More Rooney Controversy, Arsenal Injuries, and Howard's Resilience

Is Rooney ‘Dat Guy?’

After last weekend I was very critical of Wayne Rooney’s reaction to Leicester City’s equalizer in the second half.  This week, it’s more of the same from Rooney, who this time almost cost Manchester United a home win with a reckless challenge on Stewart Downing.  It’s becoming more and more evident that Van Gaal may have made the wrong choice in handing the armband to Rooney, while it remains to be seen how his suspension will impact United.  If, and it is a big if, United appear the better side without their captain in the lineup, things could yet get more interesting at Old Trafford.  

The New Balotelli

In what was seen by many as a terrific risk over the summer, Liverpool paid a controversial 16 million pounds for the services of Mario Balotelli.  To his credit, Balotelli has not let any off-the-field issues that have plagued his career affect Liverpool.  In a face-to-face spat with Adrian last weekend, Balotelli kept his cool and was unfortunate to see yellow in an indecent clearly designed to wind the Italian up.  However, Balotelli has now scored just one goal in has last 20 premier league appearances, and although he is showing signs of maturity, the mercurial goal-scorer we all know is currently MIA.  

Arsenal Injuries Continue

Already without Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Debuchy, and Olivier Giroud, Arsene Wenger now has more fitness predicaments to navigate.  Aaron Ramsey picked up a knock that will keep him sidelined for a month (which, guessing by past experiences, could mean more than just a month), Mikel Arteta also came off injured, and the status of Jack Wilshere remains up in the air heading into key clashes with Galatasalry and Chelsea.  This could mean the return of Abou Diaby to the side, but more worryingly could spell trouble ahead for the Gunners.  Arsene Wenger may be rueing his failure to sign a top defensive midfielder right now.  

Southampton Steady

Word out of the South last week was that Southampton players refused a day off from Ronald Koeman, much to the dismay of Mrs. Koeman.  The Dutch boss reportedly gave the players the day off, but captain Jose Fonte informed Koeman of the recent development, forcing the manager to put plans with the wife on hold.  With each week, Southampton look more and more impressive, while the likes of Calum Chambers, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert, and Adam Lallana sit behind their former club in the premier league table.  

Chelsea Aiming High

If you don’t consider Chelsea favorites to win the league by now, shame on you.  Jose Mourinho is in a bit of a self-proclaimed pickle right now though with the fitness concerns of Diego Costa.  Costa has eight goals from six games in the league, but as the Champions League progresses Chelsea will need more out of their supporting forwards.  Right now, Bayern Munich and Chelsea look the strongest teams in the competition, so keeping Costa fit will be key for Chelsea.  If they can do so and get production out of Loic Remy and Didier Drogba in the league from here on, they have a chance for the treble this year.  

American Resilience

Aside from Phil Jagielka and his wondrous striker to steal a point from Anfield, Tim Howard was Everton’s finest player in the Merseyside Derby.  Following arguably his worst performance in the premier league, Howard put to rest any doubts about his age and current form for that matter.  Several huge saves aided the draw, particularly denying Mario Balotelli from point-blank range to keep the Italian searching for his first Liverpool tally in league play.  Howard continues to be a mainstay in the premier league, last week’s gaffes being an unusual deviation from his usual rock-solid self.  

England’s Surplus of Left Backs

The North London Derby was highlighted by Nacer Chadli’s opener, Alexis’ mysterious exclusion from the starting XI, and both sets of fans’ standard quota of pints and song.  However, two bright spots from he Three Lions perspective were the play of both Danny Rose and Kieran Gibbs at left back.  Rose limited Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s influence on from the right, and forced his countryman to find opportunities in the middle, which he ultimately did.  Gibbs had a similarly impressive match, although he spent much more time going forward.  The 25 year old has really come of age since Gael Clichy’s move to Manchester City, and both men are giving Roy Hodgson a lot to think about going forward.  

Round Five: Studs & Duds

Studs

Frank Lampard, Manchester City: Don’t do a double take, that’s right, Frank Lampard plays for Manchester City now, at least for a few more months.  No one could have predicted this storyline a year ago, one which saw the former Chelsea man score the equalizer in a hotly contested match against the club he spent over a decade at.  His emotional goodbye to the traveling Chelsea supporters was a heartwarming sight, and his refusal to celebrate his goal showed his undeniable class.

The Leicester City Forwards: Leonardo Ulloa scored a booming header seconds after United extended their lead to 2-0, and later a spot kick after Jamie Vardy won the second of two penalties.  Vardy’s work-rate was inhuman on Sunday, while the eight million pounds Nigel Pearson paid for Ulloa is paying dividends.

Winston Reid, West Ham: Reid opened the scoring with a simple tap-in from James Tompkins’ flick off of an excellent Stewart Downing ball in.  Reid was constantly in the right place defensively, serving as a leader on the West Ham back line.  His goal was what started the momentum for the snatch-and-grab Hammers.

Ryan Bertrand, Southampton: Bertrand had expensive shoes to fill at the Saint Mary’s Stadium following Luke Shaw’s move to Manchester United, but the on-loan Chelsea man has proved his worth in the South.  Bertrand, billed as the successor to Ashley Cole a few years ago when he joined Stamford Bridge, is finally flashing the form we all expected of him back then. 

Mesut Ozil, Arsenal: “I don’t play to prove anything to anyone, I play for Arsenal.”  These were the words of Arsenal record signing Mesut Ozil in the morning papers, who silenced critics with a scintillating contribution at Villa Park on Monday.  Everyone points to the positional change as the reason for Ozil’s performance, but it’s nice to see the player confidently stand up for himself with both his words and his play on the pitch.  

Duds

Wilfried Bony, Swansea: Bony cost his side a chance to continue their strong start when he inexplicably earned himself two very bad yellow cards.  The second challenge on Maya Yoshida was unforgivable, and the suspension which follows the red card will further cost the Welsh club.  Credit to his teammates for keeping it close playing a man down for so long.   

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool: I called Gerrard’s display ‘spineless’ in my power rankings today, and after much contemplation, I concluded that this was not too harsh of a word to describe the former England captain.  Gerrard’s positioning as the only defensive midfielder doesn’t help him, but the one-club man’s influence is waning on Merseyside.  

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United: Rooney assisted on Di Maria’s mercurial tally in the first half, but otherwise struggled in the playmaking role for Manchester United.  The image of Wayne Rooney losing his head after Leicester tied the game won’t vacate twitter anytime soon, and neither will the speculations that Van Gaal chose the wrong man to captain his side.  

Tim Howard, Everton: It was unusual to see Howard make two such glaring errors.  First, Howard and Jon Stones had a collective brain fart, then the American missed his punch which led to Frazier Campbell’s goal.  As an American, I’m not used to seeing Howard make such awful mistakes.  

Liverpool Back Line: Between Manquillo, Lovren, Moreno, and Sakho, the Liverpool back line from Saturday’s horror show have one year of premier league experience.  Brendan Rodgers, known for his philosophies on the offensive side of the ball, may want to allocate more attention to his increasingly shaky back line led by a big-money signing who admitted to a lack in confidence early on.  

Injury Concerns for Liverpool

Tuesday was a monumental moment in recent history for Liverpool.  It had been 1,742 days since the men in Red had heard the Champions League anthem, and the display Anfield put on for the return of Europe’s flagship club competition was nothing short of spectacular.  

Liverpool marked their return to the Champions League with a 2-1 win over minnows Ludogrets on Tuesday, and travel to Upton park to take on Sam Allardyce’s struggling Hammers squad.  

However, the injury concerns continue to mount for Brendan Rodgers.  Albeit his squad remains deep, injuries to critical players mean new ones will have to step in big games.  

Daniel Sturridge looks read to return to full training next week, but there’s no guarantee that will be the case.  The club is in desperate need of some stability leading the line, so now is the time for Mario Balotelli to step up.  

Balotelli’s goal in his Champions League debut for Liverpool was well-taken, controlling a cross in the box and calmly slotting home to give the Reds a late lead they would eventually squander, but regain on a Steven Gerrard penalty.

Coutinho’s form has been subpar so far this season, unable to replicate the dazzling displays he put out in preseason.  Between Sturridge’s injury, Luis Suarez’ defection to Barcelona, and the Brazilian #10’s recent dip in form, three out of four of Liverpool’s incumbent goal-creators are all either out of form, out of the country, or out of fitness.

It’s imperative that whoever Liverpool play up front take their chances, whether it be Balotelli and Sterling, Sterling and Lambert, or just one of them.  Last week’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa was a far cry from the goal-happy home fixtures we are so accustomed to seeing, so new faces have to step up. 

Even more concerning for Liverpool is news of the long-term injuries to Joe Allen and Jon Flanagan.

I would rate both Allen and Flanagan as two of the more underrated big-game performers in the league.  Flanagan plays the fullback position as good as anyone at the club; he can play on both sides of the pitch, and on both sides of the ball.  His inclusion was a mainstay in big games last season, and has yet to feature in the premier league this year.

Javier Manquillo is unproven and has yet to show proper positional discipline.  Meanwhile, the return of Glen Johnson to the squad is a frightening concept to Liverpool supporters who are fed up with his lazy defending and spineless long-range attempts on goal.  Regardless, one of them must step up and make it hard for Rodgers to pick the other.  

Rodgers made a point of signing Allen from Swansea upon his arrival to Anfield from the Welsh club.  Last season, Allen was often deployed in place of either Raheem Sterling or Coutinho in big games, showing the confidence his manager has in him.  Like Flanagan, he is a reliable footballer with excellent work-rate and versatility.  

Emre Can would be a capable replacement for Allen’s void in midfield, but the German has been ruled out until October.  Thus, the time is now for the new boys to step up and prove their worth. 

If last weekend yielded a chance for Mario Balotelli, this fixture with West Ham is surely more of an exam since he has had another full week to acclimate himself with his teammates.  If the likes of Balotelli, Coutinho, and whoever else gets the nod up front can produce, Liverpool will bounce back with ease.  

Power Rankings: Chelsea's Reign Continues

1. Chelsea (1): No surprises that Chelsea have claimed the top spot for the third time in four weeks.  Diego Costa now has seven from four games, and if he keeps this up Chelsea can get away with the odd defensive error that they are culpable to commit.  Loic Remy also got in on the action, scoring his debut goal for the Blues.  

2. Manchester City (3): Manchester City are given the second spot by way of a hard-fought draw at the Emirates and the shocking home defeat to Liverpool.  With Fernando out, City lack steel guarding the back line, but like Chelsea, this team can score in bunches.

3. Southampton (5): Graziano Pelle is turning out to be one of the buys of the summer for Ronald Koeman, whose stock is soaring at the Saint Mary’s Stadium these days.  The spirit at the club couldn’t be stronger at the moment, with Southampton netting seven from their last two outings.  

4. Arsenal (6): New boy Alexis turned in an outstanding performance on Saturday, but the man of the hour was undoubtedly Jack Wilshere.  So often criticized for his performances for both club and country, the 22 year old Englishman hit back at his critics with a near perfect display anchoring the Arsenal midfield with his tenacity and driving runs.  A collision with Samir Nasri typified Wilshere’s toughness and fearless approach.  

5. Aston Villa (8): Take a bow, Paul Lambert.  Aston Villa pulled off one of the upsets of the season on Saturday, as they snatched three points in front of a stunned Anfield crowd.  Fabian Delph’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad is a testament to the entire club’s body of work early on in the season.  Tom Cleverly was impressive…there, I said it.  

6. Swansea (4): Swansea were not shy in their clash with league-leaders Chelsea, but the Blues proved too much for Gary Monk’s men.  Swansea have much to be proud of after their gritty performance at Stamford Bridge, and are looking like the 2013/2014 Southampton of this season in the early goings.  

7. Liverpool (2): Liverpool take the biggest plummet in the rankings, as they were left searching for an answer to Daniel Sturridge’s absence.  Perhaps losing their talismanic front man had something to do with it, but resting an in-form Raheem Sterling was a blatant mistake by Brendan Rodgers.  

