Liverpool are for real, Man United need work and Barca score seven: Marcotti recaps the weekend-ZoomTech News

The ultimate weekend of European membership motion earlier than the worldwide break did not disappoint, with speaking factors galore throughout the highest leagues. Within the Premier League, Liverpool humbled Man United at Outdated Trafford in entrance of United’s new midfielder. In LaLiga, Barcelona look pretty much as good as they’ve in years with a 7-0 win whereas Kylian Mbappé bought off the mark for Actual Madrid in one other wobbly crew effort.

Within the German Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen’s 462-day unbeaten streak was snapped by RB Leipzig, and Thomas Müller grabbed headlines with a superb aim in his record-setting 710th look for Bayern Munich. We additionally bought lots to debate round AC Milan, Chelsea, Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Napoli and extra.

It is Monday. Gab Marcotti reacts to the largest moments on the earth of soccer.

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Liverpool are for actual, whereas Ugarte can solely assist Man United if used correctly

One bald Dutch supervisor was in his third sport for the membership; the opposite is in his third season. When you watched Manchester United vs. Liverpool with out understanding who’s who, you may simply have mistaken Arne Slot for Erik ten Hag and vice versa.

Liverpool appear like a crew with a coherent identification. Positive, it helps that it is the identical crew from final season and sure, it is true that Slot shares many footballing ideas together with his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp. However there are main adjustments too, from the scheme — a fairly distinct 4-2-3-1 — to the extra possession-oriented strategy, together with a larger sense of pragmatism and suppleness. (It is not a coincidence that Slot largely used a unique setup final season at Feyenoord.) The way in which Liverpool have taken his message on board — and the best way they appear to have improved in every of their first three video games — speaks volumes of the job he is doing to this point.

As for United, one of many irritating issues is that this nonetheless appears like a crew in transition. Partly as a result of the personnel hold altering — Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martínez, Diogo Dalot and Casemiro have been the one starters on Sunday who have been additionally regulars in Ten Hag’s first season — however largely as a result of it is tough to pin down what they’re making an attempt to do. United’s strategy feels in steady flux, and no matter that strategy is, it hasn’t come near wanting like Ajax’s Ten Hag, which is presumably what bought him the job within the first place. Positive, there are many causes and mitigating circumstances, nevertheless it needs to be a supply of frustration as a result of it appears like three years of treading water.

There have been particular person errors, too. Casemiro gave away the ball twice, resulting in Liverpool’s two first-half targets. It is not a linear factor — in each conditions, Liverpool had lots to do earlier than scoring — however he rapidly turned the scapegoat. Rightly so (in all probability) since he was poor, although if there was any doubt Ten Hag’s resolution to switch him at half-time with someone named Toby Collyer — a 20-year-old child with zero Premier League minutes below his belt — left little doubt. Symbolically, with new signing Manuel Ugarte within the stands, it felt as if Ten Hag was turning the web page.

Ugarte is 23 and when it comes to work-rate, tackling and defensive capability in midfield is sort of a youthful, larger power Casemiro. Nevertheless it’s price reminding ourselves why PSG have been completely happy to maneuver him on and why he misplaced his place as a starter midway via final season.

PSG boss Luis Enrique wished a defensive midfielder who may move effectively, do some playmaking and be press-resistant. Ugarte would not excel in any of these areas, and it was errors in these areas that prompted Casemiro to get substituted. It doesn’t suggest Ugarte cannot be an improve, simply that possibly he is not the man you need carrying the ball out of the again, like Casemiro did in opposition to Liverpool. Perhaps it can imply utilizing Kobbie Mainoo in a different way — although, you will word, he too misplaced the ball forward of the third aim — or possibly there might be a larger function within the build-up for Mathijs De Ligt or Lisandro Martinez, each of whom are good passers.

Both manner, for this to work, change has to come back … once more.

It wasn’t all destructive for United. They performed effectively within the first half-hour, Marcus Rashford appeared sharp and Joshua Zirkzee missed a hat-trick of probabilities — a glass half-full take can be that United created these scoring alternatives and he was there to attempt to convert. However general, it felt like a intestine punch and the very last thing Ten Hag wants is for the sensation of drift to return.

