Newcastle face moment of truth as Premier League returns
New-look Newcastle takes on Frank Lampard's Everton on Tuesday after splashing the cash in the January transfer window as the Premier League gears up for a first full programme of matches after the winter break.
Bottom-club Burnley host Manchester United while Manchester City will seek to return to winning ways against Brentford after a rare off-day against Southampton last month.
AFP Sport takes a look at some of the talking points ahead of the midweek action.
Newcastle became one of the richest clubs in the world when they were bought in October by a group led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund but initially they could do little with their money.
The January transfer window was always likely to be make or break for the Magpies, who have just two Premier League wins all season and remain stuck in the relegation zone.
Newcastle were the biggest spenders last month, spending about £85 million ($115 million) to bring in Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, Burnley forward Chris Wood and three defenders – Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett – to boost a leaky defence.
For all their problems, Eddie Howe's side are just one point from safety, with Burnley and Watford, either side of Newcastle in the drop zone, struggling to find the wins they desperately need.
But Tuesday's game will be a tough one.
Ex-Chelsea boss Lampard started his Everton reign with an impressive 4-1 win at home to Brentford in the FA Cup and is equally desperate for the points.
Manchester United looked like they had at last found some rhythm under interim manager Ralf Rangnick in the early stages of Friday's FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough before they lost their way and exited on penalties.
United wasted a glut of golden chances in the fourth-round match and paid the price when the Championship side equalised.
Rangnick's side still look less than the sum of their parts two months after he took charge at Old Trafford, even though he was surprisingly upbeat about their performance against Boro.
The German has thinned out his bloated squad, allowing forward Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek to leave on loan but the club are also now without the suspended Mason Greenwood, who was arrested last week on suspicion of the rape and assault of a woman before being bailed.
For all their attacking riches, United have scored 19 goals fewer than Premier League leaders Manchester City this season and have struggled to kill off teams.
Winning the Champions League appears unlikely, making it vital that United finish in the top four.
Rangnick believes they are going in the right direction but they must find their mojo soon.
Arsenal are in the mix to qualify for the Champions League after an absence of five seasons but do they have the firepower to get them over the line?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has now left the club to join Barcelona after a troubled last few months at the Emirates, leaving Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as the only senior forward options.
Lacazette has scored just three times in the league while Nketiah, yet to start a league game, has yet to get off the mark.
Manager Mikel Arteta, whose side travel to Wolves on Thursday, says his squad has the right amount of quality and experience and is confident they can finish the season on a high.
"We are really looking forward to (the run-in)," he said. "We know what the aim is at the end of the season, where we want to be – it's high but it's possible and we're going to have a real go in the second half of the season to achieve it."
Arteta will look to Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka to chip in regularly but he may come to regret his lack of options in attack.
下一篇:Get Thee to Totality: Chicago
- ·护航孩子成长 解决职工后顾之忧
- ·鍏ㄥ浗棣栦釜琚姩鎴垮強瑁呴厤寮忓缓绛戜骇涓氬熀鍦伴潚宀涙彮鐗宊涓浗灞变笢缃慱闈掑矝
- ·建立长效机制 稳步推进文化旅游资源普查
- ·爱心不分大小 行动见证真情
- ·Kamala Harris’ ridiculous problem with the political press.
- ·聚焦“百千万工程”,第二场“代表通道”上聊了这些
- ·天平上的真相:海尔披露行业潜规则
- ·运用自体血回输技术 抢救失血性休克患者
- ·LG Display starts production of advanced OLED displays for gaming
- ·农财月报:盘点2023,瞭望2024
- ·奥运会赛场上的海尔科技不怕大风和霜冻
- ·交通银行青岛分行:银行卡盗刷常用“六大套路”
- ·How much will PCB's Champions Cup mentors be paid?
- ·青岛市南区举行广场消费维权咨询体验服务活动
- ·海尔厨电联手GEA探路中国厨房高端升级
- ·雅安职业技术学院附属医院接受社会捐赠
- ·“精致小春姐”顾春芳:华丽白西装、镶钻水晶拖鞋,带来新兴凉果No.1
- ·2016年山东抽查进口商品不合格30.6% 9批被召回
- ·检查维修企业禁止露天喷涂作业
- ·汉源县公安局交警大队:放假离校严把控 超员违法严惩处
- ·9 Festive Holiday Treats and Where to Find Them
- ·闈掍紒寮€灞曗€滄姠蹇冨ぇ鎴樷€ 甯﹀叏浣撳憳宸ュ嚭鍘绘梾娓竉涓浗灞变笢缃慱闈掑矝
- ·风雨过后会有更漂亮的彩虹
- ·增强责任感 弘扬正能量
- ·Best smart home deal: The Amazon Smart Thermostat is just $63.99
- ·增强责任感 弘扬正能量