8. Manchester United (9): Much has been said about how good United looked in their 4-0 dredging of QPR on Sunday.  However, beating arguably the worst team in the league at home should be a formality.  Nonetheless, new signings Angel Di Maria and Daley Blind collectively proved their worth and offered a glimpse into the future for Manchester United fans desperately seeking piece of mind. 

9. Everton (11): Romelu Lukaku impressed in the away victory at the Hawthornes.  Rather than squander a two goal lead as they did against Arsenal, Everton locked down defensively and kept a clean sheet ahead of their home clash with a sputtering Crystal Palace side.  

10. Tottenham (7): It has been a tale of two pairs of outings for Tottenham.  The first two games couldn’t have gone better for Spurs, while the last two are definitely ones to forget.  However, I expect them to learn from last season and do better this year.

11. Leicester City (16): Leicester impressed in their second consecutive fixture with a win at the Brittania Stadium.  Leonardo Ulloa’s winner earned Leicester their first win at Stoke in 10 years.  

12. Burnley (13): Burnley wasted an opportunity to snatch an improbable three points from Selhurst park.  Sean Dyche still searches for his first premier league win as a manager following Burnley’s promotion from the Championship.  

13. Hull City (14): Hull City’s home fixture against West Ham was a riveting contest, and Mohamed Diame haunted his former club with a goal.  New signing Abel Hernandez also netted for the Tigers, but an own goal from Curtis Davies spoiled the win for Hull City.  

14. Stoke City (10): Stoke City were unimpressive in their loss to Leicester at home.  Mark Hughes has to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to add some offense to this side.  

15. Sunderland (15): Gus Poyet’s side benefitted from a late Harry Kane own-goal in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.  Their performance was subpar, with Christian Eriksen carving up the midfield several times.  The Black Cats will head to Burnley next weekend against a team desperate for three points.  

16. Crystal Palace (12): Crystal Palace had a chance to take three huge points from a fixture involving two winless teams.  Julian Speroni saved a penalty late on, and the Eagles were lucky to end up with just a point in a game that featured lots of poor finishing.

17. West Ham (17): West Ham earned a solid point in one of the more exciting games of the season to this point.  Enner Valencia’s first league start culminated in a stunning goal, hopefully a sign of things to come for the Hammers.

18. Newcastle United (16): Alan Pardew’s job is surely in jeopardy now.  Underdogs going into the fixture against Southampton, the Magpies hardly showed up to play and were subsequently thrashed by Ronald Koeman’s revolutionary side.  Pardew needs results or he’ll join David Moyes in the unemployment line.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (19): The bottom two spots in the rankings stay the same for another week.  Queens Park Rangers were subjected to a coming out party at Old Trafford for several big signings.  Realistically they were never going to get points from this fixture, but a 4-0 shellacking is never good for morale.  

20. West Brom (20): West Brom had a chance to steal a point at home from Everton but were promptly dispatched by Romelu Lukaku and the Toffees.  They show organization for much of their games, but unforgivable gaffes at the back have cost them in recent weeks, Saturday in particular.  

A Chance for Mario

“I think he has felt the warmth of the club since he’s been here and I’m sure he will look forward to playing at Anfield.”  These are the words of Brendan Rodgers, who looks set to start Mario Balotelli in a home clash against Aston Villa today.  

In the wake of signing the enigmatic Italian, the Liverpool manager described the deal as a ‘calculated risk.’  The risk obviously has to do with Balotelli’s controversial past, but the upside is infinite given the Anfield patrons’ habit of adopting the more exuberant type.    

Rodgers is a pragmatic manager in the mould of Jose Mourinho.  The Scotsman doesn't play the same tricks with the opposition, but shares the ability to get the best out of his players. 

I say this because of the unconditional confidence the Liverpool manager instills in his squad, which has seen the rapid maturation of previously immature talents such as Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, and Raheem Sterling.  

Upon taking the job at Anfield, Rodgers has been tasked with taking advantage of chances.  In his tenure, Rodgers has already solidified the club as a title contender, developed young sensations into star players, and appears to have bought the right talents to improve his club.  

This weekend, Mario Balotelli has a chance to similarly solidify himself in the good graces of the Liverpool faithful.  With Daniel Sturridge set to miss three weeks with a thigh injury, Balotelli replaces the Englishman as the most accomplished striker at the club.  

Against Aston Villa, Balotelli will almost assuredly lead the line in what is sure to be an offensive outburst from the Reds.  Alberto Moreno has settled into the squad after a troubled start; his 90 yard run with the ball against Tottenham which resulted in a goal was nothing short of pure brilliance.  

Lazar Markovic looks ready to play, while Rickie Lambert has cemented himself as a difference-maker off the bench.  However, Balotelli has yet to officially announce his return to the premier league.  His only attempt on goal was saved by Hugo Lloris, a header which should have found the back of the net.  

Today, Balotelli has a chance to set himself in stone amongst the Reds’ support.  His quality unquestioned, Balotelli can resurrect a career that has hit pothole after pothole on the road to the top.

He showed his class at Manchester City at times, and introduced himself to the international game at the Euro in 2012.  In the absence of Liverpool’s main man, Balotelli has a clear cut chance to break out in style in front of what is sure to be an Anfield crowd with open arms.  

Round Four Story Lines

Who takes up Sturridge’s mantle?

Liverpool fans endured a roller coaster international break, seeing Raheem Sterling shine but Daniel Sturridge injured on duty with England.  Thus, Brendan Rodgers has some thinking to do prior to this weekends visit from Aston Villa.  

Rickie Lambert’s presence has changed games late on for Liverpool, but all eyes will be on Mario Balotelli if he is given the start at the weekend.  Balotelli, reportedly hauled off the pitch by Rodgers after stamping on a Wolves player last week, looked rusty in his return to the premier league, but should be ready to go on Saturday.  

It remains to be seen how Rodgers will line his team up.  Will he start Lambert, Balotelli, or both?  Raheem Sterling guarantees his inclusion after his performances with England, while Coutinho recently earned his first call up to the Selecao.  Lazar Markovic is gaining fitness, as is Adam Lallana.  Sturridge is one of the few Liverpool players with a guaranteed role in the side, so there’s no telling how Rodgers will alter his tactics in the absence of his talismanic striker.

