Openly disdained by most Premier League clubs and truly loved by only a small sub-section of society (read: Sevilla), the Europa League has always been the Boo Radley of European football — it’s believed to be a horrible thing for everyone who comes into contact with it. Rumor has it that it’ll even ruin your domestic title chances while decimating your entire squad with injuries.
We have already discussed our feelings about the top-knot at length, so we're going to cut right to the chase and commend Liverpool left back Alberto Moreno for removing that monstrosity from his head.
Ponytail
Blond
Alberto Moreno joins the trend.
( Alberto Moreno/IG) pic.twitter.com/mxBadzD1df
Ross Barkley did not have a good game against Sunderland.
Barkley spent most of his time posting up defenders like a basketball player from the 90s, but that strategy doesn't work very well if you're 40 yards from the goal. Ronald Koeman noticed this and yanked Barkley for Spaniard Gerard Deulofeu, who is wispy and aggressive and prefers to glide at/around defenders instead of trying to smash them into grit.
In the first half against Sunderland, Everton looked listless, stuck even. They kept posting up Ross Barkley like 40 yards away from the goal, and it was not working. Romelu Lukaku only touched the ball 10 times and still probably should have had two goals.
In the second half against Sunderland, Gerard Deulofeu came on for Barkley and Lukaku ended his 11-match scoring drought then added two more for good measure.
Newcastle United won their fourth straight league match on Saturday, climbing to second in the English Championship following their 2-0 victory over Derby County. Yoan Gouffran earned Newcastle an early advantage with his 20th minute strike before being substituted in the 73rd minute for DeAndre Yedlin. Yedlin would secure the three points for Newcastle by doubling their advantage in second-half stoppage time.
It’s very ironic when you think about it. The fact that English Premier League (EPL) is considered (by some) the best league in the world and yet the number of British players playing abroad is shockingly low. In England alone, we could come up with long lists of Spanish, French, German, Dutch and Italian players applying their traits in the EPL.
Liverpool seem to be in a "good one week then trash the next week" holding pattern, but nobody really cares about that this week because LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO LEICESTER.
Anfield's new main stand was finally unveiled, and emotions ran high as Roberto Firmino opened the scoring. Also THAT TOUCH.
The sensational Kevin De Bruyne and 19-year-old forward Kelechi Iheanacho put Manchester City up 2-0 by the 36th minute of Saturday’s Manchester derby. Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled one back for United in the 42nd minute, but City went on claim all three points with a 2-1 victory in the Manchester derby.
Pep Guardiola’s Premier League record with Manchester City now reads played four, won four. It’s been a dream start for Guardiola and City, doubly so now that the Spanish manager has emerged victorious from his first visit to Old Trafford.
After seeing Bastian Schweinsteiger's emotional farewell for Germany this international break, we couldn't help but think of the contrast with his Manchester United career. Schweinsteiger, an all-time great central midfielder and winner of the World Cup and Champions League, has reportedly been forced to train with the reserves by Jose Mourinho.
David Wagner is our new favorite manager. The Huddersfield Town boss decided to build cameraderie among his players by taking them to Sweden and making them live in the woods.
We bring you this amazing quote from The Guardian: