Amidst all the team news and pre-match platitudes, there’s a couple of burning issues at hand. Which cities will actually be able to host Euro 2020 matches? The suggestions from Munich, Dublin and Bilbao in the last couple of days are that there may need to be a hasty redrawing, with England and Scotland the possible beneficiaries. Well, that’s if another wave of the pandemic is held off and with pubs opening on Monday…
And also, clubs are now taking a stand against social media companies’ refusal to stop the flow of abuse that players have to deal with. Swansea and Rangers are leading the way, with others sure to follow.
And of course, there’s a weekend of red-hot Premier League action after what has been a red-hot week of Euro action. How might Liverpool and Arsenal lick their wounds after chastening experiences? It was a better midweek for Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, with the middle of that trio able to take another inexorable step towards the title when they face Leeds on Saturday lunchtime. Expect the phrase “wow, guys, Stuart Dallas” come from Pep Guardiola’s lips as he blushes in the presence of Marcelo Bielsa.
Also on Saturday, there’s also the latest riddle of Jack Grealish’s shin, as Liverpool play Aston Villa at Anfield. Then it’s Crystal Palace v Chelsea, where Tactics Tom Tuchel will hope to make up for last week’s pumping by West Brom.
Sunday sees football as the winner as Burnley face Newcastle, before West Ham’s push for the top four sees them against one of their rivals in Leicester. The biggest game – though only on paper – looks to be Tottenham welcoming Manchester United on Sunday. There is bad blood there, and that’s just José Mourinho and his Spurs players (or so it has been reported). After that, Arsenal can try and make up for their Slavia Prague wobble by winning at Sheffield United.
There’s two games on Monday, too, as seems to be the way these days. Can Big Sam really pull West Brom out of the mire? They will have to beat Southampton. And it’s a another blue Monday as Everton, gunning for seventh once more, travel to Brighton.
What else? Norwich can secure their passage back to the Premier League by winning at Wayne Rooney’s Derby County and then there’s the El Clásico, played on Saturday with both teams now given a good chance of overtaking faltering Atlético.
Join us. It’s all happening.