Author | Lightnews

Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 7h

With the first Clasico of 2025-26 tomorrow, @thom-harris.bsky.social & I looked at 4 tactical issues that could prove crucial for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

- Madrid's pace v Barca's high line
- Yamal v Carreras
- Could corners be decisive?
- Out-of-possession flaws
www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: The four tactical issues that could decide El Clasico

The Athletic looks at the key areas where the game will be won and lost ahead of their top-of-the-table La Liga clash

www.nytimes.com

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 2d

The latest Alternative PL Table for @theathleticfc.bsky.social looks at big chances created and converted for all 20 teams, breaking down which players are creating/receiving the most

- Palace lead the way
- Man City's Haaland reliance
- Wolves' woes

... and more ⏬

www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

The Alternative Premier League: No 9 – Who creates big chances, and who misses them?

Here's how your team is getting on when it comes to creating clear cut opportunities, and sticking them in the back of the net

www.nytimes.com

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 2d

Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus post-match thoughts with @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social and @jacklang.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

- Bellingham’s goal
- Guler vs Yildiz
- McKennie’s steady display
- Courtois shines
- What this means for both teams

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Real Madrid 1 Juventus 0: Jude Bellingham’s first goal of the season the difference at the Bernabeu

The Athletic's writers break down a narrow win for Xabi Alonso's side at the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

Mark Carey @markcarey93.bsky.social · 5d

Another game, another back-post goal conceded for Liverpool.

I wrote this piece earlier in the week on that very issue.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 7d

Forest 0-3 Chelsea post-match thoughts with @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

- Acheampong's big moment
- Guiu shines off the bench
- Santos struggles

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Nottingham Forest 0 Chelsea 3: Guiu makes the difference, Acheampong’s magic moment

A triple halftime substitution helped Chelsea stroll to an ultimately comfortable win at Nottingham Forest

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

Chris Waugh @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social · 9d

🔲 Why Ross Wilson as sporting director? 👀
🔳 #NUFC academy in focus 🔍
🔲 @georgecaulkin.bsky.social i/ws Steve Harper 🗣️
🔳 Lasses™️ new home report 🏟️
🔲 Brighton bound (Waugh, too...) ⬇️
🔳 Woltemade = ⚽

🎧 New free-to-listen Midweek @podonthetyne.bsky.social w/ Taylor Payne: pod.fo/e/33decc

Pod On The Tyne: A show about Newcastle United: Wilson arrives, Academy in focus, Lasses draw with Bristol

Another weekly Pod on the Tyne rolls around and, with many of the lads away on international duty, you'd think it'd be a quiet one. How wrong you are, friend!Newcastle United now have a CEO AND a S...

pod.fo

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 9d

This week's Alternative Premier League Table is all about fouls and bookings

Key takeaways:

🔴 Man Utd & Arsenal the only teams yet to be booked for dissent
⚫️ Newcastle lead in fouls in the att 3rd
🔵 Man City exercising more control than 2024-25

More below @theathleticfc.bsky.social ⏬

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 9d

The Premier League is returning. So too is our alternative table.

This week, we rank the teams by fouls conceded — Marco Silva's Fulham and Vitor Pereira's Wolves lead the way.

✍️ @anantaajith.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 9d

The Premier League is returning. So too is our alternative table.

This week, we rank the teams by fouls conceded — Marco Silva's Fulham and Vitor Pereira's Wolves lead the way.

✍️ @anantaajith.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 12d

We need to talk about Adam Wharton.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 12d

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜’𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲

We asked the game’s dealmakers about:

▪️ Best and worst deals
▪️ Under-the-radar signings that could surprise people
▪️ Will more players go on strike?

The Athletic’s Agent Survey: From best and worst deals to selecting champions and relegation candidates

Welcome to our 2025 survey, which analyses a summer transfer window that saw the 20 Premier League clubs spend £3.11bn on 155 players

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

Jack Lang @jacklang.bsky.social · 13d

A day in the life of the worst football team in the world www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Meet the worst football team in the world… and their superstar hairdresser

Ibis Sport Club once went almost four years without winning a game - the Brazilians' attitude to their status has brought them global fame

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 14d

🔮 Europe & South America's World Cup duopoly will end
🔮 London clubs will move out of the city/share grounds
🔮 The USMNT will be a serious force
🔮 Fewer top managers will be ex-players

@zonal-marking.bsky.social looks at some expectations about football from 25 years ago.

