All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Watford vs Liverpool – Match Preview

August 11, 2017 by Jools Jordan-Probert·Comments Off

Watford vs Liverpool – Match Preview – The agonising summer-long wait is over, the Premier League is finally back! After all the transfer dealings, rumours, speculation and pre-season tours, English football’s top division is ready and willing to begin with a bang.

The first Saturday game of the season sees Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford in new manager Marco Silva’s first game in charge.

Watford will be eager to race out of the blocks quickly to vindicate their decision to relieve Walter Mazzari of his duties and acquire the signature of Marco Silva from Hull. The Italian manager was fired despite guiding the Hertfordshire club to safety in the Premier League – implying the ambitions are a lot higher this time around for Silva.

There couldn’t be a much more difficult test for the ex-Sporting CP and Olympiacos manager than facing one of the league’s best sides in his maiden game in charge. However, after earning an incredible home record last season with The Tigers which included the masterminding of a 2-0 victory over The Reds there is every reason to be confident.

A big season is expected of Jurgen Klopp’s men; after steady progress during his tenure and qualifying for the Champions League with a 4^th place finish last campaign, the next step is to seriously challenge for trophies – perhaps ending the 27-year-long wait for a league trophy.

Failure to do so will raise some unwanted questions for the German manager, especially after a poor transfer window to date – the club had to make a public apology for the inappropriate pursuit of Virgil van Dijk and still must deal with Barcelona’s crosshairs being firmly set on star player Philippe Coutinho.

Defence being a real problem area for Liverpool, the club have only brought in Andrew Robertson from Hull. Whilst a quality signing, it doesn’t address the issues at centre-back that linger over the club. That means it is increasingly likely Klopp will set up his team to play on the front foot and utilise the offensive quality in his possession.

Andre Gray joined Watford from Burnley this summer Photo Credit: skysports.com

Pair that with Watford’s relative influx of expensive attacking players in the form of £18.5m man Andre Gray from Burnley and the exciting £11m signing of Richarlison from Fluminese and we could have an all-out attacking slog on our hands – full of goals.

Team News
The much-discussed Coutinho will not feature due to a back problem, but the main injury problem is Adam Lallana who has been ruled out for the first three months of the season (thigh). Perennial fitness doubts over Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge are both also not 100% so may not feature, and in the absence of Nathanial Clyne, Joe Gomez will look to capitalise on claiming a starting spot.

Hornets captain Troy Deeney is unlikely to play after dealing with a thigh problem all summer, which leaves the door open for record-signing Gray to come straight into the side and lead the line. Good news, however, for Watford fans is that Roberto Pererya should return from the injury that kept him on the side-lines for months to play some part for the club.

Mo Salah could be pivotal for Liverpool this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch
With all the talk surrounding Coutinho, Liverpool’s £37m acquisition of Mo Salah from Roma has flown under the radar somewhat. Whilst the Egyptian rarely impressed during his time at Chelsea, underestimate him at your peril. He took Serie A by storm – finding the net 29 times and notching a further 17 assists in just 65 league appearances for the Italian capital club.
The 25-year-old will look to form a devastating attack in tandem with Sadio Mane, and just like the Senegalese is not just blistering pace and outstanding dribbling but quality end product too. Salah is one to watch for the entire season.

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UEFA Super Cup Final – Real Madrid vs Manchester United – Match Preview

August 7, 2017 by Jools Jordan-Probert·Comments Off

Real Madrid vs Manchester United – Match Preview – As UEFA Super Cups go, simply put, this is as big as it gets. Double defending Champions League winners Real Madrid will embroil in a titanic tussle with Europa League victors Manchester United for the Super Cup crown at the Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia.

Both global superpowers will be seeking a positive start to the 2017/18 season by snapping up the first title on offer and extending tradition by doing so – Los Blancos are looking for their fourth European Super Cup win whilst The Red Devils want to double their existing tally of one.

The two sides met in pre-season as recently as the 24^th of July – drawing 1-1 in the game before Jose Mourinho’s side won on penalties.

Similar to the FA Community Shield in English football, the Super Cup falls more into the category of curtain-raiser than essential trophy, but is still noted as a major honour in the record books. Perhaps more importantly for the managers, an opportunity to claim a title and assert dominance over a European trophy winner from the previous season is a hugely positive sign for the coming season.

And let’s be honest, teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid make no bones about it – they want to win EVERYTHING. Zinedine Zidane has barely experienced the bitter taste of defeat in his short managerial career and will not want to start now, and Mourinho is adamant that titles such as this are significant to him and his teams – so expect a great game.

Team News
Manchester United have somewhat of a centre-back crisis at present, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones are ruled out through suspension (the former for a red card in his part in a brawl against Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-final, the latter for verbally abusing an anti-doping official from UEFA), whilst Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young are all still long-term absentees.
In more positive news though, the big trio of summer signings in Nemanja Matic, Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof are all expected to make their competitive United debuts.

