Liverpool raring to go: Five things learned from the last weekend of Premier League pre-season
We are mere days away from the start of the new Premier League season. All teams have completed their preparations or are in the final stages, so we are on the verge of seeing where everyone stands.
It’s crucial to bear in mind that preseason matches serve as vital preparation for the upcoming campaign. Drawing concrete conclusions from these friendly matches may not be wise, as their primary purpose is to help players regain their rhythm after time away.
Nevertheless, these games often provide valuable insights into a manager’s strategies for the upcoming season, including potential tactics and the integration of new players into the team.
With this weekend’s last round of fixtures serving as a final tune-up before the season opener, we have compiled a list of five key takeaways from selected matches
It’ll be alright on the night…
Thank you as always for your support, Villans. 💜
See you next week in London. 👏 pic.twitter.com/OecvsnufxC
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 10, 2024
As mentioned earlier, drawing conclusions from preseason activities can be risky. However, momentum plays a role, and we’ve seen teams with mixed form struggle initially before finding their footing.
Aston Villa, who will debut in the Champions League, is hoping for a similar outcome. They have transformed from battling relegation to securing a top-four spot in the Premier League under Unai Emery’s brief tenure. Their remarkable ascent has earned them a place in next season’s elite competition, and they’ve been proactive in bolstering their squad this summer to handle the demands of multiple competitions.
Newcastle, who experienced a comparable rise, faced challenges in their unexpected leap, partly due to unfortunate injuries affecting their disappointing Champions League campaign last season.
A series of seven preseason games concluded with a 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, marking their fourth defeat in five matches. The upcoming season won’t be any easier for Villa, as they kick off against a resurgent West Ham.
Carrying momentum
Six returning Reds get their first minutes of pre-season action ⚡️🔴 pic.twitter.com/hnOS5SlbIf
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 11, 2024
By contrast, Liverpool is eager to start the new season. There was understandable trepidation when Jürgen Klopp announced he would be stepping down this summer. However, his decision was made with enough time for the Reds to find a suitable replacement.
It’s still early to judge Arne Slot, but there are positive signs, even though Liverpool has not made any signings yet. The team remains the same as the one that finished third in the Premier League last season. Slot has been hired to continue where Klopp left off, and the pre-season has gone perfectly (four wins from four played).
While there are many caveats, having several weeks with his new squad to implement his ideas can pay off in the long run. The final summer friendly against Sevilla ended in a 4-1 win, and the players who participated in the European Championship and Copa America have returned to action.
If there’s a question mark over Aston Villa, expectations at Anfield will grow by the day. An exciting new era could be on the horizon.
The importance of a “9”
Goal! DCL levels it up on 61 minutes.
🔵 1-1 🔴 https://t.co/2VsWpyRq02 pic.twitter.com/9WaOMG5qLQ
— Everton (@Everton) August 10, 2024
Last season, Everton players combined for 40 goals, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin responsible for 17.5% while playing in 86.8% of their matches.
It was another frustrating campaign under Sean Dyche in his second year in charge, and although relegation was staved off before the final matchday, it was a third consecutive season finishing below 14th place.
Understandably, they are expected to have another challenging term, but having a striker of repute can make all the difference.
Calvert-Lewin has been an Evertonian since August 2016 and has never completed the full 38 matches once. His most prolific outing came in 2020/21 when he bagged 16 goals across 33 appearances. It was a second consecutive season in which he reached double figures and the last time to date.
Everton could not have started more poorly in 2023/24, having failed to win any of their opening five matches, with Calvert-Lewin making two appearances totalling 62 minutes.
He would make good on bagging three goals across Everton’s subsequent six matches, yielding two wins. (During this period, there was a success at home against Bournemouth, but “DCL” wasn’t on the scoresheet.)
Calvert-Lewin will likely be in Dyche’s starting lineup when Brighton visits next weekend. He goes into that game having registered a goal in each of Everton’s last two preseason games, including an equaliser last time out as they held Roma to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
An inspired signing
Smith Rowe sliiiding in for his second Fulham goal. 😎 pic.twitter.com/is6fvnakEG
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 10, 2024
So much was promised when Emile Smith Rowe broke through at his boyhood club Arsenal, with fans soon affectionately dubbing him the ‘Croydon De Bruyne’, partly due to his innate technique and likeness in appearance.
Smith Rowe was part of an emerging class of young Gunners whom head coach Mikel Arteta entrusted despite struggles, with some observers questioning the Spaniard’s process. It soon paid off, with the North London club becoming Manchester City’s biggest threat.
Smith Rowe will not be part of the journey to end their 21-year championship drought. Injuries effectively robbed him of a place in Arteta’s thinking, with him being loaned out to RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town in recent years.
He nevertheless posted 18 strikes across 115 appearances for his boyhood club while creating a further 13 goals. Having turned 24, he’s far from being a lost cause. Fulham, who have done good business with Arsenal (see Bernd Leno), will hope that potential is still inside, ready to be reaped.
Supporters are understandably excited with him registering a goal in each of his first two unofficial appearances. All eyes will be on him and his teammates when they visit Old Trafford to get the 2024/25 Premier League season underway officially.
A pleasant headache
Pure brilliance from our Brazilian magnifico 🇧🇷
You voted Lucas as your Player of the Match against Celta Vigo 👏 pic.twitter.com/qpRG2B5Ua2
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 11, 2024
It’s easy to feel lost with so much change happening at once – a new manager coming in, being sidelined for various reasons, and the influx of signed players.
Lucas Paquetá can now look forward to representing West Ham in the upcoming season. However, the Football Association has charged the attacking midfielder for allegedly deliberately getting booked to manipulate the betting market.
If found guilty, he could face a significant ban. For example, in 2022, Stratford Town defender Kynan Isaac was banned for ten years for his involvement in spot-fixing during an FA Cup match, where he was accused of intentionally receiving a booking as part of a betting scheme with friends.
- Read more: Jean-Clair Todibo signing indicates transformative West Ham playing style under Julen Lopetegui
This news came on the same day West Ham announced the appointment of Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach after David Moyes’s departure. Paquetá was unavailable for Lopetegui in West Ham’s first four pre-season games, but he played 67 minutes in their penalty shoot-out win over Celta Vigo, where he scored a goal and provided an assist.
With new attacking players like Niclas Füllkrug, Crysencio Summerville, and Luis Guilherme joining the team, alongside existing players like Paquetá, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and Michail Antonio, it will be interesting to see who Lopetegui selects for his starting eleven.
