The World Cup Is Over, Bring On League Football
"We have players, we have a lot of accompanying players. It's do we have the players that can give us the performances and the consistency we need to be and maintain and improve from where we are?"
Congratulations to Argentina and the goat, Lionel Messi. With the World Cup behind us, now we can look forward to 24 (or 23) Premier League matches and preview what’s left of the season ahead. Each of the top 6 teams comes out of this break with a little something unique and different that I’d like to keep my eyes on for the remainder of the year and I’ve broken these teams down into categories.
The ‘We Did Not Want A Break’ Teams
Arsenal - Top of the league with 37 pts, that’s 5pts ahead of Man City with the same number of games played. Arsenal suffered a painful injury this World Cup with their starting forward Gabriel Jesus set to miss 3 months after knee surgery.
Is Jesus easily replaceable? I think of an Arsenal pre-Jesus and I think of a team that’s lacking structure offensively. Jesus hadn’t scored in his last 11 games, but what he provides as a focal point up front, with his back to goal, link-up play and his immense pressing ability, this whole Jesus package cannot be replaced with Nketiah.
Prediction - I expect Arsenal to drop-off in form here but not by much. Ødegaard, the chief playmaker would have enjoyed the 6-weeks rest and the rest of the forwards will be as motivated as ever, however, with big games still needing to be played, specifically versus City, I can see Arsenal finally picking up a few Ls here.
Liverpool - Won 3 of their last 5 games in the League before the World Cup break, this team were somehow climbing out of the terrible rut that had me thinking they may very well finish in 8th to now be in 6th place only 7pts outside of 4th with a game in hand. One could argue that with the injuries Liverpool were already carrying pre-World Cup this 6-week break allows them to get some guys back on the grass, which is fair, but more importantly this is a team that needs to gain momentum. Liverpool’s playing-style and football identity is in limbo right now with Klopp seemingly wanting to shift and change the style but struggling to do so.
Prediction - The forwards need to find form and I think between Darwin Nunez, Luiz Diaz and Diogo Jota I predict two out of the three will breakout for a strong bit of form here. I still expect the midfield and defense to struggle and a 5th place finish.
The ‘We Didn’t Need This Break, But We’ll Take It’ Teams
Manchester United - 5th place in the league, 3pts away from 4th place with a game in hand. Manchester United didn’t necessarily need this break, they weren’t trending in the wrong direction with 3 wins & 1 L in their last 5 games but between the CR7 drama needing to come to a close and rookie-Premier League coach Erik Ten Hag having an opportunity for an early-season break for analysis and planning, they’ll accept the pause.
Prediction - I expect United’s football to improve and the results to follow. Ten Hag can extend his coaching of this team without the looming beef that is Cristiano Ronaldo having to be accounted for. The team’s two starting center-backs will miss some time having been in the WC final but between the Portugal, Brazil and England teams making an early return, the players should be sharp. This is the time for Ten Hag to start flexing his football IQ.
Manchester City - Consensus is City have by far and away the best team on paper, yet, they are 5pts away from Arsenal. Haaland will be rested and similarly to Ten Hag, Pep will have had the time to analyze where and why his team have dropped points this season (2 draws & 2 loses in the last 5 games).
Prediction - I think Man City come out guns blazing and right away start putting together a winning streak. I expect the goals to continue to follow but more importantly the defensive shape and structure to improve. Maybe Pep will finally settle on a center-back pairing he likes?
The ‘We’ll Definitely Take that Break’ Teams
Tottenham - "It's important to have a good evaluation of the first part of the season. I have seen a lot of positives, but injuries and having to play every three days, we have struggled a lot," Antonio Conte. Of all the top 6 teams none would have benefited from this break as much as Tottenham. The football was becoming dire to watch and with 3 loses in the last 5 games the results were not pretty either.
Prediction - Conte needs to open up his team and make changes that will improve the offense. There’s very few conservative managers, especially those playing with a back-three, that are still around to show that this football philosophy works. Conte will have his best forwards Kane, Son and Richarlison back and with strong links to Brighton’s Mac Allister, the focus needs to be on improving the offensive-style of play through the players already here but also recruitment.
Chelsea - Maybe Chelsea needed this break more than Tottenham and that is for the simple fact of new manager Graham Potter getting an opportunity to settle into his challenging role. Chelsea have 0 wins in their last 5 games, 3 loses and 2 draws, they are in 8th place 8pts behind 4th with a game in hand. The situation is salvageable, 8pts is not much, but it’s going to take wins and a lot of them.
Prediction - Chelsea have to make a signing. Christopher Nkunku is reportedly signed and sealed but will not join the club until the Summer. I’d earmarked a few World Cup players for Chelsea in Shopping For World Players as a thought exercise but the exercising is over for Chelsea. This team needs reinforcements and they need them immediately. I predict a midfielder to be signed, maybe another forward or defender as well, but without at least 2 signings I worry for Graham Potter’s Chelsea career and I cannot see a path to a top 4 finish.