Throughout the best way, it is three wins on the trot for Liverpool, with seven targets scored and none conceded. If we wish to nitpick, their depth did drop at 2-0, which is why Alisson needed to come up massive with some vital saves. That 0.95 xG is suboptimal too, and so they’ll wish to determine whether or not it is merely a byproduct of attacking as a lot as they do or if there are defensive tweaks to be executed (I might lean towards the latter). Nonetheless, lookup “dream begin” within the encyclopedia and you may see Slot’s face smiling again at you.

Yet another factor on Sunday’s sport: I do not suppose Mohamed Salah reminding everybody that he is within the remaining 12 months of his contract and the membership have not mentioned an extension with him is an enormous deal. Sure, Liverpool did spend massive (in wages, not switch charges) on Federico Chiesa, who performs the identical place as Salah. As a deal, it is someplace between a possibility — he is an ideal participant if he stays match — and a hedge in opposition to Salah shifting on.

I’ve no drawback in any respect with Salah airing what all people already is aware of, and I’ve much less of an issue with Liverpool ready to broach the topic of an extension. It is simply good enterprise.

By no means thoughts whether or not Paulo Fonseca was proper to drop Rafael Leão and Theo Hernández … did it really work?

Leao and Hernandez are, arguably, Milan’s two finest gamers. They’re additionally two of probably the most maddening. For all his expertise, Leao often goes AWOL for lengthy stretches. Theo is a devastating drive going ahead, however generally displays the positional sense of a busted compass when defending. Each have been poor in Milan’s first two video games, so Fonseca dropped them for Saturday’s journey away to Lazio.

Most coaches exit of their option to defend their finest gamers, at the least outwardly. Those that do flex in such a public manner are usually those who’ve constructed up a ton of sporting capital, as a result of they have been of their jobs a very long time and have trophies to indicate for it. That is Fonseca, who has but to win a sport as Milan coach and has received nothing since leaving Ukraine in 2019. On the very least you must admit the man has guts.

Initially, it appeared prefer it was working a appeal as Milan took the lead and created probabilities within the first half. (Fonseca is a genius!) Then, after the break, we bought the defensive meltdown that has dogged them in current video games, and so they gave up two within the house of 4 minutes. (Fonseca is a idiot!) So he despatched each of them on, and so they instantly mixed with one other sub, Tammy Abraham, to notch the equaliser. (Fonseca is a genius!) Then got here a type of cooling breaks and whereas all of the Milan gamers convened across the bench to rehydrate, Theo and Rafa saved their distance, watching — some may say sulking — from the alternative sideline. (Fonseca is a idiot!)

It completed 2-2 and since it is in everybody’s curiosity to take action, everybody performed down what occurred. Theo mentioned after the sport that they did not be part of their teammates within the cooling break as a result of that they had solely been on for a couple of minutes and did not want it. Nice. However given the circumstances, it wasn’t a superb look, and also you assume they’re conscious sufficient to know that.

Fonseca went out on a limb right here. He can do the maths: he is aware of his two stars are price extra to the membership than a complete battalion of Fonsecas and if Milan discover themselves having to decide on, it is no selection in any respect. Equally, you assume he is aware of some gamers reply to carrots and others to sticks. These two have loved a ton of carrots over time. He isn’t paid to suck as much as them; he is paid to do what he thinks is finest for the crew. If he will get it fallacious, he is the one out the door. And on this case, he selected the stick, hoping he will get the response he desires.

‘Neverlosin’ no extra as Bayer Leverkusen’s streak is ended by RB Leipzig, however is there trigger for concern?

Leverkusen’s unbeaten run in all competitions ended within the Europa League remaining final Could and now, after 462 days, the unbeaten streak within the league is over too following a 3-2 house defeat to Leipzig. Streaks finish — that is what they do, that half just isn’t an enormous deal. Nor are you able to level to a breakdown in Leverkusen’s efficiency. They notched a cumulative xG of two.68 (to 0.72), took 26 photographs (to Leipzig’s 9) and had 10 on track (to 4).

And but, there isn’t a escaping the truth that while you’re 2-0 up at house, you should not lose. It is only a mantra of the sport and, for all of the rationalising you may wish to do — Leverkusen switched off for Kevin Kampl‘s aim within the seventh minute of first-half harm time, Loïs Openda put the ball via Matej Kovar‘s legs for the equalizer and scored a worldie for the winner — psychologically, it could stick.

