Manager Sam Allardyce brought his West Brom side to Anfield on Sunday as massive underdogs. His Baggies had just one win all season and were on the road against league leaders Liverpool.
Big Sam brought out his big guns: the rarely seen 6-4-0 formation, which West Brom stuck to despite conceding an early Sadio Mane goal.
Got to love the West Brom 6-4-0 fromation pic.twitter.com/6UZJk7hA38
Given the fact that Christian Pulisic had already missed time this year because of a calf strain, major hamstring tear and subsequent hamstring complaint, it was surprising to see the American in Chelsea’s starting lineup on Monday after going the full 90 against Arsenal on Saturday, but it affirmed the fact that Frank Lampard saw the American as a lone bright spot in that 3-1 defeat.
For Arsenal fans, it feels like the last time the Gunners won in the Premier League was a couple million years ago. In reality, it was nearly two months ago that Arsenal edged Manchester United. Since then, Mikel Arteta has watched his side lose five and draw two in league play.
So it’s safe to say not even the most ardent of Arsenal fans expected what happened on Boxing Day.
2020 has been a tough year financially both for clubs and for players.
The economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen transfer values deflate, with the value of many players decreasing independent of their form on the pitch by 10-20 percent.
For clubs this means their assets are worth less to go with a sharp decrease in revenue caused by matches without fans. For players, this means their skills are worth less as well as a decrease in salaries.
If you think weeknight drama in the footballing world is usually reserved for Champions League ties and the occasional Premier League match, then you are gravely mistaken. In a year where everything has been turned upside down, the best soccer spectacle is now apparently Monday night Premier League 2 matches.
Where else can you watch Petr Čech play in goal, witness 30-year-old Danny Drinkwater chopping down teenagers and scout some of the best young prospects in England?
Wolverhampton handed Chelsea a second defeat in the span of three days with a dramatic 2-1 victory on Tuesday.
The two clubs left all of the drama and action for the second half. In the opening 45 minutes, the best opportunity fell Chelsea’s way on the stroke of halftime when Kurt Zouma's header rattled off the crossbar.
Barcelona will face Paris Saint-Germain and former striker Neymar while title holders Bayern Munich are up against Italy's Lazio in the last 16 of the Champions League after UEFA's draw was held on Monday.
The clash of Lionel Messi and Barça with last year's runners-up PSG is a repeat of their remarkable meeting at the same stage in 2017 when Barça overcame a 4-0 first leg loss to beat the French club 6-1 in Spain with Neymar scoring twice for the Catalans.
In Britain, Dec. 26 is the biggest day on the footballing calendar. Soccer is to Boxing Day as the NFL is to Thanksgiving Day or college football is to New Year's Day here in America.
It is a day to gather with family, enjoy Christmas leftovers and, of course, watch soccer. Boxing Day is one of the most fixture-filled days of the footballing calendar, and it is highly anticipated from the start of the season.
Chelsea stayed within striking distance of Manchester United and Arsenal at the top of the FA WSL table after defeating West Ham 3-2 on Sunday at Kingsmeadow. Sam Kerr did the business with her first-ever hat trick for the Blues as the club set a league record for most consecutive home wins with 12.
Fans returned to Chelsea’s home ground for the first time this season and were on their feet in the 15th minute after Kerr’s sliding finish from Fran Kirby’s low cross.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has claimed Chelsea are favorites to lift the Premier League title this season because of the strength and depth of the squad that coach Frank Lampard has at his disposal.