After a busy international break which saw promotion in the Nations League for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as a hugely impressive two wins for Scotland to lift them out of the automatic relegation spots in League A, it is back to the Premier League this weekend and there’s big news for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and City’s fans!
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So let’s take a look at some of the big Premier League news that broke during and after the international break, starting with the big news for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City!
Guardiola’s Commitment to Manchester City
Pep Guardiola is set to extend his stay at Manchester City by signing a new 12-month contract. This decision ends speculation about his potential move to an international role or back to his native Spain.
Guardiola’s current contract runs until the end of this season, and the new deal includes an option for an additional year.
Since joining City, Guardiola has transformed the club into the dominant force in English football. Under his leadership, City has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four English League Cups, and their first-ever Champions League in 2023.
The news comes on the back of a losing run of four games for Manchester City across League and cups and will certainly give Manchester City fans a boost ahead of a busy few weeks for the team in the run up to Christmas.
Manchester United’s New Manager & Neville Criticises Duo
Ruben Amorim is preparing for his debut as the new manager of Manchester United. He replaces interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy and is expected to implement a 3-4-3 formation.
Amorim aims to make an impactful start, similar to his successful debut with Braga in Portugal when his Manchester United team travel to Suffolk to take on Ipswich Town this weekend.
His appointment comes at a crucial time as United seeks to improve their 13th place in the league and climb the Premier League table.
While Amorim’s preferred tactics are well-known in football circles, the players who will get to play in that formation are less obvious. Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof could be vying for a spot as one of three centre backs.
It also remains to be seen where club captain and attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes fits into this formation.
Meanwhile pundit Gary Neville has criticised Casemiro and Marcus Rashford who both made trips to the Americas during the international break. Neville called the duo unprofessional for making highly-publicised trips as the new manager beds in at Old Trafford.
Tottenham’s Appeal Against Bentancur’s Ban
Tottenham has appealed the seven-game ban imposed on Rodrigo Bentancur for using a racially insensitive and derogatory term. The club hopes to reduce the suspension, allowing Bentancur to return to domestic action sooner.
Despite the ban, Bentancur remains eligible to play in Europa League matches. Tottenham’s appeal is not felt to be likely to succeed however, given the length of bans handed out to players for similar offences in the past.
Betancur’s absence for seven games would be a big blow for Spurs with the Uruguayan becoming a key part of the midfield in recent months.
Premier League Fixture Congestion
The Premier League is entering a busy period with 90 matches scheduled over 45 days from November 23 to January 6. Fans can look forward to a packed schedule, including the highly anticipated match between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday 1st December.
Other key games coming up in the run up and over the festive period include:
- 23rd November – Manchester City v Spurs
- 1st December – Liverpool v Manchester City, Chelsea v Aston Villa
- 4th December – Newcastle v Liverpool, Arsenal v Man Utd
- 7th December – Everton v Liverpool
- 8th December – Tottenham v Chelsea
- 14th December – Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa
- 21st December – Aston Villa v Manchester City
- 22nd December – Tottenham v Liverpool
- 26th December – Man City v Everton, Newcastle v Aston Villa, Nottm Forest v Spurs
- 30th December – Man Utd v Newcastle
- 4th January – Tottenham v Newcastle, Liverpool v Man Utd
There will be at least one Premier League match on more than half of the days during this period, with matches on three successive days in six of the nine match weeks.
This fixture congestion presents challenges for clubs, especially those involved in European competitions and in the latter stages of the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool’s Dominance and Title Race
Ahead of the international break, Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League, and are currently five points clear of Manchester City. The Reds have dropped points in just two games this season, showcasing their consistency and strength.
Historically, teams that have been five points clear after 11 games have gone on to win the title. However, City has previously overcome similar deficits to win the last four Premier League titles.
Four teams lie behind Liverpool and Manchester City on 19 points, nine behind the Reds and four adrift of Manchester City. They include Chelsea, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Brighton, while Fulham, Newcastle and Aston Villa have 18 points.
However, with no news forthcoming about new contracts for Reds trio Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reds fans will be hoping the club can sort out fresh deals for the trio before they can speak to prospective new clubs from January 1st 2025.
Relegation Battle Intensifies
The relegation battle is heating up as several clubs fight to avoid the drop. Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace, Wolves, and Southampton have each secured one victory after initially struggling without wins.
Everton and Leicester remain close to the relegation zone despite having two wins each. The upcoming festive period will see lots of fixtures to play, with some clubs playing up to nine games in December.
With potentially 27 points available, this period will be crucial for teams at the bottom of the table as they strive to secure vital points to get themselves out of the relegation picture by the new year.
Injury Concerns and Player Availability
Several players have withdrawn from England’s squad due to injuries ahead of recent Nations League matches. Clubs are awaiting updates on player fitness for upcoming fixtures. Liverpool’s Alisson Becker might return from injury soon, providing a boost to their defense.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur serves a seven-match domestic ban but can play in Europa League matches. These injury concerns and suspensions could impact team performances in the coming weeks.
Premier League’s Decision on Semi-Automated Offside Technology
The Premier League’s adoption of semi-automated offside technology is uncertain and may be delayed until next season. This follows an incident in La Liga where Robert Lewandowski’s goal for Barcelona was incorrectly disallowed due to a system glitch.
The error occurred when the semi-automated system misidentified a defender’s boot as Lewandowski’s, leading to the disallowance of the goal.
The Premier League had planned to introduce this technology after Christmas, following its successful use at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
However, the La Liga glitch has caused English clubs to reevaluate the technology’s readiness, insisting it must be foolproof before implementation.
International Break Highlights
During the international break, several players made headlines with their performances. Viktor Gyökeres scored four goals for Sweden against Azerbaijan in their Nations League clash. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai scored a late equalizer for Hungary against Germany with a Panenka-style penalty.
England recorded much needed wins over Greece and the Republic of Ireland to top their group and earn direct promotion back to League A. Wales also recorded a fine draw in Turkey and a win over Iceland to take advantage of Turkey’s slip up in Montenegro to top their group and also gain promotion back to League A.
Scotland recorded back-to-back wins over Croatia and Poland to finish third in their group, earning a shot at saving themselves in the relegation/promotion playoffs. Northern Ireland also celebrated promotion as they won their Group in League C to move back up into League B.
Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, Croatia, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands qualified for the first Nations League quarterfinals in March 2025. The winners of the two-legged quarterfinals will move on to the Finals competition in June.
Miscellaneous News and Transfer Rumours
Thomas Tuchel has recruited Hilario from Chelsea for England’s coaching staff ahead of his official duties starting in January.
Liverpool and Newcastle are believed to be running the rule over Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Sporting Lisbon giant Ousmane Diomande is believed to be an early target for new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who would like to make his former player his first signing at Old Trafford.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who left Manchester United a couple of weeks ago, is believed to be eyeing potential managerial opportunities in the Premier League with the jobs at Wolves, Crystal Palace and Southampton believed to be of interest.
Coventry City are believed to be ready to appoint ex-Chelsea star Frank Lampard as their new manager to replace Mark Robins.
Conclusion
The Premier League continues to captivate fans with its thrilling matches, managerial changes, and ongoing title race. As the season progresses, clubs will face challenges such as fixture congestion, injury concerns, and the pressure to perform.
With key matches and developments on the horizon over the very busy festive period, the Premier League promises to deliver excitement and drama for fans around the world!
