Posts of the Week

The so-called Granit Xhaka derby will take place at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon as Sunderland host Arsenal in what promises to be a thrilling Premier League top-four encounter.

The home side have been one of the surprise packages of the season, sitting just seven points and three places behind Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. However, the Gunners face a daunting task, no team has managed to beat Sunderland at home in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal’s midweek Champions League clash with Slavia Prague went exactly as expected a convincing win, a clean sheet, and another outstanding performance from stand-in striker Mikel Merino, who filled Viktor Gyokeres’s absence with a brilliant display.

Merino struck twice, Bukayo Saka converted from the penalty spot, and Slavia’s own penalty was overturned as Arsenal secured a comfortable 3-0 victory. That result saw the Gunners achieve something no English top-flight team had done in 105 years — win eight consecutive matches in all competitions without conceding a goal.

Before that, Arsenal had enjoyed another composed away performance, easing past Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor to keep their six-point lead over Manchester City intact at the top of the Premier League table.

The Gunners have not conceded a goal since their draw with Newcastle in September and now have the chance to make club history by recording five straight league victories with clean sheets for the first time ever. The last time they managed such defensive dominance in the top division was during George Graham’s era in 1987.

Known for building teams around solid defensive foundations, Graham would certainly appreciate Arsenal’s current defensive numbers. The Gunners have allowed just 1.9 shots on target per game this season — the lowest average ever recorded in Premier League history.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have been one of the feel-good stories of the campaign. Although goalkeeper Robin Roefs conceded against Everton on Monday night, Regis Le Bris’s side preserved their unbeaten home record with a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Iliman Ndiaye had given Everton the lead, but Xhaka — now wearing Sunderland colours — netted his first Premier League goal for the club, with a deflection helping the ball find its way into the net.

That result kept Sunderland firmly in the Champions League qualification picture. The newly-promoted side sit fourth, ahead of big names like Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle. A win on Saturday could see them move into the top three, especially since either Manchester City or Liverpool are guaranteed to drop points in their showdown on Sunday.

Sunderland are among only a handful of Premier League sides — alongside Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Brighton, and Bournemouth — still unbeaten at home this season. They have also scored in all five of their home matches, which suggests Arsenal’s watertight defence will face a serious test at the Stadium of Light.

Interestingly, the same ground was the scene of Sunderland’s last league victory over Arsenal, a 1-0-win way back in 2009. Since then, Arsenal have gone unbeaten in 15 straight top-flight meetings with the Black Cats, a record they will look to extend this weekend.

INJURIES & SUSPENSION
In typical Arsenal fashion, Viktor Gyokeres produced his best first-half performance of the season against Burnley, only to suffer a cruel muscle injury that will keep him out of this match. However, the Swedish striker is expected to be fit in time for the North London derby on November 23.

One positive for Arsenal is the return of summer signing Martin Zubimendi, who sustained a minor injury at Turf Moor but has since rejoined training. He missed the midweek win over Slavia Prague due to suspension but is available for selection this weekend.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga remains doubtful after picking up a knock and would likely have been on the bench regardless. Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Martin Odegaard are all sidelined with various injuries and will play no part in this fixture.

For Sunderland, defender Omar Alderete was expected to recover from a concussion in time to face Everton but was left out as a precaution due to lingering symptoms. His involvement against Arsenal remains uncertain.

The Black Cats will be without five players through injury: Aji Alese (shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Romaine Mundle (thigh), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (Achilles), and Habib Diarra (groin). Manager Regis Le Bris, however, confirmed that no new injuries were picked up during their last game.

Granit Xhaka, who will be facing his former club after making 225 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, is aiming to score in consecutive league games for the first time since 2023, when he found the net against Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Traore, Isidor, Le Fee

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard

EXPERT PREDICTION

Not to stir it up, but sometimes these small moments do hint at tension. Even if they apologized, maybe it shows frustration with tactics or results? Could be reading too much into it though.

