Finally, again, (Ed – so not finally really, as it can’t be finally more than once), the dreaded international injury window is over and England fans can return to their caves until next March when the team will be able to continue proving that they can prevent teams like Germany and Brazil from scoring.
Their inability to put the ball in the net themselves, however, will still see them returning from the World Cup on the first available flight, as they will draw all their games 0-0 and, yet again, everybody will be able to lament how unlucky they were at a major tournament.
This weekend sees the return of proper football with all of the Premier League’s top six back in action. Not only that but, for what seems like the first time in ages, they all play on Saturday!
Today we look at the first three of those games and, using our remarkable powers of insight and lucky guessing, will advise you as to the outcome.
These are not score predictions, you understand, as we have retired from playing those sort of silly games in favour of playing these sort of silly games which mean we only have to guess whether the ninety minutes will bring a win, a loss or a draw.
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
The press are currently reporting that stubborn old man is interested in signing Marouane Fellaini from Manchester United. What is it about Wenger and “average” United players?
He bought Danny Welbeck when the whole world knew he would spend far more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.
He has expressed interest in Chris Smalling who has to be one of the worst centre backs in United history and now Fellaini? No wonder the fans have lost faith in him!
Neither of the teams have any new injury worries resulting from the internationals and only Harry Kane remains a slight doubt for Spurs with his injury picked up before the break. Toby Alderweireld will be out until the new year because of his hamstring injury
This, being a derby game, should be a draw but don’t rule out a Tottenham win.
Liverpool v Southampton
One of only two clubs to have a player injured during the international injury window, Liverpool will be without Sadio Mané, again, when they take on the Saints at Anfield.
They will also be able to further scout Virgil van Dijk without having to move very far as he will be playing on their doorstep.
Southampton have been the providers of shock results at Anfield in the past so that fact alone means that a Southampton win wouldn’t be much of a shock! However, it won’t happen and Liverpool will collect the three points from this one.
Afterwards, Jürgen Klopp can put into place his plans to buy some more players from this particular opposition in a further attempt at weakening them but not necessarily strengthening his own team.
Leicester City v Manchester City
The under-appreciated Claude Puel gets to mix it with Pep early on in his Leicester career and he’ll no doubt be thanking the fixture computer for this one. It’s a game he is not under massive pressure to win which should make it more of a spectacle as his team can have a go at City.
Whether they will have enough of the ball to make their “go at City” a meaningful one is very debatable and, despite their undoubted talent and commitment, Leicester won’t be collecting any points here.
As for City, Nicolas Otamendi is suspended and that fact will not make one little bit of difference to the style of play, the possession stats or the final score.
So that concludes our look at the first three games involving top six teams and gives you an idea of how they are going to pan out.
Tomorrow we will take a look at the other two and, courtesy of our brand spanking new crystal ball, let you know the outcome of those games.
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