Despite the embarrassment of riches at Zidane’s disposal, there is simply no replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal captain is set to return since his extended leave after the Confederations Cup. However, Welshman Gareth Bale may be unavailable due to an ankle injury picked up during pre-season – meaning Isco and Marco Asensio will be expected have huge involvements.

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to return to the Madrid squad for the Super Cup against former club Manchester United Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch – Romelu Lukaku
The biggest transfer of the summer before the extraordinary Neymar deal, the acquisition of Romelu Lukaku for £75m from Everton made the world stand up and take notice. Such a massive price requires massive results and the Belgian international has hit the ground running in pre-season with three goals, perhaps a good indication of things to come. Perhaps a summarisation of Lukaku’s career to date, doing it in the big games will be the true judge of his value. The 24-year-old possesses the perfect blend of physical and technical attributes to dismantle any defence and will be crucial to United in their attempts to claim silverware in this Super Cup, and all season. Can he repay the fee?

Romelu Lukaku could secure his first trophy with Manchester United with a win in the Super Cup Photo Credit: skysports.com

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FA Community Shield – Arsenal vs Chelsea – Match Preview

August 5, 2017 by Jools Jordan-Probert·Comments Off

FA Community Shield – Arsenal vs Chelsea – Match Preview – The Community Shield holds a vital role to everyone involved in English football – it takes place on the first weekend of the English league football season and signifies the beginning of the Premier League season.

How much the trophy itself ‘matters’ in the grand scheme of things is another debate entirely, but you can be absolutely sure both Chelsea and Arsenal will want to deny the other the opportunity to lift a title at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Premier League Champions Chelsea were denied a league and cup double as Arsenal defeated them 2-1 at Wembley in May to become FA Cup victors for the third time in four seasons. Antonio Conte’s men will be eager to exact revenge on the same pitch.

The 2017 and 95^th Community Shield is an exact replica of circumstances in the 2015 edition, The Gunners winning 1-0 on that occasion thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s solitary goal.

Both sides have been subject to intense media speculation during the transfer window, perhaps less so for actual signings and more for scrutiny involving unfinished business.

The Blues have allowed Nemanja Matic to ply his trade at rivals Manchester United and have publicly stated their intention to sell imposing forward Diego Costa, alongside the usual plethora of players leaving the club on loan – as the club are preparing for a more congested and physically demanding campaign ahead of a return to Champions League football.

Arsenal, still have unresolved issues regarding the contracts of important players – including stars Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and the much-coveted Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Those that each side have brought in are, however, of a very high quality – including forward Alvaro Morata, German centre-back Antonio Rudiger and midfield destroyer Tiemoue Bakayoko for Chelsea whilst Arsenal have finally spent big on a striker in the name of £52m French international Alexandre Lacazette.

After 2016/17’s impressive achievements, The Blues’ usual demanding expectations will be even higher as they embark on a defence of their Premier League crown and foray into the Champions League.

Contrastingly, Arsenal will be a notable absence from the latter competition this year as for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s 21 year reign, the club finished below a Champions League-qualifying place, in 5^th. Therefore all ambitions for the North-London will be domestic-related, as the French manager looks to secure the recently elusive Premier League title in what, once again, could be his swansong season.

Expect desire from both teams to impose themselves on the opposition from the get-go, and whilst the match may not be a true indication of how the season will eventually pan out, it is undoubtedly a more pleasurable feeling to lift a trophy at Wembley than watch one of your rivals take that opportunity away from you.

Alvaro Morata could start for Chelsea if fit Photo Credit: skysports.com

Team News
Chelsea have significant fitness worries going into the season opener, as Eden Hazard and Pedro are both unlikely to feature due to knocks picked up during the summer. This will surely promote Michy Batshuayi and Willian from their usual substitute roles to starting positions.
A lack of options up front could also force Morata to feature in what would be his first competitive game for the club, although he is struggling for full match fitness so will not be 100%. Another new name in Bakayoko is unlikely to play, prolonging the anticipation for Blues fans to see their new man in action.

Comparatively, Arsenal are in good health – bar a lingering doubt over the fitness of the influential Alexis Sanchez. Wenger stated that he is unsure whether the Chilean forward will play and will monitor the situation before deciding.

Alexandre Lacazette will lead the line for Arsenal in the Community Shield Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to watch
The game will be surrounded by plenty of talk regarding both club’s new blockbuster strikers, but as Morata is not fully fit and may be forced to play out of position to accommodate for limited options out wide, the main focus will be on Arsenal’s Lacazette.
Gunners’ fans will be desperate for their club-record signing to hit the ground running, and after a strong pre-season where he helped his side lift the Emirates Cup, the chances of doing so looks promising. The 26-year-old striker, capped 11 times by France, scored 37 goals for Lyon last campaign and is tipped by many to have an impressive first season in England too – starting with Sunday’s Community Shield.

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