers noted that the plan for Evans’ return was always after the international break and that his fellow Northern Irishman is on course for that.

“The plan for him was always after the international break. He’s out doing multidirectional work and we’re just assessing the pain of that. The timeline for him is after the international break.”

Fofana is said to be recovering well after fracturing his right fibula this month in a pre-season friendly.

The 20-year-old’s leg was caught underneath Villarreal forward Fer Nino’s as the tackle occurred and he went down immediately.

“He’s doing very well,” the 48-year-old said. “He’s back home, or coming back home, and he’s in great spirits. It’s hugely disappointing for him and for us. He’s had the operation and it’s gone very well. Now it’s all about his recovery, but he’s in good spirits and we’ll look forward to seeing him when he can come in.

“I think these injuries can be between four to seven or eight months, so we have to wait and see on that. With his ligaments, what we’re seeing there is that it’ll probably be a little longer [than first thought], but it’s still very early.”

Leicester City host Wolves at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, August 14th at 3 pm.