Around The Premier League: September 12
The Premier League is enduring a hiatus following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but there is still news and other notable topics to cover before play resumes. One major club sacked its manager and hired a new one. Another major club’s woes have surprisingly continued. So, let’s cover what’s happening across the pond in the Premier League.
Matches postponed following Queen Elizabeth II’s death
Several matches were postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. All matches from last weekend’s slate were postponed out of respect for the Queen as the United Kingdom endures a period of national mourning. So far, multiple matches scheduled for this upcoming slate have been postponed due to a lack of police availability. One of those matches includes Liverpool’s clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It is currently unknown when the postponed matches will be played. With a large portion of the normal season being disrupted due to the 2022 World Cup starting in November, rescheduling these matches could be challenging.
Chelsea sack Tuchel, hire Potter
Chelsea sacked manager Thomas Tuchel on September 7 after a 3-1-2 start to the season. The decision was surprising to many, as Tuchel won a Champions League title with the club during a brief managerial stint that began in January 2021.
According to ESPN, Tuchel and new owner Todd Boehly disagreed over the club’s transfer strategy which, along with a slow start to the season, prompted ownership to move on from the German.
Tuchel lasted 100 games on the job, the last of which being Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League defeat against Dinamo Zagreb on September 6.
Chelsea hired its new manager, Graham Potter, on September 8. Potter was hired from Brighton & Hove Albion and is Chelsea’s 30th manager in club history. Potter was given a five-year contract, and the club reportedly paid Brighton something around £16 million to release him from his contract.
More Liverpool injuries amid slow start to campaign
Liverpool is already off to a shaky start to the season, and life for the Reds probably won’t get easier. Several players are currently injured, dealing blows to Liverpool’s depth and starting lineups.
Captain Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson are both sidelined. Henderson left with a hamstring injury during the second half of Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Newcastle, while Robertson picked up an injury during the team’s Champions League defeat against Napoli. Manager Jürgen Klopp has said that both players will likely be sidelined through at least the international break.
Losing Henderson and Robertson are massive blows to a Liverpool side that is currently 2-3-1 in league play. This is a troubling situation, especially since Liverpool’s next three Premier League games are against Brighton, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s bench is depleted with the likes of Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate sidelined. Both players are important contributors to Klopp’s side and have proven to be valuable assets.
Nolan Wick is a second-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email nhw5046@psu.edu.
