Alisson and Isak injury doubts, WSL kick-off and more: football news

Key events

We’ve reached West Ham in our pre-season WSL previews. Take a read…

No 11 here. You can dig out the rest!

Liverpool boss Arne Slot doesn’t seem to get phased by much and that applies to fixture lists too. The home game against Bournemouth on Saturday is the Reds’ third of a seven-match sequence in just 22 days but Slot doesn’t find it unusual.

“In Holland we also have Eredivisie, so we (Dutch teams) also play games at the weekend and also play Champions League and Europa League so we also play in the week. There is only one difference and that is the upcoming week when we play the League Cup so until now I’ve not seen anything I wasn’t used to at my former club.

“The Premier League has four extra games compared to the Eredivisie and also the League Cup, that’s the main difference, but from the start until now I think we have played as many games as my former club and hat’s not an issue for me.

“But the main difference between the Premier League and every other league in Europe – and you all know – is we have to play during Christmas and new year. In those moments that is the biggest difference between this league and all the other leagues.

“AC Milan had to play the weekend, they have to play Tuesday and they will also play the weekend. But the strength of the league, the quality of the league, the quality of Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth that is much higher than if you play an Eredivisie team that doesn’t play for the top-six positions. That is where it makes a difference.”

Let’s talk Power Rankings and, specifically, those relating to the MLS. You might click on this based out of Messi-based curiosity; you’ll exit shaking your head about the exploits of Christian Benteke.

In Crisps Power Rankings, two strong entries here.

Adam Griffiths: “Best crisps, are we? Pickled onion monster munch for the win.”

Andy Barrett: “The best crisps ever were Brannigan’s roast beef and mustard. Sorely missed.”

Isak could miss Newcastle trip to Fulham

Alexander Isak is a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Fulham after the Newcastle striker suffered eye and foot injuries in last Sunday’s 2-1 victory against Wolves at Molineux.

Giving an update this morning, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “I’ll find out more today. It was a strange one with his eye. The ball just grazed his eye and we felt at that time, that was the main reason for him coming off the pitch. Then he had a knock to his foot as well, so he’s got a combination of the two. We’ll make a decision today.” Anthony Gordon could switch from the left to a central role if Isak is ruled out.

I’m tempted to turn this into 10 best crisps (Seabrook Salt & Vinegar the best, although those Salt & Vinegar twirly ones from M&S are incredibly moreish) but, instead, there’s this:

On footballers/crisps and the idea that Alisson is made of Kettle chips (see 09.32), Nick Smith emails: “They are rugged, handsome crisps mind. Like McCoys extra ridged.” Good point.

Roll up, roll up, step right this way, it’s the start of the new Women’s Super League season. Suzanne Wrack sets the scene.

Chelsea will get the season under way against Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow. The champions have been in impressive form in pre-season. Their squad is packed with world-class talent and the new manager, Sonia Bompastor, is keen to maintain Emma Hayes’s legacy of winning while in transition. Can they do it? There is no reason why not, particularly if Arsenal and Manchester City qualify for the Champions League group stage and are grappling with three high-intensity games a week.

Arsenal dug out a 0-0 Champions League draw away to Atalanta last night, the highlight that miraculous double save from David Raya from the hosts’ second-half penalty. Our Ed Aarons was at the Gewiss Stadium.

Alisson injury doubt for Liverpool

And we open with news from Liverpool where Alisson could miss the Reds’ home game with Bournemouth. Anfield boss Arne Slot says he will see if Alisson can train today. If not, he’ll be sidelined. The problem is hamstring tightness. It was once said of super-talented but injury-prone Daniel Sturridge that he was made from crisps. Alisson isn’t quite in that bracket but the Brazilian misses far more games than the average goalkeeper. Made from kettle chips perhaps? Strange that his replacement, Caoimhín Kelleher, looks far more fragile.

Of course, it shouldn’t be lost on us that Alisson was one of the high-profile stars talking about players being overworked and not listened to over scheduling when he spoke to the press ahead of Liverpool’s 3-1 win in Milan.

Preamble

Too much football? Pah! How can anyone say that when last season’s, and indeed this season’s, top two – Manchester City and Arsenal – lock horns at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon? Bring it on! Both these footballing sides whetted our ravenous footbally appetites for this virtual title-deciding football blockbuster with … erm, hang on … 0-0 draws in the Champions League this week. But, forget that, how about their last meeting when … oh yeah, awks … Arsenal parked the bus in another goalless draw.

Let’s just say we’ve been warned and not put all our enjoyment eggs in one basket marked Sunday 4.30pm. Prior to that we’ve all sorts to get tucked into top flight-wise and it looks set to start in bright fashion with inconsistent West Ham hosting unpredictable Chelsea in the Premier League’s early Saturday offering.

But before even that it’s the start of the new Women’s Super League season, beginning with a strangely Emma Hayes-less Chelsea hosting Aston Villa tonight at 7pm.

We’ll have build-up to all the weekend football action, including football team news, hot football facts and football managers saying stuff. Let’s do this…