According to reports, Brazilian club, Corinthians have asked Dutch attacker, Memphis Depay to leave the hotel suite where he lives and find a cheaper place, as they pay $46k USD/month for the suite, and, apart from that, pay for EVERYTHING ELSE:

• Room service and food
• Cleaning
• Private butler
• Private chef
• Personal security guard
• Armoured car
• Personal driver

Corinthians consider it very unlikely for Memphis will accept leaving the hotel. This is a clause is included in his contract, and he is not willing to give up those comforts, but they will try.

Chelsea’s Champions League encounter with Qarabag proved tougher than many expected. Despite the huge gap in European experience between the two sides, the Azerbaijani team came close to pulling off a major upset. Goals from Leandro Andrade and Marko Jankovic briefly put Qarabag ahead before Alejandro Garnacho rescued Chelsea with an equaliser, leaving the match level at 2-2.

It was a frustrating result for Enzo Maresca’s side, who missed a valuable opportunity to move closer to securing qualification for the knockout rounds. The mood in the dressing room was far from celebratory, as the team knew they had let two points slip away.

Chelsea’s inconsistency in the Premier League continues to hold them back. Their record over the last six matches shows three wins and three defeats, though they did earn a solid 1-0 victory over Tottenham last weekend. Joao Pedro’s goal was enough to seal the points in North London, giving Chelsea their third win in four league matches.

That run has lifted the Blues to seventh in the table, narrowly ahead of Manchester United on goal difference. While they have yet to fully meet pre-season expectations, one encouraging sign is their resilience — Chelsea have only been behind for 14.4 percent of their Premier League minutes this season, the second-best rate in the league behind Crystal Palace.

For Wolves, the picture is far bleaker. Pereira’s departure came after a crushing 3-0 defeat to Fulham, their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions and third straight in the Premier League. The result left Wolves without a single league victory this season and eight points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.

The club has yet to appoint a new permanent manager, though Middlesbrough’s Rob Edwards is reportedly leading the race ahead of former boss Gary O’Neil. For now, Under-21s coach James Collins and Under-18s manager Richard Walker have been placed in temporary charge as the team prepares for another daunting test at Stamford Bridge.

Wolves have been chasing games more than any other side this season, trailing in nearly 60 percent of their Premier League minutes — a reflection of their struggles in both attack and defence. Their winless run in the league now stands at 14 matches, with their last victory coming back in April.

The Old Gold nearly pulled off a surprise against Chelsea in the EFL Cup at the end of October, pushing the Blues in a thrilling 4-3 encounter. Their recent meetings have been full of goals, with a remarkable 25 scored between the two sides in their last four clashes — a trend that promises another lively contest under the lights at Stamford Bridge.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Maresca’s plans for the Qarabag match were disrupted just eight minutes in when midfielder Romeo Lavia, who has struggled with injuries, was forced off with a new thigh problem. The setback will keep him out for an unknown period.

Lavia joins Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo, and Benoit Badiashile on Chelsea’s injury list, while Mykhaylo Mudryk remains suspended. On the positive side, former Wolves winger Pedro Neto is expected to recover from a minor knock and should be fit to face his old team.

In attack, Liam Delap is available again after serving his suspension. The young forward, who was sent off against Wolves in the EFL Cup, came off the bench during the midweek draw with Qarabag and could now return to the starting lineup.

For Wolves, the caretaker coaching team will be without defender Emmanuel Agbadou, who is suspended following his red card in the loss to Fulham. He is one of four confirmed absentees, along with Matt Doherty, Leon Chiwome, and Rodrigo Gomes, all sidelined with injuries. Ladislav Krejci is likely to move into defence to fill the gap left by Agbadou’s absence.

Jhon Arias and Ki-Jana Hoever were both substituted at half time during the 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage, meaning Andre, Joao Gomes, and Jackson Tchatchoua could all be in line for recalls this weekend.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Pedro, Garnacho; Delap

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Toti, Krejci, S. Bueno; Tchatchoua, Andre, Gomes, H. Bueno; Munetsi, Bellegarde; Strand Larsen

EXPERT PREDICTION

Wolves haven't won a game in the EPL this season, and Victor Perreira was sacked last week. With a new man in charge at the Molineux, this game might just be the turning point that they need to get their season on track.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are set to meet in a London derby that rarely disappoints, with both sides eager to make a statement when they clash on Saturday in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the Premier League weekend.

