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English Premier League 2025/26 Season Discussion

Greatest Footy league in the world.

2 weeks ago Man U sacked their coach and Arsenal were cruising to a title.

Today, Man U above Liverpool and in top 4, while Arsenal reducing their lead to a measly 4 points.
 
My predictions for weekend fixtures:

Leeds vs Arsenal (0-4)
Liverpool vs Newcastle (2-2)
Utd vs Fulham (1-2)
Spurs vs City (2-1)
 
My predictions for weekend fixtures:

Utd vs Spurs (3-2)
Arsenal vs Sunderland (2-0)
Liv vs City (0-0)
 
Think the Nottingham forest owner is probably crazy. And think he acts pretty rude. But I do respect him a bit. Nottingham forest isn’t a big club (at least not for decades). And yet the owner still is wanting them to compete amongst the best playing a style of football to challenge for the title. Yes a bit unrealistic given the size of club and funds.

Dyche has been sacked for that reason. I think that also explains frustrations with Nuno. It is the smart logical thing to play in that style given the circumstances.

Then again not sure why he appointed dyche in the first place. Maybe he expected dyche to switch tactics after he’d carried nott forest to safety.
 
ads101 said:
Think the Nottingham forest owner is probably crazy. And think he acts pretty rude. But I do respect him a bit. Nottingham forest isn’t a big club (at least not for decades). And yet the owner still is wanting them to compete amongst the best playing a style of football to challenge for the title. Yes a bit unrealistic given the size of club and funds.

Dyche has been sacked for that reason. I think that also explains frustrations with Nuno. It is the smart logical thing to play in that style given the circumstances.

Then again not sure why he appointed dyche in the first place. Maybe he expected dyche to switch tactics after he’d carried nott forest to safety.
Click to expand...

Tbf NF have a very good squad , they should be top 10 not fighting for survival . He expected Dyke to win more points . They won’t get a Clough again but deserve better than Dyche
 
KingKhanWC said:
Tbf NF have a very good squad , they should be top 10 not fighting for survival . He expected Dyke to win more points . They won’t get a Clough again but deserve better than Dyche
Click to expand...

They made a hugh mistake when they clipped Nunez's wings to Please Edu. Nunez did a fantastic job at Forest.
 
aboveandbeyond said:
They made a hugh mistake when they clipped Nunez's wings to Please Edu. Nunez did a fantastic job at Forest.
Click to expand...

Nunez mildly criticised the owner in a press conference, it was never the same again. I agree if the was backed further, top 6 finish was on.
 
Pereira signs deal as Forest boss until end of next season

Vitor Pereira has signed a deal until the end of next season to become Nottingham Forest's fourth manager of the campaign and help them avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The 57-year-old takes over at the City Ground from Sean Dyche, who was sacked early on Thursday morning.

Forest are yet to officially announce the Portuguese's appointment, but he is set to return for another spell in English football, having been axed by Wolves in November after 11 months in charge.

The Tricky Trees are 17th in the Premier League, three points above the drop zone, after two wins in their last 10 games.

Pereira follows Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Dyche as Forest manager since September.

They sacked Dyche after being held to a disappointing goalless draw by bottom club Wolves on Wednesday.

Pereira, who won 14 of his 38 games in charge of Wolves and helped them stay up last season, quickly emerged as the preferred replacement, having worked previously under Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at Greek club Olympiacos.

He won the title and Greek Cup in 2014-15 in his six months in charge, before leaving for Fenerbahce.

Pereira joined Wolves in December 2024, but was sacked three months ago with the club on two points from their first 10 league matches.

He started his managerial career with Portuguese club Sanjoanense in 2004 and, following spells in Germany, China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, he is set to embark on his 15th role.


www.bbc.com

Nottingham Forest: Vitor Pereira signs deal to become new City Ground head coach

Vitor Pereira has signed a deal until the end of next season to become Nottingham Forest's fourth manager of the campaign.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Premier League and English Football League will resume their procedures for Ramadan, with matches pausing briefly to allow Muslim players to break their fast

Ramadan starts this week and will last for a month. During the this time, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset.

With sunset in the UK ranging from about 17:00 to 19:00 GMT during this period, the only games that could see a break in play will be Saturday's 17:30 kick-off and Sunday's 16:30 kick-off.

As has been the case in previous years, club captains alongside match officials will find a natural pause in the game to allow Muslim players or match officials to break their fast.

Teams and match officials will discuss beforehand whether a pause is required and an approximate time for the stoppage will be agreed.

Play will not stop while matches are in mid-flow but at the earliest convenient moment during a goal-kick, free-kick or throw-in.

Everton players break their fast during a Premier League match against Newcastle in 2024

In 2021, an agreement was put in place to allow Muslim players to break their fast during a Premier League match.