Will Danny Welbeck make an impact?

I’ll beat this drum a little more.  Danny Welbeck looks set to feature as the main striker for Arsenal against Manchester City on saturday, his first test as a Gunner.  Barring some big risk-taking from Wenger, it looks like Welbeck will be the lone striker, so his impact could be limited against a team like City.  Unless Arsenal push numbers forward and give him support, I don’t see Welbeck making too much of an impact in such a big fixture.  

This will be Manchester City’s first big trip away from home, so I wouldn't be shocked to see Fernando and Fernandinho line up together in the middle, protecting Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis.  However, don’t count out a contribution from Englishman, who has the pace to get in behind the City defense, something Olivier Giroud will never have.

How will Chelsea deal with Swansea?

A home game to Swansea in round 4 of the league might not have been the most menacing prospect for Jose Mourinho several weeks ago.  Now, Swansea are second only to Chelsea in the league table and Gary Monk has his men firing on all cylinders.  

In retrospect, it’s not that surprising Swansea shocked Manchester United on the opening day of the season, but don’t expect the same at Stamford Bridge.  In the days following the instant-classic against Everton, Mourinho surely has been glued to his managerial duties in preparation for answering his three-goal critics.  

Swansea bring more attacking prowess to the table than Everton, but Chelsea are many peoples' title favorites for a reason.  At this point, it’s hard to see anyone outscoring Chelsea at home.

Will Louis Van Gaal earn his first win for United?

Yes.  Well, at least one would hope so when they host QPR on sunday.  Ander Herrera is fit after an opening day injury against Swansea, while Daley Blind, Radamel Falcao, and Marcos Rojo could all make their Manchester United debuts.  

On paper, United set the record for transfer window spending and now have a handful of top-class talents at the club.  The firepower Van Gaal brought in over the summer is unprecedented, but it remains to be seen if the players he has can produce results on the pitch.  

Angel Di Maria’s form for Argentina was spectacular in the rematch against Germany, and even Wayne Rooney performed well for England yesterday.  I reckon United win this one definitively, easing pressure on Van Gaal from all angles.  Falcao scoring off of a long-ball from Daley Blind would be dreamy for Red Devil fans.

Bounce back test for Spurs and Black Cats

Both Tottenham and Sunderland suffered poor defeats in round three.  Tottenham were thoroughly outclassed by Liverpool, while Sunderland granted QPR their first win of the season.  

Both squads are in need of a morale-boosting performance.  After their fast start fueled by the feel-good story of Eric Dier, Tottenham failed to solidify their identity as a top-four contender after a dismal home performance.  

Sunderland will be under more pressure at home, with new boy Jack Rodwell expected to make more of an impact the longer his tenure draws out with the Black Cats.  This early in the season, it is hard to call this game a must-win for either team, but the intensity of this contest should be nothing short of electrifying.

Chelsea Lucky, Familiar Foes for Arsenal, City

Arsenal

A familiar foe for Arsenal in recent history, Borussia Dortmund join the Gunners in Group D.  Group mates in three of the past four seasons, Arsenal and Dortmund won their respective away games against each other last year.  Even with the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich, Dortmund are still an extremely dangerous team in this competition.  

However, the bottom half of the group is much easier for Arsenal than the likes of Napoli and Marseille were last season.  Anderlecht, having won the Belgian championship three years running, will likely be the whipping boys of the group; they have only progressed past the group stage twice in their history.  Galatasaray, under new manager Cesare Prandelli, will look to play spoiler here, but it’s difficult to imagine them upsetting either Arsenal or Dortmund.  

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers will be happy with Liverpool’s favorable draw in Group B.  Sure, they’ll have Ronaldo and the boys to deal with twice against Real Madrid, but advancing past the likes of Basel and Ludogorets should be a formality.  Expect Liverpool to finish second in this group, with an outside chance of ruining Los Blancos’ expected finish atop the group.  

Bulgarian side Ludogorets will be happy taking any points from this group, but Basel have adequately played the spoiler role in the Champions League in recent years.  However, I see Brendan Rodgers having a lot of success in European competition in years to come.  Rodgers is such an excellent tactician, partnered with his shrewd business in the summer.  Many of the players he has signed have Champions League or Europa League experience and are comfortable in the European game.  

Manchester City 

The Citizens finally progressed past the group stages in last years competition, but were disposed of rather easily by Barcelona.  This year, the draw isn’t much easier, but Manuel Pellegrini will expect his team to go through and perhaps even challenge Bayern for the top spot in the group (assuming his math is correct this time ‘round).

CSKA Moscow and Roma round out the bottom half of the group, both of which are respectable Champions League opponents.  Traveling to Moscow is never easy, while Rudi Garcia continues to build an impressive foundation at Roma.  Pellegrini has added more depth to his team in the summer, showing he is ambitious to make some noise in the Champions League this season.  However, this is probably the hardest group in the entire competition, so don't count on chalk here.    

Chelsea

By far the easiest draw of any premier league side, Chelsea should have no problem not only advancing but winning this group easily.  Jose Mourinho has depth at every position, and could feasibly change all 11 starters from a premier league game and be fine against these teams.  

Sporting Lisbon look a dangerous side with Nani in the fold, but last year was truly a revelation in the Portuguese league and I don’t expect them to hit the same form again this season, especially if William Carvalho leaves before Monday.  Maribor impressively eliminated Celtic, but will be the bottom-feeders in this group.  Schalke have a good record in European competition, but with the emergence of Bayer Leverkusen will be happy to just be back in the Champions League next year and likely focus on the Bundesliga.  

Fernando Simplifies Things For City

It was a roller coaster of a campaign for Manchester City last season.  In Manuel Pellegrini’s first season at the Etihad, City won two trophies and displayed some dominant displays of football.  What almost saw the Citizens lose the title however, was their inconsistent defending in the middle of the park.  

Particuarly away from home, Manchester City were too susceptible to the odd counter attack and poor run of play.  They would go missing for extended periods of matches, lacking the ability to defend in the middle third.  

