Premier League
Gyökeres Backs Isak and Reflects on Player Power After Record Liverpool Transfer
A striker defends a record transfer, addresses player power and recalls similar transfer struggles .
The first international break of the season arrives in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool completing the Premier League record-transfer of Alexander Isak. The move was made official a day earlier, bringing an end to what had been the biggest transfer saga of the summer.
In an interview, Gyökeres admitted he congratulated him on the move. When asked about the wider debate over player power — players forcing their way out of a club — he offered a measured perspective. “I think the clubs have the most power,” Gyökeres said. ”It’s maybe difficult for the players to choose in a lot of cases. When it’s a player that’s not wanted in a club it’s the total opposite, he doesn’t have any power and the club can literally do whatever they want with the player. It’s difficult, but it’s how the situation is.”
That view is informed by recent events. Newcastle United were adamant on keeping Isak despite the player making his desire to join Liverpool abundantly clear. After training by himself for a month, Isak finally got his dream move to Anfield.
Gyökeres experienced comparable resistance during his own transfer. Before joining Arsenal, Sporting CP made it hard for the Gunners to complete the transfer, with the striker’s agent eventually accusing his former club for disrespecting Gyökeres in the negotiations.
Both Swedes were among the most coveted strikers in the transfer window, with major European clubs vying for their services. In the end, both players landed at the destinations they wanted.
On the international stage the pair continue to carry expectation. Gyökeres and Isak have scored 31 goals between them for the national team, and they will begin their World Cup qualifier campaign when they visit Slovenia on Friday. The recent transfers and the comments around player influence ensure the topic remains central as national teams regroup.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa v Man City: Match preview, injuries and predicted lineups
City travel to Villa Park with Haaland in form; Villa aim to recover from Europa League loss. and injuries
Manchester City head to Villa Park on Sunday determined to finally end their recent hoodoo at Aston Villa. City arrive on the back of a comfortable Champions League victory, a 2–0 win at Villarreal courtesy of first-half goals from Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva. Haaland has been irresistible this season, failing to score in only one match and contributing 24 goals for club and country.
Aston Villa come into the fixture in low spirits after a rotated side were beaten 2–1 by Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League, a result that halted a five-match winning run across all competitions. The Midlands club must be more stubborn than they were in Deventer if they are to challenge City and push for a move into the top half of the table.
Villa have a largely healthy squad but will be without Youri Tielemans following the calf injury he suffered in mid-September; he is unlikely to return before the November international break. Andrés García will miss out, and Lucas Digne is a significant doubt after sitting out the trip to the Netherlands with an ankle problem picked up at Tottenham Hotspur.
Emery is expected to pick a side similar to the team that beat Spurs, with Ollie Watkins a possible recall for Donyell Malen. Evann Guessand, who scored his first Villa goal midweek, could continue on the right. Ian Maatsen is set to replace the injured Digne, while Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash are likely to start after only brief cameos in the Europa League.
Aston Villa predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; Guessand, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov will miss the visit to Villa. Nico González, who suffered a foot injury against Villarreal, will be assessed nearer kick-off. Guardiola is expected to rotate his XI, with Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly pushing for returns.
Man City predicted lineup (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovačić; Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
Villa have a good recent home record against City, but City are favourites. Villa should test the visitors, but City’s firepower, led by Haaland, could prove decisive.
Arsenal
Arsenal v Crystal Palace: Match Preview, Team News and Likely XIs
Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates: team news, injury updates and predicted lineups. Sunday
Arsenal return to Premier League action on Sunday when Crystal Palace visit the Emirates. The Gunners arrive off a 4–0 victory over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, their sixth successive win and a continuation of a perfect start in the Champions League. Arsenal sit top of the table and boast the league’s stoutest defence, but Manchester City could move to within a point before the weekend fixtures kick off.
Crystal Palace come into the game on the back of cup success and a long unbeaten run that peaked at 18 matches. Palace have since lifted the FA Cup and the Community Shield, but they are now winless in three across all competitions after a home defeat to AEK Larnaca in the Conference League on Thursday.
Team news is significant for the hosts. Arteta confirmed on Friday that the defender hasn’t been able to train since picking up an injury against Atléti. If Gabriel is not risked, Cristhian Mosquera is ready to step in and partner William Saliba. Piero Hincapié may also be considered, though he has appeared just once since joining on deadline day. Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard are likely to be recalled, while Eberechi Eze should retain his place. Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard remain out.
Palace face a quick turnaround after Thursday and will rotate accordingly. Chris Richards and Adam Wharton are certainties to return, with Wharton having only come off the bench on Thursday. Eddie Nketiah could start against his former club, potentially alongside Jean-Philippe Mateta, with Yeremy Pino the most likely to make way. Injured pair Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad have yet to feature this season.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard.
Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi; Muñoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Nketiah; Mateta.
Broadcast details: United States (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video); United Kingdom (Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Premier League); Canada (DAZN Canada, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video); Mexico (Caliente TV, Amazon Prime Video).
Brentford
Referee Injury and VAR Review Prolong Second Half at Gtech Community Stadium
Referee injury delayed the second half; VAR review produced a penalty that restored Brentford’s lead.
A referee injury and a subsequent VAR intervention extended the second half of the Premier League meeting at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. The match was held up after the break when the original official, who had been booed off the pitch to end the first half, did not continue. Robinson came out to resume play amid audible discontent from some spectators.
The first half itself had run longer than the minimum added time. A minimum of three minutes had been signalled, but the interval ended with nearly five additional minutes. That extra time allowed Milos Kerkez to cut Liverpool’s deficit in half before the interval.
Play was halted again about 15 minutes into the second half when VAR reviewed an incident on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area. Dango Ouattara was fouled by Virgil van Dijk on the edge of the box and the decision on the pitch was initially a free kick for the hosts. Stockley Park then directed play to be stopped while the incident was scrutinised.
Following the review, officials judged the contact to have occurred on the line and awarded a penalty. Igor Thiago converted from the spot, beating Giorgi Mamardashvili and restoring the two goal lead for the hosts.
Liverpool had arrived at the fixture having snapped a four-game losing run with an emphatic midweek result against Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite that boost, they found themselves two goals down in the first half through strikes from Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade. Milos Kerkez’s late first-half effort reduced the margin, but the penalty early in the second half moved the hosts back to a two-goal advantage and overshadowed Kerkez’s contribution before the interval.
The match was defined as much by the interruptions and VAR process as by the goals, with the referee situation and the subsequent review shaping the opening stages after the break.