This first break took place in a game between Leicester City and Crystal Palace in April 2021. The match was paused at a goal-kick around the half-hour mark to allow Leicester's Wesley Fofana and Palace's Cheikhou Kouyate, external to replenish themselves with liquids and energy gels.

One of the five pillars of Islam is that during Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours to show their devotion to their religion.

Muslim names in the Premier League include Mohamed Salah, William Saliba, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Amad Diallo among others.

"In the Premier League you are free to do whatever suits you. They will never do anything against your faith and this is great," former Everton player Abdoulaye Doucoure told BBC Sport in 2023.

"I fast every day, I don't miss any day. It has become normal and very easy for me. Training is still the same during Ramadan but when we go [for away matches], we might need to eat later than the others so the chef prepares food for us, making sure everything is in place as at home. We get halal food so there are no problems," Doucoure added.

And in 2022, former Liverpool player Sadio Mane revealed the club altered their training schedules to support their Muslim players during the month of Ramadan.

Source: BBC
 
My hopeful/wishful predictions for this weekend’s matches

City vs Newcastle 2-2
Spurs vs Arsenal 0-4
 
Obaidd said:
My hopeful/wishful predictions for this weekend’s matches

City vs Newcastle 2-2
Spurs vs Arsenal 0-4
Click to expand...

Please select me 6 numbers between 1-50?

Newcastle are peak with Bruno , Tonali and Jolinten . This was a formidable midfield. Some quality players but the xi looks fragile in all areas . If city keep the ball as they usually do , they will find a way through

Spurs have no players , playing like a championship side . Arsenal will lead by a goal or two max before thinking of a cookie , milk bottle and bed.
 
Results more than performance are key as we are well and truly in the business end of the season.

City were far from perfect specially in the second half, but mange to get over the line and get the 3 points.

Imperative Arsenal have to have the mentality of "Over my dead Body" mentality to get back on track and churn out the results.
 
aboveandbeyond said:
Results more than performance are key as we are well and truly in the business end of the season.

City were far from perfect specially in the second half, but mange to get over the line and get the 3 points.

Imperative Arsenal have to have the mentality of "Over my dead Body" mentality to get back on track and churn out the results.
Click to expand...

City should have scored 4/5 , they defended well to secure 3 points.

Arsenal have been trying all techniques for mental gymnastics. Arteta says to his players they are at Anfield in training and asks if they know what a rabbit is . It’s the championship rounds , back end of the season unless bad luck comes into it , the better footballing team will win it , it’s not even a question who this is . City won at Anfield in a high pressure match, Arsenal bottled 2 goal lead at the bottom team .
 
KingKhanWC said:
City should have scored 4/5 , they defended well to secure 3 points.

Arsenal have been trying all techniques for mental gymnastics. Arteta says to his players they are at Anfield in training and asks if they know what a rabbit is . It’s the championship rounds , back end of the season unless bad luck comes into it , the better footballing team will win it , it’s not even a question who this is . City won at Anfield in a high pressure match, Arsenal bottled 2 goal lead at the bottom team .
Click to expand...
Should’ve/ would’ve/ could’ve lol more fluff from utd/ liv/ Newcastle/ villa/ Brentford fans who’d do anything to be where Arsenal are. Fact: Arsenal is in pole position in the league at end of 27 games played.
 
Appalling weekend' - Arokodare & Mundle latest players to be racially abused

Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle have become the latest Premier League players to be sent racist abuse on social media.

It came on what was described as an "appalling weekend" when four footballers from the top tier of the English game are known to have been targeted.

Arokodare and Mundle received messages on Sunday, a day after Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri and Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana both encountered racist abuse on Instagram after their sides drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said on Sunday evening: "This has been an appalling weekend after four players called out the racist abuse they've received on social media. But the sad fact is, we know it happens regularly.

"The message from them is loud and clear: action must follow. Players cannot be expected to tolerate this behaviour, and nor should anyone else."

Wolves said they were "disgusted" after Arokodare was sent abuse by "multiple perpetrators" following his side's 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace and they condemned the "abhorrent and unlawful behaviour in the strongest possible terms".

Both the Nigeria international and Wolves shared a number of screenshots of private messages the 25-year-old received after the game in which he had a first-half penalty saved, before Evann Guessand scored an injury-time Palace winner.

"It's still unbelievable to me that we're playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences," wrote Arokodare on his Instagram story.

"These individuals should have no place in our game and collectively we have to take action to punish everyone who taints the sport like this, no matter who they are."

In a statement, Wolves added: "Tolu has our full and unwavering support. No player should be subjected to such hatred simply for doing their job.

"We stand firmly alongside him, and alongside all footballers who are forced to endure this abuse from anonymous accounts acting with apparent impunity.

