Ought to Liverpool panic but? Barça get fortunate, Bayern win, extra

The October worldwide break has been and gone, and the return of membership motion throughout Europe’s prime leagues gave us a lot to speak about! Beginning with Manchester United, profitable at Liverpool for the primary time in a decade, although it doesn’t suggest Ruben Amorim’s aspect is “mounted” by any means. (Additionally, when you’re a Liverpool fan, it is perhaps time to panic somewhat… )

In LaLiga, each Barcelona and Actual Madrid picked up dramatic late wins, with Madrid’s victory at Getafe pushing them again to the highest of the desk. Within the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich eased previous rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 within the first Klassiker of the season, a consequence wherein Harry Kane scored (once more) and the Bavarians had been somewhat lucky to emerge victorious. Elsewhere, we had speaking factors galore round Milan, Juventus, Tottenham, Chelsea, Marseille and rather more.

It is Monday morning, so what higher time for Gab Marcotti’s musings? Let’s get into it.

Manchester United most likely have not turned the nook, whereas Liverpool most likely do want to start out worrying…

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Nicol: There is not any manner Liverpool can anticipate to win the league

Steve Nicol slams Liverpool’s efficiency in Man United loss and questions their title credentials

Credit score Ruben Amorim for considering outdoors the field. Dropping your dear heart ahead (Benjamin Sesko), bringing again probably the most derided (generally unfairly) United heart again since Phil Jones (Harry Maguire) and beginning 33-year-old Casemiro after his 180 minutes in Korea and Japan with Brazil had been actually counterintuitive.

When you had been actually cynical, you may counsel that at this stage, he may as effectively throw the whole lot on the wall and see what sticks (aside from ditching the 3-4-2-1, in fact), however that might be unfair. His adjustments do not imply he out-coached Arne Slot — simply that he gave his crew the very best likelihood to get the very best consequence. Which is precisely what a coach ought to do.

– Response: Man United’s assertion win plunges Liverpool into disaster
– Slot admits ‘problem’ in turning Liverpool round
– Ogden: Ought to Liverpool drop Isak, Salah, or each?

Slot mentioned United’s early aim, their “low block” and lengthy balls for the counter had been tough to play in opposition to. You get what he means, however it’s kind of of a simplistic studying of the type coaches may make in throwaway postmatch flash interviews, and he probably is aware of that. Even when Bryan Mbeumo had not scored contained in the opening minute, it is unlikely Amorim’s recreation plan would have been any completely different, particularly given how late the equalizer got here, and it was certainly not one-way visitors. This was a recreation that would simply as simply have completed 5-2 to Liverpool or 4-1 to United. It had the type of openness — typically marked by particular person errors — that (some) followers love and (most) coaches hate.

Slot additionally mentioned his crew created “an unbelievable” quantity of probabilities. It was actually many. Cody Gakpo scored as soon as, hit the woodwork thrice and missed a sitter on the finish, whereas Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak additionally squandered large probabilities.

Liverpool paid a hefty worth for 2 craven defensive blunders, so loads of the main target can be there. Virgil van Dijk and the remainder of the again line reacted in sluggish movement for the opener, and there was a complete breakdown of set-piece marking for Maguire’s winner (there have been two teammates lined up behind him who might have scored if he’d missed his header). We have lined simply how short-handed the membership is at heart again and the way large an ask it’s to anticipate Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté to carry out at their stage each single recreation this season, however this was simply one other reminder they’ll want a break in some unspecified time in the future.

Past that, it hardly ever felt as if Liverpool had been in management. Alternatives got here by way of opponent errors or particular person talent, as a result of they merely have much better gamers, and too typically they weren’t put away. Slot evidently acknowledges this — witness the dropping of Florian Wirtz — nevertheless it’s nonetheless not clear how all his items will match collectively.

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Laurens: Isak has been disappointing for Liverpool

Julien Laurens believes Alexander Isak has been “disappointing” since his transfer to Liverpool from Newcastle.

Dominik Szoboszlai within the No. 10 gap is a smoother possibility, however clearly you need Wirtz someplace within the XI. The identical goes for Isak. His summer time travails have slowed him down, however you do not pay a file charge for a backup striker although they regarded higher with Hugo Ekitike.