Fernandinho is an excellent central midfielder, as is Yaya Toure.  However, as the year went on, it became clearer and clearer that both prefer to get forward more than track back.  

After two league games, Manchester City new boy Fernando is already panning out as the clubs most impactful signing of the summer.  Since Nigel De Jong left in the wake of their 2011-2012 championship, the Blues have been missing a steely defensive midfielder.  

Fernando fills this void, and although Fernandinho played alongside Yaya Toure for much of the year to great effect, the Brazilian was at fault for a lot of City’s positional indiscipline last season.  

In the big games, Pellegrini has the option to play the more defensive Fernando next to Toure, while Fernandinho would offer more going forward if he prefers an attacking side.  As we have seen in the first two games, Fernandinho can replace a forward from the bench and provide even more cover.  

In both instances, Pellegrini has done this to protect a lead, and in both instances Manchester City have closed out the game properly.  The chances of coming from behind against this team are even slimmer now.

Although he shows no signs of slowing down, Yaya Toure is getting old.  Fernando is the type of player who complements the Ivorian best, especially at this point in his career.  Liverpool, playing just one holding midfielder, ought to look at what Pellegrini does with his two central holders and think about fielding more support for Steven Gerrard.  

Poetically enough, Fernando is a much simpler player than Fernandinho.  They share a name and a starting position, but the latter is more flamboyant in both aspects.  With Fernando in the fold, Pellegrini has a means to simplify things on the pitch, which so far he has done after just two games.    

Room to Improve for Liverpool

An early season loss at the Etihad Stadium these days is far from the worst thing that can happen to a premier league team.  Brendan Rodgers will make sure his players know this all too well and will use the Manchester City game on Monday as a barometer for what Liverpool must improve on.

Defensively, all three of Manchester City’s goals started from the left side of the pitch.  Stevan Jovetic was easily the man of the match, and aside from his two goals he was a constant thorn in the side of Liverpool’s defenders.  Usually taking up a position behind Edin Dzeko, Jovetic worked in the channels on either side of Gerrard to great effect.  

Alberto Moreno was not quick enough to clear from inside his own penalty area and allowed Jovetic to fire home the opener off of a loose ball.  Then, Jovetic again broke down Liverpool’s left side with a deft flick to Samir Nasri who stormed into the penalty area past Moreno and delivered the assist to the Montenegrin.  

The introduction of Jesus Navas was the last thing Moreno needed, as the wide-man delivered an inch-perfect through ball for Sergio Aguero to send home the third and final goal.  Moreno was excellent for a majority of the game, but has probably found out that he has to be at the top of his game at all times to keep his place in the side.  There’s no doubt in my mind that he is a fantastic player, and away to City is as hard as it gets in a premier league debut.  

Lovren was not as sharp as he was against Southampton in week one, but that’s going to happen against a team like City.  Glen Johnson on the other hand, is running out of excuses for his increasingly poor and lazy performances.  Johnson, a fullback who loves to get forward, was caught upfield several times by the efficient Blues counter-attack.  If Manchester City had targeted Johnson as they did Moreno and Lovren, this game could easily have been much worse.

It's never nice to see fans cheering when a player gets injured, but that's exactly what's happening right now in Liverpool-clad households around the world.   Jon Flanagan’s return cannot come sooner for the Reds in my opinion, as he is the most well-rounded fullback in the squad.  He should feature at the weekend given Johnson’s injury, but I would play him regardless of his fellow Englishman’s fitness.  

Up front, the biggest impact by a Liverpool player was made by Rickie Lambert, who scored in a substitute appearance.  It is becoming more and more clear that Liverpool play best with a midfield diamond and two strikers, which is what they played primarily throughout last season.  With Mario Balotelli joining the Reds, we could see a drastic change from how Liverpool have started out in the first two games of the season.

Given Daniel Sturridge’s desire to roam the front line in search of the ball, it’s imperative that Rodgers has another striker in there to occupy the box when Sturridge makes these runs.  Lazar Markovic should figure in the conversation to start as well, his impact a positive one in his late appearance on Monday.  

Perhaps the most intriguing player ready to make his return is Adam Lallana.  Brendan Rodgers made the Englishman his top transfer priority in the summer and paid top dollar for his services.  Lallana should challenge Coutinho for the keys to Liverpool’s attacking midfield, but we could very well see both players line up at the same time.  

It seemed as if Rodgers would revert to his favored 4-3-3 formation after the departure of Luis Suarez, but it’s beginning to look more and more like the 4-4-2 diamond will be the most effective.  Rickie Lambert, not a world-class striker by any means, changed the game after coming on.  This is indicative of the fact that tactically, Balotelli should fit nicely.  

If Liverpool are to play with one holding midfielder, and if that one player is going to be 34 year old Steven Gerrard, things must change on Merseyside.  I feel like a broken drum when I say Emre Can would be ideally placed alongside Gerrard, but part of it is also the fullback play.  

Liverpool need more out of their wide defenders if they are to give their captain more help, Glen Johnson the main culprit.  If Rodgers can optimize his formation, Liverpool will be an excellent side as they were last year.  There’s no doubt that Luis Suarez has been replaced adequately by the Scot, so an early season loss to Manchester City should be the least of supporters’ worries. 

Is Di Maria Worth It?

It has been one point shy of a nightmare start for Louis Van Gaal in the premier league.  Following a lackluster defeat to Swansea at home, Manchester United bagged a point in week two away to Sunderland.  Things cannot get much worse for the Dutchman, but with the addition of Marcos Rojo, and the imminent signing of Angel Di Maria, things are looking to improve.  

It is widely believed that Angel Di Maria will be unveiled as a Manchester United player Tuesday morning, having completed his move to Old Trafford for a fee in the region of 60 million pounds.  

This will break the English transfer record by 10 million pounds, so one has to wonder if Di Maria is worth the fee.  However, the way things are going at Manchester United right now, it’s a given that the club will have to overpay players of Di Maria’s pedigree to join.  

The 130,000 pound-per-week wage package given to Luke Shaw was heavily criticized by Jose Mourinho of all people.  These comments mean a lot coming from “The Special One”, who has spent more than any manager in the world since 2004 (now over 900 million euros) and would be better suited for the title “The Spending One.”  