Sunderland said they are "appalled by the vile" abuse Mundle received after his substitute appearance in the 3-1 home defeat by Fulham.

They said: "The abhorrent behaviour displayed by multiple individuals is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the club under any circumstances.

"These individuals do not represent Sunderland AFC, our values, or our community - and they are not welcome on Wearside."

The Sunderland Echo reported the 22-year-old English forward has since deleted his Instagram account.

In February 2025 while playing in the Championship for the Black Cats, Mundle shared a discriminatory post sent to him on his Instagram account.

Wolves and Sunderland said they are working with the relevant authorities and online platforms to identify those responsible.

The Premier League condemned the abuse and said there are "serious consequences for anybody found guilty of discrimination and we will offer our full support with their investigations", which can include club bans and legal prosecution.

'Social media companies must do more'
On Saturday, Frenchman Fofana wrote: "2026, it's still the same thing, nothing changes. These people are never punished.

"You create big campaigns against racism, but nobody actually does anything."

Tunisia international Mejbri, 23, called on people to "educate yourself and your kids".

These latest incidences of racist abuse towards players follow the alleged racial abuse of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during last week's Champions League knockout round play-off tie at Benfica, which Uefa is investigating.

Kick It Out said: "Players are standing up to discrimination, and we've had record reports to Kick It Out from across football this season, but we recognise the frustration in how it continues to fester online.

"Words matter, but actions are more important. Football is working together to tackle this issue alongside the UK Football Policing Unit and Ofcom, but social media companies must do more to offer protections to players and help improve accountability when incidents occur.

"Those who face this disgusting abuse must always be the priority."

Responding to the Fofana and Mejbri abuse, a spokesperson for Meta, which owns platforms including Instagram, told BBC Sport: "No-one should be subjected to racist abuse, and we remove this content when we find it.

"No one thing will stop racist behaviour overnight, but we'll continue working to protect our community from abuse and co-operate with police investigations."

Last November, a BBC investigation found more than 2,000 extremely abusive social media posts - including death and rape threats - were sent about managers and players in the Premier League and Women's Super League in a single weekend.

The season-opening Premier League game between Liverpool and Bournemouth last August was stopped in the first half after then-Cherries forward Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by someone in the Anfield crowd.

A Liverpool man has denied the abuse and his trial is scheduled to take place in April.

In January, Newcastle United said they had contacted the police after midfielder Joe Willock was the subject of "disgusting" racial abuse and "deeply disturbing threats" on social media.

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel was also the subject of racist abuse on social media after being one of two Spurs players to miss in their Super Cup penalty shootout defeat by Paris St-Germain in August.

England defender Jess Carter was another target of racist abuse during Euro 2025 in July.

And England internationals Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all subjected to racism in the aftermath of the Euro 2020 final, which the Three Lions lost to Italy in a penalty shootout.

BBC
 

'It's better to be chased' - the mentality of a title race​


This season's Premier League title race is finely poised and set for a thrilling conclusion.

Arsenal, without a championship in 22 years, have nine games to go and hold a five-point lead over Manchester City, who have won the league in six of the past eight campaigns.

City have a game in hand and host the Gunners in April, meaning either team will win the league if they win all their remaining matches.

In 11 of the past 30 seasons, the teams that have been top after 28 matches have not won the Premier League title, with Arsenal failing to do so when leading in both 2023 and 2024.

So who will be feeling under the most pressure? Is it better to be the hunted or the hunter?

"It's better to be chased," said Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer, who won the league with Blackburn in 1994-95, a year after Rovers missed out to Manchester United.

"When you are at the top of the league it's in your hands and if you keep winning your games, as difficult as it is, the teams that are chasing you don't have any answers.

"It does depend on if you have been in that position before. In my second year at Blackburn we were top or second, it was slipping and sliding backwards and forwards. But because we had not been in that situation before and Manchester United were a team that had been successful then it was more difficult for us.

"The season after we were mostly top of the league but United were closing us down. They were saying and doing everything they could, including getting the correct results when we slipped up, and we found it difficult but we managed to find a way."

Steph Houghton won three Women's Super League (WSL) titles, two with Arsenal and one with Manchester City, and has experienced both sides of the championship race.

"The pressure is massive in both situations, but it is nice pressure when you are trying to chase trophies and league titles," said Houghton.

"My preference is always to be the hunted because you have got the points on the board and can take each game as it comes. Even though the pressure is there, it's about performing under pressure."

For Manchester City and boss Pep Guardiola, ending strongly to win a title is nothing new. Two seasons ago they went unbeaten through their last 23 league matches, winning 19 of them, to finish two points clear of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

City are also used to piling on the pressure before their title rivals play.

On the past 15 times when City have played a day before Arsenal, Guardiola's side have won 11 of them, with three draws and just one loss - a 2-1 defeat by Newcastle in November.