Then, there’s Salah. He received an enormous new deal on the finish of final season, has had a sluggish begin in 2025-26 and there is the Africa Cup of Nations arising in January. He isn’t the place he was final season offensively or defensively. Do you begin managing his minutes with a view to getting the very best model of Salah within the spring?

There are many questions for Slot to determine. Nonetheless, most likely not as many as Amorim, regardless of United taking all three factors.

Bayern Munich fortunate however deserving in Der Klassiker win

Yeah, it is traditional “generally, each issues could be true” form of stuff. Borussia Dortmund had been arrange in a park-the-bus 5-3-2 formation, with Julian Brandt on the bench, for his or her go to to Bayern Munich, and it was fairly evident the plan was to attenuate harm whereas hoping to nick one thing on the different finish.

Nicely, they did not.

Harry Kane gave Bayern the lead, Michael Olise hit the put up and Dortmund mustered a complete of zero photographs of any type whereas seeing simply 26% of the ball. Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck bemoaned his crew’s “lack of guts within the first half” after the sport.

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Harry Kane reacts to Bayern’s win over Dortmund

England captain Harry Kane has revealed he enjoys dropping into midfield alongside his striker duties.

It is exhausting to inform whether or not Bayern received extra complacent after the break or if Dortmund had been really higher. Definitely the aim that put the match away was a bonehead traditional with Jobe Bellingham, on his personal aim line, doing the one factor you are not purported to do (apart from poking it into your personal web). Dealing with his personal aim, he tried to cross alongside the bottom, throughout his physique, just for Olise to steal in and deflect it house to make it 2-0 and recreation over. Brandt, who needed to wait till six minutes from time to return on, pulled one again proper after coming into the pitch, nevertheless it was clearly too little, too late.

And so Bayern stay good — that is 11 wins in 11 video games throughout all competitions — even with out the injured Jamal Musiala, and you observed, in opposition to most opponents, the one manner they are going to lose is that if they beat themselves.

Shout out to Kane, too. Nineteen objectives in 11 video games tells its personal story, however the best way he tailored to transferring into the outlet behind Nico Jackson (the place his passing could be decisive) in latest outings is simply as spectacular.

As for Dortmund, it is easy to slaughter supervisor Niko Kovac as a result of his plan did not work. Then again, such is the gulf between these two sides proper now, you’ll be able to’t blame for one thing wacky, and had it not been for Bellingham’s screw-up, it may need labored.

Ronald Araújo, the unbelievable hero, ought to function a wake-up name for Barcelona

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Moreno: Barcelona should be higher to win El Clasico

Ale Moreno tells Kay Murray why he was unimpressed with Barcelona, regardless of their late winner over Girona in LaLiga.

However, in fact, this being Barça, do not maintain your breath. The truth that the Uruguayan heart again whom no one appears to love, and whom they tried each which approach to transfer out needed to come on as an emergency heart ahead to attain the winner in opposition to Girona, who’re dead-last within the desk, must immediate a complete top-to-bottom assessment of the place they’re and the place they are going.

Supervisor Hansi Flick will shoulder loads of the blame — and sure, getting your self foolishly despatched off and lacking the Clasico is not management — however it will probably’t simply be him. I’ve talked earlier than about how poorly constructed this squad is, how assets had been dedicated to wingers/broad forwards (Marcus Rashford, Roony Bardghji) whereas protection was uncared for (like Iñigo Martínez not being changed). However placing Flick right into a scenario the place he is inspired to play a 17-year-old from the fourth tier up entrance as a result of Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski are unavailable borders on the irresponsible.

Virtually as irresponsible is the execution of his excessive line — not the excessive line itself, thoughts you — by Pau Cubarsí and Eric García. After Pedri’s sensible opener, Girona might have scored three or 4, such had been Barça’s limitations. And all of this whereas increasingly strain will get heaped on Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal. Sure, they’re nice, however they’re additionally growing. You may’t simply lean on them (and Pedri) to paper over your many cracks.

