Key events
Tonight Matthew …
New season at #nffc and a new players entrance (yes, they light up as well). No new faces in the starting XI though. Sosa signed last night and will be unveiled on the pitch ahead of kick off but wasn’t registered in time to feature.
Huijsen makes his debut for Bournemouth. pic.twitter.com/5kpUS3IaXB— Charlotte Duncker (@CharDuncker) August 17, 2024
Liverpool go top of the Premier League
Goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah saw off Ipswich in the end. Arne Slot’s new charges found their feet in the second half and the top-flight newcomers were unable to match them.
Fair play, Jimmy.
“I’m not sure about the best pub near a ground, but the worst was the General Smuts near Loftus Road,” suggests Gary Naylor. “It was, shall we say, intimidating in there.
“Closed down for a few years now I believe – there’s West London gentrification for you!”
I fear a search for the worst pub near a ground would have more competition. My favourite away was always Crystal Palace because you could go to some cracking pubs at London Bridge and get the train. I am not sure that fits my own criteria.
A busy day for pubs near grounds after a quiet summer. What is the best pre-match pub near a football ground in the UK?
And a highly important interview by the great Tom Garry.
Some pre-match reading.
Louise Taylor and Lloyd Kelly.
Ben Fisher and Russell Martin.
Always something quirky happening at Forest.
Some frustration at #NFFC as Nikola Milenkovic is suspended today, due to a red card he picked up in the Italian Cup, playing for Fiorentina against Atalanta in April.
Forest hoped that he might be suspended for one of the Cup competitions over here, as a result… but no.
— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) August 17, 2024
Would you like 10 things to look out for this weekend? Of course you would.
In other news … Liverpool are 2-0 up at Ipswich thanks to goals from Jota and Salah.
Today is the start of the final season at Goodison Park, one of the few great old stadiums still around today. It will be sad when its gone but as a regular I can fully accept the reason to modernise.
This season’s predictions come with many asterisks, or often just with a big Asterix if you listen to the right people. Profitability and sustainability rules, points deductions, looming charges mean a lot of the biggest news will happen nowhere near a football pitch. At Manchester City it’s a big season for … Lord Pannick. It’s a tight call between him and Rodri for their key player. They can cope for a bit without Haaland using all manner of false 9s but without Pannick – have they got enough depth to fight off the Premier League?
Max Rushden on the perfect season for the neutral.
There are your teams from the four 3pms in the Premier League. Which debutant are you most looking forward to seeing?
Starting lineups: Forest v Bournemouth
Starting lineups: Everton v Brighton
Starting lineups: Newcastle v Southampton
Starting lineups: Arsenal v Wolves
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🧱 Saliba at the back
🪄 Odegaard pulling the strings
✊ Havertz leads the lineLooking to start strong – COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 17, 2024
Preamble
We are back baby! The Premier League started in style under the lights on Friday as one of the richest clubs in the world scraped three points against Fulham. The question is, dear reader, what will the traditional 3pm kick-offs on Saturday bring to us?
Last season’s runners-up Arsenal begin by welcoming Wolves to north London. Mikel Arteta has not changed much in terms of personnel but I am sure he will have a couple of cunning plans up his sleeve in order to take the Gunners to the next level. The players have had an extra season together and the difference between them and City is miniscule.
Everton take on Brighton as Sean Dyche comes up against Premier League debutant Fabian Hürzeler. Will the old master of keeping things simple and effective give a painful welcome to the 31-year-old new boy. Knowing that managers are so young nowadays is becoming somewhat painful for the ego.
Elsewhere Newcastle host Southampton who are back in the top flight and will be eager to prove they deserve to be here. Meanwhile Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth in what both teams hope becomes a mid-table fixture for years to come.
3pm BST kick-offs:
Arsenal v Wolves
Everton v Brighton
Newcastle v Southampton
Forest v Bournemouth