Eight expectations about football from 25 years ago that have proven misguided

From pay-per-view coverage to the loss of technical midfielders to indoor stadiums – some expectations from 2000 haven't come true

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

sjohnsonsport.bsky.social @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social · 15d

Enzo Maresca said #CFC didn’t have a discipline problem last season. He is saying the same this season. The numbers say otherwise. No PL club has more bookings over the last 3 years. More here from myself, @reallycerys.bsky.social & @anantaajith.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Why Chelsea’s poor disciplinary record is not just an Enzo Maresca problem

Chelsea have registered more bookings (301) than anyone else over the past three years – and they've also had the second-most red cards (12)

www.nytimes.com

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 16d

Wrote about the incredible synergy between Messi and Alba, creating a near-unstoppable two-man combo, and how it evolved from their first season together in 2012-13, all the way to the present day in Miami for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Why Jordi Alba’s retirement shuts off one of Lionel Messi’s most telepathic supply lines

Across more than 400 games together, the two players have combined to bypass opponents with predictable ease

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 16d

Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo has died at the age of 69, the Argentine club said on Wednesday.

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 18d

A breakdown of why Liverpool are in a mini-funk heading into the intl break w/ @adjones-journo.bsky.social & @greggevans40.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

- Teams shutting down Gravenberch
- Issues out wide & out of possession
- Substitution inconsistency
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Why are Liverpool struggling? Opponents wise to Gravenberch, Salah gamble backfiring

Three straight defeats have raised some questions over Liverpool's chances of another Premier League title. But what has caused this dip?

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

Patrick Boyland @paddyboyland.bsky.social · 19d

For 45 mins, Everton looked laboured & tactically confused. The rejigged setup did not work

Then came the HT adjustments & fightback. Alcaraz, in particular, superb

This felt like the new stadium's first proper 'Goodison' moment

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

As Everton’s search for front line fluency goes on, their supporting cast steps up

Moyes’ decision to replace Barry and Dibling, over £60m worth of signings, at half-time was an admission of error. It also changed the game

www.nytimes.com

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 20d

Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool post-match thoughts with @adjones-journo.bsky.social and @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social for @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

- Liverpool errors and Caicedo's rocket
- Chelsea's defensive crisis
- How did Mamardashvili do?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1: Estevao winner, Caicedo’s stunner, third defeat in a row for Slot’s side

Estevao gave Chelsea a late 2-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge - our writers break down the key talking points.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 21d

Is Antoine Semenyo the best player in the Premier League right now?

The Bournemouth star scores with his right foot, scores with his left and is asking every team he faces — including Fulham last night — some serious questions

📝 @anantaajith.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 21d

Few better players to watch live in the Premier League right now than Antoine Semenyo
Two great goals - one with either foot -, a constant threat with the ball and incredible work-rate without it
Simply thrilling
@theathleticfc.bsky.social

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 23d

Everybody's favourite football metric xG drives this week's Alternative PL Table for @theathleticfc.bsky.social
A deep dive into how and how well teams create opportunities, where they take their shots from and why some have struggled while others have thrived ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

The Alternative Premier League Table: No 7 – Attacking performance versus expected goals

How Manchester United are underperforming, Spurs and Liverpool are overperforming, and why Crystal Palace could be even higher than they are

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

Patrick Boyland @paddyboyland.bsky.social · 25d

Another reminder last night of the gaps in this Everton squad. West Ham noticeably quicker & sharper in key areas & exploited #EFC's makeshift right flank

Diouf, a standout at left back, an example of what Moyes' side are missing

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Everton 1 West Ham 1: Sluggishness exposed, Dewsbury-Hall blow but Garner shines

Questions remain about this Everton side following the home draw with West Ham. They look short in key areas and slumped in the second half

www.nytimes.com

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Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith.bsky.social · 26d

Pep Guardiola said after City 5-1 Burnley that Nico O'Reilly's run at the start of the 2nd half "sent a message" about their playing style
Broke down why that was the case and how O'Reilly symbolizes Guardiola's use of ball-carriers for
@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

How Nico O’Reilly has become the direct-running catalyst for Man City’s attack

Pep Guardiola needed Man City to take a different attacking approach in the second half against Burnley and the English left-back stepped up

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 27d

🔙 Gabriel’s redemption arc
🤔 Why did VAR overturn Gyokeres’ penalty?
💪 Woltemade’s ruthless efficiency

After Arsenal's dramatic late comeback win at Newcastle, @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social , Art de Roche & @anantaajith.bsky.social take a look at the talking points ⤵️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

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Reposted by Anantaajith Raghuraman

Neel Shelat @shelatneel.bsky.social · 28d

Wrote a quick #MCIBUR preview for @fotmob.com, which includes some crazy stats on Erling Haaland's start to the season and City's dominant record against the Clarets:

www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...

Preview: Manchester City host Burnley

Premier League title contenders Manchester City are playing catch up after a mixed start to the campaign.

www.fotmob.com

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