– Hunter: How Rashford revitalized himself at Barcelona
– Flick disputes purple card in dramatic win
– Barca recreation paused in protest at LaLiga fixture in Miami

Hey, perhaps they will not change a jot, they usually’ll win the Clasico subsequent weekend. Heck, perhaps they’re going to win LaLiga once more, presumably the Champions League, too, and perhaps the parents in cost will take it as proof of their brilliance. If that occurs, most certainly they’re going to be fallacious. It will likely be the brilliance of people that carries them; at this stage, the alternatives made on the prime are merely weighing them down.

Rafael Leão to the rescue, and Milan go prime of Serie A, however someone must have a phrase with Santi Gimenez

Let’s begin with the ugly. 4 minutes from time, the sport deadlocked at 1-1, Fabiano Parisi grazed Santi Gimenez’ cheek within the penalty space and the Mexican striker went down clutching his face as if the Fiorentina defender had sprayed him with acid. Referee Livio Marinelli — accurately — waves play on, VAR Rosario Abisso sends him to assessment and Marinelli adjustments his thoughts, awarding the penalty. Leao, who had beforehand scored a worldie, places it away; Milan win 2-1 and go prime.

I am all for taking part in on the sting, pushing the envelope and attempting to win fouls. However on this event, Gimenez was a humiliation (not for the primary time, both, in my opinion), and the VAR intervention felt prefer it was straight from the muppet present. Fiorentina really feel cheated as a result of, effectively, they had been. The match officers might have been in good religion; Gimenez didn’t seem like.

So what now to make of first-place Milan? Credit score Max Allegri for toughing it out regardless of his quite a few accidents (Pervis Estupiñán, Christopher Nkunku, Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot, amongst others) and for believing in a teenager like Zachary Athekame (when youngsters aren’t actually his factor).

However yeah, this wasn’t fairly. It will not be fairly till he has regulars again, and even then, based mostly on what we have seen up to now, there is no assure it is going to be fairly. Max has loads of work to do.

QUICK HITS

10. Mason Greenwood scores 4, Marseille go prime and perhaps Paris Saint-Germain are usually not a shoe-in for the title: Yeah, it is early and PSG have a heap of accidents, and Luis Enrique’s crew’s preseason was tousled by the Membership World Cup. And, in fact, it is Ligue 1, which they often dominate. However the desk speaks volumes: Olympique Marseille 18 factors, PSG 17, Strasbourg and Lens 16. It is fairly darn tight, and the truth that PSG needed to come from two objectives down in opposition to Strasbourg of their 3-3 draw Friday suggests this season might not be a walkover.

Marseille beat Le Havre 6-2 with 4 objectives from Greenwood. Their supervisor, Roberto De Zerbi, is unpredictable and the membership is chaotic (witness Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe’s fist-fight in late August, which compelled them each out of the membership.) However PSG have gained simply 5 of their first eight video games; final season, they clinched with 22 wins in 27. We might but have a correct title race.

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Nicol: Arsenal’s defence provides them the title benefit

Steve Nicol says Arsenal’s strong defensive performances imply they do not all the time should be an enormous menace going ahead.

9. Arsenal cannot plug their Martin Odegaard-shaped gap, however defending and set items see them by way of: And that is factor. Away to Fulham, at a floor the place they’ve struggled up to now and after a world break, with out one in all their two major inventive sources — it was all set as much as be a entice recreation. You could be snooty concerning the set piece aim and the way Leandro Trossard received fortunate along with his scuffed end, however the three factors had been deserved.

Mikel Arteta’s crew excelled in different areas, absorbing Fulham’s assaults within the first half with out permitting a single shot on course (and an xG of 0.31) after which, after taking the lead, bolting issues down even additional. A single off-target shot for 0.03 conceded within the final half hour. Odegaard’s absence weighs heavy, they usually’re a unique aspect with Eberechi Eze in that function, however that is OK. They will nonetheless grind out factors in numerous methods.

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How did Jude Bellingham carry out on his Actual Madrid return?

Luis Garcia analyse Jude Bellingham’s return to the Actual Madrid aspect of their 1-0 victory over Getafe.

