Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Celtic, Liverpool and Manchester United all feature as we look at some of the talking points from the weekend and the upcoming week.
Former Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer
It has certainly been an interesting return to domestic football, after a rather underwhelming international break. We’ve already, crazily, had our first sacking in the Premier League and there were plenty of flash points from the weekend to discuss. With the Champions League returning on Tuesday night, here are five of the week’s talking points.
Farewell Frank!
Undoubtedly the biggest recent news is that Crystal Palace have dismissed their manager Frank de Boer – a mere 77 days into his Selhurst Park reign. To make it sound even more unbelievable, the Netherlands legend was given just four league games of football before being ditched. Yes, Crystal Palace lost those four games without scoring a goal, but how was that enough time for the 47-year-old – who won four successive titles with Ajax – to turn around a side who were built to play Sam Allardyce’s more direct style of football?
Roy Hodgson speaks during an England press conference
De Boer left with just an EFL Cup win over Ipswich Town under his belt, and BBC Sport report that ex-England boss Roy Hodgson is the man to take over. He better check out the next month of fixtures, he could be gone by the time they’re done at Palace’s current rate.
A big Wembley test for Tottenham
Tottenham blitzed their way past an Everton side who many felt were dark horses to gatecrash the top four, beating the Toffees 3-0 at Goodison Park. In reality, it could have been at least double that as Spurs rediscovered the attacking guile that made them such a force at the end of last season. Next up for Mauricio Pochettin’s men however, it’s back to Wembley to take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his side’s first goal at Everton
Wednesday’s game is crucial for Tottenham to banish this Wembley ‘jinx’ – the longer it goes on the more of a problem it will be – and Spurs proved at the weekend that they remain one of the top sides in the league. They’ll be facing a Dortmund side who are top of the Bundesliga mind, so it is going to need a great performance on Wednesday night.
Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani visit Celtic Park
Another big Champions League match for one of the British clubs sees Paris Saint-Germain, and their ridiculously assembled band of attacking talent head to Glasgow to take on Celtic. The Bhoys haven’t quite been at the same level they were as they marched towards the title last season, and somewhat of an injury crisis has played its part in that, but they still boast a formidable home record that has stood up to some of the powerhouses of European football down the years.
Can Celtic handle this trio?
Celtic’s last game at Parkhead was a disappointing 1-1 draw against St. Johnstone, though they dispatched Hamilton with ease at the SuperSeal Stadium on Friday night.
It will likely be another thriller at Celtic Park – with plenty of goals – but you’d be foolish to think PSG were set for an easy game, whoever they have up top.
Sending off Sadio – right or wrong?
Probably the most contentious incident in the top flight fixtures came in the first half of the weekend’s stand out game: Manchester City versus Liverpool. With both attacking sides pushing hard in the first half, Sadio Mane ran onto a ball over the top with Liverpool 1-0 down, extending his boot to try and bring the ball under control.
Unfortunately for Mane, Liverpool, and certainly for City goalkeeper Ederson, the Brazilian was quick out of his box, and the forward’s foot smashed into the face of his opponent.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool comforts Sadio Mane of Liverpool after he reacts to being sent off against Manchester City
Cue debate as Mane was dismissed, with all kinds of opinions being thrown around in the media and across the county. Proving that the poles had really been reversed, you even had Gary Neville arguing on Sky Sports that the Liverpool man shouldn’t have seen red, and Anfield icon Jamie Carragher insisting the sending off was the right call. Manchester City went on to smash the Reds 5-0.
Handbags over handshakes
But disagreements weren’t confined to the studio though over the last couple of days, and the entertaining 2-2 draw between Stoke City and Manchester United saw two of the feistier bosses in the division clash in Mark Hughes and Jose Mourinho. The Potters ended Manchester United’s 100% winning record in the Premier League, which was always likely to frustrate the Red Devils’ manager, but a touchline shove from Hughes as the Portuguese entered his technical area was another slice of drama in their careers – which ended with a non-handshake between the pair, neither of whom are strangers to fall outs with their peers.
Just don’t ask Jose about said handshake, you’re likely to get the trademarked Special One snub.
Mark Hughes, Manager of Stoke City and Jose Mourinho, manager of Manchester United clash during the Premier League match between the two clubs
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