The rivals head into the match on the back of very different EFL Cup results, as Tottenham were eliminated by Newcastle United while Chelsea came out on top in a thrilling seven-goal battle with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Thomas Frank’s Tottenham side endured a frustrating night at St James’ Park, where two headers from Fabian Schar and another from Nick Woltemade saw Newcastle cruise to victory and send Spurs out of the EFL Cup.

It was a sharp contrast to the confidence they showed just days earlier in the league, when they produced a strong display to defeat Everton at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Micky van de Ven led the charge with two goals before Pape Sarr sealed the win, earning Tottenham their fifth Premier League victory of the season.

Despite that success, Tottenham’s overall form has been mixed, with just one win in their last five matches across all competitions. Still, the Premier League table offers some encouragement. Spurs sit third after nine games, five points behind leaders Arsenal, with only the Gunners and Bournemouth collecting more points so far. However, their home record remains a concern. Tottenham have managed only one point from their last three league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Burnley being the only visiting team to lose there this season.

Chelsea, on the other hand, come into the derby full of confidence after another impressive showing on the road. Their 4-3 EFL Cup win over Wolves was a display of both youthful energy and resilience, even after Liam Delap’s red card. The victory was historic too, as it marked the first time in Premier League history that a side had four different scorers aged 21 or under in a single match.

However, that midweek joy was tempered by disappointment in the league, where Chelsea suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland. It was their third league loss in five matches, leaving Enzo Maresca’s men ninth in the table. Only twice before have Chelsea lost four times in their opening 10 Premier League games, highlighting the inconsistency that continues to plague them despite flashes of promise.

Even so, Chelsea have every reason to be optimistic about their trip to north London. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a particularly welcoming venue for them in recent years.

Their dramatic 4-3 victory there last season was their fifth Premier League win at the ground—more than any other visiting team has achieved. With both sides eager to bounce back from their cup and league setbacks, this latest chapter of the London rivalry promises to deliver the intensity and drama that always accompany a Tottenham versus Chelsea encounter.

INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Tottenham are facing one of the most severe injury crises in the Premier League, with more than ten players unavailable for selection ahead of their clash with Chelsea. Yves Bissouma, Kota Takai, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Archie Gray, and Ben Davies are all ruled out through various injuries, leaving Thomas Frank with a depleted squad once again.

There is at least some positive news for Spurs. Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Wilson Odobert have all been cleared to play after recent fitness concerns, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has recovered from the minor problem that kept him out of the defeat to Newcastle.

Micky van de Ven is also set to return to the starting lineup after being rested in midweek, bringing some stability back to the defense. In attack, Mohammed Kudus, Mathys Tel, and Randal Kolo Muani are all pushing for starting spots as Tottenham look to maintain their attacking rhythm despite their growing injury list.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are dealing with fresh problems of their own. Liam Delap will miss the trip to north London after being sent off in the EFL Cup win over Wolves, a dismissal that Enzo Maresca described as “very stupid.” His suspension adds to Chelsea’s growing list of absentees, which includes Cole Palmer, Dario Essugo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, and Mykhaylo Mudryk, who remains out due to a doping suspension.

Maresca experimented with Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu in central roles during the loss to Sunderland, but the energetic Andrey Santos is expected to be rewarded with a start this weekend. Jamie Gittens, despite scoring and providing two assists in midweek, could make way for Alejandro Garnacho, who returns refreshed and ready to play a key role in Chelsea’s attack.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Bergvall, Simons; Kolo Muani

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Santos, Garnacho; Pedro

EXPERT PREDICTION

I'm putting my money on Arne Slot getting sacked if Aston Villa beat Liverpool at Anfield

London Derby, and I expect this game to be keenly contested. Spurs look very solid, and very capable of beating Chelsea.
Hopefully, Chelsea won't finish the game with 10 men

Hi everyone, I'm Ricardo from Algarve, Portugal, and my favorite team is Sporting Lisbon.

My nickname is "Penaldo", I discovered LiveGoal from a tik-tok video and I've loved this platform ever since

Every young football player needs to see this