Former Gunners defender Martin Keown, a three-time Premier League winner, thinks how Arsenal, runners-up in each of the past three seasons, cope with the pressure will define their campaign.

"It's normal when you want something so much, sometimes it can get the better of you," said Keown. "But there's plenty of time to learn from it.

"They've not been in this situation where they've been in front too often. It's almost about doing a reset here, which they've talked about in the past. If we were starting the season afresh, you'd just go after your opponent and just finish the job off.

"You also have to trust your team-mates in the moment. You need to try to create a steely, calm determination."

Steve Bruce, who won three Premier League titles with Manchester United in the 1990s, said: "Arsenal have shown remarkable consistency so far.

"Every game, no matter where you play and who you play, it becomes difficult, especially if you're in a title race and especially if you're Arsenal, because they haven't won it in so long.

"What you want at this time is the big players to perform. I was fortunate enough to play in a team where a certain Frenchman came to the fore - we always thought 'Eric [Cantona] will get us out of trouble'."

Joe Hart, a two-time Premier League winner with Manchester City, added: "There will be a lot of questions, a lot of noise on Arsenal - that is life at the top. There is no point in worrying, you have to live in your own world.

"They know what is coming in their rear-view mirror. Arsenal have been in this situation before though, they know what they need to do."

For the next few months, it will be tough for the players of both sides to not be thinking about winning the Premier League - even if they do not admit it publicly.

"We always talked about the title race in the dressing room," added Bruce.

"You sometimes have to wait, because you don't play at the same time. It drives you mad and you watch [your rivals]. There's this nonsense that you don't take any notice of it.

"Now is the real critical point, the big question mark is how you handle the pressure."

Hart said the title race "takes over your life" and added: "It is difficult. Manchester City and Arsenal players will be living in a bubble now - no time to breathe, no time for anything else. It's a great time of the season to be involved in.

"You will never appreciate these days, but you can't enjoy them more at the time because you are involved in them.

"You can't think 'these are the greatest days of my life' because you have to be entirely focused. You wouldn't get that to that level, all you care about is perfection. You want to be the Premier League champion."

Carabao Cup final could give winners momentum​

There may be an indication of what will happen in the final two months on 22 March when Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, with the winners gaining a potential psychological advantage in the title race.

Keown drew parallels with the 1998-99 season when Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were involved in a thrilling title battle. United beat Arsenal 2-1 after extra-time in an FA Cup semi-final replay before going on to win the Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

"We've seen it in the past," said Keown. "I remember being involved in 1999 when Manchester United beat us in that epic FA Cup semi-final, and they went on and won all before them.

"We didn't fall off a cliff by any means, we only lost the league by a point and there was a lot of resolve there. But it could give you that extra energy that finally you've been rewarded as winners.

"This is when the going gets tough and you start to perform."

BBC Sport
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Obaidd said:
Some interesting trends here. Majority of Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle fans prefer City to win it according to this survey.

Chelsea I can understand but why Liv and Newcastle have such a strong preference for City I don’t get..
Click to expand...
If other clubs win it then it doesn’t feel as special. Liverpool can take some sort of pride being the only one to win it apart from Man City in nearly decade.

Newcastle feel that way as now with their owners they think they will eventually win the league due to their money. They just can’t spend it all in one go due to ffp and have to take time building a reputation so top players will come like what Man City did. So they’d prefer less different winners until they actually win it eventually.

Plus there’s pressure from Newcastle fans on who’s the best young/upcoming manager in the league currently.
 
ads101 said:
If other clubs win it then it doesn’t feel as special. Liverpool can take some sort of pride being the only one to win it apart from Man City in nearly decade.
Click to expand...
Yeah I think people have sort of accepted city’s dominance and it doesn’t hurt them as much. Also number of top flight titles city has is still some distance away from Liv’s record, also they see Arsenal as a more OG rival.
ads101 said:
Newcastle feel that way as now with their owners they think they will eventually win the league due to their money. They just can’t spend it all in one go due to ffp and have to take time building a reputation so top players will come like what Man City did. So they’d prefer less different winners until they actually win it eventually.

Plus there’s pressure from Newcastle fans on who’s the best young/upcoming manager in the league currently.
Click to expand...
Newcastle I’d say are some distance away from being a league winning team. They might win in a distant future but I can’t imagine this group of players and frankly also Eddie Howe winning the premier league. They aren’t that good defensively. What City did and before them Chelsea with the investments was very different from how NC have built their project and I respect that. But league position suggests that it will be some time before they are in PL winning discussions. Even if they don’t win for 5-7 more years I don’t think there’s going to be fan pressure. As long as they keep on improving under Howe. But they just lost to rivals Sunderland at home and that puts pressure on Howe.
 
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