Supervisor Xabi Alonso cannot enable that to occur. The membership doubled down on him after his resolution to remain, including loads of depth (Nordi Mukiele, Aleix García, Martin Terrier, Jeanuël Belocian) whereas hanging on to Jonathan Tah and the opposite starters from final 12 months. They’ve all of the instruments to problem not only for the Bundesliga, however the Champions League as effectively.

As for Leipzig, Openda once more confirmed what he can do. After scoring 29 targets final season, all however one from open play, he turned in one other masterful efficiency. The truth that he is the second-most hyped center-forward on this crew (after Benjamin Sesko) is proof of how loaded Leipzig are.

Raphinha runs rampant and Hansi Flick will get a standing ovation as Barcelona destroy Valladolid

A lot for the doom-and-gloom retailers (together with yours really), as this weekend made it 4 video games, 4 wins and a four-point LaLiga lead after Barcelona’s 7-0 win over Valladolid. (It may have been extra, too, given they hit the woodwork thrice.) All this regardless of the accidents (Gavi, Ronald Araújo and Frenkie de Jong to call however three), regardless of only one newcomer in the summertime (however what a newcomer in Dani Olmo) and regardless of a brand new coach (Flick) who some thought was cooked after his debacle with Germany in Qatar.

You may have fun the person high quality. Olmo seems as if he spent the final decade on the membership. Lamine Yamal, at 17 years and 49 days of age, notched his tenth LaLiga help: some man named Lionel Messi was 20 when he reached double figures. Robert Lewandowski, 36 years younger, scored once more to make it 4 of 4 for him whereas Raphinha, who so few appeared to imagine in, bagged a hat trick and turned in one in all his finest performances in a Barca shirt.

However please do not forget Flick. The way in which this crew has taken to him — and the way rapidly he has transmitted his extra direct fashion of soccer — is exceptional. It could not work over the long run, and we’ll see what occurs when the regulars return, however for now it is a pleasure for the impartial to behold.

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Fast hits

TEN — Mr. August does it once more in Manchester Metropolis’s newest romp: I ought to have waited for August to really finish earlier than sharing these Haaland numbers final week. My dangerous. So after his hat trick within the 3-1 away win over West Ham on Saturday, he is as much as 30 targets in 19 matches in August for his profession. It is fairly ridiculous, particularly when you think about he missed what, for him, are sitters: a header within the first half, a one-on-one within the second. And it isn’t simply him, both, as Metropolis have hit the bottom operating with three wins from three video games to open the season.

NINE — Rotating strikers? When it really works — prefer it did for Atletico Madrid — you appear like a genius: Atletico Madrid have 4 senior strikers within the squad and Diego Simeone has used three completely different combos in Atleti’s 4 video games. Every time, he has substituted the 2 starters and introduced on the 2 different guys. Towards Espanyol of their drab 0-0 midweek draw, it made his aspect worse. Saturday away to Athletic Bilbao, it made them higher, as Alexander Sorloth received the ball in midfield and teed up Ángel Correa for the winner. There is not any actual sample right here — not but, anyway — however when Simeone finds it, the choices may make Atletico contenders. Till he does, they will be lower than the sum of their components.

EIGHT — Mueller’s aim and look file brighten a colorless day for Bayern Munich: The file books will log it as a routine 2-0 win over Freiburg, with Bayern not but having metabolized Vincent Kompany’s strategy. However they will additionally word Thomas Mueller approaching as a sub and making his 710th look for the membership, breaking the file he collectively held with legendary goalkeeper, Sepp Maier. Moments later, Mueller scored a aim which may have been decisive if Freiburg hadn’t despatched their late penalty over the bar. He snatched the ball out of the air together with his proper foot with a delicate contact after which, in the identical movement, fired house together with his weaker left foot. It was a stupendous aim and a becoming — if counterintuitive — option to have fun the day, on condition that for many of his profession, he was identified extra for his athleticism and intelligence than tremendous technical capability.

