West Ham United’s disappointing start to their highly-anticipated Premier League season continued as they were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth at the London Stadium on Saturday, and Manuel Pellegrini should be considering signing free agent Mathieu Flamini, who they rejected the chance to sign in 2013.

What’s the word, then?

Well, following a big summer of spending and with some quality players such as Jack Wilshere and Felipe Anderson arriving in east London, it is expected that the Irons are really going to push on under the Chilean manager this season.

However, while the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on the opening day was understandable given Jurgen Klopp’s men look to be strong title contenders this term, a home loss to the Cherries would not have been expected.

One area where the Hammers are really struggling on the pitch despite their successful summer is once again in the middle of the park, where the partnership of Wilshere and Mark Noble was really shown up.

Why should Pellegrini swoop for Flamini?

West Ham are really lacking that defensively-minded midfielder that will just sit in front of the defence and sweep things up right now, and there will be concerns over whether another new boy in Carlos Sanchez is the man to do exactly that.

Flamini is a free agent following a spell with La Liga club Getafe in 2018, and while he may be 34 years of age he would certainly go some way to solving the issue – in the short-term at least – given he has shown throughout his career that he can be hugely effective in that role.

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The fact that he has played with Wilshere before is another bonus, and it is a no-brainer to bring him in now to tighten things up – should they get the nod from the FA to complete any deal.

Two Jonathan Kodjia goals, including a dramatic headed equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time after the ninety, were enough to salvage a point for Aston Villa who played out an entertaining draw with Brentford on Wednesday night.

The end to end encounter took place at Villa Park, and saw both sides play to win in attractive fashion. 

Villa’s attacking contingent were tireless in the press and linked up time and time again with sequences of slick interplay. Manager Steve Bruce will be pleased with the fluid cohesiveness on display, and particularly delighted with the clinical nature of Kodjia’s performance.

The 28-year-old has begun the new campaign in good form, having also found the back of the net in Villa’s previous game against Ipswich Town. After enduring a difficult season last time out, Kodjia has now already tripled his league goal haul of last term.

If the Ivory Coast international can maintain this kind of goalscoring form then the Villans can be optimistic of building upon their play-off final heartbreak of last season and making their way back into the Premier League.

Beyond his brace, Kodjia delivered the complete centre-forward’s performance on Wednesday. 

The ex-Bristol City striker was a constant thorn in the side of the Bees’ defence, and created numerous chances for himself with his smart movement, pace, aerial prowess and physicality. When through on goal, Kodjia invariably forced the Brentford shot-stopper into a save, or scored. From four attempts on goal, Kodjia hit the target four times, meaning he completed the match with 100% shot accuracy. 

The forward’s pass accuracy figure – 87.5% – is almost as impressive as his shooting. Of the others who started for the side in claret and blue, only James Chester, Albert Adomah and Glenn Whelan registered higher pass completion rates. No Brentford player was as consistently reliable in possession as Kodjia.

On other occasions with the ball at his feet, when he wasn’t passing or shooting, Kodjia was running at his opponents and taking them on with glee. He completed two dribbles in the match. Jack Grealish was the only player on the pitch to manage more. Kodjia’s close control, power and speed were evident as he burst beyond defenders to bear down on goal.

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However, perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Villa No. 26’s game was how efficient he was with the little time he managed to spend on the ball. The only Villa starter to amass less than Kodjia’s 27 touches was the ‘keeper, Orjan Nyland. 

This match was very much one battled out in the centre of the park, with much of the attacking play being orchestrated on the flanks. That meant that Kodjia couldn’t afford to be wasteful with his opportunities. 

Thankfully, from Bruce’s perspective, Kodjia was able to capitalise upon his chances and ensured that his side came away with a point – which was no less than they deserved for their efforts against a determined Brentford side.

A lot has been spoken about Liverpool’s forward line and defence.

The scintillating attack of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane lit up the Premier League last season.

The defence has had its many issues, but after recruiting Virgil van Dijk in January and bringing in goalkeeper Alisson in the summer, things are starting to improve.

The midfield is not an area that has filled many paper inches, but manager Jurgen Klopp has a dilemma on his hands.

In the first three league games of the season, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum and Naby Keita have been positioned in the middle of the park.

However, waiting in the wings is club captain Jordan Henderson and summer signing Fabinho.

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The latter is yet to make his debut, while the skipper has had to settle for cameo appearances so far.

Liverpool have a 100% record so far in the campaign, and as a result, Klopp has not yet tinkered with his team.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash against Leicester City, though, questions have been asked regarding selection.

At the moment, Wijnaldum has been holding on to the role, and some Liverpool fans have been discussing on Twitter whether it will stay that way.

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According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Leeds United are eyeing up a January move for striker Mbaye Diagne. The 26-year-old currently plays his football in Turkey with top-flight side Kasimpasa having joined back in January, and in netting 18 goals in just 21 appearances for the club, it’s clear that he has hit the ground running at the Super Lig outfit.

And Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are reportedly keen on the £1.35 million-rated star (as per Transfermarkt), having been linked with him in the summer, and if the Whites are indeed in the promotion hunt come January, adding the 26-year-old would surely help them secure a Premier League return.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Bielsa’s side have made a sensational start to the 2018/19 Championship season in winning four and drawing the other two of their opening six league matches, thus sitting top of the pile heading into the campaign’s first international break.

And the Yorkshire giants have played some scintillating football at times to suggest that they could well be destined for a return to the top-flight, although some are concerned that they may run out of steam as the season wears on.

Thus, Bielsa and his team will surely be hoping that they can get to January still very much in the promotion picture heading into the second half of the campaign, and if they are and then are able to lure Diagne to Elland Road, they will be well placed to seal a Premier League return.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to the Yorkshire heavyweights during the summer, and it’s not difficult to see why given he netted a staggering 12 goals in just 17 games for Kasimpasa in the second half of last season, thus helping them to an eighth place finish in the Turkish top-flight.

And the Senegal striker has started this term brilliantly as well in bagging six times in just four Super Lig games to help Kasimpasa win their opening four matches – clearly, there are fewer forwards in better goal-scoring form than the 26-year-old at present.

Obviously, there are likely to be some concerns over whether he is able to do it in England, but when one has a goal-scoring record like he does, it’s clear that he has several different facets to his game to enable him to get the best out of his ability in the final third.

And while Kemar Roofe has made a fine start to the campaign, and new signing Patrick Bamford is likely to have a greater say as the season wears on, only Roofe and Pierre Michel Lasogga reached double figures last time round, and the latter was only on loan – there’s a reason they were keen on Diagne during the summer.

And if Bielsa’s men are in the promotion hunt come the re-opening of the transfer window in January, adding the 26-year-old hotshot will go some way to helping them secure a Premier League return.

Leeds fans… what do you think? Let us know!

There were no shortage of new signings coming through the welcome gates at Ibrox this summer, with Rangers manager Steven Gerrard recruiting 15 players.

So far, the Scottish outfit have just one blot on their record as they have suffered a single defeat in 13 outings in all competitions.

However, in the Premiership, the team have picked up just one victory in four games.

The transfer window is closed for permanent buys and loans, but the Gers are allowed to recruit free signings if they choose.

Experienced striker Darren Bent has revealed that he would jump at the chance to play for the Scottish outfit.

While speaking to talkSPORT, the 34-year-old claimed that he would “100%” join Rangers if the opportunity arose.

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Bent, who was released by Derby County at the end of last season, has certainly been around the block.

The forward has played for nine different clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town, Aston Villa and Fulham.

Bent’s comments has got some Rangers fans talking on Reddit and Twitter.

Comment from discussion Darren Bent interested in Rangers move.Comment from discussion Darren Bent interested in Rangers move.Comment from discussion Darren Bent interested in Rangers move.

Eric Dier has long divided opinion amongst Tottenham Hotspur fans.

The 24-year-old has been England’s captain, and is a dependable performer in the Premier League, for the most part.

However, if Tottenham are to reach a new level then it would probably be fair to say that Dier cannot be operating in central midfield on a regular basis.

The number 15 started and finished Tottenham’s Champions League clash away to Inter Milan on Tuesday night.

Christian Eriksen had sent Tottenham ahead on the night, but late goals from Mauro Icardi and Matias Vecino saw Inter turn things around to triumph.

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As expected, the Tottenham fans were extremely frustrated after the match, and many took to social media to criticise the performance of Dier, who is on £70,000 a week.

The midfielder was not the only Spurs player to be criticised, however, with Harry Kane even picked out amid concerns over his fitness.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Tottenham supporters can be seen below:

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Tottenham Hotspur’s magnificent rise in recent years has been well documented and many signings have cemented themselves as crucial players in Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Of those, Christian Eriksen has established himself as the main hub for Spurs’ creativity in the five years since his arrival from Eredivisie giants Ajax in 2013, accumulating a total of 175 Premier League appearances in the process.

Costing a reported £11.5m, the acquisition of the Denmark international has proven to be one of the best pieces of business of any Premier League side during recent years and Spurs have seen his value increase significantly.

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At 26, Eriksen is now approaching the prime years of his career at a time that coincides with the impending move to a new stadium and fans flocked to social media to give their assessment on the midfielder on the anniversary of his Tottenham debut.

We have gathered some of the best reactions below.

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Trevor Steven turned out for Everton between 1983 and 1989, making more than 200 league appearances during his time with the Toffees.

Steven started his professional career with Burnley, and managed 11 goals in 74 league appearances ahead of a move to Everton in 1983.

After six years with Everton, Steven joined Rangers, and finished his career with the Scottish giants despite spending one season with Marseille.

