Laurens’ weekend preview: All eyes on Xabi Alonso, Tyne-Put on derby, extra

Each Friday, beginning this week, I’ll choose for you the most effective or most fun video games to not be missed on the planet of soccer every weekend. From derbies to prime of the desk clashes, relegation six-pointers to world class gamers dealing with one another or different attention-grabbing tactical battles, there might be one thing for everybody to get pleasure from.

This week, we take you to England, Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands for a remaining, huge derbies, managers below strain, Salah-gate and perhaps even a primary win of the season!

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Premier League, Matchday 16
Kickoff: Saturday, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT

The eyes of the entire world might be on Mohamed Salah. Whether or not he’s on the bench, within the stands or on the pitch, it will not matter. He’ll go to fulfill up with the Egypt nationwide crew for the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, however earlier than that, there’s a huge recreation for Liverpool — one that might doubtlessly be his last-ever recreation in a Liverpool shirt.

The large query is round how higher (or not) are the present Premier League champions with out their king? You could possibly argue that the crew has functioned higher, is extra balanced and clearly, the gamers prefer it as it’s. After their embarrassing 3-3 draw at Leeds by which they let leads of 2-0 and 3-2 slip, the Reds should bounce again and redeem themselves. They began to do it within the Champions League in Milan towards Inter (1-0), and now they’ve to begin constructing on wins like this one.

In the meantime, Brighton have endured a bizarre first half of the season. They’re able to doing nice issues, like beating Chelsea away (3-1) or Manchester Metropolis at house (2-1), however they’ve additionally dropped factors towards Wolves (1-1) and West Ham (1-1). They’re winless of their final two, however their skill to play in transition could possibly be an issue for Liverpool’s weak protection.

MY PREDICTION: Liverpool 2, Brighton 0. Liverpool are bettering as we noticed towards Inter Milan on Tuesday evening. They may use the identical tactical system as in Italy and get a cushty win.

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De Klassieker nonetheless issues
Ajax vs. Feyenoord

Dutch Eredivisie, Matchday 16
Kickoff: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. GMT

It won’t be, on paper, the most effective De Klassieker ever. Ajax have been in disaster all season lengthy and are fourth within the desk, some 14 factors behind the leaders, PSV Eindhoven. Feyenoord simply misplaced 4-3 within the Europe league within the dying minutes away at FCSB regardless of being 3-1 up after 51 minute, and are additionally six factors behind PSV. However do not let type idiot you: even when these groups aren’t at their greatest, this stays the fiercest rivalry in Dutch soccer.

For Fred Grim, the Ajax supervisor who changed Johnny Heitinga on the bench six weeks in the past, it is a big probability to make his mark. He misplaced his first three recreation in cost after which received his subsequent three, together with within the Champions League at Qarabag (4-2) after being twice behind. Oscar Gloukh modified the sport after approaching, and large ahead Kasper Dolberg additionally scored. Ajax are nonetheless a little bit of a large number, however not less than they’re exhibiting character and combat amid all of the turbulence.

For Robin van Persie and his Feyenoord facet, it’s a nice alternative to pour extra distress on their oldest enemies. Their type has been sub-par — three wins and 6 defeats of their final 9 — and RVP, who will coach his first De Klassieker, has been criticized at occasions for taking part in his 19-year-old son, Shaqueel. They want a win badly, like Ajax, which ought to make for an incredible recreation!

MY PREDICTION: Ajax 2, Feyenoord 3. It is going to be open, frantic, intense and possibly a bit loopy. There might be objectives, however Feyenoord are the higher crew right here and will prevail.

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All eyes on Xabi Alonso
Alaves vs. Actual Madrid

Spanish LaLiga, Matchday 17
Kickoff: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT

The one cause this recreation is attention-grabbing — let’s be sincere — is due to the fragile place Actual Madrid supervisor Xabi Alonso finds himself in. His star-studded crew has solely received two of their final eight video games in all competitions, and that is merely not adequate at a membership of this stature. The supervisor is below big strain, and something however a win on Saturday might see him dismissed.

Their midweek loss towards Manchester Metropolis within the Champions League wasn’t a foul one when it comes to efficiency, nevertheless it nonetheless confirmed the present limits of this crew. There are such a lot of accidents (Trent Alexander-Arnold, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba), suspensions (Endrick, Fran García, Álvaro Carreras) and health doubts (Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga, Dean Huijsen), all of which is making Alonso’s job harder. However then if you’re not succesful, as Actual Madrid supervisor, to beat Alaves after the dangerous run you may have been on, then you do not deserve to take a seat on that bench.

Alaves are eleventh within the desk, have been respectable at house this season (4 wins, two attracts and solely two defeats). Additionally they do not play in Europe which ought to give them a bonus bodily. They’re a strong crew that defends effectively. They’ve conceded as many objectives as Actual Madrid for instance this season (15), however they’ve additionally solely scored 13 in the intervening time; count on them to take a seat deep and attempt to make life troublesome for the Merengues round their captain and holding midfielder Andre Guevara.