Part dig at a rival club, and part truth, this accusation that United are overpaying for Luke Shaw is completely spot-on.  Mourinho justifies this by saying a deal that large for a 19 year old would derail morale amongst the older players, but United would not have the youngster had they not stumped up that amount of money.    

United are not in a position of leverage right now as they had been for decades under Alex Ferguson.  Liverpool are exiting their own era in which they had to overpay for players, while United are taking their turn dealing with the cruel nature of the transfer market.  Coming off a seventh-place finish in the league and no Champions League football to show for it, United are in the precarious position of being forced to pay top dollar for everything.  

Di Maria is no exception to this, but even so, the fee is very, very steep.  Paris Saint Germain were priced out of a deal for Di Maria a month ago, so Van Gaal must be beyond impressed by the Argentine to shell out this much cash for him.  

Di Maria showed his worth to Argentina in the World Cup, and was awarded man of the match in the UEFA Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid.  His pace is unquestionable, and although he has shortcomings defensively, Van Gaal will accommodate these with the team he puts on the field. 

However, it remains to be seen if Di Maria can be ‘the man’ for a team.  For Argentina, he always plays off of Lionel Messi, while Madrid have their own fair share of world-beaters to grab headlines.  Stepping out from under the shadow of these players will be a big step in the career of the Argentine.  

Di Maria impressed me greatly last season when he still managed a spectacular year with the arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham.  The Argentine played more through the middle than he had in years past and was a catalyst for both club and country with a more free role.  

If Di Maria can handle the rockstar-type media attention that will hover over him like a dark cloud, he could very well justify the 60 million pounds United are paying for his services.  Earlier in the summer, Di Maria turned down a lucrative contract extension, and given the arrival of James and the presence of Bale, it’s no surprise he has moved on.  

Coming off Champions League glory in Lisbon and a silver medal in Brazil, Di Maria easily could have signed a bigger deal and sat around in Madrid likely surrounding time to the likes of Isco, Modric, and James.  The winger’s desire is on full display right now; he has left the Galacticos in favor of spearheading a rebuilding project.  

The Argentine is stepping out from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and taking it upon himself to be ‘the man’ at Old Trafford.  In fact, it is rumored that Ronaldo had to do with Di Maria's decision to join United.  It would be poetically just if the Argentine brought back the same flair that has been missing from Old Trafford since Ronaldo left.  

Can and Moreno Would Help Liverpool

Manchester City have achieved the ultimate level of stability.  This summer, coming off a title triumph, they managed to not lose any significant contributing players and have strengthened the areas of concern.  Equialim Mangala joins the Citizens and makes an aging defense more youthful, while Fernando impressed in his premier league debut last weekend.  

Liverpool have had similar fortune in the transfer market, securing the services of many young talents in the wake of Luis Suarez’ exit from Anfield.  What gives Manchester City the advantage apart from the obvious Etihad effect is that they didn’t lose their best player this summer.  

Don’t expect Liverpool to struggle as Tottenham did in the months following Gareth Bale’s mammoth move to Real Madrid.  However, questions still remain as to whether or not Liverpool are at the level they were last season.  Suarez contributed with and without the ball, and was loved unconditionally by the Anfield patrons.  

Losing such a mercurial talent and personality typically puts a dent in a squad’s level of play, but Brendan Rodgers has done an exceptional job at replacing his impact.  Two names who could feature at the Etihad Stadium today are Emre Can and Alberto Moreno. 

In a performance that lacked steel in the midfield last weekend against Southampton, Lucas looked way out of depth.  Emre Can, as I speculated last week, could be an inclusion for the Reds who will bring more physicality and energy to the midfield.  Can’s influence would decrease the duties of Steven Gerrard but more importantly inject inspiration into a midfield who will certainly need reinforcements in a longer season.  

Similarly, Alberto Moreno should feature for Liverpool and make his premier league debut.  Moreno was unlucky not to be on the plane to Brazil with La Roja this summer, but that should only encourage the Spaniard to elevate his play further.  Javier Manquillo struggled against Ryan Bertrand and Dusan Tadic and could make way Glen Johnson, who started on the left last weekend, or Jon Flanagan.  

Fernando’s holding presence in the midfield should further allow Fernandinho and/or Yaya Toure to push forward and contribute to Manchester City’s already impressive attack.  His positioning was on-point against Newcastle in the opening premier league fixture and atoned for his embarrassing stumble against Arsenal in the Community Shield.  

Sergio Aguero should be back to full fitness, and David Silva looked a menace in midfield against the Magpies.  The question for Liverpool will be whether or not they can handle such an attack in a hostile environment.  Dejan Lovren is already proving to be a huge upgrade but the second center back position remains a question for the Reds.  

If Martin Skrtel can stay disciplined alongside Lovren, Liverpool could have a chance to take points away from today.  It’s almost inevitable that City will put goals on the board, so Liverpools speedy attack must be on point when they are granted chances by the Blues’ defense.  

Even in such a massive fixture, it’s still early in the season and should bear much determination on the title race.  Then again, earning points is a priority for both sides.  I would be surprised if Manchester City didn’t earn three points at home, but won’t rule out a resilient performance from Liverpool in which Emre Can and Alberto Moreno star.  3-2 Blues in this one for me. 

Five More Excellent Signings

Marcos Rojo, Manchester United (20m euros)

After a drawn-out transfer saga involving rumors, finger pointing, and apologizing, Manchester United finally have their man.  Marcos Rojo arrives as a much-needed reinforcement, and although he cannot feature this weekend against Sunderland, his impact will be very positive for the Red Devils as the season progresses.  

Mario Balotelli, Liverpool (undisclosed)

A terrific signing for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.  Balotelli will contribute to some of Luis Suarez’ missing goal output and the Anfield crowd will adopt him unconditionally as they did with the Uruguayan.  It is this reason that I believe Balotelli will flourish at Liverpool, because rarely has the misunderstood 24 year old striker felt the love from the crowd.  

