Premier League preview: Two under-pressure managers meet in key game

Jason Hamburger
October 29, 2021

The Playbook @genius_playbook

💫 Roger Schmidt’s #Benfica have been electric this season. Their form at the Estádio da Luz was the key:

🔴 45 goals
🔴 47.3 xG
🔴 6.7 shots on goal per game
🔴 34.5 touches in opp. box per game
🔴 33.9 line-breaking passes per game

#SLB38 | #EuAmoOBenfica twitter.com/slbenfica_en/s…

SL Benfica

@slbenfica_en

W FOR 𝑹𝑶𝑮𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑨𝑳𝑳 🔥🔥🔥

The Playbook @genius_playbook

🔴 @SLBenfica: campeões 🏆

A 3-0 win over Santa Clara sealed the deal for #Benfica, who claimed their record-extending 38th league title. It’s their first #LigaPortugal championship victory in four years. 🔥

#SLB38 | #EuAmoOBenfica

The Playbook @genius_playbook

📊 The game that lost @FCNordsjaelland the title.

@FCKobenhavn were handed the title by #fcn‘s loss to rivals @BrondbyIF. Nordsjaelland had more shots, more corners, and OVER 300 MORE completed passes (397-700).

But #Brøndby won where it matters most. ⚽️

#fcklive | #sldk

Ole clings on as manager

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clings on.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)

After suffering a humiliating 5-0 defeat at home to Liverpool last Sunday, the Manchester United manager kept his job but is rumoured to have just three games to prolong his tenure as manager.

Many clubs might have pulled the trigger this week but Ed Woodward has stuck with the former player amid speculation about Antonio Conte’s interest in the position.

Tottenham Hotspur form

They travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face a Spurs side who are a point above Man United but are struggling to create chances and get the best out of their forwards.

There is a lack of optimism surrounding Nuno Espirito Santo’s side; the Portuguese manager was not one of the front-runners for the job and looks to be just a stop-gap.

Nuno Espirito Santo, head coach of Tottenham Hotspur looks downbeat following his team’s defeat in the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium. Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images)

Spurs were beaten 1-0 by West Ham last weekend where they failed to have a shot in the second half of the game.

Harry Kane has scored just once in the Premier League this season and while he struggles, it’s difficult to see Tottenham challenge the top four this season.

Man United form

United have taken just one point from their last four games and have lost five of their past nine games in all competitions.

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United and team mates look dejected after conceding a fifth goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Only Norwich, Newcastle, Leeds and Watford have conceded more than the Red Devils (15) this season.

Solskjaer’s side have looked woefully unbalanced this season and are easy to play against, conceding chances at will.

They have kept just one clean sheet in 20 games in all competitions.

Red Devils rank bottom in the Premier League for total tackles (104) and duels won (376) in 2021-22.

No side has made more errors leading to shots in the Premier League than United (8) this season.