What the Premier League is all about: At Anfield for the title, Santos will have a tough time

Christmas – a holiday of peace and tranquility? Don’t bring that up to Premier League fans! In the next instalment of our weekly feature, we look at the showpiece of the upcoming round, while also giving space to Nottingham’s new coach Nuno Espirito Santos. He replaces Steve Cooper.

The Premier League schedule will offer a match of truth at Anfield

The Citizens have lost in the fourth of the last five rounds and the Liverpool-Arsenal match is shaping up to be a bit more of a straightforward battle for the title once again. Liverpool have not maintained a better position, having only drawn 0-0 at home to Manchester United last weekend.

Arsenal have a fairly similar weekend experience. It also conquered Brighton for a long time in vain, but then crowned a dominant performance with two goals. In Britain they wrote about a title performance, but that will be needed primarily at Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta doesn’t underestimate the specificity of Anfield, preparing the players for the atmosphere by playing Reds chants at training.

Moreover, it’s been 11 years since the Gunners last won on the ground of this opponent. If it does, it’s a sign that the club is further along than last year.

It’s expected to be an even battle. Liverpool’s goal scoring offense against Arsenal’s best defense, an improving Martin Odegaard with Kai Havertz, a rampant Trent Alexander-Arnold on the other side. Lots of mini-battles, one result. All this on the day before Christmas Eve.

Santos in a thankless position

The long-discussed and still, according to the public, unlikely has come true – Steve Cooper has quit as Nottingham head coach. Last year he almost miraculously saved the club with an unplayed squad, now it’s as if the management has forgotten.

In his place comes experience in the form of Nuno Espirito Santos. The Portuguese coach has made a big splash with Wolverhampton, finishing seventh in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons with them and peeking into the European Cup. Now the ambition will be different – to save themselves.

Santos needs to catch up quickly. Nottingham fans are still behind sacked manager Cooper. Into the new year, a rampant Bournemouth, a nasty Newcastle at St James’s Park and then Machester United. Not an ideal start.

Source: Premier League