SEVEN — Ref proper to ship Rice off vs. Brighton? Perhaps, however why did not Veltman go too? That is lacking the forest for the timber. Was Declan Rice making an attempt to delay an innocuous Brighton free kick? Most likely and sure, by the letter of the legislation, since he was already on a yellow, referee Chris Kavanagh was proper to ship him off. However what about Joël Veltman? Does being entitled to take a free kick imply you are additionally entitled to swing via the ball and whack an opponent at the back of the leg? Did we overlook that element? Regardless of taking the lead with a contact of fine fortune, Arsenal weren’t nice and bought markedly worse after the sending off. Brighton aren’t the sort of crew you wish to play a person down: 11 v 10, they outshot Arsenal 20-3 on their option to a 1-1 draw. Deal with it as a studying alternative.

SIX — Mbappe luggage his first LaLiga targets as Ancelotti continues his seek for stability: After the wretched efficiency midweek, Kylian Mbappe made the headlines together with his first two LaLiga targets. (Vinícius letting him take the penalty was a pleasant contact.) Extra fascinating, I feel, is Carlo Ancelotti’s resolution — after experimenting with Arda Güler and Luka Modric — to let Dani Ceballos audition for the midfield function in Jude Bellingham‘s absence. The form was higher — the efficiency too — however once more the targets got here late and also you get the sense that Fede Valverde is carrying the center of the park proper now, and with Bellingham presumably returning after the break, it will not be an automated repair: they did not look proper earlier than his harm both. Eduardo Camavinga‘s return may assist, however I ponder if the following factor to attempt may not be dropping Rodrygo for an actual winger like Brahim Díaz or biting the bullet and, with a match Camavinga, shifting Valverde out huge.

FIVE — Enzo Maresca is right, however possibly it isn’t what you need to be saying: Following the 1-1 house draw in opposition to Crystal Palace (Chelsea are enhancing … slowly), new Blues supervisor Maresca mentioned: “One factor needs to be clear: Chelsea received the Champions League three years in the past … however now it’s now that sort of Chelsea … generally, should you do not win, it’s regular.” He is proper, in fact: Reece James is the one holdover from that crew we’re more likely to see on the pitch, assuming he is ever match, whereas every little thing from membership proprietor to government employees to general vibes have modified. And, in fact, “not successful” is “regular.” It is simply arduous to see the good thing about reminding your supporters about this.

FOUR — Lukaku scores on his debut as Conte’s Napoli huff, puff and blow Parma’s home down: It took Parma keeper Zion Suzuki getting despatched off (a bit harshly), Enrico Del Prato (ordinarily a right-back) having to go in aim and harm time targets from Romelu Lukaku and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa to get it executed, however Napoli willed their option to a 2-1 comeback win, Antonio Conte-style. Memo to Parma, who took the lead and stopped attacking (the second half shot rely was 19-3): in opposition to extra gifted opponents, that is a recipe for catastrophe.

THREE — Spurs’ excessive line is not the issue … the execution is: Surrender two targets on the counter and lose a sport you are dominating when it comes to photographs and possession in opposition to an injury-hit opponent and the response is inevitable. Ange Postecoglou does wish to gamble and his defensive position may be very excessive. However there is a option to play it — with defenders alert and in the suitable positions, plus forwards urgent so there is no clear hit into house after they lose the ball — that mitigates the harm. They merely did not get it straight away to Newcastle and paid the value.

TWO — Spherical 2 of the Bundesliga, and Dortmund already look limp: You’d suppose that in your second league sport below a brand new supervisor, you’d nonetheless keep some degree of dynamism and enthusiasm. As an alternative, Borussia Dortmund appeared limp and uninspired within the scoreless draw away to Werder Bremen, even earlier than Nico Schlotterbeck‘s pink card. Your entire again 4 bought booked and the entrance males (regardless of altering three of the 4) did little. There’s lots for coach Nuri Sahin to do.

ONE — Juventus and Roma cancel one another out in a sport of rooster: It may occur generally. Take two up-and-coming coaches who preach attacking soccer and are unafraid to push children and… you find yourself with a boring 0-0 draw. It is not that Thiago Motta and Daniele De Rossi did not attempt to be artistic. If something, possibly they tried too arduous, actually, as a result of the top consequence was a boring sport wherein house was restricted and it lacked what had been a trademark, particularly for Motta: fearlessness.