8. Tough night time for Actual Madrid, however they keep away from getting ‘Bordalased’ and keep atop: Journey to Getafe, managed by Javier Bordalas, and you understand you are in for a troublesome night time. With a bunch of gamers unavailable and coming off the again of a world break, Xabi Alonso knew it was a entice recreation. And whereas Kylian Mbappé’s winner got here late and Thibaut Courtois’ save from Coba da Costa even later, I feel he’ll be broadly comfortable along with his crew’s efficiency.

Eduardo Camavinga made his first begin of the season (and Jude Bellingham his second) with out incident. Rodrygo was a brilliant spark down the left, confirming he is the choice to Vinícius. David Alaba had a harder time at heart again, however hopefully, when Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rüdiger are match, we cannot must see an excessive amount of of him.

Getafe ended up with 9 males, and their first purple card was straight out of the Bordalas play guide. Allan Nyom comes on in its place, will get a standing ovation from his followers, and along with his first contact of the sport, he whacks Vinicius for a straight purple. It reminded you of a goon in previous YouTube movies of Seventies Nationwide Hockey League video games.

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Are Man Metropolis too reliant on Haaland to win the Premier League?

Steve Nicol reacts to Manchester Metropolis’s 2-0 win over Everton within the Premier League.

7. Erling Haaland delivers once more for Man Metropolis, however who else goes to attain? Pep Guardiola was requested about it after Erling Haaland bagged each objectives in Saturday’s 2-0 win in opposition to Everton. Manchester Metropolis have scored 17 league objectives this season: 11 of them got here from Haaland, two had been personal objectives and 4 gamers had one every. Is that this an issue? “Sure, it’s a [concern],” Guardiola mentioned. “We have now to attain. Within the coaching classes, they’re good at ending. I haven’t got doubts that when it’s unlocked, gamers will rating.”

It is exhausting to inform what he means by “unlocked.” Coaches in all sports activities cling to the assumption that issues instantly occur, presumably as a result of they’ve seen it earlier than. The difficulty although, as I see it, is Metropolis are singularly Haaland-focused in the best way they assault. And the danger — along with Haaland getting injured — is predictability. There are inventive in-house options to range the best way you assault — Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rayan Cherki all spring to thoughts — however we simply have not seen them but this yr. If and after they kick in, hopefully earlier than Haaland hits the inevitable tough patch, Metropolis can be simply high quality.

6. Harm-riddled and battered, fortune shines on Chelsea at Nottingham Forest: And sure, that success was not paying a hefty worth for a string of first-half turnovers and taking part in away to a Forest crew counting down the minutes till Ange Postecoglou received sacked. However perhaps, given the absentees from their beginning XI — Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill on the again, Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo in midfield, Cole Palmer, Estevao Willian and Liam Delap up entrance — they had been due a little bit of luck.

The suspended Enzo Maresca can have observed his B-team is a number of notches under his regulars, particularly in midfield, the place Andrey Santos and Romeo Lavia (sure, we had a Lavia sighting!) lasted simply 45 minutes, as did Alejandro Garnacho (one other likelihood not seized for him). With information touchdown Sunday that Palmer will miss the subsequent six weeks (or 9 video games), Maresca has little alternative however to discover a Palmer-less method that works. João Pedro within the gap appears to be probably the most viable resolution, and it is what we noticed after the break when Marc Guiu got here on.

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Is Dyche the very best candidate to exchange Postecoglou at Forest?

Sam Tighe debates who might change Ange Postecoglou at Nottingham Forest.

5. Even after an enormous three factors away to Roma, Inter mustn’t imagine their very own hype: They went away to the league leaders and gained 1-0 to make it 5 wins on the bounce. Given how obsessed some are with outcomes, even with a coach like Christian Chivu, who has solely been within the job for just a few months, no less than it retains among the critics at bay. However the postgame narrative — Inter had been sensible within the first half, tough-minded within the second — leaves you loads of flat.

Ange-Yoan Bonny’s aim after simply six minutes ought to have enabled Chivu’s males to manage the sport and make Roma chase them. As a substitute, it was the giallorossi who had the higher hand, pushing Inter again into their field, squandering a number of clear-cut probabilities. Good defensive show? Undecided about that, not while you concede 1.09 xG and 12 photographs in a single half. There are positives apart from the consequence, beginning with Bonny and Francesco Pio Esposito, who confirmed Inter have high quality understudies up entrance. However the worst factor they may do proper now’s sit on their laurels.

