PSG v Man Utd, Liverpool, Lampard and Partey have a great midweek

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Game to watch: PSG v Manchester United

In other groups in the Champions League, this encounter could be seen as an exhibition showing the two teams destined to qualify for the knockout stages. But with RB Leipzig looming as an added danger for two clubs familiar with shooting themselves in the foot, this Parc des Princes European heavyweight clash could go a long way in deciding the outcome of Group H.

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returns to the scene of where he secured his permanent position, it could also help determine how long to keep it. This accessory is one of five devilish assignments in the next two and a half weeks, a period that many suggested could spell the end for the Norwegian.

That was while United were stewing the 6-1 hump for Tottenham and some confidence will have been regained with a 4-1 win at Newcastle at the weekend. But that was Newcastle, a team that played to avoid defeat even when leading. PSG will be a totally different proposition, as will Chelsea, Arsenal, RB Leipzig and Everton in the next period. So that doesn’t help United have brought a squad to Paris that is ‘a bit exhausted’.

Although they pose probably the biggest attack threat, perhaps PSG is a more ideal opponent for United than the other approaching foes. Solskjaer has the greatest joy with his team when they have been made to sit up and break, rather than being tasked with breaking massive ranks. PSG, at home, is expected to give United both barrels, as they did on that fateful night in March last year when the Red Devils made one of their best – and luckiest – comebacks.

The fact that Solskjaer has left some of his big names in Manchester saves him some decisions, even if it prompts others. Rather than trying to find the worst partner for Harry Maguire, he must form an entirely new central defensive partnership with neither the captain nor Eric Bailly in France. Victor Lindelof and Axel Tuanzebe will probably get the go-ahead on the basis that they are the only two stuntmen who have traveled; here’s another chance for Tuanzebe to reclaim the teeing ground alongside Maguire. In front of them, can Solskjaer afford to call Paul Pogba when his defense needs the best protection he can muster? Should Juan Mata keep his place?

The question of Anthony Martial or Edinson Cavani became moot when the new signing stayed in Manchester as his new teammates took off for Paris. Cavani was said to be desperate to take on his old team, but Covid restrictions have left him without training in preparation. So Martial, eligible to play on his return to France amid a domestic suspension, will have a chance to calm the skeptics who are finding their voices once again.

The ridiculous red card against the Spurs was just another stick with which to beat Martial. The ever-changing consensus about the 24-year-old seems to be that, in fact, he is not the long-term answer to the lack of a United center forward. Paul Scholes admits that Martial had ‘scammed’ United fans towards the end of last season. Now would be the perfect time for Martial to show again what he can do, at home, with Cavani watching expectantly. That’s assuming he really wants this, which is still up for debate.

Similarly, Solskjaer has more concerns than just Martial. Having earned a great show of faith in Paris before, in the form of a permanent employment contract, Solskjaer must do it again to strengthen his slider in the position he took up nearly 600 days ago.

Team to watch – Liverpool

Liverpool’s urine is unlikely to have gotten cold when he lands in Amsterdam after a weekend that saw them. lose your best player of the season and two more points courtesy of a cat’s c * ck hair offside call. But the Reds have to refocus because a side of Ajax awaits them which, together with Atalanta, could cause more suffering for Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool have staggered in the group stage before – it was a last gasp for Alisson against Napoli for missing the knockout stages before winning the Champions League in 2019. Atalanta is no longer a rookie at this level and is expects me to compete for the Serie A title, and although Ajax have lost Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech, the Dutch team never sells before being ready to rally from the academy along with smart recruiting.

So with the likes of Perr Schuurs, Ryan Gravenberch and Antony coming in, this Ajax team may be a little less familiar but no less threatening. Especially with Liverpool reeling from behind.

The Reds have conceded nine goals in their last two games, seven of which were sent under Virgil van Dijk’s watch. The trip to Ajax marks the beginning of Klopp’s ‘long wait’ for your most influential player.

With only Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as recognized central defenders, Klopp is also without Alisson and Thiago on Wednesday night with Liverpool looking fragile for the first time in three years. Anything short of a win will only exacerbate fears in Merseyside that the Reds’ air of invincibility has faded with Van Dijk.

Manager to Watch – Frank Lampard

Klopp isn’t the only coach with defensive concerns. But Frank Lampard can’t mitigate Chelsea’s sorry record by pointing out absences, other than a goalkeeper who may or may not measure up.

We know that Kepa is not but it will be the Spaniard who will keep the goal again on Tuesday against Sevilla. The most expensive goalkeeper in the world cannot say that he has not had the opportunity to demonstrate why he should not be dropped, but every time the gloves were returned to him, in this case due to Edouard Mendy’s injury, Kepa dropped them. quickly and everything else was thrown his way. It has become quite difficult to see. However, it’s still fun …

But the solution to fixing Chelsea’s rearguard, which has leaked an average of 1.5 goals per game since the start of last season with Lampard, cannot be found simply by unseating Kepa. All but two of the nine goals Chelsea have conceded this season have come from individual mistakes, and those facing Kepa have certainly done their part.

Lampard can claim that while mistakes are made individually rather than collectively, there isn’t much he can do. But this number of individual errors must point to a systemic failure. And simply pointing out the problem doesn’t fix it, which is what Lampard should do, and fast. Ideally before Sevilla reach Stamford Bridge, and certainly before they face Solskjaer on Sunday to decide which of the two will spend the following week justifying their position.

Read: Clown system: Lampard is a bigger Chelsea problem than Kepa

Player to watch – Thomas Partey

Mikel Arteta found it easy to justify leaving Arsenal’s new signing on the bench for the trip to Etihad on Saturday, but Thursday’s trip to Rapid Vienna offers the Gunners boss the perfect opportunity to start sleeping with the midfielder from 45 million pounds.

Arteta explained why he ordered Arsenal to spend such a sum on the Ghana star: “I think it allows us to play in different formations,” said the coach. “It’s going to give us a little more adaptability.”

Which is something they lacked at City on Saturday. Pep Guardiola He offered his former assistant the utmost respect with his game plan, but Arteta returned it with interest.. Arsenal never took the initiative, even with City backing down or content to see a victory on a goal on possession in the second period. Arteta’s changes, when they came, were all the same and at no point with the game at stake did Arsenal alter their form to at least give Pep a problem to ponder.

The presence of Partey, certainly once it’s installed, should give Arteta more leeway for those kinds of adjustments. That period of adaptation should begin on Thursday when Arsenal face perhaps the most difficult assignment of their group campaign in the Europa League.

Football league game to watch: Nottingham Forest v Rotherham

There aren’t many championship games on weekdays that really grab you by the balls. What Chris Hughton seems to have done in Forest …

The former Brighton boss is back in the game after being designated at the City Ground before the international break. Sabri Lamouchi was fired after losing all four of her Championship matches, but the Hughton era got off to the best possible start with an injury time victory at Blackburn on Saturday.

Joe Lolley’s latest winner after Hughton’s arrival has sparked sudden optimism from Trent, even as this Forest team continues to come up with new ways to burst their own bubble. Another victory, which would put them ahead of their opponents in 17th place, would place Forest perfectly for the biggest championship game of the week – the East Midlands derby on Friday.

Ian Watson



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