Giorgios Samaras, West Brom (free)

West Brom snapped up the Greek on a free transfer this week, adding a player with a bevy of Champions League, Europa League, and international experience under his belt.  Samaras is accustomed to playing in sides who hunker down defensively, and is effective roaming the pitch for the odd scoring chance.  

Leroy Fer, Queens Park Rangers (undisclosed)

Queens Park Rangers made an excellent signing in Leroy Fer, who joins from relegated Norwich City.  Fer featured at the World Cup and scored a goal for the Netherlands, and impressed with the Canaries last season.  He will be an excellent midfield engine from box to box and has room to grow at the age of just 24.  

Victor Moses, Stoke City (loan)

Stoke City looked slow offensively at home last weekend against Aston Villa in a 1-0 defeat.  Surplus to requirements at Chelsea, Moses will join Stoke City on a season-long loan and will definitely upgrade the Potters’ attacking options.  The Nigerian pitched in with some impressive performances at Liverpool last season and should see his opportunities increased at Stoke.  

Will Mario on Merseyside Work?

Luis Suarez’ exit from Anfield signaled a major change for the Merseyside club.  Personnel-wise, a crop of new signings litter the training ground nowadays, and the polarizing presence of the Uruguayan is no more.  However, the antics-driven media fracas which hung over Liverpool like a cloud (literally, it’s always cloudy on Merseyside) is back with the arrival of Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.  

18 months ago, Balotelli was sold to his boyhood club by Manchester City and Roberto Mancini, who after years of trying to tame the young Italian’s mercurial personality, threw in the towel.  Balotelli was instrumental in the 2011-2012 premier league title, but was known more for making the wrong sort of headlines.  

The stories go on and on about the striker, about how he drove his car into a Brescia women’s prison, how he once set his house on fire with fireworks, and how he inexplicably showed up at an Inter Milan press conference to congratulate the club on hiring a new manager with cameras rolling and all.  Thus, one has to wonder if life at Liverpool will be any simpler than it was for him in Manchester.

Is he a rotten egg or is Mario Balotelli in the mold of ‘misunderstood genius’?  His behavior off the field has been nothing short of bizarre, but on the field his talent is unquestionable.  It is expected that Brendan Rodgers will utilize his new striker next to Daniel Sturridge, reverting to the two-forward formation the Reds played in with Saurez.  

Balotelli will pick up a chunk of Suarez’ absent goal output, but the issue will be finding enough playing time for everyone.  When Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic return, Liverpool will have a plethora of attacking options.  Keeping Balotelli happy is a must however, since his discontent could derail a title challenge altogether as it did in 2012-2013.  

However, it will be easier to keep Balotelli happy in England than in Milan. Balotelli is desperate to play on a contending squad, and there is hardly a racist presence in England.  The best book I’ve read this year has to be I Think Therefore I Play, which is Andrea Pirlo’s autobiography.  

Pirlo, a very well-spoken individual in his own right, sees Mario as a symbol for the fight against racism in not just Italy, but the entire world.  Pirlo puts Balotelli’s life struggles into perspective, how he just wants to be loved and play football.  I felt I had made up my mind on the striker years ago, but listening to what Pirlo says about him sways him toward the ‘misunderstood genius’ crowd.  

Being one of the only African-American Italian players in Serie A, Balotelli’s stints in Italy have been marred by improper fan conduct and hateful gestures directed at him.  For me, Balotelli is going into a very positive situation at Liverpool.  At Manchester City, players are not loved as they are at Anfield.  He had the bad-boy-for-hire image at the Etihad, and while the home crowd cheered him, they didn’t adore him.  

Even through all the turmoil he insinuated at Liverpool, Luis Suarez was still loved by home fans until the day he left (well, you know…).  It should go the same way for Balotelli who, for what it’s worth, has never bitten another player on the pitch.  At 24, it is time for the Italian to become more a leader, something Brendan Rodgers will make crystal-clear to him.  

With talents like Raheem Sterling, Coutinho, Adam Lallana, and the presence of Steven Gerrard, Balotelli is in a place to succeed, but only if he puts his situation into perspective.  At Liverpool, the team won’t be built around Balotelli; he will be the one who has to adapt, but it is also him that could be the final piece in the post-Suarez Liverpool era puzzle.  

His work rate has always been in question and doesn’t share the same knack for hunting the ball down like Luis Suarez does.  Even so, it was a no-brainer for Rodgers to bring in Balotelli at that price.  His age almost guarantees that his value won’t dip given his abilities, and he could even feature as early as Monday against Manchester City (what a debut that would be!).  

It seems we’ve been saying it for years now, but Balotelli has all the potential in the world.  Of all the clubs Balotelli could have gone to, Liverpool may be the best choice for him.  Brendan Rodgers proves time and time again that he is an excellent man-manager who gets the most out of his players.  As long as he keeps the Italian happy, Suarez could be a forgotten name in Liverpool in a few months’ time. 

How Liverpool Can Succeed Against City

If there is one thing premier league viewers can be assured of, it’s that Manchester City will bring it at the Etihad Stadium.  With a 17-1-1 mark last season at home, the Blues come off an impressive title-winning campaign in which they netted 63 goals in front of their home fans.  

Liverpool shared similar success at home, but won’t be playing in the friendly confines of Anfield on Monday evening.  Liverpool and Manchester will meet for just the second premier league fixture of the season in the first marquee matchup between two title contenders in the new campaign. 

If Liverpool are going to have any success against high-octane Manchester City, they must defend better in the middle of the park than they did against Southampton.  James Ward-Prowse was allowed too much time and space, but that’s not to take anything away from the impressive Saints teenager.  

Emre Can has to start in place of the sluggish Lucas, whose time may be wearing thin at Liverpool these days.  Can has the engine and tenacity in the tackle to cause discomfort for the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva in the midfield.  Can’s presence should ease pressure on Steven Gerrard, while the German is considered by many to be the Liverpool captain’s heir in central midfield.  

The most important area of the pitch for Liverpool will be the defensive line.  Dejan Lovren appears primed to take up a leadership role alongside either Martin Skrtel or Mamadou Sakho.  However, Alberto Moreno would be the focus of attention if he were to make his Liverpool debut on Monday.  