Steven was a classy winger, and helped Everton win two First Division titles.

The attacker also landed the FA Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and four Charity Shields during his time at Goodison Park.

Steven turned 55 on Friday, and as expected, Everton’s official Twitter account was on hand with a special message for the 36-time England international.

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The message brought a host of responses from Everton fans, with many branding Steven one of the finest players to ever represent the Merseyside club.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Everton supporters can be seen below:

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Southampton’s defence has undoubtedly improved this season, compared to how woeful they were at the back last term. However, the Saints have still conceded nine times in their opening six fixtures and a suspicion remains that their rearguard lacks quality strength in depth.

With funds potentially limited at St Mary’s, Mark Hughes may look at the free-agent market in order to bolster his defensive contingent in January. 

The former West Ham centre-back, James Collins, remains without a club having left the Hammers at the end of last season. The 6’2” 35-year-old may no longer be the player he once was, but the veteran remains capable of contributing at Premier League level. As an affordable, reliable and experienced squad rotation option, the former Wales international could be a smart target for Hughes to pursue and offer a short-term contract to.

However, when we asked Saints fans whether they’d like to see Collins offered the chance to revive his top-flight career on the south coast, 64% said no. See the full results below.

Each week totalfootballanalysis.com tactically previews the Fixture in Focus and today we provide this analysis alongside two other sites in our analysis network, liverpoolfchq.com and manchestercityanalysis.com

This is probably the most important game of the season, with the return fixture on New Year’s Day 2019. It is also a chance to see Pep Guardiola’s possession game confront the fast-paced game of Jurgen Klopp. Manchester City and Liverpool started the season in almost perfect fashion, with both registering 19 points, six wins and one draw.

Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy are the two important absentees in the Manchester City squad. City have performed domestically but have been quite poor in the Champions League, losing to Lyon and struggling against Hoffenheim. Liverpool’s squad is full but with some tactical hesitations, especially between midfielders and forward players.

The midfield battle

While the two different attacks have the same details – fast players with close combinations – the two midfields are quite different. Fernandinho plays as a deep midfielder for Man City. Unlike the trend nowadays of this role involving a playmaker, however, he is deployed more as a typical defensive midfielder.

What he brings is precision and speed. This comes partly from his days at Shakhtar Donetsk and Atlético Paranaense where he played in a more offensive position. Thus, the playmaker is David Silva either helped by Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan.

Faced with that terrifying midfield, Liverpool don’t blush with James Milner, Georginio Wijnladum and Jordan Henderson rotating with Naby Keita or Fabinho. Here the tactic is quite different as Jurgen Klopp wants to play fast with and without the ball. This requires strong players with stamina, whatever their position.

On paper, they could probably afford to give possession to Manchester City. This is without counting Firmino, who often plays as a false nine and so in Fernandinho’s positional area.

To counter this, Pep Guardiola would like to bypass Fernandinho and play the ball quickly behind the two defensive lines.

A word on Henderson

Against Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp decided to substitute Jordan Henderson for Keita. The Englishman’s body language said a lot about his performance. Looking at the PassSonar against Chelsea last weekend, we can see Jordan Henderson didn’t influence the game as he can.

Henderson is used to finding breakthroughs with killing vertical passes. However, the Chelsea midfield – composed of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovavic and Jorginho – perfectly block the deep-lying midfielder. James Milner took this role to find spaces either by runs or passes as we see the graphic.

Moreover, it probably showed the limits of Jordan Henderson in high-paced games. The English midfielder is too slow and not comfortable with intense pressure. With Naby Keita or Fabinho on the bench, Jurgen Klopp could choose to start with another midfield.

Less “explosive” attacks

The point here is difficult to appreciate while both Liverpool and Manchester City are winning games. However, they are somewhat less explosive in attack compared to last season.

We can see from Manchester City’s pass maps this season that the forwards are less linked with each other. At the same time, the midfield is very efficient in supplying incisive balls. This is helped by Bernardo Silva being a more offensive player than Kevin De Bruyne, allowing Manchester City to continue scoring goals and winning games.

For Liverpool, we could say the same thing. The main reason though is probably lesser performances from Mohamed Salah compared to last season. Moreover, the arrivals of Naby Keita and Fabinho haven’t helped.

They are here more to be fast and effective than to focus on building the game. Though he can be a dynamite player, Shaqiri doesn’t help too by taking a lot of touches on the ball.

What to expect

With two teams looking for the Premier League title, this game will probably close out if neither team scores an early goal. Moreover, the defences and goalkeepers are confident and concede few actions while increasingly supporting their teams’ attacks.

This is something we see more and more of with a lower possession game on the field, thanks to goalkeepers becoming more comfortable with the ball and the desire to build from behind.

Manchester City and Liverpool are perhaps the most egregious examples of these changes. This match will undoubtedly be a masterpiece of tactics.

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