4. Tottenham derailed by Unai Emery witchcraft: OK, perhaps witchcraft is simply too sturdy a phrase, although common readers will know I am not the most important Emery man. However the best way his Aston Villa aspect stayed within the recreation away to Tottenham regardless of going a aim down, scoring a peach of an equalizer after which a winner straight out of the Twilight Zone, with Matty Money and Lucas Digne, sincere full backs however no extra, turning right into a soccer model of the Harlem Globetrotters? Nicely, that is particular.

Blame Tottenham? Positive. I am all for the high-energy stuff, however there needs to be some stage of management, and you are not going to get it from Xavi Simons in his present situation. Mathys Tel is a sluggish burn which will by no means really come to fruition. Thomas Frank is, clearly, nonetheless adjusting to a unique type of participant.

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Are Tottenham’s attackers missing finish product?

Craig Burley and Steve Nicol focus on Tottenham’s attacking choices this season as they endure 2-1 house defeat to Aston Villa.

3. Napoli fall at Torino, however the issue is not that they are ‘too fairly’: After the 1-0 loss, Antonio Conte complained that his crew performed “with their dancing sneakers on” and had been “too fairly,” with not sufficient “nasty.” I assume while you’re a hammer you suppose the whole lot is a nail (or perhaps that is simply Conte misdirection?), however I noticed it slightly in another way. It wasn’t about fairly or ugly; it was about high quality.

Napoli conceded comparatively little, totally on the counter. Gio Simeone’s aim (it was a terrific weekend for the Simeone household) got here after an errant deal with from Billy Gilmour. The distinction got here on the different finish, the place the absence of Scott McTominay, Rasmus Hojlund and, particularly, Stanislav Lobotka weighed closely. Switching to 2 wingers was supposed to assist Lorenzo Lucca, however he ended up getting little or no clear service, which meant Kevin De Bruyne ended up attempting to do an excessive amount of. Whenever you use the identical script with inferior personnel, there is a worth to pay. Napoli executed in addition to they may: The issue wasn’t “lack of nasty.”

2. Diego Simeone wants his bench (once more) to convey house three factors for Atletico: Which, I assume, is what it is there for. You are deadlocked and you’ll usher in Alexander Sorloth to wreak havoc, Conor Gallagher for some verve, Giuliano Simeone to beat his man and ship the cross and Thiago Almada to complete. Simple peasy.

Would it not be higher in the event that they wrapped issues up with their starters? Positive, however Osasuna are a notoriously robust out, and placing your belief in Koke, Álex Baena, Antoine Griezmann and the returning José María Giménez wasn’t essentially the fallacious name. It is simply that it takes time to construct chemistry, and Simeone’s frequent adjustments do not assist. Is it galling that, once more, Saint Jan of Oblak needed to save their bacon on the finish when Osasuna received off one in all their two photographs on course? Positive. However once more, he is doing what he will get paid to do. This can be a crew that is nonetheless evolving, and it isn’t essentially going to be linear progress. Take the factors and be comfortable.

1. Igor Tudor makes himself look foolish in opposition to Cesc Fabregas: It isn’t a lot the defeat — although sure, Juventus had been just about performed off the park by a Como aspect that had as many key absentees as they did — or his decisions (13 minutes of Dusan Vlahovic, Loïs Openda caught once more on the bench). It is the best way Tudor took a useless pop at Cesc pregame when he mentioned: “The Como coach will get to accumulate gamers he needs.”

First off, whereas it is true that Como have spent a ton of cash — and people monetary chickens might but come house to roost after they qualify for Europe — it has been totally on younger gamers, they usually additionally uncovered some gems on a budget. Moaning about Como’s assets while you’re the Juve boss isn’t look; neither is failing to seek advice from Cesc by identify, as if you do not know who he’s.

If you are going to pull stuff like that, be sure to do not get your bottom handed to you. Which is precisely what Como, led by the magnificent Nico Paz, did to him. The knives are already out for Tudor (they face Actual Madrid within the Champions League this midweek), and a few of that is positively of his personal making.