Moreno wowed La Liga with his pace and skill on the ball going forward, but what makes Moreno such a valuable asset to the Reds is his defending ability.  Similar to Jon Flanagan, Moreno has the ability to shut down a flank, something Glen Johnson looks less and less capable of doing.  The Englishman could still feature for Liverpool, but I would argue a fullback tandem of Flanagan and Moreno will be most effective against Manchester City.  

Finally, Liverpool must utilize their speed all over the field if they are to snatch goals at the Etihad.  Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge will feed off of Coutinho, who was recently called up by Dunga to the Selecao.  The aforementioned fullbacks will likely be eager to get forward on occasion, and I personally can't wait to see Moreno pitch in to the attack.  Obviously, taking their likely limited chances is a must if they are to walk away from the Etihad with any points.  

Brendan Rodgers grows more experienced every week in the premier league.  He should have seen Javier Manquillo’s rough go about against Ryan Betrand and Dusan Tadic as a sign that he isn’t ready for a fixture of this magnitude in England.  Manchester City will surely attack Liverpool, so they have to maintain shape and take their chances with pace when they are presented.  For me, a shift in personnel would lead to improvements for Rodgers’ side in such a test on the road.  

No Place for Diving in England

Being a football fan in the United States, it’s not uncommon for me to hear criticisms of the sport in general.  First off, ‘it’s not football, it’s soccer’.  Well, no.  Actually it’s not, because the whole world refers to ‘soccer’ as ‘football’ so that’s that.  Other than the most basic of complaints about what people refer to the sport as, diving takes the drivers seat in the most-complained about aspects of the sport.  

In the World Cup, Arjen Robben assured the world that diving is still an unfortunate yet massive of the sport, as did Fred, Neymar, and Bastian Schweinsteiger.  Ironically enough, Neymar actually sustained a real injury when Juan Zuniga of Colombia kneed him in the back, effectively ending the Brazilian talisman’s World Cup.  

After all the times I saw Neymar rolling around on the ground as if Popeye himself had walloped him in the face with a shovel, I wrote off the Zuniga challenge as another instance of his antics.  However, I was wrong, and found myself wondering if Neymar’s parents ever told him the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.  

Not that I would ever wish injury on an athlete, but this is one of the more poetically just things to have happened in Brazil.  Diving is an action that should have no place in football.  It is arguably the least enforced form of cheating in sports, and is a cowardly way of trying to deceive the neutral official into making a wrong decision.  

If there is one league in Europe that is actually doing something about diving, it’s the premier league.  It’s a fair dissertation to declare the premier league the fastest and most physical league in Europe.  Often times, players joining the league from other leagues have a hard time adapting to these challenges.  

Diego Costa, who previously plied his trade in Spain, was booked for diving yesterday in Chelsea’s opening visit to Burnley.  Whether or not it was a dive is up for debate, but the fact of the matter is referees do their research and know the players they police on the pitch.    

Michael Oliver may have made the wrong decision (one could also argue that Costa, already well off-balance, left his right leg out in an effort to create the contact himself) but he did the right thing.  Booking Costa on the opening set of fixtures for diving sets a tone for the season and gives teams an idea of how officials are going to judge these calls.  

Widely considered the two most prone divers in England, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale now ply their trade in Spain.  During his tenure in the premier league, Suarez was the constant center of controversy, and was never in the good graces of referees who knew of his exploits.  

Similarly, Gareth Bale was one of the more harshly officiated players in the league, having actually accumulated enough simulation yellow cards to merit a ban in his final term with Spurs.  I’m not taking anything away from these two outstanding footballers, but from a diving point of view it’s a relief to see them gone.  

Here in the States, football takes a back seat to several other sports.  In my humble opinion one of the things holding football back in this country is the reputation for simulation.  Anyone who says there isn’t diving in the States is full of it though; just look at Lebron James’ antics over the years. 

However, the NBA, for one, is doing something about it.  In the last two seasons, the governing body of basketball has begun handing out fines for players who dive, something European football leagues should take into consideration.  The premier league is tough, relentless, and physical, but these are the exact reasons it’s the best league to watch in Europe.  

Liverpool Loving Lovren

The emphasis on Liverpool’s transfer dealings since the sale of Luis Suarez has mostly been on attacking players.  Players such as Markovic, Lambert, Lallana, and Origi have been purchased by the Reds, but arguably the most important signing of the summer has been Dejan Lovren from Southampton.  

Aside from Raheem Sterling, Lovren was Liverpools best player today.  The Serb was active on both sides of the ball, turning possession into chances with his confident long-range passing, while commanding the defensive third with his leadership and tenacity.  

Liverpool’s opening weekend triumph was largely unconvincing, with the visiting Saints dominating a respectable amount of play at Anfield.  Southampton had several chances to lead and level in the second half, but had Lovren not been on the field for Liverpool, the result would have been different.  

The 20 million pound signing from Southampton made quite the impression on fans and critics alike in his premier league debut for his new club, immediately taking up a leadership role that was left vacant by the now-retired Jamie Carragher.  He was constantly putting himself in positions to make key interceptions and tackles, while acting as a competent leader alongside Martin Skrtel.  

Last season, Liverpool lacked serious leadership in the back line.  Kolo Toure, the most experienced of the lot, didn’t see the field very often, and made the odd regrettable gaffe from time to time.  Mamadou Sakho is still adapting to the speed and relentlessness of the league, while Daniel Agger has since been pushed into an almost exclusively reserved role.  

Skrtel is an excellent defender, but he lacks the leadership and tactical discipline to lead the Liverpool defense.  He has a knack for scoring huge goals, most notably notching a double against Arsenal in a rout of the North Londoners last season.  However, Skrtels emotional approach hurt Liverpool in the long run last year.  The Reds saw too many late goals conceded, clearly lacking a dominative presence on the field.   

The draw with Crystal Palace late in the season was particularly painful for Liverpool fans, but Lovren brings a new dimension to the defense at Anfield.  If anything, Brendan Rodgers needed defensive solidity.  I expect to see Emre Can start alongside Steven Gerrard sooner rather than later, but Dejan Lovren looks like he is there to stay in the starting lineup.