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.
Man City
Haaland’s Scoring Run and the Vardy Record He Is Pursuing
Haaland has six straight Premier League games with goals; he needs five more to reach Vardy’s 11. 25
Erling Haaland has begun the 2025–26 season in relentless fashion, compiling 24 goals in 14 games for club and country. The 25-year-old added three strikes since returning from the October international break, including a match-winning brace against Everton last weekend and a Champions League goal away at Villarreal.
In the Premier League Haaland has now scored in six successive matches and is closing on the all-time run of 11 consecutive top-flight games set by Jamie Vardy. Vardy established that mark during Leicester’s title-winning 2015–16 season, overtaking the previous record of ten held by Ruud van Nistelrooy. Vardy officially achieved the feat on Nov. 28, 2015 against Manchester United.
Haaland’s previous best Premier League run was seven consecutive games with goals, a sequence that stretched from August to October 2022. The list of the leading runs in the competition includes Jamie Vardy (11), Ruud van Nistelrooy (10) and players with eight-game sequences such as Alexander Isak and Daniel Sturridge.
To match Vardy’s record Haaland must score in his next five league matches. Manchester City’s upcoming five Premier League fixtures are Aston Villa (A), Bournemouth (H), Liverpool (H), Newcastle United (A) and Leeds United (H). If he finds the net in each of those games he would then also need to score against Fulham (A) on Dec. 2 to reach 11 straight.
The available opponent data in the draft provides context for those fixtures. Against Aston Villa Haaland has played 4 matches and scored 1 goal; against Bournemouth 7 matches and 2 goals; Liverpool 8 matches and 3 goals; Newcastle 6 matches and 1 goal; Leeds 2 matches and 2 goals. Fulham is listed with 6 matches in the draft without a goals total supplied.
Renewing a run of scoring in every league game will be a clear challenge given the sequence of opponents, but the facts in this season to date show Haaland in exceptional form and closing on one of the Premier League’s most notable goalscoring records.
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).
