New Year’s Day Premier League speaking factors with Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham all in motion

Can Liverpool banish set-play blues?

Liverpool vs Leeds – 5.30pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Main Event

Liverpool have received their final three league video games, having received simply two of their earlier 10 beforehand. The ship is steadying. But Arne Slot nonetheless has issues to unravel. His most evident headache have to be the speed at which his aspect proceed to concede from set-pieces – 12 to this point, the joint-worst file in Europe.

When Liverpool went to Leeds in early December, they had been pegged again by this very subject, falling to a late Ao Tanaka equaliser from a nook.

Over 50 per cent of Liverpool’s targets conceded have been from set performs (together with penalties) this season.

Here presents the chance to proper some wrongs, then. Leeds are exceptionally good from set-pieces – the anomaly amongst these ranked inside the highest 5 handiest. Daniel Farke’s aspect have scored 12 set-play targets, equal to Arsenal, and just one behind Manchester United’s league main 13. 48 per cent of their complete targets have been scored this manner.

This assembly is subsequently the proper take a look at of Slot’s vow to enhance on this space, having parted firm with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs simply this week. If they do not tidy up, Leeds are greater than able to inflicting punishment. And Slot can ill-afford extra gas on the set-piece fireplace.
Laura Hunter

Thursday 1st January 5:00pm


Kick off 5:30pm

Fulham boss Silva bidding for historical past towards goal-shy Palace

Crystal Palace vs Fulham – 5.30pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Premier League

Two groups which can be stage on factors however in differing type meet at Selhurst Park on New Year’s Day.

Crystal Palace are winless of their final 5 video games in all competitions, with a busy month of December fixtures taking its toll.

But Fulham are on the march as they bid for a fourth consecutive league win – and solely as soon as earlier than have they ever received 4 in a row within the Premier League.

The Cottagers will fancy their possibilities too of equalling their file run, with Palace struggling in entrance of aim proper now.

Oliver Glasner’s aspect had simply two pictures heading in the right direction in Sunday’s residence loss to Tottenham and have scored simply as soon as of their final three league video games.

It isn’t any shock to see Palace transferring for Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson after agreeing a £35m deal for the Wales worldwide, who was Spurs’ prime scorer final season.

If Fulham handle to maintain a clear sheet in south London, then it will be historical past for Marco Silva, as he would turn into the primary supervisor to have stored six consecutive away clear sheets towards the identical opponent within the Premier League.

A Fulham shut-out would additionally heighten Palace’s want for the arrival of Johnson and additional January signings if the Eagles are to begin transferring in the proper route in 2026.
Declan Olley

Thursday 1st January 5:00pm


Kick off 5:30pm

Man City changing into full package deal once more

Sunderland vs Man City – 8pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Main Event

Manchester City are hitting peak. On a six-game successful run, that is probably the most formidable they’ve seemed because the again finish of 2023/24, once they received their closing 9 en path to the Premier League title.

Plenty has and continues to be fabricated from their flush assault, continuously evolving to disclose new dimensions: Rayan Cherki is the newest revelation. He’s been concerned in eight targets in his final 9 league appearances. But this squad is greater than model and sparkle on the prime finish.

Pep Guardiola has discovered a settled method on the again, too, naming the identical 4 to begin in 11 of 18 video games to this point. Of these 11 video games, 10 led to victory – the one exception being a 2-1 loss at Newcastle.

With Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias on the coronary heart of issues, City have two athletic centre-backs who can play, and stability the left and proper sides completely. Jointly they’ve additionally chipped in with six aim contributions.

Flanking these two are a pair of former central midfielders, Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes, completely geared up to offer robustness off the ball and creativity on it. Their vitality to stand up and down is what Guardiola likes, akin to a primary Kyle Walker, and means City are much less susceptible to counter-attacks.

With each full-backs offering width, City’s ahead gamers can flood central areas to create overloads and discover Erling Haaland extra persistently. Late underlapping runs, one thing O’Reilly is especially good at, are tough to trace and add one other layer of unpredictability.

This present Manchester City setup is in contrast to something we’ve seen earlier than, and it will be incorrect to imagine its effectiveness is solely right down to Haaland and Co. Pep’s construction is strong at each ends; not far off being the entire package deal.
Laura Hunter

Thursday 1st January 7:45pm


Kick off 8:00pm

Frank returns to Brentford for first time aiming to earn identical love at Spurs

Brentford vs Tottenham – 8pm, Wednesday – reside on Sky Sports Premier League

Before the beginning of the season, not many would have anticipated Tottenham boss Thomas Frank to be going again to Brentford initially of 2026 together with his new membership under his previous one.

But that’s the case on his first return to the Gtech Community Stadium, the place he was supervisor for six-and-a-half years and was universally worshipped.

“Brentford Football Club, the fans and especially the people that I worked closely with, have a special place in my heart,” Frank stated at his pre-match press convention.

Six-and-a-half months into the job at Tottenham, he has but to really feel the identical love and affection from the Spurs supporters.

Sunday’s pressure-lifting win at Crystal Palace was much-needed and has given Frank hope of getting Thirteenth-placed Spurs transferring upwards with a good run of fixtures forward.

A win on New Year’s Day would put them into the highest half of the desk and have them again in European competition.

But Frank of all individuals is aware of his aspect face a sterner examination than at Selhurst Park, with Brentford a pressure at residence – one thing he masterminded, and that has been fantastically maintained by his successor, Keith Andrews.

The Bees have received eight of their final 12 Premier League residence video games, together with 4 of the final 5 beneath Andrews. In truth, because the begin of that 12-game run in April, solely Man City (11), Aston Villa (10) and Arsenal (9) have received extra residence league video games than Brentford.

Thursday 1st January 7:45pm


Kick off 8:00pm

It shall be an unfamiliar feeling for Frank to be within the reverse dugout on the Gtech Community Stadium.

But if he sees a well-recognized Brentford residence efficiency unfold which his Spurs aspect can’t counteract, then it may nicely be a depressing homecoming for Frank.
Declan Olley