MY PREDICTION: Alaves 1, Actual Madrid 3. Actual Madrid have been inconsistent currently, however they may discover the sources to win this recreation and ease the strain on supervisor Xabi Alonso.

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The return of the Tyne-Put on Derby
Sunderland vs. Newcastle

Premier League, Matchday 16
Kickoff: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. GMT

This is likely one of the greatest derbies and rivalries in England, and followers of each golf equipment — even neutrals — have been ready for much too lengthy for a Premier League conflict between Sunderland and Newcastle. It has been eight years since they clashed in England’s prime flight, and never a lot separates these two cities on and off the pitch.

Regis Le Bris is doing a wonderful and obsessive job at Sunderland. He works so exhausting and has made them so a lot better. They’re ninth within the desk, past everybody’s expectations for this level within the season, and are simply three factors behind 4th place. They’re an incredible shock that nobody noticed coming as one of many newly promoted sides. They’re unbeaten at house within the league too.

It is going to be powerful for the guests, particularly after combating exhausting in midweek for a 2-2 draw towards Bayer Leverkusen. The principle downside is that their away type is dangerous within the Premier league. It has been all season: they’ve solely received one recreation exterior of St James’ Park! They’re anticipating a large combat and it will likely be precisely like that in order that they higher put together themselves for it.

MY PREDICTION: Sunderland 1, Newcastle 0. Newcastle’s away type has been poor all season, whereas Sunderland have made the Stadium of Gentle a fortress. It’ll keep this fashion on Sunday.

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Can the Viola lastly get a win this season?
Fiorentina vs. Hellas Verona

Serie A, Matchday 15
Kickoff: Sunday, 9 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT

Fiorentina are solely the second crew in Europe’s huge 5 leagues with out a league win this season, alongside Wolves in England! After 14 video games, they’ve six attracts and eight defeats! They completed sixth final season, however at the moment are backside of Serie A approaching Christmas. They’re faring a bit higher in Europe with three wins, together with on Thursday towards Dynamo Kiev (2-1), and two losses, nevertheless it’s simply not taking place for them domestically.

Fiorentina have modified managers (Paolo Vanoli changed Stefano Pioli on Nov. 7) and nonetheless have a very good squad with the likes of Moise Kean, Edin Dzeko, Nicolò Fagioli and Albert Gudmundsson, however nothing has gone their approach. Nonetheless, that is their probability. At house, towards Verona, the crew nineteenth within the desk. Even when the ultras aren’t completely satisfied and the ambiance might be tense, the win towards Kiev was convincing.

Verona really bought their first win of the season final weekend — unexpectedly, to be honest — towards Atalanta (3-1). They may journey to Florence having had the entire week to arrange for this large six-pointer, and with the arrogance of their first victory of the marketing campaign. Count on them to let Fiorentina have the majority of possession and play on the counter like they did final weekend with the likes of Giovane, Daniel Mosquera and Antoine Bernede.

MY PREDICTION: Fiorentina 2, Verona 1. Lastly, it should occur! Fiorentina will win their first league recreation of the season and begin their quest to remain up! It will not be simple however they may get it accomplished.

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One other rivalry recreation in France
Marseille vs. Monaco

French Ligue 1
Kickoff: Friday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7.45 p.m. GMT

That is greater than a neighborhood rivalry and a derby. Marseille towards Monaco is the working class towards the billionnaires, the docks towards the French Riviera, an American proprietor towards a Russian one, in-form Mason Greenwood towards Maghnes Akliouche.

It is also a recreation loaded with historical past. Again within the Nineties, the Bernard Tapie and Arsène Wenger period was the height of the rivalry between the 2 golf equipment. A dominant Marseille, below their very highly effective president, towards a Monaco facet revolutionised by a younger, proficient supervisor who was clearly going locations. On the time, they have been the 2 greatest groups within the nation; this time, they’re third and seventh respectively, however solely six factors separate them within the desk.

Each of them received in midweek within the Champions League, Marseille at Union Saint-Gilloise (3-2) and Monaco towards Galatasaray (1-0). They each want one other victory of their final league recreation of 2025: Roberto De Zerbi and his Marseillais are attempting to remain in vary of PSG and Lens on the prime, whereas Sebastien Pocognoli and his Monégasques have to bridge the hole to the highest 4.

In terms of gamers, Greenwood has been on fireplace for Marseille whereas Folarin Balogun, the U.S. worldwide at Monaco, is in prime type too. It is going to be intense and the strain might be excessive as a result of neither can afford to drop extra factors.

MY PREDICTION: Marseille 2, Monaco 2. Monaco are too inconsistent in the mean time, and have been since Pocognoli took over from Adi Hutter in mid-October. Marseille have been wobbly at house currently, drawing towards Angers and Toulouse. It is going to be a draw once more.