Two points from eight games is not what the Spaniard expected but Newcastle have had a tough start and Saturday’s meeting with Brighton is now must-winThere will always be a special bond between Chris Hughton and Newcastle supporters but anxious home fans hope to see their former manager defeated when his Brighton side visit St James’ Park on Saturday. After all, Rafael Benítez’s team have only two points and are desperately seeking a first win of the campaign.Reason to be fearful Related: Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion: match preview Related: Things already looking bleak for clubs near the Premier League basement | Paul Wilson Continue reading...
Huddersfield, Newcastle and Cardiff are all without a victory after their first eight games and appear unlikely to reach anywhere near 40 pointsThere is a certain symmetry about the Premier League table at the moment. Three teams at the top are still unbeaten, and already it is being suggested that the title will end up at Manchester City, Chelsea or Liverpool, even though Arsenal should perhaps not be discounted.At the bottom, three teams are without a win after eight games, the first time in the Premier League era that this has happened. Already it is being suggested that Huddersfield, Newcastle and Cardiff are as good as relegated, even if Fulham and Southampton are not exactly accelerating up the table away...
When will the generations of supporters too young to remember the thrill of a championship chase under Kevin Keegan see their club emerge from all the stagnation and drift?In happier times for Newcastle United, it probably summed up the club’s ambitions that a delegation from St James’ Park once travelled to Turin on the off-chance they might be able to persuade Juventus into selling Roberto Baggio on the spot.It’s a great story. They didn’t have an appointment. They didn’t have a contact at Juve and when the relevant directors invited Kevin Keegan, Newcastle’s manager at the time, he told them they must be round the twist to think one of the giants of European football would appreciate them turning up...
Liverpool’s tiredness could play into Manchester City’s hands, Newcastle should throw caution to the wind and Harry Winks must take his Tottenham chance“It’s a game of small margins,” said Vincent Kompany of the season’s standout fixture to date between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. If the teams are as closely matched in quality as Kompany thinks then he can only have been heartened by the weary look of many of Liverpool’s players as they struggled with Napoli’s intensity in their 1-0 defeat on Wednesday. Jürgen Klopp’s midfielders create chances by harassing opponents out of possession and shuffling the ball forwards quickly but in Naples they looked heavy-legged. Liverpool’s past three fixtures read: Chelsea, Chelsea, Napoli; high-profile, energy-sapping...
David Luiz is impressing at Chelsea while Jordan Henderson’s place looks up for grabs and Huddersfield are on the rackBernd Leno was quick to do the decent thing and explain he was clearly not happy to see Petr Cech pull up with a hamstring injury, but at the same time the competitor in him cannot wait to seize his chance. The German keeper signed for Arsenal more than three months ago and has had to be patient to wait for Premier League football. Unai Emery had told Leno his time would come at some stage. “Some weeks ago he said you have to work hard, be calm, because I played for just one professional club in Germany and it is...