Enzo Maresca has a shiny new £85m midfielder he could select for a debut but, at 18 years old, he may want Ayyoub Bouaddi to have a bit of time watching on from the bench to learn about the Premier League from his elders. The Moroccan may not have anticipated one of those to be a centre-back by trade. Marc Guéhi will be eager to make a triumphant return to Crystal Palace and may well have the opportunity to do so from central midfield, where he played last weekend in the victory over Bournemouth, scoring the equaliser.
The centre-back was a surprise selection in the blocker role next to Elliot Anderson, but equipped himself admirably and was not limited to the dirty work, often being found in more advanced positions in open play and happy to have the ball at his feet. His long-term future is unlikely to be outside of defence but further proof of Guéhi’s adaptability will be a positive for Maresca, as a long season awaits. Will Unwin “It is just not personnel,” insisted Andoni Iraola in response to Liverpool conceding two goals to quick Newcastle transitions in his first Premier League game as the club’s head coach.
Some long-term faults can not be rectified overnight – although that did not prevent some hysterical reactions to the performance at St James’ Park – and with Liverpool prioritising wingers in the final days of the transfer window the answer to this particular weakness, as Iraola indicated, lies on the training ground. Morgan Gibbs-White revelled in the spaces behind Liverpool’s midfield last season as he – and set-pieces – helped Nottingham Forest to a second successive league win at Anfield. Iraola does not want to curb Ryan Gravenberch’s attacking instincts but greater tactical discipline and willingness to do the dirty work from the entire Liverpool midfield will be needed to stop Gibbs-White producing a repeat performance.
Forest’s new record signing, Liam Delap, has also been registered in time to play. Andy Hunter There were so many encouraging takeaways for Bournemouth despite an agonising late defeat at Manchester City. The catalyst for City’s turnaround was Marc Guéhi’s 84th-minute equaliser, the England defender heading in unmarked at a corner, after wasting a near-identical earlier chance.
For Bournemouth, it was a familiar source of pain; only Liverpool conceded more set-piece goals in the top flight last season (20), with the Cherries and Crystal Palace both conceding 18. Bournemouth sought to address their vulnerability in the summer by hiring their first dedicated set-piece coach in Nicolas Gagnon, who worked with Canada at the World Cup and previously at Southampton and in Saudi Arabia. Only Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa claimed more points away from home than Everton last season and David Moyes’s centre-backs, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski, will be licking their lips if Bournemouth do not sharpen up their act.
Ben Fisher Contrasting opening weekends for Coventry and Hull, harsh reality dealt out against the dream scenario lived out. At Arsenal, Coventry were well beaten by the champions, while in East Yorkshire, Manchester United were soundly, deservedly defeated. Despite contrasting starts, both teams remain warm favourites for relegation.
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